Conversations with Brian Gil

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Gil.

Hi Brian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in a small town south of Barcelona, Spain, to a Spanish father and an American mother. They had met in the 1970s in Barcelona — she was studying French abroad in Montpellier, and he was an aspiring journalist from Zaragoza, Spain — both in their early twenties.

My sister and I were sent to a French school at age three. We spoke Spanish and English at home, Catalan outside the house, and French at school. It took me a while to learn to read and write, and my teachers suggested to my mother that she stop speaking to us in English so as not to “delay our learning or overcomplicate our lives.” I’m very grateful that she ignored that terrible piece of advice.

I always felt different as a kid, and the other children at school made sure I remembered that. My best friends growing up were either “different” kids with diverse backgrounds (Argentina, Venezuela, Quebec) or those with somewhat “modern” parents.

My upbringing strongly influenced my early life choices after high school. I went on to study History, Music, and Anthropology in Paris, France, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s in Ethnomusicology. During that time, I continued learning about music from around the world and performed and toured with several bands. I also made lifelong friends from all over the world.

When I returned to Spain seven years later, I began working in the music industry — first in publishing, then with independent labels. I kept playing music semi-professionally and after making some bad life choices I ended up working in hospitality to make ends meet. I lived in Madrid for four years, where my father had moved and was raising his second daughter from his second marriage. Later, I returned to Barcelona to take care of my mother, who was struggling with cancer and addiction.

After several years, my sister, mother, and I decided to move to the United States in 2015. We settled first in Miami, where I worked with an artist manager before returning to hospitality to make ends meet. In May 2019, I moved to Palm Springs, CA, to work as a restaurant manager. My older sister, who is the director of the Desert X biennial, introduced me to several people who offered me jobs in the desert.

I stayed sane during the pandemic by taking road trips, hiking, and recording music. When it was finally over, I started working at a natural wine shop and later managed several high-end hotel restaurants as a manager and Food & Beverage Director.

I met Jeanine Rivera and Giselle Woo at my 40th birthday — I had asked them to play, and I’ve been performing with them ever since. I met my wife while working at the natural wine bar Dead or Alive (now closed), and we reconnected after performing with Las Tías during Pride 2023.

After moving every four to six years for 25 years (Barcelona → Paris → Arles → Barcelona → Madrid → Barcelona → Miami → Palm Springs), I’ve finally rooted myself in the Coachella Valley, where I currently teach Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation to high school students, perform regularly, and enjoy life — or at least try to.

(Sorry if this was too much — it just felt good to recap and share it.)

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been privileged in many ways — through education, travel, and opportunities — but I was born into a somewhat dysfunctional family. My parents married young and were the first within my social circle to get divorced (in 1987, only a few years after divorce became legal in 1981), and some of my family members, as well as myself, have struggled with addiction. Living far away from my family and lifelong friends — and the frustration of not always being able to travel — has always been challenging.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Music has always been a refuge for me — an expressive manifestation of self and a way to connect with others in a meaningful way. I studied classical guitar growing up and later began studying Afro-Cuban percussion (congas, bongó) when I discovered my passion for Caribbean and Latin American music, rhythm, and culture. My Venezuelan high school girlfriend probably had a lot to do with that; I used to borrow the mixtapes her family played during their gatherings. Another Venezuelan friend introduced me to the cuatro, a four-string chordophone that completely captivated me.

I’ve kept playing guitar throughout my life, and my ethnomusicology studies in college led me to explore flamenco and rumba techniques that have deeply shaped my playing style. Ironically, I turned my back on mainstream Anglo music at a very young age, and I now listen to more Spanish and Latin music than many of my Spanish and Latin friends.

I’ve had the chance to play in Latin rock bands, tour with a classical cumbia orchestra in France, and perform with “rumba catalana” bands until I moved to the U.S. I currently perform with the traditional Mexican duet Las Tías, which has opened up a whole new musical universe for me. I hope to never stop learning, exploring, and experimenting — sound production is my next challenge.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always open to collaborating with artists and people who share similar interests — feel free to reach out via Instagram @briangilsc or email me at [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangilsc/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangilpro/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@briangil