Rey Pila

Mexico City-based quartet Rey Pila crafts synth pop and dance-rock rooted in new wave traditions, layering propulsive electronic rhythms, catchy guitar lines, and dynamic vocal performances. Following the release of their first two albums and shared bills with acts including Interpol, the Strokes, and the Rentals, the group expanded its approach on the 2020 full-length Velox Veritas by folding in elements of trap, dancehall, and electro.

Diego Solórzano launched Rey Pila as a solo endeavor after the dissolution of his prior Mexico City indie rock outfit Los Dynamite. The self-titled debut album, co-produced by Paul Mahajan, surfaced in 2010. The project solidified into a performing unit once Rodrigo Blanco, Andrés Velasco, and Miguel Hernández (another Los Dynamite alumnus) joined Solórzano; together they supported Interpol, TV on the Radio, Muse, and additional headliners on the road. In 2012 the musicians relocated to New York City to cut their sophomore record at DFA Studios alongside producer Chris Coady. Julian Casablancas of the Strokes discovered the material and placed the band on his Cult Records imprint in 2013. The single “Alexander” arrived that December, backed by a cover of Chris de Burgh’s “Lady in Red,” while “Blast” followed in 2014. The Future Sugar reached stores in 2015, after which Rey Pila toured with the Rentals and Brandon Flowers.

Wall of Goth, a dance-oriented EP co-produced with Casablancas and Shawn Everett, emerged in 2017. Subsequent South American dates found the quartet supporting Casablancas’ band the Voidz. A rendition of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Israel” appeared in 2018, coinciding with opening slots for Depeche Mode in Mexico City. The Lucky No. 7 EP arrived the next year, preceding support runs with the Cure on stadium dates and with Phoenix during their Ti Amo Mexico residency. Third album Velox Veritas, tracked at Solórzano’s home studio in Mexico City and at Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas before final production and mixing by Dave Sitek in Los Angeles, was issued in 2020.