San Leon
San Leon: freshness, talent and imagination. These are the predominant notes of this indie pop band based in Barcelona. Led by singer Aldo Comas, the release of the group’s debut album Bits & Pieces has been a revelation for the Spanish music scene. They can’t have a better start.
Links: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Foundation & Band Members
The band was founded in 2005 by
- Aldo Comas – Vocals, Spanish Guitar
- Miki Mestres – Guitar
- Jordi Moraleda – Bass
- Andres Perez “Papas” – Keyboard and Vocals
- Llorent Rubio – Trumpet
- Arnau Obiols – Drums
Influences
Camarón, Ray Barretto, Talking Heads, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti and Gainsbourg.
Biography
San Leon (like the border town between France and Spain from which the leader of the bands comes from) is a town bordering Mexico and the US. In that place, people have suffered hurricanes and tornadoes that have destroyed most houses and the morale of the people. “But they have their optimism and the strings of their guitarrones, which heal their inhabitants and help them fight the depression. A bit like my lyrics. Death and life. Joyful songs with a dark and flawed background.” This is how Aldo Comas defines the group’s influence and the origin of its name.
The beginnings of the artist go back to his participation in the Barcelona band Extraperlo and later, the formation in 2005 of El Guisante Mágico, a group that went on tour with Ian Brown. The members of this band were replaced until they found the San Leon team. Once rebaptized, they focus on Caribbean sounds, with African rhythms, from Malabo, to Bachata, Salsa, flamenco airs and a mix of pop, punk and rock.
Discography
Albums
- Bits & Pieces (2010)
EPs
- Sotavento EP (2011)
Singles
- Love Speed and Picasso (2010)
- Little Words Amplid Stadium Remix (2010)
Interview
1. How did the band begin?
The band began around 2008 after concluding our first musical experiment which was EGM. Then I started recruiting the best musicians I could find so I could finally have a band, a gang, and a hood style musical project. West side stroyish -wise, the band was conceived and risen with a strong need of communicating our love and passion for music and with a strong though of being able to survive thanks to it. It’s hard though.
2. How would you define the sound of the band?
That’s more of a journalist job. Definitions always shorten the real dimension of things. Specially in music biz. W play pop structured songs but all styles can be found around it. Soul through the vocals, latin african salsa with rythms, punk, rock, etc…. We embrace with our entire hearts musical postmodernism.
3. Talk us about your last work.
A big essay of death and love. Our songs are metaphors of 3 years in live. Dead mother’s goodbye lovers and a gainsbourg cover. Let’s imagine a sad clown singing flamenco or the last joke of a dying comedian. Our last work is the definition of living contradictions. There’s neither sadness nor happiness, it’s all, always, in between.
4. How are your concerts? What can we find there that we wont find on your studio records?
Our shows are spontaneous and luckily, thanks to our naive inexperience, you can still find or perceive the amateur attitude of kids wanting to have fun. Are shows are loud, and you will dance.
5. What do you think about the music industry and what do you think is your place within it?
‘Kill your friends’ is a book about the new music biz I was just reading. It’s hard tough and dangerous. We are a little sand grain in the giant beach but we really hope and believe that this little pebble gets stuck in your toenail.
Music & Videos
Bits & Pieces (album stream)
Video Playlist ▼
Set List
- Hysterical Eyes
- Little Words
Credits
– All material submmited by I+D Music. Copyright by San Leon –
