Denver-based band BRŪHA embodies the true essence of indie music whereas paying homage to their Latin roots. A household band, BRŪHA was initially fashioned by lead vocalist and guitarist Fabian Guerrero and his brother, Nic Guerrero, who performs drums. In a while, they recruited bassist Christian Olsen and their cousin, Max Guerrero, to kind the band’s present lineup. With the guitar as a focus, BRŪHA is thought for his or her coastal, surf-inspired indie sound. By incorporating samples of conventional Latin music, in addition they create a way of nostalgia for the sounds that coloured their upbringing whereas retaining their trendy twist.
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BRŪHA was initially a small idea that Fabian began in highschool, later roping in his brother Nic and convincing him to study the drums. Fabian defined that the title was impressed by his mom’s heritage and the cultural atmosphere he grew up in. “My mother is from the city of Vera Cruz, they usually have this music known as ‘La Bruja.’ I grew up listening to that and surrounded by that tradition and that music all the time caught out to me.”
Talking additional concerning the function of tradition of their music, Fabian shared how the music he grew up listening to performed a job within the sounds he leans towards at the moment when creating music at the moment. “Effectively, for me personally, rising up, my dad was a giant music man. I used to be all the time surrounded by rock, however it was all the time in Spanish. So I received proven rock in Spanish however I by no means actually noticed that in a contemporary period till just lately, so I felt very impressed by bands in California which can be mixing the 2 [Spanish music and rock music].”
The band’s EP, “H.E.X.D,” which was launched in late March, stays true to their coastal-inspired sound with the music “Malibu Lies,” which Fabian mentioned was closely impressed by the surf-punk scene in Southern California. The album additionally contains “A Donde Vas,” a music sung completely in Spanish that talks about having a “loopy Latina girlfriend,” which is one thing the bandmates can all relate to. One other music, “I Know Sufficient (Cowcity),” really showcases the band’s affinity for working with acoustic guitar and is critical as a result of the lyrics have been written collaboratively between Fabian and Nic Guerrero. As a complete, the album is a end result of the expertise of being younger, Latino, and carving out their very own house within the music world.
When discussing their recording course of, all of the bandmates agreed that they’re transferring towards embracing a sound that’s nearer to how they play reside. Concerning the selection, Max Guerrero defined, “Lots of people say, ‘Oh, your recordings are completely different from the way you play reside,’ so we’re making an attempt to seize that feeling as a result of I really feel like we play fairly good reside. We’re doing loads much less lo-fi and much more reside recording.”
Including on to that, Olsen mentioned how their upcoming, unreleased music will proceed to trip on BRŪHA’s need to experiment whereas retaining a connection to their Latin heritage. “The brand new music we now have popping out in a little bit bit, most likely round mid-June, we’re making an attempt to launch proper earlier than we go on tour. It’s known as “Terminal 3,” and it’s like a bossa nova model, so it’s a little bit completely different from the opposite BRUHA stuff, however I believe it has extra of a cultural side to it than a few of the rock stuff.”
As they proceed to evolve of their course of and experiment with completely different sounds, BRŪHA can be within the means of determining if Denver has the fitting viewers to proceed fostering their sound. “There’s positively a group primarily based round music, however plenty of it’s white boy indie rock and that’s sort of what we’re uninterested in, personally. It was influential for me once I noticed different folks that appeared like me that have been doing what everybody else desires of doing. That’s sort of why I selected this spot [Contreras Market, for the interview], as a result of we’re making an attempt to signify our tradition and be the face that may encourage the following era of musicians right here in Lakewood, or wherever, you realize?” Fabian said.
Elaborating additional, Max defined, “The So-Cal scene that we discuss, it’s plenty of Hispanic youngsters, and it’s plenty of love for that tradition. It’s an enormous group. And there’s a giant Hispanic group right here in Denver too, however they don’t know we now have music like this and that different Hispanic youngsters are making music. There’s not plenty of illustration, in order that’s why we’re making an attempt to get the phrase out as a result of there’s positively that demographic right here, however they simply aren’t conscious. I believe the place that illustration already exists right here is within the sense of old-school Mexican music, like Cumbia and Mariachi. And never that that’s flawed, however it simply sort of leaves you feeling caught.”
However by way of the group that’s grown round BRŪHA as they launch extra music and play extra reveals, they really feel supported of their endeavors. Describing what it seems like, Olsen shared, “It’s a cool feeling. God, I’ve by no means been in a band the place individuals who aren’t in or intently associated to the band. It’s a extremely attention-grabbing expertise in that regard, however it’s an amazing expertise.”
The help BRŪHA has garnered is barely going to proceed to develop. Since forming in 2022, they’ve launched a number of EPs and performed a mess of reveals, together with the Underground Music Showcase (UMS) final 12 months. Reflecting on their first UMS efficiency, the band shared that they’d something however a easy crusing expertise. Nonetheless, the competition confirmed them simply how resilient and adaptable they’re.
“We even have a shaggy dog story. So we’re huge comedian e-book followers, and we had tickets to go see Deadpool vs. Wolverine as a result of that was an enormous occasion, for us not less than. And we purchased film tickets, after which I appeared on the tickets and realized, ‘Dude, we play an hour earlier than it begins.’ And on the time we have been working towards at some hot-ass storage with no AC. It was sizzling, and we received within the automotive, and it was already all dangerous as a result of I get stressed and anxious earlier than reveals, which these guys know. After which I checked out my brother and realized, ‘The place’s your drum?’” Fabian laughingly recounted.
“Yeah, I left a snare drum behind, and it was the one factor I needed to carry,” Nic added.
Persevering with the story, Fabian recalled, “We have been in site visitors, and we couldn’t flip round. I had this essential piece of substances as effectively, for my vocals, and I opened the truck, and I used to be like, the place is it? So we forgot two issues. I used to be mad and sweaty.”
“It was sweaty, actually sizzling,” Nic shared, considering again to the ordeal.
“And so we stroll in, not understanding how many individuals are going to be there, and there’s a sea of individuals within the Skylark [Lounge]. There are like 400 folks, and I’m like, ‘Oh man.’ So what did I do, dude? I simply had a beer, after which we went to play the present. And it turned out to be certainly one of our favourite reveals of all time. It was plenty of enjoyable,” Fabian smiled as he shared. After having that have underneath their belt, the band is happy to deal with their second UMS this 12 months, which is able to happen from July 25-27.
BRŪHA additionally occurs to be occurring their inaugural tour with fellow artist Manny this summer time, with the tour beginning and ending in Denver on June 26 and July 11, respectively. Getting ready for his or her first tour is a particular sort of problem, however BRŪHA feels assured that they’re geared up to deal with this subsequent section of their musical journey. Between lastly discovering the right combination of bandmates to keep up artistic chemistry and getting their van, BRŪHA is able to take off and share their music with a broader viewers.
When it comes to what else the band hopes to attain in 2025, they’re merely grateful for every little thing they’re already doing however all the time wanting towards the longer term. Talking for the band, Fabian expressed, “We’re all the time chasing the following huge factor. Not that we aren’t grateful for what we now have now, as a result of we’re all the time going to be grateful. It might finish tomorrow, and I’d be completely happy the place it’s. However we all the time wish to chase the following huge factor and by no means settle once we know we are able to obtain.”
Stream BRŪHA’s newest EP, “H.E.X.D.,” right here!
