After a sharp return earlier this month with the jangly and bittersweet “No me digas,” (find it here) Madrid’s NOGATO are back today with “Al otro lado del andén” — both edgy and melancholic but no less direct follow-up. Alongside the new single comes a music video, and a guest feature on the latest track by fellow artist Jardin Animal.
“Al otro lado del andén” (“On the other side of the platform”) drifts into the space between vulnerability and hesitation, channeling emotional vibes through mid-tempo emo-punk. The lyrics center around a moment of silence at the edge of confession, where timing collapses and words never spoken become permanent. “I still remember / seeing you across the platform / staring at your phone / waiting for the last train,” the vocalist recounts in a tone that’s neither dramatic nor indifferent, just resigned. “I was just scared of what you’d think / and that you’d never wanna see me again.”
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It’s the second single off their upcoming sophomore album Lo que he ganado, lo que he perdido (“What I’ve Gained, What I’ve Lost”), set for release in early September. The band describes the album as “about the passage of time, letting go of people you thought would always be there, welcoming new ones, and growing up.” The themes carry a kind of emotional clarity, reflecting the band’s recent years of instability, reformation, and slow creative recalibration.
NOGATO’s first LP came out during a strange time — the group had just relocated to a new city, started to settle in, and then the pandemic hit. “Just as we were starting to settle in, the pandemic hit and everything stopped,” they explain. Following that, Zumaco (drums) and Enrique (guitar) left the band, triggering a long period of uncertainty. That chapter closed when Alex (guitar) and Xian (drums) joined. “From the very first rehearsal something just clicked,” they recall. “There was a spark that made us all know this was the lineup.”
The new record was shaped slowly and deliberately — by revisiting older songs, writing new material, and building something more cohesive out of the chaos. According to the band, “that process made the songs feel tighter and more honest than ever.” That honesty shows especially in tracks like album closer “Las piezas que faltan” (“The missing pieces”), a song that lends the record its title. “It’s about rebuilding yourself even when you don’t have all the pieces,” they say. “Those ‘missing pieces’ are everyone who’s been part of this project at some point. It also touches on that weird pressure of feeling like everyone around you is moving forward while you’re stuck.”
The stress of being in a band — personal investment, constant deadlines, booking logistics — is part of what the record grapples with, too. “It’s also about everything we’ve poured into this: countless hours, money, and the stress of booking shows almost a year in advance, only to end up feeling like you’re always barely making it to every deadline you set for yourself,” they explain. But there’s also perspective in that struggle: “It’s all worth it when you’re on stage, sharing that rush with your friends and the crowd.”
NOGATO are already thinking beyond new releases. “There are actually a few songs we wrote toward the end of the process that we decided to save for later,” they admit. There’s more to say, and they know it. “We do have a song called ‘Lo que nunca dije’ (‘What I Never Said’) so we might have to be careful here haha.”
Alongside their own release today, NOGATO also appear as guests on Tren Bala, new single by Jardin Animal (featured on IDIOTEQ last year)— a nod to the Nicaragua emo-punk scene.
Commenting on their Madrid scene, “there are so many bands doing amazing stuff right now,” they say, citing Boys Kissing Boys, Comic Sans, Carantoña, Laid, Garbí, and Bernal as some of their road trip regulars. One special connection is with CSA Las Vegas in Málaga, where they might be the band that’s played the most.
“It’s beautiful to see people of all ages and backgrounds forming bands together and sharing a space that welcomes everyone,” they add. Also, the burritos at those shows — reportedly — are “always incredible.”
NOGATO’s direction feels very intentional. “We still have a lot to say,” they conclude, and for now, “Al otro lado del andén” says exactly enough.
Can’t wait to hear more from these guys.
