Gabi Soto: When the well-done work is noticed

He feels at ease. He enjoys the mid-morning local scene, the Coca-Cola he's drinking, and the aroma of stews cooking that wafts from the kitchen. In the background, the chords of Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach's The green grass starts to grow accompany the moment, and Gabi Soto, who, like every day, has been awake since four in the morning, closes his eyes and, smiling, lets himself be lulled by the atmosphere of the Bar.

"Technically, I'm very limited; my guitarist model is Johnny Ramone, that tells you everything," confesses this self-taught musician who, ever since he picked up his brother Jordi's guitar at 12, felt the need to create through music. "I end up getting things done out of stubbornness, although now that I'm learning to play the piano, I must say I miss a theoretical foundation."

He debuted in high school days "with a group my friend Carlos and I put together, called Super Small, which tried to emulate the Pixies." And he sips a drink, before adding, laughing: "we were terribly bad." Later, he honed his skills with Los Soberanos, the legendary Barcelona band of sixties Iberian pop, in whose ranks he played between 1997 and 2002. "That was a great school for me. We played a lot, we toured, I made very good friends, and I learned a lot of things," recalls this devotee and staunch defender of 60s Spanish popular music.

A love that has been reflected in later projects such as Zola, Los Popov, or Los Bics and with his new band, Los Belter, who are debuting these days with the EP En tu ventana, produced by Marc Tena –"I don't even consider recording with anyone else!"– and which includes some eminences of Barcelona pop in its line-up. A reward for a job, musical and personal, very well done. "I haven't had alcohol for two and a half years, and I'm lucky to have the support and affection of my partner, Matilde." He smiles again, before concluding: "I think she doesn't even realize how much she helps me!"

Of hearts and ants

Published in its day on CD by the small label Discos de Paseo, Gabi does not rule out a possible vinyl reissue to give new luster to songs like Viernes 5 or De corazones y hormigas. "Time will tell if it's possible to do it or not."

Another of his musical adventures was his time with Los Popov, led by singer Inés Bayo. "I was with them for about three years and, later, I collaborated on the album that Inés did not get to see finished, because she died before, in 2019." The LP was released by the Discos Sélak label, promoted by Pablo Jiménez and in which Gabi is involved. "And, although it came out a few years ago, we are trying to give it a second life because it is Inés's great legacy. It has beautiful songs that deserve to have maximum projection." Well-done work must be noticed.

Born, live, and (probably) die in Barcelona

The parishioner admits that the city has changed at a much faster pace than his own, and also admits that the blame for many bad things that happen to the city "lies with us Barcelonans who complain about problems we have contributed to creating." Sometimes he sees it "like an ex-girlfriend you loved very much and whom, despite the turbulences experienced, you still somehow love." And he finishes his Coca-Cola, before stating: "I was born here, I have lived my whole life here and everything indicates that it will be here where I die."

--- Well, that cannot happen without you first trying our exquisite cuisine. Lunchtime is approaching and perhaps we can offer you some tapas, a portion, or a dish…

Gabi Soto lets himself be tempted. In the background, the notes of Bacharach's Always something there to remind me. On the menu, tripe and snails. The decision is between these two. "I love both." And while he thinks about it, he asks for "another Coca-Cola" to drink. And, please, also, that the conversation be extended.