Interview — Xurume

Skratch Magazine

Rock band Xurume has a sound full of diversity. “I’d simply say we do rock music, with diverse influences, since 3 countries are represented in Xurume” says Sergio (guitar/vox.) Sergio, Alex (bass) and Jean-Luc (drum) hail from Bolivia, Brazil and Switzerland respectively. But they don’t let that define their music, preferring to let you make up your own mind. “I don’t really like telling about our musical style. Rock sounds good, so that everyone can give its own interpretation.”

Skratch: How did you become interested in music?

X: I’ve been making music for a long time. I started when I was 5 in a music academy playing flute, then trumpet and bass guitar. At age 11, I got to know rock through bands such as Kiss, Wasp, Motley Crue, and all the New Wave scene such as The Cure, Joy Division and the punk scene with the Ramones. Actually I got the urge of playing in a band thanks to the Ramones

Skratch: What is your song writing process like?

X: Generally speaking I compose songs on my acoustic guitar. At the beginning it might be a ballad or a very quiet song. Then I go to the studio and add distortion and my drummer ends the track, and naturally the song gets louder. Then I add lyrics depending on my mood or the news.

Skratch: What artists or musicians inspire you?

X: Five bands the really inspired me : The Cure, Joy Division, Ramones, Helmet and Mega city four. I think my music really is a mixture of those four bands

Skratch: Where do you take musical inspiration from? Your environment? People? Explain.

X: I work in the night world and the music industry, so I take inspiration from the people I meet. I think the night world is an inspiring influence because it mixes up extreme positive and negative feelings.

Skratch: What is your musical background?

X: As I mentioned earlier I’m a rock kid, even if I got lucky enough to have a mother who introduced me to classical music as well as music of the country I come from, Bolivia. Among others I play Bolivian instruments such as charango, samponia, etc.
Skratch: Tell us about how you got started as a band.

X: The band started in my recording studio, “Ekeko Studio”. I play in different musical projects (pop, rap, etc) and I wanted to create a band with the musicians working in my studio, for fun. But a rock band.

Skratch: What is the most rewarding part of playing in a band?

X: To me music is sharing, that’s how one’s evolving. The fact of adding many strength to become one, a wall of sound!

Skratch: What challenges have you faced as musicians?

X: I just relish playing and sharing our music with as many people as possible. That also explain why I sing in many languages, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. If I could I’d sing in Chinese and Arabic. I don’t like borders, I like feeling free.

Skratch: What would you say is your best song to date? Why?

X: It’s impossible to say which one is my best song, because in every steps of my life different songs escorted me through positive and negative period of time.

Skratch: Do you remember the first album you ever bought? What was it?

X: It was The Police, because in my first band we were making covers of The Police.

Skratch: Where do you see your band in five years?

X: I live one day at a time, I don’t like launching myself into the future, there’s already so many things to deal with here and now

Skratch: Would you say your goals as a band are long term, or short term? What do you ultimately hope to achieve? Explain.

X: As I said before, I have no set goals, I just want to play and make people happy and to share this with my musicians and with as many people as possible. To me music isn’t about time or goals. It’s about life. It’s like wine: the older, the better. I can clearly picture myself playing music on the day I die, no matter if it’s rock, blues, etc. What I like in music is that there’s no rules

Skratch: How has your band evolved since when you first formed?

X: I still feel being in the evolving dynamic of a young band. Maybe in 5 years time I can answer this question better.

Skratch: How often do you practice? What is your rehearsal time like?
X: Since we’re playing in many projects, we see each other at the studio and we rehearse our set 2-3 time before playing live. Because we have very little time. I’m working for my label Watermelon and also as a sound engineer for many bands.

Skratch: What would you say is your band’s motto? Explain.

X: Move forward, share, have fun

Skratch: What shows/album releases/plans do you currently have set up? Tell us about them.

X: At the time being we’re gonna promote a 5 tracks album we’re gonna worldwide digitally distribute. I recorded 15 tracks so we have enough for a forthcoming album

Skratch: Where have your performed? Tell us about the experience.

X: As I said we play in many bands, so we’re often playing live. Xurume is a young project. We’re mainly going to tour in the end or 2010 and 2011. Depending on our busy planning.

Skratch: What sets your stage show a part from all the other bands making the rounds at venues?

X : Just rock n’roll !!

To get more Xurume go to www.myspace.com/xurumemusic

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