Gina Villalobos – Country Rock Has a New Queen
Gina Villalobos has performed on countless stages throughout the world. Her songs appear simple, but don’t let that fool you. There are far-reaching meanings hidden behind her lyrics. Her voice borders on tough, yet tender, at times. And after a few listens, you can’t help but read between the lines. As a live performer, she is a treat—there is a polished difference between her actual recordings, but that is all. I appreciate a good raw live performance, and I appreciate a well engineered recording. Gina delivers both with her arsenal of CDs: Miles Away, Rock ‘n’ Roll Pony, Beg From Me, etc..
Gina garners a growing cult following in both the UK and the US for her grass-roots rock-influenced songs. And her privileged audiences enjoy a transcending experience when given the gift of seeing her perform live. As quoted from Harp Magazine, “Villalobos has the restlessness of the most moving country music, but she combines it with a rock spirit that’s always forthright and never forced….” — Jason Gross. And from Americana UK, “This is country rock at its most melodic, subtle and heart broken…a perfect summer driving record.” — David Cowling.
Gina Villalobos is a breath of fresh air when it comes to entertaining an audience and still remaining true to her music. I felt the intensity and passion this singer/songwriter/guitar player meticulously places in her music. I was not forced to feel when I listened to her perform. Instead, I became empathic. Her lyrics took me on a journey of truth throughout her very soul. Her lyrics are bold, seductive, sad, happy, and sarcastic at times. My neighbor, who is a huge fan of her music, introduced me to Gina’s music by inviting me to a performance one night. And she and her ensemble, consisting of a cellist, two guitar players, bass player, drummer, and slide guitarist, blew me away. Lucky for me, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gina before that mind-blowing set.
Gina, why don’t you tell me a little about yourself.
I’m a solo artist who usually performs with a band. Tonight I will be performing with a cellist, pedal steel player, drummer, bass player, and two guitarists, the second guitar played by me. The style—I blend rock, country, and pop (My songs are in the pop format). I get called Americana, and I get that I am the female Neil Young. I get compared to Ryan Adams and Lucinda Williams a lot.
What do you write about?
When I’m writing I’m emoting. I play my guitar, come up with a melody and some lyrics. I am writing about eight or ten songs that are works in progress, I don’t know what they’re really about until they’re finished. Usually when I look back, it’s personal stuff and experiences and feelings. I have two solo records out. I’m thirty-seven, and I’ve been doing this for seventeen years. There are probably about eight or nine CDs I‘ve done. I don’t even know.
Where can we find your music?
In the record stores across the nation. Online is always a good place, like iTUNES.
What inspired you to become a performer and a singer/songwriter?
It’s my mom’s fault. I grew up here in Southern California in the late 70s. It was a community full of artists, actors, songwriters, etc. So it was normal for me to be around that. I never really decided to do this. It was more of a self-realization of this is who I am.
Some musicians have struggled through a series of day jobs to finally come to the point of knowing this is what their life should be. Have you always been lucky enough to be at this point your whole adult life?
I’ve always done music. When I was twenty-one, I started doing music and touring bands. The first band was pretty successful. They’re not always that successful, so I did have to do a day job sometimes. But music has always been my main focus in my adult life.
Highest Moment
I think a high point for me would have been my first tour overseas. It was a big deal for me. I was in the UK. Another high point was two years later and I was still touring (Laughs). I couldn’t believe it!
Lowest Point
When I lost the vision in my right eye during the recording session of my first CD. It was an accident. I was doing a day job. My CD hadn’t been released. It was the CD that gave me that big international breakthrough. That was a hard time. But I can see out of my other eye, and it just really gives [me] an appreciation for life. But it was a very big low.
Is there any advice you’d like to give to an aspiring Indie musician?
The most important thing I think a writer and artist should have is just a real sense of doing their art for themselves and no one else, and just work at their own craft. When I write, if I think someone’s going to hear the song, I am really writing for somebody else. And the song sounds like crap. Just stay true and do it for yourself.
Email address: ponyvillalobos@aol.com. To learn more about Gina Villalobos visit her website at www.ginavillalobos.com.
Interviewed by Kaylene Peoples
