Wheatus backup singer goes solo as Disterbenz

After 15 years singing backup in Wheatus ("Teenage Dirtbag"), Gabrielle Sterbenz, who grew up in Huntington, is ready for her close-up. Her sophomore solo effort, "Icky Guy," is somewhat of a comeback.

Even though she released her self-titled solo debut back in 2015, Sterbenz is overcoming both vocal surgery and performance anxiety. The singer is reborn under the artist name, Disterbenz, a moniker that stems back to her days in Huntington Elementary School.

"When I was in the sixth grade, I was very disruptive in class. I had a teacher who used to call me Gabrielle Disterbenz," she says. "I didn’t know what to do with all my creative energy. I thought using the name was a way of embracing that aspect of myself."

Sterbenz’s vocal awakening came into play when she attended a New York University gospel choir concert, which inspired her to join the gospel choir at Huntington High School.

"It was the only thing that kept me grounded in high school," she says. "This was the one place I could sing like I wanted to sing."

Her new record finds her in the Americana genre where she has crafted singles like "Waiting on You," "Throw Down Your Heart" and a cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ "Handle With Care."

"I grew up listening to country artists like Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee and Dolly Parton," Sterbenz says. "Americana naturally fits my voice and this is the music that I like to make."

Recorded at Milk House Studios in Huntington over the past few years, Sterbenz collaborated with former Wheatus band member Philip A. Jimenez.

"Phil has a very welcoming vibe and his studio served as a safe space for my creative impulses to see where they led," Sterbenz says. "It just seemed like the right move to make the record with him."

In celebration of her new release, Sterbenz will perform a solo show on Nov. 13 as part of the Live From The Burrow’s Singer-Songwriter Series at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington followed by a full band Christmas show there on Dec. 18.

"Coming back to Huntington does feel like a full circle moment because I’ve come into my own and dealt with any difficulties," she says. "This now feels joyful to return to the place where music started for me."

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.