http://www.kinkymusic.com

Formed in their entirety in 2000 five piece Latino dance funk band KINKY have emerged from relative obscurity in the desert city of Monterrey, Mexico to a phenomenal worldwide success. With two triumphant albums under their belt and many more tours, soundtracks and award nominations (including not one, not two, but three Grammys) to date, the boys begin 2005 on a very high note indeed.
The original KINKY line-up comprised of Gilberto Cerezo, Ulises Lozano and Carlos Chairez who experimented with alternative genres. Three became five when Omar Gongora and Cesar Pliego joined in early 2000 and everything clicked into place. With such diverse influences as traditional Samba beats to techno and rock 'n' roll, KINKY tapped their resources of rich talent and varied musical styles, to create their distinctive new sound.
By mid 2000 they were gaining a reputation for their unique blend of Latin rock and when Chris Allison, British record producer of Coldplay and the Beta Band, heard them, he decided to sign them to the his Sonic360 group of labels. The deal lead to a licensing agreement for the U.S. and Canada through Nettwerk America and BMG Mexico for Latin America. The rest, as they say, is history. Aided by the production skills of Chris Allison, by 2002 KINKY had recorded and released a fine self-titled debut album, received by critical and public acclaim. Following the band's effervescent SXSW appearance, critics from highly respected International press described KINKY's music as Òfeverishly danceable,Ó Ògroovy electro-popÓ and even going so far as to proclaim their unique blend as the "future of music."
As an album, "Kinky" combined the stylishness of discerning American and European dance grooves and straight-ahead rock "n' roll, with traditional rhythms from throughout South America. Their fresh new sound and extensive touring attracted fans and supporters all over the U.S., Latin America and U.K. With live performances so well received, KINKY played over 180 shows in the year, travelling the world while working on their next album "Atlas'.
KINKY changed location for the recording of "Atlas', heading to a secluded ranch in Quintana Roo, Mexico. In the serenity of the isolated jungle, they found both creativity and productivity, composing seven of the album's eleven songs. "It was vacation and hard work at the same time," remembers Gil, "and when we were in the jungle we were surrounded everywhere by insects and animals. One time as I was recording vocals, a bug came directly in to my mouth .... It was fun to have that kind of interaction!"
For the remainder of the album, KINKY travelled to Los Angeles to work with venerable engineer Thom Russo (System of a Down, Audioslave). Russo helped the band bring out a more raw and rock-driven sound in comparison with their electro-pop dominated debut; "The approach for this album was different from the first in that on this one we wanted to focus on a live, organic band sound," says Ulises. "In the first album we recorded ourselves and made loops. On this record we didn't use as many loops or samples. It was more like a live session where we'd record the whole track on tape [too], rather than just digital. You can hear all the organic sounds like guitar, drum, bass and vocals all sounding live."
Atlas' has enjoyed huge success and confirmed KINKY's status as the Mexican demi-Gods of the music world. With singles "Presidente' and "Headphonist' A and B listed on radio playlists worldwide and many high profile performances, including the MTV Latin Music Awards, and supporting the almighty Vasco Rossi on his Italian arena tour, KINKY are in an amazingly good place right now. To keep up to date with all the exciting KINKY news as and when it happens, keep your eyes and ears open and alert on the Sonic360 web site. On their third album REINA, Kinky turn chaos into a grand celebration as they conquer mudslides, floods and collapsing houses to produce their most exciting album yet.
After touring the world in support of their last album, Atlas, Kinky was in need of some peace and relaxation; they had been leading a life of extremities. How extreme? One night they'd sleep in an alley outside of a stadium in Italy, and the next they'd be hanging out in a luxury hotel in front of the Kaula Lumpur Towers. One minute they'd be chowing down on tacos outside of a tavern in Tijuana, and the next they'd be drinking champagne with INXS and Gloria Gainer on a first class flight to Indonesia.
When it came time to refocus their energy on the new album, the band decided to move away from their dry hot home of Monterrey, Mexico. They packed their bags and set out for the lush mountains of Southern California, where they set up shop in a hillside cabin. Once Kinky were settled and ready to start writing, they noticed the so-called "beautiful" Southern California weather was not all sunshine and blue skies. Instead, it was intense and incessant rain that caused huge mudslides and severe floods, destroying anything that got in its way. "We were so caught up in the recording process that we had no idea all of our neighbors had been evacuated. A house right down the street had collapsed from the storm," recalls bassist Cesar Pliego. One particular day, the band could no longer remain unaware of the chaos outside. As they were in the midst of a daily recording session, a mud avalanche entered from the back of their studio into the living room where they had set up their instruments. Guitars, drums and keyboards were all covered in a mass of mud and debris.
Refusing to give up and determined to continue on the creative path they were already so immersed in, the band immediately went into action. Drummer Omar Gongora remembers the dilemma, "We had to rebuild all of our instruments, using our Mexican way, utilizing whatever was readily available; clips, duck tape, random scraps of metal, branches, just about anything we could get our hands on."
As they quickly got back to the recording process, the idea for the album title, REINA emerged. Lead vocalist Gilberto Cerezo explains, "For us, working inside a studio completely covered in mud, was like being part of a great celebrationinside a big chocolate cake. We thought of the Mexican Quinceanera parties where parents expend massive amounts of money for their daughters fifteenth birthday parties and the girls dress up in huge and very uncomfortable dresses just to be the REINA (Queen) for one day." The results of recording throughout the mad So Cal weather are 12 invigorating and eclectic new tracks that invite listeners to a celebration that mixes rock, electronica, hip-hop, Latin rhythm and some pots and pans with lyrics influenced by deep observations of the superficiality of day to day exchanges. With guest appearances by Men At Work front man Colin Hay, Mexican alternative rock singer Ely Guerra, and Intocable's accordion player Rick Munoz, Kinky present Reina.
Album opener "Sister Twisted" invites you on to the dance floor with its playful and bouncy beat, and the high-speed song "Again And So On" speaks of looking for the differences in each day so life doesn't get monotonous, The kick-back track "Monday Killer" suggests staying in bed all day with your lover and wasting the day away, while the beat-driven "A Donde Van Los Muertos," the most romantic track on the album, speaks of death but as an expression of love.
Having completed their recording sessions, KinkyÑlead vocalist Gilberto Cerezo, keyboardist Ulises Lozano, guitarist Carlos Chairez, bassist Cesar Pliego and drummer Omar Gongora--are anxious to kick it into gear and hit the road this fall. the band is eager to set a whole new array of dance floors a-fire.