From the sun-soaked coast of Málaga comes chinachinachina, a trio already carving out a distinct space in Spain’s alternative pop scene. Even their name hints at rhythm and playfulness, and their music delivers that energy while straddling dreamlike intimacy and cinematic scope. Blending dream rock, contemporary R&B, and electronic textures, their sound dissolves the boundaries of genre. It’s instantly recognizable yet impossible to pin down, hovering somewhere between the familiar and the unexpected.
The band features Annie Bravo on vocals and keys, Juande Jiménez on drums, programming, and bass, and Javier Moral on guitars and synths. Together, they function like a living sound machine—driven by instinct, chemistry, and experimentation. Their music weaves airy melodies, dense grooves, and digital edges into something human, immersive, and alive, the kind of sound that pulls you under only to leave you breathless and alert.
Their debut album, dive in / breathe out, reflects this duality. With production from Grammy-nominated John Foyle (FKA twigs, Damon Albarn, Gorillaz) and melodic input from Mucky (Sevdaliza, Pabllo Vittar), the record balances impact with organic flow. The “dive in” half plunges listeners into heartbreak and reflection, while “breathe out” offers calm, perspective, and the quiet that follows intensity.
As Annie Bravo explains, “These songs were meant to stay hidden in a drawer. They were my way of reconnecting with my essence. If Javi hadn’t pushed me to share them, this album wouldn’t exist.” That sense of trust and shared creation is at the heart of the record, giving it warmth and authenticity.
Evoking the ethereal melancholy of London Grammar, the nocturnal pulse of Darkside, and the whispered intimacy of The xx, yet filtered through an Andalusian lens, chinachinachina’s music feels timeless and untethered. With early support from Radio 3, Primavera Sound, and Jenesaispop, and inclusion in multiple “artists to watch” lists for 2026, their debut proves they’ve moved from promise to presence—and the rest of 2026 looks wide open.
