La Vida Bohème
La Vida Bohème is an alternative independent band from Caracas, Venezuela, formed by Rafael Perez, Daniel De Sousa, Sebastian Ayala, and Henry D'Arthenay in late 2006 and mid-2007. The band takes influence from late '80s punk, disco, funk, electronic music, jazz, salsa, reggae and dance music. Their first recording is a self-titled EP that includes three songs (Aprendiendo.a.apagar.un.cigarro.con.los.pies, Luz and I.p.o.s.t.e.l.)[1]
La Vida Bohème | |
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Live in 2009, left to right: D´Arthenay, Ayala (background), de Sousa, Pérez Medina. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Caracas, Venezuela |
Genres | Post-punk revival, Indie rock, Dance-punk, Synth-rock |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | All Of the Above / Nacional Records |
Website | lavidaboheme |
Members | Henry D´Arthenay Daniel de Sousa Sebastián Ayala Daniel Briceño Hector Tosta |
Past members | Rafael Pérez Medina Moises Enghelberg |
La Vida Bohéme is Henry D’Arthenay (guitar and lead singer), Daniel Briceño (bass guitar and vocals), Daniel de Sousa (guitar and vocals), and Sebastián Ayala (drummer and vocals).
They won the "Festival de Nuevas Bandas" (New Bands Festival of Venezuela) in 2008.
They released Nuestra, their 12-track debut album in February 2010. The album was available for free download for a limited time, followed by a limited-edition CD pressing in the summer of 2010. The album has been licensed by Nacional Records for release in North America in 2011. Their first single was "Radio Capital", a danceable tune anchored by a repetitive chant of "Gabba Gabba Hey", referencing The Ramones. They were widely acclaimed for their debut album, earning them a Grammy nomination and two Latin Grammy nominations. Their song "Buen Salvaje" is featured in the EA Sports game FIFA 12 and "Radio Capital" is featured in Grand Theft Auto V.
History
The band's name was chosen by the first drummer while they practiced in downtown Caracas. It has no particular origin, though it is said they chose it from Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème, or more likely from the book on which the latter was based, Henri Murger's La Vie de Bohème.
During 2007 they showed their music through the local night life and festivals. Their first EP, La Vida Bohème EP, with three songs, is available for download on the netlabel Fanzinatra.
Their debut album, Nuestra was recorded and produced in Venezuela by Rudy Pagliuca (guitarist of Malanga) and mixed by Leonel Carmona and mastered in Argentina by Andrés Mayo. It is one of the first albums in Venezuela to be released on free download, through the record company All of The Above. A limited-edition CD was released in the summer of 2010 and sold directly by the band at shows or other events.
The band has signed a licensing deal with Nacional Records, which will distribute Nuestra in USA, Canada and Mexico.
The band has also produced videos for two of the album's singles: "Radio Capital", which was released in December 2009, and "Danz!", released in August 2010. In November 2010, YouTube censored the video for "Danz!", citing the video's inclusion of nudity.
In September 2011, the band received two Latin Grammy nominations from Latin Recording Academy. "Nuestra" was nominated for Best Rock Album and "Radio Capital" was nominated for Best Rock Song. In November 2011, "Nuestra" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop, Rock or Urban Album.
They finished the recording process for their second studio album, Será in February 2013; it was released on May 14. In November 2013, La Vida Boheme won their first Latin Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.[2] They were named Best Rock Artist at the 2014 Pepsi Venezuela Music Awards.[3]
Their 3rd album "La Lucha", produced by Eduardo Cabra Martínez (Visitante Calle 13) and recorded in Puerto Rico, was released in March 2017. "La Lucha" marks the end of the band's album trilogy; "Nuestra Sera La Lucha", which roughly translates to "Ours Will Be The Fight".
Members
- Henry D'Arthenay (Guitar, Vocals, Electronics) (2006–present)
- Daniel de Sousa (Guitar, Cow bell, Backing Vocals, Synths) (2006–present)
- Sebastián Ayala (Drummer, Backing Vocals, Programming) (2007–present)
- Daniel "Mono" Briceño (Bass guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals) (2017–present)
- Hector Tosta (Guitar, Backing Vocals, Synths) (2013-2014, live member) (2019-present, full-time member)
Past members
- Rafael Pérez Medina (Bass guitar, Backing Vocals) (2006-2017)
- Moises Enghelberg (Drummer) (2006)
Discography
- 2007: La Vida Bohème (EP)
- 2011: Nuestra
- 2013: Será
- 2017: La Lucha
References
- La Vida Boheme Archived 2016-10-29 at the Wayback Machine - JPop.com
- La Vida Bohème, Bajofondo Early Winners at Latin Grammys - Billboard
- "Con homenaje al 'Tío Simón', los Premios Pepsi Music celebraron en grande la música nacional" [With Tribute to 'Uncle Simón', the Pepsi Music Awards Celebrate National Music in a Big Way] (in Spanish). Caracas: Noticias24. 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2018.