After a two-year bidding war between four labels, indie pop artist Omar Banos, who goes by Cuco, has emerged victorious with a fresh new deal from Interscope Records.
Interscope understood what I wanted to do creatively and it wasnt just about money, Banos told Billboard on Tuesday. I got everything I wanted.
A Spanglish-language bedroom pop star from the school of D.I.Y., Banos joins a class of unconventional young artists on the major label, including emo rapper Juice Wrld and Colombian-American romantic Kali Uchis. His first release under contract is scheduled to drop in June; an as-yet-untitled debut LP, Cuco recorded and self-produced the album inside the garage of his Hawthorne, California home. Im only interested in a label if they come through with whatever terms I send them, he told Rolling Stone last September.
According to his manager, 25-year-old Doris Muoz, the seven-figure contract does not follow a conventional structure. Omar owns all of his masters, says Muoz, adding that there is no true album commitment, but instead an agreement that Banos will release a certain number of songs in various configurations.
We didnt want to do a typical record deal, says Muoz. Its been that way and thats the way it will always be. Ownership was the important factor in moving forward with the deal.
Cuco is a genius, Interscope A&R executive Carlos Cancela told Billboard. A week later, Doris and Cuco came to my office and we talked about life, music and we played records back and forth Hes doing his own thing, finding his own way.