666tangerine is the moniker of Giuliana Gibertoni, a Queens-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Her music blends raw alternative rock with a pop edge.
Her latest EP White Diamond captures the duality at the core of 666tangerine: moody, immersive layers intertwined with an untamed sense of lightness and freedom. It’s music that can be visceral and vulnerable at once, songs that feel intimate yet carry the weight of something lived-in. Sweetness and shadow, rebellion and joy, DIY spirit and dreamlike escape.
I caught up with Giuliana to talk about her early musical inspirations, how she’s evolved as a song-writer, the making of the E.P. and what’s planned for the future.
CMM-What was the first music that really made an impact on you as a kid and what artist or band did you all enjoy the most?
Giuliana-The first CDs I ever owned were Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick, and they’ve stayed favorites. But the first artist who made me think “I could do this” was Avril Lavigne. When Let Go came out in 2002, I resonated so much with her persona as a kid growing up in Reading, PA. She was writing her own songs, even for other people, and seeing her be so fun and successful at such a young age made me believe I could do the same. That playful, carefree spirit definitely shows up in my songwriting as 666tangerine.
The band that has shaped me the most is Gustavo Cerati and Soda Stereo. My mom moved from Buenos Aires to Queens in 1987, so I grew up around the art-punk and 80s production style of that era. Cerati’s voice, lyrics, and approach to sound design inspire how I think about texture and atmosphere in my songs. Alongside that, the overall attitude and sonic experimentation of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s have always been the biggest influence on the way I approach making music.
CMM-When did you start playing music and writing songs and what led to recording as Tangerine 666?
Giuliana-I started fronting bands at 16, playing venues around Reading, including the Trocadero in Philly and a Screamofest with Every Time I Die. Emo and screamo were huge then, so I leaned into that scene mostly for the love of performing live. I was usually the only girl in the room, playing bills with older guys, so I ended up taking a lot of direction instead of shaping things myself. My songwriting contributions then were mainly melodic vocal lines and lyrics.
When I moved to New York and began 666tangerine, I still leaned on the opinions of friends and collaborators for production and aesthetic choices, even though I was writing all the synth parts and melodies myself. That shifted in 2024, when I stopped taking in outside opinions and fully trusted my own instincts. With White diamond, the songwriting, chord structures, lyrics, production, and aesthetics are all mine. My influences come from DIY, shoegazy art-rock, and experimental pop of the 80s and 90s, and now the sound and vision are completely my own.
The name 666tangerine reflects that mix. “666” suggests something sinister but in angel numbers it means a shift in thinking or change in direction, while “tangerine” is something sweet and nostalgic for me. To me, it’s about embracing both sides of myself: the darker, experimental edge and the playful, carefree spirit. Being happy and healthy can be its own form of rebellion, and no one is just one thing.
CMM-You recently released a record called “White Diamond”. What was the writing and recording process like and were there any particular pieces of gear you all used to get the sound you all were looking for?
Giuliana-This year I got into a rhythm of writing quickly and intuitively, finishing most songs as stream-of-consciousness ideas within five to ten minutes. Between January and March I wrote about 30 ideas, narrowed it down to around 15, and from there shaped what became White diamond.
The first test run was angel 4 u, released in May. I intentionally made it lo-fi, like the YouTube-to-MP3 downloads of Nirvana and Hole albums I used to download in high school. That experiment showed me what I wanted moving forward. From it I wrote Yellow in just four minutes, fully formed, and it became the anchor for the EP.
To keep the record cohesive, I relied on a simple setup: Ableton Live, my Yamaha U1 upright piano recorded with a Warm Audio WA-87, a MicroKorg for bass and synths, a Fender Squier guitar through a Boss AD-3 with Ableton amp effects, and a Fender Jazz/Precision bass. I also used an Ableton Poly-Juno square patch that often mirrored my vocal lines. I wanted the sound to stay raw and unpolished but still atmospheric. When my bassist Kevin first heard Yellow, he said it reminded him of Radiohead, which was the best compliment. He went on to record bass on Kiss and Wizard, and I love how he instinctively feels my direction and ties the sound together. His parts gave the record its live, collaborative energy and made each track feel related yet individual.
CMM-If you could do a score for any film director, who would it be and what would the film be about?
Giuliana-My dream would’ve been to work with David Lynch, he’s my favorite of all time. I love how he builds surreal worlds with music and sound, and how his films capture time and atmosphere the way they actually feel. I can picture myself as a character performing in the background of Twin Peaks or a movie like Wild at Heart.
I’d also love to work with Sofia Coppola. Her films are masterful at capturing mood and the inner lives of her characters. I could imagine scoring for her and writing something dreamy and slightly eerie, maybe for a coming-of-age story or even about a woman in her mid-30s. I think that would be a perfect match.
CMM-Anything coming up? Shows? Recordings?
Giuliana-Right now 666tangerine is a two-piece, but I’m working on building out a full live band. I’ve been really enjoying rehearsing and having the freedom to take things in any direction I see fit. I’m focused on getting a string of shows together soon, finishing a music video for White diamond, and continuing to write. Looking ahead, I’d love to release a full-length album next year.
