Gepe
Encyclopedia
Daniel Riveros known as Gepe, is a Chilean singer-songwriter. He has released three solo albums in addition to one album as a member of the band Taller Dejao. He has been described as the "new 'guru' of Chilean folk" for combining the sensibilities of 1960s and 1970s Chilean folk (especially the music of Victor Jara
) with a minimalist, electropop sound.
.
On November 4, 2005, he released his first full-length album, Gepinto, on the Chilean label Quemasucabeza. The same year, a track from the album, "Namás," was included on the Chilean indie compilation and label sampler Panorama neutral. Gepe also contributed to electropop artist Javiera Mena
's track, "Sol de invierno," on the compilation. The Chilean edition of Rolling Stone
voted Gepinto the 22nd best Chilean album of all time in its April 2008 issue, and the Argentinean edition of the same magazine selected "Namás" as the 49th best track of 2006.
Gepe's second full-length album, Hungría, was released by Quemasucabeza on May 18, 2007 at Cine Arte Normandie in Santiago, Chile
. The same year, he was awarded "best new artist" at the Premios a la Música Chilena, and filmmakers Rosario González y Pablo Muñoz released an independent documentary about Gepe and Javiera Mena.
In 2008, Gepe released a second EP, Las piedras, available free for download from the label Quemasucabeza's website.
In 2009, Gepe could be heard in a beautiful Spanish cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," specially recorded for the film "Sugar." Gepe's Hallelujah remains unavailable for purchase and can only be heard in the film (prominently featured towards the end) and on Gepe's MySpace webpage.
artist Víctor Jara
to Brian Wilson
, Sonic Youth
, My Bloody Valentine, Animal Collective
, Pet Shop Boys
, and Devendra Banhart
.
and other major Chilean cities, such as Viña del Mar
. In addition, he toured Europe in 2006, Argentina and Mexico (with Javiera Mena and Mostro) in mid-2007, and Spain in late 2007.
In February 2009, Gepe toured the United States
for the first time. He performed at three concerts in New York City
, including one at the Americas Society
.
Víctor Jara
Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez was a Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, political activist and member of the Communist Party of Chile...
) with a minimalist, electropop sound.
Biography
Gepe was born in San Miguel, a commune of Santiago, ChileSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
.
Taller Dejao
Taller Dejao, consisting of Gepe on drums and vocals and Javier Cruz on bass, released an album entitled El brillo que tiene es lo humano que le queda in 2002.Solo
Gepe released his first solo recording, the EP 5x5, on Jacobino Discos in 2004.On November 4, 2005, he released his first full-length album, Gepinto, on the Chilean label Quemasucabeza. The same year, a track from the album, "Namás," was included on the Chilean indie compilation and label sampler Panorama neutral. Gepe also contributed to electropop artist Javiera Mena
Javiera Mena
Javiera Alejandra Mena Carrasco , publicly known as Javiera Mena , is a Chilean Indie electronic pop musician. She started her musical career in the Chilean indie music scene in 2001, and transformed into one of the most relevant Chilean indie acts after the release of her first studio album in 2006...
's track, "Sol de invierno," on the compilation. The Chilean edition of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
voted Gepinto the 22nd best Chilean album of all time in its April 2008 issue, and the Argentinean edition of the same magazine selected "Namás" as the 49th best track of 2006.
Gepe's second full-length album, Hungría, was released by Quemasucabeza on May 18, 2007 at Cine Arte Normandie in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. The same year, he was awarded "best new artist" at the Premios a la Música Chilena, and filmmakers Rosario González y Pablo Muñoz released an independent documentary about Gepe and Javiera Mena.
In 2008, Gepe released a second EP, Las piedras, available free for download from the label Quemasucabeza's website.
In 2009, Gepe could be heard in a beautiful Spanish cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," specially recorded for the film "Sugar." Gepe's Hallelujah remains unavailable for purchase and can only be heard in the film (prominently featured towards the end) and on Gepe's MySpace webpage.
Influences
Gepe's influences range from Chilean nueva canciónNueva canción
Nueva canción is a movement and genre within Latin American and Iberian music of folk music, folk-inspired music and socially committed music...
artist Víctor Jara
Víctor Jara
Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez was a Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, political activist and member of the Communist Party of Chile...
to Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, My Bloody Valentine, Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
, and Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
.
Performances
Gepe regularly holds live performances at venues and festivals in SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
and other major Chilean cities, such as Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar
Viña del Mar , is a city and commune on central Chile's Pacific coast. Its long stretches of white sandy beaches are a major attraction for national and international tourists. The city is Chile's main tourist attraction. Known as "La Ciudad Jardín" , Viña del Mar is a Chilean Municipality located...
. In addition, he toured Europe in 2006, Argentina and Mexico (with Javiera Mena and Mostro) in mid-2007, and Spain in late 2007.
In February 2009, Gepe toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the first time. He performed at three concerts in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, including one at the Americas Society
Americas Society
The Americas Society is an organization dedicated to education, debate, and dialogue in the Americas; established in 1965 by David Rockefeller. The Americas Society promotes the understanding of the economic, political, and cultural issues that define and challenge the Americas today, including...
.
Solo albums
- 2004 - 5x5 (EP) (Jacobino Discos)
- 2005 - Gepinto (Quemasucabeza; released in Spain by Astro Discos and distributed in the United States by Darla RecordsDarla RecordsDarla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...
) - 2007 - Hungría (Quemasucabeza; released in Spain by Factoría Autor)
- 2008 - Las Piedras EP
- 2010 - AudiovisiónAudiovisionChristian Liljegren, known for his work in Narnia and Divinefire started up Audiovision during 2003 as his solo project. The first album The Calling was released in late 2004 in Europe and Japan, and it was produced by Lars Chriss [Lion’s Share, Road to Ruin]...
Soundtracks
- 2009 - Sugar (Soundtrack) - Gepe's contribution: "Hallelujah (Spanish version)"
External links
- Gepe on Quemasucabeza's website
- [ Gepe's profile on Allmusic]