Monte Negro's Culture Clash

Being the music junkie that I am, my favorite perk of working at Latina is definitely the concerts. Any of my friends will tell you that I see about 3-4 shows a week! But before two years ago, I was mostly checking out mainstream groups like The Roots, Radiohead, Interpol, etc. Boy, did that change quickly.

The Falls Music & Arts Fest
Top 25 Latin Albums
Bored? Check out Terra Radio

By now I've seen everyone from Aterciopelados to Ojos de Brujo and Calle 13 to Juanes...and all have been amazing.

One of the first "Latin" bands that first caught my attention as a live act, though, was Monte Negro. As soon as I saw this post-punkish, Mexicali indie band perform at a Latin Alternative Music Showcase back in the summer of '07, I was hooked. At the time they weren't even signed, but lo and behold, they were picked up by Epic a few months later and became the first Latin band signed to a mainstream arm of a major label. How crazy is that?

In 2008, the guys toured nonstop and released one of my favorite albums of the year, Cicatrix. And though their frontman, Kinski Gallo, hasn't reached Juanes status just yet, I've never met anyone with more rock star swagger. You can get a taste of it by checking out one of their music videos, below. I recently spoke with the uber-philosophical lead singer about what's changed for the band, and here's a bit of what he had to say.

What has it been like touring all year?

It's a lonely sort of road. But you know what, it's also beautiful. It's a strange dichotomy. It's like life. There's good and bad everywhere; you just gotta ride with it and have a good time.

Your stage performance is definitely a throwback to more phsyically expressive rock stars. How did you develop your act?

I've just always loved frontmen, whether it's a woman or a man--anyone from Madonna to Perry Farrell to Bowie and U2. But I don't try to emulate anyone...I just do my own stuff. I've always loved dancing, and I like for the energy to be transmitted when we play. It makes me tune with the universe because it's kind of like the music is already a rhythm.

There's a pretty equal amount of English and Spanish lyrics on your debut album, Cicatrix. Was that intentional?

It's not. The thing is, I grew up in Mexico and here as well. So I have both cultures in my blood, in my conscious and unconscious. Sometimes when I write a song, it reminds me of Manu Chao or Café Tacuba, and then I just put lyrics in Spanish. And sometimes I write some stuff that reminds me of the Beatles or Bowie, and I sing it in English. It's just very organic, man, and that's the beauty of it.

Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?

I'm an avid reader. My sister was the one who taught me to read and write when I was three and a half. She once gave me The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, for my birthday. Now I read a lot of García Marquez, Neruda, William Blake, Rumi Murakami, who is this great Japanese writer..and The Economist.

"Give Me Love" is the song you guys are most known for. How did it come about?

It was born out of acknowledging my mom, my grandmother, my sisters...all these women who are great entities in our lives. Because Latin culture--and other cultures--can be very demeaning to women. So it's acknowledging them and sanctifying them and giving them a place of dignity.

So what do your more traditional Mexican parents think about this band you and your brother put together?

My parents are very simple people, but they are super intelligent and amazing and really supportive. They're not like, "Oh, what are you doing wasting your time with art?" My mother always bought me guitars. And that's all you need in life, is a piece of armor or two to shield you against the world.

Latina.com