Brandon Giannasi, better known as Gringo Soul, is a solo artist out of Dallas, Texas. I asked Brandon where he got the name of his band, and he said it he was working with a bunch of Hispanic people and they all referred to white people as "Gringos." The word "Gringo" just rang with him so he "rolled with it," and he is now known as Gringo Soul. He gets most of his inspiration from the late and great Elvis, Nirvana, Sublime, Creedence Clearwater Revival and even from artists such as Vincent Van Gogh. All of those artists fuel to inspire him to write his funky and soulful songs.
In keeping with his performing name, Brandon tells me that he writes his songs about "being an average gringo" - the celebrations, the life lessons, hardships, and his growth as a musician. "Most of my creative thinking and lyrics writing come while I'm driving," says Brandon. "There's just something about it that gets me thinking and really gets my creative juices flowing." At 4 independent album releases and 34 songs to his credit, Brandon must do his fair share of driving. "On stage, I use my guitar, Korg Keyboard, loop pedal, K oscillator, and octopad. The crowd watching me perform get to see me set up each song using these components, and then I go into the song itself."
Brandon is hosting an event called The Trash Bash Music Stash on June 28th. It's an event that you volunteer and you pick up trash on three streets in Dallas TX. After the trash pickup is over, there will be free food, free beer and other drinks and a free concert. And if you don't fee like picking up trash, you can pay $15 and still have some food, drink and enjoy a great show!
I then asked Brandon if he could open for any band or artist, past or present, who would he want to play with. "Stone Temple Pilots," he says, "I have so much respect for the music they make. It would an honor for me to be able to play a show with them." Since Brandon has not had such an opportunity as of yet, he tells me that his favorite show he's played so far was at The Woodshed in nearby Fort Worth, TX. He tells me that at this show, he performed in front of around 500 attendees, all of whom seemed to respond well to and enjoy his music.
As a final thought, I asked Brandon what advice he might have for his fellow independent musicians. "If you're in a band and struggling to find an audience, or if you're interested in starting a band - if or when you get denied to play a venue or bar, you just need to stay strong. Get back up, and get on with your day."
In keeping with his performing name, Brandon tells me that he writes his songs about "being an average gringo" - the celebrations, the life lessons, hardships, and his growth as a musician. "Most of my creative thinking and lyrics writing come while I'm driving," says Brandon. "There's just something about it that gets me thinking and really gets my creative juices flowing." At 4 independent album releases and 34 songs to his credit, Brandon must do his fair share of driving. "On stage, I use my guitar, Korg Keyboard, loop pedal, K oscillator, and octopad. The crowd watching me perform get to see me set up each song using these components, and then I go into the song itself."
Brandon is hosting an event called The Trash Bash Music Stash on June 28th. It's an event that you volunteer and you pick up trash on three streets in Dallas TX. After the trash pickup is over, there will be free food, free beer and other drinks and a free concert. And if you don't fee like picking up trash, you can pay $15 and still have some food, drink and enjoy a great show!
I then asked Brandon if he could open for any band or artist, past or present, who would he want to play with. "Stone Temple Pilots," he says, "I have so much respect for the music they make. It would an honor for me to be able to play a show with them." Since Brandon has not had such an opportunity as of yet, he tells me that his favorite show he's played so far was at The Woodshed in nearby Fort Worth, TX. He tells me that at this show, he performed in front of around 500 attendees, all of whom seemed to respond well to and enjoy his music.
As a final thought, I asked Brandon what advice he might have for his fellow independent musicians. "If you're in a band and struggling to find an audience, or if you're interested in starting a band - if or when you get denied to play a venue or bar, you just need to stay strong. Get back up, and get on with your day."
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Want to find out more about local bands like Gringo Soul, or how you can get your band featured on an interview like this? Visit Gorilla Music to find out more. Gringo Soul was scheduled to perform at this year's Dallas Music Festival, presented by Gorilla Music and Eagle One Entertainment.
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