Buscabulla’s music has always felt like a lush, shimmering dream, one that carries both the sweetness of nostalgia and the sting of reality. But behind their otherworldly synths and tropical-tinged grooves lies a story deeply rooted in identity, resilience, and the messy beauty of love.
The Puerto Rican duo, Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo Del Valle, first met in New York City in 2011. Both born on the island but drawn to the creative pulse of the city, they forged a musical partnership that blended experimental pop with the rhythms and textures of their Caribbean heritage. After six years in Brooklyn, two acclaimed EPs (one produced by Dev Hynes, another featuring Helado Negro), and a spot on Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists You Need to Know” list, the pull of home became impossible to ignore.
In 2017, just after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, Buscabulla made the life-changing decision to return. That homecoming, bittersweet, hopeful, and charged with grief, became the heart of their 2020 debut album Regresa. Critics hailed it as “joyful and melancholic” (Pitchfork) and “a magnificent rumination” (NME), and NPR named it one of the year’s best. But the pandemic kept them from touring, stalling their momentum and leaving the pair wondering if their music career could survive.
Then, an unexpected lifeline arrived, in the form of a call from Bad Bunny. He had been listening to Regresa in isolation and invited Buscabulla to collaborate on “Andrea” from his 2022 blockbuster Un Verano Sin Ti. The track became an emotional fan favorite, with Berrios’ hushed vocals embodying the quiet strength of its protagonist. Suddenly, the doors swung open again: tours across the U.S. and Latin America, a flood of new listeners, and a whirlwind of opportunities.
But success brought its own strain. After more than a decade of working and living together, Berrios and Del Valle found themselves confronting the cracks in their relationship. Instead of hiding those struggles, they leaned in. Their new album, Se Amaba Así, is their most intimate work yet; a candid exploration of love’s evolution, the pressures of partnership, and the cultural narratives around romance in Puerto Rico and Latin America.
Drawing from old-school balladry (think dramatic ’80s duos like Pimpinela) while weaving in modern electronic textures, the album refuses to be pinned to a single genre. Tracks like “Mi Marido” and the title song channel high drama without irony, while “Te Fuiste” and “El Camino” push forward with restless, modern energy. It’s a meditation on how connection survives in an age of distractions and digital overload.
For Buscabulla, Se Amaba Así isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a living document of their relationship, their artistry, and their constant negotiation between past and future. As they’ve done from the start, they invite listeners into their world, one that’s at once deeply personal and unshakably tied to the story of Puerto Rico itself.
See a playlist we put together of Buscabulla’s music here.
Miraverahi-Buscabulla
Andrea-Bad Bunny
Tartaro-Buscabulla
NTE-Buscabulla
High Season-Poolside
La Luz-Kali Uchis (Buscabulla remix)
El Aprieto-Buscabulla
Metele-Buscabulla
Perdon-Buscabulla
11:11-Buscabulla