Cojoba

Biography

Cojoba is a hardcore/punk band formed in August 1995 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The original line-up was Taína- vocals; Javier- bass; and Gilbert- guitar. Back then, the band did not have a drummer, it had a drum machine instead, which Javier programmed. This wasn't the members' first experience in a band. Javier and Gilbert were both also members of Sham Pain, possibly the first ever crossover hardcore band in Puerto Rico, and Taína had joined her first band, Psycore, when she was 15. Cojoba re...

Cojoba is a hardcore/punk band formed in August 1995 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The original line-up was Taína- vocals; Javier- bass; and Gilbert- guitar. Back then, the band did not have a drummer, it had a drum machine instead, which Javier programmed. This wasn't the members' first experience in a band. Javier and Gilbert were both also members of Sham Pain, possibly the first ever crossover hardcore band in Puerto Rico, and Taína had joined her first band, Psycore, when she was 15.

Cojoba released its first demo cassette, "Espíritu de Punk," in 1996. The band itself took care of producing it. Javier did the recording and mixing, Taína did the artwork and Gilbert made sure some indie record stores in different areas of Puerto Rico carried it. But the band never depended on stores to distribute their music. The band also set up a small merch distribution outfit, Anaconda Records, where they sell not only Cojoba's music, but also help distribute other bands' material. Later on, Gilbert leaves the band and Taína and Javier produce the next demo cassette, "Vienen por Nosotros," by themselves. This cassette was released in 1999 and had more politically oriented lyrics.

In 2001, Cojoba released its first CD, "Jugando con Fuego." This CD introduced a human drummer --and Sham Pain alumnus-- Bebe, to the band. Rolin, Javier's youngest brother, also joined the band as its bassist and Javier switched to playing guitar. Bebe and Rolin gave Cojoba a more thrash metal sound, which was very different from the punk rock sound the band expressed in its two first records. However, Taína's voice, although a lot stronger, remained melodic. Before this cd was released, Cojoba had the chance to go on an international tour for the first time. With the help of Venezuelan anarchopunk band Apatía No, they played three shows in Caracas, Venezuela. Shortly after, Bebe leaves the band and David, who had years' of experience drumming for Tavú and other Puerto Rican bands, replaces him while Rolin stays on.

In 2002 the band goes on tour to Spain, France and Belgium, playing 12 shows. It also released an EP, "El arte de la irreverencia," under the Paris-based indie label New Wave Records.

When they got back from that tour, the line up changed again and Juanpi replaced Rolin on the bass. In 2003, the band releases yet another CD, "Sin Excusas," and goes on another tour, this time only playing within Spain.

In 2004 Cojoba goes on its first tour to the U.S., playing in New York and Boston, where they were invited to play at La Rivolta, an anarchofeminist festival. The next year they were invited to La Rivolta again, and took the opportunity to play in New York and in Baltimore too.

In 2006, the band starts recording its next CD, "Más allá del cielo," and its songs for a split CD with Spanish band Angela Chaning. In October of that year Taína and Javier move to New York City and finished recording both albums there, in their apartment. In June 2007 Juanpi and David join Taína and Javier in New York and they go on tour again, playing in New York, Boston and at the CLITfest in Richmond, Virginia.

Cojoba, now being based in New York, added Moe to the bass and Cristian to the drums. In October they went to Chicago to play the Latino Punk festival. But days after the tour, Cristian had to move to Canada. Unable to find a local drummer, but eager to start playing again, the band found a drummer...from Texas. Stefan, who also plays with jazz band Yells and Eels, and thrashers Akkolyte, Just Another Consumer and more, offered to fly to New York to play a few shows. Since then, the band has played in Chicago, for the latest edition of the CLITfest and toured in Colombia, in the cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Manizales in November 2008. The band is currently writing new songs and planning more tours. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.