Moenia
Encyclopedia
Mœnia is a Mexican
electronica
/synth pop/ambient
/alternative rock
group.
, and keyboardists Jorge Soto and Alejandro 'Midi' Ortega, Mœnia has released over ten albums on Universal Latino and RCA Records
. Pichardo briefly left the group due to the Mexican listening public's lack of interest in electronic and synth music. When Lozano decided to leave Mœnia as vocalist and form the still electronically oriented but more guitar-centered Morbo
, despite the acclaimed success of 1997's Mœnia and its subsequent album of remixes (a risky and previously unheard of novelty in the Mexican music industry), Pichardo reunited with the remaining two of his former bandmates to complete Mœnia's line-up, which has remained unchanged since 1999.
Mœnia is often compared to New Order
, Erasure
, OMD
, The Cure
, Depeche Mode
and Garbage
. Popular within the Latin
club scene while simultaneously pioneering a darker, more experimental, more poetic side of Spanish-language electronica, Mœnia has had three top-20 hits. Along with Aleks Syntek
, Mœnia is often considered one of the first successful experimental Mexican music composers and performers, finding commercial viability in a market normally dominated by Latin ballad
crooners, teenage vocal groups and musical styles with more mass appeal like cumbia
and ranchera
. Mœnia is also popular in other parts of Latin America
, including the argentinian
and chile
an music markets, where they have also charted. Some of their most recognized singles include "Estabas Ahí," "No Dices Más" and "Manto Estelar".
Stereo Hits
is by far Mœnia's highest-selling album to date. It is a series of successful 80s and 90s Latin pop/rock and ballad hit covers such as "En Algún Lugar" by Duncan Dhu
, "Tren Al Sur" by Los Prisioneros
, "Beber de Tu Sangre" by Los Amantes de Lola, "Mátenme Porque Me Muero" by Caifanes
and "Ni Tú Ni Nadie" by Alaska y Dinarama
. However, the introduction to their cover version of this one (Ni Tu Ni Nadie) contains a sample of the 1972 Gary Glitter
hit Rock and Roll Part 2
or so, because of its similar drumbeat like sequence. Despite having the sample included on the track, BMG officials took care the copyright business in order to prevent musical rights disputes. The album was originally intended to serve as a stopgap to keep fans happy while the group worked on their next album, but became so popular that it was soon followed by a tour, which in turn was followed by an album of its own in 2005, HitsLive.
In 2006
Mœnia released a new album, named "Solar", which follows a more 1980s electropop style, including more electric guitar sounds. Also includes a duet with Denisse Guerrero (of Belanova) called "Me Equivoque".
Alfonso Pichardo has started a solo project entitled Equivocal, with the first single "Dar la Vuelta".
In November 2009 a compilation album entitled "En Electrico" is scheduled for release. Produced by Armando Avila, and will feature Paco Huidobro (Fobia), Maria Jose & Juan Carlos Lozano (ex-vocalist).
Former members
Adicion (1999)
Le Modulor (2001)
Televisor (2003)
Stereo Hits (2004)
Hits Live (2005)
(Live)
Solar (2006)
.
En Electrico (2010)
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
/synth pop/ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
/alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
group.
History
Although originally consisting only of Juan Carlos Lozano as lead vocalist on 1997's debut album Mœnia and its companion remix album Mœnia Mixes, since the 1999 release of Adición+, Mœnia has consisted of vocalist Alfonso PichardoAlfonso Pichardo
Alfonso Pichardo was born on February 1, 1973 in Mexico City and is the current lead singer of Mexican electronica group Moenia. He replaced the original singer, Juan Carlos Lozano, in 1999 for the group's second album, Adición....
, and keyboardists Jorge Soto and Alejandro 'Midi' Ortega, Mœnia has released over ten albums on Universal Latino and RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. Pichardo briefly left the group due to the Mexican listening public's lack of interest in electronic and synth music. When Lozano decided to leave Mœnia as vocalist and form the still electronically oriented but more guitar-centered Morbo
Morbo (band)
Morbo is a Mexican electronica/synth pop/ambient/alternative rock group created by Juan Carlos Lozano. Lozano was one of the four founding members of Moenia, which originally included Juan Carlos Lozano as lead vocalist on 1997's debut album 'Moenia' and its 1998 companion remix album 'Moenia Mixes'...
, despite the acclaimed success of 1997's Mœnia and its subsequent album of remixes (a risky and previously unheard of novelty in the Mexican music industry), Pichardo reunited with the remaining two of his former bandmates to complete Mœnia's line-up, which has remained unchanged since 1999.
Mœnia is often compared to New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
, OMD
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
, The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
and Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
. Popular within the Latin
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
club scene while simultaneously pioneering a darker, more experimental, more poetic side of Spanish-language electronica, Mœnia has had three top-20 hits. Along with Aleks Syntek
Aleks Syntek
Raúl Alejandro Escajadillo Peña , better known as Aleks Syntek, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and producer. He is married to Karen Coronado, sister of talkshow host Ingrid Coronado.-Biography:...
, Mœnia is often considered one of the first successful experimental Mexican music composers and performers, finding commercial viability in a market normally dominated by Latin ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
crooners, teenage vocal groups and musical styles with more mass appeal like cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
and ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
. Mœnia is also popular in other parts of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, including the argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an music markets, where they have also charted. Some of their most recognized singles include "Estabas Ahí," "No Dices Más" and "Manto Estelar".
Stereo Hits
Stereo Hits
.Stereo Hits is a radio station, belonging to Multimedios Radio.- Shows :*Notifama *Te Lo Contamos *Vida Hits *Pop Hits...
is by far Mœnia's highest-selling album to date. It is a series of successful 80s and 90s Latin pop/rock and ballad hit covers such as "En Algún Lugar" by Duncan Dhu
Duncan Dhu
Duncan Dhu was a Spanish group created in San Sebastián, Spain in 1984. Its original members were Mikel Erentxun , Diego Vasallo and Juan Ramón Viles ....
, "Tren Al Sur" by Los Prisioneros
Los Prisioneros
Los Prisioneros was a chilean rock band formed in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile in 1982. They began as a local band during the early 1980s, playing small shows in their neighborhood and high school...
, "Beber de Tu Sangre" by Los Amantes de Lola, "Mátenme Porque Me Muero" by Caifanes
Caifanes
Caifanes is a Spanish-language rock band from Mexico City formed in 1987. They achieved fame throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s. The original lineup consisted of Saúl Hernández , Sabo Romo , Alfonso André and Diego Herrera . Argentine guitarist Alejandro Marcovich joined in 1989...
and "Ni Tú Ni Nadie" by Alaska y Dinarama
Alaska y Dinarama
Alaska y Dinarama was a Spanish electro-pop band formed by Olvido Gara, Ignacio "Nacho" Canut Guillen and Carlos Garcia Berlanga de Manrique in 1982. The group was popular and influential during La Movida Madrileña...
. However, the introduction to their cover version of this one (Ni Tu Ni Nadie) contains a sample of the 1972 Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician.Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s...
hit Rock and Roll Part 2
Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)
"Rock and Roll", also known as "The Hey Song", is a song performed by British glam rocker Gary Glitter that was released in 1972 as a single and on the album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track reflecting on the history of the genre,...
or so, because of its similar drumbeat like sequence. Despite having the sample included on the track, BMG officials took care the copyright business in order to prevent musical rights disputes. The album was originally intended to serve as a stopgap to keep fans happy while the group worked on their next album, but became so popular that it was soon followed by a tour, which in turn was followed by an album of its own in 2005, HitsLive.
In 2006
2006 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....
Mœnia released a new album, named "Solar", which follows a more 1980s electropop style, including more electric guitar sounds. Also includes a duet with Denisse Guerrero (of Belanova) called "Me Equivoque".
Alfonso Pichardo has started a solo project entitled Equivocal, with the first single "Dar la Vuelta".
In November 2009 a compilation album entitled "En Electrico" is scheduled for release. Produced by Armando Avila, and will feature Paco Huidobro (Fobia), Maria Jose & Juan Carlos Lozano (ex-vocalist).
Members
- Alfonso PichardoAlfonso PichardoAlfonso Pichardo was born on February 1, 1973 in Mexico City and is the current lead singer of Mexican electronica group Moenia. He replaced the original singer, Juan Carlos Lozano, in 1999 for the group's second album, Adición....
-Vocal & Keyboardist (Co-Founder / 1991-1994 returned 1998–Present day) - Jorge Soto - Keyboards & Guitar (Co-Founder / 1991–Present day)
- Alejandro "Midi" Ortega - Synth & Programing (1995–Present day)
Former members
- Juan Carlos Lozano -former vocalist (Co-Founder / 1991-1995) & singer (1995–1997)
Trivia
- Mœnia famously covered José José'sJosé JoséJosé Rómulo Sosa Ortiz , known by his artistic name José José, is a Mexican singer.Referred in the entertainment world as "El Príncipe de la Canción" , José José is best known for his romantic ballads and renowned for his vocals...
1970s hit "Volcán" from the album Volcán: Tributo a José JoséVolcán: Tributo a José JoséVolcán: Tributo a José José is a 1998 tribute album to Mexican singer José José.Paying homage to José José for his influence on Latin pop music, the album was recorded by several popular Latin artists such as Molotov, Cafe Tacuba, Julieta Venegas, Moenia, Beto Cuevas, and Aleks Syntek.The main...
, which received a lot of airplay in Mexican radio. - Mœnia also did a track "Lado Animal" for the movie Amores PerrosAmores perrosAmores perros is a 2000 neorealist Mexican film, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Amores Perros is the first movie in Iñárritu's trilogy of death, and was followed by 21 Grams and Babel. It is a triptych; an anthology film, sometimes referred to as the "Mexican Pulp Fiction," containing...
which actually was not featured in the movie, but only on the soundtracks second CD. - They've also covered the Soda StereoSoda StereoSoda Stereo were an Argentine rock band who are recognized as one of the most influential and important Latin American and Ibero-American bands of all time...
song "Zoom", the song "Huellas en la Bajamar" by Hombres GHombres GHombres G is a Spanish pop rock band, formed in Spain in 1982. They are widely considered one of Spain's most important groups of the late 1980s and 1990s...
and covered the José Alfredo JiménezJosé Alfredo JiménezJosé Alfredo Jiménez was a Mexican singer-songwriter in the ranchera style whose songs are considered an integral part of Mexico's musical heritage....
song "Amanecí en tus brazos" - They've also covered the CaifanesCaifanesCaifanes is a Spanish-language rock band from Mexico City formed in 1987. They achieved fame throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s. The original lineup consisted of Saúl Hernández , Sabo Romo , Alfonso André and Diego Herrera . Argentine guitarist Alejandro Marcovich joined in 1989...
song "Mátenme Porque me Muero". Later on scoring another chart topper with "Juegos de Amor", a song that in 1988 was made popular by NeónNeonNeon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
. Both of these are included in their Stereo Hits album.
Singles
Moenia (1996)Adicion (1999)
Le Modulor (2001)
Televisor (2003)
Stereo Hits (2004)
Hits Live (2005)
(Live)
Solar (2006)
.
En Electrico (2010)
.
- En ti.