Tag Archives: Alegoría

Oscar Isaac Teams Up with Gaby Moreno to Release Stripped-Down Cover of “Luna de Xelajú”

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Oscar Isaac is paying homage to his Guatemalan roots through song…

The 44-year-old Cuban-Guatemalan actor has joined voices with Gaby Moreno to release a stripped-down rendition of the classic waltz anthem, “Luna de Xelajú.”

Oscar Isaac & Gaby MorenoThe lead single off Moreno’s upcoming album was released on Friday alongside a music video directed by Diego Contreras, which sees the two guitarists and singers performing the track in one take at the Palace Theater in Los Angeles.

“‘Luna de Xelajú’ is considered the 2nd anthem of my country, Guatemala. Written by Paco Pérez in the 1940s,” explains Moreno. “I’ve been singing it since I was a teenager and more recently have been performing this song live in my concerts, usually as an encore. I invited my dear friend and incredible artist, Oscar Isaac, to sing it with me for this very special acoustic version…Just two voices with two guitars, singing together this timeless, sweet, and nostalgic song from our motherland.”

Isaac is no stranger to displaying his musical prowess on screen.

The Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated actor played a struggling folk musician in the Coen Brothers-directed Inside Llewyn Davis, and also co-wrote an original song for the 2011 film 10 Years. However, “Luna de Xelajú” is particularly notable because it sees Isaac singing in Spanish.

“My grandmother Graciela Argentina Nicolle de Estrada would perform ‘Luna De Xelajú’ in the concert halls of Guatemala. Growing up it was always hummed or sung as a lullaby by my mother Eugenia, and was a favorite of my uncle Guillermo’s,” Isaac says. “I’m grateful to Gaby for asking me to share this song as a way of honoring my family and all of Guate.”

Since moving to the U.S. from her native Guatemala, Moreno has put out seven albums with her 2022 record Alegoría earning a Grammy nomination for best Latin rock or alternative album. She was previously nominated in 2017 in the best Latin pop album category for her Spanish-folk album, Ilusión.

In addition to her music, Moreno has a long list of credits in TV and film. She co-wrote the theme song for Parks and Recreation, and most recently collaborated on Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix show Cabinet of Curiosities.

Moreno also received a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards nomination for her song “A Song In My Heart” in the Eugenio Derbez-starring film, The Valet.

“Luna de Xelajú” is the first single from Moreno’s “X Mí (Vol. 1)” EP (pronounced “Por Mi”), slated for release on May 5 via Cosmica Artists.

The new record — a blend of songs in both English and Spanish — “will house a collection of rich and soulful acoustic songs that have remained dear to Gaby’s heart,” per the press release.

Gaby Moreno to Host Tribute Concert for the Families of the Victims of the Uvalde School Shooting

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Gaby Moreno is preparing for a night of healing for the Uvalde, Texas community…

When the 40-year-old Guatemalan singer-songwriter and guitarist received a notification on her phone about the Uvalde, Texas, mass shooting last week, her first thought was: “Oh my God, here we go again.”

Gaby MorenoThe response was the same one that many people had when news broke about a gunman opening fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde — a small, predominantly Hispanic city west of San Antonio — killing 19 children and two teachers.

“I started seeing the number of people killed going higher and higher with 19 kids murdered, it’s just really heartbreaking,” says Moreno. “And then you start reading the stories about the families and these little kids that were just so beautiful. It’s absolutely devastating. I felt outraged like most people.”

Moreno is now turning that outrage into action.

Her upcoming show in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 4, which was planned originally as a celebratory show in honor of her recently released album Alegoría, has now turned into a tribute concert with 100% of the proceeds going toward the victims’ families.

It’s a decision that was made jointly with her musicians and special guests Watkins Family Hour days after the tragedy.

“My friend David Garza, who will be performing with me that night, suggested it and I was like, absolutely yes, this is what we need to do,” she says, explaining that the money raised via ticket sales will be directly donated to the GoFundMe page set up for the families. “I knew I had to do something about it. I just couldn’t sit … My heart was breaking and it still is. I’m also thankful to all the musicians who will be part of this concert and they’re donating their time and fees.”

Furthermore, Moreno has also made a “pretty big” personal decision. After living in the U.S. for 20 years as a resident, she’s applying for citizenship. “My decision was directly related to what happened with this attack. I want to vote. I want to have a say. Enough is enough! I’ve lived in this country for way too long and what’s happening is now affecting all of us. In this case, directly affecting my Latino community.”

Saturday’s show will be a night of healing, Moreno says. “We’re coming together to enjoy some music with friends, with our community knowing we’re doing it to help others. I’ll be playing a lot of songs from my new album, older songs, a big band on stage with horns. I’m really excited to share all this music and to have an uplifting evening.”

Moreno adds that artists should feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to taking action and speaking up after events like this one. “You should feel grateful that you have your art and do really good things with it. But we should all be taking action. We should all be on our phones calling our representatives and demanding action. A lot of people are outraged the first week but then it dies down and we can’t let that happen. We need to keep putting pressure. That’s going to be what really brings some change.”

Ticket purchases or donations can be made here.