Huecco

by Evan C. GutierrezLatin alternative group Huecco were formed by Ivahn, former vocalist with the late-'90s hip-hop/rock fusion group Sugarless. Sugarless founding member Frankie, a guitar player studying at the Musicians Institute in L.A., assembled likeminded musicians Ivahn and drummer Samuel in 1994; Sugarless were completed in 1997 by bass player Joseba. Together the musicians experimented with elements of funk, rap, acid jazz, and punk, slowly building a loyal grassroots fan base. The band's 1998 debut record was entitled Aseguramelo, and was followed a few years later by its sophomore effort, Mas Gas. Having experienced limited success with Sugarless, vocalist Ivahn branched out in a new direction. Under the band name Huecco, Ivahn experimented with mixing elements of American rock music (influenced by artists like Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers) with the flamenco, son, and samba sounds of Spain and Latin America. Calling his unique blend of rock and Latin influences rumbaton, Ivahn found support from Warner Music Spain for the release of his debut. With the help of Grammy-winning producer K.C. Porter (Santana, Ricky Martin) and engineer Thom Russo (Michael Jackson, Alejandro Sanz, Juanes), Huecco's self-titled debut was released in 2006. Huecco went gold in Spain, highlighted by the double-platinum single "Pa' Mi Guerrera." Thanks to demand created by the group's number one video, Huecco's 2007 touring schedule was filled to the brim with performances all over Spain and Mexico.