Singer and guitarist Federico Aubele was recruited in the early 2000s by the label Eighteen Street Lounge, a property of the duo behind the Thievery Corporation. With their support, the Argentinian launched Gran Hotel Buenos Aires, his first complete album, in 2003. The album gave Aubele the opportunity to be heard around the world. His music is best described as a mix between reggae-dub, downtempo, folk, tango, and bolero. In 2007, Aubele released a second album, Panamericana, featuring a more sober and less electronic sound. A sequel, Amatoria, was released in 2009.