Beto Martinez

lluvii: “Up All Night”

As one of the southernmost states to neighbor Latin America, it’s no big surprise that Texas is home to loads of great Latin music. But what really catches us off guard is the abundance of infectious Afrobeat energy right here in Austin. And if we put Latin Psych on the same spectrum as Afrobeat, you start to realize how many local acts get down on each others’ grooves.

Like Austin quartet lluvii. Say it with us: “U-V”. As heard on their debut EP Pacifico from last December, lluvii’s sound breezes through coastal south-of-the-border psychedelia, primal rainforest-ready percussion, and incredibly intriguing indie art rock, all anchored by the idiosyncratic soft siren vocals of frontwoman Carol Gonzalez. For some, that may be enough range to call it a day there and stick to established formulas moving forward. But for lluvii, the journey of genres has only just begun.

lluvii’s got a new EP on the way, produced by Grupo Fantasma/Caramelo Haze visionary Beto Martinez and set for release on August 2nd. The record’s lead offering, “Up All Night”, finds lluvii embarking on an ultra-vibrant, effervescent exploration of Afrobeat that features percussionist Victor Cruz from chicha-cumbia conquistadors Nemegata and keyboardist Anthony Farrell of old school R&B artisans Greyhounds. Even if you’re planning on checking out the single release show 9PM tonight at Cheer Up Charlie’s alongside Sexpop and Rococo Disco, it’ll be a challenge to sit still if you’re stuck in office after pressing play on this one. Because with unbreakable horn lines, un-ending auxiliary percussion, bold beat breakdowns, furious rhythms, buoyant bass work, intoxicating guitar chords, and Gonzalez’s mystic vocal presence, “Up All Night” will keep you going til dawn.

Venus Loves Mars: “Is It Time?”

When soon-to-be-newlyweds exchange vows, they’re typically talking in terms of for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, or in sickness and in health. But for more creatively-charged couples it goes without saying that there’s also a dedication to high-quality collaboration, through thick and thin.

Take for instance native Austinites Mac and B McNally, who’ve been inseparable since the mid-’90s. After nearly three decades together and countless individual hours performing with other groups, these unapologetic lovebirds have recently formalized their undying bond with a new musical project, Venus Loves Mars. So far they’ve maintained that exceptional standard of quality likely unspoken during their marital exchanges; in 2021 they recorded their first-ever single “The Score” with Chris “Frenchie” Smith at The Bubble, and this year they’ve teamed up with Grammy winner Beto Martinez at Leche House.

Martinez’ idiosyncratic contributions to Grupo Fantasma and Caramelo Haze lends a subtly cinematic Latin-psych flair to the power couple’s still-evolving classic-soul-meets-garage-rock style, which we’ll hopefully hear more of on VLM’s upcoming debut seven-song EP. #VLM4EVER is set for release this July, a new music video is in the works, and ahead of a live appearance tomorrow afternoon at No Filter Fest, Venus Loves Mars begs an important question, whose implied answer is best left unsaid in lieu of repeat listens, “Is It Time?”

Musician pay for live shows in Austin hasn’t changed in 40 years. Here are some other ways they’ve found to make money with music.

Austin musicians are making the same amount of money per gig as they did in 1979. In the latest episode, we look at gig pay through the years and talk to musicians Greg Clifford and Beto Martinez about how they’ve found ways to make money from music that don’t involve playing live.

Drummer Greg Clifford is pictured in his home where he produces lo-fi music on Feb. 8, 2022, in Austin. Michael Minasi/KUTX

Musician and producer Beto Martinez is pictured in his home studio on Feb. 9, 2022, in Austin. Michael Minasi/KUTX

 

The Los Sundowns: “Al Final de La Tarde” (feat. Alex Chavez)

For more than two decades, Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Beto Martinez has imprinted Austin with his Latin-leaning outputs: Grupo Fantasma, Money Chicha, and Brownout. And though psychedelia’s always been a major factor in Martinez’s formulas, with some conceptualizing on behalf of Dos Santos drummer Daniel Villarreal, the two have dawned on a new Latin psych-soul project, The Los Sundowns.

In a little over a month The Los Sundowns will release their debut self-titled EP, stacked with a roster of talented collaborators from Villarreal and Martinez’s combined rolodex and issued through Beto’s new label Lechehouse Music. And while we all anticipate auspiciousness from The Los Sundowns when drops on February 12th, the group’s tided us over with their lead single, featuring fellow Dos Santos veteran Alex Chavez, “Al Final de La Tarde”!