Conceived by guitarist and composer Thiago Valle , Gypsy Tears invigorates us with their original art, full of energy and pure hard rock. Their compositions showcase striking riffs, melodic vocals combined and very well harmonized with the weight of the drums and bass. With very dynamic influences among the members, ranging from country and blues to progressive and power metal, the band displays a remarkable chemistry and vitality in their music.
In 2021, Thiago released an album of songs he had been composing for several years, all instrumental. In addition to the compositions, he also did the arrangements, guitars, acoustic guitar, and viola caipira. Thiago decided to call on his friend, producer, and musician Arthur Luiz to play drums, bass, and produce the album. The album, titled Gypsy Tears, was released on all digital platforms with 13 tracks. It was also released on CD containing two bonus tracks.
“Gypsy Tears is a name I always wanted for my band, and until now it never happened, so I decided to name this solo album that,” says Thiago Valle, who always tried to create a band, but due to difficulties finding the right people, he couldn't get his project off the ground.
The recording of Gypsy Tears' first album.
In 2022, Thiago decided to record a new album, but this time with vocals, since most of his compositions had lyrics and vocal melodies. “I made a selection of songs that I had already composed over the years. I finished composing some others and called Arthur Luiz again to record them. He suggested John Laporte, a vocalist from Belo Horizonte, to handle the vocals on the recordings, and that's how it was done.”
Thirteen songs were then recorded. The compositions, lyrics, arrangements, and guitars were by Thiago Valle. Bass, drums, and production were by Arthur Luiz. And the vocals and backing vocals were by John Laporte. The result couldn't have been better, but Thiago kept the compositions on hold because he didn't want to release the songs without having a band ready. "That doesn't work. I needed to have the members aligned with the band's proposal to release the album and do shows," says Thiago, already hardened by previous experiences with musicians who didn't work out.
The friendship between John and Thiago grew stronger. They played and drank together, and did some acoustic performances with the recorded songs. Then Thiago felt that his dream band of original hard rock could finally be born. All that was missing was finding the rhythm section to complete the team, since his friend Arthur had moved abroad after the recordings were finished.
On May 5, 2023, Thiago decided to release the single "Walking Alone." Despite the mistakes made by the distributor during the release and promotion, a teaser was posted on Instagram. And fate intervened, and someone began interacting with Thiago, praising his work. This person was the drummer that Thiago's luthier had already recommended, and they decided to schedule an audition.
The formation of the band
Thiago sees great potential in drummer David Augusi , who decides to join the project and his new friend's dream. David suggests bassist Cleiton Hipólito , a graphic design professor and well-known musician in the Passos-MG region, where he and David live. With that, the Gypsy Tears team is complete. Thiago, despite being from Belo Horizonte, lives in a small town next to Passos, São João Batista do Glória. Since John Laporte lives in Belo Horizonte, they decide to have a general rehearsal without a vocalist at first, just to interact and get to know each other better. The chemistry between them was instant.
The band has already released three singles. Besides the aforementioned "Walking Alone," they've released "Taste of Rain" and "Angel of Sin," included below. The band plans to release a full album, still untitled, in October. They've been performing regularly and are already accumulating fans wherever they go. In addition to several shows in Passos and the surrounding region, they've also performed in Belo Horizonte and São Paulo at various pubs.
The band maintains the identity of authentic hard rock. John proves to be a very talented vocalist, full of energy and vibrancy. The rhythm section of the friends from Passos shows drive, strength, and a lot of energy, while Thiago has art running through his veins. In addition to writing the compositions, he is a virtuoso guitarist and visual artist, which is why he also designs the band's visual identity. He has already created a comic book and has a project to customize musical instruments with his art.
The Gypsy Tears lineup and releases
John Laporte: Vocals;
Thiago Valle: Guitar, backing vocals and compositions;
David Augusi: Drums;
Cleiton Hipólito: Bass and backing vocals
Listen to Gypsy Tears' work at the links below:
