Gringo Soul - better known as Brandon Giannasi of Dallas, TX - is funky, soulful singer-songwriter. I recently sat down for a phone interview with Brandon to get a better sense of who he is, both as a person and as an artist. First and foremost, I inquired to Brandon how he came up with his performing name. "I was working with a group of Hispanic people, and they referred to white people as 'gringos,' he said. "The word 'gringo' just rang with me, so I just decided to roll with it." Next, I asked Brandon where he finds his musical inspiration. "I get most of my inspiration from the late and great Elvis, as well as Nirvana, Sublime, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and even from artists like Vincent Van Gogh.
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.
To finish up this interview, Gringo Soul had a little advice for people that want to start bands and bands struggling with finding an audience: "When you get denied to play a bar or a venue, you need to stay strong and get back up and get on with your day" said Brandon.
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.
To finish up this interview, Gringo Soul had a little advice for people that want to start bands and bands struggling with finding an audience: "When you get denied to play a bar or a venue, you need to stay strong and get back up and get on with your day" said Brandon.
About the Author:
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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