Buscabulla offers electro-Caribbean music for the pandemic
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Buscabulla, a Puerto Rican duo playing electro-Caribbean music, is promoting a 'œhymn of belonging'ť to lift spirits during the pandemic.
The video of the group's latest single, 'œMÃo,'ť includes images of the Carnaval de Ponce and the Day of the Holy Innocents, also called the Fiesta de las Máscaras de Hatillo, known for pranks, floats, drinking and loud music.
'œIt speaks to the Puerto Rican who is here to feel proud, to embrace a sense of belonging, to defend what is theirs,'ť said lead singer Raquel Berrios via videocall from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, a small town visited by surfers two hours west of San Juan.
'œThe sense of belonging transcends money. Sometimes it's really hard to conceive of that now, when ... spirituality and traditions seem to go to a secondary plane,'ť she said.
Berrios is also the group's designer, composer and DJ, while Luis Alfredo Del Valle, the other half of Buscabulla, is DJ and instrumentalist. They met in 2011 while living in Brooklyn, New York, and now have a 6-year-old daughter, Charly,
The word 'œbuscabulla'ť is Puerto Rican for 'œtroublemaker," someone looking to start fights at parties.
Three years ago, Berrios and Del Valle returned to Puerto Rico - hence the title of their first LP, 'œRegresa,'ť released in May. 'œMio'ť is one of the tracks.
When they came back, they found an island devastated after Hurricane Maria, economic crises and political turbulence.
'œLots of locals are leaving, and many foreigners are coming to the country buying land, buying coasts, trying to develop without any regard to the environment,'ť said Berrios.
Despite those concerns and some melancholy lyrics, the tone of 'œRegresa,'ť with its synthesizers and reverbs with retro touches, is calming and warm, like a sunset on the beach. That's thanks to the sweet voice of Berrios.
'œNo sabemos'ť is one of the most electronic songs on the album, and conveys a message to persevere despite the uncertainties of 2020.
'œI realized that sometimes things happen in life that we didn't plan, that end up being a hidden blessing,'' said Berrios. She called the song "an exercise of faith.'ť
Buscabulla had planned a tour after launching 'œRegresa,'ť but everything changed with the coronavirus.
'œIt was a shock at the beginning, but to be honest, I also felt relieved. Having a 6-year-old girl, we would have been away from her all summer,'ť said Berrios.
She thinks the pandemic deepened the album's message. "In the end, the album is about accepting yourself with your mistakes and imperfections,'ť she said.
One of the songs, 'œNydia,'ť is dedicated to singer and TV host Nydia Caro, who Berrios said helped her 'œduring an existential crisis and a creative block'ť with good advice.
As for working with her husband, Berrios said it hasn't been easy, but they have managed to find balance.
'œAt the beginning we used to fight a lot. There were many clashes producing, or maybe we were working a lot and that was affecting our personal life. But with time, we have identified those patterns, and being conscious of them makes it easier and helps to separate work time from family and couple time,'ť she said.
During the pandemic, they have also been working on a documentary about their album, and creating videos like the one of their virtual concert for NPR's recently premiered series 'œTiny Desk.'ť They also help their daughter with online classes.
'œHere at home, we have lots of materials for crafts and many books to learn to write,'ť said Berrios, showing a table with scissors and cardboards. 'œWe'll need vacations after this year.'ť