10 Questions with ... GAWVI

Website:  http://www.gawvi.com/

1. Brief history/synopsis.

I was born in NY but raised in South Florida. I grew up in a Spanish home where on Saturday mornings my mom would wake us up by blasting Spanish music, every Spanish house knows what I’m talking about! That’s how we knew it was time to clean. ha. I have always loved music though. As far as I can remember, all I ever spent my time on was music. I used to be in high school and banging on the lunch tables. When I went to college, I barely went to class because I would rather stay in my room and make music. Being from New York, growing up in Florida, coming from a Dominican and El Salvadorian background, the heavy influences of culture were all around me. Now I live in Atlanta, GA and the culture is different. The music is different. I’m always inspired by my surroundings. I believe that is why my music is able to reach so many different people because I grew up around so many different cultures.

2. What does a normal day at home look like for you?

It's kind of hard to have a normal day as an artist because you go through constant transitions, and schedules fluctuate, but when I'm home, I make it a point to be in the present moment with my family.

3. What’s the song that you just can’t get out of your head right now?

Juan Luis Guerra "Frio". Everything about it is PERFECT.

4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges?

With my debut album We Belong, we've been booking more shows which is very exciting and at the same time difficult because I miss my family when I'm on the road. I'm still figuring out how to balance life on the road and being a family man.

Life on the road is crazy. I'm not sure I am used to it yet. Being an artist is different and sometimes has its challenges, but I wouldn't change it. The hardest part is when I have to leave my wife and my daughter. I never want to leave them. I try to make sure that when I come home from traveling that I spend time with them, be present and make sure my daughter knows she has my attention.

5. What Artist or Pastor has had the greatest impact on you?

From my teenage years to now I have to say my youth pastor Jon Hernandez and Lecrae have had the greatest impact. They are men of character and great mentors that have poured into my life and I'm grateful for their leadership.

6. What’s the last book you read?

You and Me Forever by Francis Chan helped me view my relationship with my wife with a different lens in respect to leading her with the thought of eternity.

7. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?

This is both embarrassing and funny! I'm sleeping in the middle bunk of our tour bus and around 3am I wake up out of nowhere feeling confused as to where I am. At night on a tour bus, it's pitch black and you can't see anything. It almost feels like you’re sleeping inside of a coffin and that's exactly where I thought I was. I yelled so loud for help and woke up the entire bus. Luckily I had Andy Mineo and Propaganda drag me out of my bunk and help me come back to the realization that everything is OK. For the rest of the tour, all the guys were making jokes asking if I needed to be tucked into bed.

8. Take us through a couple songs on your latest project, "We Belong"

I really wanted to put together a project that reflected my passions musically and to bring forth topics that were relevant to our culture, including our recent state as a nation as it pertains to cultural diversity.

My first single “Closer” is a song that really communicates what hope and grace looks like. We all go through difficult times in our lives that can cause us to question our purpose and identity. There usually comes a point within that season that allows for us to make a choice in whether we will dwell in the negative of our journey or learn to embrace the good in it, and continue to pursue what our desires have always been!

One of my favorite songs on the album is probably Rock & Roll featuring Elhae. I remember living in LA when I was pursuing music as a young and up-and-coming producer, and trying to build genuine relationships in the midst of so many other people pursuing their dreams in the industry can make it challenging. It's easy to get lost in the lights and glamour, of what we assume this life can look like, but the reality is that most of it can become false if you aren't careful.

9. What organization/service group are you affiliated with?

I’m currently fundraising for charity : water. They are a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. When I was growing up my parents would take me to visit different countries including where they are from (Dominican Republic & El Salvador) to connect with our roots. I also had a chance to be a part of a couple of International mission trips and each experience  impacted my life, from seeing things we take for granted here in the States aren't always readily available in other countries. One of those things is clean water and I feel it's important to provide that basic necessity for everyone. If you would like to donate or find out more information, please visit: https://donate.charitywater.org/gawvi/in-the-water-with-gawvi

10. Person you’d most like to have a discussion with, living or dead.....Deities are excused from this question

Kanye West, musically. Creatively he has pushed the limits and I feel musically he is a genius. I would like to have an opportunity to see his process of creating.

1. Favorite Bible Verse….life verse?

I don't have a favorite verse but I do have a favorite book of the Bible. Ephesians was an eye-opener for me and it allowed me to understand the gospel and grab a hold of my true identity in Christ.

2. How & when did you become a believer?

In high school my youth pastor broke down the story of Jesus dying on the cross like I had never heard before and through that I was able to learn what community and discipleship looked like.

3. What’s the biggest “God moment” you’ve ever experienced? Personally or professionally, when has God shown up in a powerful way?

The song "Late Nights " describes that moment when I was in my lowest point and God literally woke me up from an addictive late night lifestyle.