Gaby Moreno. Remember her name, because you should soon be hearing a lot from this Guatemalan singer-songwriter who's still an amazing little secret from the masses. We heard her live last night at a secret gig in New York City and immediately had to share what we know about her.
Gaby is a L.A. based immigrant but her Guatemalan roots haven't gone anywhere. During her chilling rendition of the classic 'Quizas, Quizas, Quizas' the tiny and trendy crowd at Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan's Lower East Side quit clanking their drinks to take in every bit of musical prowess she had to offer in Spanish and English, with equal ease.
We first met her at last year's Latin Alternative Music Conference and were immediately pulled towards her laid back demeanor. Gaby walked around the booths, unassumingly, getting interviewed although many people hadn't a clue about her. Just like last night, she won us over by picking up her guitar and letting her voice, smooth, thick and unexpected, hit us all. Backed by a four-piece band she opened with 'Little Sorrow' and treated us to a new song entitled 'Garrick' (inspired by the playwright? we'd like to think so!) among other gems like her funky 'Greenhorne Man'.
Although she may not be topping charts yet, Gaby does have some serious credentials. She sang the classic 'Smile' for Oscar Award-winning documentary The Cove, wrote the theme song of NBC's hit sitcom Parks and Recreation and back in 2006, she won the John Lennon songwriting contest. Most recently, Gaby has opened shows for Ani Di Franco and recorded a song for the upcoming film La Hora Cero with Los Amigos Invisibles, according their guitar player Cheo, who happened to be checking her out at Rockwood.
You can download her debut album Still the Unknown here or check out her official site for more information. If you're a fan of great music, The Black Keys, Ximena Sariñana, Devendra Banhart or PJ Harvey you will most likely adore her.
Check out Gaby performing her song 'Little Sorrow' below
Terra USA / Valentina España
