Equal parts pop-lover and punk-rocker, María del Pilar mixes her DIY Riot Grrrl roots and penchant for bilingual lyrics to create melodic, sweet, and tough-as-nails pop anthems that rock.
From the Andes Mountains to the San Fernando Valley, María del Pilar is no stranger to singing across borders. Born in Chile, she grew quick roots in Los Angeles and became an integral part of the city's musical fabric (and the Latin Alternative scene) with her rock band Los Abandoned, that journalist Gustavo Arellano once said "reflected the post-modern Latino experience better than any band ever." And Pilar has far from stopped.
In 2015, María del Pilar released her deluxe edition solo album, Songs + Canciones I, which left the world swooning at her flavor for pop hooks that maintain the roughness of her rock roots. The album combines her debut EP from 2009 and her first full-length from 2013. The lead single "En El Dancefloor" skyrocketed to the top of the Mexican radio charts and led to a stellar performance at the notorious Vive Latino as well as a memorable performance in Mexico City's Zócalo- the prestigious venue that's hosted the likes of Roger Waters and Radiohead. Songs + Canciones II, released on February 1, 2019 marks the beginning of a new journey for the artist. Produced with Filip Nikolic of Poolside, this new album is a sonically lush tropical playground. Pilar’s effervescent songwriting shines alongside her friends invited to collaborate, members of No Doubt, Fitz+Tantrums, Las Cafeteras, and Chicano Batman.
Advance singles from the album - “Original Dreamers” was featured in the LA Times, “Waiting on the Boys” has received multiple radio plays on KCRW and Reactor FM, and Remezcla has featured all 3 advanced singles, including “Milagrito.” Spotify playlists include Vibra Tropical, LatinX Indie, Latinos Unidos, Distrito Indie, and more. While finishing up her new album and a string of show dates that included KCRW’s Nights at the Hammer Museum with Amber Mark, María del Pilar has been on the road and in the studio collaborating with an array of talented musicians. She's shared the stage with Chicano Batman, Francisca Valenzuela, and Tegan & Sara. She also recently appeared on Conan with Tune-Yards as a backup vocalist. And, Bird and the Bee's Inara George asked María del Pilar to translate her single “Release Me” into Spanish, bringing back the lost art of translating songs.
Pilar's cred doesn't stop at the stage - her sounds have found their place on screen as well. Her buzz single "Se Me Hace Más" was included in Season 1 of the new Starz drama "Vida." And, in Season 2, she will be making her on-screen live performance debut as herself."Santiago of the Seas," Nickelodeon’s new bilingual show, features original songs written by Pilar.
With chart-topping singles, prime TV placements, international festival appearances, and a border-hopping, barrier-breaking word-of-mouth buzz, María del Pilar continues to carry the torch in the U.S. Latino bilingual movement. FEATURED IN STUDIO ALBUMS Radio KCRW 89.9 • Super Estrella 107.1 EXA Radio MX • 40 Principales MX Songs + Canciones II (2019) Coca-Cola Radio MX • Reactor 105.7 MX Songs + Canciones I (2015) KEXP 90.3 Seattle • KFAI 106.7 Minneapolis REMIXES Vocalo 91.1 Chicago TV Piñata remixed by Mexican Institute of Sound Conan O’Brien • Starz • CNN (US + Mexico) En el Dancefloor remixed by Uni-Fi Sound Univision • MTV (Latin America) • Mun2 • Televisa TOURING HISTORY Concert Channel • VH1 (Mexico) • NU Music TV Cartoon Network • Telehit • WARP TV
Cafe Tacvba • Natalia Lafourcade Press Carla Morrison • Amber Mark LA Record • Spin • Billboard • Elle • Latina Tegan & Sara • Chicano Batman Rolling Stone (Chile + Mexico) • LA Times Las Cafeteras • Mexican Institute of Sound Nylon (US + Mexico) • Fast Company • Mic Julieta Venegas • Gepe • Meiko Austin Chronicle • LA + OC Weekly Enjambre • Denver • Saint Etienne Electronic Musician • Bitch • Bust Gaby Moreno • Francisca Valenzuela K.FLAY • Flor de Toloache FESTIVALS TV PLACEMENTS Vive Latino - Mexico City VIDA Starz TV KCRW Summer Nights - Hammer Museum - Los Angeles, CA Santiago of the Seas Nickelodeon Viva la Canción - Madrid Parenthood NBC Juventudes CDMX - Mexico City The Fosters ABC Family Catacomb - Fresno, CA The Lottery Lifetime LA Times Festival of Books @ USC - Los Angeles, CA Castle ABC ¡Pachanga! Latino - Austin, TX Tacofest - San Antonio, TX QUOTES "Song + Canciones II will be a true marker in Maria Del Pilar’s career. She’s unapologetically embraced her ability to craft great pop earwigs y va con todo!" - KCRW
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