The Muusic 4UU (Music for You!) concert series is the realization of a dream shared by a group of music lovers at the historic Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary. Our committee is dedicated to showcasing top talent of the Monadnock Region.
Gustavo Moradel:
Music-making for the Greater Good
Gustavo Moradel’s life story as an immigrant is a testament to the transformative power of music and advocacy. Through his tireless efforts, he continues to be an advocate for the voiceless, a beacon of hope for dreamers, and an inspiring figure for everyone who encounters his uplifting music and message.
Saturday’s concert will be a real treat for the audience of our season opener with Moradel who will be appearing with his band, including Paul Godoy on keyboards and synthesizers, Isai Peña Cruz on electric guitar and Alex Guerrero on bass and percussion.
It comes as no surprise to most that being a musician and an advocate often go hand-in-glove. Gustavo Moradel bring a long history of both to his performances. He was born in Honduras and has recently made his home in Peterborough, but what has happened in these in-between years is what makes his career an amalgamation of Artist and a Voice for Justice.
Moradel brings to Muusic 4UU a band that is, in his words “a soulful blend of folk, rock and Latin-American music.” However enticing as that is in our parts, it is the singer-songwriter and storytelling that explores identity, love, immigration and the stories that connect us. Moradel is a master of “creating an intimate and vibrant live experience that bridges culture and musical traditions,” also his words. The “master” part is what we as an audience will suggest as we long for an authentic, healing experience through music.
Those in-between years are significant, and his website offers us the best description:
Gustavo has been invited to advocate for DACA dreamers, shedding light on the challenges and aspirations of undocumented immigrants in the United States. His efforts to raise awareness about DACA and support for the undocumented community have led him to perform at significant events, including the Democratic National Committee, where his voice resonated with policymakers and activists alike.
The reach of Gustavo’s music extends beyond the political sphere. He was invited as a guest musician by former President Clinton for his Clinton Foundation event, allowing him to use his artistry to support various philanthropic endeavors and inspire positive change on a global scale.
So for him to describe his music as a “moving blend of Latin American folk, Americana and storytelling that celebrates resilience, memory and community” doesn’t do him full justice. Clearly the man has had an interesting life, but none of us who have touched the shiny surface of fame are the sum total of that which rubs off.
From where this writer stands, as a musician and humanist, the first question in an in-depth exploration of an artist relates to that artist’s output: in Gustavo’s case, his music. With such deep roots in Latin American culture, what is the gravity which pulls every new transplanted musician to the center of American culture? He said:
I don’t think I ever consciously decided to combine American folk and rock with Latin American music. It happened naturally. I grew up with Latin American music, and later fell deeply in love with American folk, rock, and singer-songwriters. Eventually, I realized they weren’t really separate worlds. To me, folk music is the music of the people, wherever in the world it comes from. American roots music, just like Latin American folk, has strong African influences, alongside Indigenous and European traditions. The rhythms may sound different, but there’s a shared language underneath them: storytelling, groove, and the human experience. I think that’s where the magic happened. I simply let all those musical worlds I love speak to each other.
Let’s also not forget that all musicians have to start somewhere, and that careers often will take a sudden fork. So the magic is not just in the artist’s own reflections and the conjugations thereof. Magic also comes in who comes across one’s path and Gustavo has a great story about this as well:
One of my favorite bandstand stories happened at a tiny Mexican restaurant in Nashville. I was playing a show there one night and decided to play “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees. After the show, a gentleman in his 60s came up to thank me for the music, and we started talking. Long story short, I found out he was Pete Finney, the pedal steel guitar player who had played on The Monkees’ music and a legendary Nashville pedal steel player. What started as a random conversation after a little restaurant gig turned into a friendship. A few months later, Pete was playing shows with me, and we actually got to play “I’m a Believer” together. You really never know who is going to walk through the door at a gig. Sometimes the most unexpected moments become the stories you carry with you
We can see that Gustavo is unabashedly positive and optimistic, and we should be glad of that. However, if I had an active performance career in Nashville I would be thinking twice about moving to Peterborough, no matter how nice it is. Gustavo’s relocation from music city U.S.A. happened last April and he has expressed his love of the area. We should be so lucky. How often is it that we get to enjoy such an artistry that comes with a energetic drive to make things a little better?
