Gaby Moreno
Bio
Armed with a warm, soulful sound, the Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated artist Gaby Moreno creates music that offers an intoxicating invitation into her musical world for English and Spanish speakers alike. Since moving to Los Angeles from her native Guatemala, singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released 9 albums, received her first Grammy award in 2024 for her project X Mí (Vol. 1) (Best Latin Pop Album, 2024), earned additional Grammy nominations for her albums Alegoría (Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album, 2023) and Illusion (Best Latin Pop Album, 2017), and has won two Latin Grammy Awards (Best New Artist, 2013 and Best Traditional Tropical Album, 2023). Moreno has shared the international stage with pop music luminaries such as Bono, Andrea Boccelli, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, Punch Brothers, Hugh Laurie, Buena Vista Social Club, Calexico, David Gray, and many more. Through her various projects, Moreno has redefined Americana as the only prominent Latina in the genre today, opening the doors for other marginalized voices and transforming the landscape overall.
In addition to her critical acclaim within the music industry, Moreno has also amassed a long list of accolades within the TV and film worlds. Most famously, she co-wrote the seminal theme song for cult classic TV show, ‘Parks and Recreation’. Her moving version of the classic song “Cucurrucucú Paloma” was chosen to play at the end of the emotional episode "God Bless America" for the last season of Netflix's original show, "Orange Is The New Black”. Most recently, her music was featured in Guillermo Del Toro's new Netflix show ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ as well as receiving a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards nomination for her song on the film ‘The Valet.’ Later in 2023, she wrote and performed the lead song “El Saber” for the acclaimed film “Radical”, starring Eugenio Derbez.
Her album “¡Spangled!” - a collaboration with musician, songwriter and arranger, Van Dyke Parks – is a set of ten songs celebrating the migration of song across the Americas and spans more than a century, including a bolero from Panama, a bossa nova from Brazil, and an elegiac ballad from the Southwest United States. The album features a duet with Jackson Browne and an art cover designed by Klaus Voormann (who designed The Beatles’ Revolver cover). Gaby was also chosen to sing the theme song and voice a character (Marlena) on the multi-Emmy Award-winning Disney children’s television series, “Elena of Avalor,” which features Disney's first Latina princess. More recently, she composed all the music for the movie “Language Lessons”, directed by Natalie Morales and co-written/starring Morales and Mark Duplass.
In 2020 she produced, co-wrote, and sang the duet “Bolero a La Vida” with legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo from Buena Vista Social Club fame and received a Latin Grammy nomination in the “Best Tropical Song” category. In 2022, Moreno released her latest album, Alegoría, produced by herself, featuring among others her guitar heroes Marc Ribot and Davíd Garza. The album comprises 11 songs both in English and Spanish, exploring themes of hope, love, nostalgia, and desolation. Alegoría received a US Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album in 2023 with fellow nominees including Rosalía, Mon Laferte, Fito Páez, Jorge Drexler and Cimafunk.
In 2023 Gaby released her new project X Mí (Vol. 1) via the trailblazing label Cosmica Artists. Ushering in a new chapter for the beloved artist, X Mí (Vol. 1), pronounced “Por Mi”, is a collection of rich and soulful acoustic songs that have remained dear to Gaby’s heart for years now in both English and Spanish. It’s lined with Gaby’s one-of-a-kind sound that has garnered large critical acclaim and the attention of some of today’s most esteemed artists.
The acoustic project featured a striking collaboration between Gaby and Golden Globe-winning / Emmy-nominated actor, producer, and musician Oscar Isaac through a moving rendition of the beloved Guatemalan treasure, "Luna de Xelajú." The collaboration saw the two artists and close friends coming together to celebrate their shared roots, honoring their beloved country of Guatemala and their families, through a combined love for music.
In November 2023, Gaby received a Latin Grammy award in the “Mejor Album Tropical Tradicional” category for her work as a producer on Omara Portuondo’s ‘VIDA’, further showcasing her immense skill as both an executive producer and all-around musician.
In a historic move, the X Mí (Vol. 1) earned Gaby her first ever Grammy nomination, winning Best Latin Pop Album in February 2024, that followed a breathtaking performance of the song at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony alongside singer and songwriter El David Aguilar.
Also in February 2024, Gaby released her critically acclaimed new album, Dusk, via Cosmica Artists. It featured a striking rendition of "Luna de Xelajú" with Oscar Isaac paying homage to their shared Guatemalan roots. The album pays homage to Gaby’s life story, particularly her life-changing move from Guatemala to the United States in pursuit of her dreams. Rooted in Americana, it’s an album about change — and how to embrace even the most unmooring transitions with hope, touching on fear, loneliness, courage, and the many feelings that came with the drastic change. Gaby co-produced the album with Nashville producer Dan Knobler and it is lined with a melting pot of sounds such as blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and Latin folk featuring songs in both English and Spanish.
Additionally, Gaby made her US late night TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2024 featuring a moving rendition of her track "Luna de Xelajú" with Oscar Isaac. She delivered an electrifying performance of her breakout track “Solid Ground” from her latest album Dusk on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in June 2024.
In addition to her dynamic work within entertainment, Moreno has cemented a long trajectory as a champion for immigration rights and social issues dear to her. She was recently named the first Unicef Goodwill Ambassador from Guatemala. She is focused on mentoring young female artists and creatives.
It’s clear that Gaby remains a force to be reckoned with within the larger music arena.
