Say Hello to Deseo Un Brillo

Abby McCabe

Local Music Director

On a rainy Saturday night in downtown Austin, I had the opportunity to see the wonderfully vibrant and ever-luminous Alma Muñeca. From drab to fab, my evening was transformed faster than you can say Deseo Un Brillo…

Speaking of…Celebrating the release of their newest and first EP titled Deseo Un Brillo, Alma Muñeca delivered an insatiable performance Saturday night at Elysium, Austin’s premiere Goth/Alternative bar, along with performances from I wear your chain and Almost Heaven. A perfectly intimate venue for such a special occasion, I couldn’t be happier to have stumbled across this magical 4-piece and all they have to offer. 

I arrived at the venue soaking wet (thanks to Texas weather!) with just enough time to catch the tail end of I wear your chain’s set and the full performance for Almost Heaven. Both bands, so starkly different, showed up and showed out with their performances, hyping the crowd up for Alma Muñeca’s big debut. Most notable was Almost Heaven’s charismatic frontman, sporting sunglasses inside the already dimly lit venue. He gestured wildly at the crowd as he danced around to a charming post-punk-funk fusion. I knew from that performance alone that the night was in good hands. 

A few days ago, I had no idea who Alma Muñeca was. With little to go on, a quick Google search provided me with basic information. A 4-piece art-pop super group with style akin to Rosalia and Charli xcx meets ethereal wave, but seeing them perform live really helped shape my perspective. And what a treat to be able to see them perform their first-ever EP live. I went in totally blind and so excited to delve into the world of Alma Muñeca, and left pleasantly surprised, craving more.

The performance was enrapturing. An all-consuming experience from lights to visuals, to the way the band sounded. Everything felt perfect and dream-like. An important detail that was present the entire night was the use of this filter that cloaked the band on stage. It hung like a thin veil encasing the performers, almost immortalizing them in that moment forever. 

Their sound; beautifully haunting and trance-like. Diva-oriented and authentically them. The tracks started mellow before eventually melting into this frenzied dance-for-your-life sound that had even me, the journalist, unable to resist the temptation to move. 

The beautiful mixture of Miss Cocó’s vocals paired with Ernesto and Matt’s synth genius, plus drummer Wade’s rhythm contribution, married together perfectly to deliver the best first listening experience for Deseo Un Brillo.

Delving more into the EP itself, every song felt like exactly everything I wanted to hear from a dance-centered art-pop group and more. With standout tracks including “Melancolía” and “Anhelo,” it was almost impossible to stay still during the midpoint transformations. Just when you think it’s going to be one way, it’s suddenly not, flipping your expectations up on their head.

Alma Muneca’s EP release show at Elysium was a smash hit and was received with warmth by the audience. Not a single soul was left standing still. Not even the most stoic could resist the beating heart that lives inside Deseo Un Brillo. 

Looking for sad pop-infused lyrics to dance your heart out to? Look no further, and enjoy the sonic gift that is Alma Muneca’s newest EP.