Kasia Dunn
Life has been pretty busy of late. Between a full time job that I love, full time life with my wife and kids, weareallghosts.co.uk and circumambient.co.uk ... there hasn't been a much time for the ol' nanolog. I'm glad there are folks like guitarist Bob Guido that still believe in this little blog and pour their heart into the seven questions. Have a read below and you'll see what I mean:
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1) Who are you and what do you do?
Since I was four years old, people taller than me have been calling me Bobby Guido and insisting I play music. Music has been wonderful to me so far. I craft my own kind of music here in Canada, the old fasioned way, by hand. I come from a smaller community of very talented local musicians where if you sound like someone else, it's going to be obvious that you're a copy. That forces a certain level of honesty and pushes people to work on their own thing that comes from the soul. It's been really good for me - not competing with anyone else but making original music instead.
My home and native land is a strikingly beautiful country that gives me strong feelings of freedom and escape, though at the moment, I am trapped inside. The cold and dark winters here give us lots of inside time. The imagination runs wild while we look out through our frosted windows at the very stark winter landscapes. I grew up down the road from this magical music circus too and that made an impression on me. The recording studio where ambient music was invented in the late 1970's by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Harold Budd and a tremendous group of pioneers in music is still here. It's the birthplace of ambient music and part of the story of Canadian music.
2) What are you working on at the moment?
I think that I've reached a new level of emotional vulnerability in a way that sets what I'm working on far apart from my previous work. I've been on a hiatus from music and during this time, some profound things happened to me and I had a wake up call. I have learned from the darkness that pulls at one's soul. Life's direction inspired me to write “My Last Love“ which implies finality but is truly about a journey that never really ends.
3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you ...
People who's hearts resonate with my heart and elevate my spirit are the kind of people who have always been an inspiration. I've been extremely lucky to have had some incredible mentors along the way who's words have continued to echo in the back of my mind. Words that guide me every day. They inspire.
Bill Dillon. He has this sound with his guitar and guitorgan that is like an entire orchestra from another planet. It's this emotionally charged sound that kind of kreeps up on you and I discovered this on some of my favorite records growing up - Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois, Sarah McLachlan, Robbie Robertson, Counting Crows. It was the kind of thing that turned me into a musical forensic investigator, trying to unlock the secret sounds that he made to understand how magic like that happens. Bill travelled to my studio to play on my latest and he shared some truths with me that were like a map to navigating this life as an artist. His heart is pure and full of passion which is so good. He's a musical hero of mine.
Anna Donahoo. She's a talented songrwiter from Texas. A soft spoken but passionate musician who awakened something fierce inside of me about 10 months ago. I flew down south to Texas and we met and it was life changing. We started to write music together, her on guitar and me at the piano and then the both of us at the piano and it was a miracle. I think we both knew in that moment that we could create something greater together. Something unique and exciting and inspirational.
- Name a place that has inspired you ...
I used to walk around a lot, clapping my hands and listening to the reverb when I went different places.
I like to work in spaces that have a story and a remarkable sound. Places with incredible sonics and reverb. Reverb. Lots of interesting reverb. Places like that inpsire me. Cathedrals, huge empty parking lots surrounded by the high walls of buildings, parking garages, subway tunnels, old schoolhouses and silos. If anyone reading this knows of a really amazing sounding place, especially in Ontario Canada, please contact me here: info@bobguido.com
Canada's natural landscape, I feel is a great part of who I am. I love being outside in nature and I soak up so much of the beauty I experience there and I think it finds it's way into the art. Iceland is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. It's a place that has greatly inspired me and continues to give me a sense of wonder and fills me with excitement and warmth!
- Name some "thing" that has inspired you ...
The search for truth
Kasia Dunn
4) What drives you to do what you do?
Something greater than myself. Music is my little boat that I travel in search of a greater purpose with. A purpose that will, I hope help inspire others to reach their own greater purpose.
5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
respect > honor > love > equality > unity
6) What role does community play in what you do?
Community plays a supporting role and I've tried to help others along the way as much as I can. It's an honor for me to share my knowlege and experience with artists and recording enginners who are doing great things and they all return the help with gratitude. It's important to share whenever you can because you need a strong foundation of musical family when you dedicate your life to music. It's not an easy road to take but it is a complete and fulfilling one. Not everyone has direct support for a music life so it's important to support each other. Support is why community exists isn't it? The greatest supporters are those who help make specific connections for people who need to find one another to help fullfill or complete each other's destiny. Internet community allows for a very specific alignment of people looking to connect with others artistically. It's a blessing that way.
7) What is next for what you do?
I'm at the beginning of a new chapter, dedicated to being a part of a musical team with my musical compadre, Anna Donahoo from Texas. There is a mutual feeling of a greater purpose for us and our music. To live our way into that is more exciting than anything before. We can't wait!
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I can't wait either, Bob! Thanks for taking the time to complete the seven questions so thoroughly.
Bob can be found at the following locations ...
https://bobguido.bandcamp.com/ + http://bobguido.com/
I have embedded his most recent track - "My Last Love" - below ... have a wee listen and if you like what you hear, please do what you can to support Bob's music.
Please Note: Photographs by Kasia Dunn
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