Los Abandoned on the fast track

By Juan Data (Originalmente publicado en www.cubico.com 2003)

The LA Latin-rock-scene has been hypnotized with their charisma! The local audiences and the music industry have been captivated by their addictive tunes, and all in record time. Los Abandoned are on the fast track and if you feel left behind, then let me introduce you.
Not long after their first live performance, Los Abandoned were featured in Los Angeles Times as one of the most promising up-coming bands in the local rock en español. A couple of months later they entered the Budweiser Battle Of The Bands and after competing with twenty-nine other new bands, a group of judges formed by prestigious names related to the music business awarded Los Abandoned first prize. As a result, they were the first local band of its kind to be offered a recording contract with a mayor label--having less than a year of stage presence! Compared to the average band of the rock en español scene -where even most of the renowned artists remain independent against their will after long lasting careers- you can be assured that there is something about Los Abandoned that makes them stand out, and that something can certainly transform them into the next Latin crossover phenomenon.
To begin, their spanglish name gives the instant impression of being in front of a culturally-mixed and absolutely bilingual band. "Like the soundtrack of LA" as bass-player Vira Lata likes to define them. He, as the average rockero in LA, was born in Mexico, and during the past few years he played bass for several local bands including Bayú and Satélite. It was when Satélite broke up that he remained "abandoned" and met these other three "abandoned" musicians: the Chilean classical-trained singer Lady P. (left alone after the break up of Pescadores Pecadores) and the American friends Don Verde and Gringo Estarr (guitar and drums from the disbanded The Tijuana Bibles).
"The idea of Los Abandoned began with Don Verde and me," tells Lady P. "We both were frustrated from our previous experiences with our groups. That was two years ago. We both shared the same vision for this project, which basically was: half English, half Spanish, high energy in the music and live performances, and the dynamics between man and woman for the songwriting."
Defining the sound of a group with such strong personality isn’t an easy thing. Their influences can be tracked down to the likes of Blondie, B-52’s, Talking Heads and X. While they all admit they also admire Café Tacuba, from whom they borrowed their distinguished eclecticisms. When asked what music genre they play, Lady P. answers "intellectual punk-pop," but seconds later she goes further with her explanation in the form of a cooking recipe. "For every good plate you’re gonna need good ingredients: half a teapot of pop, several spoons of punk, quarter of a teapot of retro and rock and a little bit of (Andean) folk."
When Don Verde and Lady P. started composing together and recording the first home-demos for their new project "it all was very natural" as the Chilean singer, and ukulele player, says. "It was like, we both started writing like, I’ve got this thing and I’ve got this thing," comments Don Verde. "Really quickly some things went away and some things stayed. I think "Stalk you" was the first song". "Stalk you" is a No Doubt-esque instant hit with radio-friendly chorus and original lyrics in English that don’t resemble what would regularly be expected from local a Latin band: "I guess your installations were pretty cool/and so profound they were about Drew Barrymore". Right after that, their first Spanish-language hit came up, "Electricidad," with no less innovative words: "me amabas hasta que se cortó la electricidad". Those two songs alone where enough for Los Abandoned to become the new LA underground sensation conquering the hearts of world recognized stars like Enrique Bunbury, during his latest US tour.
So, where is Los Abandoned secret for such a fast success? "In our previous projects, we were too smart, too indulgent," explains Lady P. "There was a lack of simplicity," adds Don Verde. "I was a big fan of Pescadores Pecadores," Vira Lata tells, "but I agree that they had too complex structures which might not be so easy to digest for the audience. Los Abandoned then, it’s not necessarily simplistic, but it sure is easier."
"Los Abandoned was the perfect combination at the right moment," says Lady P. "We just met and we all had similar ideas… It just happened like that. It still surprises me that it all happened so quickly. The fact that we are bilingual also helped because we appeal for both audiences."