Puya (band)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Puya

| image = Puya (band) Sept 25, 2010, San Juan Puerto Rico.jpg

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| caption = Puya in Puerto Rico (2010) from left to right: Harold Hopkins, Eduardo Paniagua, Sergio Curbelo, and Ramon Ortiz

| background = group_or_band

| origin = Puerto Rico

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = {{flatlist|

1991–2005
2009–present

}}

| label =

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

Ankla
Yeva

}}

| website = {{URL|www.puyaonline.com}}

| current_members = * Eduardo Paniagua

}}

Puya is a Puerto Rican progressive metal band. Formed in 1991, the band rose to prominence with their fusion of jazz, salsa and heavy metal.

History

The band originally formed in Puerto Rico as a progressive rock combo,{{Cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77810705/puya|title="Puya" by Gore, Joe - Guitar Player, Vol. 35, Issue 10, October 2001|website=|accessdate=|archive-date=2016-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122649/https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77810705/puya|url-status=dead}} in 1991, under the name Whisker Biscuit.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9gsEAAAAMBAJ|title=Billboard|date=1996-05-04|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} In 1992, the band added vocalist Sergio Curbelo and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where they created a mix of salsa and heavy metal with the assistance of Jeff Renza and the Noiz Boiz production studio. They adopted the name Puya in 1994, which is Spanish for "sharp point", but is also a popular type of Puerto Rican coffee.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9gsEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9gsEAAAAMBAJ/page/n47 48]|title=Billboard|date=1996-05-04|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} Puya was the first Puerto Rican rock band to achieve a high level of international success.{{cite book |last1=Mateus |first1=Jorge Arévalo |editor1-first=Deborah Pacini |editor1-last=Hernandez |others=D. Fernández, Héctor l'Hoeste; Zolov, Eric |title=Rockin' las Américas: the global politics of rock in Latin/o America |url=https://archive.org/details/rockinlasamerica00paci |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-8229-5841-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rockinlasamerica00paci/page/94 94]–98 |chapter=Boricua Rock }}

In 1995, Puya released their self-titled debut album under the Noiz Boiz label, but did not sign with the label. There they also met producer Gustavo Santaolalla who signed them to MCA and in 1999 released their second album, Fundamental, which received critical praise. This propelled the band to stardom even landing them in the second stage of Ozzfest where they shared the opening slot with Slipknot in 1999. In 2000, their song "Tírale" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Heavy Metal 2000, and was the collection's only track with Spanish lyrics. The band opened for Sepultura, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pantera and Kiss. They also recorded a cover of The Police's "Spirits in the Material World" in Spanish, with the title "Almas en un mundo material".

When sales of the band's 2001 album Union did not meet MCA's expectations, the label did not renew the band's contract. After a 2002 performance at Tito Puente Amphitheater in Puerto Rico (which was later released on DVD), Puya went on an extended hiatus.{{cite web|url=https://www.puyaonline.com/bio/|title=BIO - Puya}} During this time Ramon Ortiz formed the band Ankla.

In 2009, Puya reunited and performed in front of over 12,000 fans at Stereo Music Fest at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/puya-to-release-areyto-ep-next-week/|title=PUYA To Release 'Areyto' EP Next Week|date=19 August 2010}} The digital EP Areyto appeared on iTunes on August 27, 2010. The band has since continued on with a lighter touring schedule, focusing primarily on "special shows" like Cuba’s Patria Grande Festival in 2014.

In 2018, Sergio Curbelo left the band. Diego Romero of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, replaced him{{cite web|url=https://www.ghostcultmag.com/puya-to-perform-with-new-singer-tomorrow-at-viva-la-rock-fest/|title=Puya To Perform With New Singer Tomorrow At Viva La Rock Fest|date=30 November 2018}} and they released two singles together, "Súbele La Candela" whose lyrics speak about the protests held in Puerto Rico against former governor Ricardo Rosselló and "Viento". In 2020, Puya announced that Romero had left the band to start a solo career and that Curbelo was returning to the band. Puya entered the studio in the summer of 2020 and teased a new song "Potencial" on the Puerto Rican digital radio station AZ Rock Radio.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1395238100661871&id=224857267699966|title=Facebook - PUYA · PUYA FANS!|website=Facebook}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ghostcultmag.com/puya-shares-new-single-potencial-on-puerto-ricos-az-radio/|title=Puya Shares New Single "Potencial" on Puerto Rico's AZ Radio|date=7 April 2021}}

Musical style and influences

Puya's music is defined by placing emphasis on heavy guitar grooves and percussive Latin rhythms, punctuated by big band horns, with composed melodies that lead into instrumental improvisation. Additionally, some of Puya's songs have also incorporated rapping.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kioEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA87|title=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=2017-02-01|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|language=en}} Puya's music draws from diverse styles, including salsa,{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12 |title=MCA's Puya Gets 'Fundamental' With Mix Of Rock, Salsa| author=Charles R. Bouley II | date= January 9, 1999 | publisher=Billboard |accessdate=2011-05-23 }}{{cite journal |last=Flicky |first=Brad |date=August 2001 |title=Review of Union |journal=CMJ New Music |issue=95 |page=87 |issn=1074-6978 }}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r387844|first=Alex|last=Henderson}} Cuban rumba, bomba, alternative rock, hard rock,{{cite magazine |last1=Cobo |first1=Leila |title=Puya: Rocking Harder Than Ever |magazine=Billboard |volume=113 |issue=24 |page=LM-10 |date=June 16, 2001 |issn=0006-2510 }} blues rock, heavy metal, jazz and progressive rock.

Puya was influenced by Pantera, Rush,{{Cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77810705/puya|title="Puya" by Gore, Joe - Guitar Player, Vol. 35, Issue 10, October 2001|website=|language=en|accessdate=|archive-date=2016-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122649/https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77810705/puya|url-status=dead}} Fania All-Stars, Fishbone, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Sepultura.

The band's music has been categorized as Latin alternative,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v-ioAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA171|title=Rock the Nation: Latin/o Identities and the Latin Rock Diaspora|last=Avant-Mier|first=Roberto|date=2010-05-06|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA|isbn=9781441167972|language=en}} hardcore,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hMEAAAAMBAJ|title=Billboard|date=2001-08-25|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|language=en}} hard rock, heavy metal,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sFU-hbUOEJ0C&dq=puya%2520jazz&pg=PA45|title=The New York Times Essential Library: Jazz: A Critic's Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings|last=Ratliff|first=Ben|date=2002-11-06|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9780805070682|language=en}} Latin metal,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1425005/puya-armored-saint-lead-latin-metal-surge-on-metalo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207064002/http://www.mtv.com/news/1425005/puya-armored-saint-lead-latin-metal-surge-on-metalo/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2015|title=Puya, Armored Saint Lead Latin Metal Surge On "Metalo"|website=MTV News|accessdate=2016-04-12}} progressive metal{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/cdreviews_display.cfm?id=101625|title=Music Street Journal - Music News & Reviews|website=www.musicstreetjournal.com|accessdate=2016-04-12}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theprp.com/2022/04/14/news/puya-debut-new-single-machete-y-garabato/ |title= Puya Debut New Single "Machete y Garabato" |author=wookubus |date=April 14, 2022 |publisher=The PRP |access-date=2022-04-15}} and rock en español.{{cite web|last1=Bonacich|first1=Drago|title=Puya|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/puya-mn0000859062/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=13 June 2017}} Though sometimes categorized as nu metal, this is contested by Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes, which says that Puya is not a part of this genre and has its own style of music.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qE-LBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA322|title=Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes [2 volumes]|last=Stavans|first=Ilan|date=2014-07-29|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313343964|language=en}}

Band members

Ramon Ortiz – guitar
Eduardo Paniagua – drums
Harold Hopkins Miranda – bass
Sergio Curbelo (1992–2018, 2020–present) – vocals

=Former members=

Diego Romero (2018–2020) – vocals

Discography

Studio releases

Puya (1995) LP
Fundamental (1999) LP
Union (2001) LP
Areyto (2010) EP
Potencial (2024) EP

Live releases

Pa Ti En Vivo: Live In Puerto Rico (2006){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Puya-Pa-Ti-En-Vivo-Live-In-Puerto-Rico/release/8727236|title=DVD released in 2006, features a 2002 live show plus some extras like a 3-song 1996 show (from Discogs)|website=Discogs}} DVD
Vital (2014){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Puya-Vital-Recorded-Live-At-Bahia-Urbana-SJ-PR/release/9303283|title=recorded live at Bahia Urbana San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Feb 8th 2014 (from Discogs)|website=Discogs}} LP

Singles