Meet Lari Basilio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lari Basilio.

Lari, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born into a musical household in São Paulo, Brazil. My father is an accomplished singer and acoustic guitarist. One of my father’s songs had some intricate and very emotional guitar phrasing in it and it touched me in a deep way. From that point on, I wanted to learn all she could about playing guitar. After my father taught me a few chords on an acoustic guitar, I borrowed my youngest brother’s guitar. My very first guitar of my own was a Stratocaster copy I bought with money I made from a part-time job.

Many years later, I took some lessons with some private teachers from my hometown.

In 2011, I started working on her instrumental five-song Extended Play (EP), named, simply, Lari Basilio, which features Felipe Andreoli, bass player in the popular Brazilian band Angra. The EP was produced by five-time Latin Grammy winner Lampadinha.

My second register, the CD and DVD “The Sound of My Room“, was released in August 2015 at Cine Belas Artes in São Paulo. “The idea of taking instrumental guitar music to a movie theater proved (to be) a creative initiative (equal to) the compositions of Lari Basilio,” said Guitar Player Brazil magazine in its October 2015 issue. The 10-song package includes a mini-documentary and behind-the-scenes footage on the DVD.

I won the instrumental category of the Samsung E-Festival in 2014 and performed for a crowd of 15,000 alongside Keb’ Mo’ and Quinn Sullivan at the Samsung Best of Blues Festival in Brazil. I has also opened for guitar clinics by Paul Gilbert and Andy Timmons and appeared at the Malibu Guitar Festival in 2017 alongside Steve Vai. Recently, I was invited by Joe Satriani to be part of the G4 Experience 2019.

I have been featured in national and international media including a story in Guitar Player Brazil (February 2016), the cover of Guitarload (March 2016) and Guitar Fair Magazine (February/2018) from Spain, Worship Musician Magazine (August/2018)and in an interview published on Guitar World’s website.

Currently, I’m based in Los Angeles and my new album “Far More”, recorded at Capitol Studios, is coming out on August 30, 2019, featuring Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), Nathan East (bass) and Greg Phillinganes (keys/piano). Also bringing two very special guests: Joe Satriani (on the track Glimpse of Light) and Siedah Garrett (on the track Man in The Mirror) with a new arrangement by Lari.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Lots of challenges since the beginning, but moving to LA was one of the biggest, no doubt. Moving to a different country, knowing no one was a challenge. It’s been two years now of hard work and it definitely pays off. Great opportunities and I love the city!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a musician, guitar player to be more specific. I have my own career. My music is mostly instrumental and I have a some records out. But I also work as a producer, arranger, session and touring guitarist.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The city of angels always reminds me of all angels that God has put into my life. My family is one of them. My biggest supporters. As independent artist, since de beginning I explore a lot the internet and my audience is constantly growing. Thought my work on social medias, a lot of new opportunities came up. Then, shout out to the internet and all the special people that helps me to spread my music. Also, I’ve been working with some great musicians, partners, producers, professionals in the music industry that obviously have contributed to my career in general. As an example, for my new album (Far More) that is coming out soon, I worked with a great friend and producer Rodrigo Rios, also some of the most amazing musicians in the world: Joe Satriani, Vinnie Colaiuta, Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Siedah Garrett, among others.