Pelada is a Canadian musical duo which formed in 2014. The duo is composed of vocalist Chris Vargas and instrumentalist Tobias Rochman.[1] The group's music[citation needed] utilizes minimalist electronic instrumentation, including synthesizers, samplers and MIDI based drum machines.

Pelada
Pelada press photo
Pelada press photo
Background information
OriginMontréal, Québec, Canada
Genres
  • Electronic
  • house
  • techno
  • acid
  • punk
Years active2014–2024
Labels
  • Pan
  • New Label
  • Mind Records
Members
  • Chris Vargas
  • Tobias Rochman

Career

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Their debut album Movimiento Para Cambio (2019) released by Berlin experimental electronic label PAN was described by Pitchfork as having a "subtly fraught quality—lovely as a sunset, yet disturbed by a hidden undercurrent—feels like the duo’s way of acknowledging our fundamental vulnerability",[2] while AllMusic defined the group as a "punk-informed, revolution-minded dance duo from Montreal."[3] DJ Mag called them "a vital and contemporary addition dance music’s punk canon."[4] Mixmag included them on the "Best Albums of The Decade" list saying "[a] fierce sense of urgency drives the Montreal duo’s debut album. Producer Tobias Rochman lays a foundation of bright rave synths, palpitating Latin percussive rhythms, atmospheric trance and earth-shattering acid, which vocalist Chris Vargas takes to another level with acid-tongued lyrical delivery, delving into themes spanning patriarchal oppression to surveillance culture to the impending climate catastrophe in sharp Spanish language polemics."[5]

Furthermore, Movimiento Para Cambio was featured on The Guardian's "Albums and Tracks of 2019",[6] Resident Advisor's "2019's Best Albums",[7] Fact Mag's "Best Albums of 2019",[8] and topped Stereogum's "10 Best Electronic Albums of 2019" list[9]

Pelada have toured extensively throughout North America with punk groups such as Iceage,[10] as well as festivals in Mexico,[11][12] and raves in Russia[13] and Europe,[14] including clubs such as Berlin super club Berghain.[15]

Ahora más que nunca was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.[16]

In 2024 the group announced that they'd be completing their last shows together as a duo.

Discography

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Studio albums

  • Movimiento Para Cambio (2019)[17]

EPs

Singles

  • "No Hay" / "Ten Cuidado" (2016)[19]

Music videos

  • "Desatado" (2017)[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  2. ^ "Pelada: Movimiento Para Cambio". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  3. ^ "Pelada | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  4. ^ "Fresh Kicks 135: Pelada". DJMag.com. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  5. ^ "Mixmag - The World's Biggest Dance Music and Clubbing Destination". mixmag.net. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  6. ^ "Guardian albums and tracks of 2019: how our writers voted". the Guardian. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  7. ^ "2019's Best Albums". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  8. ^ "The best albums of 2019". FACT Magazine: Transmissions from the underground. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  9. ^ "The 10 Best Electronic Albums Of 2019". Stereogum. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  10. ^ "ICEAGE on Instagram: "A huge thanks to every one who came out to this past month of shows in US/CA. Nadah El Shazly, Pelada & @shame has all been phenomenal tour…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  11. ^ "NRMAL tendrá un showcase con Pelada". FILTER México (in Spanish). 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  12. ^ "Festival NRMAL's 2018 Edition Features Álvaro Díaz, Mula, and More". Remezcla. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  13. ^ "Meet Pelada: Montreal's after-hours duo gets above ground at MUTEK | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  14. ^ "La musique de Pelada: ça promet". HuffPost Québec (in French). 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  15. ^ "Programm | Berghain / Panorama Bar / Säule / Halle / Kantine am Berghain — Berghain". www.berghain.berlin. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  16. ^ "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more". CBC Music, June 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "PAN announces debut album from Montreal's Pelada". FACT Magazine. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  18. ^ "Meet the Montreal Techno Duo Who Are Getting Punks Dancing". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  19. ^ "Le premier single du duo electro-punk Pelada va faire monter la température de quelques degrés supplémentaires". www.vice.com (in French). Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  20. ^ "Premiere: Pelada's Desatado – The Editorial Magazine". Retrieved 2020-10-15.