O Gajo

Portugal

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João Morais aka O Gajo (the dude), began his guitar-playing career fronting bands on the punk-rock circuit until a fortunate encounter with the sonic depths to be found emanating from a Viola Campaniça, the 10-string lute with origins in the Alentejana region, set him on a wider path. Adopting it as his own and returning to explorations of his Portuguese roots, he developed a captivating personal style dedicated to expanding the possibilities of the instrument, allowing in other influences, both musically and thematically, creating a hybrid of traditional and contemporary impressions of varying moods and sonority, explored over three albums since 2017. His compositions are without words but he says each one tells a story, describing a character or place, distilling atmospheres and emotions. Whether fronting his trio or solo, he's O Gajo.