GALAPAGOGO explores a mixture of sounds & visuals from my childhood in America. Growing up in a large immigrant family, the traditional folkloric sounds of Ecuador & South America were something that was normalized in our family. During family reunions, Abeulos, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Toddlers, & house pets would gather around the Spanish Guitar & sing the songs their ancestors sung before them. Like most things in life, the value of this upbringing did not really sink in until later in my lifetime. The connection to music in my family was always there, but it was after many years of traveling and working in music, that my guitar was possessed not only by the sounds of East Bay Ray or The Clash, but now channeling the worn out VHS tape of “La Bamba” my Mother dubbed from our TV as a kid or the Chicha & Traditional Folk Music of Ecuador blasting at family parties.
GALAPAGOGO combines that feeling w/ a signature sound, electrified w/ a tropical blend of tones & tunes mixed w/ a sort of “Haunted Galapagos” theme in some of the rhythms & lyrical content, loosely based on the infamous Galapagos legend of “Satan’s Eden”.
At a time of unrest & xenophobia combined w/ immigration issues fueling political debate, GALAPAGOGO comes from a place where no matter where you go, you feel as though you don’t belong. For those who do not feel at home in their native land nor in this new land of Anti-Immigrantion & Propaganda. For those who do not fit in on either side of those boundaries. For those who feel pressured to be more of this or less of that. We are living in a time where our culture & background has been losing visibility due to its portrayal in these modern times as criminal or illegal. GALAPAGOGO is not a genre, but it can be if you want it to be one. GALAPAGOGO is not a concept album, but a collection of concepts. GALAPAGOGO takes the spirit of these North & South American Traditions & combines them to create something new.
As we march on, we ask ourselves where we fit in amongst this crazy world as it spins out of control. GALAPAGOGO reminds us that the secrets to our future may be in our past. We hope you enjoy these 10 selections together as the GALAPAGOGO collection (2016-2017) recorded at PHARMACY in Philadelphia, PA.
G A L A P A G O G O 