Bandalos Chinos, an Argentine indie band, has achieved a remarkable global rise, defying the conventional expectations of exponential growth. Their journey, marked by a deliberate pace and a unique approach, offers valuable insights into the power of authenticity and the art of expansion. In this article, I explore their story, highlighting the band's ability to navigate the music industry with a steady hand, and the lessons they impart to younger musicians.
A Band on the Rise, Yet Not in the Usual Way
Bandalos Chinos, formed in 2009, have an intriguing paradoxical existence. They seem to have always been part of Argentina's indie scene, yet they still feel like a band on the rise. This is no accident. Goyo Degano, the band's frontman, emphasizes their deliberate approach to growth, stating, "We’re not chasing the kind of exponential growth that defines the times we’re living in. We’re thinking about building a story, a career, a discography."
This mindset has allowed them to cultivate a deep connection with their fans and gradually expand their reach. Mexico, in particular, played a pivotal role in their international expansion. Degano recalls, "Before we came here, I’d never experienced doing a soundcheck and having people bearing gifts at the door. Mexico is where we learned to build a relationship with our fans. Mexican audiences were an international school of sorts."
The Power of Underdog Attitude
Bandalos Chinos' early struggles to find an audience shaped their approach. They carved out their own path, "coming in through the kitchen door." This stubbornness eventually led to their breakthrough album, BACH, in 2018, which made them the poster boys for the local indie scene. The project also marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership with producer Adán Jodorowsky at Texas’ Sonic Ranch, where they found a sound that worked.
However, finding a comfort zone became a reason to abandon it. Degano explains, "We felt that with Adán and at Sonic Ranch we’d found a formula, and we were afraid of becoming a copy of a copy of a copy of ourselves." So, for their latest album, Vándalos, they changed producers and working methods, recruiting Fermín Ugarte and shifting the recording location back to Argentina.
Creative Evolution as Expansion
This creative evolution is simply another form of expansion for Bandalos Chinos. Degano believes that changing the way you work forces you to do things differently, naturally leading you somewhere new. "There’s a creative ambition behind it."
Balancing Act: Learning from New Audiences
As the band's map grows, they've developed a feel for how different audiences behave and what draws each of them to their music. Before a tour, they rehearse a pool of 30 to 40 songs from which they can adjust their nightly setlist depending on where they are. Some songs resonate more with Mexican fans, while others elicit a different response in Argentina or Spain. Covers and collaborations can change too, but the broader identity of the show remains intact.
This approach reflects a balancing act Bandalos Chinos have spent years refining: learning from new audiences without allowing those audiences to dictate who they become. "We try to maintain our essence," Degano says.
The Long Road to Success: Sustaining the Boat
For a six-person band that has spent more than 15 years together, growing gradually has given its members time to learn how to sustain one another through thick and thin. Degano describes this as, "Maybe you don’t have the strength to keep rowing, but the boat stays afloat. Someone else rows for you, and someone else pulls the boat when you’re more tired."
This image is fitting for a band whose career has rarely been defined by a single transformative moment. There has always been another record, another tour, another audience to win over, and increasingly, another generation watching how they do it.
A Musical Springtime in Argentina
Bandalos Chinos are hardly the only Argentine act finding audiences abroad. Degano describes the country as going through a "musical springtime," pointing to artists like Bizarrap, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Nicki Nicole, Tini, and Lali as part of a generation pushing the country’s music further onto the international stage. "I think these artists are the tip of the spear," he says. "Maybe the more mainstream artists come first and open the door, and then everybody else comes in behind them. It opens up space for alternative music, regional music, the different colors and folklore of each place."
The Responsibility of Authenticity
Bandalos Chinos now find themselves somewhere along that path, helping widen the space for a different corner of Argentina’s musical landscape. Having become an example for someone else, Degano sees little reason to change the principles that got them here. "The responsibility for me is still the same as it was in the beginning. To be true to ourselves."
In conclusion, Bandalos Chinos' journey is a testament to the power of authenticity and the art of expansion. Their deliberate pace and unique approach offer valuable lessons for younger musicians, emphasizing the importance of building a story, maintaining one's essence, and embracing creative evolution. As they continue to expand their reach, they inspire a new generation of artists to follow their path, pushing the boundaries of Argentina’s musical landscape.
