Kiko & Shara

Following the 2005 breakup of the popular Andalusian pop group Los Caños, Kiko received a solo contract from Sony BMG. Having already released four successful discs as part of the trio, the singer born October 15, 1985 welcomed the chance to establish an individual identity. His sister Shara, born June 6, 1987 and two years his junior, joined him to record a duet for what was intended as his first solo album. Executives at the label were so taken with the siblings’ combined voices that they instead green-lit the duo Kiko & Shara. The pair entered the studio with producer Alejo Stivel—known for his work with La Oreja de Van Gogh, Joaquín Sabina, Carlos Núñez, and Los Caños—to shape their debut as a brother-and-sister act. For Shara it marked her first professional recording; for Kiko it was his initial opportunity to present original compositions. Their self-titled album reached stores in May 2006 and included the radio success “Puede Ser,” penned by longtime Los Caños guitarist and collaborator Ismael Moya. Because the siblings had already harmonized together for years prior to Kiko’s professional start, both viewed the partnership as a natural extension of their shared history. Kiko later observed, “There is more confidence and more support when it’s all in the family.” The duo spent the ensuing months touring across Spain, issuing the live set Nuestro Primer Concierto that same year. Their next studio effort, Una de dos, followed in 2007, with En el aire arriving in 2009 as their last collection of new studio material. In 2010 they released the concert recording Adiós, Gracias and announced their disbandment; the album featured several previously unheard tracks intended to launch separate solo paths.