Monte Carlo

Carolina Faruolo (ex-Los Bitchos) and Danny Lee Blackwell (Night Beats) had been friends and mutual admirers of each other's musical projects for years. Despite living in different countries, their interactions increased during the shelter-in-place periods of 2020, leading to the creation of their project Abraxas. Drawing inspiration from Latin rhythms, colorful vistas, and smoky revelries, they crafted their debut album, Monte Carlo, by collaborating across the Atlantic. Describing the world of Abraxas, Blackwell paints a vivid picture of jungles, mist-covered rivers, panthers, desolate shopping malls, and more. The duo's sound, influenced by Wendy Renee, Los Destellos, doo-wop, and R&B, offers a unique blend that transcends geographical boundaries. Faruolo's upbringing with cumbia beats and psychedelic chicha artists, combined with Blackwell's outlaw soul and R&B influences, culminate in a sound that pays homage to Selena and Sade while carving its own path. Monte Carlo, with tracks like "Sunrise State (of Mind)" and "Mañana," showcases a fusion of hypnotic cumbia beats, cosmic guitar leads, and seductive vocals. The album unfolds a tapestry of influences, from Eastern melodies on "Sultan" to the dub-inflected stomp of "La Estampida" and the Anatolian psych-funk of "Göbekli