1. Why are you a musician?
I picked up the guitar for the very first time, when I was around nine years old, and I just knew that I was going to be playing the instrument for the rest of my life. I started gigging when I was around 15 years old and I never stopped. I would also say that the Beatles and Argentinian rock groups that were popular during my youth played an important role in my formation as a musician.
2. Who are your musical inspirations?
Peruvian folk guitarist Raul Garcia Zarate. In jazz, Pat Metheny, Badem Powell; in Flamenco, Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo; and the Beatles. There are many other younger players who are also very inspirational.
3. What is your practice routine?
I start my morning doing wrist stretches for about 10 minutes. I use weights to assist me with that. I developed a bad case of wrist tendinitis about 10 years ago, it put me out of commission for a couple of months. I practice some scales, arpeggios, thumb exercises. I go over some of my material and then some other pieces, currently I’m practicing Bach which is great for right hand technique. I generally do this for 2 to 3 hours. If I’m preparing for a concert, then it is much longer.
4. Why did you make this album?
Luna
By Ciro Hurtdao
I started writing the material for a new album when COVID-19 hit and we all went into confinement. During this period of seclusion, I kept track of the time during nightly walks in my neighborhood.
Every full moon I realized that a month had gone by, hence the title of my album Luna (moon). But it’s also an expression of the pain, and sorrow we all felt as we lost loved ones, and my goal in making this album was to use my music to send a message of hope, healing and redemption, that we can be resilient in the face of such tragedies.
5. What were the biggest obstacles in making this music?
Melodies come to me easily. Lyrics are the difficult part. I have written many songs in the past. Now they take me longer. I keep on re-writing, adding, subtracting for weeks.
6. Who is featured on the album?
- Cindy Harding: Vocals, Quenas, Zampoñas, Chajchas
- Julio Ledezma: Bombo, Redoblante
- Gino Gamboa: Cajón, Cajita, Congas, Bongó, Quijada, Campana
- Milena Salamanca: Vocals
- Gary Johnson: Organ
- Ricardo “Tiki” Pasillas: Drums
- Guillermo Guzmán: Bass
- Libby Harding: Vocal, Jarana Jarocha Primera, Jarana Jarocha Segunda
- Strings: VSRE / The Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble
- Drums: Luís Alejandro Bermúdez
- Cajón, Surdos, Rainstick, Chimes Rain): Luís Alejandro Bermúdez
- Electric Bass: Eybar Serrano
- Piano: Mario Alex Urbina
- Violins: Jesús David Medina, Ornella Hernández, & Daniela Valentina Pérez
- Violas: Jesús David Medina, Ornella Hernández & Lina Cáceres
- Cellos: Maycol Chacón, Gabriel Delgado & Jhovanna Acosta
- Trombone: Kevin Rincón
- Trumpet & Flugelhorns: Jimmy Cárdenas
- French Horns: Jhonny Maldonado
- Oboe: Robert Zambrano
- Clarinets: Mariana Salas
7. Where may we find you online?
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