By José Gandue @Gandour Maine in Havana photo archives
Obviously, the world remains a suitable place for incredible stories and unexpected musical groups. As fate would have it, I recently received material from a band based in Montpellier, a city near the French Mediterranean coast., of psychedelic/garage/blues/rock sound, For those who remember good television series, as soon as they hear it, they'll think they're listening to... The soundtrack for the first season of HBO's wonderful and macabre production called True Detective. If sound could transmit certain smells, Maine in Havana, The band in question evokes the sounds of road trips through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and the surrounding areas, with a glimpse of the nearby Caribbean islands. And you might ask, what are we doing talking about a musical project like this if it's based in Europe? Well, At the helm is Puerto Rican Enrique Lecleres, The owner of a voice so deep it sounds like it came from an African American church located across from a strip club, Lecleres moved to the old continent a few years ago and formed this band that released its first album a few weeks ago., a fascinating journey of 10 songs that last a little over half an hour in total And I can tell you, as the listening sessions are repeated, they get a little more exciting every second. It's a magical album.
We have located Lecleres and We started chatting with him to find out more about his group and his future plans to try to seduce the planet with unexpected tunes:
How does a Puerto Rican end up singing in a band in Montpellier?
A few years ago, I moved to Montpellier with my wife, who's from the region. I met many musicians there, but it was after collaborating on a short-lived Ramones tribute that I met the people who would later collaborate to create Maine in Havana.
What does Maine in Havana sound like?
I'd say it sounds like the dampness of the swamps in the southern United States or the jungles of the Caribbean. Places where the world expects happiness and celebration, but which have a dark and unhealthy side. We were very inspired by early twentieth-century literary realism in Puerto Rico and by Western films: the sun, the beach, the bottle, and the switchblade (laughs).
It's dark music, and even more so with your deep voice. It's been a long time since I've heard a new voice with that tone.
Thank you… I've always been a fan of those voices… Tom Waits, Nick Cave… and so on. They always make me pay closer attention to what they're saying.
That's what I was going to ask you, what other influences do you have in the band?
Well, a little bit of The Cramps… The Doors… we have a little, but very little, of Cuban son and old salsa… but very little (laughs). A little bit of La Barranca too, in addition to the already mentioned Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
Where does the band's name come from?
As you know, Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States. In 1898, the American warship USS Maine exploded in Havana harbor, triggering the Spanish-American War. As a result, the Americans took possession of Puerto Rico, and from there a new breeding ground of cultural fusion emerged between the United States and the Caribbean. Therefore, that ship is a catalyst that metaphorically explains what we do: a bastardized mix of what we have in our subconscious.
How have they fared in a sound scene as different as the French one?
Well, I think people are happy to hear something different. I'm not saying our music is revolutionary, but I don't know many bands in our style in France. There's a good music culture here in France, but it doesn't always translate into tangible projects.
Explain that to me, please…
I think there's an incredible fear of failure here. Not many people are willing to abandon musical theories or styles that are currently working. Musicians know Nick Cave and love him, but not many are prepared to accept the potential ridicule that comes if the project doesn't work.
You decided to take the risk, what has the result been like so far?
So far, no one has ridiculed us (laughs). On the contrary, we've received very positive feedback from our audience and journalists.
What's next for you after all this Covid-19 stuff?
Well, we have to work with what we're allowed to do. We're still hoping that the concerts we have scheduled for the fall will go ahead. We're also using this time to compose new songs and prepare the next album. We're also mixing tracks we've already recorded so we can release them gradually.
Any plans for Latin America?
More than anything I would love a triumphant return to Puerto Rico (laughs), but we would love a small tour of South America in a year and take the opportunity to visit friends and colleagues.
