There are circumstances in life that are curiously random, magical, and sadly inexplicable. Like the new we bring you today. We are releasing a single from CHAVALES, of a song that was the first one they released, as part of the Jeanne d’Arc Christmas compilation “Villancicos, Vol. 2” in 2019. And it will also be the group’s last, since we are taking advantage of their upcoming appearance on the movie soundtrack and the Christmas season to close this stage. “Ya Na Va Se Como Ante” is the beginning and the end of Daniel and Javier’s project. With cover art, of course, by Neelam Khan Vela. This song shows their solid work with the synthesizers and surprises with the vocal quality, some trap arrangements and autotune. Although nothing will ever be the same again, we still have their songs, their concerts, and so many good memories. Merry Christmas!

TRACKLIST: 01 Ya Na Va Se Como Ante

[ Read more ]

After “¿Por Qué A Mícategoría” and “La Conversación”, CHAVALES are giving us a new song in advance of their imminent new album. And once again, they go straight for the hit, with no second thoughts. “No, No Y No” is a new example of synthesized punk-pop, of immediately catchy choruses with eighties echoes, of lyrics full of spite and character. The song builds slowly, introducing elements until it takes off toward the final culmination. The cover art and video that go with the advance are the work of Neelam Khan Vela, a photographer from Barcelona, who has been behind portraits of people like Alex Turner, Mac De Marco, THE PARROTS, and who has toured with people like Amaia, HINDS and THE ORIELLES. Born in Ronda, she grew up musically in Barcelona, but when she was 17 years old, she moved to London where she studied photojournalism. Not long after that, in Glasgow, and now in Berlin, she has broadened her horizons toward the video, collaborating with groups like EL ÚLTIMO VECINO. In this case, she shows us Dani and Javi performing with a clear seventies style, reminding us of bands like the BEE GEES or musicians like Elton John. We are counting the days until 2022, when CHAVALES’ upcoming full-length is finally here.

TRACKLIST: 01 No, No Y No

  [ Read more ]

Dani and Javi continue their frenetic activity. After releasing that magnificent 10” Mini-LP and several Digital Singles in less than a year, they are back with a new digital release: “La Conversación”. The song that gives us a sneak peak at the paths their new compositions will take, on the way to their second album. Guitars take on greater protagonism, along with atmospheric synthesizers that mark the melodies that are as addictive as ever, and those trademark lyrics about everyday relationships and related frustrations and collateral damages. “La Conversación” talks about seeing someone with whom you used to share your life with at some point in time, but who is no longer a part of it: nerves, insecurities, but above all, certainty. What happened then won’t happen again. Just over two minutes. Straight to the heart 🙁

To go with the release, we have a dark, disturbing lyric video full of eighties-style textures and fonts. It was directed by Iván Alarcón (who co-directed the video for EVRIPIDIS AND HIS TRAGEDIES’ “Melancholia”), who in addition to directing is a regular in charge of wardrobe and costume design, be it for indie groups like EL BUEN HIJO, TRONCO, NOVEDADES CARMINHA or for CHAVALES themselves, as well as for mainstream artists like Dua Lipa, C. TANGANA and Rosalía. This is a new step in a trajectory that doesn’t stop taking our breath away. Something that we [ Read more ]

After the magnificent reception of their first primer Mini-LP, “Tu Foto En El Techo”, CHAVALES have kept up with their hyperactive songwriting activity, and without barely a moment’s rest, they already have the first advance for what will be their next album. “¿Por Qué A Mícategoría” stays within the fast, playful synth-pop parameters, and they are now seasoning them with nervous guitars that give the music a touch of punk that suit it perfectly. The result is a new triumph to dance out of control to, where Dani and Javi continue to live stories full of intense moments of coming together and falling out. A shot of overwhelming energy, a song that resuscitates the most fun spirit of the 80s, with a brilliant and catchy chorus and lyrics about love and desperation that are in perfect contrast.

And once again they have collaborated with Silvia Coca, who was in charge of the cover art and the video, where we can see our protagonists in constantly tense situations: kidnappings, chases… All with a truly outstanding VHS esthetic.

TRACKLIST: 01 ¿Por Qué A Mícategoría

  [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Oso Panda (PAPA TOPO)  02 Pez En Bicicleta (TRONCO)  03 A Mí Ya Me Iba Mal De Antes (AIKO EL GRUPO) 04 Barakaldo (LISASINSON)  05 Colegas (FRED FREDBURGUER)  06 Cucurucho (GUATAFÁN)  07 Canción De Pop De Amor (CARIÑO) 08 Infectados (AXOLOTES MEXICANOS)  09 Secret Secret (PUSHY PARENTS)  10 Cumpleañera (GOMET) 11 Gente De Mierda (PUTOCHINOMARICÓN)  12 Malos Hábitos (NEVVER)  13 Braun (DIE KATAPULT)  14 Las Plantas De La Terraza (CHAVALES)  15 No Sé Por Qué (BAND À PART)  16 Capital (NELEONARD)  17 Pineapple Princess (CRISTINA QUESADA) 18 The West Coast (EDINE AVEC LISLE MITNIK ET SON ORCHESTRE)  19 Rain On My Face (CARBON POPPIES) 20 Ultramarinos (LOS BONSÁIS)  21 Campamento De Verano (TEACHER TEACHER)  22 La Fuerza (KOKOSHCA) 23 My Baby’s Just A Baby (But I Love Him So) (KNICKERS)  24 (Out Of) The Neighborhood (BELLE GHOUL)  25 Eat Tacos (WILD BALBINA) 26 Enough Is Enough (NATURE SET)  27 The Panda Bear Song (FOXES!)  28 El Fin De La Era (SAGRADO CORAZÓN DE JESÚS) 29 Cómo Es (LIA PAMINA)  30 Humo (NOS MIRAN)  31 El Chico Más Guapo De La Galaxia (CAPITÁN SUNRISE) 32 Ada Hoy Se Va A Enamorar (SAN FRANCISCO)

“New Adventures In Pop” collection [Issue 050]

If there is a collectio [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Dame Veneno

“Tu Foto En El Techo” has been one of the greatest discoveries in recent months. The thing is, CHAVALES use a clearly eighties-styled techno-pop, with fresh lyrics, solid choruses, and tremendously catchy songs. And as proof, we have this latest Digital Single that is taken from that limited edition 10” Mini-LP. “Dame Veneno” is a new cause for celebration for fans of THE HUMAN LEAGUE, Bobby Orlando, WAQ and UN PINGÜINO EN MI ASCENSOR. Syncopated sequencers and synthesizers under a melody that immediately begins to sound familiar. Total intimacy. And to top the edition off, there is a video directed by Silvia Coca, where Super 8 textures are used, along with neon ambiances, while our protagonists run around the big city. And we are loving it, having fun and dancing along. We hope their effervescent attitude continues, and that we have more news soon of the duo consisting of Daniel Rodríguez and Javier Paredes.

  [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Te Propongo  02 Las Plantas De La Terraza  03 Dame Veneno  04 Ey, Que Estoy Aquí  05 No Me Lo Creo

06 Ernesto  07 Me Conformo  08 A Ver Si Quedamos  09 Tercera Cita

“New Adventures In Pop” collection [Issue 048]

We knew this was coming. It was important that our collection of new talent, “New Adventures In Pop”, was the umbrella from under which CHAVALES’ first physical release came. And the thing is, “Tu Foto En El Techo” is a Mini-LP of nine numbered-limited-edition songs that includes the best songs that we had already seen on digital releases, and some new and previously unreleased songs. And the result is a compilation of the best current synth-pop, but with so many eighties influences.

Among the songs we already know, three are taken from their first single. “Las Plantas De La Terraza”, with its ultra-addictive chorus and its programming that sounds like something from the PET SHOP BOYS and Étienne Daho. That nod to reggaeton on “No Me Lo Creo” with that ultra-pop chorus. “Me Conformo” and its dream-like base full of resounding low notes, along the lines of ELECTRIC YOUTH. And songs we already heard as independent singles, the amazing, hyper-energetic story of “Ernesto”, and the speedy, almost punk “Ey, Que Estoy Aquí”.

Among the new songs, there is “Dame Veneno”, with [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Ernesto

CHAVALES are unstoppable. Almost monthly singles, authentic proof of the best synth-pop made here. Songs that are advances of their anticipated debut Mini-LP, which will be out in September on a precious 10” color vinyl. This time, “Ernesto” is a song full of extremely fun cynicism, with impossible rhymes, telling us the story of a constructor with very few scruples. And when we play the song, we can hear LA MODE, SINDICATO MALONE and SÉPTIMO SELLO, but also HIDROGENESSE, CABIRIA and PAPA TOPO, and our ankles start to move and we get an uncontrollable urge to start dancing. What’s more, this Digital Single comes with a video directed by Silvia Coca (Soleá Morente, AUTO SACRAMENTAL, Joe Crepúsculo, AARON RUX…) which somehow recreates the dreamlike universe of the story of our protagonist, Ernesto, in a carefree, fun way, very in line with the song. The mixing and production are handled, once again, by Martín Spangle and Lia Marín is back to do the cover, with a fantastic illustration by Daniel and Javier.

We insist. Unstoppable. Inspired. So. Much. Fun. We want them to keep their date with us. Like a daily dose of vitamins that we need to help us face each day.

  [ Read more ]

TRACKLIST: 01 Ey, Que Estoy Aquí

A few months ago, we talked about the birth of a new and refreshing Spanish synth-pop duo, CHAVALES, formed by Daniel Rodríguez (DANIEL DANIEL, EL BUEN HIJO) from Mallorca and Javier Paredes from Extremadura. Since then, we have not stopped receiving new things from them. All of them are tasty and seductive, playing intelligently with current and past references, tearing down walls and creating multicolor universes.

We now have their newest Digital Single, produced by Daniel himself and mixed by Martín Spangle. “Ey, Que Estoy Aquí” is a catchy, danceable, juvenile and exciting song. The thing is, CHAVALES bring back the sound of the first steps of ÚLTIMA EMOCIÓN, LA MODE, THE HUMAN LEAGUE and ESTACIÓN VICTORIA, but evoke the spirit of new Spanish pop groups like CABIRIA, Yana Zafiro, AUTO SACRAMENTAL and Stephen Please. What’s more, this release comes with amazing audiovisual work. The cover is an illustration by Lia Marín, an anime and manga fan, especially influenced by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. The illustration would be the Japanese version of our two protagonists. And we stay in Japan for the video, where Raquel Calvo (who directed videos for GIORGIO TUMA, TRONCO or LOS BONSÁIS) entertains us by creating an 80’s videogame esthetic (KONAMI style) with absolutely incredible visuals.

We released their first Digital Single just a few weeks ago and we alrea [ Read more ]

After the positive reaction to their debut Single and how well people respond to their live performances, CHAVALES continue to give us more and more signs of being a special kind of group, different, unencumbered, with wide musical vision and an addictive sound. And the proof is in the pudding – this coming April 4 in Barcelona, the second Prom Fest – a self-run festival based on US proms and graduation parties – is going to take place, which already has confirmations from artists like Yana Zafiro, NO FUCKS, Stephen Please, LOS SACRIFICIO, CARLOTA and our CHAVALES. For the occasion, each group will be covering a love song or a song of celebration, which will be included on a compilation that will be released as a Digital Album and as a cassette. In addition, Elefant is releasing CHAVALES’ song now as a Digital Single. And they have done an incredible revision of JUNCO’s “¡Hola, Mi Amor!”, one of the greatest hits from the so-called “king of the gypsy ballad”, which our stars take to radical new ground, to the beat of synth-pop and Latin techno-pop, aimed straight at the dance floor. This re-reading shows how the musical recycling process is an incredible art in and of itself, one that has infinite possibilities.

We will have more news and songs from CHAVALES very soon, who are currently preparing and recording their new songs. [ Read more ]

We are in the midst of an intense period of releasing new groups here at Elefant Records. Our collection “New Adventures In Pop” is on fire, and this is without a doubt proof of the effervescent Spanish pop scene. The latest new thing is a Digital EP with four songs from the duo CHAVALES, formed by Daniel Rodríguez from Mallorca and Javier Paredes fromExtremadura. They met in Madrid after Daniel was working on his solo project (DANIEL DANIEL) and Javier had a big collection of lyrics written. That’s how, thanks to Martín Spangle’s (producer of the Mini-LP “Movidas” by CARIÑO) participation on technical controls, they were able to develop the songs that make up this first eponymous release.

Their sound is highly danceable electronic pop, but at the same time it is elegant, knowing how to perfectly mesh sounds of the past and the most current sounds, with daring, carefree, clever lyrics. On “Empieza El Plan” we can detect echoes of PET SHOP BOYS and the bold lyrics of LOS PUNSETES. “Las Plantas De La Terraza” moves closer to some of today’s tremendously addictive commercial music like Robyn or CHARLI XCXor ultra-indie groups like TV GIRL, CLAUD and BOY PABLO, but it also gives us a taste of the well-done elegance of the peppiest ORANGE JUICE. This song is also the star of their first video, an audiovisual work directed by Diego Jiménez (AXOLOTES MEXICANOS, CAROLINA DURANTE, CARIÑ [ Read more ]