With a music career spanning decades and several notable accolades, Peyoti sat down with Niall Hilary to discuss his accomplishments and future plans.
Peyoti is a singer, songwriter and producer, originally from the UK and now residing in the Algarve, between Monchique and Lagos.
He began his career in London, performing around the vibrant local scene and writing in a variety of styles. Peyoti’s sound would best be described as ‘world-beats’ with a Latin flavour, fusing elements of world genres with a contemporary, popular sensibility.
Alongside his diverse collective of impressive onstage musicians, Peyoti gained memorable traction for energetic performances and a unique sound, and had the opportunity to play at renowned festivals, including Glastonbury (UK), Rockwave (Greece), and Woodstock (Poland), with audiences exceeding 20,000.
Also known by his stage name Peyoti for President, his music has been played on numerous radio stations, and TV appearances include a performance on the national TV station RTV (Slovenia) during peak-viewing time. He has performed alongside prestigious artists, including Manu Chao, Iggy Pop, Buena Vista Social Club and Portugal’s very own Mariza. Peyoti has also been featured in the music press, including The Independent (UK) and Rolling Stone Magazine (US).
Photo © Marc Mennigmann
In 2011, Peyoti moved to Barcelona and, after a year’s break, started surrounding himself with new musicians; slowly, he began performing low-key gigs around the city. Through chance encounters, Peyoti decided to move to the Algarve. Peyoti quickly fell in love with the lifestyle as well as the vibrant music and art scene, and felt at home. “Living in Portugal allowed me a work/life balance that was almost impossible to achieve in London. I found the Portuguese ‘c’est la vie’ attitude very welcoming, and the countless local venues and gigs inspired me to keep coming back.”
Peyoti’s track ‘Yo No Quiero Trabajar’, from his debut album, was a huge success live and, in 2021, it was picked up by Super Music Vision, an LA-based company that compiled the music for the TV series Breaking Bad, amongst others. The song was used on an international Netflix show, Gentefied, a drama set in LA about a Mexican family struggling to achieve the American dream. “I was in contact with PEER Music, an international music publisher, about one of my songs that posed a copyright infringement with a well-known song they represent.
Far from bringing any court action, they decided instead to offer me a representation deal for five of my recordings! Through their contacts, the song reached the ears of Super Music Vision. I continue to work with PEER music and my new single, ‘Vamos A Nadar’, scheduled for release in June, is being pitched around the world as we speak.”
After this success, Peyoti decided to spend some time in Mexico writing new music, so flew to Mexico City for three months in early 2022. “The songs for the forthcoming album were mostly written by the sea during my stay in Oaxaca, Mexico. Bass lines, lyrics and trumpet riffs. All like a jigsaw puzzle which I started to assemble (and have continued to) once back in the Algarve. The broadly speaking ‘Mexican Cumbia’ vibe is very apparent on most songs, albeit in different tempos and styles.”
Peyoti is now back in the Algarve and work is underway on a new album, co-producing with close friend Marc Mennigmann, a local producer, musician and event promoter with Algarve Events. The first single from this album, ‘Vamos a Nadar,’ will be released on 23 June 2023.“The track brings the sound of dance floor Mexicana-style to the streets for summer, with a truly unforgettable keyboard hook that is guaranteed to be your latest earworm. It features the vocal magic of lovely, albeit slightly ‘loca’ Ceci Meza, who was born and raised in Mexico City.” Peyoti plans to release more singles later this year and the full album in spring 2024.
You can hear Peyoti’s music on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms and see him perform at local venues and festivals such as Salema Blue, Sea Yo’ and Laundry Lounge. Peyoti is currently looking for funding partners and local investment for the new album to cover associated costs, including video making and PR hiring.
peyotiforpresident.bandcamp.com
