Chula Vista, indie/alt trio Los Saints were founded by all first-generation Mexican-Americans, including frontman Angel Mariscal, guitarist Gianluca Exposito, and drummer Emiliano Garcia. Their debut singles “I’m In Need” and “As Bad As the First” were followed by a 2021 EP, recorded over three days in an L.A. studio with Dear Boy drummer Keith Harrison. Music videos for “Let It Out” and “It’s Easier When You Jump” were shot in Chula Vista. A single was also released for “A17.”
A new single and video dropped in February 2022 for "Fouund You Somewhere," recorded in Los Angeles by Keith Cooper of Dear Boy. According to frontman Angel Mariscal, “‘Fouund You Somewhere’ was written at the end of my first serious relationship. It’s about yearning for something that you lost and holding on to what could have been, if things were done differently.” Mariscal also directed a video for the song, which he says features him leading the band on "a wild-eyed odyssey to the heart of the city in search of someone, or something."
The single was followed in April by a single and video for “IDK,” recorded by Keith Cooper of Dear Boy, from their 5-Song EP Welcome To Confusion. "'IDK' is my attempt to document what it's like for someone with social anxiety to enter a relationship for the very first time and the trouble this can cause," says Mariscal, "from my experience of course. The chaos is real!"
The next single "Lost You" was, according to Mariscal, "about facing the fear of love, which I think anyone who's dealt with trauma from past relationships can relate to. No matter how much time you've given yourself to heal, there's always going to be that leap of faith you have to take."
The band's debut full-length Certified dropped July 26, 2024 via ENCI Records, preceded in March by a single and video for "Faded." Guitarist/vocalist Angel Mariscal says “'Faded' is about two people being under the influence too often. It seems like a fun thing, but it’s not healthy. You see how bad it is in retrospect.” The next album single to drop was "Never Said" in April. By that time, drummer Emiliano Garcia had left the group, and two new members had been added: Greg Ortega (bass) and Jorge Vazquez (lead guitar).
A video for the album's title track "Certified" was released in September, 2024.
Photo: Enci Records/Earshot Media