Banda de Turistas

Banda de Turistas emerged as an Argentinian indie rock ensemble whose sonic palette merges psych textures, modern Rock en Español, and electronica into irresistibly catchy yet abrasive pop.

The group coalesced in 2006 after the breakup of Berlin—an instrumental, atmospheric unit steeped in Krautrock and space-rock traditions—and Palmeta, a project devoted solely to pop songwriting. All five members—Bruno Albano on bass and vocals, Tomás Putruele on guitar and vocals, drummer Guido Colzani, keyboardist Patricio Troncoso, and guitarist Luis Balcarce—had first connected during school years and were still 19 or 20 when the new band took shape. They began collaborating without any immediate goal of securing a record deal, instead favoring direct internet distribution. That approach surfaced clearly with their 2007 five-track, lo-fi, atmospheric instrumental EP Cóctel de Instantáneo, issued digitally by Mamushka Dogs Records. Additional tracks and visuals soon appeared on MySpace, where Jarvis Cocker encountered the material and invited the band to open his 2008 Argentine dates. Those sizable-venue performances marked some of Banda de Turistas’ earliest major shows and unexpectedly led to an offer for a nationwide trek that mixed mid-sized rooms with festival slots. The exposure prompted Rolling Stone Argentina to publish an extensive profile that introduced the group across the country. Their debut album, Mágico Corazón Radiofónico, arrived the same year on the independent Estamos Felices imprint; Mario Caldato, Jr. (Beastie Boys) handled production and mixing remotely from Los Angeles. The record also earned prominent coverage in Rolling Stone’s review section. Concurrently the band expanded its online footprint beyond MySpace onto YouTube, uploading low-budget clips that quickly accumulated tens of thousands of views. Their follow-up, El Retorno—issued on PopArt—was sent online for mixing and mastering at Abbey Road Studios. Argentine rock journalists turned the quintet into a buzz act, and awareness spread to neighboring Latin American territories. The steady stream of music and videos posted online helped cultivate an international audience. In 2010 the band toured throughout the Americas, achieving strong popularity in Mexico and appearing at a SXSW showcase in the United States. That autumn they received two Latin Grammy nominations, including best new artist. Nacional subsequently licensed the first two albums and compiled them as Magical Radiophonic Heart.

During 2011 the musicians returned to Mexico for several large festival appearances before playing selected South American cities. They then entered the studio to record YA, co-produced by Diego Tuñon and Diego Uma (Babasónicos), which surfaced in early 2012. Their videos have since drawn hundreds of thousands to millions of YouTube views, and most concert dates sell out. Near-constant touring ensued, including a slot at Mexico’s first Jóvenes Ilustres Festival alongside an international lineup. European performances finally materialized via Spain, where the group headlined its own shows and appeared at multiple festivals. Late in 2013 the pre-release single “Química” topped the Argentinian charts and held the summit for ten weeks. The full-length Lo Que Más Querés, the band’s fourth studio album co-produced by Tuta Torres and Juanchi Baleirón, followed in May and debuted at number one. In response, Banda de Turistas resumed extensive road work across Argentina’s interior and then South America. After taking their first extended hiatus in 2016, the members returned to the studio and once again collaborated with Caldato Jr., delivering Mancho in late 2017—an album whose streams, sales, and videos surpassed all earlier releases.