Helado Negro

A South Florida native, born to Ecuadorian immigrants and based in Brooklyn, Roberto Carlos Lange’s upbringing provides essential elements to his songwriting, including his consistently bilingual – English and Spanish – lyrics. While citing the influence of electro and Miami-bass he heard on the radio in his youth, his diverse work as Helado Negro points to shades of kraut rock bathed in his mesmerizing rhythms, loops and hair-raising melodies. Known for his craftsmanship, Lange has cultured his identity, ideology and musical dexterity with constant artistic and introspective development, pouring his heart and full sincerity into his music. His fourth LP Double Youth released in 2014 garnered acclaim with Pitchfork naming it “the boldest and most intricate Helado Negro work to date.” With a degree in Computer Art and Animation, Lange, a multifaceted creator, has worked with mediums such as video, sculpture, sound and performance. While Helado Negro is in a sense a one man band for the digital age, a constant collaborator, Lange has worked on projects with numerous artists including Sufjan Stevens, Julianna Barwick (as Ombre), Mikael Jorgensen (of Wilco), Guillermo Scott Herren (of Prefuse 73), Mouse on Mars, and sculptor David Ellis.

Helado Negro tours extensively and has performed in diverse venues from clubs to cultural organizations including the Wexner Center, Columbus; Walker Art Center; Mana Contemporary, Chicago; Museum of Natural History, L.A.; Mass MoCA, North Adams, Whitney Museum of Art, NYC. In 2015 he was the recipient of a Joyce Award and premiered an orchestral commission as part of the Liquid Music series during the inaugural festivities of the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in Saint Paul.

“Among the musicians currently redefining Latino culture worldwide, Helado Negro creates a sonic landscape that reflects 21st-century Latin America.” – NPR