TALL JUAN

Raccoon Nights

Album Bio:

On Raccoon Nights, musician and producer Tall Juan returns with his most resplendent creation yet. Down the hole we dive into a world of psychedelic-pop enveloped in buzzy synthesizers, burning backbeats, and new wave overtones. Throughout these nine songs, Juan grapples with isolation and uncertainty, bringing along an impressive troupe of collaborators to share in the healing party.

Recorded at Outlier Inn in New York’s Catskill Mountains and at his home in Rockaway Beach, Juan aimed for a high-fidelity sound that reflected the difficult times he was living through. Taking on the roles of both engineer and producer, he wanted to work with as many musicians as possible, which resulted in contributions from over 30 different players. When tracking was finished, the album was mixed by Grammy award winner Hector Castillo, whose glittering resume includes projects with David Bowie and Phillip Glass. This synergetic process culminated in an uplifting sound inspired by artists like Syd Barrett, Talking Heads, and Lizzy Mercier Descloux.

From the opening track “Dark Hole”, co-produced by Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT, there is a feeling of anxiety and spiraling into bleak thoughts. Juan sings of depression and being cut off from the people who bring comfort. A similar mood of loneliness echoes through the jingle jangle of “Talking To Myself”, a duet with Mac DeMarco in which the two old friends comfort each other. “The System” featuring Juan Wauters and “Fantasy” featuring Cola Boyy are both protest songs incognito–lyrically, they call out the powers working against us, but sonically lighten the load with their beautiful melodies and flourishing arrangements.

Despite the inner turmoil at play, Juan’s optimism shines through–proclamations that “the good times are coming” and “I don’t wanna lose another day” suggest that there is hope ahead, a light at the end of the tunnel, a paradise on the other side of the mountain. There is an urgency to seize the day and deal with any obstacle that is in the way of this undertaking. The album’s closing track evokes a shedding of skin–“Say goodbye to him, you won’t see him back again..bring him back, back into your heart”. Through the making of this record and sharing of his pain, Juan was able to transcend the suffering into joy, and in turn, give us some powerful new music.

Artist Bio:

In San Antonio de Padua, Buenos Aires, Argentina, a six-year-old boy picks up an electric guitar for the first time. He feels the sharp steel strings and smells the wood while playing his first chords. This moment sparks a lifelong passion for music.

Raised in an inner-city environment, his childhood was half on the streets and half playing music with friends. At an early age he started experimenting with drugs and also playing in local bands.

Soon, drugs became a problem and he started feeling a lack of motivation and self esteem. He eventually leaves his hometown for New York City at the suggestion of his sister, in an intent to save him from a deep depression. In Rockaway Beach, Queens, Juan Zaballa becomes Tall Juan and begins his music career with the support of his New York friends, releasing albums that reflect his personal growth and experiences. His first album, Olden Goldies, reflect his English language learning journey and pays homage to his early punk music influences, showcasing his simplistic yet powerful songwriting while Atlantico reconnects him with South American rhythms, displaying his musical growth. His latest release, Raccoon Nights, showcases his evolution as a musician and producer, exploring psychedelic-pop with a blend of synthesizers and new wave overtones. Throughout his music, Tall Juan expresses his emotions and experiences, evolving his sound while maintaining his authentic voice inviting a diverse group of collaborators to join him on his journey

Credits:
All songs written and produced by Tall Juan Zaballa, except for ‘Dark Hole’ with Additional production by Andrew VanWyngarden. Recorded by Tall Juan and Max Scenna (Shakira, Soda Stereo) at Outlier Inn Studios, and Out Of The Closet Studios. Mixed by Grammy award winning engineer Hector Castillo (David Bowie, Björk) and mastered by Dave Mcnair (David Bowie, Los Lobos).
Painting by Mario Cianci, Album design by Jose Berrio.