Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada Announces New Solo Album ‘Boleros Psicodélicos’ & Shares Single

Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada will issue a new solo album, Boleros Psicodélicos, out via ATO Records on June 3. The Grammy-winning guitarist and producer previewed the tribute album to Latin America’s balada music with “Mentiras Con Cariño” featuring vocals from Puerto Rican artist iLe.

Produced, engineered and mixed by Quesada, Boleros Psicodélicos also sees guest spots from Colombia’s Gabriel Garzón-Montano, Mexico’s Girl Ultra along with Angelica Garcia and Gaby Moreno. The LP boasts additional contributions from Marc Ribot and Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark.

The record’s 12 tracks consist of Quesada originals along with covers of La Lupe’s “Puedes Decir De Mí,” Jeanette’s “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes” and more that serve “as a celebration of the super funky, slightly delirious and deeply soulful sounds that transcended the cultural boundaries of Latin America throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s,” as per press materials for the album.

Quesada grew up in the Texas/Mexico border town of Laredo but got into balada while driving around in his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas through the Peruvian band Los Pasteles Verdes and their 1975 song “Esclavo y Amo,” which also appears on Boleros Psicodélicos and features Natalia Clavier. A deep dive at a record store specializing in regional Mexican music cemented Adrian’s love for balada.

The producer and guitarist further detailed the impetus behind Boleros Psicodélicos:

I always wanted to pay tribute to that sound that I was already hearing in my head without realizing that people had already done it. Balada changed the face of Latin music forever. If something like that happened today, it would be normal because everyone’s connected on Instagram. Think how powerful this sound had to be for everyone to be connected through the songs. As someone who grew up speaking two languages and living on both sides of the border, I love how much music can transcend barriers and boundaries. It really is a universal language, especially back then.

iLe also spoke about the lead single. “Making ‘Mentiras Con Cariño’ with Adrian was very fun since we share a similar appreciation for old school boleros,” she said. “We both love the style of musical arrangements and textures that became a classic signature sound in those times where imperfections made everything feel just right. I wrote this song thinking about feeling sufficient with yourself on your own, even though love didn’t turn out to be the way you wanted.”

“​​Mentiras Con Cariño” arrived along with a music video directed by Cesar Berrios. Watch it below:

Boleros Psicodélicos Tracklist:

1. Mentiras Con Cariño (Feat. iLe)
2. El Paraguas (Feat. Gabriel Garzón-Montano)
3. Ídolo (Feat. Angelica Garcia)
4. Hielo Seco (Feat. Marc Ribot and Money Mark)
5. El Payaso (Feat. Girl Ultra)
6. Tus Tormentas (Feat. Mireya Ramos)
7. Puedes Decir De Mi (Feat. Gaby Moreno)
8. Eso No Lo He Dicho Yo (Feat. College Of Knowledge)
9. Esclavo Y Amo (Feat. Natalia Clavier)
10. Ya No Me Quieres (Feat. Jaron Marshall)
11. El León (Feat. Rudy De Anda)
12. El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes (Feat. Tita)