Rigoberta Bandini

Rigoberta Bandini is a Spanish musical act as well as the stage name of its frontwoman, singer-songwriter Paula Ribó. Other members of the band are Ribó's partner, Esteban Navarro, and cousins, Joan Barenys and Belén Barenys (Memé), who variously provide instrumentation and vocals.[1][2] Ribó and Memé sing; Barenys is a multi-instrumentalist; and Navarro plays keyboard and produces with Ribó.[1] The act has won two Premios Odeón and a Goya, among other accolades.

Rigoberta Bandini
Background information
OriginBarcelona, Spain
GenresDance, power pop, indietronica, baroque pop
Years active2019–present
Members

History

In 2019, Paula Ribó, who had been a member of the Mamzelles in the 2010s and dubbed many musicals into Spanish and Catalan, launched her solo music career under the stage name of Rigoberta Bandini. The name combines those of human rights activist Rigoberta Menchú and the John Fante character Arturo Bandini.[3][4]

Ribó began releasing music as Rigoberta Bandini in 2020, which she, Navarro, and the Barenys siblings had recorded.[1][2] That year, Rigoberta Bandini (still principally identified as Ribó as a solo act) rose to prominence in Spain when the singles "Too Many Drugs" and "In Spain We Call It Soledad" went viral.[5][6] The group began performing together in 2021.[1][2] The first live performance as a group was a selection of their songs recorded for a live-at-home concert from the Thyssen Museum in December 2020, after which they began touring.[1] They found further success with the song "Ay mamá", with which they competed in the inaugural Benidorm Fest.[7][8]

Style

The music of Rigoberta Bandini draws on many feminist influences, heard overtly in "Perra" and "Ay mamá".[9][10] Ribó has said that, in her songwriting, she enjoys lyrics that have humour and entertain her.[11]

Clash described a live set by the group as "high-energy chaos", noting that the music drew on genres including flamenco, synth-pop, and rap.[12] Eurovision Song Contest music website Wiwibloggs described the group's musical style as a fusion of harmonic choral elements and electropop.[13][14] Hot Press compared the group's sound to Pet Shop Boys, Peaches, Celine Dion and Pussy Riot.[15]

In terms of live performance, Clash noted that the music is elevated by the energy of the group. It praised their ability to all be dancing energetically and at the same time "maintain their ABBA-like harmonies".[12] La Vanguardia compared the performance style to having a party on stage;[16] Time Out Barcelona described the Rigoberta Bandini performance at Primavera Sound 2022 as a variety show or a party, as space was given for Navarro to add some stand-up comedy and for Memé to take more of a spotlight.[6] Iconic to their concerts, Ribó would characteristically wear her old school uniform from the Col·legi de les Teresianes,[6] with Memé in a similar outfit and Navarro and Barenys dressed as "computer nerd cool".[15]

The cover art of Rigoberta Bandini singles always features a box frame with the name of the song and the artist repeated around it.[17]

Personnel

  • Paula Ribó González – an actress and singer, Ribó is the frontwoman of the group who is also individually known as Rigoberta Bandini.[18] She is the lead vocalist and writes, composes, and produces the songs.[19]
  • Esteban Navarro Dordal – a comic actor known for Venga Monjas [es; ca] and Ribó's partner, Navarro also writes, composes, and produces, and plays the keyboard and synthesiser.[19]
  • Belén Barenys González (Mari Belén Barenys González,[20] also known by the stage name Memé[19]) – also an actress and singer, and Ribó's cousin, Memé has previously worked with Ribó in dubbing, including voicing the young Merida across from Ribó as the main version in the Catalan version of Brave.[21] She provides background vocals, and occasionally lead vocals alongside Ribó.[19]
  • Joan Barenys González[20] – an actor and musician, Memé's brother and Ribó's cousin, he has dubbed films with both women, including the Catalan version of Up with Memé[22] and the Castilian version of Hotel for Dogs with Ribó.[23] He is a multi-instrumentalist; originally a pianist, in Rigoberta Bandini performances Navarro takes the keys and Barenys provides percussion and guitar.[19][24]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
SPA
Albums[25]
SPA
Vinyl[26]
54

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeaksCertificationsAlbum
SPA
[27]
"Too Many Drugs"202063Non-album singles
"Que Cristo Baje"
"In Spain We Call It Soledad"49
"Perra"202126
"The Fuck Fuck Fuck Poem"
"A Ver Qué Pasa" / "Aviam Què Passa"45
"Julio Iglesias"
"Ay mamá"1
"Ay mamá (Génesis)"[29]2022
"A todos mis amantes"[24]
"Así bailaba" (with Amaia)41
"Miami Beach"[17]2023
"Yo Solo Quiero Amor"[30]Love & Revolution (original soundtrack)
"Qué más da" (with Julieta Venegas)Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

  • "Fiesta" (2020)
  • "Cuando tú nazcas" (2020)

Awards and nominations

YearOrganizationCategoryNominee/workResultRef.
2021iCat [ca; es]Best Song Not in Catalan"Perra"Won[31]
Premios MINSong of the Year"In Spain We Call It Soledad"Won[32][33]
Best Breakthrough ArtistRigoberta BandiniWon
2022Amazon Music Award for Best ArtistRigoberta BandiniWon[34][35]
Radio 3 Song of the Year Award"Ay mamá"Won
Best Original Lyrics"Ay mamá"Nominated[36]
Best Video"Perra"Nominated
Premios OdeónOdeón Revelation Artist – AlternativeRigoberta BandiniWon[37]
Best Alternative Song"Perra"Nominated
Premis RAC105Best Song"Ay mamá"Won[38]
Premios +MúsicasBest EP"In Spain We Call It Soledad"Won[39][40]
Best Song"Ay mamá"Won
Best ArtistRigoberta BandiniWon
Best New ArtistRigoberta BandiniWon
Best Music Video"Perra"Won
Best Pop Record"Ay mamá"Won
iCatBest Song Not in Catalan"Ay mamá"Won[31]
2023Premios OdeónBest Alternative Song"Así bailaba" (with Amaia)Won[41]
Premio RuidoLa EmperatrizNominated[42]
Premios MINBest ArtistRigoberta BandiniNominated[43]
[44][45]
Best Video"Ay mamá"Won
Best Live Performance"Too Many Drugs (Directo en Nits Del Fòrum)"Nominated
202438th Goya AwardsBest Original Song"Yo solo quiero amor" (from Love & Revolution)Won

References