ALMA MUÑECA – DESEO UN BRILLO
AUSTIN ART-POP BAND
ALMA MUÑECA
SHARES SHINY DEBUT EP
DESEO UN BRILLO
OUT NOW–LISTEN
& GRIEVES THE LOSS OF INNOCENCE
WHILE GROWING UP ON SYNTH-SOAKED
“MELANCOLÍA”
Today, Austin, TX-based art-pop band Alma Muñeca share their ethereal EP, Deseo un Brillo, out now. Alongside the full project is the Brat summer-inspired “Melancolía,” a dreamy, sweaty, nostalgic ode to coping with change and the grief of losing one’s blind trust and growing up. The EP, written in Spanish, is an empowering search for self-confidence, peace, and healthy, fulfilling relationships.
The synth-filled, raw “Melancolía” came about during the height of Brat summer and came together naturally and quickly. Producer Ernesto Grey (Font, Farmer’s Wife, Loveme, The Opera) shares, “It’s two simple chords and a dance beat lead the verses but what makes the song really special to me was its chorus. Similarly to “Sympathy is a Knife” by Charli XCX, the song takes a left turn by constantly skipping the first beat and getting smacked in the face with a wall of arpeggiated synths.”
“As soon as we had a musical base, I started blurting out what is now “‘Melancolía,'” says lead singer Cocó Allegra. The upbeat, high energy production juxtaposes the downcast lyricism as the band explores coming to terms with the flaws of their loved ones.
“It’s about the melancholy and nostalgia you feel as you grow up and realize your parents and family are human too and make lots of mistakes. Realizing someone you idolized is actually very flawed and wishing you could go back to thinking of them like a superhero and idealized.
That moment when you can’t ever go back to that naïve child-like love and wishing your view of them never got tainted. Grieving that blind trust you have when you’re a child. It’s the one song of the EP that is not about romantic relationships yet it could be interpreted as that too.”
Written during a bout of heartbreak, the project, produced by producer Grey dives into desire, love and heartbreak–the dynamics between being on and off with someone as well as familial heartbreak and disappointment.
Over five tracks, it chronicles the intricate difficulties of navigating nuanced relationships. Allegra explains, “How can I feel so passionate and loving about someone yet I also feel so much confusion, anger and sadness about them too?
Keeping yourself hopeful in hopeless moments, freezing time with my lyrics and sharing it with the world, hoping someone out there can find comfort in them. I wrote this trying to find answers to questions, trying to heal and at the same time manifest self confidence.”
Grey has worked his whole life for this moment–from early life in Mexico to his formative teen years in Austin. “It feels like I’ve been trying to produce music like this my whole life. While growing up in Mexico, I was mostly exposed to 2000s Latin pop music, which was primarily led by rock instrumentation.
It wasn’t until I moved to Austin in my teens that I started to endlessly dig for more left field kinds of music.” Grey began to discover his taste and his sound. “I gravitated a lot towards electronic producers such as Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, Jon Hopkins, etc. With Alma Muñeca, I am able to explore an introspective and ethereal language that feels so familiar to me, but it also pushes me to try things that are more out of my comfort zone. At the end of the day, I just want to make pop music that you can chew on.”
On her inspirations, Allegra says, “I felt inspired by old salsa music that I would play on repeat during breakups, my favorite example is ‘Lloraras’ by Oscar D’León–there’s something comforting about nostalgic music I’ve been listening to forever. At the same time, I was motivated by songs like “oh my love” by FKA Twigs and “I Want You to Love Me” by Fiona Apple.”
The previously released “Anhelo” sinks into breakup tension and desire. The Line of Best Fit added it to their New Music Discovery playlist, and Atwood Magazine called it, “explosive, self-assured and just the right amount of experimental.”
Alma Muñeca is a four-piece art pop group based in Austin, TX, led by Panamanian immigrant Cocó Allegra and produced by Ernesto Grey along with Matt Russell and Wade Stephens. With their debut project out later this month, the group pairs honest stories of love and heartbreak with experimental, synth-filled production and dreamy vocals featuring lyrics sung in her native Spanish language. Through their live performances, the band aims to uplift the Latin and queer communities.
Alma Muñeca’s shimmering debut EP Deseo un Brillo is out now. Celebrate the release with the band live in Austin on October 25 at Elysium. Connect with Alma Muñeca on Instagram for more.
Deseo un Brillo (EP)
Tracklist
01. Llave
02. Anhelo
03. Calor
04. Melancolia
05. Eclipse
ABOUT ALMA MUÑECA
Alma Muñeca is a 4 piece art pop group based in Austin, TX. Formed in 2024, the band is lead by Cocó Allegra and produced by Ernesto Grey (Font, Farmer’s Wife, Loveme, The Opera, etc). Cocó, a Panamanian immigrant, settled in Austin four years ago. It wasn’t until she met collaborator, Ernesto, that she fully committed to writing and performing live. The band’s sound is inspired by 90’s icons such as Bjork and contemporaries like FKA Twigs and Rosalia. Through their live performances, Cocó aims to highlight and lift up the queer and Latino community.
The band’s live debut, back in February, sold out and they are now embarking on their first tour across Texas to promote their debut EP, Deseo Un Brillo, out now.
CONNECT WITH ALMA MUÑECA
PRESS CONTACTS
Leigh Greaney Bush / leigh@bighassle.com
