Gaby Castro can’t see herself doing anything other than singing and writing music. It’s so much more than what she does–it’s who the strumming songbird truly is.
Castro was introduced to the power of music through choir when she was in the third grade. Her love for the art form grew after she was gifted a guitar at age 13 from her parents. It was at that moment she knew she wanted to pursue music as a career and she hasn’t missed a beat.
The folk Americana singer-songwriter started voice lessons when she was 14. Her teacher Angela Arana has been a strong supporter throughout her career and still instructs Castro today.
“She’s just a kind and supportive person,” Castro said. “She believes everyone has a gift and she wants to just help people develop it. She’s a performer as well. She was actually trained by Michael Jackson’s voice teacher. He told her that she had a gift of teaching and she went from there.”
Castro will be performing at 7:30 pm Saturday, May 20th at Tateuchi Hall and will feature selections from her own repertoire and songwriters who have inspired her writing, including Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Jewel.
While she plays several instruments including the ukulele, piano and mandolin, the six-string guitar is her favorite instrument. It’s familiar and she feels like she is always learning something with this particular instrument.
Music is something that has always been a part of her world. She started writing songs when she was 12 and laughs as she remembers jotting down song ideas during her Spanish and math classes. The shining star is fluent in Spanish and has a Master of Arts in Music Business through Berklee Online and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.
The inspiration for her music comes from her experiences. An advocate for mental health, she says her music is therapeutic.
“My first song was about being bullied and mental health wove itself into that because from a young age I’ve always had anxiety and as I got older I developed depression as well…Music is what keeps me going. It’s a part of me. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Helping others heal through her music means a lot to the 28-year-old musician as well. In addition to her singing and songwriting, she is also a music educator. She has taught in CSMA’s Music4Schools program since 2021.
Her advice for aspiring musicians? Just go for it and research resources that can help you hone your craft.
“I just feel like there are so many more resources now for young artists to take advantage of. And really it doesn’t matter where you live, “ she said. “I say just pursue your passion. Even if you don’t want to pursue music as a career but even as a hobby, it’s so worth it.”
Castro looks forward to sharing her journey through music at her upcoming concert. Hope, healing and heart will all be on display during her performance.
“I plan on giving the story behind the songs,” she said. “I’ll talk about how I started writing songs to cope with being bullied and how it was a way for me to express myself. And then I realized I could help people with my music and that’s why I’ve continued to do it–because it helps me and it helps others.”
By TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton
