![_There's A Hair In My Psychedelic Psoup: Ty Segall and White Fence at the Mohawk [Show Preview]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2012/05/tysegallwhitefence-thumb-250x250-716638.jpeg)
Pachanga Interview: Mexican Institute Of Sound [May 30 / Fiesta Gardens]
Saturday, May 30
Fiesta Gardens (2102 Bergman Avenue)
Noon | G.A. $15 (advance) / $20 (door); Family 4 Pack $11.25 (each); V.I.P. $60
[info] | [tickets]
Last year, we were treated to some amazing bands -- we especially enjoyed sets by Nortec Collective’s Bostich + Fussible and Kanko. The Instituto Mexicano Del Sonido, or Mexican Institute Of Sound, is one act we cannot miss this year. The brainchild of Camilo Lara (DJ, producer, as well as general manager at EMI Mexico), M.I.S. dropped its brand new record Soy Sauce last month. Chock full of intoxicating concoctions encompassing a wide array of genres, Latin and beyond, the album reached #1 on the iTunes Latino album chart recently. Tracks like “Cumbia” and “Jalale” should get the dance party started just fine at Pachanga and interesting titled songs like “White Stripes” and “Karate Kid 2” will have the audience paying close attention to the lyrics. Needless to say, we’re expecting quite a memorable show.
We touched based with Lara earlier this month to learn more about his recording process and the inspiration behind some of those aforementioned songs.
Sum up Mexican Institute of Sound, its constituents, and its mission.
I wanted to create a bureaucratic band. Something that sounds like The Polyphonic Spree (in numbers) but it is actually just one person. This can give me the choice to tour with 10 people or simply alone. The Mexican Institute of Sound is me. One of the coolest things about a one-man band is that they can’t break up... and you only have to interview one dude!
We have been listening to the new album Soy Sauce -- tell us more about your recording practices -- we gather you employed a different process when you went into the studio for this album as opposed to your prior ones?
Yes, I recorded it in my shitty studio at home as I did with the previous ones. But this time I used two other studios as well. One of the guys from Molotov gave me a good rate on his studio, so I mixed the album there. Being in 3 different studios makes this record my Thriller…it actually cost money this time around!
I hired mariachis, had guests musicians, Holger on production, so…it was a big deal!
What other musicians did you bring on board for Soy Sauce? How did you get Ad Rock involved for the "Alocatel" remix?
I invited Mike D to my house last year when we performed together in Mexico City. Ad Rock came along with him so I gave him my records. Months later, he told me he wanted to do a track together. So we started sending each other ideas. I thought he was going to be too busy to do it, so I ended up doing the song alone. A month later, he sent me his version and it was great so we decided to put it as a remix on the album.
The rest of the guests are friends. The Café Tacuba guys have always been involved with M.I.S. They rock.
You have stated that track #1 "Cumbia" is your "interpretation of how Mexican modern music should sound like" -- what does pop music in Mexico currently sound like and what's wrong with it?
Pop music in Mexico sounds like pop music in Sweden or in Tokyo. Not so much identity. I think sometimes we are a little ashamed of our basic pop culture. “Cumbia” is definitely essential in the Mexico City landscape.
And "Reventon" is your "regular Friday night" -- what does a regular Friday night in the life of Camilo Lara usually entail?
Well, it’s my regular Thursday. I go out - bars and parties. I don’t do clubs that much. Most of the time, I go out because I have to perform.
What is the song "White Stripes" about?
Hmmm…it’s about a guy who is watching his girlfriend on the dance floor. “Right there is my girl, the one with white stripes, stripping.” Basically this guy is tired of his slutty girlfriend.
Listening to "Karate Kid 2" was quite enjoyable - are you a big fan of the movie?
BIG FAN!!!!!!! I wanted to do a whole album about it but it was too much and too complex. So instead I did a three minute tribute. I also want to do a tribute to Ferris Buller Day Off.
What inspired you to record "Sinfonia Adridulce," a cover of The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony"?
I hired some mariachis to record some things for other songs and by the time we finished we were totally drunk. Damn mariachis really drink tequila!
So I asked them to record that song. It was fun. I loved the idea of record a mariachi song drunk. Next day I remembered that I recorded it and I was just like… “whoa”!
I asked the Rolling Stones for their permission in releasing it. (Editor’s note: “Although the song's lyrics were written by Verve vocalist Richard Ashcroft, it has been credited to Keith Richards and Mick Jagger because the song uses the Andrew Oldham Orchestra recording of The Rolling Stones' 1965 song "The Last Time" as its foundation.” -- per Wikipedia.) Everyone told me it was going to be a nightmare, but it was actually super easy. So…voila! I love that song…
When and how did you get involved with EMI Mexico?
I started there when I was 16. Most of the artists there are my buddies. EMI is like my second home. I spent more time at EMI than at my parent’s house.
What can fans expect at your live set at Pachanga?
Crazy! Imagine the Ramones in a mariachi outfit! Live band. Very euphoric… energetic and wild…Punk cumbia!!!!
Thank you for speaking with Austinist.
[Pachanga Latino Music Festival Official]
[Pachanga Latino Music Festival MySpace]
[Mexican Institute Of Sound Official]
[Mexican Institute Of Sound MySpace]
