Los Bitchos is a pan-continental band based in London, England. The band consists of Western Australian-born Serra Petale (guitar), Uruguayan Agustina Ruiz (keytar, synthesisers), Swede Josefine Jonsson (bass guitar), and South London-born Nic Crawshaw (drums, percussion). They predominantly play instrumental music in the style of cumbia from the 1970s and 1980s.
Los Bitchos | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Los Bitchos performing at the Wide Awake Festival in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members | Carolina Faruolo |
| Website | losbitchos |
Career and sound
editLos Bitchos was formed in London in 2017.[1][2] Describing the band's sound, guitarist Serra Petale said “I wanted to sound like Van Halen and Cocteau Twins – but from Turkey”, with the band also crediting influences from Petale’s mother’s 70s Anatolian rock records, Ruiz’ Latin-American music collection, Madonna’s ‘La Isla Bonita’ period, “out of control pop” from Jonsson, and punk thanks to Crawshaw’s time drumming in various punk bands.[3]
The band went on to early releases with labels Blak Hand Records, Strong Island Recordings and Bad Vibrations.[4]
In 2019 Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos produced their sold-out debut 7” single ‘Pista (Great Start)’, described as sounding like “William Onyeabor discovering cumbia”.[5]
The band’s debut KEXP session, filmed at Trans Musicales Festival, was released on March 7, 2020. During the Covid lockdowns that followed shortly afterwards, the video gained traction on YouTube, attracting worldwide attention and has amassed over 2 million views.[6] This was followed by a self-released sold-out seven-inch ‘The Link Is About To Die’ in 2020.[7]
In July 2021, Los Bitchos featured on the track ‘Erkilet Güzeli’ by Turkish band Altin Gun.[8]
They reunited with Alex Kapranos to record their debut album ‘Let The Festivities Begin!’ which was released by City Slang in February 2022 alongside a European headline tour. Talking of the collaboration Jonsson said “We asked him to produce us again, and he brought out the best in us in a really encouraging way,” with Petale adding “He used a lot of his vintage gear, including some cosmic synths that give our songs a bit of added sass”.[5]
They released their debut studio album Let the Festivities Begin! in February 2022, with the songs "Good to Go!", "Las Panteras" and "Pista (Fresh Start)" released as singles beforehand.[9][10] Following the release of their debut record, the band received critical acclaim from the likes of BBC 6 Music, KEXP, Rolling Stone Magazine, NME and various other media outlets.
The band made their TV debut to a huge crowd at the Park Stage at Glastonbury in June 2023 as part of the BBC’s coverage of the festival.[11] In June 2024 the band performed live on France’s ARTE TV show Ground Control.[12]
The band’s second album Talkie Talkie will be released on August 30, 2024, again via City Slang Records.[13]
In 2021 Los Bitchos signed a publishing deal with Reservoir Media.[14]
Live career
editLos Bitchos' debut show was supporting The Parrots, at Oslo Hackney on May 10, 2017.
Los Bitchos completed a European tour with Mac DeMarco in 2019[15] and supported acts like Ty Segall and Kikagaku Moyo in London.
A number of high-profile festival sets raised the profile of the band across Europe and North America. The band played sets to huge crowds at Coachella, SXSW, Glastonbury, Rock En Seine, End of The Road, Levitation and Wide Awake Festival. A sold-out tour of the UK followed the album's release.[16]
In 2022, the band joined Belle & Sebastian on a US tour,[17] as well as joining King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on a European tour in 2023.[18]
They have also supported the likes of Pavement, Franz Ferdinand[19] and Parquet Courts.[20]
Discography
editStudio albums
- Let the Festivities Begin! (2022)[21]
- Talkie Talkie (2024)
References
edit- ^ Dolan, Jon (7 February 2022). "Los Bitchos Already Conquered the Globe. You Just Haven't Heard of Them Yet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
- ^ "Los Bitchos: la banda de uruguayas que hacen bailar cumbia a los ingleses". PiiiLA (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ bizzarre (12 January 2022). "London-based, pan-continental female instrumental four-piece Los Bitchos share new single and video, "Pista (Fresh Start)"". Emerging Music. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Los Bitchos Discogs".
- ^ a b "Los Bitchos". City Slang. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Los Bitchos // Live on KEXP from Trans Musicales". www.kexp.org. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Discogs".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Altin Gün Release Double Single "Kisasa Kisas" / "Erkilet Güzeli (ft Los Bitchos)"". ATO RECORDS. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Los Bitchos". Spotify. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Let the Festivities Begin! - Los Bitchos | Album | AllMusic, retrieved 9 July 2024
- ^ BBC Music (23 June 2023). Los Bitchos - The Link Is About To Die (Glastonbury 2023). Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Los Bitchos - Ground Control París - Ver el programa completo | ARTE Concert (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2024 – via www.arte.tv.
- ^ "Los Bitchos : Talkie Talkie : New Album". City Slang. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "RESERVOIR SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH PAN-CONTINENTAL, INSTRUMENTAL BAND LOS BITCHOS".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Richards, Will (18 October 2019). "Mac DeMarco announces support acts for huge UK & European tour". NME. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Los Bitchos". Songkick. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "Belle and Sebastian Release New Single 'Young and Stupid'". SPIN.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Holden, Finlay (13 October 2022). "Los Bitchos have announced a Christmas-themed rework of their debut album, 'Let The Festivities Begin!', and shared the new single, 'Los Chrismos'". Dork. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ patrickmalone1992 (10 June 2022). "Live Review: Parquet Courts, Warmduscher and Los Bitchos at Brixton Academy - Joyzine". joyzine.org. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Entrevista a Los Bitchos: "Cualquiera puede darle su propio significado a nuestras canciones y eso es fantástico"". Dod Magazine (in Spanish). 14 March 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
External links
edit- Los Bitchos at AllMusic
- Los Bitchos discography at Discogs