Bengala are a Mexican alternative rock band, formed in Ciudad de México in 2003, comprised of Diego Suárez (piano and lead singer), Amauri Sepúlveda (guitar), Marcos Zavala (drums), Jesús Herrera (guitar), and Sebastián Franco (bass). Bengala began to attract a following while performing at local bars and parties, thanks to their contacts in the music scene. In 2004 they entered the studios of Molotov's Paco Ayala and Tito Fuentes to begin recording what would eventually become their first album. In the process, Bengala managed to convince Café Tacuba's Emmanuel del Real, as well as Tacuba's engineer Tony Peluso, to act as producers. With a big-name producer album in the can, as well as victory at the first Doritokin battle of the bands (a Pepsi-sponsored national event), Bengala were in a strong position to negotiate a record deal, and ultimately signed with Universal Music Mexico. Bengala's eponymous debut album was finally released in late 2006 to favorable response, earning the band opening spots for the likes of Molotov, the Killers, and Franz Ferdinand. The record received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Rock Album, a feat Bengala repeated with their second album, the harsher-sounding Oro. ~ Mariano Prunes