In the early 90s, vocalist Sergio Curbelo joined the band and they changed their name to Puya. The band also relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and polished their sound. In 1994 they released a 6-song demo cassette entitled Whisker Biscuit in reference to their former band name. Two years later in 1996 they released their eponymous debut album, Puya featuring 13 tracks, including a collaboration with the James Brown horn section on two songs.
There they also met producer Gustavo Santaolalla who signed them to MCA and they released their second album titled Fundamental which received critical praise. This propelled the band to stardom even landing them in the second stage of Ozzfest where they shared the opening slot with Slipknot in 1999.
In 2000, one of their songs ("Tírale"), was included in the soundtrack of the movie Heavy Metal 2000, the only track with lyrics in Spanish from the collection. Breaking out during the numetal scene, they opened for such bands as Sepultura, Fear Factory, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iron Maiden and KISS. They also recorded a cover song - using their particular style - of The Police's "Spirits in the Material World" in Spanish. The song was titled "Almas en un mundo material".
In 2001, the band released their second album with MCA entitled Union. Due to interference from the label, pushing the band towards less experimental material and preventing them from releasing the kind of music they wanted to, feelings of discontent began to form within the band. The album was not received as well as their previous two, and some of the members were already working in other projects. Ultimately in 2002 the band split up.
By 2003 guitarist Ramon Ortiz started his own band in Los Angeles called Ankla, combining his undeniable latin vein with elements of metal and thrash. Meanwhile, bassist Harold Hopkins puts together his own band in Puerto Rico called Yeva, a fusion of afro-caribbean grooves with elements of rock. Ed Paniagua spent his time recording drum tracks as well as touring for various solo artists. Sergio Curbelo went back to school for graphic computer arts in Miami.
For the next 6 years Puya remained in hiatus while its members pursued their other projects.
In 2009 the band reunited. On the 15th of May, Puya's first reunion concert in almost 7 years took place at Stereo Music Fest, Puerto Rico Convention Center. 12,000 people showed up for the occasion.
On August 27th 2009 a second reunion concert took place at the Medalla Yellow Pass Festival in Mayaguez Puerto Rico with an attendance of over 60,000 people. After this concert the band went into pre-production for their new album to be self produced and recorded with engeneer Isaac Sakko at Redemption Studio, Bayamon Puerto Rico, during the month of November. Entitled Areyto, the album is scheduled for release summer 2010. The cover of the new album has been designed by the internationally ranked tattoo artist Juan Salgado, Underskin Tattoo - Bayamon PR.
Along with the new CD, Puya will be releasing a live DVD called Puya - Pa Ti, recorded back in March 2002 at the Tito Puente Amphitheatre, one of the band's final shows before the hiatus. Most recently the band has opened for Guns N' Roses for their show in Puertro Rico on their current South American tour.
Today Puya consists of its original line up, Ramón Ortíz (Guitars), Harold Hopkins (Bass), Sergio Curbelo (Vocals) and Ed Paniagua (Drums).
http://www.puyapr.com/
http://www.myspace.com/puyamusic
2. A romanian hip-hop artist from the former "La familia" band together with Sisu. Puya continued his musical career solo after Sisu had some drug problems and was imprisoned.
http://www.puyaoficial.ro/
Solo
Puya Lyrics
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Su mas sagrado don su motivo su imaginación
Decolorando con falsedad seguimos matando
El nacer de una nueva idea esperanza una nueva canción
Aquello que pareció algo tan puro
Se marchito se endureció al ritmo del progresso
Entre tanta careta y apariencia se nos sigue olvidando
Que bien adento nuestro indio sigue sonando
Trece catorce y hasta nueva con un arma en la mano
Su mayor aspiración es ser bichote en su barrio
Su familia le fallo, le falla el estado
Su casa es la calle y su escuela es el punto de al lado
Una cara dos caras tres carajos se puede creer
Ten cuidado con el ratón porque te puede morder
Oye mi hermano cuida bien, cuida bien tu tesoro
No pierdas tu esencia, no la vendas por un gramo o por oro
Conoce tu propio ser
Celebra tu propio ser
Conoce tu propio ser
Celebra tu propio ser
Solo venimos, solo nos vamos
Y aquí nos juntamos, juntos aquí estamos
The lyrics of "Solo" by Puya convey a message of the loss of innocence and imagination in today's world as well as the danger of succumbing to false values and societal pressure. The first verse speaks of a child who has had his creativity and motivation taken away from him for no reason or explanation. The singer bemoans the fact that society continues to kill off new ideas and hope by using falsehoods and artificiality. They criticize how people have become so focused on appearances that they have forgotten the value of the indigenous culture that lies within them. The second verse talks about a young man who is armed and wants to become a gang leader in his neighborhood because he feels that his family and country have failed him. The singer warns the listener to be careful of those with two faces and to protect their own values and essence.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of understanding and celebrating oneself. They urge people to connect with their individuality and to reject the pressures to conform to society's ideals. The repeated phrase "Conoce tu propio ser, celebra tu propio ser" emphasizes this message, urging the listener to know and celebrate their own being.
Overall, "Solo" is a powerful call to wake up to the falseness and danger of conforming to societal norms and to appreciate the value of individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Sin razón ni explicación le quitaron al niño
Without reason or explanation, they took away the child's most sacred gift: his reason, his motivation, his imagination.
Su mas sagrado don su motivo su imaginación
The child's most sacred gift was his motivation, his imagination.
Decolorando con falsedad seguimos matando
We continue killing, fading away with falsehood.
El nacer de una nueva idea esperanza una nueva canción
The birth of a new idea brings hope for a new song.
Aquello que pareció algo tan puro
That which seemed so pure.
Se marchito se endureció al ritmo del progresso
It withered and hardened to the rhythm of progress.
Entre tanta careta y apariencia se nos sigue olvidando
Among so many masks and appearances, we continue to forget.
Que bien adento nuestro indio sigue sonando
That deep inside, our indigenous roots still resonate.
Trece catorce y hasta nueva con un arma en la mano
Thirteen, fourteen and even younger, with a weapon in hand.
Su mayor aspiración es ser bichote en su barrio
Their greatest aspiration is to be a drug lord in their neighborhood.
Su familia le fallo, le falla el estado
Their family failed them, the state fails them.
Su casa es la calle y su escuela es el punto de al lado
Their home is the street and their school is the drug den next door.
Una cara dos caras tres carajos se puede creer
One face, two faces, three faces... who can you believe?
Ten cuidado con el ratón porque te puede morder
Beware of the mouse, because it can bite you.
Oye mi hermano cuida bien, cuida bien tu tesoro
Listen, my brother, take care of your treasure, take care of yourself.
No pierdas tu esencia, no la vendas por un gramo o por oro
Don't lose your essence, don't sell it for a gram or for gold.
Conoce tu propio ser
Know your own being.
Celebra tu propio ser
Celebrate your own being.
Solo venimos, solo nos vamos
We come alone, we leave alone.
Y aquí nos juntamos, juntos aquí estamos
And here we gather, together we are.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDUARDO J. PANIAGUA, HAROLD E. HOPKINS MIRANDA, RAMON L. ORTIZ, SERGIO JOSE CURBELO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martin Pollon
Esta banda tiene todo lo que tiene que tener ! Una mezcla de generos innumerables...una joya !!!
Dee Miller
Puya is one of the most talented bands in history..
plays every genre perfectly...
PUYA!!! BORINQUEN!!!
Ctrl G
Que Gran banda! La descubrí a fines de los 90s cuando vinieron a mi pais teloneando a RED HOT. Ahí escuche por 1era vez el nombre de PUYA...
"Fundamental" es una joya desde el 1er tema al ultimo!! Aguante PUYA!! SALUDOS desde ARGENTINA!
henrude23
Imagenense un groove hecho por Dimebag Darrell y Marc Anthony = Puya
nuberiffic
It is a shame that a band as amazing as this has not reached more people :(
Smackbolt
Agreed it just reached me 20 yrs late!
Jonathan Santa
Seriously
Amuz3d2Deth
Saw them open for Maiden in 1999 along with Soulfly. Such an amazing amount talent on one stage!
Kevin Lofstrom
Badass introduction to a band with no boundaries
progrocker2112
I saw Puya and Pushmonkey open for Iron Maiden at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas in 2000 and I wonder why neither blew up. They're both awesome. But I love the uplifting lyrics in this song especially.