By José Gandue @Gandour
We said it in our review of the Almax festival, held in December in Bogotá: Kinky It's one of the best bands in the world. We're not ashamed to say it. This is a group with a crystal-clear image, sound, and live presence, captivating an audience whose numbers have grown incredibly in recent years. They serve as a shining example for new generations of artists across the continent. This band has maintained its brilliance since its debut album, released at the beginning of the century. Originally from Monterrey, they moved to Los Angeles some time ago, while maintaining close ties to Mexico and the rest of Latin America. They are about to release their next album, We were able to talk to Gil Cerezo, his lead voice, to comment on various details of his career:
After all this time, many are surprised that Kinky has survived and maintained its popularity among people of different generations. What's the secret?
For us, the freshness of music comes from the combination of many sources; we don't cling to anything and allow ourselves to be constantly evolving. The music made by new generations is the most impactful for us and directly influences our own.
How would you label the music Kinky makes today?
Electronic music. We're about to release a new album, which is the nemesis of our last material., MTV Unplugged, And we wanted to rediscover drum machines, synthesizers, and the exploration of software and plugins… that's where our search began.
Tell me about the new album. Who did you record it with, and what kind of sound is it trying to achieve?
Composed and produced entirely by us. Mixed by Tony Hoffer. It's precisely an exploration of sound, of the possibilities of electronic rhythms like House, Trap, Electronica, Disco, and of course, their Latin influences… The tracks touch on every possible subject from a personal perspective. Love, laughter, politics, death, travel, sex, madness, and humor form the core of the lyrics.
How distant do you feel from the band's early days, from their first album?
The early days still feel fresh; we continue to remember them as an essential part of our growth. And the band's ideology hasn't changed that much. Obviously, we're standing on a completely different platform, and our environment has undergone a 180-degree turn. The dawn of the digital age, electronic music becoming mainstream, our home in Los Angeles, laptop production, the size of concerts—all of these factors have influenced, in some way, how we compose and navigate life as a band. However, we still have the same concerns we started with. "You can take a man off the ranch, but you can't take the ranch off a man."«
What's life like in Los Angeles for a Mexican band?
Los Angeles serves as our base, though our spirit is truly nomadic and we travel every week. However, it's a mega-base. The music, technology, and entertainment scene is unstoppable, and everything happens here. The largest instrument convention, the studios, film productions, and concerts are always sources of work and inspiration… and daily life here is an incredible blend of cultures where Latin and Asian influences flirt. wellness With the self-destruction of mega-parties, the gangsta violence on the beach… I love this city and whenever we play here we feel loved like at home.
Unlike many Latin groups, you have a large Anglo audience. What do you think is the reason for this phenomenon?
Because we always mix our Mexican identity, our Latino side is always combined with our "global" vision of music.
Let's talk about other people, other projects: Does anything about the new Latin American electronic music surprise you?
There are interesting things happening in every genre. There's a very vibrant Techno scene in Mexico City: Mijo, Metrika, NSMPSM. The Naffi collective, which brings together electronic music and reggaeton. And artists who have stood out throughout Latin America like Nicola Cruz, or what Astro, Helado Negro, and Buscabulla are doing.
I forgot to ask you: What's the new album going to be called?
It doesn't have a name yet!!! We're working on that right now hehe…We released a single in the summer called Disappear, which is already out there on VEVO, on February 10th we have another single premiere You're Leaving.
Last question, and I don't want it to have a religious context: Will this (still) untitled album help you stay on the right path?
For us, the good path is always the "bad" one. We hope this album bothers some puritans and pleases many sinners.
