Augusta guitarist and singer Ethan Balducci is the creator and songwriter for the indie-pop project Alto Pablo. Augustans searching for an intimate and unique musical experience can certainly lend him their ears.
Music
Balducci began with piano lessons at a young age, but eventually took a greater interest in his five-string bass guitar, a 10th birthday gift from his family of musicians. From there, he began his musical journey, playing worship music for church and in a band with his friends in fifth grade. This continued until high school graduation when he began playing in his indie-rock band Village Sticks.
“I loved what we were doing, but I wanted another musical outlet. There was something else brewing inside of me, and that’s what Alto Pablo came from,” said Balducci.
During his break from college, Balducci found an opportunity to go on a mission trip to Croatia for two weeks with a friend he made in New York City one year prior. It was during this time that he wrote most of the self-titled Alto Pablo album as he walked around the Croatian mountains carrying a ukulele.
“I don’t think there’s any wrong way to write a song,” said Balducci on the songwriting process. “Sometimes I’ll pick up my instrument and figure out some shapes, other times I use a poem and go from there.”
After his return from Croatia in 2018, Balducci spent four years working from a home studio in Nashville, recording and collaborating with guitarist Michael Hitchcock to complete the self-titled Alto Pablo album.
“Michael and I had a lot to teach each other,” said Balducci about the recording process. “He had a background from Belmont, and I had experience from what I did on my own. We turned the demos I had into a real album.”
It was during this time that he also recorded and released a seven-track EP titled “maroon,” seven months before the release of “ALTO PABLO” in August 2022. “ALTO PABLO” demonstrates an effective balance between digital and acoustic music. Songs like “More Than You’ll Ever Know” and “So Much Closer” use the sounds of acoustic and electric guitars to build the textures, while the rhythm is supported by a digital drum set.
Each song has a unique progression due to Balducci’s effective use of space. There is time between lyrics for the music to build an atmosphere, rewarding listeners for their patience.
“At that time I had been listening to guys like Steve Lacy, Tame Impala and the Shins,” said Balducci. “But you’re always an amalgamation of who you’ve listened to through your whole life.”
In March 2023, Balducci performed his first show as Alto Pablo at the Westobou Art Gallery in downtown Augusta where he debuted his original music alongside guitarist Ethan Stallings. One month later, Black Deck Booking featured Alto Pablo for their Firefly Session series, for which they performed “Classic Mistake.”
On the first anniversary of “ALTO PABLO’s” release, Balducci released the music video for the album’s sixth track, “Don’t Question,” in collaboration with students from Augusta University’s Department of Art & Design. Filming a music video was uncharted territory for Balducci, but it became a significant moment in his career.
“Making a music video was a leap of faith, but it was an amazing experience for me,” said Balducci.
The music video depicts Balducci sharing a red pineapple with a girl, who eventually axes the pineapple to pieces. It then shows him wearing a lab coat, analyzing the remaining pieces and fruitlessly attempting to put them back together. The red pineapple is symbolic of love and what becomes of relationships that go sour. The video ends with Balducci planting a broken piece of the fruit, which eventually grows into a solid gold version of its former self.
“I want people to interpret it a couple different ways,” said Balducci. “But the core of it is about learning trust and growing out of innocence. Both parties need to walk away from it and put themselves back together. That’s what the rebirth at the end is.”
Along with performing with bands Dune Lane, the Ethan Stallings Group, and the Dusty Angels, Balducci has begun writing his second full-length album.
“I’ve been around music my whole life, so it has always given me a connection to something spiritual,” said Balducci about writing music. “I also think it’s huge to be able to tell your story.”
Balducci has also assembled Alto Pablo into a full band and plans to begin showcasing his music around Augusta.
“ALTO PABLO” and “maroon” can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. The music video for “don’t question” can be found on YouTube.
Trevor Percario is a jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer from Chatham, Va. He seeks to share his passion for music with audiences around the world. Reach him at music@trevorpercario.com
