At the close of 1999, Guardarraya emerged as a collective of friends united by a passion for music, initially without a formal name. By early 2000, they transitioned into an acoustic musical project, featuring a lineup that included lead vocalist Álvaro Bermeo, guitarists Mateo Crespo and Álvaro Bermeo, and percussionist Andrés Caicedo, who played the bongó. Their unique blend of electroacoustic guitar, Andean influences, and percussive elements laid the foundation for the band’s distinctive sound.
Guardarraya's first public performance took place at "la Vitrola," a now-defunct bar in Quito, Ecuador, where they introduced themselves to an audience after six months of playing for their own enjoyment. The ticket price at that time was $25,000 Sucres (approximately $1). This initial performance marked the official debut of the name Guardarraya.
Shortly thereafter, the band recorded a demo featuring five songs for the documentary "Baños." About two months later, they added electric bassist Andrés Pacheco, resulting in a fuller, more defined sound. Following a series of concerts in Quito and other Ecuadorian cities, their work began to gain recognition. In 2001, they released their first album/demo, also titled Guardarraya, which was produced in response to public demand. Characterized as both handmade and visceral, this album included tracks such as “Big Bang” and “Háblame Más Suave,” which received airplay on local radio stations.
In 2002, the band produced their second album, "Chistes y Roces," recorded in a single studio session with live performances from all musicians. After Pacheco left the band, they welcomed Franco Aguirre from Sal y Mileto, a respected figure in the Ecuadorian music scene, as their new bassist. Guardarraya continued to focus on refining their sound, striving for clarity and purity that embodied their essence.
After a two-year hiatus from performing, Guardarraya made their return in 2007. During this year, they began pre-production on their upcoming album, "Quitarán Di Áhí," and released the promotional single "Tiburón," which was mixed and mastered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at Gustavo Cerati's studio, Unísono. They received the Best Alternative Band award at the 2007 Mis Bandas Nacionales Awards in recognition of their efforts.
In 2008, they collaborated with the band Can Can to release "Guardacan," a live album recorded at the Bolívar Theater in August 2007. This release included a DVD and a special edition with an audio CD. Additionally, they published "Surtidos Selectos," a compilation of previous songs alongside new recordings made during that period.
The following year, in 2009, Guardarraya unveiled "Quitarán Di Áhí," an album mastered at Magneto Mastering in Minneapolis, USA, by Dave Gardner. This release was accompanied by a national tour, further solidifying their connection with an expanding audience that resonated with their music. As a result, Guardarraya established itself as a notable Ecuadorian band with a unique sound and style.
After a decade of activity, Guardarraya has become a significant reference point in the contemporary music scene of Ecuador, describing their sound as “Música visceral, urbano popular, mestiza alternativa.” On March 22, 2015, the band announced a crowdfunding campaign titled “Ayudanos A Parir” to finance their new album's production. The campaign concluded on June 2, 2015, successfully raising $10,795, surpassing their goal.
In 2016, seven years after "Quitarán Di Áhí," Guardarraya began recording their new album. They also reissued their earlier albums "Chistes y Roces" and "Quitarán Di Áhí" in CDr format, as the original copies had sold out. The band recorded their new material in Cayambe, Ecuador, and on November 10, 2017, they held the launch concert for their album "Me Fui A Volver" at the Sucre National Theater in Quito.
