Album Review: 'Wachito Rico' by Boy Pablo

By Kyra Puetz

Boy Pablo returns to the music scene with the debut of his first full-length album, “Wachito Rico”. The album is the latest project of Chilean-Norweigan 21-year-old Nico Muñoz, following the daydreams of fictional character “Wachito Rico” and his quest for his dream girl. The album name is actually Chilean slang for “handsome boy” and is based on Muñoz’s own experiences.

So many of the songs found on “Wachito Rico'' could easily be found on any of Boy Pablo’s previous EPs. That’s what I like about him; you always know what you’re going to get. The consistent sound allows for Boy Pablo to be playful with it and hone in on what he’s good at-making dreamy beach tunes unlike the rainy and gray Norweigan climate he’s used to.

I love that as Muñoz grows as an artist, he feels more confident in bringing Spanish into his songs. (Boy Pablo)

“Leave me alone!”, the third track of the album, is the epitome of Boy Pablo’s easy going sound. On the chorus, he sings “I don't wanna go home, I'm fine right here, leave me alone / 'Cause I just wanna dance and be in the zone, eat some candy.” No, there’s no deeper meaning behind it. But, as an adorable backstory, it was actually taken from a memory of prematurely leaving a birthday party when Muñoz was younger. He and his brother, Esteban, channeled that same frustrated energy into “leave me alone!” while touring last year and finished the song in the studio.

Muñoz changes his party tune to a dreamy love song in “honey.” Honestly, the chorus alone makes me want to fall in love, with the line “When I spend my time with you it tends to stop.” Whoever is the apple of fictional character Wachito Rico’s eye has truly hit the jackpot.  The loving lyrics contrast so well with the two beginning tracks, “i hope she loves me back” and “hey girl.” While the first two songs are about the unsure beginnings of a relationship, “honey” brings a more confident tone, knowing that Boy Pablo is both in love and loved back. The opening chords remind me of an ending to a perfectly indie romcom, where the main character finally gets the girl of his dreams after pining for so long. 

Something I’ve noticed as a newly emerging theme in Muñoz’s recent work is the use of Spanish sprinkled throughout songs. This is the case in “te vas // don’t go,” a song detailing a failed relationship and being blindsided about its ending. It’s so easy to look at a unsuccessful relationship and only remember the exciting beginning as opposed to the turbulent ending, as Boy Pablo does with the lyrics “just think about the times / we used to share when love was there / our hands, intertwined / that’s when I knew you were mine.” The seamless switch between Spanish and English in the chorus feels poetic, almost as if saying “don’t go” will work if said in the right language. 

The Spanglish theme continues throughout the rest of the album with “aleluyla,” “vamos a la playa,” and the title track, “wachito rico.” It adds variety to the already upbeat album. I love that as Muñoz grows as an artist, he feels more confident in bringing Spanish into his songs.

Overall, “Wachito Rico” is exactly what you’d expect for Boy Pablo’s first album. For previous fans of Boy Pablo, this may come as a comfort in an always changing world. For first timers, “Wachito Rico” offers a breezy listen for those experiencing early adulthood; its highs and its inevitable lows.

You can follow Kyra on Twitter @kyrapuetz.