Tete De La Course

Emotion, expression and personality: these are three pillars that can be felt in Tête de la Course’s songwriting, live performances and recordings. Jonathan Álvarez was born and raised in Gijón, in the north of Spain, where learned a love and appreciation of music at a young age. His father worked in nightclubs in the late ’90s; this exposed him to the sound of house music, a different musical concept which would ultimately have a big impact on him. The beginning of the 21st century coincided with an explosion of electronic music in Spain, and Jonathan began to delve into house along with other African American genres like soul, reggae, funk and hip hip. These influences would soon come together in his own music. In 2008 he traveled to Barcelona to study sound engineering at the prestigious Crash school with the great teacher Miquel Oms; he also took piano classes with Mento Hevia. After returning home in 2009, he started producing tracks and teaching music production. He had his first live performance as Tête de la Course at the closing party of the Gijón International Film Festival. 2011 was a watershed year for Jonathan. Tête de la Course’s debut recording, the Despertar EP, featuring the track “My Friend Dora,” was released on Italian label Stop Clone Music. The veteran DJ Ino took notice of another track from the same EP, “Soul and Winter,” and released it on his label, House Café Music, Spain’s best house imprint. This was followed by the A Day That Didn’t Last the Same EP, featuring the tracks “Before Sunset” and “Before Sunrise”; it quickly became one of the label’s best sellers. After this, the Latin funk group Koniec hired Jonathan to remix the track “Mentiroso” with the pianist Mario Fueyo (BlackSun). This collaboration was the birth of a new inspiration for Jonathan: house music with a band. Soon the Tête de la Course Band was formed, comprising Mario Fueyo (keyboards), Lara Herrero (vocals), Roberto Díaz (drums) along with Tête de la Course. In 2012, Jonathan began programming music for restaurants including El Medio Lleno, La Terraza del Espartal and La Terraza Finisterre. Later the same year he remixed DJ Ino’s “Spread Your Love,” which featured vocals from Carmen del Rey. It was released on the storied American house label Seasons Recordings alongside a mix from the legendary DJ Spinna. More exposure in the USA came when New York-based label Republic Music released his Hagamos un Trato EP. At this time Jonathan spent several months living in New York, absorbing the musical influences of the city. After returning home in 2013, his connections with New York’s house community continued. Renowned house DJ and producer Joeski rereleased “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset” on his label Maya Recordings; and at the end of the year Tête de la Course and Joeski teamed up to collaborate on the Preacher Man EP. As Tête de la Course grows and matures as an artist it seems certain that his music will continue to reach the ears of those passionate about house music around the world.