Biography
Bengala came together as a Mexican alternative rock band in Ciudad de México during 2003, with Diego Suárez handling piano and lead vocals, Amauri Sepúlveda on guitar, Marcos Zavala behind the drums, Jesús Herrera also on guitar, and Sebastián Franco on bass. The group started building an audience through appearances at neighborhood bars and parties, aided by their existing ties within the local music community.
During 2004 the musicians entered the recording facilities belonging to Molotov’s Paco Ayala and Tito Fuentes to lay down tracks for what became their debut full-length. While working there they persuaded Café Tacuba’s Emmanuel del Real and the band’s longtime engineer Tony Peluso to serve as producers. Bolstered by that high-profile production credit and by winning the inaugural Doritokin battle of the bands—a Pepsi-sponsored nationwide contest—Bengala secured a contract with Universal Music Mexico.
Their self-titled first album appeared in late 2006 and met with positive notices, which in turn led to support slots alongside Molotov, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand. The release earned a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Alternative Rock Album category, an achievement the band matched with its follow-up, the harsher-sounding Oro.
During 2004 the musicians entered the recording facilities belonging to Molotov’s Paco Ayala and Tito Fuentes to lay down tracks for what became their debut full-length. While working there they persuaded Café Tacuba’s Emmanuel del Real and the band’s longtime engineer Tony Peluso to serve as producers. Bolstered by that high-profile production credit and by winning the inaugural Doritokin battle of the bands—a Pepsi-sponsored nationwide contest—Bengala secured a contract with Universal Music Mexico.
Their self-titled first album appeared in late 2006 and met with positive notices, which in turn led to support slots alongside Molotov, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand. The release earned a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Alternative Rock Album category, an achievement the band matched with its follow-up, the harsher-sounding Oro.
Albums
Singles
