In Conversation with
Rodrigo from
“Rodrigo and Gabriela”
October 2004
A little background:
Rodrigo and Gabriela as can be read from this interview are originally from Mexico, but now based in Ireland, but yet play a style of music that is literally un-like anything else I have ever heard, frequently getting notes and chords from their instrumental set (which features just the two of them on acoustic guitars) which shouldn’t be humanly possible, but is truly amazing to watch considering they are known for putting cover versions by Metallica into their set and unless you listened to them very, very carefully indeed you probably won’t realise it was Metallica! Amazing stuff indeed..
I first saw them at “In the City”, Manchester’s annual music festival where bands and singers play a number of gigs through-out the city to highlight their ability to record scouts etc. They were a duo I had certainly read about, but never actually heard anything by, so me, my brother and one friend decided to pop down and see them and were completely amazed by what we saw. Certainly one of our high-lights of the week-end without doubt.
The interview came quickly after that when I e-mailed their Manager and he put me I contact with Rodrigo and the interview came very quickly from there indeed.
Thanks to Naill for his help and a special thank you to Rodrigo for the interview. I believe you are playing Manchester soon, so I hope to see you there soon.
For more information on the band – please visit them on their website…
Many thanks
Andy N xxxx
Setting Sun: How's things and what’s happening at the moment?
Rodrigo from Rodrigo and Gabriela:
We are just about to start a tour in UK and Ireland that will take us on the road for the next 2 months, so we are doing some practice for it and try to have lots of material to try not to play the same thing every night, things are good anyway and we are glad...
Setting Sun: Can you now tell us a little bit about yourselves... How you got started in music etc?
Rodrigo:
Well we've been playing together for good 10 years first doing the thrash metal thing that I started along with my brother in 91, 3 years later gab joined the band and we kept trying and trying till we got tired and left Mexico city to go to some beach close to Acapulco and that’s why we traded the electric for the acoustic, then we came to Europe in 99 and we still here, man....
Setting Sun: What are your influences (music wise) and what music have you been listening to recently?
Rodrigo:
Well we like listening everything from Paco De Lucia to Megadeth to Michel Camilo to Pink Floyd but our musical influences I think fall in a very strong mix of Latin rhythms in a rock estructure kind of way you know is because we didn’t start playing classical or anything like that, we don’t read music either so that could explain it all....
Setting Sun: I recently saw you play live during Manchester's "In the City" Festival and was blown away by the atmosphere in your music live, which for me was one of the highlights of the weekend. How does your approach differ from performing live to recording in the studio? Is there one you prefer over the other?
Rodrigo:
Well live is better for us and much more fun and now we are going to start looking for the best way to do our next studio album in a way that can capture the live vibe which is vital for a totally instrumental act like us
Setting Sun: It is clear from listening to your music you have a very individual style, how does this compare for example with your forthcoming Metallica covers EP?
Rodrigo:
Well we'll do it because wed love to make a tribute to the music that gave us the idea of becoming guitar players, specially metallicas, the way is simple just a real acoustic instrumental album featuring the best (for us) of metallica but the most interesting thing is going to be the drum bits played on the wood of the guitar using Gabriela’s crazy right hand...
Setting Sun: So what's next for yourselves? I know you have had a few releases out etc - do you have any more releases in mind / or any more live dates?
Rodrigo:
We’ll play the tour in UK and Ireland starting at the middle of Oct, for more info check out www.rodgab.com
Setting Sun: What has been your best / worst experiences of been in a band? Been in a band myself I've had some fun to tell certainly so I could guess you are the same.
Rodrigo:
Playing womad festival at Singapore last year was amazing but the flying experience wasn’t as nice having a drop of hundreds of meters, that along with the normal experiences you have when playing in a international unfamous thrash metal band, like ways of travelling, no hotels and all that shit.... and it get s worse...
Setting Sun: To wind down with now, we'll have a few more slightly lighthearted questions to wind down with, firstly what would be your dream job if you were not a rock and roll musician?
Rodrigo:
Soccer player man....
Setting Sun:
What do you do outside of music?
Rodrigo:
Nothing, if we are touring we gig but if we aren’t we practice like fucking maniacs that’s something that we can do fortunately since 6 years ago and we are happy because of that, as well as the kind of music we do requires a lot of time otherwise the guitar players would note we haven’t practiced enough...
Setting Sun:
Lastly, something light to finish off with. (Nicked from a pal's Zine almost) "Imagine you were ship wrecked on a desert Island and could have (clearly have second sight here - lol) the choice of having 5 records or Cds with you with a stereo of course - what would be your desert Island Discs?
Rodrigo:
Help me by the abandoned's
Right next to you by the dreamers
Miles away by st alone
Till I die by f.u.c.k.e.d
Adios by deadenough
