REYNA

If you’re looking for a glittery, indie pop ode to your it’s-complicated-ship, you’re in luck. REYNA is here to sing you through the confusion and devotion with their new single, “Heartbeat.”

Sisters Victoriah and Hannah “Gab” Gabriela make up indie-pop duo REYNA; it’s the pair’s second musical endeavor together. Their career started when a quick tune they’d recorded on Garage Band in 2011 made it all the way onto an episode of Skins on MTV. Since then, they put out two albums under the name Vic and Gab, before pivoting to a poppier sound and new moniker, REYNA, in 2016. Today, the pair reveals its new single “Heartbeat” exclusively to NYLON.

Gab tells us that “Heartbeat” came out of a time when she and her boyfriend couldn’t decide whether to go all-in with their relationship or their separate ways. “One night he shows up announced to my house blasting ‘Harvest Moon’ in his car,” Gab said. “He says to me, ‘Okay, no more being away from each other.’” So, she took the overwhelming mix of emotions from the time leading up to his declaration and threw them in a song. - ALLISON STUBBLEBINE

Indie-pop sister duo REYNA grew up in a religious Mexican-American household. Comprised of sisters Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela Banuelos, the former -- who is openly gay -- describes her first Pride as an awakening: “I found people that were going through the same struggles I was and I became more comfortable with myself.”

Sounds like: This duo wouldn’t sound out of place on a playlist with Tegan and Sara, Carly Rae Jepsen and CHVRCHES. - Patrick Crowley

REYNA has been crowned the winner of the Americas chapter of the global Project: Aloft Star artist discovery competition. Aloft Hotels, in partnership with Universal Music Group & Brands (UMGB), the brand strategy division of Universal Music Group (UMG), launched the global competition in search of emerging talent looking for their big break. After receiving more than 2,000 entries – a record for the initiative – REYNA was among the three finalists that had the opportunity to be mentored by UMG’s platinum-selling band X Ambassadors and perform in front of a panel of industry judges at the Project: Aloft Star finale at Aloft Austin Downtown. A combination of online votes from fans and the judge’s scores on the night resulted in REYNA being crowned this year’s Project: Aloft Star.

Milwaukee-by-way-of-Texas sister-duo REYNA comprised of Vic Banuelos and Gaby Banuelos first appeared with their shimmering 80s inspired pop debut single ‘Spill Your Colors’, attracting over 20K streams in its first day. Since then REYNA has released a series of singles which have so far garnered over 3 million combined streams on Spotify to date. It wasn’t long before they were opening for the likes of CHVRCHES, Death Cab for Cutie, KESHA, Coast Modern and The Naked and Famous. Featured on Billboard’s 12 LGBTQ Artist to Discover During LGBTQ Pride Month and Beats 1/Apple Music Chart Show sparkling declaration that REYNA has arrived.

By winning the grand prize, REYNA will have the opportunity to record a single at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, receive mentoring from UMG’s executives to help select a song to record as well as highly coveted 500,000 Loyalty points redeemable for stays at more than 6,700 hotels across 29 brands that participate in Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards.

“We are beyond thrilled to have been part of this experience, it’s such an honor to be named as this year’s Project: Aloft Star winner,” said REYNA. “Emerging artists rarely have the opportunity to have a real shot in the industry so we’re so grateful for Aloft, UMG and X Ambassadors’ support. Next we’re going to record a single at Capitol Studios and play around the world thanks to the Marriott Loyalty points.”

REYNA’s journey to the top began in June when unsigned artists were invited to join the competition by uploading two original songs along with a photo to the dedicated Project: Aloft Star website. All entries were submitted to a panel of judges from UMG and Aloft Hotels who then narrowed down the record-breaking number of submissions to the three finalists who performed at the finale event in Austin. Music lovers were then encouraged to view and vote on their favorite artist during a near three-week period leading up to the finale.

The guest judges included executives:
– LJ Gutierrez, GM, Universal Music Group and Brands
– Bridget Higgins, Senior Global Brand Director, Aloft Hotels
– Fabrice Sergent, Managing Partner, Bandsintown

“Aloft Hotels is for music lovers and music makers, we are proud to have supported emerging artists since the inception of the brand,” said Toni Stoeckl, Global Brand Leader, Aloft Hotels, and Vice President, Distinctive Select Brands for Marriott International. “After a record number of entries this year REYNA is a deserving winner and we can’t wait to see them take the next steps in their career with support from Aloft and UMG.”

“The raw talent that we have seen come out of Project: Aloft Star has been outstanding and all the finalists should be very proud,” said Mike Tunnicliffe, EVP, Head of UMGB USA. “However, REYNA’s performance really blew the judges away and we’re so excited to be bringing them on board to record a single at Capitol Studios with us. Project: Aloft Star has been a fantastic extension of our partnership with Marriott International, not only for discovering amazing new talent like REYNA, but for the platform it has given our existing emerging talent through the Project: Aloft Star Tour.”

Aloft Hotels has been an incubator for emerging musical talent for a decade. Aloft Hotels are in thriving music destinations, welcoming touring musicians with special discounted artist rates, the opportunity to use the W XYZ® bar as a performance space for free, and a musicians’ guide featuring everything from where to dine late-night after a gig, the best nearby affordable recording studio, where to purchase guitar strings, and more to hit the right note for each stay.

Project: Aloft Star Tour
The finale event marked the culmination of a five-city tour of some of the great music cities, which aimed to inspire emerging talent to enter this year’s competition. The free performances at the brand’s signature W XYZ® bars featured UMG’s hottest breakthrough artists, kicking off with Years & Years in Philadelphia on June 23, and continuing in four other locations, including Tank & the Bangas in New Orleans on August 9, Bea Miller in Asheville on August 21, Stanaj and Fátima Pinto in San Jose, Costa Rica on September 14 and BANNΞRS in Denver on October 17. The tour stops and the finale event featured special perks for members of Marriott International’s award-winning loyalty programs Marriott Rewards, SPG and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – including an opportunity to meet and interview X Ambassadors at the finale event for one lucky member who redeemed the experience on SPG Moments using their starpoints.

UMG and Marriott International Partnership
Since UMG and Marriott International first started working together in 2015, the global partnership has grown to encompass Marriott’s expanded portfolio and has come to life through concerts showcasing UMG’s premiere talent at Marriott properties across the globe, most recently at an emerging female-led artist showcase at Aloft Austin Downtown during the 2018 South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals.

For further details about Aloft Hotels, please visit www.alofthotels.com.

For contest Rules, visit ProjectAloftStar.dja.com. -

The newest pop duo that we're really excited to grace our pages is sisters Victoriah and Hannah. They used to go by the moniker Vic and Gab but after finding and perfecting their pop style they switched to a more condensed SEO friendly pseudonym Reyna. The duo's style is that of shimmering pop covered in a graffiti of infectious melodic sheen.
Their latest record “Cool With It” contains a whole lot of 80s elements mixed with modern day vibes. It starts out as a rough basement demo and swells into an engulfing pop number with the help of producers Drew Pierson (Kesha), Dan Gibson and Simon Oscroft from Frills who all added their individual flavours into the mix. Over the upbeat groovy backdrop, the duo throw subs at the idealized cool girl mentality and how she’s an unattainable amalgam of contradiction. Gab says "I’ve caught myself many times trying to fit into the “cool girl” mold. I couldn’t care too much….I just don’t feel the need to pretend anymore."
Ready to write new songs, in what felt like is an exciting new era for the Milwaukee-by-way-of-Texas duo, they are currently working on new music and plans to hit the road with Coast Modern in April.

Read more at https://earmilk.com/2018/02/14/reyna-are-cool-with-it-in-latest-shimmering-pop-single/#0zViZWWMJm6IW7BY.99 - EARMILK

We do like a sister act over here, and REYNA already done proven they’re worth our attention. Cool With It reinforces that, a breathy guitar-driven pop jam that builds rather well, zinging on all sorts of cylinders for a song that’ll leave you with a smile on your face. Another victory for these kids, and we can’t wait to see what they do next. - PRESS PLAY OK

Like their kindred spirits Tegan and Sara, the Milwaukee sister/sister duo Renya have gradually left indie-pop behind in favor of sheer, unadulterated pop music, and lately each new track they release sounds brighter and more alluring than the last. That trend continues on their newest, “Cool With It,” a nod to early '90s pop redolent of so many Parker Lewis Can’t Lose swatches and Konami Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade machines, with echoes of Dev Hynes and Carly Rae Jepson’s recent escapist jams. For all its immediacy, it’s a light, joyfully unfussy track, a sound in keeping with its “I’m cool with whatever” spirit. - Shepherd Express

BY ILANA KAPLAN

With vocals that soar like Gwen Stefani’s, REYNA brings in their own brand of electropop. REYNA is Vic and Gab Banuelo—sisters who used to perform as VIC AND GAB in their home of Milwaukee. With management by Lorde’s former team and the folks behind GLADES, REYNA is slated for success this year. Their energetic attitude and glittering melodies enchant on the duo’s debut single “Ink On My Skin.”

Listen below, and see why we’re so captivated by REYNA. - POPULARTV

REYNA is the new project from the Banuelos sisters, who used to perform as VIC AND GAB.

Their single ‘Ink On My Skin’ offers dainty vocals against a backdrop of summery pop. What’s more to like?

Sounds like: Haim, Tegan & Sara, MUNA, Chvrches, Powers, MUNA - Indietronica

Once known with the stage name of Vic And Gab in their home city of Milwaukee (where they were quite a buzz back in the days), sisters Victoriah and Gabriela Banuelo have find the courage to start over with a new moniker, REYNA, and a new, more distinctive sound. Last month we featured their first offering Spill Your Colors in our Going Inbox column, today we’re happy to introduce you a new single, Ink On My Skin, that’s blessed by a colorful melt of sparkling synths, joyful hooks and multi-layered mellifluous vocals. Guided by Lorde’s former management, as well as GLADES, future looks extremely bright for REYNA. - GOING SOLO

Recently self-proclaiming ourselves future fresh fans of burgeoning electronic pop duo Reyna, after the twosome peeped up on our new music radar with their effervescing debut “Spill Your Colors”.

Inwards comes a swift return and continued build of momentum for the Banuelos sisters as they deploy another synth projected diddy out of their pop gun by way of the deftly served follow-up “Ink On My Skin”.

Leading us more into the indie stroked soundscape, Reyna’s dream spun vocal’s transcend above the propulsive electronic weight with a slightest hint of bubblegum pastel panache, popping like delicious candy from Victoriah and Gabriela’s sugary dusted mouth-pieces.

If it weren’t enough that the girls are showing us how on-point of it they are in painting popfectious melody with their vox. They are greatly all the more intent and rightly so, in showing us that Reyna are all woman though, and this comes plain sailing through with the lyrical content which is geared towards the sassy and playful.

Ever since the early 80’s when Cyndi Lauper struck out boldly with girl power anthem “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun“, liberated female pop has just mushroomed in popularity and those that go down this route have a legacy of standout acts on their side that have championed the girl pop arena with both fortitude and tenacity. Signs all of which Reyna are already showing with glowing affirmation, with what we are intuitively recognizing to be their sassy chick, girl empowered identity.

Its early days for Reyna, yet, throw either of the tracks to mainstream radio and these two should begin to reap the effects of where accessible pop can take them. - EQ Music Blog

A wise man once said 'Come to me, all ye glassy synths and groovy as heck kick drums, and I will give you rest in my browser's repeat button eternally.' Well -- something like that, right? Either way, the sentiment is close. And it's precisely how I feel about the new REYNA tune, "Ink On My Skin." It's a vibe that harkens back to Tegan & Sara, but with a distinctly more elastic backbone. Bubblegum synths and a tonality that for some elusive reason brings SOPHIE to mind has me feeling all types of way this Wednesday morning. - Kick Kick Snare

Having previously performed under the moniker Vic and Gab, who were named one of the most popular bands based in Milwaukee, with heavy rotation on regional radio, a single on MTV's Skins and a gig opening for the President of the United States, indie pop duo REYNA (comprised of sisters Victoriah and Gabriela Banuelos) first came to our attention earlier this year with their upbeat anthem "Spill Your Colors", which scored 20,000+ plays in a single day. Now, the ladies return today with their official debut single called "Ink On My Skin", which is just as infectious as their first offering and further cements them as a band to watch in 2016.

Stream both "Ink On My Skin" and "Spill Your Colors" below. - Wonky Sensitive

REYNA is an American duo formed by sisters Victoriah and Gabriela Banuelos who impacted the music scene last month with a first single called “Spill Your Colors”.
Now, they’re back with their second offer and it’s time to make an introduction with their brand new single called “Ink On My Skin“, a delicious and pretty radio-ready synthpop gem.
Imagine a perfect mix between CHVRCHS and Tegan and Sara. The result a pretty infectious and catchy anthem. It’s time for a new easy listening gem to add to our favorite playlist.
The girls are working on their debut EP, which is expected to be released sometime this year, and of course, we are really ready for it! - Ultimate Music

Reyna – Ink On My Skin

We haven’t been this excited by a sister act since Appleton. Previously making music under the name Vic and Gab, Reyna first caught our ears with the boisterous “Spill Your Colors” and have now released their official debut “Ink On My Skin”. Instantly catchy, these guys know how to craft a pop melody. - Wonderland Magazine

Ink On My Skin is an indie pop jewel, an infectious treat that combines the sass of Powers with the groove of HAIM. The debut comes from Milwaukee project REYNA, a sister duo whose vocals and melodic allure on their first official single also heavily remind me of another well loved sister duo, Tegan and Sara. Though REYNA is a brand new project, the Banuelos sisters are no strangers to the scene. They once performed as VIC AND GAB as one of the most popular bands in Milwaukee. As REYNA, they make an energetic indie pop stand sure to draw plentiful new fans. - I Heart Moosiq

Vic and Gab are a songwriting sister duo that craft bubblegum janglers with pliable melodies and soft-edged vocals. "Come and Stay," a highlight off the Milwaukee daydreamers' upcoming full-length debut, is a prime example. A romantic number with plenty of shuffle, it puts Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela's love of Death Cab for Cutie on full display, particularly when the pair repeats the simple but sentimental line, "When you go / Will you go slow?"

Vic and Gab will follow up last year's Bridges and Guns EP with the Love of Mine LP on July 9. - SPIN MAG

Vic and Gab are a songwriting duo of sisters who have harnessed a groovy and powerful indie sound of their own. The group features Jesus Nanez on drums, Victoriah Banuelos on electric guitar and Hannah Gabriela Banuelos on bass. The group has played festivals such as Summerfest, the Vans Warped Tour and Atlanta’s Midpoint Music Festival, but to see them in a smaller more intimate setting, join us on Aug. 6 at 6 p.m. - PASTE MAG

Vic and Gab won't release their full-length debut album, Love of Mine, until July 9 via Blue Lola Records, but you can hear the whole thing exclusively below. The Milwaukee sister duo has previously shared the winsome, emotive "Come and Stay" and a sun-dappled video for the effervescent, similarly lovesick "Let You Down." The full album reveals how deeply Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela plumb their jangling, melody-oriented niche, from keyboard-anchored anthem "Crazy Love" to bouncy call-to-dance "When You Walk in the Room." This love of theirs is specific and subtle, but they know it well, and it shows. - SPIN MAG

Vic + Gab
Hometown: Milwaukee
Members: Victoriah Banuelos, Hannah Gabriela Banuelos, Jesus Nanez
Current Album: Love of Mine
Sisters Vic and Gab Banuelos’ well-placed harmonies atop additional instrumentation from drummer Jesus Nanes seems to be just the right combination to build a buzz in hometown Milwaukee. Their sound is poppy and guitar-heavy, and their mellow disposition and obvious comfort playing together onstage also reflects in their studio recordings, last year’s Build A Bridge EP and recent LP Love of Mine, both of which contain danceable, guitar-pop tunes with substantive lyrics to boot. We caught the sisters performing at Aloft Milwaukee earlier this month, but thankfully they said they are hoping to fill out a heavy tour schedule in the coming months. Vic + Gab is a definite must-see. - PASTE MAG

Milwaukee natives Victoriah and Hannah Gabriela Banuelos (Vic and Gab) use their sisterly voicing for startling harmonic effect. The singers meld their sound further with liberated instrumentation, in the vein of jangly mid-’90s pop (think Wedding Present, Life Without Buildings and Tegan and Sara). Electric guitars weave the front and smoky harmonic embers unite the back. Love of Mine is a marvelously catchy release; the duo has a strong grip on hooks and melody, which are awakened by foot-stomping percussion and clean, chirping electric guitar rhythms.

The debut title-track “Love of Mine” is one of the catchiest. The song enters with a swaggering rhythm and misty vocals, which give way to a sweet, nearly-shoegaze guitar groove. Coupled vocals warm the verse and feature call-and-response and textured layers. When the chorus hits, the duo steps into its strongest form, singing jointly, “Love of mine / Run from me / Save your love for better company.”

“Call Me When You Can Be You” transitions smoothly and bubbles in colorful hues, near-conversational lyrics and a devastatingly hooky chorus, which builds into a shimmering finale. Simple songwriting maintains and offers the greatest strength and signature for this robust debut. - Performer Magazine

We’re sure you’ve already heard about the incredible success of the MTV “SKINS Theme Song Competition”, which gives winner 3D Friends (Daniel Chavez Wright) weekly exposure to thousands of viewers across the country. In November, MTV and OurStage gave even more artists a shot at getting featured on the show by launching the MTV “Score SKINS Music Project.” Throughout the month, artists competed for the opportunity to get their song heard by the music supervisors at MTV and then featured on SKINS during the show’s first season. And now, we are proud to announce November’s winner!

Meet Vic and Gab, a sister songwriting duo whose passions lie in making catchy indie pop/rock. The ladies caught the ears of the MTV music supervisors with their song “So Long, So Tired,” an acoustic driven ballad that champions their delicate vocals and pop sensibilities. Join us in congratulating Vic and Gab on their big win and stay tuned to the OurStage Magazine for when we interview them later in the month. Be sure to check out “So Long, So Tired” when it airs on SKINS tonight! - OurStage Updates

MTV and OurStage joined forces again in December 2010 to kick off the “Score SKINS Music Project,” offering artists maximum exposure by getting their song featured on the mega-networks’ new teen drama SKINS. November winners Vic and Gab recently had their winning song “So Long, So Tired” featured on the show and now it’s time for December’s winner to take the stage. Introducing Unsolved Mysteries, the “mystic” songwriting collaboration between Jon Lynn and Colin Alexander. The duo lists Three Six Mafia, New Order and Keith Sweat as primary influences in their songwriting style, which they describe as being evocative of weird childhood memories. The guys caught the ears of the music supervisors at MTV with their song “You Only Live Once,” a bizarre yet catchy electronic / indie rock anthem. The song recently premiered on the Monday, February 28th episode of SKINS. Congratulations! - OurStage Updates