Helado Negro’s excellent album This Is How You Smile was inspired by Jamaica Kincaid’s short story ‘Girl,’ a complex tale about stereotypes and societal restrictions.
Roberto Carlos Lange (architect of the Helado Negro project) gravitated toward this as a Florida native born to Ecuadorian parents.
The album seamlessly mixes psych-pop and Latin folk, bouncing between English and Spanish. A true expression of his background and art’s ability to blur lines and constructs, fitting the mold of Kincaid’s tale.
In an anticipated performance behind his album on Morning Becomes Eclectic, Helado Negro and his band floated above the cut and lived up to the hype. Check out two video highlights below featuring their pristine sound and infectious melodies.