Camilo Séptimo

Camilo Séptimo (stylized as Camilo VII and also as CVII) is a Mexican synthpop and indie rock band from Mexico City. The group was formed in mid-2013. It consists of Manuel Mendoza (vocals and bass), Jonathan Meléndez (keyboards), and Erik Vázquez (guitar). Although these are the only three official members, several other musicians perform with the band live, especially Marco Alarcón (drums), César Cardiel (drums), and Claudio Cruz (percussions). They have been nominated for several awards, including two nominations at the IMAs for New Artist and Song of the Year with "No confíes en mí" in 2015, and one nomination at the MTV Miaw Awards for Video of the Year with "Inevitable" in 2022. They took their name as a reference to the Spanish singer Camilo Sesto, despite having no connection to him. The group emerged after the dissolution of Lady Lane, the predecessor band to Camilo Séptimo, in which Manuel and Erick participated. Later, they recorded a series of folk demos created by Manuel in his home studio. From these sessions came their first single, titled "Portales," which received attention in the media, where the melodic quality of the vocals, the production, and the texture of the musical instruments were highlighted. After the release of the promotional video, the band presented "No confíes en mí" as their second single. This composition helped them rise to fame, introducing styles such as new wave and math rock. They have recorded 4 studio albums: Óleos (2017), Navegantes (2019), Ecos (2022), and Jardín de las almas (2023). They also have an extended play: Maya (2014). They have participated in major events such as Vive Latino, Pa'l Norte, Tecate Coordenada, and Sonorama Ribera, and have performed at cultural venues like the Palacio de los Deportes and the Teatro Metropólitan in Mexico City, as well as at numerous prominent festivals in South America and Europe. They have also collaborated with artists like Ximena Sariñana, Luis de Los Misioneros, Porter, Samanta Barrón, and Francisca Valenzuela. Throughout their career, they have experimented with the fusion of various musical genres, ranging from jazz and rhythm and blues to rock, pop, and electronic music. They are influenced by European bands such as Devendra Banhart, Daft Punk, and Arctic Monkeys. They have shared the stage with Kings of Leon, Belle and Sebastian, Dorian, and Dënver. In 2023, they participated in a musical session for Amazon Music.