Katy Guillen & The Drive releases new single, “Batallas”

Katy Guillen & The Drive
Photo credit: Cassie Taylor

Indie roots rock duo Katy Guillen & The Drive has released its new single, “Batallas,” today, July 7, 2023! It is from the forthcoming album, Another One Gained Deluxe (out in August). Recommended if you like: Flor De Toloache, Mireya Ramos, Maná, Heartless Bastards, My Morning Jacket, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Jim James, La Santa Cecilia.

About the song:

“Batallas” is the highly anticipated remixed Spanish version of the band’s fan-favorite “Battles.” Guillen’s desire to explore ways of representing her own Mexican-American heritage, including recording an original song in Spanish, is what sparked the reworking. With the song’s flamenco guitar roots serving as a musical backdrop, it serves as an ideal terrain for the band’s first Spanish effort. Spotlighting special guest Latin Grammy-winner Mireya Ramos (Flor De Toloache) on violin and backing vocals, Guillen and bandmate Stephanie Williams stripped away select layers of the original recording and tracked a rewritten Spanish vocal, as well as a rich array of percussive elements like palmas, timpani, cajon, and claves. An abiding rallying cry to never succumb to the darkness; “No dejes que te controle. No dejes que te traiga abajo. (Don’t let it rule you. No, don’t let it pull you down.),” “Batallas” takes the listener on an adventurous and vulnerable journey, culminating in a triumphant and stirring violin solo by Ramos.

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Listen to “Batallas”:

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Music