Cuco
Biography
Omar Banos (born June 26, 1998), known professionally as Cuco, is an American singer-songwriter from Hawthorne, California. His music blends elements of bossa nova, indie-pop, and psychedelia. He is a first-generation Mexican-American, with his parents having immigrated from Mexico. He grew up in Hawthorne and began playing music at the age of eight. Before he was 15, he had taught himself to play the trumpet, guitar, keyboard, drums, bass guitar, mellophone, and French horn.
Career Beginnings
After graduating from Hawthorne High School, where he played in the marching and jazz bands, Banos started producing and releasing songs from his home. Initially using the name Heavy Trip, he released his first EP, "Heavy Trip," in 2015. He soon adopted the nickname his mother gave him, Cuco. In 2016, at age 18, he self-released his first mixtape, "Wannabewithu," after teaching himself how to use Ableton Live. This was followed by his second mixtape, "Songs4u," in 2017. The single "Lo Que Siento" (2017) became a breakout hit, leading him to drop out of Santa Monica City College to focus on his music career.
Musical Style and Influences
Cuco's music is often described as "psychedelia-soaked love ballads" with "smooth Latin influences with a nostalgic lean." He combines both English and Spanish lyrics in his songs, which he categorizes as "alternative dream pop" featuring synthesizers and 808s. His influences include Chicano rap artists like Lil Rob and MC Magic, as well as Tame Impala and Ariel Pink.
Major Label Debut and Albums
After a two-year bidding war, Cuco signed with Interscope Records in March 2019. He released his debut studio album, "Para Mi," on July 26, 2019. The album was co-produced by Cuco and Jonathan Rado of Foxygen.
Recent Work
His second album, "Fantasy Gateway," was released on July 22, 2022. This album features collaborations with artists like Kacey Musgraves, Adriel Favela, and DannyLux. It is described as a concept album about a realm where the dream world and purgatory meet. He followed this with an EP titled "Hitchhiker" in 2023 and his third album, "Ridin'," in 2025.