Tijuana Cartel (band)

{{Short description|Australian music group}}

{{Notability|1=Music|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Tijuana Cartel

| background = group_or_band

| image = Tijuana Cartel @ Sir Stewart Bovell Park (7 1 12) (6693046663).jpg

| caption = Paul George of Tijuana Cartel 2012

| origin = Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

| genre =

| years_active = {{hlist|2003–present}}

| label =

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Audio Shaman|George & O'Sullivan}}

| current_members = * Paul George

• Carey O'Sullivan

| past_members = * Joshua Sinclair

• Daniel Gonzalez
• She-J

}}

Tijuana Cartel are an electronic music group from Gold Coast, Australia.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-18|title=Track by Track: Tijuana Cartel take us through their new album Acid Pony|url=https://www.theaureview.com/music/track-by-track-tijuana-cartel-take-us-through-their-new-album-acid-pony/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The AU Review|language=en-AU}} They have described their sound as electronic music with a world music element.{{Cite web|date=2014-03-19|title=Tijuana Cartel|url=https://thebrag.com/tijuana-cartel/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=The Brag|language=en-AU}}

The group formed in 2003, taking their name from the movie Traffic.{{Cite web|last=Oswin|first=Emily|title=Tijuana Cartel Bring A Musical Feast To BlenheimFest & Sea N Sound|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/tijuana-cartel-bring-a-musical-feast-to-blenheimfest|access-date=2022-01-31|website=scenestr - Pop Culture & Entertainment|language=en-gb}} Originally consisting of Paul George and Carey O'Sullivan, they remain the sole consistent members of the group which has also included Joshua Sinclair, Daniel Gonzalez, She-J, and others within their live shows.{{Cite web|date=2012-05-25|title=Breaking the Cartel|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/breaking-the-cartel-ng-ya-314959|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The West Australian|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Tijuana Cartel {{!}} triple j Unearthed|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/tijuana-cartel/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Tijuana Cartel: Re-Up|url=https://www.scenemagazine.com.au/music/rock/tijuana-cartel-re-up|access-date=2022-01-31|website=www.scenemagazine.com.au|language=en-gb}}

After releasing a self-titled EP in 2003, Tijuana Cartel released an EP titled Frequent Flyers which was expanded to become their 2007 debut album Frequent Flyers Redeemed.{{Cite web|title=29 Aug 2007 - uROK - Archived Website|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070829035454/http://www.urok.com.au/urok/shop.asp?id=44|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Trove|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2007-03-15 |title=Tijuana Cartel Tour Dates - Music Samples - Photos » The Art of Mother Earth - Events Australia - Daniel Wilson |url=http://earth.net.au/tijuana_cartel/tijuana_cartel_dates/#more-35 |access-date=2022-02-04 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315063318/http://earth.net.au/tijuana_cartel/tijuana_cartel_dates/#more-35 |archive-date=15 March 2007 |url-status=dead}} The album mixed flamenco guitar with electronic music, while later albums mixed dub, roots, and rock music sounds.{{Cite web|last=Tobin|first=Cassandra|date=2011|title=Tijuana Cartel on the M1|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/tijuana-cartel-on-the-m1/news-story/f8f1b83866bd838e3b67ebec2f42c707|access-date=2022-02-04|website=The Daily Telegraph}}

After receiving airplay on national radio station Triple J, the band began to gain some recognition and toured festivals around Australia.{{Cite web|date=2012-05-25|title=Breaking the Cartel|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/breaking-the-cartel-ng-ya-314959|access-date=2022-02-04|website=The West Australian|language=en}} This led to further tours in Europe, India, and Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games.{{Cite web|date=2011-10-20|title=Tijuana Cartel|url=https://beat.com.au/tijuana-cartel-3/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Beat Magazine|language=en-AU}}

The Sydney Morning Herald called them "one of the most fearsome live bands in the country" but noted their albums often did not live up to that reputation until 2014's 24bit Guitar Orchestra.{{Cite web|date=2014-09-04|title=Shortlist weekly album reviews|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/shortlist-weekly-album-reviews-20140903-109ygc.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

Their 2015 album Psychedelicatessan was inspired by, and featured samples from, the Australian cult radio play What's Rangoon To You Is Grafton To Me, written and performed by Russell Guy and James Dibble. Russell visited Tijuana Cartel's studio while they were recording after they sought permission to use his work.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael|date=2015|title=Tijuana Cartel's New Album Was Inspired By A Gonzo Radio Play|url=https://themusic.com.au/features/tijuana-cartel-paul-george-michael-smith/2KvLys3Mz84/14-09-15/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=The Music|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Drever|first=Andrew|date=2015-09-10|title=Tijuana Cartel turn to Australian gonzo guru Russell Guy for inspiration|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/tijuana-cartel-turn-to-australian-gonzo-guru-russell-guy-for-inspiration-20150903-gjem0h.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}

The band won Live Act Of The Year at 2018 and 2020's Gold Coast Music Awards.{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://amnplify.com.au/gold-coast-music-awards-announces-2018-finalists/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=amnplify.com.au|date=2 April 2018 }}{{Cite web|author=Staff Writers|title=2020 Gold Coast Coast Music Awards Winners|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2020-gold-coast-coast-music-awards-winners-20200430|access-date=2022-01-31|website=scenestr - Pop Culture & Entertainment|language=en-gb}} They are nominated for 2021's awards for Live Act Of The Year, and Video Of The Year for their song Minimal Stuffing.{{Cite web|author=Staff Writers|title=Gold Coast Music Awards 2021 Finalists|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/gold-coast-music-awards-2021-finalists-20210805|access-date=2022-01-31|website=scenestr - Pop Culture & Entertainment|language=en-gb}}