Boy Pablo (stylized as boy pablo) (born 29 November 1998) is the indie pop music project of Norwegian singer songwriter Nicolas Muñoz. Muñoz writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project's music. The project has been inactive since 2022. Boy Pablo's latest touring lineup consisted of Nicolás Muñoz (guitar, vocals), Gabriel Muñoz (lead guitar), Judah Kubendran (bass guitar) and Esteban Muñoz (drums).
Boy Pablo gained attention in late 2017 after the music video for the song "Everytime" gained international popularity on YouTube.Bjerkestrand, Frode (16 April 2018). Nicolas Muñoz var vant til å spille konserter for venner og kjente. Så la han ut en video på Youtube, Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). . Retrieved 31 August 2020. The duology concept EPs Roy Pablo (2017) and Soy Pablo (2018) were released under Boy Pablo's own independent label 777 Music. His debut studio album, Wachito Rico was released in October 2020. Out of nominations for five Spellemann Awards, Boy Pablo has won one, and has additionally been nominated for three GAFFA Awards and one P3 Gull award, having won the latter.
Early life Nicolás Pablo Rivera Muñoz (born 29 November 1998) was born and raised in Bergen after his Chilean parents immigrated to Norway in the 1980s. Born into a musical family as the youngest child, his father and brother were both multi-instrumentalists and helped teach him how to play guitar, drums, bass guitar and piano. He attended secondary school at Kongshaug Upper Secondary School of Music, a music boarding school in nearby Os. He and his parents moved to Os Municipality when he started secondary school, two years prior to January 2017. "6 January 2017 [...] For to år sidan flytta han til Os med foreldra. [...] Vi flytta til Os då eg skulle starta på Kongshaug Musikkgymnas."
History
2015–2016: Career beginnings Muñoz began the "Boy Pablo" project in December 2015, and released his debut single "Flowers" in January 2016. He played his first-ever gig as a warm-up band for Tellef Raabe (brother of Norwegian singer Sigrid) at Hulen in April 2016. In September 2016, he performed as part of the Vill Vill Vest festival in Bergen. Boy Pablo gained immense national popularity after receiving a Bergenfest scholarship of 35 thousand kroner in November 2016. Alongside this scholarship, he additionally won his own headlining gig as well as a performance at the 2017 Bergenfest.
2017–2019: Roy Pablo and Soy Pablo Muñoz further gained international popularity in 2017 with the song and music video for "Everytime", originally uploaded to YouTube in May 2017. Within a few weeks, the video had received millions of views, with Muñoz significantly expanding his fanbase. Boy Pablo released the 6-song EP, Roy Pablo, in May 2017, which includes "Everytime". In August 2017, Boy Pablo opened as a supporting act for American band Beach Fossils at Red Bull Sound Select in Oslo.
Boy Pablo released the single "Losing You" in March 2018,Jagota, Vrinda (26 March 2018). Boy Pablo - "Losing You" (Review), Pitchfork, accessed 31 August 2020Skelton, Eric (23 March 2018). Boy Pablo Follows Surprise Internet Hit With New Song and Video "Losing You", Pigeons & Planes (in English) and embarked on a sold out thirty-nine date headlining world tour of United States, Europe and Asia. On 5 October 2018 Boy Pablo released his second EP, Soy Pablo. The EP received critical acclaim and was successful commercially in Norway, topping the national Vinyl albums chart. The EP additionally landed in the top 10 of year-end critics lists from Gaffa and Nöjesguiden, placing at Nos. 9 and 4 respectively. At the 2018 Spellemannprisen (also referred to as Norwegian Grammy Awards), Boy Pablo was awarded with the award for Breakthrough of the Year which additionally gave him the Gramo scholarship of 250.000 kroner. At the same ceremony he was nominated in the categories of Best International Success, and Indie/Alternative of the Year for Soy Pablo. At the 2018 P3 Gull Awards, Boy Pablo also won Årets Nykommer. In January 2019, Boy Pablo was the only Norwegian artist to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, U.S. in that year. At the 2019 Spellemannprisen (also referred to as Norwegian Grammy Awards), Boy Pablo was nominated for Best International Success for the second consecutive year in addition to Årets Musikkvideo ("Losing You").
2020: Wachito Rico In May 2020, Boy Pablo announced the release of his debut studio album, Wachito Rico; the title is a Chilean expression and means "handsome boy." The album's singles are "Hey Girl", "Honey" and "Rest Up". With the release of the latter single, Boy Pablo announced his second-ever headlining world tour to support Wachito Rico, which kicked off in the UK in March 2021.
In the second half of 2022, after completing a tour in Latin America and shortly after releasing his latest single, "Be Mine", Boy Pablo announced the cancelation of his upcoming tours in North America and Asia, citing health problems and lack of energy. Boy Pablo has remained inactive in music since then.
Live band Current live band Nicolas Pablo Rivera Muñoz – rhythm guitar, vocals Gabriel Muñoz – lead guitar Esteban Muñoz – drums Judah Kubendran – bass
Former live band Eric Tryland – keyboard, backing vocals Henrik Åmdal – bass guitar Sigmund Vestrheim – drums Amund Valde - keyboard
Artistry Muñoz cites Mac DeMarco, Veronica Maggio, Tyler, the Creator, the Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala and Mild High Club as musical influences.Tangen, Ida Eline (16 November 2016). Sammen med kjæresten fra 5. klasse, NRK P3 (in Norwegian)Galesi, Emanuele (20 December 2017). Con il sole negli occhi: il pop sognante di Boy Pablo, Giornale di Brescia (in Italian). Retrieved 31 August 2020 His rise to fame with a DIY-produced bedroom pop track,"Everytime" (2017), which gained popularity through the YouTube algorithm has drawn comparisons to that of American singer Clairo's rise to fame with her video for "Pretty Girl" (2017).Furu, Ludvig (10 April 2018). Boy Pablo: – Er under gjennomsnittet lei meg, Natt & Dag (in Norwegian)
Discography
Studio albums Title DetailsWachito Rico Released: 23 October 2020 Label: 777 Music Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette
Extended plays + Year Title Peak chart positionsNORNORVinylFor "Roy Pablo" and "Soy Pablo":Roy Pablo Released: 19 May 2017 Label: 777 Music Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette — 4Soy Pablo Released: 5 October 2018 Label: 777 Music Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette 40 1
Singles YearTitlePeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum/EPNORAir.Peaks on the VG-lista Topp 40 Airplay singles chart: "Losing You": "Hey Girl": BEL(WA)TipUSRockAir.2016"Flowers"——— rowspan="2" "Beach House Interlude"———"Ur Phone"——— Roy Pablo2017"Everytime"——— RIAA: Gold2018"Losing You"211—Soy Pablo"Sick Feeling"———2019"Never Cared" ———2020"Hey Girl" 31—48Wachito Rico"I Just Wanna Go Home"———"Honey" ———"Rest Up" ———"Leave Me Alone!" ———2022"La novela" ——— rowspan="2" "Be Mine"———
Other certified singles YearTitleCertificationsAlbum/EP2017"Dance, Baby!" RIAA: GoldRoy Pablo
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Work Result Spellemannprisen2018 Breakthrough of the Year and Gramo Scholarship Boy Pablo Indie Soy Pablo International Success of the YearBoy Pablo 2019 Music Video of the Year "Feeling Lonely" P3 Gull 2018 Newcomer of the YearBoy Pablo GAFFA Awards (Norway)2018Norwegian Newcomer of the YearNorwegian Hit of the Year"Losing You"Norwegian Album of the YearSoy Pablo
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