FOLLOW THE SUN is OUT NOW! If you love it, I hope to see you at my show - Tour tickets are out now too!
Following his first ever SOLD OUT tour and the releases of ‘Ojos Nuevos’, the collaboration with virtuoso Welsh harpist Amanda Whiting, and the deeply personal ‘Desde el Otro Lado’, Gizmo returns with the breathtaking ‘Follow The Sun EP’. In addition to these previous singles the EP includes two new songs, the title track ‘Follow the Sun’ and ‘Hijo del Mar’.
‘Follow the Sun’ opens with a haunting trumpet solo performed by Alfredo Pino, long-time collaborator of Mexico’s star singer songwriter Natalia Lafourcade and newcomer Silvana Estrada. The track soon develops into a galloping homage to the sun with hints of Ennio Morricone influences layered with BVs, whistles, snares and vibra slaps galore. Of the track Gizmo says ‘Last summer, I bought a mini-campervan and decided to explore the southern regions of the UK with my wife and our two Italian Greyhounds. We ventured out on camping trips, immersing ourselves in nature. Gazing into the distance of endless fields of the South Downs, stretching on sandy dunes in Rye, and wandering through the wilderness of the New Forest for hours on end. This song is a heartfelt dedication to all fellow explorers, celebrating the beauty of exploration and the boundless horizons awaiting discovery.’
As well as drawing from the Spaghetti Western songbook, ‘Hijo del Mar’ also proudly displays Gizmo’s indie and ‘Rock en Español’ roots with melancholic electric guitar tracks that crescendo into a head spinning Sergio Leone like climax. His Spanish roots are also very prevalent throughout the lyrics ‘I was born in Santander, on the northern coastline of Spain. The sea was within walking distance from the city, and as a kid, I spent most of my time on the beach eating tortilla sandwiches and basking under the sun for hours. With my dad, we would row a small boat down a nearby river and stop at a small town called Santoña for local anchovies. Being connected to the sea became a significant part of my life. The longing to be near it contributed to my decision to move to Brighton three years ago. Now, putting down roots here, I'm back at the seaside... back at home. This song is dedicated to this important part of my identity, where I call myself 'Hijo del Mar', which translates to 'Son of the Sea'.
At this point it’s worth pointing out that Gizmo is the sole songwriter on this EP, he also produced it and performed most of the instruments bar some of the musicians previously mentioned… and a couple of other surprises. An impressive body of work made possible by his singular talent and sound which fans around the world have just begun to discover.
Four years after the release of his critically acclaimed third album, ‘Out of the Darkness’, this new music presents a compelling new chapter in Gizmo’s career and reflects on a time of significant transformation both personal and professional. He witnessed his music streaming numbers skyrocket from thousands to 100s of millions, achieved viral success as a number one trend on Instagram, celebrated his thirties, got married, relocated to Brighton, purchased his first home, welcomed twin dogs into his family, and endured the loss of his father. Without a doubt these profound life events have enriched his music.
This EP precedes his new album due early 2025 which he will be previewing out on the road this summer at festivals and this autumn on tour.