Synth punk three-piece Mexican Radio are preparing to release their uncompromising sophomore album, Destruction/Reconstruction, out on September 20th (2019) via R.I.P. Ben Lee Records.
Inspired by his own personal experiences and those of the artists and writers he loves, singer Nathaniel Fregoso’s (vocals, synth, effects) lyrics are a visceral exploration of historical events compiled within a 2019 context. With songs about Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Burroughs, Kirchner and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fregoso has woven together threads of destruction and reconstruction and delivered them with a sardonic edge akin to vocalists such as Mark E. Smith.
This, combined with a lo-fi, synth punk ideology, has shaped Mexican Radio’s confrontational sound: recording everything live, on tape in an analogue studio with no overdubs. The trio have pulled on their vast knowledge of music and recording having played in, and continuing to play in, many other bands. The result of which is a uniquely constructed record, rich in layers and bursting with a prowling, off-kilter vibrancy from the volatile opener ‘Night of the Nihilist’ all the way through to closing track ‘Planet Tyskie’.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Dyan Valdés (synth, vocals) of Mexican Radio about the latest release, challenges, motivations and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Mexican Radio started as a German-language Fall cover band called “Der Sturz” (“The Fall” in German). The three of us are big fans of the band, and after a particularly long night Nathaniel and Hannes hatched a plan to unleash new interpretations of our favorite Fall classics on the punk clubs of Berlin. After a few raucous shows, the bass player and guitarist both left the band. The three of us decided to continue playing music together, although now without stringed instruments and rather than covering music, writing our own songs inspired by that style. This is how we developed our “synth punk” sound – no guitars, writing songs with driving repetition and raw energy. As we figured out who we wanted to be as a band, we voraciously consumed music by other artists with a similar sound. That process led to the creation of our monthly radio show on KCRW Berlin, “The Mexican Radio Radio Show,” in which we shine a spotlight on our favorite synth punk, post punk, Neue Deutsche Welle and new wave artists.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
The three of us have been playing in bands for years, and more importantly, we are all unabashed fanatics of music. For us, we are happiest when we are jumping around in a sweaty mosh pit, playing our instruments at the highest volume, or dancing around to records that we play on our radio show. If we can contribute something of our own to the conversation and connect with other music lovers, we’ve been successful.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Berlin is very much baked into our DNA as a band. The city has been an incredibly fertile artistic ground for decades – it is full of creative people. When Nathaniel (vocals/synths/effects) and I first moved here 9 years ago, I was eager to follow in the footsteps of other musicians who have come here to find inspiration – David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, etc. However in the last few years, I’ve been discovering more and more of Berlin’s homegrown musical history. Bands like Malaria!, Ideal and of course Einstürzende Neubauten came out of 1980s West Berlin, and have been hugely influential for us as a band. And the city’s tradition of fostering innovative music continues today – punk and rock venues like SO36, Kirche von Unten, and Schokoladen give space to all kinds of emerging talent. The city’s countercultural DIY aesthetic encourages everyone to work together and get involved in each others’ projects – the goal is not commercial, but rather to create something interesting and inspiring.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
Mexican Radio started off with a very clear vision. We limited ourselves to synths and drums only – no stringed instruments – and committed to following our own “synth punk” code. We record everything live on analogue tape with no overdubs, we try to keep everything as DIY and handmade as possible, and we joyously promote the work of other musicians that we love. We wear uniforms at all times so that it is clear to us and everyone around us that we are a gang. We want people to feel that there is a space for doing things differently, and that weirdness is something that should be celebrated.
What was the last song you listened to?
I’ve just been listening to the new Stereo Total record Ah! Quel Cinéma!. Like all of their music, it is delightfully strange and interesting, and always puts a smile on my face. I am interviewing them for The Mexican Radio Radio Show next month, so I can’t wait to chat with them about the album.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl is the best format. There is nothing more satisfying than holding a record made by your favorite band, other than perhaps holding a record made by your own band.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
As a platform, Bandcamp is clearly the most dedicated to art and artists. It connects fans directly with artists and allows people to support the musicians they love. Most importantly, Bandcamp consistently shows its thoughtfulness when it comes to providing a space for creative people to thrive.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
We are very fortunate to live in a city that has a vibrant music scene – there are hundreds of venues and thousands of people eager to discover new music. We’re very hard workers, so just by putting in the effort and exercising our diplomacy, stealth and charm, we’ve been able to play lots of shows and reach new fans.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
We stay pretty active on Facebook and Instagram, so it is easy to reach us there. We record our radio show – The Mexican Radio Radio Show – in our practice space in Heinersdorf (also known as drummer Hannes’ childhood bedroom). We meticulously pick the songs we play and each episode features an interview with a different musician we love coming through town. The end result is like hanging out with us for an hour, listening to our favorite records and sitting in on a backstage conversation with another cool band. The archived episodes are all on Soundcloud, so there is plenty for people to discover to get to know the world of Mexican Radio a little bit more (soundcloud.com/mexican-radio-band).
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Don’t eat animals!
