Great art from all periods reflects the collective mood of that time period on many levels. Times are changing and America is changing. We are inarguably living in a New America; a place where the mood and the spirit of the people is guiding us through crisis and revival.  . It is a spirit that beckons the audience to step outside of the old formula and join the new journey. DEL CASTILLO's sound is a result of each member being possessed by a boundless, creative spirit and allowing it to guide them on an amazing musical journey

 

DEL CASTILLO has become a symbol of the cross-cultural power of music with their eclectic blend of Rock, Latin, Blues, and World music. With the release of their first eponymous album and a bigger more visceral sound, the band is poised at the front of the new Latino wave washing over America and the world. The band calls their style “Nuevo Americano” as a reflection of their times.

 

 

  DEL CASTILLO got its start when Alex Ruiz began writing with Mark del Castillo in 1999. They hoped their collaboration would give them each a lil’ something different. Alex and Mark had written “Porque”, “Suenos Madrigales”, “La Luz a Mi Paso” before working with Rick del Castillo. What followed organically became Del Castillo.  Mike Zeoli was drumming in another band with Mark and they had finished their last album together as Rick started producing the first Del Castillo album. It started as an instrumental work but then Mark showed Rick the songs he had written with Alex and the project evolved. Albert Besteiro joined the group and Del Castillo was born!

 

  After receiving positive and encouraging responses from everyone who heard the songs they channeled their collective focus into this new band. In early 2002, the Austin American Statesman wrote, “…For a band that played its first gig only six months ago, DEL CASTILLO is, indeed, going places.” Encouraged by the immediate response and acceptance, they started playing regular shows in Austin and quickly built a following. In March of that year, they received the first of what would be many Austin Music Awards at the South By Southwest music festival.

 

  DEL CASTILLO became one of Austin’s most popular bands and they swept the Austin Music Awards, winning seven awards including “Band of the Year” and “Album of the Year.” During that time, Del Castillo was introduced to filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. He invited Rick to contribute guitar on the soundtrack of his film “Spy Kids 3D: Game Over,” and at the premier of the film in Austin in 2003 the band performed live with Robert joining Rick and Mark on guitar. Also,the band contributed the song “Dias de Los Angeles” to his next film, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” The premier for the film was held in New York that year and Del Castillo performed live, joined on stage by Robert, Antonio Banderas, Cheech Marin, and Patricia Vonne.

 

  All the while, the band continued to write and record new songs, and in late 2002 they released their follow-up CD, Vida, which took them to the next level. The Austin Chronicle wrote, “…if Vida is proof, their road to fame will be as short as an I-35 entrance ramp” Rolling Stone Magazine described the band as “tumbling brilliance on nylon-string classical guitars…eruptions of technique and taste (that) conjure images of Eddie Van Halen fronting early Santana (with an assist from the Gypsy Kings).”

 

  Robert Rodriguez filmed the band’s performance at the CD release party for Vida for a live DVD. The Del Castillo LIVE DVD released in early 2004. Also that year, Quentin Tarantino used the Del Castillo song “Malaguena Salerosa” as performed by Chingon, in “Kill Bill, Vol. 2” and Chingon, the musical collective with Robert Rodriguez and some of his closest musical compadres, including members of Del Castillo performed at the premier of the film in Los Angeles winning over still more Hollywood fans as Uma Thurman and Vivica A. Fox kicked up their heels.  Alex even appeared in the film “Sin City” in 2005 at Robert’s request.

 

  The band was enjoying great success throughout Texas touring extensively across the country, playing shows with such artists as Ozomatli, Los Lonely Boys, Los Lobos, Styx, Kinky, deSol, and others. They toured non-stop through 2006 and performed at three of Willie Nelson’s 4th Of July Picnics, and at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and they have made numerous national and local TV appearances.

 

  Now the band stands poised for the next big thing. On April 7, 2009 DEL CASTILLO released their self-titled album which they describe as their most collaborative effort to date. The 12 new songs display the evolution of the band’s repertoire, mixing dance rhythms and Cumbia with as much mature grace as the deftly blended the Spanish and English lyrics. Texas Music Magazine calls the disc their best yet and The Austin American-Statesman raved “fire is burning as hot as ever.”

 

  2009 also saw the band’s first European tour.  Crowds lined up in Germany and Austria to see this new American band with their new American style. DEL CASTILLO didn’t disappoint with a bright, danceable beat and hauntingly memorable music bringing together rock ‘n’ roll, classical Spanish and half a dozen flavors of Mexican and Caribbean styles into a melting pot of sound. 

 

“Now that Del Castillo has finally played Europe (and been invited back) our faith in what we do has been reaffirmed,” says drummer Mike Zeoli.

Their sound, this Nuevo Americano, is like nothing else but born of the past and reaching toward the future. It is a nod to the wave of change across America. With immigration and diversity on the forefront of public consciousness, people are coming together. It is a new America and DEL CASTILLO is the sound of change.