Last Friday, June 9th, LIO, an outstanding Oranshnote artist, surprised the world with the release of his highly anticipated first album, entitled "Souvenir". This exciting musical compendium consists of seven songs, each of which captures specific moments in the artist's life, leaving an unforgettable memory in each song.

In addition to the two previously released singles, "Reír y Llorar" and "Magia", the album is further enriched with five new songs that complement this extraordinary musical work. In this post, we will briefly explore each of them to offer you a detailed review. 

1. Souvenir

"Souvenir" is positioned as the opening track of this album, and its introduction gives us a clear idea of the central theme of the album. With a Synth Pop sound that sometimes acquires a dark atmosphere, the song constantly guides us towards the light, as expressed by its catchy chorus. The guitar plays a leading role, but without leaving aside the presence of synthesizers that create an evocative atmosphere, as the artist expresses it in his lyrics, where he mentions how, upon finding the right person, all the emptiness is filled with elements full of light. The surprising shift towards a Hard Rock sound at the end of the song is unexpected, but gives us a more detailed vision of the artist's influences in the creation of his music. 

2. Obsesión

"Obsesión" is a song that Lionel, Mario David and Jorge Mario Martínez originally wrote for the group C_C5NCO in 2018. However, they decided to reinvent it by giving it a fresh twist and adding a funk sound for this album. In this version, LIO and Mario David happily perform a song that explores a man's obsession with a woman who constantly rejects him, despite all his efforts. The song features interesting bass lines, a prominent brass group with a beautiful melody in the background, and, of course, synthesizers and guitars that fit perfectly with the sound that LIO intends to convey on this album.  

3. TQP

"TQP," short for "Te quiero poco," was the first song LIO wrote for this new album. The constant presence of the 808's rhythmic backing gives the song a solid foundation, while the rhythm guitars and synthesizers provide a perfect backdrop to explore how someone forgot the artist overnight, leaving him alone and making him still think about her every night. The last chorus gets even stronger, with vocal backups done with a Vocoder, and ends abruptly, perhaps similarly to how they ended with the artist at some point.  

4. FRIA

"FRIA" stands out for presenting a more experimental sound that evokes the essence of garage rock from the beginning of the century with bands like The Strokes and Bloc Party. The electric guitars sound with a powerful but raw distortion, without too much processing. In sonic and lyrical terms, "FRIA" is perhaps the most experimental song on the album. It addresses a moment in which the artist seeks to escape his darkest moments and struggles with anxiety, either through music or by simply getting away from it all for a moment and focusing on what makes him happy. At times, the artist lets out a cry of despair, letting us know his need to find freedom in those moments of depression.  

5. Cuando todo está mal


Cuando todo está mal" stands out as the most melancholic song on the album. The artist sings about that moment when he addresses someone who is no longer present, sharing both the good and bad experiences that have occurred in his life, but with the painful awareness that this person is no longer part of him, nor will he be in the future. With a sound that seeks to capture the analog essence, this song is presented as the most organic of the album. It is clearly perceived how the artist sought to do something different with this song, as it stands out remarkably within the album as a whole.  

6. Reír y Llorar 


"Reír y llorar" was released as a single in 2021 and is now included as a bonus on this album. In essence, it is a song that addresses the ambiguity of living and accepting that there will be both good and bad moments. It invites us to recognize and accept this reality in order to enjoy life more fully.  

6. MAGIA 



"Magia" is positioned as the most romantic song on the album. Although it was released as a single in 2022, it was conceived from the beginning to be part of this album. "Magia" is a poem dedicated to a desired person, captivated by her beauty and personality. The artist expresses his illusion at the possibility of having something with her, although he recognizes that not everything is perfect, which still causes him some discomfort.

Souvenir is a truly fascinating album that stands out in the music scene coming from the interior of the Republic of Guatemala. With its focus on modern sounds, the inclusion of synthesizer atmospheres and the prominent role of LIO on guitars, his evolution as an instrumentalist and composer is clearly evident. This album should certainly not go unnoticed, as it offers a unique and captivating musical experience.