By José Gandue @Gandour Astronaut Project Archive Photos
I look up the word Panspermia in the dictionary. I find the following definition: «"Theory that maintains that the origin of life on Earth is of extraterrestrial origin.". That's the title of the new work by the Peruvian band Astronaut Project and in it I observe songs titled Reptilian Song, Planet X, Friends in the Stars y Reflection of the moon, among others, and I say "these people have something strange and interesting to say.". I listen to the album and it's a beautiful eclectic combination which includes ambient electronic moments, reminiscences of the new wave of the eighties, moments close to the most corrosive rock and takes of one or two speeches by John F. Kennedy talking about traveling outside our planet and conquering outer space. Panspermia It's a varied, intense album that takes us through different soundscapes, and the result is highly recommended. That's why we got in touch with Alberto Zegarra, their leader, and we asked permission to delve, with a few somewhat indiscreet questions, into their particular universe:
What is Astronaut Project about?
Astronaut Project began as a solo musical project and has since grown in both music and members. We are now six musicians: a violinist, a keyboardist, two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. The concept behind Astronaut Project is to explore and create new music within an infinite universe.
What does the band sound like?
The band draws on a wide range of influences, from pop and rock to industrial and electronic music. Their musical style is not limited in terms of composition and sound, which can range from the softest to the heaviest rock. Some songs may recall the sound of British bands from the 80s and 90s, while others evoke the latest indie music.
Where does your interest in outer space and all the alien theories surrounding your songs begin?
From a young age, I was very interested in science fiction, stories of alien abductions, and so on. I had many contacts in dreams with beings from other dimensions and also witnessed some flying objects in the sky. That's why this latest album comes with the concept of being visited by beings from other worlds and that we are not alone.
What do you do every day after 7 pm? I imagine you'll enjoy watching the show. Ancient Aliens, Or not?
Well, I don't watch many of those shows anymore because they exaggerate their theories and make light of the whole UFO thing. I prefer watching movies on Netflix and the occasional documentary about music or the planet.
Okay, now let's talk about something more down-to-earth: How do you see the current state of Peruvian music?
There are many new bands that sound great and are working hard to get noticed. The good thing is that the public is also looking for new sounds and attending concerts. The limitations of radio and TV are always a problem, but this motivates us to keep moving forward as a great team. Many bands like ours have played abroad at major festivals, which means we have very high musical quality.
I sometimes see Peru as a hidden gem of contemporary music that is finally coming out of the closet, do you feel something similar?
Yes. There are many independent media outlets supporting us here and abroad, like yourselves. That's very gratifying and allows us to keep moving forward. The key is persistence, and I've been doing this nonstop since 2015.
Your album is a bilingual work, primarily in English. Doesn't that hinder better communication with the local audience?
Yes, but I do it because I've listened to English music my whole life. It's very difficult for me to write in Spanish, but I try. The audience mostly speaks English, but I believe that sound and melody are more important in the music I make.
What are the band's plans now that the album has been released?
Well, the album's out now, so we need to start performing live. We're hoping more opportunities will arise to keep playing here and abroad. We hope to go to Colombia someday; we have some plans for next year that we hope will come to fruition so we can play there.
Finally: how do you feel about the upcoming anniversary of the moon landing?
That's going to be really cool because our parents were able to witness it live. Now that they're going to send astronauts back there, and with the technology that exists, we hope it will be clearer and we can observe the ruins of a lunar civilization that they say existed (laughs).
