Exclusive Entrevista: Punk's Not Dead in Mexico -- XYX Rocks SXSW

By Sandra Roldán

This week we're bringing you lo major de SXSW! Meet some of our top Latin indie picks, Maldita Vecindad, Bomba Estéreo, Girl In A Coma, and more!

We caught up with psychedelic experimental punk group XYX while on their way to SXSW this year to ask them about the Monterrey music scene, how they would define their music style and who they're pumped to see perform este año.  Bandmates Mou and Anel also clarified what they think their music really sounds like: trippy! Read on!

Blogamole: We've noticed your music being called "no wave," "avant-punk," "noise punk," etc.  How would YOU describe your music?

ANEL: A powerful trio of sounds on a trip to the outer space: distorted chaotic bass guitar, human machine drumming, delayed melodic shouting vocals.

MOU: Anel does the first and the third, I do the human machine drumming and place the mics when we are recording. I think our music goes beyond those tags. It has pretty well-defined melodies so it is not No Wave and I tend to incorporate as many different and interesting rhythms that definitively can't be labeled as punk.

It's just our own version of psychedelia.

Alaska y Los Pegamoides

Blogamole: What are some of your biggest musical influences? Are there any Latin bands that you look to for inspiration?

ANEL: Roky Erickson, the members of Los Pegamoides (early 80s Spain) and Vodka Family Winstons. The amazing mexican drummer Carlos Icaza [Los Fancy Free] is an inspiration for all music nerds living in me.

MOU: At the moment... Los Tepetatles!

Blogamole: What does it mean for you guys to represent this style of music, and Monterrey, Mexcio's music scene, at this year's SXSW? What kind of audience are you looking to reach?

ANEL: I think we are representing more than a music style. I think we represent a total freedom of expression in the incalculable ways you can create so much with so little. We don't represent THE scene, we represent ourselves as part of a scene, a growing but still very underground one in our country. There are other mexican bands playing SXSW this year, that don't sound like us, not remotely close, at all, we don't even know each other.

MOU: We dont have a target audience, but I guess trippy people always get what other trippers do.

Blogamole: Are there any other bands you think are worth checking out at SXSW this year?

MOU: Ratas del Vaticano from Monterrey and Wounded Lion from LA. But I guess the fun this year is not going to be in Austin. The MtyMx Festival for All Ages is going to be on March 20, 21 and 22nd in Monterrey and there's going to be buses directly from Austin to the festival. 80 bands in 3 days for $30 dollars -- it's the best deal you can get. Amazing bands like Acid Mothers Temple [Japan] or Thee Oh Sees playing. check http://toddpnyc.com/mtymx/ for more info.

Blogamole: Where do you see your music going in the next few months/years? Are you working on releasing a full-length album soon?

ANEL: We just finished recording a whole set of songs that will work for an LP. We'll be looking for labels to put it out on vinyl soon. After that, I guess we can tour for the rest of the year, and the future is unknown.

MOU: Yes! the new album is going to be a good one. Maybe it will be out in the summer. Hope we can bring more good trips to people out there in space!

Check out XYX's Myspace Page to listen to their distorted psychedelic beats, get more info on tour dates and more!

Tags Exclusive Entrevista, indie, Monterrey, psychedelic, punk, Rock, SXSW, XYX