Zöe

A five-piece ensemble hailing from Mexico, Zoé have earned both Grammy and Latin Grammy honors for their psychedelic rock approach, marked by memorable hooks and a steady stream of infectious rock and pop material, establishing them among the leading acts of the indie rock period. During the closing years of the 2000s the group ascended to prominence within the rock en español landscape, propelled especially by their third full-length, the number-one sensation Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea (2006), which brought multiple award nominations along with their initial string of Premio Oye! victories. Three Latin Grammys arrived in 2011, recognizing Best Alternative Album, Best Long Form Video for MTV Unplugged/Música de Fondo, and Rock Song of the Year for the concert rendition of “Labios Rotos.” Their 2018 release Aztlán, a panoramic set of romantic psychedelic pop interwoven with socially observant material, secured another Grammy in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category.

The band formed in Mexico City in 1994 and navigated several roster adjustments before settling on the lineup of León Larregui on vocals and songwriting, Sergio Acosta on lead guitar, Jesús Báez on keyboards, Angel Mosqueda on bass, and Beto Cabrera on drums. Their self-titled debut appeared in 2001 through Sony Music yet failed to gain traction despite multiple singles. Seeking a fresh direction for the follow-up, they reunited with Phil Vinall, who had already mixed the first album; the British producer, whose résumé encompasses work with Placebo, Gene, the Auteurs, Radiohead, Elastica, and Pulp, brought mid-’90s British-scene expertise that aligned with the band’s alternative rock leanings. Their sophomore effort, Rocanlover (2003), displayed a more cohesive realization of their sound.

After parting from Sony Music, Zoé issued the independent eight-track EP The Room in 2005, which featured the breakout single “Dead.” Rejoining forces with EMI and again enlisting Vinall, they achieved widespread acclaim in 2006 with Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea. The platinum-certified Reptilectric (2008) sustained that momentum in comparable fashion. A live MTV Unplugged set titled Música de Fondo surfaced in 2011, followed by the experimental Prográmaton in 2013 and the concert album 8.11.14 two years later. In 2017 the documentary Zoé: Panoramas appeared, accompanied by a corresponding soundtrack, after which the group paused while Larregui delivered his third solo album, Metrópolis.

Following headline and festival engagements across Spain, Mexico, and the United States, the musicians returned to the studio and unveiled the single “Azul” on March 1, 2018. “Temor y Temblor” and “Clarividad” preceded the April 20 arrival of Aztlán, once more produced by Vinall. The record’s renewed embrace of psychedelic textures drew strong responses from listeners and reviewers alike, earning gold certification plus three Latin Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Song (“Azul”), Best Long Form Video (“Panoramas”), and Best Alternative Music Album; Aztlán ultimately claimed the 2019 Grammy for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.