Matute

Matute came into being in 2007 as a Mexican pop sextet devoted to cover material. Singer and producer Jorge D'Alessio, the son of actors Lupita D'Alessio and Jorge Vargas, directs the group. Conceived to salute 1980s recordings by both English- and Spanish-language acts, its sets consist of bilingual renditions of era hits, frequently linked in medley form. D'Alessio launched the project after arranging sponsored concert tours for a leading beverage company, an experience that introduced him to numerous musicians and vocalists. The name derives from a cartoon figure in the children’s series Don Gato y Sus Gang, and the band’s debut performance drew an audience of only fourteen.

Its first recording paired the group with Mexican singer Belinda on “Sal de Mi Piel,” chosen because RBD had originally cut the track before the band’s recent breakup. Self-financed and tracked in Italy, the debut album Ochenterizzimo presented covers of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” the Outfield’s “Your Love,” Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon,” and Marco Antonio Solis’ “Tú Me Vuelves Loco.” The ensemble inaugurated its first themed concert series, The 80’s Box Show, at a nightclub south of Mexico City. Mexican pop singer Anahí, formerly of RBD, attended the album and performance; sufficiently impressed, she asked Matute to open both her Brazilian dates and her subsequent global tour.

Proceeds from those engagements funded a larger, more elaborate production called La Guerra de los 80’s. Additional support slots and favorable press attention followed. The next presentation, Matute Show in Acapulco, featured a guest appearance by the beloved Mexican pop group Flans. Strong ticket sales led to the creation of the national television program MatuTV in 2011. The second studio album, Deseo, arrived the following year and consisted primarily of original songs rather than covers.

The 2013 live release En Vivo! received double-gold certification in Mexico. Its successor, Matute en Vivo, Vol. 2, appeared in 2014 and included a version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” plus a “Gimmick Medley” that merged “Don’t You Forget About Me,” “Beds Burning,” and “Relax,” along with several rock en español and cumbia medleys. In 2015 the group toured Mexico and the United States with the show Tour la Matutera. Returning to the studio in 2016 produced the duets album Poderes de los Duetos Fantásticos ¡Actívense!, which features collaborations with Anahí, Los Claxons, Tren a Marte, Julion Alvarez, and others. The set reached the top of the Mexican pop charts in early 2017.