PASCAL

Neleonard began in 2012 when singer-songwriter Nele Navío embarked on a mission to craft unabashedly hook-driven pop. Rooted in the vibrant traditions of La Bien Querida’s sonic versatility and Belle & Sebastian’s tender lyricism, her debut 10″ mini-LP Agosto (2014) for Elefant’s New Adventures in Pop introduced six meticulously arranged songs that balance melodic exuberance with emotional depth. “Podemos,” an immediate anthem, fuses sweeping choruses, irony and sincerity to sing of love and its disillusionments, while “Por Pequeño Que Seas” channels La Buena Vida’s bittersweet charm and Nosoträsh’s lyrical candor. The title track “Agosto” weaves Mediterranean warmth and subtle flamenco flourishes, and “Capital” unfolds with cinematic strings to address distance and longing. On the B-side, “Sólo Por Un Momento” opens with Leonard Cohen–like introspection before blossoming into folk-pop grandeur, and the closing “Cómo Es” confronts love’s frustrations in acid-tinged tension. Supported by a live ensemble drawn from Gúdar, Die Katapult and Hibernales, Navío’s collective approach—“to songwrite by committee and pass the mic”—ensures every member’s voice resonates. Their follow-up single “Casi Cuela” (2015) confirmed their stature, and the digital preview “Coger Frío” (2016) showcased Pulp-inspired vitality and Divine Comedy–style elegance. Together, these releases cement Neleonard as one of Spain’s most celebrated new pop realities.