Bio
BOCANEGRA is a bilingual Post-Punk / Goth / Electro Rock band that effortlessly blends elegantly sensual vocals with the aggression of passionate, and sometimes brutal, musical backdrops.
Led by multi-instrumentalist Carlos Bocanegra and Pablo Aranzazu, BOCANEGRA is a project that unites musicians both in the US and South America. Formed in the 2000s in Peru, BOCANEGRA quickly rose within the Alternative Rock scene. Songs are sung both in English and Spanish, reflecting Carlos' bicultural upbringing, making BOCANEGRA an incredibly unique act.
Working with Industrial / Post-Punk auteur, Martin Atkins (NIN, Killing Joke, PIL, Pigface), their first single "Love (the) Machine" (a biting critique of the Bush administration) reached #14 on the Peruvian Modern Rock Charts. The video for the single was also put into heavy rotation on MTVLA and VH1LA, reaching every corner of Latin America. The following single, "Sombras," quickly followed with a video by Grammy winning director Percy Cespedez to similar acclaim.
After multiple massive tours, alongside artists like Jarabe De Palo, Libido, and Dolores Delirio, BOCANEGRA was put on hiatus as Carlos returned to the US.
In early 2026, the mercurial project officially reactivated after a 10 year hibernation period with a remastered release of their song, "Charlemagne." “Charlemagne” perfectly encapsulates the intense feelings of anxiety, distress, and isolation that immigrants feel in today's United States, while remaining dark and danceable.
BOCANEGRA launched their first new single in more than 11 years in May 2026, as a response to US global policies and the chaotic and deplorable nature of the those in political power. The synth-rock vibe of “Back to Life" is a call back to the 90's “Grebo” movement of bands like “Pop Will Eat Itself,” “Carter USM,” and "EMF," with a tinge of early “Nine Inch Nails,” giving it a danceable and aggressive tone. The socially minded lyrics are a reflection of anger, disgust, and disbelief toward those who carelessly wield peoples lives in their quest to retain power and wealth.
