MOSAIC COYOTE

Mosaic Coyote isn’t just your typical band, they’re here for the long-run - creating music that feels raw, authentic and unapologetically Californian. I had the chance to sit down with the guys in the beautiful spring surroundings of Malibu Creek in Los Angeles, with the sun shining, to chat through their journey, creative process, and what’s next for this exciting up-and-coming band. Their talent and passion are undeniable as they continue to refine their sound and make their mark in the heart of LA. I can’t wait to share them with you!

THE ORIGIN STORY

Founded by high school friends Ethan Estrada and Andrew Naranjo, Mosaic Coyote describe themselves as the “sound of the Californian coast”—somewhere between indie rock, coastal alt, and a free-flowing genre mashup. Think Cage The Elephant meets The Strokes, with a little Mapache influence thrown in.

“This sounds a little corny, but the sound is like the feeling of freedom—like a free-flowing sound. You can listen to it wherever or whenever. It’s a mix of genres, freeform—whatever comes out.” – Mosaic Coyote

The duo first started properly jamming during COVID, when downtime gave them the opportunity to experiment with their styles—Ethan with his acoustic-driven approach, and Andrew with his rock influences.

“Ethan was more of an acoustic guy and I was more of a rock guy. When we first jammed out together, I was like, ‘Whoa, this works surprisingly well.’ So we kind of just came together and started writing music, and now it’s been like five years.” – Andrew

Those early sessions lit a spark in the pair, and over time, it became clear that what they were creating together felt different, more meaningful, more them. They shared the same drive to make music that felt special, something they could truly call their own. From that spark, Mosaic Coyote became their way of chasing that feeling and leaning into a sound that was fully theirs. And as they continue to grow, they’re still discovering new layers to their sound, which we’ll see more of in their first album release.

“We got the itch. We’re so committed to doing this! It’s not like every day is sunshine and rainbows, rock star life, but when there’s pockets of inspiration, we really get going.” – Ethan

MAKING THE MUSIC

Mosaic Coyote only started releasing music five months ago, but they’re moving fast. Their debut single Mosaic Coyote dropped at the end of 2024, and since then they’ve released Nostalgia Blues, Catalina, Tough Cookie, Wildfire, and Man on the Move. Their first album is dropping on April 24th —keep your eyes peeled!

“The stuff we’ve been writing is starting to sound more concrete, more us. I’ve noticed that when we write, it’s usually about capturing what comes out naturally in the moment.” – Ethan

Curious about their creative process, I asked how they actually build a track...

“With the first album, it was either he [Ethan] came up with the chords, or I did. Ethan would write some lyrics and we’d build off that. It could be a text, a voice memo, or just us being together.” – Andrew

“What I love about having Andrew as a bandmate is that we don’t actually know what we’re doing, and that gives us the freedom to do anything. There are no rules.” – Ethan

Mosaic Coyote - Tough Cookie (Acoustic) - Malibu Creek

THE NAME BEHIND THE BAND

You’re probably wondering—what the hell is a Mosaic Coyote? Well, there’s a story - of course there’s a story. Andrew was in San Francisco, sitting on a set of mosaic stairs, when a coyote casually strolled by. It was random, weird, and oddly perfect. He texted Ethan and said, “You’ve got to write a song about a Mosaic Coyote.” It just made sense… It became their symbol for creativity without limits - something wild, free, and unexpected that somehow worked.

“I’m really proud of Mosaic Coyote. It’s really California rock, it’s our first song and anthem…I like that one a lot.” – Ethan

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

One thing I love when talking to artists is digging into where their passion actually comes from. For Ethan and Andrew, the drive started young.

“It all started with guitar for me. Nobody in my family’s a musician, but my parents loved music. I remember in 8th grade me and my friends had this imaginary band called The Flying Fucks. I told my mom I wanted to play guitar after that.” – Ethan

“My parents put me in guitar lessons as a kid but pulled me out when they realised I wasn’t paying attention. I also grew up skateboarding, which has a big punk scene. A friend taught me Seven Nation Army and I was hooked. After that, it was YouTube tutorials and daily practice.” – Andrew

We even bonded over YouTube being a goldmine for learning. I taught myself some guitar on there too (nowhere near their level, but still). It’s amazing how you can go from playing a few chords to starting a band.

THE SHOWS & THE LA VIBE

The guys have been busy playing shows around LA, including two gigs at Davey Wayne’s and a recent set at Wylde Works in Santa Barbara.

“The second time we played Davey Wayne’s was a really fun show, lots of people showed out. Wylde Works was like NPR Tiny Desk vibes. Super fun.” – Ethan

They’ve been seeing momentum too - Instagram, TikTok, word of mouth. They’re still getting used to fans popping up from all over.

“It’s weird going on Spotify and seeing that you’ve had 1,000 listeners from France - I don’t even know anyone in France!” – Ethan

As a Londoner, I’m always struck by LA’s energy. Everyone’s chasing something. So I asked—does the competition in the LA music scene ever get to them?

“For me, I just want people to hear our music. It’s not about being better than anyone else. I just love music—creating it, listening to it.” – Ethan

“It’s more about collaboration than competition. We know this is what we want to do with our lives. There’ll be ups and downs, but if we grow naturally and stay confident in our music, we’ll be happy.” – Andrew

A SPECIAL NIGHT AT THE VIRGIL

Near the end of my trip, I finally had the chance to see them live at The Virgil in LA. I met the full lineup: Ethan (Lead Singer/Guitarist), Andrew (Lead Guitarist), Conrado (Bass), and Luke (Drums). To say I’d been looking forward to this night would be an understatement.

There’s something about seeing a band live that you just can’t get from listening to a recording. It’s not just about hearing the music; it’s feeling it, seeing it come to life in real-time. And when they hit that stage, I couldn’t help but think, “FUCK YES!” The energy was electric. The sound was next level. It’s rare to find a band where it all just clicks—and Mosaic Coyote has that. They played everything: Mosaic Coyote, Man on the Move, Wildfire, Catalina, Nostalgia Blues, Tough Cookie, and even teased a few songs from their upcoming album. But I’ve got to say, Sunshine Baby really stood out. It’s one of those songs that’ll stick with you for days, looping in your head long after the show’s over. I can’t wait for the release!

WHAT'S NEXT?

They release their debut album Mosaic Coyote on April 24th, with the Launch Show happening on April 25th at Aviator Nation Dreamland (be sure to get your tickets asap) - it’s going to be unreal. What I love about this band is that their goals go beyond just one good show. They want to build something that lasts.

“Even with this album coming out, we’re still finding our sound. We’ve got so many songs in the bank. We’ll keep creating - it’s a good problem to have.” – Ethan

Before I wrapped up, I had to hit them with the classic: Who would you love to open for?

“It’d be cool if Cage The Elephant opened for us.” – Andrew

“Open for us?!” – Ethan

“One day, yes…” – Andrew

“For me, probably The Strokes…that would be cool.” – Ethan

And finally, the big one - Where do you see yourselves in five years?

“World tours, baby! We want to be a huge band. I just want people to hear our music.” – Ethan

“I’d love to play Glastonbury or Coachella.” – Andrew

“Hell yes! Add Lollapalooza too. I don’t want us to be apologetic about our goals. This is important to us, we’ve got a vision and we’re chasing it.” – Ethan

I loved the energy, honesty, and ambition of Mosaic Coyote. The talent is there, I’m sure of it. And the best part? They’re just getting started. If you’re tired of selling a kidney to see your favourite artist live, maybe it’s time to find the next one.

Here at Access Valentino, we love nothing more than discovering the real deal—and Mosaic Coyote? They’ve got it.

Keep up with Mosaic Coyote:

Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube