Linda Guilala

Linda Guilala

Linda Guilala is an indie pop and shoegaze group from Vigo, Spain, active since 2005. The line-up consists of Iván González Gancedo and Eva María López Castro. Iván handles drums, programming, guitar, keyboards and vocals, while Eva contributes programming, guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals.

Background

The group forms after the split of Juniper Moon at the end of 2005, with Iván and Eva starting a new project together after already working alongside one another outside the main band. Their name combines “Linda” with Guilala, the Japanese name for Girara, the monster from the 1967 science-fiction film The X from Outer Space. The band’s name reflects their shared interest in science fiction, especially Japanese cinema from the 1960s and 1970s.

Early recordings and radio play

In 2006, Linda Guilala records early songs at home, drawing on pop culture from the previous four decades. Their influences range from 1960s girl groups to 1980s electro-pop and C86-era indie, with a DIY approach. Some of these early tracks are played on Flor de Pasión on Radio 3, presented by Juan de Pablos. The band then self-produces a demo with help from Argentinian bass player Ignacio Espumado.

That demo attracts radio support in Spain and beyond, including shows such as Disco Grande, Toxicosmos, Plástico Elástico and La Merienda. The latter is presented by Agustín Fuentes, who also directs the ContemPOPranea festival and names the group band of the week on his show. The recordings also appear on compilations in Mexico, the United States, Singapore, Italy, Argentina and Peru, with tracks such as “Saber perder”, “Te he cambiado”, “Mis ideas son”, “La reina debe morir” and “Dulce maldición” featured across those releases.

Live debut and debut album era

Linda Guilala makes its live debut in Madrid in January 2007 at an Elefant Records party at Galileo Galilei, alongside Corazón and DJ Polar. Soon afterwards, Disco Grande names their demo the second-best demo of 2006. Later in 2007, the group plays the Flor de Pasión radio-show party in Madrid, as well as the Minifestival in Salamanca and Plastidepop in Zaragoza. During the following spring, it begins recording the songs that become its debut album.

In October 2007, “Bucles Infinitos” is selected as album of the month on MySpace, with the album’s songs available online. “Nadie se Dará Cuenta” becomes the band’s first video, filmed in León and directed by Juan Marigorta, who also works on video clips for Cooper.

Later releases and visuals

Linda Guilala begins a Spanish tour in February 2010 to present Bucles Infinitos. “Bucles Infinitos” also receives a second video, directed in Australia by Christopher Kenworthy. The clip draws on the band’s interest in superheroes, science fiction, B-movies, comics and pop art, alongside the imagery and atmosphere of the song itself.

Release details

In Elefant’s discography, Bucles Infinitos appears as a CD digipak release, and the title also appears as a digital single.