Chicano Batman

Los Angeles psych-soul four-piece Chicano Batman have released their new album Invisible People, their most sonically-varied and cohesive album to date. The record is a statement of hope, a proclamation that we are all invisible people, and that despite race, class, or gender we can overcome our differences and stand together.

For the album, the band worked with Shawn Everett, the GRAMMY-award winning mixing engineer known for his work with Alabama Shakes, War on Drugs, Kacey Musgraves, and Julian Casablancas. With Leon Michels’ (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields & The Expressions) producing and Everett’s mixing steering the record’s direction, the band’s lush Tropicalia-tinged sound has transformed into their most polished and densely layered. Invisible People is an illuminating and encapsulating sonic landscape, one that hasn’t lost the essence that put Chicano Batman on the map.

The group who combine “soul, surf and Tropicália into a raging blend of fire and excitement” (Rolling Stone) are celebrating the announcement with a new single and video for “Color my life.” Directed by George Mays, the video is a psychedelic collage of visuals that sees the band grooving to synths amongst palm tree-studded backgrounds of Los Angeles’ streets, beaches, and boardwalks.

“[It’s a] neck breaker from the future, beckoning a retreat to nature in the apocalyptic dawn,” says lead singer Bardo Martinez of the track and accompanying visuals. “This is Chicano Batman’s new single for all generations past and for all those yet to be born. Everything is everything, brothers and sisters.”
Chicano Batman source their high-spirited alternative synthesis from tropicália, West Coast psychedelia, and late-’60s/early-’70s soul. Made up of Eduardo Arenas (bass, guitar, vocals), Carlos Arévalo (guitars), Bardo Martinez (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Gabriel Villa (drums), Chicano Batman has been well-respected locally for the best part of a decade. The group has opened for Jack White, Alabama Shakes, Vampire Weekend and Portugal. The Man in recent tours and has played major festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo. After signing with ATO Records, the group released Freedom is Free in 2017, teaming up with Leon Michels to craft an ambitious sonic experience that enhances the soul and R&B elements of their sound.

Los Retros

Los Retros, aka Mauri Tapia, from Oxnard CA. He has been making music since his early teens, playing every instrument on his recordings and has grown a loyal fanbase via YouTube, Soundcloud as well as local shows up and down the SoCal coast. Tracing his musical inspirations to both American and Latin American left-field pop and soft rock groups from the 70s/80s, ‘Los Retros’ is actually an homage to Chilean pop band Los Ángeles Negros.