Aztlán (album) explained

Aztlán
Type:studio
Artist:Zoé
Cover:Aztlán cover.jpg
Released:18 April 2018
Recorded:January–September 2017
Studio:Panorama Studios (Mexico City)
Genre:Alternative rock
Length:54:56
Label:
Producer:
  • Phil Vinall
  • Sergio Acosta
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Sonidos De Karmática Resonancia
Next Year:2021

Aztlán is the sixth studio album by Mexican rock band Zoé. It was released on 18 April 2018 through EMIand Universal.[1] The album is the band's first work in four years since Prográmaton (2013). Aztlán was produced by longtime Zoé producer Phil Vinall, and Craig Silvey, collaborating with Zoé for the first time. Silvey's influence brought new sounds and recording techniques to this album and helped set it apart from Prográmaton.[2] Lead singer León Larregui has described the genre of the album as rock or rock-pop.[3]

Aztlán was included on Rolling Stone's list of 10 Best Latin Albums of 2018[4] and later went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album on February 10, 2019. Previously, the album had been nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album but did not win. As a result, the Grammy win came as a complete surprise to the band, as they did not attend the award ceremony,[5] [6] with the band members finding out about winning the award through tweets and chat messages.[7] The album was supported by three singles: "Azul", "Hielo", and "No hay mal que dure".

Background

Aztlán was recorded from January to September 2017 at Panorama Studios in Mexico City.[8]

Release

Before the release of Aztlán, on 18 April 2018, Zoé held a surprise concert at Glorieta de los Insurgentes in Mexico City, where they performed songs from the album.[9] After that performance, the album was released digitally the same day; the physical editions followed on 20 April.[10] To promote the album, the band embarked on a world tour across North America, South America, and Europe, that concluded on 29 June 2019 at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City.[11]

The album is named after Aztlán, the mythical ancestral homeland of the Aztec people, and according to Larregui, it was chosen out of pride for their Mexican culture. Larregui has also described the "Aztlán" theme of the album as "an invitation to people to reflect on their own cultures and ideas." The album cover features an original oil painting by Larregui,[12] presumably depicting the departure of the Aztecs from Aztlán before founding the city of Tenochtitlan in the present day valley of Mexico.

Singles

Aztlán was supported by three singles. The album's lead single, "Azul", was released on 1 March 2018 with its music video the same day.[13] On 9 June 2018, "Hielo", along with a music video, followed as the second single.[14] The band released "No hay mal que no dure" and its video on 15 November 2018 as the album's third and final single.[15]

"Temor y temblor" was released on 23 March 2018 as the first promotional single.[16] "Clarividad", the second promtional single, followed on 6 April 2018.[17]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[18] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Position
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[19] 18

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aztlán by Zoé. Apple Music (US). 20 April 2018. 23 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Zoé nos cuenta sobre Aztlán, su nuevo disco . Chilango . 13 February 2019.
  3. Web site: Legendary Mexican Rock Band Zoé Returns to Phoenix. Ibieta. Paula. 2019-02-28. Phoenix New Times. 2019-07-11.
  4. Web site: 10 Best Latin Albums of 2018 . Rolling Stone . 13 February 2019.
  5. Web site: Mexico's Zoé is Crossing Musical Borders with "Aztlán". Alexander. Cesar. 2019-03-07. Sacramento Press. en-US. 2019-07-11.
  6. Web site: Zoe On Their GRAMMY-Winning Album Aztlan & More. Velez. Jennifer. 2019-02-28. GRAMMY.com. en. 2019-07-11.
  7. Web site: Zoé recibe el Grammy con gran emoción y sorpresa. El Demócrata. es-MX. 2019-07-11.
  8. Web site: Roll. Jay. El fin de Gira de Zoé / Aztlán. Latin-Roll.com. 8 June 2019. 26 April 2024.
  9. Web site: Merioma. María. Zoé presentó "Aztlán" en concierto sorpresa en la Ciudad de México. LaPopLife. 19 April 2024. 26 April 2024.
  10. News: Zoé lanza la versión física de su disco 'Aztlán'. Excélsior. 20 April 2018. 26 April 2024.
  11. News: Zoé se despide de 'Aztlán'. Chicago Tribune. 12 June 2019. 26 April 2024.
  12. Web site: Álvarez . Raúl . Zoé lanza su nuevo disco "Aztlán" . Culto . 13 February 2019.
  13. Web site: Padilla. Greta. Melancolía futurista: Zoé estrena su nuevo sencillo y video para 'Azul'. Sopitas. 1 March 2018. 26 April 2024.
  14. Web site: Zoé estrena 'Hielo', segundo sencillo de su nuevo álbum. Excélsior. 9 June 2018. 26 April 2024.
  15. Web site: Aguilar. Francisco. Zoé estrena video de su tercer sencillo «No hay mal que dure». Parlante.cl. 17 November 2018. 26 April 2024.
  16. News: Menjívar. Nicolás. Zoé habla de su nuevo disco y vuelve locas las redes con "Temor y temblor". La Prensa Gráfica. 23 March 2018. 26 April 2024.
  17. Web site: Quintero. Armando. Zoé estrena canción. Indie Rocks!. 6 April 2018. 26 April 2024.
  18. Web site: Top Álbum: Del 20 al 26 de Abril 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509221235/http://amprofon.com.mx/es/pages/rankings/top-album.php. 22 April 2024. 9 May 2018.
  19. Web site: Los más vendidos 2018. 22 April 2024. Spanish. Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124113504/http://centrodedesarrollodigital.com/amprofonanual/100.php. 24 January 2019.