Los Bitchos is a pan-continental instrumental band based in London, England, formed in 2017. The band consists of Serra Petale (guitar), Agustina Ruiz (keytar, synthesisers), Josefine Jonsson (bass guitar), and Nic Crawshaw (drums, percussion). Their music predominantly blends cumbia, Peruvian chicha, Anatolian rock, surf rock, and psychedelic rock.
Members
- Serra Petale – lead guitar (Australian and Turkish heritage)
- Agustina Ruiz – keytar, synthesisers (Uruguayan)
- Josefine Jonsson – bass guitar (Swedish)
- Nic Crawshaw – drums, percussion (British, from South London)
- Carolina Faruolo – former member
History
Los Bitchos was formed in London in 2017. The band's debut 7" single "Pista (Fresh Start)" was produced by Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos and released in 2019. A performance at the Trans Musicales Festival in Rennes, France, was filmed by KEXP and released in March 2020; the video gained over 2 million views on YouTube during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
In July 2021, the band appeared on the track "Erkilet Güzeli" by Turkish band Altın Gün. They signed with the independent label City Slang and released their debut studio album, Let the Festivities Begin!, in February 2022, again produced by Alex Kapranos. The album received critical acclaim from outlets including BBC 6 Music, KEXP, Rolling Stone, and NME.
Their second album, Talkie Talkie, was released on 30 August 2024, co-produced by the band with Oli Barton-Wood (Wet Leg, Nilüfer Yanya).
Musical Style and Influences
The band plays predominantly instrumental music. Guitarist Serra Petale described their sound as wanting "to sound like Van Halen and Cocteau Twins – but from Turkey." Their influences include 1970s Anatolian rock, Latin American music, cumbia, chicha, and punk rock. The band's sound has been characterised as surf-exotica, psychedelic rock, and cumbia-infused instrumental rock.
Live Career
Los Bitchos have toured extensively, supporting acts including Mac DeMarco (European tour, 2019), Ty Segall, Kikagaku Moyo, Belle & Sebastian (US tour, 2022), King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (European tour, 2023), Pavement, Franz Ferdinand, and Parquet Courts. They have performed at major festivals including Coachella, SXSW, Glastonbury, Rock En Seine, End of the Road, Levitation, and Wide Awake Festival.
Discography
Studio albums
- Let the Festivities Begin! (2022, City Slang)
- Talkie Talkie (2024, City Slang)
Singles and EPs
- "Pista (Fresh Start)" (2019)
- "The Link Is About to Die" (2020)
- "Good to Go!" (2022)
- "Las Panteras" (2022)
- "Pah!" (2024)
- "Kiki, You Complete Me" (2024)
- "Don't Change" (2024)
Record Labels
City Slang, Blak Hand Records, Strong Island Recordings, Bad Vibrations
