Introducing The Magnetic Indie Psych-Pop Band… Divino Niño

Boasting incredible talent and an indie psych-pop sound, the Chicago-based Divino Niño is a band that needs to be on your radar. The group’s early days started with Camilo Medina and Javier Forero – who had been friends since they were kids living in Bogotá, Columbia. After the pair moved to Chicago, Camilo and Javier soon met up with local guitarist Guillermo Rodriguez, resulting in the band’s official formation. As the trio continued to hone their craft, Pierce Codina joined the creative mix as their drummer, replacing the group’s drumming machine from their live shows.

With four talented minds making up Divino Niño, the band wasted no time creating new genre-blending music, like their critically acclaimed sophomore album, ‘the shady sexyfornia tapes.’ However in 2019, the group stunned fans and music critics with their 2019 record ‘Foam’ – which solidified their place as mainstays in the indie rock music sphere. Shortly after their groundbreaking release, multi-instrumentalist Justin Vittori joined the fray, officially completing Divino Niño. 

With their latest record, ‘Last Spa on Earth,’ currently making the rounds, the band are continuing their upward trajectory and showing no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with the members about their creative process, their 2023 plans, and so much more. Read the full interview below. 

Heya Divino Niño! Thanks for sitting down with us. 

Np. Thanks for having us. 

Can you believe it’s 2023? How would you all rate last year on a scale from 1 to 10? 

7.1.

What’s the biggest lesson or takeaway that you guys are bringing into the new year? 

Kick the tires before you take off.

Let’s dive into the music! When did you each have your “ah-ha” moment that set you down the music path?

Guillermo: When I was 7, a piano teacher would come to our house to instruct my sisters and I. Sometimes I would run, but they would always catch me and sit me down at the keys. That’s when I knew I would never escape the music.

Was there a specific artist or record that fueled your creativity?

Javier: ‘Mind Games’ and ‘Double Fantasy’ were huge for us. As for more modern records, I have been in love with Honey Dijon’s ‘Black Girl Magic’. It’s been on constant repeat while working out. 

Can you take us through the creation of Divino Niño? How did you five end up linking up?  

Javier: We all met at different times, but me and Cam have been friends since we were babies. We moved to Chicago for college, and here we met Guillermo, Pierce, and JV via the music scene and art school. 

We have to talk about your indie psych-pop sound. First of all, it exudes such calming yet electric energy. It’s absolutely fantastic. How would you all describe the inner workings of the band’s sound?

Javier: Thanks. I think we enjoy surrealism, comedy, and melancholy. Ya blend our interpretations of those things together, and you get us. 

Your latest album, ‘Last Spa on Earth,’ is such a dope record that features a plethora of different genres. Can you take us through the creative process for this record? What theme or message did you want this album to deliver? 

Javier: For sure. I think this album relied heavily on collaboration. We would pass project files around, and each person would tweak their contribution.

Out of the 12 tracks on the records, which was the easiest and hardest to create? 

Javier: I think all the tracks had a layer of difficulty, but ‘LSE’ kinda came out very quickly one afternoon while we were practising at a cabin. The hardest was probably ‘No Body’ or ‘Mona’ from writing to production.

How does ‘Last Spa on Earth’ differ from your previous albums? How have you all evolved as a band since your first release, ‘Pool Jealousy’? 

Our enjoyment and confidence in playing as a live band have grown over the years. Trying to deliver energy and excitement to an audience has been a goal that’s fed back into the recording process, and we now welcome all sorts of spontaneous nonsense. 

Back in October, you finished up your Little Jesus tour. What were some of your favourite moments?

Playing Primavera fest in LA was pretty special. I swear I could’ve sung and stared into the sun for hours.

Will fans be getting another tour or a set of shows soon? 

Careful what you wish for!

What are Divino Niño’s top five goals for the new year?

1: Stay healthy 

2: Release more music 

3: Collaborate a lot more with other artists

4: Tour South America

5: Swim more

Check out Divino Niño’s latest album, ‘Last Spa on Earth,’ here or below.