Jotdog

Jotdog emerged as a Mexican synth pop duo when vocalist María Barracuda teamed with producer Jorge "Chiquis" Amaro. Amaro brought a long résumé that began with his drumming stints in Fobia, Neón, and Rostros Ocultos before he became a sought-after hitmaker, engineer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist for Natalia Lafourcade, Maná, Ricardo Arjona, Timbiriche, and Las Víctimas del Doctor Cerebro, among many others. The pair first crossed paths in 2004 after Amaro received the assignment to helm Barracuda’s debut solo record. Their working relationship extended through the 2006 follow-up Mi Otra Vida, and the two were also commissioned to supply songs for additional acts, which further tightened their creative bond.

Disputes with her label eventually prompted Barracuda to drop her solo path, and for a time she appeared to have stepped away from music altogether. She resurfaced in 2009 alongside Amaro under the Jotdog banner, a sleek dance-pop act whose glossy sound marked a clear departure from her earlier rock-based work. The self-titled debut arrived in September 2009 and quickly gained traction thanks to the infectious single “Hasta Contar a Mil,” whose clip gained heavy rotation on MTV Latin America. The duo earned a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards. Although Jotdog stayed a core duo on record, live shows regularly featured additional Mexican players, most prominently Moenia’s Alejandro “Midi” Ortega.