Picture: A vibrant pixel art depiction of Gizmo Varillas strumming his guitar against a tropical sunset backdrop, capturing the essence of his eclectic musical style.
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A mosaic of sound and soul
Gizmo Varillas, born Guillermo Varillas Kortabarria on 9 January 1990 in Santander, Spain, is a Spanish-British singer, musician, and record producer known for his eclectic blend of indie, funk, Latin, and tropical music. Raised between Spain and Wales, his journey reflects a rich tapestry of cultural influences and personal resilience, shaped by his upbringing and musical evolution.
Early life and musical foundations
Varillas spent his early years moving between Spain and Wales, with his mother from the Basque region. At the age of five, he moved to Cardiff, and by 10, after his parents’ separation, he lived with his father in Santander before returning to Wales. This period was marked by the loss of his uncle and grandfather, shaping his perspective on life.
His musical journey began at 10 when he learned guitar from a neighbour, mastering flamenco and classical techniques. By 16, he formed a ska-punk band in Cardiff, setting the stage for his future career, as noted on his official website. His Spanish-British heritage, particularly his Basque roots, influences his music, evident in the flamenco guitar riffs and Spanish lyrics in songs like ‘A La Vida’ from Out of the Darkness (2020), featuring Sergio Mendoza from Calexico.
Career beginnings and breakthrough
Upon relocating to London, Varillas initially pursued studies but soon shifted his focus to music, forming the indie band Crash Island. He self-released an album, working with producer Gordon Raphael, known for his work with The Strokes, as confirmed by About — Gizmo Varillas. In 2015, his breakthrough came with support from BBC Introducing, leading to a management deal. During this time, he worked various jobs—food markets, kitchens, fishmongers—to support his music, finding inspiration in the global sounds at Rich Mix in Shoreditch, where he was exposed to diverse musical styles nightly.
Discography and musical evolution
Varillas’ debut album, El Dorado (2017), was a bedroom project where he played all instruments, engineered, arranged, produced, and wrote each song. Named among the top 10 by Classic Pop magazine, it featured ‘No War,’ which sampled a 1968 John Lennon interview with Yoko Ono’s approval, as detailed on Gizmo Varillas Wikipedia. The title track appeared in Café del Mar XXV Compilation.
His second album, Dreaming of Better Days (2018), included ‘Losing You,’ a response to the Orlando nightclub shooting, recognised as the best song of 2018 by Songpickr, as per Gizmo Varillas’ Beautiful ‘Losing You’ Is A Response To The Orlando Shooting | Clash Magazine.
Out of the Darkness (2020), recorded at RAK Studios, featured Tony Allen on ‘Saving Grace,’ which was premiered by The Independent, with Gizmo Varillas joined by legendary drummer Tony Allen on new single ‘Saving Grace’ confirming the collaboration. It also included ‘Give a Little Love,’ named the number one most beautiful undiscovered summer hit of 2020 by Rolling Stone.
His new album, The World in Colour, released on 21 March 2025 via Sonteca Records, includes the recent single ‘Still Holdin’ On,’ featuring harpist Amanda Whiting. Varillas describes the album as capturing ‘the full spectrum of emotions I’ve experienced – moments of joy, sadness, and all the shades in between.’ He adds, ‘It’s been a journey of self-discovery and growth, and I can’t wait to share it with the world,’ as noted on Gizmo Varillas – The World In Colour.
Musical style and influences
Varillas’ music is a unique fusion of indie, funk, Latin, and tropical sounds, reflecting his diverse cultural background and musical influences. His flamenco-influenced guitar playing, a nod to his Spanish roots, adds a distinctive flavour to his songs, evident in tracks like ‘No War’ from El Dorado.
From introspective and acoustic tracks to energetic and danceable numbers, his music connects deeply with listeners, evoking a range of emotions. His collaborations with artists from various genres, such as Tony Allen’s Afrobeat rhythms on ‘Saving Grace,’ further enrich his sound, creating a truly global musical experience, as described in Album Review Gizmo Varillas Out Of The Darkness.
Collaborations and notable works
Varillas has collaborated with notable figures such as John Lennon (sampled in ‘No War’), Tony Allen (last recording before death on ‘Saving Grace’), Baio (Vampire Weekend, ‘Losing You’ remix for FIFA 19, confirmed by Losing You (Baio Remix) – Gizmo Varillas & Baio – FIFA 19 Soundtrack – FIFPlay), Sergio Mendoza (Calexico, ‘A La Vida’), Jack Savoretti (‘Calling Me Back to You,’ part of Europiana, number one on UK album charts), and Noah Georgeson (‘A New Dawn,’ 2022).
His music extends to media, with ‘Fever, Fever’ in Netflix’s Special (2019), as noted on Gizmo Varillas Wikipedia, and compositions for BBC documentaries like Transfer: The Fate of Emiliano Sala (2022) and podcast Transfer: The Emiliano Sala Story (2022).
Live performances and recognition
A prolific live performer, Varillas has opened for artists like Manu Chao, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Natalia Lafourcade, Julieta Venegas, Zaz, and Jack Savoretti across Europe, as confirmed by Gizmo Varillas Wikipedia. He has played at festivals such as Zermatt Unplugged (2019), The Great Escape Festival (2018), Latitude Festival (2018), and Montreux Jazz Festival (2017), with Gizmo Varillas | Freedom for a change | Live Montreux Jazz Festival | emiSeven Media documenting his 2017 performance.
Named Artist of the Month by Caffè Nero in February 2017, he ranked in the top 10 at Eurosonic Festival by 3VOOR12, with his streams growing from one million to ten million monthly.
Personal life and philanthropy
Varillas lives in Brighton with his wife Gati, celebrating their 10th anniversary. His father’s passing at the age of 60 deeply influenced The World in Colour, as he reflects, ‘Through loss, change, love, exploration, and growth, I’ve come to see the world in a richer, more nuanced way,’ from About — Gizmo Varillas. He is actively involved in charity work, supporting Movember (2019) and donating half the profits from his cover of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ to mental health, suicide prevention, prostate, and testicular cancer projects, as noted on his official website.
Recent activities
In February 2025, Varillas released ‘Still Holdin’ On,’ premiering with Under the Radar. He shares, ‘Still Holdin’ On is about finding strength in vulnerability and holding on to hope even when things seem dark. It’s a reminder that no matter what challenges we face, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel,’ as per Premiere Gizmo Varillas Shares New Single Still Holdin’ On.
With The World in Colour on the horizon, featuring collaborations like Amanda Whiting on harp for ‘Into the Night,’ Rob Lewis on strings for ‘Where is the Love,’ and Cande Buasso on ‘Hijo del Mar,’ Varillas continues to push the boundaries of his musical expression, as detailed on Gizmo Varillas – The World In Colour.
Discography overview
| Album | Release Year | Notable Tracks/Collaboration | Recognition |
| El Dorado | 2017 | “No War” (John Lennon sample), “Give a Little Love” | Top 10 by Classic Pop, Cafe Del Mar XXV |
| Dreaming of Better Days | 2018 | “Losing You” (Orlando shooting response) | Best song 2018 by Songpickr, FIFA 19 remix |
| Out of the Darkness | 2020 | “Saving Grace” (Tony Allen), “Born Again” | Premiered by The Independent, Rolling Stone hit |
| The World in Colour | 2025 (March 21) | “Still Holdin’ On” (Amanda Whiting), “Into the Night” | Upcoming, recent single well-received |
Explore more musical journeys
Gizmo Varillas’ story is just one of many inspiring tales in the world of music. To dive deeper into the lives and sounds of other talented artists, check out our Music 🎸 category for more stories, reviews, and updates from the vibrant music scene.