There’s so much technology now that can allow any bedroom producer to make an album. That being said, depending on the level of talent involved the outcome can vary from something amazing to just a mess. 18 year old LA based Cuco had just started making music last year and the results of this young talent definitely fall on the latter. His debut album Para Mi is set to drop July 26th via Interscope Records and it’s going to elbow it’s way to the top of your summer music listening list.

Para Mi is a bit all over the place but that ends up being one of the album’s strengths as no matter what genre Cuco is jumping into, the whole thing still comes across as his own work. From the “Intro” which blasts “WARNING, WARNING” at you the moment you press play you know you are jumping into something really fun. This is followed up by “Keeping Tabs” with it’s hazy, woozy synths and Cuco’s bouncing vocal melody, it’s a perfect track to wander around the city while the sun is blazing and so are you. “Feelings” is so smooth it practically floats out of the speakers like silk. The single “Hydrocodone” floats effortlessly throughout it’s running time. Everything is so dazed that it feels like the musical equivalent of a sunny Instagram filter, and this is meant as a compliment.

Cuco has shown himself as a very interesting producer and songwriter and Para Mi is a great coming out for the musician. While there’s nothing here that is overtly challenging, the album is consistently fun, complex and full of the right kind of vibe that it should keep your summer going long after September ends.

review by Adam Fink

Cuco
Live

7/17 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall#
7/18 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater %#
7/19 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater %#
7/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue%#
7/21 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
7/24 – Anaheim, CA @ The Grove of Anaheim %+
7/25 – San Diego, CA @ Soma %+
7/26 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater %+
7/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo %+
7/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Grand Park
8/18 – New York, NY @ SummerStage
9/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex <*
9/19 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre <*
9/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue*
9/22 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre*
9/23 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall*~
9/24 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre*~
9/25 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club*~
9/28 – Memphis, TN @ Growlers*~
9/29 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East*~
9/30 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse*~
10/03 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic New Orleans*~
10/4 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall*~
10/05 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace*~
10/06 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf*~

# = w/ Niña
% = w/ UMI
+ = w/ YourGrandparents
< = w/ Ambar Lucid
* = w/Kaina
~ = w/ La Doña