GABIFUEGO, the 21-year-old guitarist for the Norwegian indie-pop rock project, boy pablo, has released his latest reggaeton track, “Contigo Tengo Feeling” ft. Astrid S.
Gabriel Muñoz, the Norwegian-Chilean musician who originally hails from Bergen, Norway, has been part of the live band since 2015 and has released 2 EPs, Roy Pablo (2017) and Soy Pablo (2018), where he played lead guitar.
In a YouTube Q&A video posted by his label, 777 MUSIC, they describe him as a “newfound Nordic reggaeton prince”, and Muñoz is truly making himself out to be just that. “Contigo Tengo Feeling” was released June 26, making it the third single he has released as GABIFUEGO.
His first single, “Moviendo” ft. GKR was released in May and subsequently followed by “Para Nada” just under a month later.
His sound is refreshing and blurs the margins of indie and reggaeton genres, creating something entirely new and bold in the midst of it all. Looking up to esteemed artists of new wave reggaeton such as J Balvin and Bad Bunny, GABIFUEGO is on the path of establishing himself as one of the talented, budding young artists that are pushing the boundaries in music today.
The Knockturnal checked in with GABIFUEGO to weigh in on his new music, his experience with boy pablo, and the impact the duality of cultures has on his work.
The Knockturnal: Tell us about yourself. How would you describe your music?
GABIFUEGO: I’m just a dude from Bergen, Norway, that is making reggaeton. My music is really just a mix of everything I listen to, with a focus on mainstream reggaeton. I write about experiences and thoughts that go through my head and put it on some cool beats.
The Knockturnal: You released your first 3 singles, “Moviendo,” “Para Nada,” and “Contigo Tengo Feeling” back to back. Did you feel that it was important to give listeners a strong set of songs in order to get to know you better?
GABIFUEGO: Yeah! I really wanted to show people that I have some versatility and that I’m trying to figure out my sound while actually making the music [itself]. The three songs I have out now are very different from each other in my opinion, and I hope it gets people interested in what I’m releasing next.
The Knockturnal: As a guitarist for boy pablo, how has that experience informed your own practice as a musician and what have you learned from it?
GABIFUEGO: I feel the experience I’ve had with boy pablo has built up and expanded my understanding of music, but most importantly the confidence. I don’t think I would have had the guts to actually start a solo project without having the experience and support that I have with my friends in boy pablo.
The Knockturnal: “Contigo Tengo Feeling” features fellow Norwegian, singer Astrid S. On the song, she sings in English and Spanish. In your opinion, how does the duality of cultures and languages influence the way you approach music-making?
GABIFUEGO: It really inspires me and I really like combining languages and expressions. Everybody has their expression and their own voice, and I feel that it sometimes doesn’t matter if you understand as long as you’re vibing to what they make. For example, in the song I have with GKR I don’t know what he is saying but I love his verse on my song. I think if I would make him sing in English, some of the magic and the things I love about his expression would disappear. Our world has never been this connected, and I love how we blend cultures and languages, that’s how we learn from each other.
The Knockturnal: Are there any other projects currently in the works? If so, what sounds can we expect to hear from you in the future?
GABIFUEGO: Yes! I’m working really hard to keep up the pace and show people what I have stored. I’m finishing an EP as I’m writing this, and it will come out late August. I’m really stoked to show people what I’ve been working on!
