Cabanas sheds his acoustic roots in favor of a stereo-blasting new electric sound

“The songs are like best-selling novels that you can’t put down. On an album like ‘Antebellum’ it is almost impossible to pick a favorite song. You are going to want to clear your schedule before listening to this one…“

– The Whole Kameese

“The lyrics feel relevant to the current existential crisis that people worldwide are experiencing. This brought me nostalgia for an era I wasn’t born into.”

– IndustryMe

Swiss singer/songwriter Marcos Cabanas has released his first full-length album, titled “Antebellum”, billed as as the electric return to his defining contemporary rock sound, with the addition of new horns and synthesizers.

A collection of 10 songs written and composed by Marcos Cabanas, Antebellum offers an introspective journey into the complexities of modern life, blending his personal experiences with broader societal themes. The album navigates love, disillusionment, existential reflection, societal unrest, and the daily quest for purpose and self-acceptance. Each track weaves together personal and autobiographical elements, providing an authentic exploration of resilience and self-discovery amidst an ever-changing world. Through his now-signature evocative storytelling, Cabanas creates a poignant reflection of his own life experiences and the thin line that separates dreams from reality.

“Over the past five years, I’ve written about 40 songs, ten of which have made the final cut. A lot of things have happened in the world – and to me personally – and I want to tell these stories from my perspective as a growing 24-year-old. It’s also the very first time I’ve acquired complete creative control of my music, by taking on a radical new creative approach: Recording outside of a professional environment has enabled me to maintain a tight grasp on shaping the sound in the exact direction that I wanted, without ever having to worry about external pressure. This album sounds exactly the way I wanted it to sound.” – Marcos Cabanas

Self-produced by Marcos Cabanas and longtime collaborator & bandmate Raphaël Dias, the album was primarily recorded in The Hague (Netherlands) and London (UK), between April and July of 2024. The album enlists the help of fellow musicians Pau Alvarez (organ / piano), Maria Jensen and Olivia Vricella (vocals), Kevon Scott (saxophone), and Jake Thistle (mandolin), while Cabanas and Dias provide the instrumental backbone by alternating roles between guitars, drums, bass, piano, and synthesizer. New York-based photographer Rob DeMartin provides the cover photography.

“I’ve been making music with Marcos since we were 14, and we’ve seen each other grow not only as musicians but as humans. Marcos took his songwriting to a whole new level for this album, and the production is also better than anything we’ve done before.” – Raphaël Dias 

The ten songs were teased live over the past months across Europe and North America (exclusively in acoustic format), while tracks Dead Man Alive and Self Love were released as the leading singles in May and June, respectively. 53 Cocaine Hill Drive – a track from Cabanas’ 2020 EP, has been reworked into a full-band electric format. A vinyl-run is expected later on in the year. A music video for Self Love accompanies the album release (watch here).

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About Marcos Cabanas:

Hailing from Rolle (Switzerland), Marcos Cabanas is the contemporary definition of a singer-songwriter. Inspired by the sounds of Springsteen, U2, Chris Stapleton, Cabanas writes about the life & struggles of the common man, inhabiting positions in middle-class America. In a mix of Southern & Heartland Rock, Cabanas was nurtured with the music of past generations, from where his distinct sound has developed. At only 24 years old, Cabanas has already released one album, three EPs, a handful of singles, and has over 200 live shows across Europe & North America under his belt.