Helado Negro

Helado Negro releases “Protector”, taken from his forthcoming EP ‘The Last Sound On Earth’, out November 7th, on Big Dada.

Helado Negro (Roberto Carlos Lange) shares “Protector”, the latest single from his forthcoming EP ‘The Last Sound On Earth’, set for release on November 7th, on Big Dada. Additionally, he is announcing two new live show dates: November 18th at Public Records, New York, and December 18th at Zey Zey, Miami.

Released today alongside an official visualiser, “Protector” unfolds over woozy, ominous synths, with Lange’s unmistakable vocals laying out a cynical reflection on the broken notion that those in power are truly acting in our best interests. The track culminates in a noisy crescendo of classic jungle breaks, cutting through a haze of distorted, echoing vocals that feel on the verge of collapsing in on themselves.

Speaking about the track, Lange says: 

“My brother brought home a stack of techno and jungle compilations in 94’ that shifted my entire perspective of music in the world and what it could be. A standout song from one of these compilations was hearing "Original Nuttah" by UK Apachi + Shy FX.

I became instantly obsessed with Jungle and high-BPM underground music, which eventually evolved into a taste for music that was headier, nerdier, and weirder. I was always searching for that initial feeling of movement and unidentifiable sounds.

I’d never fully committed to capturing that feeling through Helado Negro, but this EP is a dedication to these specific roots: the Miami bass, freestyle, jungle, and electronic dance music I grew up dancing to. I shaped this EP’s musical world by tapping into a specific sentiment. the way salsa lyrics can be dark and heavy, yet the music is body-moving. I wanted that same darker lyrical feelings beneath a relentless, kinetic energy of ping-pong delays and drums.

The title and theme Protector, is rooted in two foundational songs. The first is BDP’s “Who Protects Us From You,” which talks about who police’s police? Who checks authority in our lives? The second is Massive Attack’s “Protection,” which changed how I thought about production—specifically the contrast between heavy themes and electronic melodies and these gentle beautiful lyrical waves. Ultimately, Protector is two things.

We all need protection—physically, mentally, and spiritually—but we also have a reciprocal duty to protect."

It’s the second single to be taken from his forthcoming EP ‘The Last Sound On Earth’, following the recent “More” – a track which captures the soul-crushing pressure and isolation we can feel in a hyperconnected world – which was accompanied by a lyric video from renowned animator and filmmaker Annapurna Kumar, and supported by the likes of Pitchfork, Under The Radar, Brooklyn Vegan and many more.

‘The Last Sound On Earth’ was initially inspired by the question: what will the last sound I hear before I die will be? The EP itself is imbued with a sense of unease, is amplified by Lange’s heavy use of electronics, echo and distortion, which lend a dazed, shell-shocked quality to his words – emphasising the intense feelings of dread and uncertainty that underscore his deep contemplation of a planet in crisis. 

Elsewhere on ‘The Last Sound On Earth’, Lange also examines systemic power structures, as on “Sender Receiver”, which contemplates the inherent violence and imbalance built into our technical terminology. Despite the often heavy themes, the music itself finds Lange in uptempo territory, and closing tracks “Zenith” (the other side of nadir, the balance of the something and nothing) and "Don't Give It Up Now" (a song about holding on and fighting for change) attempt to transform Lange’s feelings into something positive and forward-looking. Though, as Lange puts it: “The doom is real, and the gloom is unfortunate; I'm not sure how to make this any lighter,” he has found relief through music and movement. “How can I dance to this grief?” he wonders. “It almost seems counterintuitive… but when I perform, I dance. I've found a way of moving my body on stage that gives me a direct, freeing feeling with the music.” 

Never less than brimming with complex layers of emotion, ‘The Last Sound On Earth’ is the sound of an artist reckoning with the changing world around them and tentatively searching for a path forward. In doing so, he ultimately finds an answer to his own question:

“What is the last sound on earth? The last sound is love…That’s the sound I hope to hear.”

Live Dates

Sep 17th - Iowa City, IA - Infinite Dream Festival

Sep 19th - Urbana, IL - PYGMALION (Rose Bowl Tavern)

Nov 2nd - Santiago, CL - Club Chocolate

Nov 4th - Buenos Aires, AR - Niceto Club (Primavera)

Nov 7th - Sao Paulo, BR - Casa Rockambole

Nov 9th - Quito, Ecuador Teatro - San Gabriel

 Nov 11th - Mexico City, MX - Foro Indie Rocks

Nov 12th - Guadalajara, MX - C3 Stage

Nov 18th - New York - Public Records

Dec 18th - Miami - Zey Zey

‘The Last Sound On Earth’

is released November 7th on Big Dada

Pre-Save / Pre-Order HERE