Domino Saints

Formed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 2007, the Miami-based Latin urban pop duo Domino Saints began when David Leal and Giselle “Gigi” Ojeda—both fifteen—crossed paths on a beach after a shark attack forced their evacuation from the water. Leal had envisioned an engineering career while Ojeda aspired to dance with the New York City Ballet, yet the pair soon bonded over music instead. They later enrolled together at Berklee College in Boston, assembling a band shaped by influences ranging from Bob Marley and Michael Jackson to the Police. In 2009 the group issued its self-released, self-titled debut before returning to San Juan.

Reduced to a duo, they immersed themselves in dembow and reggaeton, shifting toward a high-energy urban style delivered in bilingual Spanish and English lyrics. Steady live work raised their visibility, and crowds embraced both the music and the duo’s sexy, hard-partying persona. After crisscrossing the United States and opening for Shakira, they relocated to Miami in 2012, signed with Capitol, and issued their second album, Malas Mañas. They next aligned with the artist-focused indie Rebel Eleven, whose release of the chart-topping club anthem “Rebel” in 2017 marked their breakthrough.

Island Kings Deluxe, their debut album, surfaced on Saints Republic in 2020. The single “Rockstar,” featuring Gaby Metalico, was chosen as the official song for Copa America in 2021 and Copa America Femenina 22. Subsequent Top Ten entries included “Puya” and the chart-topping “Dancefreak,” which reached number one across five South American countries. Those tracks were gathered on the singles collection Future Love Games. 2023’s Goove Frescos gathered four high-charting singles alongside the previously unreleased cuts “Roncito y Playa” and “Feel Good.”