Mestizo and Latin music fans all over the world are already familiar with the hottest collective coming out of South America these days. It is called Karamelo Santo and, in part, it could be perceived as the result of the cultural revolution that punk rock & reggae Music release all over Latin America in the mid-80s and the mix with each roots of their members . As many youngsters in the region, the eight guys in Karamelo Santo believed in that other way of doing things, avoiding the mainstream avenues of the more traditional pop rock market. In the tradition of cult icons like Bob Marley, The Clash, and The Beatles, Karamelo Santo quickly understood that it was possible to reach a massive audience without comprising its ideals. By the time Manu Chao invited the collective to open his Argentinean tour in 2000, reenacting what Mano Negra did for Todos Tus Muertos back in 1992, Karamelo Santo was already a ten-year old band with seven independently produced and released albums. Karamelo Santo was born in Mendoza, a western Argentinean province with astonishing views of the Andean mountains, in 1993. Decided to leave a mark once its shows proved to be much more than neighborhood celebrations, the band independently recorded and released its first CD,"La Kulebra" (The Snake). It was the blueprint that identified Karamelo sound. As many of its heroes did, the guys in Karamelo wanted to stop at nothing. With music as priority over a sole limitations, the band threw everything in the plate: nobody ever stopped to think if certain folk rhythms such as Cueca, Cumbia, or Chamame, would properly match the Punk, Rock, Ska, Hip Hop and Reggae influences. "Karamelo is a collective of musicians that come from diversity,says singer and percussionist Pedro Rosafa, who explains the multiple influences they have as a band with a simple reasoning,each one of us brings his personality to the table, so our goal has always been to create bridges where we can all share the space and time, approaching the diverse music genres that we like in a way that we can all enjoy them.That is exactly what the Latin American media remarks about Karamelo Santo and, in particular, about its release, "Haciendo Bulla" (Kicking up a Racket) . Produced by Pablo Guyot& Alfredo Toth, two-thirds of mid-80s Argentinean pop rock band G.I.T.--one of the pioneers in touring Latin America, along Soda Stereo, Miguel Mateos, and fellow Mendocinos Los Enanitos Verdes- Karamelo album is its best piece of work so far. Its first single and video is a heartfelt rendition of Ruben Blades and Little collaboration, "Fruta Amarga".distinctive style is in each one of the fourteen songs. The fusion of Cumbia, Ska, Reggae, Chamame & Rock sounds as urban as ever, and it also reflects how a band from the provinces is affected on daily basis by the energetic rhythm of an active capital like Buenos Aires, where its members moved in 1997 looking for new adventures and bigger crowds. Recorded in 2004, "Haciendo Bulla" has kept the band touring extensively, and not only all over Argentina. In Mexico, where the band has spiritual and musical ties with ska pioneers Maldita Vecindad, and its heirs Panteon Rococo, Karamelo Santo played many relevant underground stages of Mexico City and Ciudad Neza, plus some gigs in Guadalajara, Tijuana and Toluca. On top of it, the band was able to put together its third consecutive European Tour in the last seven years. Despite its Spanish & English lyrics, Karamelo conquered a string of European countries that were ready to enjoy the music. It played Germany,Belgium, France, Austria, Kroatia, Poland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Czech Republic, in a 103-shows run before audiences that packed the places, whether they were able to accommodate 600 or 2000 people. Karamelo Santo has kept going back to Europe --as of now, no other Argentinean band with over 150 shows on its shoulders- ever since in the summer of 2002 its members fell in love with the educated and open-minded audiences that greeted the songs that they were presenting at the time. Most of them came from third album, "Los Guachos" (The Bastards), originally released in 2001 with some remarkable special appearances by Manu Chao, and his friends Tonino Carotone, and Gambit."Los guachos" came on the heels of "Perfectos Idiotas (Perfect Idiots), two albums than soon will be released in the U.S. under Delanuca. "Perfectos Idiotas" was another smash among the media and the ever-growing fan base of Karamelo. It was released through the indie label Todos Tus Muertos Discos and, with the support of that legendary punk rock band as well, Karamelo walked its first steps towards the band members dream, that is, to be popular being honest and credible. Projected plans for this year include more European tours, another extensive visit to Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, this time with stops in Central America and Puerto Rico, and an eagerly awaited return to the States, where Karamelo Santo performed all over California in 2000. IN 2006 KS released " La Gente Arriba" and their last CD is called "Antena PAchamama".The magazine "Rolling Sone" say Excelent!...four start! Karamelo Santo is working in the live DVD.Wait for them!

Guillermo GOY Ogalde (guitar and vocals), Pedro PIRO Rosafa (percussion and vocals), Diego Aput (bass), Lucas Villafañe (keyboards and accordeon), Mariano Ponce de León (drums), GODY Corominas (percussion and vocals), Pablo Clavijo (saxophone and piano), Alejandro Pozo (trombone), Juan Pablo Pelaez (trumpet)

If you want to see all the information about the band, visit the official site (only in spanish)