With a career that spans participation in major national heavy metal bands, Rio de Janeiro musician Gustavo Di Padua has also worked as a sideman for prominent artists such as Erasmo Carlos, Sidney Magal, Kelly Key, and Maurício Mattar. His career, now seen as a benchmark, began at the age of 13, where he quickly understood that would be his destiny from then on. He played in a large number of bands, developed as a composer, and also started producing music very early. According to him, his career went through many processes:
“I evolved in a very cool, very fluid way. Working from a very young age in all areas I could in music. I’ve always been an artist, composer, guitarist, singer, music producer. In addition to my own work, I accompanied and produced other artists. I played with big names in Brazilian music, in important bands. Until very recently, I gave many guitar lessons a week, had a music school, a studio, anyway… I didn’t even see the career starting (laughs). I just kept going and never thought of doing anything different from that, and there it goes, 32 years,” he analyzes.
His musical journey includes the following discography:
• THE STAIRS (instrumental) released in 2008,
• O OUTRO LADO, in 2015. In this work, Gustavo also acts as a singer.
• In 2022, he released “TEM ROCK NO SAMBA” Vol. 1, which features great Samba classics transitioning into the Rock universe in original reinterpretations. A project that began in 2014, prompting the artist to release it as an album.
• In 2023, another reinterpretation project turned into an album, “ROCK IN QUINTA.” They are Rock classics in instrumental version.
A project that started as a series of videos and turned into a compilation. Throughout all these years, in addition to these albums, he released singles separately, such as “LIFE’S CHANGING,” “EVERYTHING IS HERE” parts 1 and 2, among others. According to the artist, his new album should be coming out soon: “And there’s a new album coming out soon, it’s still in the final production phase, and we’ll have news soon,” he says. For those who wish to pursue a solid career in music, Gustavo gives tips: “You can only be in this if it’s real. It has to be from the inside out. If you love music and only see yourself doing this, if this is your dream and this is what you really want for yourself, go for it! Move forward believing, evolving.
It’s important to study a lot, practice a lot. Play alone and play with musicians. Preferably better or more experienced than you. Getting into some universes that sometimes are not what you like the most can be very good. This, as a study at the beginning, and then it will be important professionally if this is one of your fields of work. Knowing these different languages and broadening your horizons.
These things will add to your baggage and at some point may add to your identity. Which is another very important thing. Identity. For me, the most important. And it’s not simple. Creation, discovering your own voice. Improvising is wonderful, but I always encourage my students and beginners to compose. Always create! Train the creation of solos, arrangements, songs, and stay tuned to the other instruments,” he states. Learn more: IG: @gustavodipadua YT: @gustavodipadua Press IM Press&MKT Isabele Miranda
