Zoé

Emerging from Mexico as a five-piece ensemble celebrated for its hook-laden psychedelic rock approach and its catchy rock and pop material, Zoé rank among the most significant acts of the indie rock period. The group ascended to prominence within the rock en español landscape in the late 2000s, when its third album, the chart-topping breakthrough Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea (2006), brought an assortment of award nominations along with the first of several Premio Oye! victories. Three Latin Grammys arrived in 2011, honoring Best Alternative Album, Best Long Form Video for MTV Unplugged/Música de Fondo, and Rock Song of the Year for the live rendition of “Labios Rotos.” Another Grammy followed in 2018 for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album with Aztlán, an expansive, richly textured set of romantic psychedelic pop and sociologically pointed material.

Formed in Mexico City in 1994, Zoé experienced several years of personnel shifts before stabilizing as the quintet of León Larregui (vocals/songwriting), Sergio Acosta (lead guitar), Jesús Báez (keyboards), Angel Mosqueda (bass), and Beto Cabrera (drums). The band’s self-titled full-length debut appeared in 2001 through Sony Music yet achieved only modest results despite multiple singles. Seeking a different direction for the follow-up, the members reunited with Phil Vinall, who had already mixed their debut. The veteran British producer, whose résumé includes work with Placebo, Gene, the Auteurs, Radiohead, Elastica, and Pulp, brought mid-’90s British scene expertise that aligned with the group’s alternative rock leanings. Their second album, Rocanlover (2003), displayed a more fully realized sound than its predecessor.

Following several years of moderate rather than widespread success, Zoé parted ways with Sony Music. Limited resources led the band to issue the independently released eight-track EP The Room in 2005, which contained the smash-hit single “Dead.” Association with EMI and another production collaboration with Vinall propelled the group to the forefront of the rock en español scene in 2006 via the critically praised third album Memo Rex Commander y el Corazón Atómico de la Vía Láctea. The platinum-certified Reptilectric (2008) proved equally strong and commercially dominant. An MTV Unplugged release titled Música de Fondo appeared in 2011, succeeded by the experimental fifth studio album Prográmaton in 2013 and the concert LP 8.11.14 two years later. In 2017 the documentary Zoé: Panoramas focused on the band, accompanied by a soundtrack album; afterward Zoé entered a brief hiatus while lead vocalist León Larregui delivered his third solo effort, Metrópolis.

Following headline and international festival tours across Spain, Mexico, and the U.S., the group returned directly to the studio. The single “Azul” emerged on March 1, 2018, with “Temor y Temblor” and “Clarividad” arriving next, ahead of the April 20 release of the full-length Aztlán, again produced by Vinall. Audiences and reviewers embraced the return to psychedelic textures; the set earned gold certification and three Latin Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Song (“Azul”), Best Long Form Video (“Panoramas”), and Best Alternative Music Album. Aztlán ultimately received the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.