Beginning in 1996, Giovanni Escalera has been a key figure in the electronic music scene in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 2002, he formed Sweet Electra. That same year, the record company EMI/Nopal Beat signed the band and released its debut album: "Lying to be Sweet."
"Lying to be Sweet" consists of a mixture of electronic and instrumental sounds. It advances house music conventions by including elements of down tempo, drum-and-bass and jazz, with lyrics in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. EMI distribute the album in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.
Sweet Electra then went on to participate in several international festivals, including Celebrate Mexico Now in New York, Romerias de Mayo in Cuba, Festival Vive Latino in Mexico City, and DJ MOTO Motorola in Mexico and Europe. Several tracks on "Lying to be Sweet" were released on compilations produced in South Africa, Spain, Germany, England, The United States, and Japan, and remixed by DJs such as Ben Watt, EBGT, David Alvarado and Wally Lopéz.
In the middle of 2006, Escalera recuited a new line-up to record Sweet Electra's second album. With singer Nardiz Cooke, they released "Cama," a disc with a distinctly more indie-rock sound than the first album. Featured singers include Cecilia Bastida of Tijuana No! and the Japanese singer Sakiko Yocko. In September of 2006, Sweet Electra headlined the Celebrate Mexico Now festival in New York. Now living in New York, the group is performing regularly with local drummer Monica Rodriguez and working on a third album.
Discography
LP ALBUMS
- Lying to be Sweet. EMI music
- Cama Independent
Remixed albums
- Firefly EP (remixes). EMI music.
- David Alvarado Firefly remix (Vinyl) Unique Distribution UK.
Compilations
- Francezco Diaz " An exciting house mix for a lovely springwalk". Cala D' Hort . SWEDEN
- DJ Lani " First class house Vol 2". Gallo Rcds. SOUTH AFRICA
- Latin Lounge EMI Music. US
- Acid Cabaret. EMI Capitol SPAIN.
- Ida y Vuelta. La Corporacion Muzic. U.S.