#desperadosshade

Gary Meyers is the flamenco guitarist who’s making a name for himself with  fans of world music and guitar enthusiasts. He’s in demand right now, performing at various restaurants, corporate events, private parties, weddings, and so much more. While he’s not from Andalusia or grow up immersed within the culture, he intuitively taps into the Spanish spirit to perform this storied traditional music with reverence and dazzling virtuosity.

He just released his album Desperado’s Shade, his flamenco album with 10 original compositions with the spirit of Andalusia. We got a chance to speak with Gary about his album in this edition of Indie 5-0. Let’s dive in:

You just released your flamenco and world music album Desperado's Shade. Which song on the album is your favorite?  

“Old Ways”

Which song on the album was the hardest to write and record? Which was the easiest?  

I’d say “Dancer’s Moon” was the hardest because it was originally around 7 minutes long and took some work to rearrange.  All songs were 3 takes or less.   “Spanish River” was by far the easiest.

What was the inspiration for Desperado's Shade, if any?  

After completing my cruise ship contract as a solo gypsy flamenco guitarist, I immersed myself into Spanish rumba which led me to writing the album, Desperado’s Shade. You can feel inspiration from the beaches of the Mediterranean with a umbrella drink in hand.  

How do you approach writing music?  

Typically with harmony/progression, then build melodies to get the right “guitar voice,” then improvise over until I get a framework that feels right, avoiding the standard pop song writing process and rules….

Which album/song/artist inspires you and why? 

Jesse Cook - just love his work

Gary Meyers new album Desperado´s Shade has now been released. 

“This was the first song I began to write in the Spanish Rumba style. Inspiration came from my experiences walking and visiting areas in Spain (Seville, Cadiz, Barcelona, Malta) while I was on my cruise ship contact. Images of Clint Eastwood spaghetti movies which were filmed in Spain, and the desperation of traveling alone by horse in dangerous mountains with desperado´s fighting for resources and to survive. Tough, resilient and desperate … “ 

It is this story which is portrayed throughout the song, with Flamenco and world music elements. Desperado’s Shade is a 10 song collection of Gary´s first Spanish style original compositions, with brass, percussion and synth pads and strings for increasing tension and dynamics. Most of the songs have a world music sound which is reminiscent of relaxed Mediterranean beach vibes. 

The song ¨Coming Storm¨ has a complete Flamenco sound and Gary plays the guitar with an incredible finesse. It is like listening to a classical Flamenco player. There are darker tones too, as if being caught up in a fierce storm. 

Influences include Jesse Cook, Gipsy Kings, Paco de Lucia and Sabicas. 

Gary started as a self-taught guitarist at the age of 14, playing rock, shred, and classical. In 2002, upon hearing a friend play a rhumba, he put the electric guitar down.

Flamenco guitarist, composer, and performer Gary Meyers didn’t grow up immersed in the exotic rhythms of Andalusia, but he intuitively taps into the Spanish spirit to perform this storied traditional music with reverence and dazzling virtuosity. The Castle Rock, Colorado-based artist’s story is how a lifelong musician who played Van Halen-style electric guitar heard a friend play flamenco, and then experienced a revelation that sent him on a transformative artistic adventure.   

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0yP835kXujCo08wqvYzyFs?si=Zjuds9vAQnKfUaLQotRZiA

Stay current with Gary Meyers on his website and Facebook page.