Huecco

Latin alternative outfit Huecco originated when Ivahn, the ex-frontman of late-'90s hip-hop/rock fusion act Sugarless, decided to launch a fresh project. Guitarist Frankie, a founding member of Sugarless who had been studying at the Musicians Institute in L.A., first gathered Ivahn together with drummer Samuel back in 1994, later completing the lineup in 1997 with the addition of bassist Joseba. The group explored funk, rap, acid jazz, and punk textures while cultivating a dedicated grassroots following. Their first album, Aseguramelo, appeared in 1998 and was succeeded several years afterward by the follow-up Mas Gas. After Sugarless achieved only modest traction, Ivahn pursued an alternate path by forming Huecco, where he fused American rock influences drawn from Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers with the flamenco, son, and samba traditions of Spain and Latin America. He coined the term rumbaton for this distinctive hybrid and secured backing from Warner Music Spain to issue his first recording. Grammy-winning producer K.C. Porter (Santana, Ricky Martin) and engineer Thom Russo (Michael Jackson, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes) assisted on the sessions, resulting in the self-titled Huecco debut that reached stores in 2006. The album attained gold status in Spain, propelled in particular by the double-platinum single "Pa' Mi Guerrera." Fueled by the popularity of the band's chart-topping video, the 2007 tour itinerary became packed with dates across Spain and Mexico.