Cover Story - Kinky Rocks On (cont'd)
How has Kinky's music influenced the Latino population?
We're now in the position where the Mexican people are starting to know us. For instance, when we participated in FIBA Latino, it's the largest festival in Mexico; it's the biggest one in the rock scene. They put us in an important stage; like in the main stage people were kind of looking for us, so we represent a generation of rock bands that start to do different things with mainly the electronics and different styles of music that we blended together. We started experimenting a lot and we like to think that we've influenced a new generation of bands coming out. Especially since we deliver a fun and interactive show, that's what people like to see. More and more they know our songs deeply and the meaning of our band. It's more like something you have to see live and you enjoy seeing it right at that moment.
As the lead singer where do you draw inspiration for your lyrics?
Basically, it's like love and day-by-day living. I like to set myself up with little detail and showing them in a different perspective can be something delightful or magical. I like to do common stuff that's more grateful than it is to have a different point of view in life and a better one place to keep.
What are the main countries that the band has toured?
Mainly, in Mexico and in the states. We like to travel down to South America even down to Argentina
and Colombia where we tour twice a year.
How is the audience reaction in these countries towards the music?
It's different each country because of the culture of each country and not because of the thing that the band does. In Argentina, the crowd is a combination between a football match; everyone is singing along and screaming and jumping, mixed with a rock concert. The crowd in Argentina is lovely. Also, in
Colombia they have a lot of energy and craziness. Mexico is where the people know us the best and they become more excited about the music.
How has your music crossed over in the states?
The states have been an interesting and delightful place to play. Especially because we can play, blend and share the stage with bands that we admire and like a lot. We've been touring with The Flaming Lips or Most Miles and playing in these huge festivals like this year's Lollapalooza, you get to feel a lot of
different acts and people. It has all been a very interesting thing for us as well.
A lot of your music is predominately in Spanish, but you do incorporate English as well. Do
you find that successful in crossing over into the states?
I think it helps for people to better understand the ideas that we are trying to express. Our hometown, Monterrey, is really influenced by English speaking people. So, it's something we have to do. It's inspirational. The English lyrics have always been there but it does help in sharing the ideas but in this particular case I think the music is a thing that can speak for itself. I know it sounds like a cliché but in a show it's more about the music and the lyrics. I think in the beginning it was more about making that crossover here because of the music that we play is really party-going and for everyone to understand the idea and then if someone goes deeper into the lyrics who only speaks English, they are able to get a little better understanding because we sing in both languages.
What other artist or groups have influenced your song writing abilities?
I think everything now because of the variety of personalities we have in the band, we go from funky acts in Mexico to My Chemical Romance or Radio Head here in the states to international acts, the indie
ones and jazzy ones with which Omar is familiar with, so it's a little bit of everything.
Have you begun working on the next album yet?
No we're kind of in the middle of the tour now so we haven't...well we have individually a couple of songs that we've composed but nothing really concrete.
Describe the experience of your tour. How many cities?
About 200 cities.
When did the tour begin?
October of last year. We began down in Mexico and then a huge tour here in the states and in Canada and now we've been in Mexico for the last three months touring. We finish here in June and July then come back to the states for another tour and we're going to the end of the year.
How do you adjust to living on the road?
By now it's pretty easy. We've been doing this for the last five to six years, so we know the dynamics, from sleeping on the plane, eating badly to making sound check. We have to be traveling and moving all the time. Now, we're enjoying the process of touring and the lifestyle we've grown accustom too.
Has touring affected family life?
Gilberto: Yes. Especially with the girlfriends. You need that and you want to be at home. At the same time, it's the sad part of the life because you want to be on stage and perform in front of thousands of people but as soon as you go down and feel lonely at the hotel you start to feel the necessity of your family and your home.
How supportive is your family of the band?
Everyone has full support of the band. From our parents to our girlfriends to the people who surround us, they come along anytime they can and jump into the tour bus or the plane. Ultimately, we enjoy the
process of being in the music altogether.
What's next for Kinky?
Right now we're in the middle of the tour. We have a couple shows in South America and then we have a couple of shows in Australia for the first time in October. We're doing some stuff with the MLS (Major
League Soccer) here in the states and we are very excited to be playing in the football arenas here in the states and just discovering ourselves over and over again and traveling to spread the music.
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