HARMLESS Shares New Album ‘Springs Eternal’; Headline Show at El Cid 4/4

We collect scars and memories as totems of our respective journeys. For Harmless, the indie-rock meets bedroom-pop project of Los Angeles-based, Mexico-born Nacho Cano, songs affirm his survival and just how far he has come. On the turbulent rollercoaster of life, he went from a lonely childhood as a Mexican immigrant in Southern California to struggling to be heard as an artist, enduring a near-death crime, and eventually achieving gold certification, playing sold-out shows, and getting married. Today, Harmless, shares his highly awaited album, Springs Eternal (Nettwerk), an unbelievable body of work that chronicles his life over the past few years. In addition to the release, he’s shared the album’s focus track “CYA” — which greets you with driving percussion and a dreamy guitar melody. Listen Here.

Springs Eternal’s 11 tracks depict Nacho’s journey of self-reclamation following his harrowing near-death encounter with a drunk driver. Co-produced alongside Yves Rothman (known for his work with Blondshell, Amaarae), the album fearlessly delves into the depths of Nacho’s psyche. From grappling with the aftermath of the hit-and-run to navigating the complexities of his experience as an immigrant, the album is an honest look at the past six years of Nacho’s life. “On every song, I’m touching base with the avatar or ghost who died after that crime,” he reveals. “I’m talking to myself about my marriage, my job in the music industry, and how rejected I feel despite having ‘the biggest dreams come true’. I’m granting myself a moment where I can reach back into my past and give the 19-year-old version of me a hug or a high five. That’s truly the aim of the record.”

Rewinding back to the very beginning, Nacho grew up in Mexico before his family settled in San Diego. At 17-years-old, he developed an obsession with the “blog-o-sphere,” intently following the commentary of Pitchfork, Anthony Fantano, and more as a self-professed “early high school internet kid.” This obsession made him realize it was possible to make music of his own. Not long after gaining citizenship, his life took another series of dramatic turns. Even though his musical output was gaining traction, he still needed to hold down a day job. Riding his bike to work one morning, a drunk driver disregarded a stop sign and left him practically in ruins. Hours upon hours of surgery followed as doctors rebuilt his spine and face. “The optimism sort of vanished,” he sighs. “I knew it was a long road ahead, but I couldn’t really comprehend it.” 

As if by a stroke of well-earned luck, his anthem “Swing Lynn” organically exploded on TikTok. In between the jarring experience of the criminal trial for his accident, it picked up a Gold certification and scored nearly half-a-billion streams and counting. He maintained this momentum with the Mr. Baby EP [2022] highlighted by “Nacho’s,” “Mrs. Moody,” and “Call Katie.” Simultaneously, he toured with Vacations, Wavves, and many more. In 2022, he recorded Springs Eternal at the legendary Sunset Sound Studios with co-producer Yves Rothman.

Springs Eternal sees Cano revisiting his musical roots, embracing the simplicity and authenticity of his early work. Through self-imposed limitations and intense creative focus, Cano crafted an album that serves as both a homage to his past and a beacon of hope for the future.

“I strived to make these new songs a discussion with my past, the topics being things I’d love to tell my past self about –  like my marriage, my relationship with my father, or my feelings about the music industry as a whole. I wanted to feel like I could use music to reach past a barrier formed by trauma and connect with everything I used to be. Throughout this process, I’ve tried to be optimistic about that feeling and the connection I’ve made. As the saying goes, “Hope springs eternal.”

In the end, Harmless has survived, and he’ll be there for you too. “To me, the biggest thing that comes out of this music is pain, but I don’t want to be that anymore,” he leaves off. “Harmless is contradiction and confusion, but we all go through those things. Maybe somebody else can listen to this and feel better, and in turn, it might make me feel better too.”

LISTEN / WATCH “CYA”

Embed: https://youtu.be/c6SkDHZwsQI?si=Tmh7mccQky3pnsb4  

In celebration of the album’s release, Harmless will play his debut headline show at El Cid on April 4th with special guest, kelz. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase HERE.