At 19, Mauri Tapia has accomplished a lot in his short career as a musician. As Los Retros, he has generated a sizeable buzz with his first single, “Someone To Spend Time With,” toured the West Coast with the biggest new name in emerging Latinx pop – his friend Cuco – and signed a deal with legendary hip-hop label Stones Throw. His project Los Retros is playing a key role in the takeover of a musical style that’s making waves in 2019. Yet, the most important thing about Tapia is his music – and his art form is very personal, and close to his chest.
Retrospect is Mauri Tapia’s first big statement. The Oxnard multi-instrumentalist has established a sound indebted to yesteryear’s soft rock, Latin American balladeers, and underground beat makers. His new EP reaffirms his sensibilities and expands upon them, revolving around his desire to, in his own words “…make a beautiful 3-to-6 minute moment that makes you feel more positive about life.” Recording all the instruments by himself at his parent’s home, the relative minimalism of his gear has yielded a surprisingly eclectic collection of tracks including funky cuts “Friends,” “Last Day On Earth,” the Philly soul-like “Nostalgic Vibrations,” and the psychedelic ballad “Never Had Enough.”
To celebrate the release of Retrospect, a mini-documentary about Los Retros has been released, getting the audience close to what makes Tapia special. Filmed mostly at home in Oxnard, California by director Ross Harris, Tapia shows the place and objects he used to craft the EP. He talks about learning guitar on his older brother’s instrument, his home life, and discovering soul and funk through hip-hop samples, among other things. In less than five minutes, we see Los Retros – not as a musical entity we need to be aware because it’s the next big thing – but rather because it’s unpretentious and easy-going in its spirit. For Tapia, it’s all about family and the love of music.
Watch the documentary and stream Retrospect EP: