By José Gandue @Gandour
Pepe Mogt He was one of the most active musicians in Latin America during 2020, despite all the challenges that arose. In the midst of the pandemic, whether individually or alongside his comrade-in-arms in Nortec, Ramón Bostich never stopped generating musical experiences that reached every corner of the world (virtually, of course). His album Maija Awi It is a fine audiovisual work that takes advantage of the desert landscapes near his native Tijuana and whose result has amazed the specialized press. Even in lockdown, he hasn't lost touch with the current state of the music industry, and so we decided to interview him to find out, from his point of view, what has happened and what awaits us in the future:
How would you personally describe 2020?
A year that began with many plans at its outset, only to have them collapse in March, with only one goal achieved: returning to VIVE LATINO. The rest was filled with uncertainty, watching distant friends grow closer, and close friends drift apart as a result of the virus, which affected many, mostly more mentally than physically. I also saw friends who, sadly, were taken by the virus. All of this made me realize it was time to forge new connections: A collaboration with Born in Mexico in Reset audiovisual experience; Maija Awi, My album and visual installation in collaboration with friends like Ejival, Aello, Leyva and Tesoro; and it gave me time to experiment on my own with other musical aspects during the lockdown.
All in all, it was a very busy year, wasn't it?
Yes, quite a lot, and I think we'll see much of that activity in the form of music to be released in 2021, a year that promises hope.
What do you think is left for the music industry after this year?
A purge, a reset, A refinement of musical appreciation for new ears is coming, and a major change is on the horizon. Local culture will gain more prominence.
You seem more optimistic than I expected. What has allowed you to achieve this state of mind?
I think music has nourished me a lot, and especially listening to a lot of new music that brings this energy; you can feel it in most of the productions I've discovered this year, many of which are part of my playlists like Electronic Cash Box o Mental Relaxation and Oscillators
What interesting artists have you discovered during this time?
Something like 300 Mexican artists making electronic music, and some from abroad. I could mention Aleksi Perälä, Craven Faults, a delightful return from Ultramarine—very good music this 2020. Even my bandmate Ramón Amezcua dusted off his gear and released an album.
During 2020, have you noticed anything in music that you don't want to see repeated once we overcome this setback?
I've always valued the work of DJs (I'm a DJ myself, in addition to composing). The industry has definitely broken down in this area, with exorbitant prices for DJs who sell more image than musical content, and that absurdity is something I'd like to see eradicated since it only fosters mediocrity.
During these days, have you had time to discover musical genres that you never imagined you would like?
For my age, I think I've listened to quite a lot. However, the world has a universe so vast that it would take me several lifetimes to appreciate all its music. What I can assure you is that this year I've dedicated myself fully to what I consider the most refined (or pretentious) electronic music, which includes ambient, psychedelia, house, and techno.
Finally, any advice for the survivors of this experience?
We need to be strong with ourselves and be able to spread this energy to others, in order to collectively overcome any adversity, as has been the case in 2020.
