# Artist of the Week –  Deco Pilot

- Link: https://indierockcafe.com/2013/05/overseas-band-to-watch-international-psych-popindie-rock-band-deco-pilot/
- Published: 2013-05-29T03:12:22-04:00
- Author: Max Hammer

Inspired by the late 2000’s synth-pop revival, and influenced by bands such as **
The Killers, The Bravery, Zoe** and **U2**, London indie band, **Deco Pilot**, have
been building a buzz throughout the U.K. since the February release of their debut
EP, _This City_, a record that prompted **Bandcamp** editors to name the band as
one of “best new upcoming bands of 2013.”

Deco Pilot formed in 2010 when a group of young and musically-inclined friends decided
to join forces to write and record a number of upbeat, melodic songs that expressed
a shared love for atmospheric pop, classic rock and catchy rhythms with a synth-
infused glisten, all wrapped around poignant lyrics about life in the big city, 
soul-searching and young men’s dreams of meeting the ever-elusive “girl with the
diamond heart,” a reference to their song, “Diamond Heart.”

Following a year of rehearsals in a make-shift studio/flat in London, the band had
enough material to record and release _This City_. The debut EP features four thrilling
tracks marked by stylish guitar riffs and creative hooks, inspiring synth arrangements,
thumping bass lines, big, driving beats and crashing cymbals, rounded out by soaring
vocals and choruses, that are evident on their crowd-pleasing eponymous single, “
You Know What I’m Looking For.” The single kicked off the band’s rising status among
London’s large and influential indie rock scene.

Deco Pilot originally formed in Liverpool at the **Liverpool Institute for Performing
Arts** (LIPA), a school generously funded by Beatles’ legend **Paul McCartney**.
It was at LIPA where Mexican-born brothers, **Jose Lopez Portillo** (vocals) and**
Juan Lopez Portillo** (guitar), met fellow Mexican-born keyboardist **Giancarlo 
Bonfanti**. The trio hit it off famously and were soon recording their own songs.
Not long after their convergence, Swedish bassist** John Franklin**, who was studying
music in London, joined the band. Only weeks after jamming together and channeling
their energies to formulate their distinct sound, the band members, all in their
early twenties, officially formed Deco Pilot.

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“You Know What I’m Looking For” – **Deco Pilot** from _This City_

Late in 2011, the internationally staffed band set out on a tour across **Mexico**,
and soon after, played a number of well-received gigs in **Paris**. In the springtime
of 2012, having refined their sound by leaps and bounds and adapted to the important
lessons of live performance, Deco Pilot were being invited to play alongside bands
like **The Milk** and **The Futureheads** at the **Brownstock Music Festival** in**
Essex**, and at **Bath**’s **International Music Festival**‘s _Party in the City_,
respectively.

[Deco Pilot – You Know What I’m Looking For](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/593762561)
from [DecoPilot](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/decopilot)

Earlier this year, the band’s growing popularity opened the doors to collaboration
with director **Steve Glashier** (who has previously worked with **Juliette Lewis**
and **Fatboy Slim**) on the making of a music video for Deco Pilot’s signature song,
[“You Know What I’m Looking For”](https://indierockcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/593762561).

In an interview, the band members told IRC that they’re working on new tracks for
their debut LP, which they plan to release later this year, or early in 2014. In
fact, the band tested out some of the new songs, which are not completed, for excited
crowds that came out to see them in London earlier this month at venues like **The
Rattlesnake** and **The Ginglik**.

“This City” – **Deco Pilot** from _This City_

“I believe the audience really can feel that we enjoy ourselves on stage and it 
helps build a nice connection,” Franklin said, continuing: “A new fan in the audience
at The Rattlesnake told us: ‘You’re the best new band I have seen in ages.'” Vocalist
Portillo said: “we’re arranging to visit other cities in the U.K. for summer and
we’re planning in going back to Paris in October,” with Bonfonti adding: “we want
to tour Europe and start building a fan base in other countries.”

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For a multicultural, talented new indie band with a captivating sound, a hot new
EP and single, popular music videos and an expanding base of fans inside, and outside,
of the U.K., the future looks promising for Deco Pilot.