Rafo Ráez (Lima, 1968), who in a song encourages its listeners "do not give this interview," was made some time off and, despite all odds I gave this interview. Amicably, and holding an acoustic guitar, with which at times accompanied the exchange of words, he answered neatly each of my questions. The result: a long conversation that runs throughout his recording career, we talk about music in English and English, and refers to the contemporary Peruvian poetry. Dear reader / listener I invite you to dive into this dialogue with some of the leading exponents of rock in Peru. There are more than a surprise. As there is a sentimental training for writers, musicians for musical training there. What is your early training? The
70. I listen to music avidly since childhood.
How old were you about?
Four or five years.
What you listen to?
Beatles, Nino Bravo, Abba, Bee Gees, Salvatore Adamo, ELO "Roller" by April Wine remember which was the first thing I heard loud rock. "Disco Club started in the 70?
I did not exist. It was not sperm.
Well, Gerardo Manuel led the program to children. In fact his departure was "taking all his milk." And, indeed, were people who drank our milk. We were primary school ... Oh, I heard Paul McCartney, Wings, which was a group quite seventies.
And a group in the 70 you scored?
Paul McCartney, who was Wings. Although it was never clear whether Paul was involved in a solo or group. I remember one Christmas I did not want a toy-apache, I believe, and I opted for a disk, which is the first record I bought: Wings, Greatest Hits. And I bought it for Mull of Kintyre, which is one of the pinnacles of rock fusion in the history of folk music.
Then, Paul Mc Cartney was your player of 70.
Actually what more I heard in the house was classical music, because there was a large collection of it. I was not playing guitar. I wanted to play piano. What I was trying to run classical music. My approach to popular music was Paul McCartney.
When did you start playing instruments?
The exact year can not remember. But my older brother loved to Los Panchos. And he had an acoustic guitar and a songbook of Los Panchos-of Editorial Anyarín Injante Toribio, who pulled (and perhaps still shooting) huaynos booklets and the like. So, I stole his guitar and songbook. And it was. So I started.
If 70 was your early musical training, how the 80 had clearly going to be a musician?
In the 80 I found out I was in the 70's a lot of music that I had not heard. For example, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Who, Seru Giran, Pistols. I focused, therefore, to investigate the 70, I had lived differently. Also in the 80's pop art rescued: Blondie, Devo, etc.
What the 80 were in school? Yes
And at what point do your first rock band?
Ráez My first band "The form immediately after leaving school. It was a seventies band.
"They got a record?
No. It happened at that time that, as terrorism, people did not leave his neighborhood. So we were like rock stars in our neighborhood. The girls were screaming from the second concert. The group was a success.
What neighborhood are you talking about?
Salamanca.
Is that what year was it?
My band started playing in January 86.
How then knew what they were doing underground? Did you know of Narcosis, Leusemia, Zcuela Cerrada, Own Voice?
I personally knew Daniel F., because there was an invitation to all rock bands used liberally to the theater of the Ministry of Education, remaining in the building that faces the university park. And at that meeting we met. For example, had a wonderful group called Salon Dada, who was the one I liked. Progressive rock groups like mine, we shared space with underground groups. The difference was that the underground groups were new, and we were as old as hippies out of time. You
did you get your first album of the year 96.
Before there were other tapes. A gig at night and a demo called "If we live," it was Daniel F. and a little Pancho Müller.
Your first album, "Suicidal 16", was the best record for the magazine Caleta. "By then it was clear that you dedicate to music?
In the 70 was a listener. In the 80 was a fan. And in the 90 am someone with a proposal., Marriage was the hippie heritage with punk heritage. Thing that people like Ronald coincided Attitude Frantic, I have been doing something that sounded like grunge from 88 practically. And we were lucky that this marriage proponents agree with the groups that followed the Pixies. Pixies drove something that later became the grunge.
you just say that your proposal marriage was a hippie heritage with punk. However, your first album has many references grunge. There's even a song dedicated to Kurt Cobain's death. Even primary Innocence devil is grunge.
"The devil's primary innocence" is 87-88, has sounded like the 90 was for the same reasons that the 87-88 Pixies albums sound great 90 so far. That is, there were a number of people worldwide who had the same influences and hence came to similar results. Look, Kurt Cobain was born 67. I am born 68. Clearly Kurt board punk folklore. And we did the same. In fact, the most original were the Pixies. When you listen, you say: what the hell have heard these before? And that is because the player is Filipino and so on. It's a really weird group.
There is a detail of 90. I remember going to school parties at the time, and everyone danced to rock. Moreover, we danced to Metallica. Which is impossible at present. Therefore, it seems to me that 90 was the decade of U.S. rock explosion in Peru, which was called alternative rock. "You listened to alternative rock?
course. It was like I had finally reached the music we wanted to arrive some time.
What
groups listen to?
Nirvana, Blur, EMF.
"Pearl Jam?
No, I never captured. I can mention to Sound Garden.
Peruvian Do you hear the 90's?
Mojarras listened to. I know the huge they formed. Cachuca has a throat that looks like a leg. It is an amazing singer. All Mojarras time before his tour in Europe is a blessing to have lived.
What other groups listened to the 90?
The Romances of Daniel F.
"La Raza?
I did not like.
Common Insane?
I do not think they liked the Castilian.
Cemetery Club ", released in an album by the magazine Caleta?
No, no. I remember frantic attitude, which is always good to repeat, is "perhaps" the first grunge band in the world.
Who was the first Pixies or frantic attitude? I think
Pixies. But were not as hippies. Moreover, payment Frantic Attitude a high price for advocating marijuana. I think it's the first post Velazco group spoke of marijuana, and that reason they were left out is because they were the first who spoke clearly on the subject.
Hair "with the League Madueño Sleep?
"Overland" I think a great album.
Drinking the Sea "?
What I liked about them was the "Sunnah".
After the "Suicidal 16", comes "The Fool and Dirty" which is the late 90's. It seems that grunge air is neglected.
But it has enough of grunge.
has more than punk, I think. I remember the punk of "Vampire of friendship "or" The Crazy punk and dirty. "
But "She does not have a project" is very grunge. "Serpent God" also is grunge. It's like what later became Foo Fighters. "The Old Green" is grunge. Vampire grunge feel friendly also.
I do not notice it as well.
Look, which also had the song is melting. And Fusion is not just mix your folklore with outsiders, but also to mix two things outside, like punk and grunge.
there anything on this album highlight. "Nothing like a smile from you" was a song that was curtain Music for a miniseries. Was it your first encounter with the media?
Yes, the miniseries was a knife and Malu, who led Aldo Salvini for Iguana Films. And actually my first contact with the media was to "Celtic, in another galaxy." Ofelia Lazo, who became famous at 60 with a series called Natacha, in 80 it was decided to make a play for children about ecology. Then, he hired my father, and he saw me all day with his guitar, hired me to do music. Incidentally, my old man's letter. Yo, before taking my first record, I have been a musician for the contract in such things.
After "El Loco and dirty," comes the "Muéranse." I remember reading in Caleta magazine that was your hard drive change. Your sound on that record is different. Spinetta have influence.
Mira, which is influenced by Spinetta is Cerati. And I adore Cerati. But I failed to sympathize with Spinetta. Before hated him.
riffs But the first song of "Muéranse" are very Spinetta.
But blame it on Cerati. Look, for me, "Puff" is one of the best albums in rock history.
Muéranse In rap there is. Is Clearly, then, you no longer have an influence grunge.
Well, "Doctor Merengue" battery is beginning to influence rap. "Old Green" has a rap very clear to the media. He had done things to rap. That is, music as I did think The General never bothered me.
"Vico C?
I've enjoyed.
Lisa M.
not connect well with her. Vico C and El General are people who have always respected, I have always defended. I toneado with them.
There is a song with an air of Bossa Nova in Muéranse.
I studied piano and learned nothing. But at home where I taught piano was a collection of Bossa Nova, by Chico Buarque. And this is associated more MPB, which is the movement of Brazilian popular song immediately after the Bossa Nova.
In "Muéranse" there are also punk. Do you removable from the grunge wave on that disk?
In this disc is a very grunge song called "Shame to exist." It is a grunge song with battery, but it is grunge. Moreover, as a detail of generational overlap, Joe Gallo, of Theremyn 4, which came to be the drummer in a band grunge, start using at the time the electric battery. Sure, he is a drummer, who wanted to wear the battery. I, on the contrary, I have preferred to other instruments.
Muéranse is from 2000. Then comes the "Shirt", which already has another sound. That is, Caleta were right: the "Muéranse" was an album of change. Therefore, the "shirt" is not at all like "Suicide 16." However, the "Shirt" has songs that I respect a lot. For example, "Blas" by the theme of reading and children. Or another song that I think must be a generational anthem in Peru as "The Dance of the leftover" of Prisoners in Chile. I mean "The man who wanted to be a tree."
Well, in his own way has become famous.
What happens to that song, "The man who wanted to be a tree," when the time comes Fujimori. At that time it had destroyed democracy, Fujimori managed to kick out, but then came the question: what would come next? Does this speech after the song?
"The man who wanted to be a tree" is about the choice to take root. We always say that our past is our roots. And I fight every day against this lie. Our past is not our roots. The roots are something that is alive, who have much future as the branches. Truly healthy roots are still growing.
What you say is more or less, which says Mariategui: he argues that the tradition is not static but in motion, under construction. Is that's what you mean?
prefer to use the image of the tree, because I can talk about the underground. What are the roots underground. We see the tree, we see the branches. But who wants to see the roots will have to kill the tree. And it does, will never understand the tree. So I believe that music is a marriage and the invisible. Because music is an art of sound, of the unseen. And I think the invisible things such as roots, as the underground, have a mystical marriage with the music.
The "Shirt" is a song called "Concrete Love, love abstract." It sounds like grunge, but at a different grunge you did at first.
Well, that song is heavily influenced by a wonderful group of 90 called Underworld, which is the electronic music group that has worked the theme of the letters and voice.
Here in Lima was known for the track "Born Slippy", which was part of the soundtrack of Trainspotting.
course, "Amor particular abstract love" is a bit of our answer to Trainspotting.
The shirt is from 2000. What you heard groups earlier this decade?
Bjork, Underworld, Blur, Cake, Puff-the-Cerati, Aterciopelados, Susana Baca, Coldplay, Manu Chao, Stereolab.
Peruvian Groups "? "Turbopótamos?
Yes I went to its first concerts. I liked it better before. In the "Shirt" is a song called "unprofessional", which is a response to the first demo of Turbopótamos.
Bareto "?
I have not connected with Bareto. Cemetery
consolidated club 2000.
not connected with them. At that time we worshiped Methadone disc (the band and Fernando Requena Sandra Ford) "Stop suffering."
Natasha "Luna?
Its minimalist piano was an influence for Chaski Changes.
Fucking "Hats?
not
Catervas "?
No. It's just that I like the Castilian. They do not speak clearly.
His latest album is very good. I recommend it.
have a nice video.
But either spoken Castilian English.
Well, hopefully.
After the "Shirt" comes the "Gift". The sound is different. It is something like wordmusic. He approaches what he does Susana Baca and Ruben Blades in his recent albums.
The Gift I suppose he has Brazilian influences such as a child I liked. It has a lot of Chico Buarque. I love Chico Buarque.
gift is important in the music, but what I find most important is language. Was it a preparation for what later would for Watanabe?
A Joseph liked the "Shirt."
How do you perceive the "gift" in the line of your other albums?
I perceive as the A side of "Muéranse" which is the B side of "Gift." The "Muéranse" is a slap to wealth. And the "Gift" is a slap in the face of poverty. And I think it is important that everyone, at least once in life, reach those ends. Because the real human being is beyond wealth and poverty, are borders we must cross to get to know the truth.
Did you get to play the "Gift" live?
Just once. Happens to be expensive. Need a FAMILION of people on stage. And, frankly, very talented people. Because, although I am the director or architect, also I have the pleasure of being influenced by the people I work with.
Names?
For example, in the "Muéranse" Oscar Reategui, which I think is an important person in what is the noise in Peru. And in the "Gift", Mino Mele and Javier Lazo, who composed the singles of Susana Baca. And the same Susan, with whom, is an open secret, we form a workshop where we did things with sound. And someday it will be displayed in CD was done in the workshop, called "Gold Sugar." The "Gift", then, is an album influenced by the workshop.
Gift After the disk is Watanabe. Let's talk about Peruvian poetry. What are your favorite authors?
Oquendo de Amat, Luis Hernandez, Watanabe. And in particular, although that is not considered a poet, to move me much Arguedas. Since I knew his work in the late 80's, I've always moved a lot. Well, Vallejo, who is the father of all. It is omnipresent.
How was working with Watanabe? "He touched the side of the music? "You used to play the side of the letters?
Say that 99% of the letter is from him. And he let me touch the rest. The same thing happened with music. Because it was also a workshop, with questions, challenges, trials and error. Mud fish has eleven songs, but were made as fourteen.
remember the "Mud Fish" two songs that I love. "Elephant" it is one that I really like it because the lyrics and the music fits very well. And "In addition to the iron gate, which is a sad song. I sent it to a former girlfriend and it worked.
Good. That's what the songs. What I've mentioned is very important, except that it is important because you have lived. The questions did Joseph and I made to me were questions like: what good is a song? And a song is for people to reconcile. Or for people to be insulted. Now you tell me the song has been helpful, I think that we would be happy to Joseph. Because it is precisely the approach Joseph gave the songs. At least not focused as pretty or ugly song.
So it was not purely aesthetic.
No, he wondered how the songs entwines the lives of people. So once I said that the album is like a movie kind of young people trapped, imprisoned in the city. Because it was the character that he was concerned, that he was hurting.
The sound of the album "Mud Fish" and is a sound Ráez Rafo.
's actually my first album, whose musical production I've directed. It's that low are more important than the guitars, that Castilian is THE CASTILIAN, complex battery move from one form to another narrative pace, a high volume that causes you to dance. There are a lot of things deliberately.
Watanabe After the disc is the "Chaski Changes." Do not go to offend, but to me, "Chaski Changes" is a downer. Why are you encouraged to use the piano? Clearly not mastered.
Look, why most festival-goers groups have the right to play the guitar like a pig and nobody will have the right to play the piano like a pig? What is the guitar that is not the piano.
It happens that the rock is guitar, drums. The piano is used only as an annex.
No, piano rock is also from Little Richard. There was a guy who rose above the piano and stood. People have the shell of playing a guitar badly, but do not want to play a fairly bad piano. To be decided: are punks or not?
In my perspective, the "Chaski Changes" are two songs that use piano and are not precisely good. These are "The caminerito."
That is why Raúl Loza. What makes the Caminerito is very commendable. The song is a battery only Raúl.
The other song is "2.6."
the end there is a keyboard.
In other songs you want to generate atmospheres, the vocal work, but you do not.
Actually this album is the answer to all groups that hold the guitar without knowing touch.
But if you wanted to make a response, do not you think you should have caught knowingly play the piano well?
I play the guitar as well as they play the guitar. It is simply a matter of habit.
there a song you rescued from which to play piano: "Your ex, my ex. "
is very Susana Baca.
I think if all the songs have reached this pinnacle, because "your ex, my ex" is a top, Chaski Change would have a good record. But it seems that the other songs with piano or practices are failed attempts to reach "your ex, my ex."
Look, someone had done a song that says what it says "Let him die at home? This song says something that someone needed to say. Sometimes you make a song to say something that goes without saying. In other words, "Let him die at home" to me proud. I know it is played by a pianist that I am wrong, but it is a song that had to exist for there to be a little more cosmic balance. Because ultimately the music is about: balancing situations. That is, how many songs are doing now, with three guitar chords, they say exactly the same as already said before seven hundred songs. That is what the industry has taught us to do: draw seven hundred times the same song with the same chord. This is an industrial approach. However, a second defense argument in favor of "Chaski Change" is as follows: assuming it's a lower disc in my discography, I can say that the sketches are one thing, but abortions are another matter. And there are sketches that have to exist.
're giving me
theoretical justifications ... Look, in the 80 underground groups, Salon Dada, for example, sounded better than "Chaski Changes", but said something that it was time for someone to say in that Lima at that time. The "Chaski Changes" is an album that is highly targeted to those who do not know anything about me.
When working with literature, the working material is the word. When working with songs, the working material is the music and lyrics, the merger of these two. From that perspective, from a purely aesthetic, the songs on "Chaski Changes" are bad. What say you wanted to be rescued. But the music is bad. And the union of both elements gives something awful.
Look, in the morning, the first thing I did upon waking is to hear the "Chaski Change." But even I can tell you is a bad disc. It happens that at the time told me things and I keep saying things. Maybe it's an album full of suggestions. And maybe it's not a finished picture, but a sketch. But I'm hundred percent sure it's not an abortion. Indeed, there are parts that are more finished than others. "Your ex my ex" is finished to commercial. Or "I Suicide" is a single. But is not living in a world and a city that is seven hundred songs, with the same chords with the same letters, made by seven different groups? And are not leaving seven groups with the same characteristics? Against this background, is not it "Chaski Changes" a record that it was time someone did? Also, when you work as a musician hired to ambitious business advertising, what you see is that they are a part of the spirit of the people they care a damn. In that sense, "Chaski Changes" is an anti-commercial album. The pop song of the album, "I Suicide" has a anti-pop lyrics. The happiest song is the bonus track. But actually, there is a black cloud over the disc. And everyone will have to live once a period of black cloud.
But the press did not attempt to drive evil. Not really tried anything good or bad. Just said it was the new album Ráez Rafo. Suddenly the press did not understand.
Let's see if the "Chaski Changes" survives the test of time. So far it is surviving. Hopefully two years.
After "Chaski Changes", put out another record last year: "The Queen pastrula." In which there are two songs I like a lot. But among them one stands out: "Village Gardener." The song is very simple. But it builds a sort of spiral grows. And it has a highly developed language. "People Gardener" is a sound installation: when you listen, you enter the song. I think it's great song on the album.
That song was going to give the title track. "People Gardener" is a song that is easy to understand many issues that the rich are reserved and are careful that the poor do not know. One of the great secrets of the rich is to believe that the poor will cease to be poor to have money. At this time of my life, for my age and I have traveled, I have the world, and I can say that one of the things that have all the ancient religious systems is that there is a relationship between the garden and the good life. What do Muslims, Jews, Chinese, Inca, African religions. At this moment in history is important that all these points in common with these religious systems are returned to the village. That whole philosophy is not elite. Philosophies have been popular, that people have lost, because they live to work from dawn to dusk to get money. As a result, are poorer in every way. Because, finally, take your passion fruit juice in your garden will being a time of wealth. And this is something that the rich are reserved. For all this, the lyrics of the song is too long. Because all this stuff could only be told in symbols. It would be a fool if I sing it literally. It's a roll that has been taught in ancient languages, and should be sung that way. It's a roll that is midway between the medieval ballad and biblical revelation.
There's another song from "The Queen pastrula" I like a lot, and is called "Black and Red", and talks about Peru. What is your relationship with Peru?
love-hate like everyone else. By age, when one has traveled by Peru, you realize that, as a territory, is very entertaining. Is an area that makes you mad. That is, how awesomely many countries this country.
There is another piece, "Fire." Is it a kind of remake of "hearts Minefield?
No, is a huayno. And there ends the relationship.
But both are also of Led Zeppelin.
Sure, Jimmy Page is awesome. He is the best guitar rock mixed with folk.
Well, then, both songs have those two elements. Fire
is punk. Minefield is more hippie hearts.
In my blog, in the criticism of "The Queen pastrula" there is an anonymous comment stating that the title of your album makes apology to drugs.
I hear the song "The Queen pastrula." This is a person who has been destroyed by drugs. Now the music is cabaret.
Why put "Queen pastrula" and not "People gardener?
Because it is a rock album. An urban album. Sounds very rural town gardener. While I believe in the plants alive in the city. I'm from the city. Besides, saying "The Queen pastrula" automatically puts you in Lima, Peru today. Do not be located in either the 90 or in the future. Is what we see now.
to complete a quick question. Tell me, Daniel F. or Giant? What evil
question. There is no comparison.
But both represent a large space within the music. And both, in their way, are good at what they do.
is true, both in its own way, are good at what they do. But a song like "Karakola Underground" has a complexity and beauty that deserves a better future.
Gianmarco What?
discipline has pop. Perhaps the only thing missing is dancing. That is, the pop is pop. And if you're playing with the pop ...
But Gianmarco not sold as architect of pop. He is sold as a troubadour. Want to be a sort of Joaquin Sabina. For
is more like Chayanne Joaquin Sabina. And, just in case it is not easy what he has done Chayanne. I think that four hours of daily exercise. I respect a lot of sweat. Who sweats not steal. I'm a skinny by choice. Nobody has told me not to be fisted. That is, those who have decided be burly, since they deserve my respect. I would not, but what good that someone wants to do.
Returning to Gianmarco, has said he lacks dance.
I'll tell you the most loving way possible. I think he would enjoy life more if, even in private, a little dance. Many of their songs have a funky beat. And it's a universal truth that the god who blesses funky dance. I do not mean in bad faith.
Well, this would be it. Thanks, Rafo.
Thank you.
And, dear reader / listener, I hope you've enjoyed this dialogue with Rafo Ráez and that if you were unaware of some of the songs we've mentioned, go running to get the jobs Discotienda this excellent singer. Finally, there is something better than just information about an artist, and that is to enjoy his art. Until next time!
July Meza
Image: cover of Queen Pastrula
Rafo Courtesy Ráez
Thanks to the kindness of Rafo Ráez,
the heirs of the great poet José Watanabe,
the band Paramore and the record company that works
with the same Rafo, am available to you,
dear reader / listener, the following songs:
"Blas" shirt Disc
"Let him die at home," "I Suicide" and "The caminerito"
Chaski disk Changes
And "The dream of your boy," Mud Fish disk
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