Matisse Essentials

It's no surprise this Baja California pop trio took their name from the famed French artist Henri Matisse. Like his paintings, their poignant sound possesses a rare uncluttered-yet-expansive quality. Soulful acoustic balladry like “Nada”, with its gently strummed guitar and stripped-back vocals, comes naturally to the Latin Grammy nominees. But the genre blending of their forthright anthems and use of unconventional instruments (“Así el Amor Se Muere”, “Duele Amarte Así”) also show their determination to defy expectations.