Castro

Castro is a name used by several acts from different countries and genres, including Ghanaian hiplife and azonto, North London grime, Belgian rap, Scottish alternative rock, Philippine funk/alternative rock, a Texas family trio, and a Norwegian punk rock band.

Grime artist from Tottenham

One Castro is a grime artist from Tottenham in North London. His lyrics focus mainly on narcotics, with some references to the supernatural. He is part of the Proper P crew, label and company based in North London. He is also linked with work on an album or mixtape.

Belgian rapper from Ghent

Another Castro is a Belgian rapper from Ghent. He is born in 1977 in Mechelen, Belgium, and lives in Ghent. He works as a streetworker in daily life. In 1999 he starts Castro 'n Pollux with his brother, and in 2000 they make their first demo. A year later they release their first single, Herfst 2057 (Autumn 2057), which includes three tracks, among them Eens with Dutch rappers Spacekees and Terilekst. In 2003 he releases his debut record Shockgolf (Shockwave). He raps in Flemish rather than the Ghent dialect, making the lyrics easier for Dutch listeners to understand.

Scottish alternative rock band

Castro is also a five-piece alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. The band begins performing around 2003 with a different line-up and later changes personnel, including new bass player John Selfridge, drummer Graham Williamson and guitarist Alan Williamson. The line-up also includes vocalist Colin Richardson and guitarist John Taylor, who have written together since childhood. The band begins by playing local pubs in Hamilton and Motherwell, then performs at venues including The Barfly, The Renfrew Ferry, Nice n Sleazys, Stereo, The Cathouse Rock Club and King Tuts. It also supports The Dead 60s, The Warlocks and The Kooks, and plays Barlinnie Prison. The band reaches the Glasgow final of the East-meets-West competition at the Barrowlands.

The band releases an independently issued four-track debut EP, Cheap Thrills, recorded at Washoose studios in Glasgow. The EP receives a positive review in The Daily Record and sells out, leading to another pressing and interest from record labels including Sony. Its sound is described as post-Britpop alternative rock, with influences including Oasis, Jet, The Foo Fighters, The Music, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, and it is compared with AC/DC.

Band from Manila

Castro is also a funk, alternative rock band from Manila, Philippines. It develops from musicians who had previously worked together in CAPO. The group includes Bogs on vocals, John on lead guitar, Ja on rhythm guitar, Momar on bass, Kyle on percussion and Allan on keyboards. Kyle and Allan join in the first quarter of 2010. Bogs writes songs including Lakad Lang and Patay Sindi, which receive radio airplay. The band’s music draws on timeless classics and explores social responsibility, spiritual consciousness, and the idea of living and loving.

Family trio from Texas

Another Castro is a family trio from Texas made up of siblings Jason Castro, Michael Castro and Jackie Castro. Jason René Castro is an American acoustic/folk-pop/contemporary Christian singer-songwriter and occasional actor. He places fourth on the seventh season of American Idol and later signs with Atlantic Records; his self-titled debut album is released in 2010. Michael Stephen Castro is an American singer-songwriter and former American Idol contestant who auditions for the eighth and ninth seasons. Jackeline Victoria “Jackie” Castro is an American singer-songwriter and actress, and the youngest member of the trio.

Norwegian punk rock band

Castro is also a punk rock band from Norway with members from Life... But How To Live It?, Angor Wat and Israelvis.