Espiritu

Formed in Brighton, Sussex, England, the Latin-infused 1990s dance act Espiritu consisted of Vanessa Quinnones and Chris Taplin, formerly of Frazier Chorus. Of mixed Peruvian and French heritage, Quinnones spent her childhood in a prosperous Parisian suburb looked after by a South American nanny called Francisca, a name later chosen for the duo’s first single released in 1992, which addressed the mistreatment she received from Quinnones’ mother. Their follow-up release, the track ‘Conquistador’, delivered another example of refined Latin dance music; an Andrew Weatherall remix had already generated intense excitement in clubs, driving second-hand prices above £100 ahead of the official pressing. After inking a deal with Heavenly Records, this single upheld the band’s pattern of crafting reflective words, here focusing on the mistreatment of South American Indians justified as progress. In 1994 the third outing, ‘Bonita Monana’, sustained their success bridging clubs and charts.