La Buena Vida

The Spanish indie pop outfit La Buena Vida were formed in San Sebastian during the summer of 1988 by singer Irantzu Valencia, guitarists Mikel Aguirre and Javier Sanchez, bassist Pedro San Martin, keyboardist Borja Sanchez, and drummer Raul Sebastian. Inspired by a shared affection for classic pop ranging from the Beatles to the Smiths, La Buena Vida proceeded to spend the next four years honing their soft, shimmering sound in relative seclusion, in that time composing over 100 songs; they finally signed to the fledgling Siesta label in 1992, soon issuing their debut EP, Historia de un Verano. La Buena Vida's full-length debut followed in October 1993, and six months later the band resurfaced with the EP Mira a Tu Alrededor. By the time of 1994's Los Mejores Momentos, La Buena Vida were among the best-selling acts on the Spanish indie scene, but after issuing the Magnesia EP in mid-1995, they dropped from sight for well over a year, finally resurfacing in the spring of 1997 with the Louis Philippe-produced Soidemersol, after which founding member Borja Sanchez left the group. However, Soidemersol in fact signaled the beginning of a second phase of the band, which stretched well into the 2000s. La Buena Vida's subsequent releases have included Panorama (1999), Eureka (2000), Hallelujah! (2001), Harmonica (2002), Album (2005), and Vidania (2006). Vocalist Irantzu Valencia departed the group in early 2009.