composer     songwriter     multi-instrumentalist

Christopher Cargnello is a versatile songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist originally from Montreal, Canada. He is highly regarded both in the studio as a producer who brings an effortlessly soulful touch to every project, and on stage as a guitarist with an intuitive grasp of many musical styles.

 

Now based in Toronto, Cargnello has become a frequent collaborator with pop singer and 2019 JUNO Masterclass winner Aiza. Her first single of 2020 "Turn to Gold," co-produced by Cargnello, received high praises from publications such as FADER and Complex, which placed the song among its 10 Best Canadian Songs of January 2020. Cargnello also co-wrote and produced Aiza's debut French-language EP entitled "Adieu," which garnered her the award for "Francophone Artist of the Year" at the 2019 Gala Dynastie awards in the province of Quebec.

 

Cargnello co-wrote & produced six songs on Jamaican-Canadian singer/rapper Jonathan Emile's 2020 album "Spaces-in-Between" including the single "Canopy" featuring Grammy-nominated reggae artist Etana. He also wrote the song "Back to the Mountain" for NYC jazz-pop artist Lisa Gary's 2019 debut album "Goin' Your Way," which was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/arranger Rob Mounsey, renowned for his work with Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, and Diana Ross. Cargnello has written the theme song and featured music for the TV show “The Street Speaks” (MAtv), and scored the soundtrack for the feature documentary “Clay vs. Clay” (Redhead Productions, broadcast on CBC television). His music continues to find placements on various TV networks such as CBC, Netflix, Discovery Channel, Télé-Québec, Évasion, and Canal D. One of Cargnello's longtime collaborators is his brother Paul, with whom he has written and produced dozens of funk-drenched songs under the name Skinny Bros, including features with harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar (founder of the American funk band War), hip hop legend KRS-One, and Lithuanian rock icon Andrius Mamontovas.

 

Cargnello is currently the musical director for Aiza, with whom he will be performing at the 2020 JUNO Awards gala in Saskatoon. He also accompanied her on her first international tour in Brazil in December 2019, as well as showcases in Los Angeles and New York City. After receiving his master's degree in 2009 from McGill University in Jazz Performance, Cargnello went on to perform for a number of years with Félix and Juno award-winning folk-jazz singer Coral Egan, as well as Haitian rapper Vox Sambou and Grammy-nominated Guadeloupean singer Malika Tirolien (of Bokanté and Snarky Puppy). Over the years, Cargnello's eclectic guitar skills have led him to play with a number of acclaimed artists such as keyboardist Roger O'Donnell from the iconic British rock group The Cure, steelpan virtuoso Andy Narell, and 5-time Juno-winning jazz bassist Chris Tarry.

© 2020 Christopher Cargnello