What’s this guy’s deal?
Rulitos is the solo project of Daniel Sanchez Chicaguala, a Chilean-American musician based out of Austin, TX. Rooted in traditional singer-songwriter styles akin to Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, Rulitos borrows from electronic and ambient music to experiment with his songwriting and push past the norms of the genre.
He usually wears a size 9 shoe, mostly hangs out at Epoch Coffee, We Luv Video, and Workhorse, and enjoys playing in alternate guitar tunings. He loves sandals, has little restraint devouring pizza and ice cream, and writes music in English and Spanish. He’s opened for bigger acts like Pure X, Teethe, Hovvdy, and even Julien Baker (prior to the boygenuis fame) in a random church gym in Memphis, TN. Long story.
Anyway EP 01 is his solo debut, released via Flyer Club Records, the local Austin label best known for their work with TC Superstar and Cloud Companion. The four-song release showcases Rulitos experimenting with bilingualism and traditional singer-songwriter structures and motifs – a direct descendant of mid-2000’s freak folk.
Sometimes he plays solo. Sometimes full-band. He enjoys funny bits and non-traditional venues. Song production, collaborations and live performances vary on “who’s free,” but tend to revolve around:
Austin Youngblood of Pure X
Marlon Hedrick of Turtle Pond and Spend Time Zine Mart
Andrew Atwood of the Dissect podcast from Spotify Studios
Matt Stryker from the films Inbetween Girl and When You Left Me On That Boulevard
Memo Guerra — owner and engineer at United Oscillations of America Studios
John Wheeler — singer-songwriter, accompanying guitarist, extraordinary plumber
What’s this guy even want?
Despite his lack of an official 501(c)3 designation, Rulitos is an entirely nonprofit project, having made no money in his creative pursuits, operating solely on a financial loss. And that’s okay. Mostly. He has different goals. But, in the spirit of manifestation, here’s a list of what he does want:
Tour Texas
Tour in Mexico
Press a Vinyl Record
Own a Roland Juno or Rhodes Keyboard
Take on More Scoring & Soundtrack Projects
Open for any of the following: Jessica Pratt, Helado Negro, M. Ward, Juan Wauters, Devendra Banhart, or Y La Bamba
Find the Perfect Fuzz Tone
Tour Chile and South America
Shoot a “What’s In My Bag” feature with Ameoba Music
Meet Dirk Nowitzki
Properly Organize All Cables In My Home Studio
Abruptly Cancel a Rulitos Show & Perform Andy Kaufman’s Tony Clifton Bit Instead
Play A Gig For My Childhood Guitar Teacher
Play A Show Where Guests Are Encouraged to Lay Down & Nap
Book Studio Guitar Work
Shoot a “Criterion Closet Picks”
HIT ME UP & LET’S PLAN SOMETHING!