viñu-vinu is the electronic music alias for Montreal-based pianist, keyboardist, composer and producer Gabriel Vinuela. The name viñu-vinu pays homage to Gabriel’s Chilean heritage and comes from the francization of his father’s last name: Viñuela to Vinuela. Gabriel works with synths, keys, field recordings and a wide array of sampling technics to produce atmospheric and lively instrumentals, where rich harmonies and melodies mix with textural electronic experimentations. He often explores in music subjects and aspects of origin, identity, changes, evolution, human relationships to surroundings and nature while creating colorful and gorgeously evocative soundscapes that seek the fine line between ambient experimental textures and downtempo beats. From this commitment to organic processes and spontaneity, emerge dreamlike sonic tapestries that develop naturally and let the listener’s mind drift between a state of consciousness and unconsciousness.

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Gabriel has completed two bachelor degrees at University of Montreal: the first in classical piano performance in 2004 and the second in jazz piano performance in 2008. He won several prizes and grants both in the classical and jazz fields and received the 2010 TD Grand Prize for Jazz at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal with his group Parc X trio. Gabriel has an active life as a musician, leading the impro-electro-jazz collective Extended Family, co-leading Parc X Trio alongside bassist Alex Lefaivre and producing electronic music under the alias viñu-vinu. As a sideman, Gabriel is touring since 2022 with the group NIYAZ and singer-songwriter Marso Margelidon. He is also the co-founder of Montreal jazz label Multiple Chord Music.

 

Gabriel has released seven records with Parc X trio, the most recent being Dream (Challenge Record International, 2017) and toured multiple times across Canada, USA and Europe since 2012. As viñu-vinu he has released one LP, two live albums and three EPs: Exilio Transitorio (2021), Live at Casa del Popolo (2020), Live at La Vitrola (2020), Echoes from Afar (2018), Encounters (2017) and Études-Tableaux (2016). In 2019, he also released Borderless (Seil Record), a piano improvisation and modular synth ambient collaboration with Chilean producer Nico Rosenberg.

 

Over the years, viñu-vinu performed sets at La Nuit Blanche - Festival Montréal en Lumière, MUTEK Montréal, Suoni Per Il Popolo, Congrès Mondial Acadien-Acadie Rock, Pop Montréal and L'OFF Jazz Festival de Montréal. Gabriel is a Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity alumni, where he attended the Banff Musician in Residence program in 2017 and 2019. He also participated in creative residencies at Centre d’Expérimentation Musicale de Chicoutimi in 2019 and 2023. In 2023, he wrote the music for Ample Man Danse’s new multidisciplinary choreographic creation Alexis and he is now working on new music to be released in 2024.