VIP No.1 / 2023 Interview Oh'laville

We spoke with a band that has been inhabiting the streets of Bogotá for over 10 years with a sound as vibrant as it is mysterious. They are Oh’laville, and on this occasion, they tell us a bit about their new album, Aurora, the tour that will accompany this new work, and the journey they've undertaken since then.

1. To begin, we'd like to know a little about the mystique behind your new work. Why is it called Aurora?

Aurora emerges from chaos. From the obligation to produce our music in a different way. From our homes, from leaving the rehearsal room, from deeply committing to the sound of each song, resulting in an album with a vast spectrum of colors and sounds that contradict each other within the same record. It's the rescue of everyday treasures that suddenly became vital. It's the color of a new beginning, the color of dawn.

2. The show on May 18th has a special feel, not only because of the new album release, but also because it celebrates 10 years of Oh’Laville's music. What's the moment you remember most from all this time and why?

We remember many moments, although we feel that one of the most powerful is Rock al Parque 2022. It was a show we dreamed of doing and a beautiful way to close out the year.

3. A lot of time has passed since Soles Negro (2019), a key album in your careers. What was the most important piece of advice you received during these years, and what would you give to someone else?

Don't forget the importance of releasing an album, beyond the single-only strategy that's so popular today. Albums are valuable for alternative audiences and the media; and for us, a huge source of personal satisfaction.

4. You have some busy months ahead. What does the future hold for Oh’Laville?

The most exciting and demanding part is yet to come: playing the album live. In May, we kick off the Aurora Tour in Colombia. We'll be stopping in Medellín, Pereira, Manizales, Bogotá, Tunja, Bucaramanga, and Barranquilla. We'll also be announcing some dates in Mexico that will be part of the tour. In addition, we'll be releasing some B-sides of songs from the album with some really powerful collaborations. There's a very bolero-infused version of "Isla," a dark and psychedelic salsa track with Portales, and a guitar-driven version of "Destino." We'll see...

5. One last thing. What can we expect from the show on May 18th at The Bonfire?

The show in Bogotá is about responding to the challenge posed by the album. It's about seeking out the explosion and raw emotion with different resources, setting aside the guitars for some songs, and creating a much broader journey. We're going to break away from the idea of ​​a rock band, enter the hypnotic world of electronic music, and mix it with the raw power of our signature sound. We'll include past milestones, but in a context befitting a band with four albums and ten years under its belt.

6. Recommend a Colombian band or artist and a Latin American one, and tell us why.

Our Colombian recommendation is Buha 2030, a dark, vibrant, and elegant band from Nariño, Colombia. And our Latin American recommendation is Feli Colina, an Argentinian singer-songwriter with a sound that's both universal and distinctly Latin American.

Interview by Jaime Cortés