The Labra Brothers – “Lonely” [Song Review]

“Lonely,” from The Labra Brothers, is the newest single from their upcoming album Home – set to release on November 3rd.

The Cumbia-style single highlights the sibling’s Latin heritage as the intricate storytelling, artfully crafted in both Spanish and English, pays homage to their cultural roots. Various sentiments like love and obsession are explored through interwoven harmonies and rich background instrumentals as colourful bits of accordion are sprinkled throughout the track, accompanied by Latin percussion elements that keep the listener’s foot tapping to the beat.

Bringing a fresh take on the Latin-Funk genre with their own modern twist on the classic Cumbia groove, the light-hearted style of “Lonely” bodes well for their upcoming album – Home – which brings to life the brothers’ funky and soulful Chicano attitude. Simultaneously sharing their affinity for Latin and American styles of music, the record is a diverse compilation of musical styles influenced heavily by genres originating in Mexico and throughout Latin America, such as merengue, cumbia, and mariachi. Acoustic undertones and an upbeat percussion section reinforce the authenticity of the more traditional-leaning songs while allowing for emphasis on soulful vocal harmonies showcased throughout the LP. The addition of accordion, trumpet, and violin contributes to a lively texture that is coupled with honest and relatable songwriting and lyrics.

Influenced by the diverse music tastes of their parents, the brothers developed their distinguished sound after falling in love with playing their own renditions of their favourite music. Deciding to put their talents to work within their original creations, Adrian Labra (vocals and guitar), Cristian Labra (vocals and bass), David Labra (vocals, guitar, and sax), Antonio Labra (percussion), Danny Svenson (keys), Victor Labra (vocals and percussion), and Matt Hayes (drums) quickly discovered their ability to effortlessly interlock in an instrumental groove with each other. The Labra Brothers have established themselves regionally as a dynamic and diverse powerhouse of musical presentation with four-part sibling vocal harmonies at the forefront and a versatility that has become more evident with each new original studio recording they release.

Photo of The Labra Brothers by Mollie Crowe (Little Blackbird Photo)

The Brothers had an eventful 2022, during which they played a direct support role for Average White Band and were voted “Best Latin” by the Cleveland Music Awards. This year (2023), The Labra Brothers opened for Los Lobos and were awarded Editor’s Pick for “Best Latin Fusion Band” in Cleveland Magazine. With the new release of “Lonely” and the preparation for the upcoming EP, there is no stopping the powerhouse group anytime in the near future.

Run Time: 3:30
Release Date: October 13, 2023
Record Label: The Labra Brothers Entertainment