Following their long-awaited return earlier this year, Whitest Boy Alive reunited in Mexico to play a festival back in March — but got caught up in a COVID-19 lockdown and ultimately separated inside the country. By some twist of fate, the band's Erlend Øye (also of Kings of Convenience) and Sebastian Maschat were stranded together at the Hotel El Ganzo and immediately got to work on a new record.
The resulting effort, Quarantine at El Ganzo, was released as a surprise last week (July 31) via Bubble Records. Despite the members being split up, they were able to form a sessional band made up of their booking agent Jorge Aguilar, hotel owner Bear Kittay and music engineer Paco Rosas.
"The only thing that wasn't cancelled [because of COVID-19] was the four days of free studio time we had been given by Hotel El Ganzo in San Jose del Cabo in the remote state of Baja California Sur," the band explained in a statement.
Earlier this year, Whitest Boy Alive released their first new music in 11 years, a single titled "Serious," following news of their split in 2014. Their last record was 2009's Rules, while the group's debut album Dreams was released in 2006.
Listen to Quarantine at El Ganzo below, where you can also find a short film by Aguilar — who plays drums on the record — documenting the making of the album.
The resulting effort, Quarantine at El Ganzo, was released as a surprise last week (July 31) via Bubble Records. Despite the members being split up, they were able to form a sessional band made up of their booking agent Jorge Aguilar, hotel owner Bear Kittay and music engineer Paco Rosas.
"The only thing that wasn't cancelled [because of COVID-19] was the four days of free studio time we had been given by Hotel El Ganzo in San Jose del Cabo in the remote state of Baja California Sur," the band explained in a statement.
Earlier this year, Whitest Boy Alive released their first new music in 11 years, a single titled "Serious," following news of their split in 2014. Their last record was 2009's Rules, while the group's debut album Dreams was released in 2006.
Listen to Quarantine at El Ganzo below, where you can also find a short film by Aguilar — who plays drums on the record — documenting the making of the album.