Spanish singer/songwriter/guitarist Jairo Zavala formed DePedro in the late 2000s after accumulating an impressive arsenal of solo material during his stints with Calexico, Vacazul, and 3000 Hombres. DePedro, a name chosen by Zavala for its Spanish and Mediterranean timbre, reflects the Madrid native's love of Latin folk, flamenco, Afro-beat, and rock, as well as the pre-WWII blues that filled the homes of his grandparents. Zavala's eponymous debut album under that moniker arrived in 2008 on EMI.