Young musicians want to make music. The industry sits at a peak of creative output thanks to the tools and technologies available today. The scene has felt democratized. Success, that slippery word, no longer depends mainly on being spotted by a music guru or landing a deal with one of the big labels, but on doing things right and a touch of luck. Yet that ideal isn’t always met. Those who genuinely push their craft can still fall behind, while simpler, safer projects sometimes gain traction by sheer accident. And lately, there have been plenty of those quick flashes of notoriety.
Luckily, there are still bands with a strong, unmistakable identity. La 126 stands out as one of those acts willing to push against the prevailing, more diffuse industry. Their music leans into dirty urban rock, a space where their ideas can unfold and take shape. The melody often takes the lead, giving each track a textured, multi-layered feel. They aim for a garage vibe, but without surrendering to cliché, and their riffs emanate from a restless curiosity. They want to challenge themselves because the easy path never suited them.
What would music be like if everything could be cooked in five minutes? They are three artists from Elche who decided to put all their knowledge onto paper. Now they are among the province’s leading acts, praised by peers who have spent more time in the scene and who recognize the work of the Ilicitans. “I think what marks us most is how we connect live, both with the audience and with ourselves. We have a fairly personal and distinctive way of performing on stage. People are surprised because we don’t sound the same on platforms, and our next task is to translate that essence into the record,” says vocalist Lucía de Bunder.
Now, their challenge is to steer their future material toward that same fearless energy. Their debut EP Todo venía de antes (2023) laid out the core ideas they want to expand, but they have since found a clearer path forward. Their most recent track, Cataclismo, hints at a tougher, dirtier direction. And this is just the beginning: “What you’ve heard on Spotify can’t compare with what’s coming next. People will find La 126 louder, rougher, more raucous and more all-around,” explains drummer Elia Sempere.
Because experience has sharpened their ideas and they are ready to go all in. “After so many years playing live, we’ve learned that what we genuinely love is stepping onto the stage to sweat, shout, and connect with the audience in a powerful, energetic way. And I think we’re starting to capture that in the recordings of what’s coming,” says guitarist Laura Giner.
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Afortunadamente, no hace falta esperar a que aparezcan canciones sin fecha de publicación. La esencia más gamberra de La 126 estará presente el 25 de septiembre en la Universidad de Alicante junto a Skole y Geckos, el 28 en la celebración de La noche en blanco de Elche, el 3 de octubre en la Benvinguda UA junto a el grupo Aiko y el 11 de octubre en MFest de Fundación Mediterráneo con la cantautora madrileña Travis Birds. Para quienes quieran esperar, también se han confirmado conciertos en el Baluarte del Castillo de Santa Bárbara para noviembre.
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