Ariel Faz aka R.E.L. is a native San Antonio artist, musician, and producer. He founded Acquired Taste Preferred Records in 2000. R.E.L. was a founding member of several influential Texas hip hop groups, CHISME and ASTEX. R.E.L. has toured Texas, the Midwest, Southwest, West Coast, and Pacific Northwest extensively. R.E.L. has also played shows in Mexico City and Spain. He has released 13 albums since 2002. He has played many of San Antonio’s biggest stages; Luminaria, Market Square during Fiesta, and Ouster Bake, the Arneson River Theater, La Villita, and countless local venues.

ASTEX was founded in 1999. The music can now be described as 2000s Tejano indie art rap. The group had a punk ethos and made everything independently. From creating the artwork for the albums, to producing all the music using video games, recording and engineering themselves, and distribution and promotion. Everything was done without any label support or funding. All DIY

CHISME is R.E.L.of Astex and Progeny of Pointing Fingers. Chisme features live instrumentation with Progeny on MPC-1000 and R.E.L on a SP-404. Chisme is a nod to alternative electronica with a San Antonio twist. Chisme crafts a uniquely modern compositions, rooted in hiphop, that successfully breaks genre boundaries. Chisme hold their own amongst rock and hiphop acts alike. Chisme has toured toured extensively in the Southwest, West Coast, and Pacific Northwest. They were labeled San Antonio’s best hip-hop group by the San Antonio current in 2012.

Discography:

ASTEX:  Self Release EP. 2002

ASTEX:  Duality album. 2004

ASTEX:  Acquired Taste Preferred Volume I. 2005

ASTEX:  Acquired Taste Preferred Volume II. 2006

ASTEX:  Monkey vs. Robot. 2007

ASTEX:  Acquire Taste preferred volume III. 2009

Chisme. Storytellers. 2011

Chisme. In one ear, out the other. 2012

Chisme. It’s okay to dream. 2014

Chisme. Nada Tengo. 2016

Chisme. Still Breathing. 2019.

R.E.L:  The Phattest City. 2008

R.E.L.:  Summer Heat. 2018

Notable San Antonio performances.

Luminaria  2008

Luminaria 2013

Fiesta Market Square 2013

SA Current Best Of SA Party 2013

Luminaria 2015

Maverick fest 2015

Arneson River Theater 2015