Lucybell

Lucybell is a Chilean alternative rock group from Santiago, active since 1991. Its line-up includes Claudio Valenzuela, Eduardo Caces, Marcelo Muñoz, Gabriel Vigliensoni and Francisco González. The band’s sound blends electronic elements, acoustic textures and rock guitar, and it is often associated with alternative rock and pop rock.

Career

The group releases its first album, Peces, in 1995 and quickly becomes an important name in Latin American alternative rock. That debut wins the Best New Group award from the Chilean Association of Entertainment Journalists (APES). The following album, Viajar, comes out in 1996 and helps take the band beyond Chile, with several singles played on MTV and touring in Mexico, the United States and Colombia.

For its third self-titled album, Lucybell builds its own studio, then takes the recordings to Buenos Aires for mixing and to Abbey Road Studios in London for mastering with engineer Chris Blair. The fourth studio album, Amanece, strengthens the band’s position in Chile and across Latin America. A live album and DVD, Sesión Futura, together with the Sálvame la vida EP, earn the group the APES Best Group award in 2003.

Later work and touring

In 2003, the band moves to Los Angeles and spends time writing new material in Burbank. During this period it meets engineer Adam Moseley, who produces the first single from the next album at The Boat, the Dust Brothers studio. The song Sálvame La Vida first appears as an EP in Chile while the band continues work on the album Lúmina, which is described as a more mature and more experimental release. Claudio Valenzuela handles guitar and vocals, while Eduardo Caces contributes bass, keyboards and production.

In 2005, Cote Foncea joins the group, after which Lucybell tours extensively in the Americas, with regular stops in Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia and the United States. The band later records its eighth studio album, Comiendo Fuego, in Chile and Argentina with Adam Moseley. The album reaches number one in the Chilean charts and is followed by a year of touring and promotion. Lucybell then moves to Mexico City and completes the EP Primitivo between 2006 and 2007, with Cote, Claudio and Eduardo handling production and composition. The release has six songs and a heavier rock sound. In 2008, the band records the live release Sesión Primitiva, which includes 13 live tracks, two studio tracks and a large-scale post-production process.

Recognition

Lucybell becomes one of the best-selling rock acts in Chile and receives six gold records. Its work is linked with comparisons to Blur, Catherine Wheel and Radiohead.