Cuñao is a Los Angeles-based, Latin Folk group with roots in New York City. Founder and songwriter Julio Montero, born in Ecuador, brings his South American background & influences to create evocative, poetic songs that transcend time and leave listeners with lush images. A group of multi-ethnic musicians, Cuñao puts a global twist on their Latin sound by exploring African rhythms, Eastern European melodies and American Rock aesthetics.
The band started as a recording collaboration between Hugo Muñoz and Julio Montero in New York City in the summer of 2010. Having recorded a few songs under their belt, Julio moved to L.A. and finished the album. The end result was the self-released debut “Trabajo Y Ron” in March 2011. The album is a fusion of electronic beats and synthesized sounds infused with the spirit of ethnic folk music. Their 5 song EP titled “Los Testigos,” a collection of nostalgic folk songs inspired by Latin American music of the 1960’s & 70′s, was released on April 24th, 2013 followed that same year by a collaboration with Beat Chamber Records and the release of the Cumbia EP “Llano, Llanero, Lloron.” The EP won The Examiner Magazine’s 2013 L.A. Music Critics Award for Best International Release. The song “Periquito” was also featured on an episode of The El Rey Network’s “From Dusk ‘Till Dawn: The Series.”
Cuñao has performed in local Los Angeles venues such as Tia Chucha’s Cultural Center, Witz End, Rockwell Table & stage, La Cita Bar, M-Bar Boyle Heights, Lillian Theater, The Good Hurt, The Talking Stick and more. Cuñao has also performed in New York City and in the summer of 2014, Cuñao was featured as part of NUEVOFEST in Philadelphia. Their upcoming show on the Westside at Rusty’s Surf Tavern should be packed.
