Life & Work with Armando Garibay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Armando Garibay.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In the mid 90’s I was a part of my mother Mexican Folkloric dance group. That is where my love of music and performing originated. After a car accident involving members of the dance group, my family moved to Pueblo, CO. In the early 2000’s I began making DJ mixes and eventually music production. My brother and I started a music production company in Pueblo where we worked with Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B, and Latin artists. During this time I began to hone my skills of music production and song writing. In 2009, we moved to Denver to further our music careers. We opened several studios across the Denver Metro area working with local and artists across the country During this time I started a music project called The Circus House which was Electro Indie Pop. From 2011 to 2016, The Circus House released three albums, and performed all over Denver. In 2016 I began to conceptualize my next project, Machu Linea.

In 2017, I released my first Machu Linea album with a mix of different artists from the Denver area…. the experimental Hip-Hop artists, Rare Byrd$, the cinematic Orchestral Indie Folk of Morning Bear, and Victor Hernandez of the Latin Surf Rock band, Vic N’ The Knarwhals. 2020 saw the release of my latest concept album, HeXotica. Made in the last two years, HeXotica is Psychedelic mix of House, Hip-Hop, Latin, R&B, and Pop music. The album features Denver artists like Rare Byrd$, FelixFast4Ward, Kid Astronaut, Mica Ray, Destino, Shocker Mom and EVLLQN. The album also features appears by some of my favorite drag artists, Reprobabe and Lisa Frank 666.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to now has not been a smooth road…. but that has made the music more interesting. Some of the struggles I have dealt it include mental health issues, adapting to the changing city of Denver, and the everyday issues of being an independent/DIY artist.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Most of my artistic work involves music production, songwriting and performing. I am most proud of the albums I have made… three with The Circus House and two Machu Linea albums. I have been incredibly lucky to have come across and worked with so many talented, genuine, and hardworking artists. Whether it be recording, writing lyrics, performing, I truly cherish the work I have made with so many great artists… they constantly keep me inspired to further develop my skills. I think I am known for my beats? I try to create a certain sonic mood, soundscape. The sound really depends on who I work with but I try to keep things beat heavy, lush, layered, and other-worldly…. and sexy.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite memories would be dancing in my mother’s Mexican Folkloric group…. driving home from practice listening to 90’s R&B.

Contact Info:

• Email: machulineamusic@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram/machu_linea
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/machulineamusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MachuLinea
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYidGE_VMSz6L1bmqRjgogA
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/armando-garibay-621117626

Image Credits
Otter J