Pablo and The Appleheads

Barcelona native, Pablo Villavecchia, and his band of ‘Appleheads’ are back with their sophomore album, Alessandra, which the talented young singer-songwriter has named after his girlfriend. The new record continues to display the vintage aesthetic, inspired primarily by The Beatles, which the band have morphed into their increasingly modern sound. Now, Pablo and The Appleheads are releasing the new infectiously catchy, guitar led single ‘Zaida’ in the run up to the album.

Encapsulating a style that falls somewhere in between indie and pop, Pablo and The Appleheads look back through the history books for their primary inspiration, taking influence from the likes of classic acts such as Oasis, David Bowie, The Police, Radiohead, and The Beatles, who they are often compared to.

Pablo and The Appleheads - The Music Site (www.TheMusicSite.com)

However, Pablo has had music running through his veins even before he was born, with his mother being a singer and songwriter for jingles and adverts, whilst his father was the saxophonist in famed Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas. Ever since he could walk, Pablo was dancing to VHS tapes of his favourite bands, but it wasn’t until he was 19 that he began to take music more seriously, writing his own songs and learning the guitar. With his mother as his teacher, Pablo transformed into a prolific songwriter, covering topics as diverse as love, politics and the party lifestyle.

“Excellent work, more than recommendable, The kind of boy that can become a star”. Addison de Witt – ROCK

Pablo was keen to admit that before meeting the love of his life, Alessandra, his life lacked direction as a human being and was lacking in terms of real love. But now, after the formation of Pablo and The Appleheads and constructing their second record, Pablo notes that ‘meeting her meant the culmination of the album, as well as my unsatisfied love story, which was finally satisfied in a fantastic and unexpected way’.

Alessandra is a collection of the tumultuous feelings of being a young songwriter, often reflecting the Pablo’s inner-self in a highly introspective manner. Pablo notes that the album presents something that is both creative, fun and destructive at the same time, with songs such as ‘Rock’n’Roller’ and ‘Zaida’, whilst tracks like ‘Alessandra’ and ‘Revolution II’ display a totally different, more poetic, love-fuelled side of Pablo and his song writing.

During the mixing of the album, famed Spanish producer, Roger Rodés (Brett Dennan, Seu Jorge) came onto the scene and became what Pablo describes as ‘the producer of my dreams’. Pablo explains that ‘He made the record sound better than I ever imagined a record of mine could sound. He brought to life a vintage touch, reminiscent of the classics, but at the same time it used modern techniques and that for me is what makes a producer great. He needs to get what is in the artist’s mind and make it even better, capturing it and turning it into reality.’

As many listeners may wonder, the name Pablo and The Appleheads was actually inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting, The Son of Man, which portrays a suited man with an apple for a face. Not only this, but although Pablo’s musical background is rooted in classic bands that he grew up listening to, he is inspired deeply by more contemporary artists too, such as Elliot Smith, Death Cab For Cutie and Arcade Fire. As a result, this collision of modern sounds with vintage influences culminates in a highly-crafted mix of old and new that borrows elements from the best in the business.

The new video for ‘Zaida’ is set for release August 4th. Listen to it below via Soundcloud. - The music site

Barcelona native, Pablo Villavecchia, and his band of ‘Appleheads’ are back with their sophomore album, Alessandra, named after his girlfriend. Pablo notes that ‘meeting her meant the culmination of the album, as well as my unsatisfied love story, which was finally satisfied in a fantastic and unexpected way’.

The album is set for release on 31st August, with the track ‘Zaida’ being revealed in its run up. The song contains characterful vocals sung in a simliar style to The Kooks’ frontman Luke Pritchard; beautiful, melodic riffs on acoustic guitar drive the song forward as well as its quirky lyrics (Zaida, she’s flying like a spaceman).

The imagery conjured feels slightly conceptual, a more subdued version of character-driven songs such as Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ or The Beatles’ ‘Michelle’. Aiming for a sound that lies between indie and pop, the band admit to taking influence from the likes of classic acts such as David Bowie, and The Beatles as well as Oasis, The Police, and Radiohead.

Pablo created a relationship with music early on in life, with his mother being a singer and songwriter for jingles in advertising, and his father the saxophonist in famed Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas. It is no surprise that by the time he reached 19 he was writing his own songs. With his mother as his teacher, Pablo transformed into a prolific songwriter, covering topics as diverse as love, politics and even drugs.

The band’s name, Pablo and The Appleheads, is inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting, The Son of Man, which portrays a suited man with an apple for a face.

Although Pablo’s musical background is rooted in classic 90’s bands that he grew up listening to, he is inspired deeply by more contemporary artists also, such as Elliot Smith, Death Cab For Cutie and Arcade Fire. As a result, this collision of modern sounds with vintage influences culminates in a highly-crafted mix of old and new that borrows elements from the best in the business.

You can connect with Pablo and the Appleheads on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The music video for ‘Zaida’ is set for release 4th August.

Grace Mitchell - on the spot music

Hailing all the way from sunny Barcelona, indie-pop rockers, Pablo and The Appleheads, are stamping their name on the door of new music circles with their retro-inspired sound and new single ‘Zaida’.

Front-man, Pablo Villavecchia was born into a world of music, with his mother earning a living as a singer and his father playing saxophone in Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas. As a result, Pablo was also destined for a career on the stage.

He would dance to videos of his favourite artists as a child, but it wasn’t until Pablo was around 19 that he began to pick up the guitar (taught by his mother) and write his own material. Inspired by classic artists from across the decades, such as David Bowie, The Police, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Radiohead, Nirvana and Blur, Pablo took a plethora of influences into the creation of his own songs, the product of which is a super catchy, hook-led form of indie pop that draws on the simple and effective song structuring of these iconic artists, and blends it with modern production techniques.

Pablo noted that:

“During the first years of my life, I grew up listening to The Police, a band that became my favourite from all the music my parents were playing back then. It was a little bit later, during the nineties when I started to listen to stuff like Nirvana, Oasis and Blur and I can say that I was highly influenced by them. Some time after that I discovered Radiohead and was totally obsessed with their music, especially ‘The Bends’, ‘Ok Computer’ and their later album ‘In Rainbows’.”

“I started my songwriting being really inspired by them. I wanted to be like Thom Yorke. I had always regarded The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys and David Bowie as great bands and musicians, but didn’t get into their songwriting until later when advised by my father who told me: “All these bands that you like are great and it’s great to be influenced by them, but it’s always better to be inspired from who they learnt from than to learn directly from them – it will make you more original.”

“That advice stuck in my head so I started getting into the classics as well and the way they had written music. I must say that The Beatles, and particularly John Lennon’s songwriting became very important for me, but also, Elliott Smith became a significant point of reference.”

“Overall I would say my primordial inspirations come from the 60’s 70’s and 90’s – The nineties being the time that I like the most because of the fact that after a period during the 80’s of a very “plastic” scene with tons of reverb and synthesizers, suddenly the more ‘Classic’ Pop- Rock came onto scene in the US with bands like the Pixies and Nirvana and in the UK with Radiohead, Oasis, Blur and The Verve. What I like about them all (although I must say that the UK sound always remained a little bit more of my taste than their American counterparts) is the fact that they have that vintage rock reminiscence with a very potent and carefully handled studio sound, powerful lyrics, and no flattery. Because at the end of the day, a good album is all about the details.” - Hearmerawmusic

Artist: Pablo and The Appleheads
Track/Album: ‘Zaida’ from Alessandra
Release Date (Album): 31/08/17
For fans of: The Kooks, Temples, The Beatles


Barcelona native, Pablo Villavecchia, and his band of ‘Appleheads’ are back with their sophomore album, Alessandra, which the talented young singer-songwriter has named after his girlfriend. The new record continues to display the vintage aesthetic, inspired primarily by The Beatles, which the band have morphed into their increasingly modern sound. Now, Pablo and The Appleheads are releasing the new infectiously catchy, guitar led single ‘Zaida’ in the run up to the album.

Listen to ‘Zaida’ here: https://soundcloud.com/pabloandtheapplheads

Encapsulating a style that falls somewhere in between indie and pop, Pablo and The Appleheads look back through the history books for their primary inspiration, taking influence from the likes of classic acts such as Oasis, David Bowie, The Police, Radiohead, and The Beatles, who they are often compared to.

However, Pablo has had music running through his veins even before he was born, with his mother being a singer and songwriter for jingles and adverts, whilst his father was the saxophonist in famed Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas. Ever since he could walk, Pablo was dancing to VHS tapes of his favourite bands, but it wasn’t until he was 19 that he began to take music more seriously, writing his own songs and learning the guitar. With his mother as his teacher, Pablo transformed into a prolific songwriter, covering topics as diverse as love, politics and the party lifestyle.

Pablo was keen to admit that before meeting the love of his life, Alessandra, his life lacked direction as a human being and was lacking in terms of real love. But now, after the formation of Pablo and The Appleheads and constructing their second record, Pablo notes that ‘meeting her meant the culmination of the album, as well as my unsatisfied love story, which was finally satisfied in a fantastic and unexpected way’.

Alessandra is a collection of the tumultuous feelings of being a young songwriter, often reflecting the Pablo’s inner-self in a highly introspective manner. Pablo notes that the album presents something that is both creative, fun and destructive at the same time, with songs such as ‘Rock’n’Roller’ and ‘Zaida’, whilst tracks like ‘Alessandra’ and ‘Revolution II’ display a totally different, more poetic, love-fuelled side of Pablo and his song writing.

During the mixing of the album, famed Spanish producer, Roger Rodés (Brett Dennan, Seu Jorge) came onto the scene and became what Pablo describes as ‘the producer of my dreams’. Pablo explains that ‘He made the record sound better than I ever imagined a record of mine could sound. He brought to life a vintage touch, reminiscent of the classics, but at the same time it used modern techniques and that for me is what makes a producer great. He needs to get what is in the artist's mind and make it even better, capturing it and turning it into reality.’

As many listeners may wonder, the name Pablo and The Appleheads was actually inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting, The Son of Man, which portrays a suited man with an apple for a face. Not only this, but although Pablo’s musical background is rooted in classic bands that he grew up listening to, he is inspired deeply by more contemporary artists too, such as Elliot Smith, Death Cab For Cutie and Arcade Fire. As a result, this collision of modern sounds with vintage influences culminates in a highly-crafted mix of old and new that borrows elements from the best in the business.

The new video for ‘Zaida’ is set for release August 4th. - Mi2N

As the charismatic front-man and songwriter of Barcelona based indie-pop band, Pablo and The Appleheads, the talented young musician is one who looks back into the history books of music for his influences. Classic acts such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have always provided inspiration for Pablo who was raised in a musical background, his mother being a singer and his father being the saxophonist for famed Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas, but having grown up during the 90s, Pablo notes artists from this era as some of the most influential for his songwriting. Here are his top 5 bands of the nineties:

1. Nirvana

“For me, Nirvana were the ones to change the whole destiny of where music had to go and to where it went from the nineties on. They were the ones to introduce rock back into the mainstream with something as revolutionary and sincere as the tortured songs of Kurt Cobain. I remember when I first listened to ‘Nevermind’ and just wanting to listen to it again. Those simple and at the same time, very original arrangements- how they changed from clean guitars and more mellow vocals in the verses to distorted ones and screaming in the choruses. I never heard someone whose scream was so particular and beautiful as Kurt’s.

That is one album where every song is a hit. Kurt’s song writing was so melodically talented, that everything comes out from him in a really natural way, not overthought. From that work I’d personally go with ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ as maybe being the top hit of the decade, ‘Lithium’ as my favourite Nirvana song, for its originality in the chord progression and in its melody and lyrics (really genius ones), and ‘Something In The Way’ as being maybe the most depressing, and at the same time beautiful song I’ve ever listened to with just 2 chords. Their 3rd and last album ‘In Utero’ was an album that kept up with the level of ‘Nevermind’. Maybe it was not a great evolution in style, but I don’t think it ever pretended to be. It just pretended to be what it was, a great rock album with a great collection of great tunes.”

2. Radiohead

“The first song that attracted me to Radiohead was ‘Idioteque’ from their album ‘Kid A’ while I was on mushrooms with some friends back in 2002 (a very weird experience with no philosophical backup). With Radiohead we can really see how a band evolves unstoppably and with no limit from their very Nirvana-esque first album ‘Pablo Honey’ (the fact that it has my name does not make it one of my favourites), to the rock masterpieces ‘The Bends’ and ‘Ok Computer’, which in my opinion are the best albums of the decade. Then there was ‘Kid A’, in the beginning of the 2000's, where they started to experiment with electronics. And that’s what Radiohead means to me. Fearless experimentation with incredible taste, with enough hits to be rock legends. Extremely depressing at times, but in a way, you like to feel that sadness and anger. Political contestation. Real Artists after all.”

“They’re probably the band, besides the Beatles, that I would say has influenced me most overall. In my opinion the most original song of the nineties was ‘Paranoid Android’ and the best one was ‘Karma Police’.”

3. Oasis

“With Oasis, we can safely say after a period of American domination with grunge, the more classic English sound influenced by Lennon and the Beatles came back into scene. It’s the only time where I’ve heard a ‘pop rock’ mainstream band to have such edgy distorted and loud guitars. It’s a marvel how they managed to have the most catchy, well-rounded composed songs in maybe 20 years of rock, and at the same time fit them with such taste into a quite radical type of production.

Noel was definitely a hit machine maker and Liam knew how to sing those hits with unmatched attitude and nerve. He’s definitely one of my favourite singers of all time. When I first heard ‘Champagne Supernova’ I knew I was in front of something really special.”

4. Blur

“I first bumped into Blur in 1997 (when I was 10) after a friend of mine from school showed me their untitled album of that same year. It was so powerful. At that age I was principally attracted to them by the worldwide hit ‘Song 2' which for me is the perfect example of a brit grunge song. After that, and with time, I’ve kept on going to that album, which in my opinion is a rock masterpiece in terms of originality and production as well as song writing. You can see the acting capabilities of Damon Albarn who changes his tone and personality depending on the song, in a way that I have only seen done by the Beatles. They take you from one world to another. I love the fact that from all their albums you can always expect great tunes that will remain to be ‘Blur’, but that can play with different styles - for example, ‘indie-disco’ songs like ‘Girls and Boys’ to rock anthems like ‘Beetlebum’ or ‘Coffee and TV’, to very English cockney Madness style songs such as ‘Parklife’ and deep psychedelic depressant ones like ‘Strange News From Another Star’.”

5. The Verve

“The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’, which I later discovered to partly be a sample from the version by Andrew Loog Oldham’s Orchestra from The Rolling Stones’ ‘The last time’, I must say is one of those times where the new version is way better than the original. It’s the only time where I’ve seen a pretty mediocre song turn into an anthem - it’s a bit sad that they don’t keep any of the rights to that one after the genius lyrics and adaptation they made. That song was what made me discover the amazing album that is ‘Urban Hymns’, along with other great Brit pop tunes as the deep, mellow ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ or ‘Lucky Man’ and ‘Sonnet’.”

“What I like more about the band from Wigan is their airy kind of psychedelic sound, mixed with a very characteristic acoustic strumming and Ashcroft’s sharp, nasal voice, which makes them and their best album in my opinion a very pleasant listen and at the same time, very intense piece of art.” - Just New Music

Barcelona native, Pablo Villavecchia, and his band of ‘Appleheads’ are back with their sophomore album, Alessandra, which the talented young singer-songwriter has named after his girlfriend. The new record continues to display the vintage aesthetic, inspired primarily by The Beatles, which the band have morphed into their increasingly modern sound. Now, Pablo and The Appleheads are releasing the new infectiously catchy, guitar led single ‘Zaida’ in the run up to the album.

Encapsulating a style that falls somewhere in between indie and pop, Pablo and The Appleheads look back through the history books for their primary inspiration, taking influence from the likes of classic acts such as Oasis, David Bowie, The Police, Radiohead, and The Beatles, who they are often compared to.

However, Pablo has had music running through his veins even before he was born, with his mother being a singer and songwriter for jingles and adverts, whilst his father was the saxophonist in famed Spanish rock band, Loquillo y los Trogloditas. Ever since he could walk, Pablo was dancing to VHS tapes of his favourite bands, but it wasn’t until he was 19 that he began to take music more seriously, writing his own songs and learning the guitar. With his mother as his teacher, Pablo transformed into a prolific songwriter, covering topics as diverse as love, politics and the party lifestyle.

Pablo was keen to admit that before meeting the love of his life, Alessandra, his life lacked direction as a human being and was lacking in terms of real love. But now, after the formation of Pablo and The Appleheads and constructing their second record, Pablo notes that ‘meeting her meant the culmination of the album, as well as my unsatisfied love story, which was finally satisfied in a fantastic and unexpected way’.

Alessandra is a collection of the tumultuous feelings of being a young songwriter, often reflecting the Pablo’s inner-self in a highly introspective manner. Pablo notes that the album presents something that is both creative, fun and destructive at the same time, with songs such as ‘Rock’n’Roller’ and ‘Zaida’, whilst tracks like ‘Alessandra’ and ‘Revolution II’ display a totally different, more poetic, love-fuelled side of Pablo and his song writing.

During the mixing of the album, famed Spanish producer, Roger Rodés (Brett Dennan, Seu Jorge) came onto the scene and became what Pablo describes as ‘the producer of my dreams’. Pablo explains that ‘He made the record sound better than I ever imagined a record of mine could sound. He brought to life a vintage touch, reminiscent of the classics, but at the same time it used modern techniques and that for me is what makes a producer great. He needs to get what is in the artist's mind and make it even better, capturing it and turning it into reality.’

As many listeners may wonder, the name Pablo and The Appleheads was actually inspired by René Magritte’s iconic painting, The Son of Man, which portrays a suited man with an apple for a face. Not only this, but although Pablo’s musical background is rooted in classic bands that he grew up listening to, he is inspired deeply by more contemporary artists too, such as Elliot Smith, Death Cab For Cutie and Arcade Fire. As a result, this collision of modern sounds with vintage influences culminates in a highly-crafted mix of old and new that borrows elements from the best in the business.

The new video for ‘Zaida’ is set for release August 4th. - Press Party

Pablo and the Appleheads is a project initiated in 2014 by singer and composer Pablo Villavecchia.

He is currently promoting his first official album "Stars and Dots", recorded with producer/guitarist Joan Vinyals, bassist Joe Lewis and drummer Pere Foved, plus some other collaborations, with songs ranging from political and spiritual reflection, love and melancholy. - Canet Rock

With the singer mother and saxophonist father, Pablo Villavecchia has grown up surrounded by music from the cradle. Maybe that's why he decided to activate his vocation in a self-taught way without being linked to any school or academy. He recorded his first demo of songs when he was 22 years old and now, after a two-year stage in New York, he felt ready to record his first album, Stars and Dots. It has been fundamental the complicity of musicians tanned in the trade as guitarist and producer Joan Vinyals, bassist Joe Lewis and drummer Pere Foved around songs full of experiences and sounds close to blues, rock and jazz. - Jamboree Jazz

With the singer mother and saxophonist father, Pablo Villavecchia has grown up surrounded by music from the cradle. Maybe that's why he decided to activate his vocation in a self-taught way without being linked to any school or academy. He recorded his first demo of songs when he was 22 years old and now, after a two-year stage in New York, he felt ready to record his first album, Stars and Dots. It has been fundamental the complicity of musicians tanned in the trade as guitarist and producer Joan Vinyals, bassist Joe Lewis and drummer Pere Foved around songs full of experiences and sounds close to blues, rock and jazz. - Time out

Project Appleheads Pablo and the singer and composer Pablo Villavecchia Recoder- long put their first album Stars and Dots on Saturday 28 February at Luz de Gas. The usual band -made by Joan Vinyals to the guitar, bassist Joe Lewis and drummer Peter Foguet- the stage accompanied by Manu Guix, cellist Manolo Martínez del Fresno, Liba Villavecchia sax and David Pastor's trumpet.
Stars and Dots been recorded throughout 2014 with producer and guitarist Joan Vinyals and is a chronicle contemporary political thinking of travelling to love through the melancholy.
Professional artist
Pablo Villavecchia is 'born musician': saxophonist father and singer mother has lived surrounded by music and musicians and has begun the composition of organic form, intuitive and emotional. Among his influences are The Beatles, Radiohead and The Police.
At twenty he began his career as a composer, pouring their creations aspects linked to his biography. After two years receives a call from a major label after recording his first demo but rejected the offer in order to maintain their creative freedom. March in New York, where he continued composing until 2014 when he returned to Barcelona to launch the project and the Appleheads Pablo.
Pablo and the Stars and Dots Appleheads have a ticket system reverse: the public will pay out the amount that seems appropriate after attending the concert.

More information at http: // pabloandtheappleheads.com - Cataculture