Los Angeles-based instrumental project and "Electrojazz" band Vatomico sweeten our speakers with their newest groovy release, "Fantabulous."
Vatomico, comprised of musicians who met at jazz events, through mutual friends, and social media, formed in 2018 over their shared love of funky jazz.
Since their inception, the band has been playing in sync as if performing with each other their entire careers. Their unique fusion of funk, mambo, and jazz isn't something to miss.
Now, bringing it to the masses with their latest single, "Fantabulous," this new track is a comprehensive, insanely groovy, and complex combination of various sounds and genres to create something truly memorable. It's the perfect introduction to Vatomico's dynamic sound...so let's dive in.
"Fantabulous" opens with a funk groove from the 70s with funkalicious drum loops, sweet keys, plucky guitars, and wicked basslines. Right from the bat, Vatomico sets the tone with a killer groove that makes you want to swing your body and move your feet. With subtle transitions, hypnotic piano solos, and sweet electric guitar licks, this instrumental banger will surely please anyone with rhythm.
While maintaining the initial groove and swing, Vatomico has no problem switching up the vibe with incredible transitions, sinking deeper into a mysterious tone that adds a layer of depth to the track. As they head toward the outro with lush saxophone solos alongside their tight-knit instrumentals, Vatomico ends this song on a note of passion, confidence, and letting the good times roll.
It doesn't get much better than instrumentals that tell a story. And that's precisely what you get with Vatomico's discography and their latest single, "Fantabulous." Find the new song on all digital streaming platforms.
Your recent single "Fantabulous" is insanely groovy. What inspired you to create this sort of vibe and atmosphere?
I have been working with different types of loops and samples. I have been trying to create an atmosphere that blends electronic music with jazz, and occasionally cumbia and mambo, in a more urban way. This time, I wanted to go a little bit more organic and expand on the territories of the key-bass.
"Fantabulous" features an eclectic mix of genres. What was your band's creative process behind blending these genres into this vibrant piece?
First, I started experimenting with the groove. I started jamming over the drums with the bass guitar, but I didn’t like where it was going; I didn’t want anything too elaborate or complex. Then I switched to the key bass, and things started to take shape. The key bass made me play more straightforward to get the full effect and feel of the key bass, and that took me to the simple yet hypnotic bassline. Once I concreted the foundation, the other elements came on board.
The transitions within "Fantabulous" are pristine. How do you approach creating these dynamic transitions without losing the song's cohesive groove?
Since I know from the beginning that the piece is not going to have major chord changes (because intentionally, that’s how I’m planning it), then I have to think of options to give ways for the song to breathe, refresh, and regenerate. I can transition through different parts without losing the song's cohesive groove.
Since "Fantabulous" is an instrumental, how did you create the song to ensure it tells a story without a single lyric? What's your formula for sonic storytelling?
A lot of it comes from the different musicians who contribute to recording every track. For example, Nick Gomez ngomezmusic@instagram.com has been helping for some time now, and every time he collaborates, unexpected and great things come up. For Fantabulous, I had the opportunity to count on a couple of musicians from Mexico with whom I had been wanting to work for some time. They are Aldo Max (aldomax@instagram.com) on keys and Paquito Gomez (paquito_gomez@instagram.com) on saxophone; both from the band Los Musicos De Jose (musicosdejose@instagram.com). This time, they were responsible for weaving those cohesive dialogues through the song with their instruments.
What was your band's favorite part about creating "Fantabulous?" What was the highlight?
My favorite part about creating "Fantabulous" was definitely collaborating with these different musicians and seeing how this piece took off and grew into what it became. It is such a rewarding feeling to collaborate with people who can understand the direction you are going in, vibe with your vision, and want to contribute to it.