In the Latin music spectrum, music from Spain often gets overlooked. But at LAMC 2010 in New York, Spanish musicians proved that not only do they belong but their music helps lead the Latin alternative scene.
Inspired by meshing rhythms from electronic to tropicália beats, these Latin alternative musicians did not let one particular sound define them. Instead, these Spanish musicians fused modern beats with classic Latin rhythms, creating music that transcended language.
Here are some top artists who blew away music aficionados at the Latin Alternative Music Conference with their ingenuity. And there's no Enrique Iglesias on this list.
El Guincho (aka Pablo Díaz-Reixa)
Take a mini hypnotic dance vacation with each one of El Guincho's songs. Pablo Díaz-Reixa calls Spain home now, but he grew up in the Canary Islands. The sounds of his homeland follow him, which explains why listeners feel like they are partying on a cool tropical beach while listening to El Guincho's uplifting beats.
He's been described as a sample-happy musician, and it's his gift of piecing together familiar music and giving it an entirely new spin that makes El Guincho's songs a true listening experience.
El Guincho meshes not only sounds but cultures with everything from Afrobeat, calypso, dub, tropicália, and even American rock.
Los Punsetes
Somehow Los Punsetes manage to pull off a crude attitude with humorous, edgy, and absurd lyrics. Known for their extraordinary anthem writing abilities and melodic tune production, this indie sensation released their latest album "LP2" to critical acclaim.
These Spanish indie rockers made their US debut at the Latin Alternative Music Conference, where their dramatic performances demanded attention. Lead singer Adriana shows off the band's dark humor by performing motionless set after set.
The Pinker Tones
Highly accomplished musicians and veteran performers, The Pinker Tones masterfully design dance-centric live shows. Frontmen Salvador Rey and Alex Llovet (better known as Professor Manso and Mr. Furia) exude playfulness.
Their latest album "Modular" features the upbeat song "Sampleame," which pokes fun at the art of sampling music. In their song, The Pinker Tones actually borrow from two highly-sampled bands — The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
At an LAMC acoustic show, The Pinker Tones unplugged and rocked an exceptional version of "Sampleame," proving that their genius doesn't only lie behind a synthesizer.
Their pop and rock beats fused with electronica have made Barcelona's The Pinker Tones leaders in the Latin alternative scene for years, and it's their inventiveness, creative lyrics and fresh style that have kept them relevant throughout the years.
Nancy Flores - My freelance work, which ranges from writing articles, producing and editing online video and shooting photos, focuses on Mexican travel, ...
