INTERVIEW: SOMOSUNO

interview with SOMOSUNO by rich kimball

houston's answer to to the legendary rip, rig & panic talks to the 423 gallery.

brief history of somosuno...

SOMOSUNO = Aleks-drums, vocals/ Richie-Horns, vocals/ Alexis- lead guitar, vocals/ Jesus- Bass, vocals/ Fernando- guitars, keys, vocals (looking for keyboardist, percussionist, more horns)...... started on may 13th, 2009, our first shows were like 2 weeks after that and we played random shows ranging from parties, graduation parties, and last minute shows at mango's, shfl, fitzgeralds and a parking lot show in Deer Park. Shows got better and better after we jammed all together for awhile.

guy picciotto of fugazi once sang "c'mon bust a genre". somosuno seems to have taken him literally. what has influenced somosuno? what has inspired all of the genre hopping you do?

CULTURE, THE GALAXY AND EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT, THE PLANET AND EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT. BrAiNs. DIMENSIONS. PIZZA. COMEDY. LIFE (not society life). TROTAMUNDOS. TAMALES, white rice. EVERY HARD WORKING, TALENTED BAND AND ARTIST/S IN HOUSTON. music from all around the world. There's too many bad ass cultures and things going on in the world. IF WE FEEL IT, WE PLAY IT, LOVE FOR MUSIC, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES AND PACHAMAMA.

explain the connection between cop warmth/rape worm/fg & the gunz. where did this scene come from?

no association...JK'ing NO TE CREAS!! HAHA, nah, those guys are bad ass, they're Aleks' and Fernando's childhood friends, growing up not liking anything around us, we started playing music together and learned alot from them. (with chemical plants in the background), homies from the young daaaazeee! LOTS OF LOVE TO THOSE DOOODS! Fernando plays in Copwarmth and loves Rapeworm's and FG's music!

there are many small scenes in houston, split of by style of music/art interests/age groups etc. is this healthy? what makes a good scene?

NOT HEALTHY, IF YOU TAKE A HUMAN APART ITS NOT A BEAUTIFUL BEING ANYMORE, SAME WITH "SCENES". NO UNITY NO "SCENES".... what is separation... what is a scene? SOLO EXISTE LA UNIDAD. we hang out everywhere and with everyone. EVERYONE IS OUR CARNAL Y CARNALA.

is it better houston remains houston, rather than become the next seattle, athens, brooklyn... is there such a thing as too much exposure?

as long as it stays TRUE. because all of the artists are doing what they want, how they want it... they're just doing their own thing like us.... and we would be happy if there were good festivals hosting local bands and artists of all kinds.... THERE IS SO MUCH TALENT IN HOUSTON... more shit going down in houston = good.

what has houston taught you?

TO GET ON THE GRIND, everyone is doing busy business, we are doing OUR FUN BUSINESS. NEVER STOP MOVING, GOTTA STAY UP. TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT. TO STOP LIVING IN LIMITATIONS AND FEARS.

importance of language to the music of somosuno?

Language is awesome, we want to make more songs with different languages later on, but really, it comes down to if it feels right and if it fits, then we use it, We just talk about our view of Life, anything that happens to us that we wanna talk about, right brain thoughts, trips (road or psych.a.d.e.l....) shit that makes us feel good, we just wanna make other people feel good, fuck division shit, anyone that digs it is welcome to like our sometimes spanglish mixed music. UNITY OF MUSIC AND OF PEOPLE. JUST BEING REAL.

what is the future of somosuno?

SPLIT 7" WITH YOUNG MAMMALS COMING SOON, FULL LENGTH 2010, MORE SHIRTS, FLAGS, HATS, SXSW, SUMMER HOUSTON TAKES OVER TOUR 2010 (W/ THE TAKES, B L A C K I E), SUMMER FEST, EUROPE TOUR 2011, 2012 SOUTH AMERICA TOUR, DECEMBER 2012 GUATEMALA MAYAN MIND POWER UNITY SHOW. 4TH DIMENSION TOUR.... juuuust that for right now.

why somosuno?

SOMOSUNO=WE ARE ONE. just like everything in the universe. galaxy... everything represents ONE just like all the parts in our bodies just make UP ONE and all the things in the earth make up ONE ORGANISM etc.... we like to listen to and play all kinds of musical styles, we're all different from each other but we're ONE band, ONE kr3w, ONE bacteria, UN BANDON.

see somosuno play saturday night at aztecas.

http://www.myspace.com/somosuno1somosuno

A THOUSAND CRANES: 10 QUESTIONS

interview with A THOUSAND CRANES by rich kimball

A THOUSAND CRANES are a band that we at the 423 gallery have been raving about for a couple months now. we recently asked travis kerschen of ATC 10 questions.

what is sacred music?

It uses the music as a vessel for communion with what is held sacred by the artist. The musician tries to make good music, but pays equal attention to trying to attain a sacred state within or externally. I am inspired by Vajrayana (from Tibetan Buddhism) and so I try to put myself in a meditative state while writing and performing the music, and the context of the music is on a sacred theme from that belief system (lovingkindness, interdependence, compassion, equanimity, peace, impermanence, etc.). What is sacred can be defined as what is held as an ideal state of humanness or worldness by an individual.

who/what/where does A THOUSAND CRANES find common ground?

A Thousand Cranes finds common ground in desire to use music to transcend, in noise/experimental music, in improvisation, in creative expression. We find common ground in conscientious living, music, arts of all forms, Houston, TX.

how does A THOUSAND CRANES succeed?

A Thousand Cranes succeeds by keeping up with the path we choose both in artistic creation and in every day life.

where does A THOUSAND CRANES fail?

We fail when we fall into the "ego" trap, and become concerned about our reputation or popularity or turn out at a show.

how has the houston music scene evolved over the years, and where is it at now?

It has evolved very nicely, thank you very much. From sharecropper blues to third ward blues to folk to tejano to rock and roll and psychedelic rock to funk and disco to punk to noise and experimental to rap and r&b. All these musical forms keep evolving, and the artists share a cultural background and musical lineage.

how does meditation factor into the music of A THOUSAND CRANES?

Many of the songs are created as meditations and when they are performed I try to put myself in a meditative state. The meditative state can sometimes be deep and trancelike, and sometimes it isn't. The meditations are generally buddhist themed.

who/what influenced you to make music?

Specifically, my family influenced me to make music. My family is very creative and expressive. As for bands or artists that have influenced me to make music, which haven't? And the artists/genres who influenced A Thousand Cranes, include Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Soweto music, Ali Farka Touré and Boubacar Traoré, Yoko Ono, Indian Jewelry, Mexican and Latin folk music (huasteca, huapango, huarache, son veracruzano, etc,) African music, South Asian folk music, reggae, Swarm of Angels, Philip Glass, John Cage, Rusted Shut, A Pink Cloud, hip hop, jazz, free jazz

tell us about your song 'wounded crane'?

"Wounded Crane" is a compassionate embrace of our dark side, our ugly side, our feared side, our fearful side. It is an acceptance of what it means to be completely human.

describe houston to someone who has never been to texas?

Houston is a subtropical humid city. It is large. It was built on marshes and bayous full of alligators, pumas, and all sorts of wildlife. It is the fourth largest city in the United States. We have the Houston Rockets.

describe america - on its present course- in 5 years time?

The powerful forces of capitalism and industrialization have been destroying the collective sensitivity to others in America for a long time. We appear to be approximating a third world country with the disparity between the wealthy and the poor. Our endless wars and imposed fixation on terror and security is pushing us into cultural neurosis and paralysis. On the positive side, it is destroying itself like all empires do. And with it's death it is possible for a healthier society to emerge. In 5 years America will see more bicyclists and people recycling more because of economic necessity. Middle class people will be more conscientious about what they are spending their money on.

A THOUSAND CRANES will be performing at a benefit for sedition books on saturday august 15^th @ super happy fun land in houston. for more information visit the ATC myspace:

www.myspace.com/athousandcranes