Ashley Rosas
Audio By Carbonatix
Dallas indie-pop band Luna Luna burst onto the local music scene near the end of the last decade and quickly became one of the most celebrated acts in North Texas. Their 2018 debut album, For Lovers Only, catapulted them seemingly overnight to the class of musicians destined to break out of Dallas. Songs like “For You” and “80’s Tune” established their funky, smooth sonic palette, which they further refined on tracks such as “Commitment” and “Call Me Up” in later releases.
These days, Luna Luna looks, sounds and moves a little differently. The band is one of the headlining acts at the upcoming Thin Line Fest in Denton, a five-day festival celebrating music, film and photography, offering performances at multiple local venues. This time, though, frontman Kevin “Kavvi” González will be the only original member on the Dan’s Silverleaf stage.
Last June, Kavvi announced in an Instagram post that keyboardist/vocalist Danny Bonilla, bassist Ryan “Gordo” Gordon and drummer Kaylin Martinez were no longer involved in Luna Luna, and that he would be continuing it as a solo project with a rotating live band. Going forward, he would act as the sole creative force, much like Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. Understandably, fans were shocked by the sudden lineup change, and many seemed more concerned with the nature of the split than what it meant for the music.
“… But was there a falling out?” one user commented on the announcement post. “Did the other 3 want to part ways? I’m happy for you, but sincerely hope this is an amicable split and not one of animosity.”
Going It Alone
When we recently caught up with Kavvi over Zoom, he quickly assured us that there’s no bad blood and explains that, in a way, this is a return to form for the project. Luna Luna began as something he made in GarageBand back in 2017, and when one of his friends “needed a band” to play a gig at Spinster Records, Kavvi quickly signed up despite having no band to speak of.
“I just decided I was gonna say, ‘Yes’ and fake it till I make it,” he says. “Eventually, I landed on Kaylin, Ryan and Danny, and stuck with that group.”
The four-piece was together from 2018 to 2025, allowing them to grow as artists along the way, which eventually included moving to Austin together and ingraining themselves in the scene there. Kavvi looks back on the last seven years fondly, but says, “I think that’s a long time to be with four people.” He alludes to how much work a one-on-one relationship can be on its own, and adds, “Now imagine adding three other people.”
He explains that their musical tastes and goals began to differ after the release of their most recent LP, 2021’s Flower Moon. He felt that rather than giving Luna Luna a swan song, going solo was the best way to honor the project.
“I don’t feel like I have to adjust my taste anymore,” Kavvi tells us.
What’s Queued Up
His newfound sense of artistic freedom is reflected in Luna Luna’s more recent releases. For Siempre, Pt. 1, the first EP from this new era, finds the Colombian-born, Dallas-raised musician experimenting with other genres and transitioning from the occasional verse in Spanish to now writing full songs in the language. “Perdóname” is a slow, sensual tune, while “Como Tú” is a fast-paced dance track that’d fit right in at the club. “Ven y Ven” delves into cumbia, something Luna Luna dabbled in before on the 2024 single “Una Vez Más.”
“I feel like I have to pay a lot more attention to the lyrics when I’m writing in Spanish,” he says. “I have to be more intentional on the lyrical side. I feel like I could get away with more in English.”
Many of Kavvi’s uncles back in Colombia also play music, which has bolstered his natural draw toward the craft. His musical journey began in middle and high school band, where he cycled through several instruments before landing on the trumpet. Things really started to take off after he received his first guitar for Christmas at 14 and began teaching himself how to play. That journey has led him to this full-circle moment of sorts, as he learns to go it alone again.
Kavvi is currently working on For Siempre Pt. 2, which he plans to release before the end of the year. Luna Luna’s latest single, “Sola Esta,” offers a glimpse of what to expect from the EP. The track beautifully blends bedroom pop chords with the electrifying elements of club music, nodding to the band’s past while evolving its sound in a way that feels fresh. In many ways, a project that Dallas quickly fell in love with is still finding new ways to make us fall even harder.
You can catch Luna Luna at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 30, at Dan’s Silverleaf as part of Thin Line Fest.
