Indie sensation Cuco is gearing up for a performance at 8 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the McAllen Convention Center for his โ4Uโ tour, and he is excited to give fans a mix of old and new songs.
COURTESY PHOTO
In an interview with The Rider, Cuco, whose real name is Omar Banos, discussed his creative process, future plans and what concertgoers can expect at the upcoming show.
โI love coming to McAllen,โ he said. โI always try to hit as many cities in Texas as possible. โฆ Every city [in Texas] always shows so much love. Being in McAllen, this is a super different vibe, and I really like it.โ
Banos latest project, the โ4Uโ EP, was a spontaneous release of songs he had been working on over the past couple of years. Though it was only available for download for four days starting June 13, the tracks are now permanently on YouTube.
โIt was just real spontaneous, real real fun,โ he said of the EP.
The four-track EP features singles, like โGet Used to Itโ and โRaลบon,โ that offer a glimpse into Cucoโs continued growth as an artist and his ability to create music that resonates with listeners on a deep level.
As for a potential vinyl release or a full album, Bano said โI donโt know about a vinyl. It would be kind of cool, like some singles.โ
But for now, he has just finished an album that is currently in the mixing process.
He expects the new project to drop sometime next year, though an exact release date has not been set.
Bano teased that in the new album, โIโm going a little back in time โฆ and just kind of, like, celebrating Los Angeles and kind of, like, growing up also. โฆ A lot of soul music, a lot of, you know, just real old school vibes.โ
When it comes to the setlist for the McAllen show, Banos is keeping fans guessing. He hinted that it will be a mix of old and new songs, encouraging concertgoers to attend the show to be surprised.
โIโve been kind of just trolling because itโs been fun,โ Banos said. โI just been, you know, playing games with everybody.โ
Banosโ goal for his live performances is to create an immersive experience for the audience, making them feel like they are part of a family and providing a sense of relief from the outside world.
โI hope everybody feels like theyโre being taken away from the rest of the world for like, an hour and a half of music that weโre performing,โ he said. โ โฆ Like an anxiety relief, or something like that.โ
Banos said he finds great fulfillment in seeing the impact his music has on fans.
โHonestly, the best thing is when people really feel fulfilled about the show,โ he said. โโฆ Itโs very validating seeing people like, โYo, Iโve been listening to you for so long, and I started doing my own thing,โ or when people were like, โOh, yo, I started doing my sobriety journey โฆ because of you.โโ
Beyond music, Banos finds inspiration in various hobbies, including exercise, photography, videography and traveling. He particularly enjoys collecting merchandise from the different states he visits while on tour, including from the popular Texas pit stop Buc-eeโs.
โI need more merch, because I feel like, I donโt feel like a real touring artist, if I donโt have enough, like, Buc-eeโs merch,โ Banos said.
His background as a child of immigrants has also shaped his perspective.
โItโs crazy because you grow up understanding two cultures pretty, like, fluently,โ Banos said. โ โฆ But also, you understand growing up in America and being American. โฆ So, itโs really interesting, because โฆ having both of those things so embedded and grinding your head is actually pretty powerful.โ
Banos discussed the benefits of being bilingual, noting that it has given him a โsuperpowerโ in connecting with people from around the world.
Inspired by the resilience of his immigrant parents and family, Banos has developed a strong determination to achieve his goals. His music reflects this spirit as he continues to break barriers and inspire audiences with his infectious sound.
Banos encourages not just aspiring musicians but anyone who has a goal to keep going, persevere through challenges and believe in themselves.
โJust keep it going and keep it pushing,โ he said. โNone of this is linear, and thereโs always going to be a bumpy road. And you just gotta figure out how youโre going to take all those shots, so that you know how to bounce back from it every single time.
โItโs not impossible in this day and age. Like, everybody has a shot so โฆ you really just gotta โฆ go for it,โ Banos said.
Tickets for Cucoโs โ4Uโ tour are available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com.
