A talented teacher is how we usually define a vocational teacher who connects with their students and conveys the message in a clear and engaging way. Having a talent for teaching is what we look for when choosing professionals for our ESL classes. We love teachers that have the talent of teaching and who can transmit their passion to us learners.

But there is another rare type of teacher, the artist, whose talent goes beyond teaching and touches on the skills of other professions. Xabier Grey, musician, singer, song writer and also English teacher is an example of that guy, whose concert moved me deeply and who is now teaching me English!



Xabier Grey (stage name) is the alter ego of our TEFL team member Xabier Oiarbide Bargos, originally from the Basque Country, in the northern area of Spain.

Although his sensitivity towards music came to him from the very beginning of his consciousness, it was not until he was 25 and moved to Madrid when he started taking it more seriously.

He started recording himself with his mp3 and quickly jumped into a singing academy in the Spanish capital.

In Madrid he started playing some gigs in small clubs and one of his greatest and most therapeutic experiences - playing in the Madrid underground- took him on a trip around Europe and onto UK , last May, 2012.

Full of fears and insecure but with a spiritual power that brings him forward, he still finds it a hard job to believe in himself as a professional artist, but music inspires him. As one of his favourites singers MC has said "I am definitely a melodically driven person".

Melody brings him the message of life, the sense and reason of his stay here, it is a need of communication. His most intimate expression of love which he extremely needs to share with the world to keep his anxiety calm.

Even though his mum was his first inspiration and the one who probably connected his deepest sensibility with music, singing her “copla” melodies (as she used to be professional singer 55 years ago), lots of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and soulful Motown melodies, have contributed to his identity as an artist.

Soul, swing, country and a bit of R&B, always with his inescapable origins, is what he has to bring to you hoping that you will find a message that connects with your deepest self.

Enjoy and admire Xabier's art and music on www.xabiergrey.com