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.

 

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. He is also the co-founder of Montreal jazz label Multiple Chord Music and is a board member of L’OFF Festival de Jazz de Montreal.

 

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 three EPs: Echoes from Afar (Mystery Circles 2018), Encounters (Mystery Circles 2017 / Best Electro EP Nominee at GAMIQ 2018) and Études-Tableaux (self-released 2016). Last summer, he also released Borderless (Seil Records 2019), a piano improvisation and modular synth ambient collaboration with Chilean producer Nico Rosenberg.

 

The last two 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 a creative residency at Centre d’Expérimentation Musicale de Chicoutimi in 2019, where he started his work and research on a project called Exilio Transitorio. Supported by both the Canada Council for the Arts and Factor, his new album Exilio Transitorio will be released on Mystery Circles and Florafone Records April 9th 2021.