Before its concert last Saturday At the Cerezales Foundation, we were able to speak with the members of Cohete. We're showing you what they told us in the interview.
Why have you kept us waiting 4 years without releasing an album?
HenryThe album was recorded in the summer of 2011, and it's been finished over a year and a half: recordings, lyrics… First, the whole band goes to the studio, and then each person does their bits at home… It's been impossible to finish it sooner because of our daily lives and also because of this process we follow to record it. Everything took too long, honestly, we should have finished it a year earlier, but that's how things went, and we're happy; it's turned out how we wanted, and that's what matters.
Considering all the time that has passed, do you consider that there has been an evolution in your lyrics?
UrsMan, I suppose there's been an evolution in every sense. But it's been natural, without us deciding to radically change tack. But yes, a lot happens in 4 years of life and that will be noticeable in the songs.
All of our lyrics are personal, but some are more directly connected to the lives of some of us. Like What a pair talks about the children Enrique (or rather his wife) has had [laughs].
During this time, you have also been able to collaborate with the FRobo Foundation, How did it come about?
We are friends of Roberto Herrero, who is the mastermind behind the Robo Foundation, and one day he mentioned that if we wanted to participate. We had 100 cyclistsOn the media, a song by Urs, which he was able to adapt very naturally to the theme of a naked cyclist demonstration passing near his house. Which was perfect for the collaboration.
RamiroAnd it was finally released on physical format not long ago. So a very interesting process has come to an end.
Your albums are self-released, what led you to choose this way of working?
RodrigoIt's a bit of everything. To be honest, we haven't had many offers either and with our pace, with our way of doing things, I don't know if we would fit in with a record label.
This is also why it's taken us so long to finish it; we're the ones who compose, dress the songs, undress them, record them, mix them. All of that takes time that doesn't align with the record labels'.
Your last album, Hooray, just like the first one, it's also released on vinyl, why?
RodrigoWe like how it sounds and we've always had a lot, and we keep buying. It's a sentimental thing and at the same time, it sells better.
HenryEspecially in live performances
RodrigoOur audience, in particular, buys a lot of vinyl, and we're particularly pleased with this record. Unlike the first one, with which we had a problem and ended up with an entire pressing... There's a thing called a test pressing, which is used to validate it before releasing all the copies, and they didn't pass it. We received 500 vinyl records that sounded bad, so we had to do a repress.
HenryGraphically, vinyl is also better, the cover details are appreciated more...
RodrigoAnd it's returning again. It has its limitations but it compensates.
What music influences you?
HenryNothing [laughs]
RodrigoWe are all consumers of music on vinyl, but also on Spotify or YouTube… And I think we've heard practically everything. Punk, new wave, 50s reggae, ska, rock and roll, blues, R&B, black music, soul… And I suppose to a greater or lesser extent it influences us, because it's our background, but without us looking for it.
On this album, Enrique had a sudden burst of inspiration and brought back the soul music label, STAX, and some songs have a very Motown-esque rhythmic base, very solid, pounding, repetitive…
HenryYes, but pop music also influences us. We had many go-to bands from childhood: The Beatles, The Birds, Love, The Zombies... And others that are a bit more obscure: The Monochrome Set, The Soft Boys, or Captain Beefheart...
And nothing from Spaniards?
RamiroJust yesterday at El Húmedo, while we were having a glass of wine, we talked about a musician we've recently rediscovered and who does a very good job: Joan Colomo. We also like.
HenryAnd Spanish music from the 80s, even if we haven't specifically consumed it, has stayed with us, just like our parents' music. The most direct example from my end would be Patrullero Mancuso, a band from the 90s, formed partly by my brothers Javi and Manuel. When they were starting out, I was 11 years old and had them rehearsing downstairs from my house, so you can imagine.
RodrigoIt's just that what you like influences you as much as what you don't like. What surrounds you, whether you like it or not, you have it there in the end. We're from '76, '77, '79, so I also suppose we've been influenced by everyone from Los Chichos and La Cabra, who many of us lived downstairs from, to Radio Futura or Las Grecas.
What do you think of the comparison to The Giving Tree?
UrsSometimes they even say it about my songs, and I'm German so they've never influenced me. I haven't even listened to them much, I don't remember any of their songs to say if we sound alike or not… Lots of people say it, which isn't proof of anything either because they sometimes copy each other.
Do you change much from the album to live performances?
RodrigoThe wind we're bringing for this concert are Santi and Fran, who are the ones who accompanied us on the album and have been with us for a while: we already toured with them for the previous album. But the album has elements that aren't in it live: some strings, some piano, backing vocals…
HenryBut the songs themselves don't change, except for some older ones which do evolve over the years. The first EP is from 2005, so there's been time for them to change naturally.
RamiroSome people say they prefer our live performances to our albums: the energy we generate. The albums might be more polished and arranged, whereas the live shows are fresher.
RodrigoWhich is quite common with pop-rock, where, while respecting structures, you get pumped up live.
