The couple first met in 2011 on a house show and soon got along very well and became romantically involved. Both were artists, she was a designer, songwriter, DJ, and music producer and he was a multi-instrumentalist, who has worked on bands previously. It was not long before they began working on music together and created the group named it "Buscabulla", a Puerto Rican slang phrase for "Troublemaker".
Biscabulla's sound is is a melting pot of indie, dance-pop, funk, soul, electro music and Puerto Rican beats; from bachata, reggaeton and merengue to bomba, plena and salsa. Self-defined as 'Experimental Latin Pop', Berrios admits to having become more thoughtful since they first began music playing together in 2011.
"I think at the beginning we didn't take it that serious, we were having fun with music and inspired by the New York scene and all the bands that were coming out at the time." He says. "I think the more work we do, the more we want to create a unique sound , which is really hard as you have to also make it good and accessible for people, but I think we're getting there."
To accompany the new album Regresa.The couple also released a mini-documentary exploring the duo's decision to move back from New York to Puerto Rico. The story behind the new album is the story of the band, in essence.
"New York was a great place for us, it's where our band lifted off and the city presented so many opportunities. I don't think that our band would have been able to get off its feet if, it wouldn't have started in New York." Berrios admits, but something powerful called them home.
In 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico and, as a consequence, the lives more than 160,000 Puerto Ricans. In its worst moment, Berrios and del Valle decided to leave the Big Apple and fly into the eye of the storm.
"Our island is so powerful, we live in paradise and people somehow bypass all of the problems,' Berrios tells me over the phone. "People dream about coming back and we're no exception, it was something we wanted to do especially once our daughter was born in 2014. We saw a window of opportunity with our second EP (EP II) , it went pretty well and got a small record deal and we just said this is the moment let's do it."
The album includes 11 tracks where the Boricuas show their ideas and concerns in a lively and memorable visual experience. "We didn't want to make just an indie album that sounded like a band from Brooklyn that just put the lyrics in Spanish, we didn't want to make a Reggaeton album or a throwback nostalgic Latin album, but we feel that there are a little bit of all of those things in it, so we wanted to take elements that were very recognizable in the Latin moment and included them on the album, mixing everything. It has sounds from the past, from the present and even from things that are not even Puerto Rican, just things that we like. I feel like everybody can find something that they like in the record because we took a little bit from everywhere," says Berrios.
Three music videos of the LP have already been released, the intense, festive vibe on "Vámono"; the slick, funky, and summery vibe on "NTE"; and the emotial and profound single "Nydia".
"Vámono" is a call for those Puerto Ricans who were forced to leave their island in 2017, to return home and help rebuild the country. This first track of Buscabulla’s debut album portrays a spirit of resistance and it's very different from the group’s typically sprightly nature. "Vámono" has a more adventurous sound. The video was inspired by the 19th-century Puerto Rican festival "Festival de las Máscaras " that involves elaborate and colourful masks, costumes, and decorated vehicles. The song transmits a feeling of resistance livened up by Berrio’s voice, singing nostalgic lyrics such as “Quien me va ayudar?” (Who will help me?) to emphasize the call.
"El Aprieto" , Del Valle's favourite, goes back and forth between opposing mindsets, but at the end, it finds a source of comfort. Is one of the album’s more upbeat hits, expressing personal and financial difficulties motivated by Raquel and Luis experiences and struggles by the uncertainty that the island suffered through the years after Hurricane Maria. " El Aprieto was something that came up chaotically and haphazardly, but it ended up being something unique," Del Valle said. The album goes from bright to thoughtful with "Club Tú y Yo", a romantic poem Del Valle wrote for Berrios, who says, is about "feeling isolated and feeling like you came back home but all your friends have already left “. Sonic wise, Berrios loves "Mio", she says "it marks an evolution in our sound".
“NTE” is a groove-based melody accompanying by percussion instruments and Berrio’s voice, that creates this feel-good and summery vibe when you watch it and listen to it. It was filmed on the Aguadilla waterfront in Puerto Rico.
"Manda Fuego" takes a strong attitude against the political parties and how they use religion to manipulate voters. "No Sabemos", an R&B- inspired is bound with a feeling of hopelessness of the situation and the path ahead of them in Puerto Rico.
"Nydia", the climax of the album from anguish to acceptance. The song was composed after conversation Berrios had with Nydia Caro, a Puerto Rican actress and singer. Nydia is also featured in the song. “I believe it’s the hinge of the record most of the record I’m angsty, and when Nydia comes, there is a spiritual transcendence on the record,” says Raquel Berrios. For the singer, it's the most personal, and perhaps the most "intimate and honest " song that she has written.
Patrick Wimberly mixed the album and contributed additional production, Nick Hakim helped them with various songs while he was paying a visit to the couple in Puerto Rico, his English vocals appeared on “Volta”.
Buscabulla's new album wants to represent the soul and history of their island that is ready for a brighter future. The band dropped the album on May 8th Via Ribbon Music, having a great audience response.
"I think maybe before, people didn't completely get what we were about and with this record, there's finally like a body of work that kind of explains that with enough songs that can show the gamut of our influences.
"The album reflects the joys of being back but it’s also melancholic. You can feel like a stranger in your own home because the island is going through very hard, weird times. Most people our age have fled. We have also changed after being away for so long," Raquel said.
Buscabulla is trying to keep in touch with their fans in every way they can and keep themselves creative with the limitations of being in lockdown. "There's always the option to start working on a second album or maybe just tore the two albums together, a double or triple album. We're open to all possibilities," they said.
You can listen to the album below:
(Featured photo by Mara Corsino)
