Spanish Love Songs Explained

Spanish Love Songs
Origin:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years Active:2013–present
Current Members:
  • Dylan Slocum
  • Kyle McAulay
  • Ruben Duarte
  • Meredith Van Woert
  • Trevor Dietrich
Past Members:
  • Gabe Mayeshiro

Spanish Love Songs is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, that was founded in 2013.[1] The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Dylan Slocum, guitarist Kyle McAulay, drummer Ruben Duarte, and keyboardist Meredith Van Woert. Slocum and Van Woert are married. Since their formation, Spanish Love Songs has released four studio albums: Giant Sings the Blues (2015), Schmaltz (2018), Brave Faces Everyone (2020) and No Joy (2023)

History

2013–2019: Formation and early releases

Spanish Love Songs was originally formed as a trio by Slocum, Mayeshiro, and Duarte. McAulay joined shortly after, making them a four-piece.[1] The band played their first show in August 2013.[1] They began recording their debut EP, which later became their debut studio album.[1] The band released their debut studio album in March 2015 titled Giant Sings the Blues.[1] [2] The album was released through their own label.[1] In 2016, the band signed with Wiretap Records and rereleased their debut album with bonus tracks.[1] On October 24, 2016, the band released Little Giants, a collection of b-sides from Giant Sings the Blues. In 2017, keyboardist Meredith Van Woert joined the band, making them a five-piece.[1] In 2018, the band released their second studio album, Schmaltz.[1] [3] [4] On November 30, 2018, the band released a cover of "Funeral" by Phoebe Bridgers.

2020-2022: Brave Faces Everyone and Brave Faces Etc

See main article: Brave Faces Everyone. In 2020, Spanish Love Songs released their third studio album titled Brave Faces Everyone.[5] [6] The album debuted at No. 21 on Vinyl Albums chart and No. 61 on the Top Album Sales chart with 2000 copies sold.[7] Along with the album, the band announced a tour in the U.K. with the Menzingers and a U.S. tour with the Wonder Years.[6] The tour started on January 25, 2020.[6] On July 14, 2021, the band released "Phantom Limb", a track from the Brave Faces Everyone sessions, along with a cover of "Blacking Out the Friction" by Death Cab for Cutie. On October 28, 2021, the band released a cover of "I Miss You" by Blink-182. On February 1, 2022, the band announced Brave Faces, Etc., a complete reimagining of Brave Faces Everyone, along with the release of the lead singles, new versions of "Generation Loss" and "Optimism (As a Radical Life Choice)". Three additional singles appeared on digital platforms in the weeks leading into the album’s release on April 15.

On August 4, 2022, the band released a cover of "We’ve Had Enough" by Alkaline Trio, as part of a compilation album for their label, Pure Noise Records.

2023–present: No Joy

Beginning on March 8, 2023, the band began digitally releasing a series of cover songs, which, on April 25, was packaged as the Doom & Gloom Sessions. Its four songs were originally performed (respectively) by The Killers, Jimmy Eat World, Rilo Kiley, and Grandaddy.

On May 17, the band released a music video for "Haunted", the lead single from their fourth studio album, No Joy - itself released on August 25, 2023.[8]

Musical style

Spanish Love Songs' musical style has been described as punk rock,[7] [9] [10] emo,[9] [10] [11] pop punk,[7] [10] [11] indie rock,[11] pop rock,[12] alternative rock,[13] garage punk,[14] and indie punk.[1] The band calls themselves "grouchrock".[1] Rich Wilson of AllMusic considers the band to be "[a continuation of] the emotional punk tradition started by bands such as Jawbreaker and Hot Water Music."[1]

Band members

Current members[1]

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum details
Giant Sings the Blues
  • Released: March 25, 2015
Do not add unsourced genres!-->
  • Length: 38:07
  • Label: Wiretap
Schmaltz
  • Released: March 30, 2018
Do not add unsourced genres!-->
  • Length: 39:25
  • Label: A-F
Brave Faces Everyone
Brave Faces, Etc.
No Joy

Extended plays

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rich Wilson. Spanish Love Songs AllMusic Bio. AllMusic. October 19, 2020.
  2. Web site: Album Review: Spanish Love Songs – 'Giant Sings The Blues' . New Noise Magazine . 6 April 2016 . 27 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Carr . Paul . Spanish Love Songs' 'Schmaltz' Is Cathartic for Anyone Seeking Sanctuary From Life's Unpredictability . . 27 March 2018 . 27 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Crowley . James . Losers Forever: A Conversation with Spanish Love Songs . Atwood Magazine . 26 April 2019 . 27 February 2020.
  5. Web site: Spanish Love Songs Announce New Album, Brave Faces Everyone . . 27 February 2020.
  6. Web site: Leuthauser . Adrian . Spanish Love Songs announce new album with honesty-fueled song "Kick" . . 8 January 2020 . 27 February 2020.
  7. Glenn Rowley. Spanish Love Songs Are Here to Help You Survive the 'Bleak Stuff' With New Album: Emerging Artists Spotlight. Billboard. February 20, 2020. October 19, 2020.
  8. Web site: Andrew. Sacher. Spanish Love Songs announce new LP 'No Joy,' share "Haunted" (exclusive splatter vinyl). BrooklynVegan. May 17, 2023. May 17, 2023.
  9. Web site: Glenn Rowley. Spanish Love Songs' New Single Is As Brutal As Honesty Gets. Kerrang!. January 22, 2020. October 19, 2020.
  10. Web site: Spanish Love Songs Are Here to Help You Survive the 'Bleak Stuff' With New Album: Emerging Artists Spotlight. Sputnikmusic. October 19, 2020.
  11. James Crowley. Review: Spanish Love Songs Enlighten a Horrible World with Brave Faces Everyone. Billboard. February 20, 2020. October 19, 2020.
  12. Web site: Punk's Spanish Love Songs Urge 'Brave Faces Everyone'. PopMatters. February 11, 2020. September 28, 2020.
  13. Web site: Album Review:Spanish Love Songs – Brave Faces Everyone. Kerrang!. Pearlman. Mischa. October 19, 2020.
  14. Web site: Spanish Love Songs – 'Brave Faces Everyone'. Punktastic. Andy Joice. February 4, 2020. October 19, 2020.
  15. Web site: Album Review: Spanish Love Songs – Brave Faces, Etc.. New Noise. Ryan. Curtiss. April 11, 2022. April 15, 2022.
  16. Web site: No Joy, by Spanish Love Songs . 2023-10-24 . Spanish Love Songs . en.