'By candlelight, you used to teach me how to kiss' is such a powerful queer love statement in the context of Nickistat along with the already iconic 'Are you gonna teach me to be a man?' line. The patriarchal violence Lestat endured from his brother clashing with the love he received from Nicolas. It is jarring to consider any other interpretation but when it comes to art we should all get comfortable navegating uncertainties. Making the song (also) about Gabriella is a messed up twist but also conveys how Nicki's love healed Lestat. Nicki kissed Lestat by candlelight just like Gabriella had done? Fine. Then Nicki's love kind of healed Lestat from Gabriella's abuse.
Most of the lines in the song don't fit or actually contradict Gabriella as a character or whatever Gabistat have going on with them but the song was meaningful enough for the writers to include it and also there's nothing in ep 4 (or ep 1) that suggests that Lestat couldn't be also grieving Nicki when he sings it.
The crew and the artists behind the show sharing their insights is amazing but a three-dimensional story like this requires an empancipated audience that can form its own opinion based on evidences.
