As the Puerto Rican metal scene looks to reinvent itself and stay afoot in an island where such a heavy sound is often looked upon, young bands like Out of Hand emerge out of the trenches to inject new ideas to the scene they’ve admired for so long and with their debut EP, Icons of Apathy, they also manage to present themselves as one of the original and more powerful voices coming out. (cover for the EP) Icons of Apathy kicks off with “Presage,” a powerful thrash metal and extreme metal blend that will blow listeners away. Then the project seamlessly transitions to the single “Three Way Knife,” an extreme metal and grindcore crossover, which will have everybody headbanging madly. Afterwards, “Harvester of Sins” comes in with more of the power presented in the previous tracks, but with a bit of a slower rhythm in order to calm down the audience. However, Out of Hand speed things up a bit in the following tune, “Clenched Fists,” a song that mixes elements of thrash metal, grindcore and crossover thrash in order to create some fantastic moshpit atmosphere. Finally, Icons of Apathy ends with “Violent Thinking,” a reflective thrash metal and extreme metal mixture that perfectly encapsulates the EP’s essence. (picture of the band as found on their Facebook) With Icons of Apathy, Out of Hand manage to introduce themselves as a force to be reckoned with inside the Puerto Rican metal scene while also displaying their potential to be a group that goes beyond the boundaries of the standard Puerto Rican metal band.
Listen to Icons of Apathy on Bandcamp and Spotify
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As one of the young and active bands of the west side of Puerto Rico, Sniffing Colors has been constantly performing live so it was only a matter before they released their music on streaming platforms and last February they did exactly that when they released some of it as part of their debut EP, Colors, a project that displays many of their influences while they find their identity. (cover for the EP) Starting Colors is “Oceans,” a very relaxing tune that can also be danceable, headbangable and reflective. The project then moves to “Move Like That,” another highly danceable track in the form of power pop. Next the group delivers “Tonight’s Forever,” a song influenced by British rock of the 2000s and some surf rock that will have listeners moving in one way or another as it seamlessly blends into the late night party atmosphere. Finally, Colors closes with “Wrong Number” continues to show some of the aforementioned inspirations while integrating some indie, alternative and dance rock elements. (recent picture of the group performing as found on their Facebook) As previously stated, Sniffing Colors is one of the bands from the west slowly making their way through the scene and Colors is only a demonstration of what they are capable of. As they mentioned in my podcast, the group is currently working on a new project which they hope to release sometime around August, hopefully that will continue to see them grow while keeping some of their roots.
Listen to Colors on Spotify As the scene continues to grow, one of the talents that has been fearless towards exploration while maintaining his roots has been the young Sebastián .Otero. With the release of Cantando al oscurecer: Anjelamaría Dávila en canción the singer-songwriter shows just that and more. (cover art for the EP) Cantando al oscurecer kicks off with the story-driven “Glosas de la Paloma (1),” a mix of Latin rock influences with psychedelia and poetry that pays homage to classic musicians and poets. Afterwards, “No Vuelvas” is a beautiful piano-driven composition that explores love and everything that comes with it. The projects ends with “Epítetos ¿injuriantes? (en estricto orden alfabético),” a display of the .Otero’s vocal skills fused with rock along with an exploration of current political and social issues. (promo for the project as found on .Otero’s Facebook) As mentioned previously, Cantando al oscurecer is a demonstration of the young musician’s talent in just a brief ten minutes as he pays homage to those who came before him while exploring current subjects and keeping his identity as an overall artist. Furthermore, the EP shows his willingness to experiment with different sounds and it shows that he’ll hopefully explore further as his career continues.
Listen to Cantando al oscurecer: Anjelamaría Dávila en canción on Spotify As two of the most active underground trap artists in Puerto Rico right now it was only a matter of time until Enyel C and Gaby Chuleta got together for a collaborative EP or full-length project. If the “SANTINI RMX” is an indication of anything is that all of the artists on that song could do various collaborations with Enyel C, so it is not rare at all to find him once again joining forces with Chuleta to deliver what only seemed natural in Newborn Pleasure! (cover for the EP) Newborn Pleasure! starts right off the bat with “HEELYS,” a danceable trap tune that will definitely have listeners remembering times when things were easier and there weren’t many problems on mind. Afterwards, “SKYWALKER” keeps the party going with another bounce-worthy trap track. “NO GORRA” slowly fades the the short EP away with a laid back sound that will relax listeners all around.
As mentioned previously, Newborn Pleasure! is a collaboration that was just the next natural step for two artists whose chemistry is just perfect. Hopefully, they will continue to join forces in the future to deliver more music that’s at the level of this EP.
Listen to Newborn Pleasure! on Soundcloud and Spotify As one of the bands to stay active in-and-out of the scene for almost 20 years, Psiconautas has been one of the groups to continue push the boundaries for experimental and psychedelic music. After taking a break for almost five years, the ensemble has returned with a three-song single/EP, Me elevas/ Quizás será, that continues to show the band’s surreal and intergalactic interests. (art for the project) Me elevas/ Quizás será starts with “Me elevas,” which turns out to be a somewhat danceable post-punk tune with what is a haunting atmosphere at times. Then the collection moves to “Quizás será,” a highly psychedelic and dreamy tune that is sure to expand listeners’ imagination. Finally, the project closes with “Interludio XI,” an instrumental that continues the ensemble’s exploration with noise music. (picture of Psiconautas provided by the group for my podcast) As stated previously, Me elevas/ Quizás será serves as a return for Psiconautas as they look to find their footing in the new spectrum of music while keeping their psychedelic and experimental identity. As they mentioned in my podcast interview, this EP is only the first in what will be a series of releases throughout the upcoming months. Hopefully, those will expand on the group’s sound while still keeping their roots.
Listen to Me elevas/ Quizás será on Bandcamp As one of the hungriest members of the Puerto Rican underground trap scene, 6ELA has been one of the most active members this past year as he is constantly releasing singles every month. Last February, the Carolina-based artist released his EP AFTER DARK PARADISE, a project that sees the musician going into the darkest of places in order to understand himself better. (EP cover art) AFTER DARK PARADISE starts with “FEELSLIKEIDONTEXIST,” an emo trap tune with hardcore production which will make listeners bounce in one way or another. Then the project moves with “IDONTCARE,” another track that continues to display the artist’s emotional state. Next, the short EP closes with “HATEME,” a song with a lighter beat that sees 6ELA continuing to explore his depression while looking for ways to escape it. (picture of the artist as found on his Soundcloud) As one of the slowly growing artists in the scene right now, 6ELA, with AFTER DARK PARADISE, continues to show his fearlessness towards being real and upfront about what he is going through and how art serves as a way for him to escape his personal demons.
Listen to AFTER DARK PARADISE on Soundcloud "A Nadie Le Importa!": Modafoca Continue to Display Their Influences While Keeping Their Identity6/11/2019 As one of the newest punk groups to emerge out of the scene, Modafoca perfectly presented themselves in their debut EP Super Nah! With A Nadie Le Importa! the band continues to show who they are as they continue to display some of their influences while presenting their own identity. (cover for the EP) A Nadie Le Importa! kicks off with the fast-paced “Kiero Saber,” a hardcore tune that will definitely have listeners moshing. Then the band touches on the subject of the Puerto Rican diaspora with a love tune in the form of “Pah’nueva YoLk,” a tune influenced by the sounds of 2000s pop punk. Afterwards, “Dino & Nah!” shows some of the group’s skate and ska punk influences as well as some of their comedic and imaginative lyrics. Later, “M.O.D.A” displays some of the ensemble’s inspirations from glam rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s. Next, “Siempre” is a reflective tune that presents the members looking back at the past in order to enjoy the present through the sounds of pop punk. Closing the project is “Chekiamos,” a song that shows the group exploring a few different sounds through a variety of different instruments while keeping their identity. (group art found on their Facebook) As Modafoca continues to create music, the ensemble further display their influences as well as their ability to keep in touch with who they are. Hopefully, future projects will continue to show them experimenting in their own way.
Listen to A Nadie Le Importa! on Spotify One of the latest punk rock bands to emerge from the scene, Modafoca kicked off their career with the single “Kiero Bailar,” which would later be featured in their debut EP, Super Nah!, a display of a variety of punk and some psychedelic influences. (cover art) Super Nah! kicks off with its title track, which is a complete display of the band’s pop punk influences. Meanwhile, “Saiko Paiko” shows the group’s street punk inspirations. Next, “3 Hojas” is a display of the ensemble’s psychedelic influences while also serving as a calming tune to the fast-paced EP. Afterwards, “Kiero Bailar” puts things in motion once again as the group blend their pop punk and hardcore influences in an adrenaline political stance. Finally, the project ends with “Mi Pin-Up Girl” the group’s first party love song. (promo for the EP as found on the band’s Facebook) Overall, Super Nah! is a fantastic introduction to what seems to be one of the most promising punk rock groups to come out of the scene in a while with its various influences and fun energy.
Listen to Super Nah! on Spotify As one of the more active Puerto Rican independent trap artists in the diaspora, Charlie Boldman recently released SHOW $H*T, a short EP that demonstrates his lyrical abilities while presenting aggressive and punk-influenced trap. (cover for the project) Completely produced by Kyrill, SHOW $H*T kicks off with “17wase,” an experimental trap tune that mixes elements of bravado, storytelling and emotional lyrics, which will definitely have listeners moving in one way or another. Then, the short EP finishes with “Poptart,” a song that will definitely play well in dance floor, moshpit and exercise playlists as Boldman continues to expand his sound. (picture of the artist as found on his Soundcloud) With SHOW $H*T, Charlie Boldman continues to grow as an artist as he experiments with a different producer while keeping his storytelling and bravado intact.
Listen to SHOW $H*T on Soundcloud and Spotify As one of the Puerto Rican trap artists still making his way in the diaspora, Charlie Boldman has been constantly delivering various EPs and singles these past years. Recently, HXLLYWXXD DEMXN demonstrated his ability to continue making quality music that will have listeners moving either dancing, headbanging or creating moshpits. (cover art for the project) Kicking off HXLLYWXXD DEMXN is the project’s title track, a trap tune featuring ABE on more melodic vocals that will surely make audiences headbang and create moshpits in the crowd. Afterwards, the EP moves on to “CREME SXDA” a song that will definitely play well in strip clubs and any sort of party atmosphere that features lots of twerking. Then “ALEXANDER McQUEEN” shows the artist showing bravado while telling some of his reasons why he went to the diaspora. Finally, “LA” closes the EP with yet another party-driven beat that will surely have audiences bouncing everywhere as Boldman shows his lack of trust as well as his work ethic. (picture of the artist as found on his Soundcloud) In sum, HXLLYWXXD DEMXN continues to display Charlie Boldman’s growth as a young indie Puerto Rican trap artist who is slowly making his way across the American scene while telling parts of some of his adventures in the land up north so far.
Listen to HXLLYWXXD DEMXN on Spotify and Soundcloud As one of the members of the Puerto Rican diaspora, Mr. Kraken & the Wattz has been one to deliver singles every now and then to keep listeners in the island and all around happy. However, recently the group released their debut EP, DON CABRÓN, a fantastic display of influences over Kraken’s everchanging vocals. (cover art for the project) The project starts with “El Monologo de Don Cabron,” a tune that feels epic in scope with its haunting vocals mixed with alternative and psychedelic rock elements. Afterwards, Mr. Kraken collaborates with fellow Puerto Rican indie rock group Cologne on “Gregor Samsa,” a fantastically funky and danceable track that will play well in the dance floor. Then the EP turns to “Shape Shifter,” a bass-driven and haunting song that shows Mr. Kraken displaying horror influences alongside amped-up guitar solos. (picture of Mr. Kraken as found on their Facebook) The second half of DON CABRÓN starts with “Juncal,” which continues to display Mr. Kraken’s wide array of influences as synth pop and funk sounds are blent to create an easy going love song. Next, the EP continues with “Voodoo Octave,” one of the first singles ever released by Mr. Kraken, a track that displays the artist’s garage and blues rock influences. Finally, DON CABRÓN ends with “Elvis Has Left the Building,” a classic rock n’ roll-influenced song mixed with more modern sounds that seems to perfectly fit the narrative Mr. Kraken has been telling throughout the project, one about a musician who’s struggling with a vast variety of emotions as he tries to make something out of nothing. (picture of Mr. Kraken as found on their Facebook) As one of the most ambitious groups coming out of the scene right now, Mr. Kraken & the Wattz manage to deliver a very diverse debut EP in DON CABRÓN, which will definitely provide a bit of everything for people with different tastes musically, lyrically as well as a narrative that many can identify with. In sum, the EP shows Mr. Kraken & the Wattz’s ability to deliver fantastic results with the resources they have and I just can’t imagine what they have up their sleeves for future projects.
Listen to DON CABRÓN on Spotify As one of the most active duos in the underground trap scene, OMVR X JC have been known for straight hardcore trap blent with a few melodies and snap rap influences sprinkled around every now and then. However, their most recent EP, MUSICA DE TRAKETO, shows the brothers exploring new sounds and delivering some of their more traditional hardcore trap sound. (cover for the project) MUSICA DE TRAKETO kicks off with the SWXRVE4K-produced “PERSONAL,” an ethereal trap tune that shows the duo exploring new sounds while continuing to show how they can adapt their melodic/aggressive chemistry on a track that will definitely play well in the strip club. Then the duo collaborate with SWXRVE4K and 13AM once again on the synth-influenced and very danceable “EXPRESO,” another song that will surely play well in the strip club and late night scene. Finally, MUSICA DE TRAKETO closes with “AMBICIOSO,” a tune that sees the duo collaborate with Jose Yellow on the beat is a sound that will make fans of the hardcore trap roots proud. (picture of the duo as found on their Facebook) A young duo that isn’t afraid of experimenting, with MUSICA DE TRAKETO OMVR X JC continue to expand their catalogue with some synths and ethereal sounds that will definitely bring new listeners while “AMBICIOSO” will keep fans of hardcore trap happy.
Listen to MUSICA DE TRAKETO As they’ve shown in the past, OMVR X JC are some of the most active trap rappers in the Puerto Rican underground today. With Los de la 6ta Vol. 2, the duo continue to expand their sound and maintain their presence in the scene. (cover art for the project) Starting the project with a short but to the point intro, Los de la 6ta Vol. 2 quickly sets the standards for what this EP will be, nothing but hardcore trap. Afterwards, the project continues with “Popeye” featuring a beat by SWXRVE4K and additional vocals by Yamil Arany, a song that sees the musicians rapping and singing about the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll lifestyle. Then the duo jump on a Rojah beat where they continue to display their chemistry in some heavy-bass production influenced by elements of snap rap. Later, the duo jump on another SWXRVE4K beat accompanied by 13AM and FERRORI on “Tengo La Nueve” to show some of their most danceable production yet. Finally, Los de la 6ta Vol. 2 finishes with “Pa Usarla,” a solid hardcore trap tune that closes the EP with the duo’s regular blend of melodic-driven and aggressive flows. (picture of OMVR X JC as found on their Facebook) As they have continued to show again and again, OMVR X JC are one of the driving forces of the Puerto Rican underground trap movement as they are able to blend melodies and hardcore deliveries that can easily fuse with different producers and artists. Los de la 6ta Vol. 2 is yet another example of the duo’s continuous exploration of the sound they celebrate.
Listen to Los de la 6ta Vol. 2 on Spotify and Soundcloud "Portales": Marlon Frank Continues to Display Some Jazzy and Psychedelic Lo-Fi Hip Hop Instrumentals6/10/2019 While I did very little to maintain my blog in the past few months due to personal issues, the independent art scene in Puerto Rico, as you could imagine, kept pushing forward and this extended to artists living in the diaspora with Marlon Frank serving as a fantastic example of that with the release of his EP Portales, another display of his late night/lo-fi aesthetic-driven hip hop beats. (art for the project) The project kicks off with “Sleep with Me,” which slowly moves to “Violetoso,” two lo-fi hip hop beats that continue to demonstrate the young artist’s growing sound. Then Frank expands on said sound with “Hoja Roja,” an acoustic guitar-driven hip hop tune that will definitely have listeners relaxing, head bobbing and some even slow dancing. Afterwards, the EP continues with “Madrogada,” a track that will surely provide very late night imagery upon the audience's imagination. Finally, the project finishes with its title track, one that will trip listeners out with its ethereal, jazzy and psychedelic energy. (picture of the artist as found on his Bandcamp) As shown in the past, Marlon Frank continues to be one of the driving forces of Puerto Rican instrumental hip hop. As he recently stated in my podcast, he wishes to create more danceable music. However, in the meantime make sure to listen to Portales, which shows some of his more psychedelic and jazzy influences.
Listen to Portales on Spotify and Bandcamp "Sancocho Studies/Yautia": Guabageuse Continues His Series Of Experimental Electronic Music5/11/2019 As one of the most active experimental musicians in the Puerto Rican indie music scene right now, Guabageuse has been delivering a variety of projects slowly expanding his interesting discography. By exploring genres that vary from the electronic to the psychedelic and surreal, Guabageuse has been able to maintain an eclectic sound while reflecting on his surroundings, a task he does yet again in his most recent release, Sancocho Studies/Yautia. Sancocho Studies/Yautia kicks off with “In Case of Flies…,” a surreal ambient tune which slowly turns into a somewhat danceable number. Afterwards, “Vimmy’s Request” serves as a psychedelic experimental electronic track that will have listeners switching between dancing and thinking. Then, “Tropical Jalcoal” uses elements from 8-bit and grimy electronic music to provide an experience which will have listeners feeling like they’re going on a trip through cyberspace. Next, “Jeffrey Gongora” is a bass-heavy and dreamy tune that provides a sense of introspection and space travel. Subsequently, “Fede Mercurio” is a slowly building track which can be viewed as a soundtrack for the internet and 8-bit video games while also serving as a form of progressive electronic music. Finally, Sancocho Studies/Yautia ends with “Carefully Flan,” a song that provides a good balance between 8-bit, electronic and prog music demonstrating how the young musician can balance it all to finish another very interesting EP. In short, Guabageuse’s Sancocho Studies/Yautia is another display of the artist’s flexibility and potential to be one of the finest avant-garde musicians in the Puerto Rican independent music scene.
Listen to Sancocho Studies/Yautia on Spotify As one of the most active and original bands to come out of Puerto Rico’s west side, Redneck Buddha has always been one to seamlessly blend their garage rock influenced sound with a variety of others in order to deliver original headbang, danceable and mosh-pit worthy tunes. Thus, to kick off 2019 the band recently delivered their debut EP Delicious. Delicious kicks off with the intro “It’s Alive,” which slowly transitions to “Dr. Frankenstein,” a tune that sees the band showing their gothic rock influences. Afterwards, “Pretty Cynical” has the band displaying their garage rock sound to the fullest. Then, “In My Subconscious” presents the band in a dance rock song that will definitely have listeners moving their feet. The second half of Delicious starts with “Eulogy for Two Hearts,” a love ballad influenced by classic rock melodies that one could slow dance in any occasion but especially prom nights. Next, “G.B.D.” shows the ensemble blending their garage rock sound with gothic rock and punk influences to provide a headbang and moshpit-worthy jam. Closing the EP is an original rendition of the Metric classic “Black Sheep,” which will have listeners headbanging for quite a while. In short, Redneck Buddha’s Delicious is a fun EP that shows the band’s many sides while proving that they are one of the most original groups to come out of the indie scene in recent years. Hopefully, the group will continue to grow and deliver a full-length album.
Listen to Delicious on Spotify All of the pictures in this article were found in Redneck Buddha’s Facebook As seen in previous months, musicians across Puerto Rico’s indie scene are no longer afraid nor looking for help in order to get their work out there and April 2019 was definitely a huge example of how artists’ throughout the island are letting themselves known. “Pu-Tony” by MC Tony Small (Prod. Jota Infinito) Featuring some 1980’s hip hop-influenced production by Jota Infinito, MC Tony Small’s "Pu-Tony" is a satirical take on the stereotypical rap tune where rappers brag about the amount of women in their lives. “Difícil es” by MC Tony Small (Prod. Jota Infinito) The second of MC Tony Small’s latest singles, “Difícil es” is a reflection of the life experienced in the projects, how hip hop serves as a way of expressing the circumstances faced in such an environment and how the previously mentioned upbringing is romanticized by the privileged. “MI COCHE” by YUNG BOI X ENYEL C A tune made for the night life, the latest YUNG BOI and Enyel C collaboration is a fantastic blend of trap, electro and synths that will definitely have listeners dancing under neon nights. “Get the Bag” and “SpcCdt//” by Marlon Frank As an active beat producer, Marlon Frank has been one to deliver singles regularly. This month, “Get the Bag” and “SpcCdt//” were found. The first of these is a trap beat featuring flexing vocals and a surreal atmosphere. Meanwhile, the latter is a blend of soulful sounds and today’s trap sound. “Media Noche” by Jace (Prod. Zaya’s and Jace) An ethereal R&B trap tune produced by Jace alongside Zaya’s, “Media Noche” is an atmosphere-creating track that will definitely make Travis Scott fans proud. “ALFA” by Danny Effe (Prod. Lezter and Pilgrim) A lyrical trap tune that features production by Lezter and Pilgrim, Danny Effe’s “ALFA” demonstrates the rapper positioning himself over the competition. “ROWBOAT” by YANDI Featuring a trap beat influenced by lo-fi aesthetics, YANDI’s “ROWBOAT” is a tune that shows the young artist’s rapping abilities alongside his introspective love and depression fueled lyrics. “SubZero (Freestyle)” by Jovan (Prod. Goldi) Featuring some creative and bass-heavy production by Goldi, Jovan’s “SubZero (Freestyle)” sees the young musician reflecting on the state of hip hop and flexing over the competition. “Siempre Activo” by Jovan (Prod. Goldi) A very danceable crunk and snap rap influenced trap tune, Jovan’s “Siempre Activo” is a track that will definitely have listeners dancing as he displays pop culture influenced lyrical abilities over a slapping beat. “Pa Ti” by Yaveh ft. Jovan (Prod. JRemers) A mix of R&B and trap, Yaveh and Jovan’s “Pa Ti” is a love-driven tune that displays the artists’ singing and rapping abilities alongside some of their storytelling skills. “Pa’ Que Me Lo Choques” by Rvsell (prod. Gian Walton & Towers) A homage to old school underground reggaeton, the latest Rvssel single is a throwback to the days of house and garage parties where people would dance all the way to the floor grinding their bodies to some classic reggaeton. “NPC” by Izzy (prod. Naytrack and Fatcatbeats) Featuring a sample from Scarface and some fantastic production, Izzy’s “NPC” shows the young rapper dominating the beat as he shows his lyrical abilities and flexes over the competition. “Rip Manolo” by Xyron An extremely heartfelt and personal song, Xyron’s latest single is a boom bap tune that will definitely touch listeners everywhere as the musician reflects and pays homage to his fallen loved one. “VR” by Kalell A love-driven blend of dancehall and reggaeton, Kalell’s “VR” is a display of the artist’s abilities as he mixes his natural singing alongside some autotune. “Night & Day” by A1 NWG X Broadway B A blend of reggaeton, dancehall and afrobeat, the latest collaboration by A1 NWG and Broadway B is a very danceable tune that will play well in the beach as well as the club scene. “Roll It” by A1 NWG X AC Metta Featuring some very visual sounds and lyrics, A1 NWG and AC Metta’s “Roll It” is a late night trap tune that celebrates marihuana and partying alongside some language mixing and trap soundscapes. “Sach” by Ferrori X ERRE (Prod. by Jodus) Featuring an aggressive trap beat by Jodus, the latest collaboration by Ferrori and ERRE is definitely that will play well live and will take listeners on trips across the nightlife. “Voy (Go Spanish RMX)” by ERRE A blend of R&B and trap, ERRE’s “Voy” continues to show the artist’s mix of singing and rapping as he provides some great nightlife atmosphere. “El Tirador” Jan Alex ft. Guzzie (Prod. EBM) Featuring production by EBM that’s highly influenced by crunk and snap rap, the latest Jan Alex and Guzzie single is a tune that displays the musicians rapping abilities over a very danceable beat. “Mr. October (Freestyle)” by Juanera A short and to-the-point freestyle, Juanera’s “Mr. October” sees the artist quickly flexing over the competition. “Get High, Go Work” and “Vamoa Destruíl” by Espuelerico A blend of folk, blues and old school rock n’ roll, “Get High, Go Work” shows Espuelerico reflecting on the hardships of being a working class citizen and rocknrolla trying to make enough money for essentials on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, “Vamoa Destruíl” blends similar elements of “Get High, Go Work” but it also incorporates elements of surf rock. “La nota de ayer (Despelote II)” by Rafers A tune made for dancing, Rafers’s “La nota de ayer (Despelote II)” is another homage to the nightlife and hanging out and the relationships that can be developed in said environment. “dosXtres rmx” bhy @787 ft. 13:00am & Enyel C A blend of pop, R&B and trap, the latest collaboration by @787, 13:00am and Enyel C is an image filled tune that sees the artists reflecting over a variety of themes such as love, ambition, rock n’ roll lifestyle and others. “GAME BOYZ” by Enyel C A trap tune influenced by music from classic video games, R&B and a bit of vaporwave, the latest Enyel C song continues to show the young musician’s growth as he pays homage to old school video games. “Lovestruck” by Chasing Nomads A dance and indie rock blend with elements of pop punk, the first single by Chasing Nomads after their Lucidity EP shows growth and a new direction for the band. “La Ber” bhy Working Class Hands A math rock tune at heart, Working Class Hands “La Ber” is good single that displays the band’s potential as one of the growing groups in the scene right now. “Ganas Ilegales” by Es ViVii Released in February, Es ViVii’s “Ganas Ilegales” is a love-fueled and R&B-driven boom bap tune that displays the young musician’s singing and rapping skills as well as storytelling abilities. “07:77” by Fenix Castro Featuring a heavy hitting boom bap beat, Fenix Castro’s latest single is a powerful conscious rap tune that will definitely have listeners thinking about the current state of various themes, but most prominently politics, and, if nothing else, banging their heads and admiring the lyricism. “Follow” by Jeysac x Barqui A slowed down reggaeton tune, Jeysac and Barqui’s “Follow” is a song that will definitely have listeners, especially couples, everywhere dancing to the single’s contagious beat. “Que Lo Que” by Young Ink An autotune-heavy dembow tune, the first single by Young Ink is a song that might make some listeners dance to its infectious beat. “Hey Tú” by Luckre Gerad A nice and smooth pop rock single, Luckre Gerad’s “Hey Tú” is a song that shows the artist’s mainstream appeal and ability to create a track which would most likely play very well in the summer time. “Fiel” by Negro Gonzalez Accompanied by a video produced by Producciones Tabaquero and Taller 2C1, the latest single by Negro Gonzalez is a boom bap tune that displays his lyrical abilities as he explores subjects such as trust and loyalty while paying homage to 1990s hip hop. “#PARTY” by Danny Effe feat. Barqui x Musa Featuring a trap song influenced by crunk and snap rap of the 2000’s, the latest Danny Effe, Barqui and Musa collaboration is a highly danceable tune that will definitely have many shaking their feet, twerking, clapping their hands and going wild in the club with its infectious beat. “Como La Olla” by Vladi and Shawn (prod. By Mitxhell, La Maldad) Featuring a nice and gritty yet soulful boom bap beat, the latest collaboration by Vladi and Shawn is a fantastic lyrical display that sees the musicians reflecting on their lives as well as the current state of hip hop. “ME QUIERE VER” by DonGa A love fueled blend of R&B and trap, the latest DonGa single displays the artist’s rapping and singing abilities alongside his storytelling skills over a nice piano driven beat. “CANDY” by Yung 17 (prod. eMe) Featuring fantastic crunk, snap rap and southern rap influenced production by eMe, the latest Yung 17 single is a fantastic headbang-worthy and danceable tune that will definitely have people stomping their feet, twerking and moving their bodies in all sorts of ways. “Candela Pura” by Vicks ft. Krey (Prod. Yondo x Krey) A love and sex fueled tune that mixes elements of boom bap and R&B, the latest collaboration by Vicks and Krey displays the artists’ storytelling skills, mainstream potential and the great chemistry they share in a song that will definitely have people going back repeatedly. “Three Way Knife” by Out Of Hand An aggressive blend of death metal, thrash metal and extreme metal, the first single for the upcoming Icons of Apathy EP is a tune that presents Out Of Hand criticizing people in power, like politicians, who continuously provide promises but never deliver on them. In addition, the song provides commentary on how mindless people can be as they re-elect the same kind of people over and over again. “PA' QUE VUELVAS” by Sharif Rafael feat. Rvf (prod. by Malu Music) A love story told through R&B-influenced melodies and lyrical feasts set to a trap beat, the latest collaboration by Sharif Rafael and Rvf demonstrates the young artists’ growth as well as their mainstream potential. “Danza Macabra” by Conco A blend of Latin sounds along with synth-fueled electronics, the latest single by the experimental project Conco is a highly danceable tune that will have listeners and viewers tripping with its appealing music video. “Yankee Go Home” by Orquesta El Macabeo The first new piece of music for the group in a while, the latest single by Orquesta El Macabeo is a politically-driven tune that explores Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States while making sure to provide a highly danceable atmosphere. “Dos Amores” by MIMA and International Dub Ambassadors Released in March, the latest collaboration between these two independent music scene powerhouses is a great blend of storytelling and psychedelic dub music. “Se Mueven” by José Yellow and Fabiio (Prod. Axel Ghxst) After taking a brief break, José Yellow and Fabiio jump on a contagious Axel Ghxst trap beat that will definitely play well in the strip club scene and the nightlife. “AnXious” by Kid WowZa (Prod. Sauron) Featuring a blend of bass-heavy trap production alongside soulful boom bap sounds by Sauron, Kid WowZa raps some reflective lyrics in a little over two minutes. “SCALABRINI” by Kid WowZa (Prod. $aki) Featuring a bass heavy beat by $aki, Kid WowZa’s is a fun tribute to basketball where the young rapper displays his rapping skills while flexing over the competition. “Bien Happy” by Kid WowZa Rapping over another bass-heavy beat, Kid WowZa once again displays his rapping abilities as he provides a more party-oriented atmosphere. “Trágico/Mágico” by Labajura ft. Los Wálters A great blend of of Labajura’s late night electronic sound and Los Wálters’ lighter synth pop, “Trágico/Mágico” is a fantastic tune for those looking to add new songs to their “jangueo” playlists. “La Player” by PioTripz (Prod. Bravo) Featuring production by Bravo, PioTripz’s “La Player” is a bass-heavy party track that will definitely make listeners dance down the floor and one that might play well in strip clubs. “Hennessy” by MIKO (Prod. Alers La Pesadilla) With production by Alers La Pesadilla, MIKO’s “Hennessy” is a pop rap tune with 8-bit video game elements and Caribbean vibes that will surely play well in road trips across Puerto Rico’s coast and beach parties making it a song that will most likely continue to play well throughout the summer. “Te Encanta” by Yabdiel (Prod. Lyon) Featuring production by Lyon, Yabdiel’s “Te Encanta” is a danceable blend of pop and rap alongside Caribbean sounds that might go hand-in-hand with the night scene and the Puerto Rican beach scene. “M.I.A. Remix” by Kombo The X Writer (feat. Chyno Nyno & Wiso G) (Prod. Gaby Morales & Huztle) A remix of his contagious underground boom bap hit, Kombo The X Writer’s latest single is a fantastic revisiting of the tune with the lyrical contributions by Chyno Nyno and Wiso G. “Hola / Caricias” by Ser Colorido A relaxing and dreamy tune that provides some great melodies, Ser Colorido’s “Hola / Caricias” serves as a perfect single for the artist’s latest project, Lugar Escondido. Raro Sonido. “No me llames” by Mike-Ology ft. Al-ye & Aurel A collaboration between various up-and-comers, Mike-Ology, Al-ye and Aurel’s “No me llames” is a reggaeton track that serves as a danceable number but also as a display of the musicians’ rapping skills. “RAZORBLADE” by 6ELA A short and to the point track, 6ELA’s “RAZORBLADE” is a banging tune that will have listeners headbanging to the song’s bass-heavy beat as the artist continues to be one of the most active members of the scene right now. “La Dama de Blanco” by Alas Negras As one of the most active live members of the metal scene in the island it was only a matter of time before Alas Negras released a single and with “La Dama de Blanco” the group display their storytelling abilities through the sound of power metal. “Even//You” by Avandra Serving as the single that would prepare listeners for Avandra’s Descender, “Even You” is a tune that slowly builds as the musicians take their time to display their melodic abilities, storytelling skills as well as their prog rock influences. “La Membrana” by DSurís Featuring a hypnotic intro, DSuris’s “La Membrana” quickly captures the listener’s ear with the very relaxing jazzy boom bap beat accompanied with the rapper’s introspective lyrical delivery. “La 5ta Dimensión” by Frankie Maloja A short but to the point tune, Frankie Maloja’s “La 5ta Dimensión” is a contagious blend of reggaeton and lo-fi aesthetics that will surely make listeners dance in some way or another. “Desordenao” by GIO A slowly building electronic tune, GIO’s “Desordenao” will definitely have listeners moving their heads to the very detailed rhythms which gather inspiration from sounds such as pop and funk. “Nena” by Joseph Alex As one of the active members in the scene, Joseph Alex comes in with “Nena,” a display of rapping skills to a trap beat blent with late night ethereal vibes. “Mi Casa” by Kid WowZa (Prod. R Munoz) Featuring some groovy, jazzy and surreal boom bap production by R Munoz, WowZa’s “Mi Casa” is a single that shows his Spanglish lyrical skills while he displays his pride to be a Puerto Rican from Rincon and states his mission in the hip hop scene. “Desenmoña” by Krey (Prod. Big G x Krey) Released on April 20 as a celebration for the date at hand, Krey’s “Desenmoña” is a song that sees him blending some of his rapping and singing skills with a more reggae influenced sound. “Hoy” by Krey (Prod. Big G X Krey) Featuring co-production alongside Big G, Krey’s “Hoy” is a blend of romance and sex driven storytelling alongside a trap beat which features elements of R&B, thus serving as another example of Krey’s continuous growth. “Nations of Doom” by Massive Destruktion As one of the on-and-off thrash metal bands of the scene since the late 2000s, Massive Destruktion looks to come strong this year with the release of their latest single “Nations of Doom,” a tune that would make fans of classic thrash metal proud as well as newcomers interested. “NEBULA” by MAX A track that simply looks to make listeners dance, MAX’s “NEBULA” is a blend of reggaeton and dancehall that will definitely play well across the coasts. “En La Oscuridad” by Nébula Nice X Coo-Kee (Prod. Coo-Kee) Released a little over two months ago and featuring some hard hitting boom bap production by Coo-Kee, MHL and Epiphonia Musik, Nebula Nice’s “En La Oscuridad” is a fantastic display of lyrical skills as the musicians pay great tribute to classic hip hop and the Latin Hip Hop scene at large. “Destrúyeme” by Neysa Blay A fantastic blend of electronic pop and folk elements, Neysa Blay’s “Destrúyeme” has the potential to play well in clubs, parties and mainstream playlists showing the artist’s potential to be a lot bigger than what she is right now. “Llego la hora” by Timm Clayton Featuring some hard hitting boom bap production, Timm Clayton’s “Llego la hora” is a display of lyrical skills that takes a look at the hip hop scene especially those in the lyrical side of things. “RapJack” by Timm Clayton ft. AllOne Another heavy hitting boom bap track, Timm Clayton and AllOne’s collaboration “RapJack” serves as a form of sequel to “Llego la hora” as it is a diss track that, without mentioning names directly, takes a hit at a certain rapper who seems to be providing disrespectful commentary online. “Tiraera pa la caballeria” by Nolo835 Featuring some body slamming boom bap production, Nolo835’s “Tiraera pa la caballeria” is a response to Timm Clayton and La Caballeria del Rap’s diss tracks. In it, as in many diss records, the musician looks to ridicule the aforementioned group of musicians in many ways. “Punto Final” by Timm Clayton Serving as part of the final phase of the latest diss track saga, Timm Clayton’s “Punto Final” uses a different form of beat as the rapper continues to display his lyrical skills while dissing his previous targets as well as looking to present himself as a powerful enemy to beat in the hip hop scene. “Peligrosa” by Robin ft. Manuel El Presidente (Prod. Yeizel Beats) Featuring some R&B influenced reggaeton production by Yeizel Beats, Robin and Manuel El Presidente’s “Peligrosa” is a love driven tune that will surely make listeners dance in late night clubs. “SATIVA” by Tommy Blanco ft. Jan Alex (prod. DJ MEMO x Treetime) Featuring production by DJ MEMO and Treetime, Tommy Blanco and Jan Alex’s “SATIVA” is a highly danceable mid-2000s south rap influenced trap tune that will definitely have listeners shaking their bodies as the musicians celebrate drug use. “Que Fracaso” by Cartagena Rosario (Prod. Alex Rosa) Featuring production by Alex Rosa, Cartagena Rosario’s “Que Fracaso” is a boom bap driven introspective rap single which will have listeners analyzing the storytelling and lyricism presented. “ADICCIÓN” by KID BASKIAT Featuring some heavily danceable production, KID BASKIAT’S “ADICCIÓN” is a song that will definitely play well in the late night scene as well as showing some potential to play across the summer. “BLON” by KID BASKIAT (PROD. BY YVRE & WALDE THE BEATMAKER) Featuring production by YVRE and WALDE THE BEATMAKER, KID BASKIAT’s “BLON” is yet another celebration of marijuana use but this time in the form of a hype trap track that will surely make listeners headbang and dance. “Squirtle” by Clveless (Prod. MOTHERFVNKER) Featuring production by MOTHERFVNKER, Clveless’s latest single uses the swag Squirtle presents in the Pokemon anime as a form to display the artist’s levels of flow and confidence. “Rowdyruff Love” by Clveless ft. Celi (Prod. Yusei) Accompanied by Yusei's production and additional vocals by Celi, Clveless’s “Rowdyruff Love” is a change in sound for the young musician as he mixes his lo-fi boom bap sound with some exquisitely melodic guitar acoustics. “Sorry To Say” by Baby Bhang After taking a brief break from releasing music, Baby Bhang returns with a pop punk driven single that reminds listeners about their fast paced roots and youth influenced aesthetics. “A1002T” by Nando Gabriel x Pagani (Prod. Nebu OTB) Featuring dancehall influenced production by Nebu OTB, Nando Gabriel and Pagani’s “A1002DT” is a tune with potential to play across the summer as it has that energy to play well at the beach but also in the late night club scene. “Según Socrates” by La Estación Central ft. Domi Alianza A collaboration between the boom bap lyrical combo of La Estacion Central and the Latin American hip hop group Domi Alianza, “Según Socrates” is a display of lyricism and fantastic boom bap production throughout its six-minute entirety as the musicians reflect on their skills and themes currently affecting Latin America. “Marantas” by Juventud Crasa Serving as a return to the studio by the influential punk band, Juventud Crasa’s “Marantas” sees the group exploring a few different sounds as they continue to deliver introspective lyrics and a fast-paced energy. “Cuando” by Sebimor After being inactive for a while, Sebimor’s “Cuando” serves as a return for the band as they deliver with some fantastic psychedelic indie rock that is sure to make some dance and others travel across their imagination. “CON LA FI” by Yung Hannibal A blend of trap and lo-fi aesthetics, Yung Hannibal’s latest single is a track that will take listeners on psychedelic trips and hypnotize others to headbang for a while. “POR ULTIMA VEZ” by Zzzayas (Prod. Will) Featuring some R&B influenced trap production by Will, Zzzayas’s “POR ULTIMA VEZ” displays not only the artist’s singing and rapping abilities but also his potentially mainstream sound. “HÉRCULES” by HEVY Featuring some highly danceable trap production blent with what seems to be old school video game sounds, HEVY’s “HERCULES” is a highly contagious tune that will definitely have some moving their bodies in one way or another. “Tu No Ves” by YOUNG OMVR (Prod.JINN) Featuring JINN’s bass-heavy and danceable production, YOUNG OMVR’s “Tu No Ves” short-and-to-the-point single is a tune that will definitely have listeners dancing. However, some might be turned off by the crime-driven content in the lyrics. “CAVIAR” by JC (PROD. OMVR) Featuring some great production by OMVR, “CAVIAR” features JC showing his hypnotic singing and rapping abilities as he takes on an equally hypnotic sound that also serves as a perfect beat for the dance floor. “Subtítulos” by Sély Using samples to her advantage alongside some melodic piano keys and a lo-fi hip hop beat, west-based Sély continues to stretch her artistic self by exploring new fields and sustaining her own sound. “you am i” by Fire Letters Serving as the group’s return to the studio after providing music back in 2017, the diaspora based Fire Letters’ “you am i” features the group's dreamy and hypnotic synth sound which will definitely take listeners to abstract spiritual realms. As seen in previous months, the Puerto Rican indie music scene has had a big explosion of music and content in the Post-Maria era showing that despite the chaos and difficulties which may arise, the artists across the island and some in the diaspora are more than confident in putting themselves out there to demonstrate what they truly have to provide to not only the island’s culture, but also the rest of the world.
As Puerto Rico’s indie scene continues to grow, more artists are experimenting from their homes and providing cozy and dreamy music to vibe with. One of the artists to be exploring these types of sounds is Ser Colorido who, so far, has managed to focus on providing mood music in a variety of ways. The first EP by the Cupey-based project is Fluir, a very dreamy and relaxing bedroom pop and electronic blend that will have listeners chilling and escaping reality for a while. After Fluir, Ser Colorido delivered Universos Paralelos and its side EP, Universos Paralelos (Lado B), both of which continue to display the artist exploring different moods and vibes while experimenting with a variety of genres, among these being instrumental rock, dream pop, psychedelia, electronic and ambient music. Then, Ser Colorido delivered Sencillos Coloridos, which blent elements of instrumental rock, electronic music, hip hop, dream pop and lo-fi aesthetic to provide yet another that explored human senses and emotions. Next, Ser Colorido dropped Brillos / Ojos / Conciencia / Amor, an EP that shows the artist blending rock, hip hop, psychedelia and dream pop vibes further expanding on the sounds explored in previous projects.
In short words, Ser Colorido is a young musician with energy and enthusiasm whose music might appeal greatly for those looking to relax and escape internet life’s constant bombardment of news and media. It also serves as music that might play well in today’s playlist focused way of consumption. Listen to Ser Colorido on Spotify, Soundcloud & Bandcamp All of the pictures in this article were found in Ser Colorido’s Facebook As one of the genres that continues to be highly beloved, pop punk has never gone away in the Puerto Rican indie scene. Thus, bands like Corre Forrest, Late Night Drive and Hoping Forever continue to experiment with the genre and making their contributions to it. The latter of these recently released the EP, For What It’s Worth, where they continue to develop their sound as a young group. Starting off the project with the “Prelude,” which slowly blends into “Train,” Hoping Forever perfectly capture the youthful feeling of pop punk and prepare the listener for the EP they are about to consume. Next, “Full Moon Sailor” demostrates the band’s ability to create more fast-paced pop punk, the type that might create mosh pits in live presentations. Then, “The Perfect One” shows the band exploring the subject of love while showing influences from bands like Blink-182 and Sum 41. Finally, For What It’s Worth closes with “Colorful Moments (She’s My Yellow Paint),” a song that continues to display the group’s love for the genre while experimenting with heavier sounds and even a little bit of electronic feels. In sum, For What It’s Worth continues to show Hoping Forever’s growth as a young group of musicians while maintaining their pop punk roots. Hopefully, they will continue to experiment with more sounds that set them apart from formulaic pop punk bands.
Listen to For What It’s Worth on Spotify All of the pictures in this article were found in Hoping Forever’s Facebook As punk continues to be a part of the Puerto Rican underground music scene, artists continue to explore the heavier sounds found within the genre. Thus, bands like Down&Out are not shy of exploring hardcore and crossover thrash, as they do for the most part in their most recent project, What Follows. Kicking off What Follows is “Out of This,” a nice blend of hardcore and melodic punk. Afterwards, “Bassline Stomp” serves as a nice display of crossover thrash which will have listeners stomping in its second half. Then, “Life Trust” continues to show crossover thrash influences as the band touches on the song’s title subject. Next, the album’s title track is a fast-paced hardcore tune, a similarity shared with the following number, “Serenity.” Finally, the project finishes with “Runs Within” and “Bearer of Bad News,” two songs that perfectly balance melodic and fast-paced hardcore punk. To sum up, What Follows is a good hardcore project that shows Down&Out’s master of the craft as they mix it with melodic and crossover thrash elements while exploring a variety of themes.
Listen to What Follows on Spotify “Kosmophilia”: Prepucio Galáctico Provides Some Surreal Imagery Through a Variety of Sounds4/20/2019 As noise, ambient and experimental music continue to be explored in the Puerto Rican independent scene, artists are going darker and darker in the releases, an achievement realized by Prepucio Galáctico in his EP, Kosmophilia. Kosmophilia starts with “Necrosis,” a surreal and disturbing ambient tune that brings back images similar to those found in the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as well as other horror-related exploitation films of the 1970s and David Lynch’s Eraserhead, particularly the scenes involving the baby. However, as the song progresses, one can imagine Lovecraftian stories and the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise as the track shifts into more electronic-based sounds. Next, “Aferrado a la Maldad” kicks off as an explosive noise tune that will have listeners remembering the monster scenes from John Carpenter’s The Thing and Cronenberg’s The Fly. Finally, “Me Vengo Dónde Sea” once again provides the apocalyptic Lovecraftian feel of “Necrosis” while continuing to display Galáctico’s electronic and industrial influences.
In short, Prepucio Galáctico’s Kosmophilia is a very surreal project that can provide a wide range of imagery as the artist uses his knowledge of ambient, electronic, industrial and noise music to his every advantage. Listen to Kosmophilia on Bandcamp As one of the biggest rock groups right now in the Puerto Rican indie scene, Los Bronson have made it their mission to make instrumental surf rock a staple of Puerto Rican culture by delivering a variety of danceable tunes that capture the life of the everyday island Boricua, a goal they accomplished with their latest LP, Fiebre Insular. After starting with the brief “Intro,” which encapsulates the lifestyle of living near the beach and the city at the same time, Fiebre Insular kicks off with “Alacrán,” a highly danceable and infectious surf rock instrumental that will make everybody shake their bodies, a sentiment shared with the third song in the project, “Las Yales Quieren Calle.” Afterwards, “Místical” takes on some more funk-driven sounds while adding a few horns to their already established sound. Finishing the first half is “Pa’ la Luna,” a song that sees the band exploring their 1960s and 1970s rock influences as they blend their sound with a little bit of psychedelia. The second half of Fiebre Insular starts with “El Velagüira,” a danceable surf rock tune that sees the group going back to their roots and expanding on the sound. Next, “Cucú ‘El Contact’” sees the ensemble once again experimenting with funk as they deliver some very groovy soundscapes. Then, “CaneKing es Ley” is a blend of high speed and danceable surf rock which will surely play well in dance floors and live performances. Fiebre Insular then finishes with “Outro,” a tune that captures the nature of the Puerto Rican nightlife. Finally, serving as a hidden track and closing the project as a whole is “Saico Sussy,” a surf rock tune that comes off as defiant and scary as the song’s title character. In sum, Los Bronson’s Fiebre Insular is a surf rock project that shows the band’s continuous growth as they play around with funk music while managing to keep their sound and capture some elements of the island Puerto Rican life.
Listen to Fiebre Insular on Spotify As one of the young musicians slowly putting himself out there in the spectrum of pop and R&B, Al Norte released two EPs in 2018, Minutos de Experimento and 18 EP, the first of these saw the artist present himself to the world and the second saw him expand on the sound and ideas he explored in the first project. 18 EP starts with “Calma,” an R&B tune that shows Al Norte displaying his singing and rapping skills as he reflects on love and touches on subjects such as time, patience and forgiveness. Next, “Así Será” continues to demonstrate Al Norte balancing melodies and rapping over a more upbeat sound. Afterwards, “Canela Pasión” provides another passionate pop ballad influenced by today’s trap-inspired R&B. Then, “Ver” is another R&B tune which showcases Al Norte’s singing skills as he once again provides another love-driven track that touches on a variety of subjects such as hope, trust and taking chances. Finally, “Espero No Fallarme” provides Al Norte reflecting on his current personal and relationship goals while looking to grow in a song that can fit perfectly into a coming of age film’s soundtrack. Al Norte’s 18 EP demonstrates the young artist’s growth personally and as a musician as he expands on ideas, goes deeper into the sounds he loves, balances melodies and rapping, and continues to work on his songwriting skills, thereby presenting his continuously growing mainstream potential.
Listen to 18 EP on Soundcloud As the Puerto Rican independent scene continues to progress and grow, more artists are taking risks and chances when operating new projects. An example of this is Alejandro Rigau who, with his new project McLovin, is taking on a more experimental sound as he plays around with ambient music. Starting McLovin is “Hello / Jahjah’s Organ,” a short organ-based instrumental that sets up the EP very nicely. Afterwards, “Howlers” is an interesting ambient song featuring some nice guitars and keys that help one easily remember a moment in time where one was innocent and life was easier. Then, “Mosquitoes” is a somewhat surreal tune that provides a bit of a disturbing image inspired by the works of David Lynch somewhat presenting the topic of loss of innocence. Next, “Meme” is an experimental psychedelic song which captures the feeling of exploration and time lost while scrolling through news feeds and timelines on social media. Finally, “A Streetcar Desire / Good-Bye” is another experimental tune that captures a variety of emotions, but perhaps the most prominent is a lack of self-discovery where one seeks for the first escape route in order to try and find said identity.
Overall, Alejandro Rigau’s first project under the McLovin name is a very interesting, different and thought-provoking presentation than other EPs found recently across the independent scene. Hopefully, he will continue to explore these sounds and deliver more music where he demonstrates growth and further experimentation. Listen to McLovin on Soundcloud As music becomes easier to record and distribute every day, the deconstruction and experimentation of pop music was bound to happen. Thus, the blend of indie and lo-fi aesthetics would eventually find their way into creating what is now known as bedroom pop. While the sub-genre hasn’t been fully explored in Puerto Rico, just like many other genres, musicians are taking a shot at it to tell their stories, one of said artists is Xavier Iglesias who, with Couldn’t If I Would, tells what he describes as “[a] mix of fact and fiction from love’s lost and found.” Told in what seems to be a non-chronological order Couldn’t If I Would starts with “Salida,” which serves as the first date in the story. Then, “Saturnight,” uses its lo-fi aesthetic to provide the fuzzy effect memories can have as the narrator remembers what seems to be a very emotional moment in the relationship. Afterwards, “Labia Monga,” captures the beginnings of the love story taking place as the narrator sings about taking a chance and talking to the future lover with the aid of some keys and dreamy vocals. Finally, the project ends with the introspective “A Mistake,” a song that sees the narrator reflecting on the problems that happened across the relationship.
Overall, Couldn’t If I Would is a lo-fi dream/bedroom pop EP that shows Xavier Iglesias’s continuous experimentation and storytelling abilities as he leaves it all out there for the listener to interpret. Listen to Couldn’t If I Would on Bandcamp |
AuthorFernando E. E. Correa González is the author behind over 30 self-published poetry books. He has been published by literary magazines & journals [Id]entidad, El Vicio del Tintero, Sábanas Magazine, Smaeralit, The Occulum, Tonguas and Hound Magazine. Other than writing, Correa is also the host of FENCast, a podcast dedicated to documenting the Puerto Rican independent art scene. Aside from this, he experiments with filmmaking, photography, drawing, painting, multimedia and transmedia. He currently lives in his native Puerto Rico. Archives
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