TX-based art-pop band Alma Muñeca announces their healing, otherworldly EP, Deseo un Brillo,

The EP, written in Spanish, is an empowering search for self-confidence, peace and healthy, fulfilling relationships.

Written during a bout of heartbreak, the project, produced by producer and band member Ernesto Grey (Font, Farmer’s Wife, Loveme, The Opera), dives into desire, love and heartbreak–the dynamics between being on and off with someone as well as familial heartbreak and disappointment. Over five tracks, it chronicles the intricate difficulties of navigating nuanced relationships. Lead singer Cocó Allegra explains, "How can I feel so passionate and loving about someone yet I also feel so much confusion, anger and sadness about them too? Keeping yourself hopeful in hopeless moments, freezing time with my lyrics and sharing it with the world, hoping someone out there can find comfort in them. I wrote this trying to find answers to questions, trying to heal and at the same time manifest self confidence."

Grey has worked his whole life for this moment–from early life in Mexico to his formative teen years in Austin. "It feels like I've been trying to produce music like this my whole life. While growing up in Mexico, I was mostly exposed to 2000s Latin pop music, which was primarily led by rock instrumentation. It wasn't until I moved to Austin in my teens that I started to endlessly dig for more left field kinds of music." Grey began to discover his taste and his sound. "I gravitated a lot towards electronic producers such as Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, Jon Hopkins, etc. With Alma Muñeca, I am able to explore an introspective and ethereal language that feels so familiar to me, but it also pushes me to try things that are more out of my comfort zone. At the end of the day, I just want to make pop music that you can chew on."

On her inspirations, Allegra says, "I felt inspired by old salsa music that I would play on repeat during breakups, my favorite example is 'Lloraras' by Oscar D'León–there's something comforting about nostalgic music I've been listening to forever. At the same time, I was motivated by songs like "oh my love" by FKA Twigs and "I Want You to Love Me" by Fiona Apple."

Alma Muñeca is a four-piece art pop group based in Austin, TX, led by Panamanian immigrant Cocó Allegra and produced by Ernesto Grey along with Matt Russell and Wade Stephens. With their debut project out later this month, the group pairs honest stories of love and heartbreak with experimental, synth-filled production and dreamy vocals featuring lyrics sung in her native Spanish language. Through their live performances, the band aims to uplift the Latin and queer communities.

Deseo un Brillo (EP)

Tracklist

01. Llave

02. Anhelo

03. Calor

04. Melancolia

05. Eclipse