boy pablo

boy pablo

boy pablo is an indie pop and indie rock group from Bergen, Norway, active since 2015. It is centred on Chilean–Norwegian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nicolás Pablo Rivera Muñoz, who writes, records, performs and produces the project’s music in the studio. The live line-up changes from the recording setup and includes Gabriel Muñoz, Henrik Åmdal, Eric Tryland, Nicolas Pablo Muñoz and Sigmund Vestrheim.

Background

Nicolás Muñoz grows up in Bergen after his Chilean parents move to Norway in the 1980s. He is the youngest child in a musical family, with his father and brother both playing several instruments and teaching him guitar, drums, bass guitar and piano. He attends Kongshaug Upper Secondary School of Music, a boarding school in Os near Bergen, and moves with his parents to Os, Hordaland when he starts secondary school.

He begins the Boy Pablo project in December 2015 and releases the debut single, “Flowers”, in January 2016. The first live performance takes place in April 2016 as a warm-up act for Tellef Raabe at Hulen in Bergen. The group appears at the Vill Vill Vest festival later that year.

Breakthrough and releases

Boy Pablo gains wider attention after receiving a Bergenfest scholarship in November 2016, which also brings a headlining slot and a performance at Bergenfest 2017. The music video for “Everytime”, uploaded in 2017, later draws international attention through YouTube’s recommendation system and becomes the release that pushes the project beyond Norway.

The six-song EP Roy Pablo appears in 2017 on the project’s own label, 777 MUSIC, followed by Soy Pablo in 2018. The latter EP receives critical praise, reaches the top of the Norwegian vinyl albums chart, and appears in year-end critics lists from Gaffa and Nöjesguiden.

In 2018, Boy Pablo releases the single “Losing You” and undertakes a sold-out 39-date headlining world tour across the United States, Europe and Asia. The debut studio album Wachito Rico follows in 2020. Its title means “handsome boy” in Spanish, and its singles include “Hey Girl”, “Honey” and “Rest Up”.

Awards and festivals

Boy Pablo wins Breakthrough of the Year at the 2018 Spellemannprisen, which also brings a Gramo scholarship. At the same ceremony, the group is nominated for Best International Success and Indie/Alternative of the Year for Soy Pablo. It also wins Årets Nykommer at the 2018 P3 Gull Awards.

The project is nominated again at the 2019 Spellemannprisen for Best International Success and for music video of the year for “Losing You”. In 2019, Boy Pablo is the only Norwegian act to perform at Coachella in California.

Style and influences

boy pablo is associated with indie pop, indie rock and jangle pop. Muñoz names Mac DeMarco, Veronica Maggio, Tyler, The Creator, The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala and Mild High Club among his influences.