Get to know Unpunked Sound

The story of the band Unpunked Sound is one that deserves to be told. Formed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band is composed of Renato Melón (guitarist and vocalist), Fabinho Boretti (bassist). Together, they produce a unique blend of styles that ranges from proto-punk to nonsense experimentalism and pop. In this article, we will learn about the origin of the band, their musical influences, discography, shows, and some curiosities.

Origin of the band:

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Renato Melón was immersed in musical projects. However, it was in one of those temporal crossroads that he met Fabinho Boretti, and from that point, Unpunked Sound began to take shape. After deep conversations about the universe, life, death, and the forces that govern them, they decided to form a duo and record in Fabinho's studio. Driven by friendship, will, and a desire to question, they created Unpunked Sound. Renato Melón and Fabinho Boretti, fearing the pandemic might crush their dreams of leaving a musical legacy, began producing songs using just their cell phones at home, without any specific criteria, using only guitar and vocals. They saw this as madness, paranoia, a reflection of loneliness, and even symptoms of anxiety, panic, and insomnia caused by the stress of living through the pandemic. In 2021, Max from Tchá Por Discos, who was already acquainted with Renato Melón, saw merit in joining this eccentric group. However, in 2023, Max left to pursue other endeavors after recording the EP "Boddha Pop Jim Donuts." Gontcha, a Goiás-based keyboardist, also paralyzed by pandemic fears, was invited by his friend Fabinho Boretti to work on a remix that was well-received.

Musical Influences:

The band's musical influences are diverse, extending from classic rock to Brazilian rap. Renato Melón (guitarist and vocalist) draws inspiration from Lou Reed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, and predominantly Iggy Pop. Fabinho Boretti (bassist) is influenced by a variety of alternative and underground bands, with notable favorites including The Beatles, The Stooges, Wilson Pickett, Rolling Stones, and Marília Mendonça. 

Discography:

The Unpunked Sound's discography consists of three studio albums and several singles. The band's first album, entitled "2020", was released on October 3, 2020, and features 17 tracks. Most of the songs are experiments produced during the first year of the pandemic, and the majority of them are in English, with some exceptions in Portuguese and Acuérdate in Spanish. The specialized critics received the album positively, praising the band's creativity and originality.

The band's second album, "A Corner at 2021", was released on April 26, 2021. This album features 14 experimental songs that showcase the band's unique sound. Once again, the punk "Do It Yourself" proposal is clear with these first two albums.

On March 26, 2022, the band released their third studio album, titled "Gonna Live Now!". This album features 10 tracks and 8 remixes of the Pacificus track. Unlike the first two albums, this was recorded in a single take, with the musicians recording their instruments in the studio with minimal mixing interference. The result is a more raw and intense album that highlights the band's ability to produce live music.

Since the release of "Gonna Live Now!", the band has released several singles, including "DEEPDOWNUNDER", "DIVING MONKEY", "EXPLODE", "SURVIVOR", "STORMTELLER", "B TWILIGHT" and "THE MAX". Each of these songs presents a different sound, with influences ranging from punk rock to experimentalism and psychedelia.
In 2023, the band released their rendition of Iggy Pop's "FUNTIME" (Iggy/Bowie) and a new acoustic EP titled "BODDHA POP JIM DONUTS".

Currently, the band is launching their second EP of 2023, "VIBRATORS", with two tracks "Who Cares... Are you doing?" and "Moratus", already available on Spotify and other streaming services since September 30. A cool new release available since October 1 on Unpunked Sound's YouTube is the "Karaokê Official of the acoustic album - Boddha Pop Jim Donuts" and the track "Survivor" (with more tracks to come soon on the official YT US)!

For fans who follow the band, the complete discography is available on Bandcamp Official US, where you can purchase as many tracks as you like!

Shows and Tours:

Unpunked Sound performed live for the first time (as a trio) on Halloween 2022 at Negro Gato in Cuiabá. After that, the band did several other performances on their tour called Flash Generator, using a gasoline-powered generator that the band invested in for sociocultural experiments in the capital of Mato Grosso. The performances of this tour were free and organized by the band themselves.

The band also performed at the Ver a Cidade Festival at the end of 2022, alongside well-known national rock names like Macaco Bong.

Currently, the band is on tour promoting their new acoustic album "Boddha Pop Jim Donuts" #BoddahPop in Cuiabá - MT with performances at Cine Teatro Cuiabá and various other venues around the capital.

Curiosities and Interesting Facts:

Unpunked Sound is an independent band that does not receive any incentives from grants or any kind of relationship with record labels. Unpunked Sound is known for following the Do It Yourself (DIY) style, which values autonomy and independence in music production. They believe that future relationships with public or mixed entities should occur within lines of thinking that serve mutual interests and be considered good cultural actions by the band.

With strong influence from Proto Punk to Pop, Unpunked Sound seeks to differentiate itself within the genre and create a unique and authentic sound. Vocalist Renato Melón, in particular, is known for his sincere and personal lyrics, which speak about his life experiences and reflections on the world around him.
The band concludes the year 2023 with the "Vibrators" collection, featuring 5 singles of electro punk noise dance pop. The artwork for this collection - as well as the cover for the single "FUNTIME" - was masterfully created by  Simon Taylor, a unique artist from TOMATO UK, who has previously done notable work for Iggy Pop, Underworld, and DC Comics.
An interesting fact about the band is that they have already made unusual partnerships in their productions. An example of this is the Mc Scarp remix in the funk carioca style for the song "Pacificus". Additionally, the single "THE MAX" was recorded in partnership with artist Giuliatti.