Mexican rockers Rey Pila are set to to head out on the road for a UK tour with label mate Albert Hammond, Jr. The band are fresh from signing to Julian Casablancas’ Cult Records and their new single ‘Alexander’ is also about to be released. Gigslutz caught up with the band to find out more…
GS: Hello! Lets kick off with a standard question. For our readers who may not have heard you, how would you describe your sound?
RP: Hmmmm always a difficult question, but how does this sound? It’s alternative with classic rock cues, sometimes a bit “dancy”, guitar driven/synth laden extravaganza.
GS: Unique. Check it out for yourselves readers. So how has 2013 been for you as a band? What have been the highlights?
RP: It’s certainly been a good year, but had to be very patient for things to start happening. The highlights include signing to Cult Records and meeting Julian [Cassablancas] and the Cult crew, releasing “Alexander”, CMJ, a magic hour outdoor show at SXSW in Austin and DJing with Har Mar Superstar and…Macaulay Caulkin!
GS: Macaulay Caulkin! Top. How will your new record differ from your first album?
RP: In many ways. First of all, the first album was a solo-project, and this new one was done as a band. Soundwise, the first album went all over the place in terms of influences and sounds, from Motown to shoegaze, with a different producer, and this new one we feel is a bit more focused, polished and concise, although still very varied.
GS: Sounds promising. You have previously mentioned 70 / 80’s vintage electronics as inspirations. Will we hear a lot of this on the album?
RP: Yes, we had the chance to record the new album at DFA Studios, so we had access to an impressive collection of vintage synths and beat boxes that are all over the album.
GS: Cool, as well as those references, what other musical influences do you have?
RP: Each one of us brings different influences to the table, but to name a few in which we all coincide: Brian Eno, Depeche Mode, Sonic Youth, Bowie, Boards of Canada, Joy Division, Ramones, Roxy Music…
GS: And how did it come about signing to Julian Casablanca’s label?
RP: It was quite accidental….We sent out our new album to several people/labels while we were on a small US/Canada tour. The story as we now it know is that ‘Alexander’ was playing in someone’s computer just as Julian was walking through the French Kiss label group’s offices, and it caught his ear. A few weeks later we got an email from him and signed to Cult afterwards…
GS: What was the thinking behind having ‘Lady In Red’ as the B side of your ‘Alexander’ single?
RP: We’ve always thought it’s a damn good song (though corny as hell), and after watching this scene in American Psycho where Patrick Bateman is listening to the song it just hit us…We recorded it and Julian thought it’d make a good b-side for “Alexander”, so there it is…
GS: What has been your musical highlight to date?
RP: Recording the new album together at DFA Studios
GS: You will be coming to Manchester soon for a show Gigslutz will be covering. Are you aware of the city’s musical heritage and are you a fan of any of the other bands?
RP: Of course! We love many Manchester bands, we’re very excited to be playing there…Some of our faves are the Stone Roses, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Doves…
GS: Good stuff! What can we expect from the Rey Pila live show when we pop along?
RP: A good time, probably some random Spanish banter thrown at you, toasting with the band, at some point you won’t know if to dance or to headbang or if you can do both at the same time…haha
GS: Ha! When you are not being rock n roll stars, what are your other passions?
RP: Football for sure, some of us crazy about it….Movies….batting cages…dogs…tuna tostadas
GS: Quality. And before we go would you like to pick 3 songs for a mini playlist for our radio show? These can be your own, other bands, guilty pleasures, anything!
Brian Eno – Backwater, Boards of Canada – Roygbiv, Talk Talk – It’s My Life
GS: Corkers. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go Chicharito!
