As a music enthusiast, nothing beats minding your own business on a random Tuesday and finding a video clip of a masterful musician playing a subgenre you never knew existed. Unfamiliar with and immediately delighted by Spanish Twang, I set out to investigate Valencia born musician Twanguero’s discography and discovered a treasure trove of unique efforts-each unlike the other-blending classic Spanish guitar, cumbia, rumba, calypso, blues, rockabilly, world music, country, tango and surf rock in a skillful way I’d not heard before. Reading more about the Latin Grammy winning artist who’s been boldly described as a” fire breathing guitar hero”, that discovered his path, entering serious musical Conservatory study before most children can read, my ears were ready to rock and easily folded the well-traveled globe trotter and boat dweller’s musical offerings into my rotation.

Providentially coming across Twanguero as he began his latest tour moving through the Southwest and Spain this fall, I stopped by his recent show in Westlake Village, California that filled the church space with vibrant, soaring, soothing, ethereal and spirited songs off his various albums, and fascinating stories about his time in Argentina, doing ayahuasca in Costa Rica and meeting Gabriel García Márquez in Mexico. Inviting Dominican artist Alih Jey onstage to perform, they dually honored the dearly departed Dolly Parton doing a memorable cover of “Jolene”, which roused the crowd. Being able to regale the audience about communing in the deep jungle and forests of Costa Rica, spending time in India at a meditation retreat and playing Spanish ragtime, the show provided an unforgettable concert experience and further confirmed the talent translates off the record live with a pleasant hit of “Canela y Limón ” for the musical soul.

Luckily getting the opportunity to chat with Twanguero before the show, who joined me from his boat “Panamerica”, we connected about his early start in music and discovering American music from soldiers stationed nearby his Spanish hometown, his Latin Grammy wins, his “Señorita” guitar collection, his Argentina and Costa Rica documentaries, WTF and funny moments touring with Juanes, what inspires him, his thoughts on musical purity and his touring and charitable plans for later this year. Check out the soundclips below and get tix to see him live HERE!

Photo Credit: Piero F Giunti