Kevin Johansen

Kevin Johansen stands among the uncommonly quirky and wide-ranging recording artists who have earned widespread esteem from both reviewers and the general public. Alongside his group the Nada, he won over listeners across Latin America, especially in Argentina, while securing three Grammy nominations for just their second release, Sur o No Sur. Born in Alaska to an Argentine mother and an American father, Johansen spent his childhood in Argentina and embodies a distinctly multicultural background. He relocated to New York City in 1990 and remained there for nearly ten years, appearing regularly at CBGB's as well as the Knitting Factory and Mercury Lounge. Those shows supplied extensive stage experience and led to the formation of the Nada. Shortly before returning to Argentina and settling in Buenos Aires in 2000, he captured his debut album, The Nada. Issued in Argentina by Los Años Luz and in Spain by K Industrias, the record ranged across fused styles and, like his later work, appeared in both English and Spanish. Critics warmed to it quickly, appreciating its inventive, cross-cultural, and literary qualities amid the commercial fare they routinely encountered, though broader audiences responded more gradually. Wider acceptance arrived with the 2003 album Sur o No Sur, released by Los Años Luz in Argentina and Sony Discos throughout the rest of Latin America. The set represented a clear advance, remaining eclectic yet expanding to twenty wholly distinct tracks. Johansen supplied brief style notes for each song on the back cover, among them "Popklore" and "Barry White Meets Nirvana." Reviewers responded with enthusiasm once more, awarding three Latin Grammy nominations that included Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Audiences proved far more receptive this time, enabling Johansen and the Nada to perform before large crowds across Latin America and Spain while also touring English-speaking regions. Following that period of rapid success, he recorded his third album, City Zen, a comparatively restrained effort that nevertheless drew immediate critical approval.