Tito Gomez likes to pass the time surfing one, long musical wave. He could be busking at Old Street station or playing a gig in town or simply having an impromptu jam session at his favourite Troy Bar in Shoreditch, but there’s little doubt he’ll be navigating the hustle and bustle of London living by reaching for his instrument and performing for whoever is there to listen. 26 years old and hailing from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, he moved over to North London when he was 15 and continues to build upon the musical foundations he picked up in his native country, versed in a range of instruments from wind, strings, brass and vocals. As part of our Macondo Sessions series, we were able to catch up with the multi-instrumentalist in a Central London car park for a chat about his musical exploits and to watch him bring the latin fire with a silky flute and vocals combo, accompanied by North London guitarist Oliver Barwell…
Tell us a bit about your musical background… when did you begin playing and what instrument did you pick up first? How do your Latin American roots combine with a London influence?
My musical roots are in classical music, UK hiphop/grime, Afro-Colombian folklore as well as traditional Latin American stuff. My first instrument was the piano, passed on by my self-taught grandmother who loved playing boleros – a type of down-tempo romantic music from Latin America (Check out this track by Hector Lavoe). I got my only 3 piano grades but it set my musical foundation and after this most music became accessible for me.
Afro-Colombian folklore is what I see my family and friends dance in Colombia, during carnival and happy celebrations, this is a culture shock for any kid who moves from the north Caribbean coast of Colombia to the north of London. At the end of the day you realize that all Afro-descendant music comes from the same family and therefore mixable for the pleasure of the scientist performing his/her experiments.
It seems that wherever you go, you take an instrument with you.. I sense this might be a Colombian tradition… do you ever go anywhere without one?
Never leave without your house keys or an instrument!! It’s either a quena (traditional flute of the Andes), a recorder, piccolo recorder or jazz flute most times. In Colombia we have mochilas, a lovely tradition passed on from our indigenous ancestors and at Bella Artes the uni I went to in Barranquilla there were students who had all types of wind and percussion instruments in their mochila because you never know when you might need it.
If a guitarist gets on the bus to busk and the sound is good, you whip out your flute and jam with him. It’s like that in Colombia. In indigenous Native American tradition the idea of someone with a flute in their pouch seemed amazing, magical, to be able to paint musical images in your own mind first and express that through yourself. There’s no time to always sit down and practice so if you’re waiting for the bus or train why not take the opportunity to play by yourself or with someone else… you leave the house ready for lovely experiences through music.
What varying relationships do you have with each of your instruments… does each of them evoke a different vibe/feeling for you?
You don’t pick up all the instruments you play at the same time. I started piano at 11 and seriously got into flute at 21. You might be in different parts of the world, with different neighbours, different visual settings, with a different lover maybe, but your memories stay with your instruments and the songs you learn. I have named my instruments before or allowed someone to give a name to an instrument of mine if they understand the value and connection there is between the instrument and it’s player.
Each instrument is a world of its own. I like to play the same songs on the trumpet, saxophone and flute. Even though it’s the same song it’s a different experience. It feels like a different person has come in, it’s like the pitch, colour and taste of the sound inspires your brain and soul to express something else. I find that fun. Immensely fun.
Colombian folkloric music uses a wide range of traditional instruments… are there any other instruments native to Latin America that you like to jam out with?
We have gaitas in Colombia, it’s a type of flute made from hallowed cactus skin. There are male and female versions, and one of these has only 2 holes. Check out their sound, I recommend the Gaiteros De San Jacinto..
You write beautiful music and have played a few songs for us… what inspired them?
These are songs of love, romance, of touch and feeling. You can imagine what they are inspired by. Messages for the other half. Soundtracks to falling in love, inspired most times by someone who can make a difference.
What about your Soundcloud.. among the latin jazz tracks you’ve produced some more up-tempo house tracks.. ‘For U’ is a particular favourite that layers your harmonies over a very catchy 4×4 instrumental.. . clearly some time has gone into the production of these tracks (‘For U’ feels like a professional edit)… how did these tracks come about?
For ‘For U’ I was just simply walking through a farm when I received a feeling (this obviously sounds a bit nuts!) and when I tried to bring the feeling out I made the bassline to that song and everything came together. The chorus is rooted in the bass line. It’s definitely a Latin feel with the urban vibe we have in London. I just can’t wait to have new stuff on that Soundcloud.
We’ve seen you laying down some rhythms at old street station. How long have you been busking for and do you do it all over London?
I’ve been busking in London for 3 years now. I love Old Street, it’s the architecture of the place, the people walking down the stairs in your direction, the sound flying up that tunnel as far as possible. I like busking outdoors as well when it isn’t too cold but the underground is a preference. Whether the coins drop or not is ultimately the goal.
How does busking day to day make you see London and London life on a social and cultural level? What’s it like to be able to have an impact, no matter how large or small, on people’s daily commute?
Busking in London makes me see the city as an opportunity to make money and improve musically. It makes me see London as an intense, fast-moving spot; so many people carrying thoughts and feelings. I bring them all together when they all hear the same sound.
People are quite divided and isolated on their own, its not often there is a reason for integration on the Underground. It’s so different when the ice is broken and you’re able to smile and hug other people just because the atmosphere is there to do it.
You and Ollie have strong musical ties, tell us about your exploits with the north London guitarist….
I love Ollie, we’re all about mantra really, zen. He plays jazz, blues, RnB, reggae, flamenco… he plays them all and can fuse them, any key, any time… I like to call him a musical Jesus Christ who makes all things possible.
We do gigs, usually solo and busking. The first tunes on my Soundcloud are with him. We have done everything from dinner parties to performing at Passing Cloud, East London. Ollie understands the Latin vibes and has got the necessary urban feels because some stuff is too Latin to perform so the urban takes what’s needed yet keeps the song’s authenticity.
Are there any venues or bars that might have a special place in your heart, places you’ve played before or love to go to listen to good music.. or play yourself..?
I love Troy Bar. On a Tuesday (neo soul and RnB), Thursdays reggae!! Friday funk and jazz jam. I’ve been going there for 4 years, had all my birthdays there. A lot of jamming and enjoying music, it’s hard to believe the standard of music I hear for such a good price!
If by some coincidence you got stuck on a desert island with only 3 worldly possessions in your mochila, what would you choose?
Djembe, sax and flutrumpet. Those items would keep me content until I die, maybe more so than a female lol!
Stay tuned for more videos from Tito Gomez and keep up with him on his Soundcloud.
Orlando DM