About Rey Pila and Their Musical Journey
For Diego Solórzano, Rey Pila is a musical project that has evolved from a solo endeavor to a band, marking its own path outside the conventions of the music industry. Rey Pila considers itself separate from mainstream trends, like outsiders who have charted their own musical direction. This is evident in their fourth production, “Están Estrange” (Arts & Crafts, 2025).
Background and Evolution
Rey Pila emerged from the ashes of Solórzano’s previous musical project, Los Dynamite. The band’s debut album, also titled “Rey Pila,” was released in 2010. Initially, Solórzano viewed it as a solo project, but Rey Pila has since transformed into a band.
The first album, recorded at Hole in the Sky Studios in New York, aimed to emulate the music scenes in the US and UK with an anglo-sound. The band’s evolution began with the integration of Rodrigo Blanco, Andrés Velasco, and Miguel Hernández, and the release of the single “Alexander.”
Signed by Cult Records, Julian Casablanca of The Strokes’ label, Rey Pila released “The Future Sugar” (2015). They followed with EPs “Wall of Goth” (2017) and “Lucky # 7” (2019), and the album “Velox Veritas” in 2020.
“Están Estrange” – The Fourth Studio Album
Recorded at Sonic Ranch in Marfa, Texas, “Están Estrange” was produced by Paul Salva. Known for his work with electronic music artists like Young Thug, Whiz Khalifa, DJ Shadow, Jamie Lidell, Rihanna, and Matt & Kim, Salva helped shape the album’s minimalist sound.
Rodrigo Blanco mentioned, “This album might have taken us the most time to complete. We always take our time with records, but this one was particularly meticulous.”
“Están Estrange” features a mix of English and Spanish lyrics, reminiscent of their debut album. The band aims for a sound closer to nightclub music, refined over the years.
Collaboration and Production Process
Blanco, Velasco, and Solórzano’s collaboration has been crucial in Rey Pila’s evolution. Velasco explained, “Paul Salva’s minimalist approach helped us achieve a lean sound without overproduction.”
Solórzano added, “We have a reliable system: I develop ideas, and when we enter the studio, songs are well-structured. We then refine or record elements that can’t be captured in a home studio, like vocals, drums, and guitars.”
Live Performances and Future Plans
Rey Pila has been invited to open for Fito Páez at the Zócalo in Mexico City and Justice at the Palacio de los Deportes. Velasco shared, “Over time, we’ve refined older songs to fit our current sound and actively update our live performances.”
The band plans to return to the studio soon to begin work on their next album. They have upcoming shows in Monterrey (September 19) with Promiseland and The Shelter, and Guadalajara (October 24).
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Rey Pila’s musical background? Rey Pila started as Diego Solórzano’s solo project but evolved into a band with Rodrigo Blanco, Andrés Velasco, and Miguel Hernández.
- What is the significance of “Están Estrange”? This fourth album represents Rey Pila’s minimalist sound, a result of collaboration with producer Paul Salva.
- How has Rey Pila’s sound changed over time? The band has refined its sound through collaboration and years of work, blending English and Spanish lyrics with a nightclub music influence.
- What are Rey Pila’s upcoming plans? The band intends to start working on their next album and has live shows scheduled in Monterrey and Guadalajara.
