ISSUE 3
BEST OF
SUN CITY’S LOCALS
WE ARE
MAGAZINE
ART. MUSIC. CULTURE. EVERYTHING RAD.
Editor-In-Chief Crystal Orquiz Piña
Publishing Editor Cynthia Amaya
Web Designer Alejandra Alba
Creative Director Darrin Perkins
Writing
Eric Acosta Vladimir Avina Ilean de Anda Nicole Herrera Victoria Hyder Chris Luna Louise Reyes Angela Saavedra
Photography
Vladimir Avina Miriam Chavez Juan Carlos García Joe Nuñez Reyna Rey Daniel Ríos-Lopera Andrea Ximenez Sergio Zamora
HECTOR DEZ
EDRIC RAY
BRIAN CEELY
ANDREW PAUL MATNEY GUZMAN
GRACE TORRES
THEOTOKOS A Short Film Written and Directed by Mark Martinez
WATCH IT NOW ON
DESERT PEOPLE PICTURES
CHECK IT OUT ON
Written by Ilean de Anda Mikey. Cloud Richie Pendell Derrell Peoples Andy Ceballos Lavell Jones Josh Brown Tobias Brown Krystall Poppin Andree Pineda Evander Griim
NEW PASO
Sounds like: Yeezus
Photography by Andrea Ximenez
MR CRAZY
Just when you thought it was safe to wean yourself off the sizzurup, New Paso came along and poured everybody some mo’. This group of musical juggernauts has some of the best talent El Paso has to offer. They have the showmanship and spit sick lyrics and beats to match their hype. If you were wondering where hip-hop went, well then look no further. These New Paso kids are coming in hot.
Sounds like: Cypress Hill, Tupac, Lil Rob If you like firme hynas, smoking bud, and reppin’ EPT, then Mr Crazy is for you. Don’t be shy; cruise to something crazy in your lowrider. Don’t let his hairnet fool you. He is a local rapper and YouTube celebrity. His song, featuring Lower Valley Tres, “I Love My City,” has 160,000 views on YouTube and counting. He can spit rhymes in two languages and makes everybody feel like a cholo. Put your beef aside and just have love for your city. Photography by Andrea Ximenez
IF WE WERE TURTLES
David Vasquez: guitar/ vocals Luis Bueno: drums Pete Bueno: bass Chris Gards: guitar Daniel Rivera: keyboard/ synths Sounds like: Circa Survive, Anthony Green, As Tall As Lions If you like the vibes of Circa Survive, Anthony Green, and Progressive Indie Rock, then this band is for you. If We Were Turtles will make driving around with some homies singing at the top of your lungs cool again. “I’ll Find France Another Day” is a single off their upcoming EP and gives me the feeling of being in high school again. The vocals that Vasquez gives this band are substantial and not whiny in the slightest. Let’s all be turtles and give them a listen.
Photography by Andrea Ximenez
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Written by Nicole Herrera Photography by Daniel Ríos-Lopera
MIIJAS Mike Sifuentes: drums Jerry Palacios: vocals/guitar Albert Moreno: bass/vocals Sounds like: Yuck, The Ramones, Dinosaur Jr. This surf punk quartet is not for the faint of heart. The low-fi presentation, which I personally always appreciate, leaves just a little more to be desired in the sense that I actually want to hear every part more clearly, and now just really want to experience live. High energy vocals and driving guitar and drums demand you to keep up with each passing minute, so just go with it and ride the fuzzy waves.
CALL FOR
CANDOR Rene Carbajal: vocals/guitar Jorge Sandoval: bass Reeda Blanco: drums/vocals Isaac Lara: guitar
Photography by Daniel Ríos-Lopera
Sounds like: Modest Mouse, As Tall As Lions, Minus the Bear With vocals reminiscent of a combination of the Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Rene Carbajal provides solid melodic texture over the band’s steady flow. Blanco’s vocal harmonies and solos, in addition to her proficient drumming, give the band a well-rounded sound. Listening to Call for Candor brought in some old school poppunk feels, as well as contemporary alternative rock influences. This is a great band for the typical indie-folk fan looking to get into some heavier stuff
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Written by Victoria Hyder Sounds like: Mac Miller, Lupe Fiasco, G-Eazy
STAN Z
Born and raised in the Sun City, at the age of nine, Stan Zubiate knew he was made to make music. With an experimental hip-hop sound infused with EDM beats, Stan Z makes you want to rap along with his lyrics while swaying under the desert sky. What really makes him stand out as an artist is the diversity in all his music. I do warn you that once you hit that play button, you are not going to want to move an ear.
VILLIANS KISS
David Delgado: vocals/keys Tomas Tinajer: drums Rene Baza: bass Andrés Paredes-Silva: guitar
Photography by Juan Carlos García
Sounds like: LCD Soundsystem, Cut Copy, The Chemical Brothers Jump into a world of musical Tetris as Villians Kiss takes you on a groovy ride. Originally starting off as a duo, the band soon grew into what they are today! The now quartet gets quite creative when it comes to their arcade-influenced sounds, and it shows in the diversity throughout their music. Make sure to check this group out for fresh upbeat feels at Neon this year!
Photography by Juan Carlos García
TROST HOUSE Sebastian Estrada: guitar/vocals Jag Raspopovich: bass Derek Williams: drums Sounds like: Early Kings of Leon, White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age
Photography by Juan Carlos García
Recently signed by local label Electric Social Records, Trost House is really making a name for themselves in the community. The band got its start two years ago and are no strangers to the Sun City. Estrada’s unique vocals are mesmerizing as they flow into the laid-back rock melodies. Their music makes you want to sway your hips at one point, then smoothly transition into a head bang when the moment’s just right!
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Written by Vladimir Avina
ANiMALSOUL
Alan Arellano: bass Ivan Arellano: guitar Valente Arellano: drums Frank Cano: keys/percussion Jourdan Harper: vocals/guitar/keys Sounds like: Foals, Friendly Fires, Glass Animals
Photography by Vladimir Avina
Composed of three brothers and two long-term friends, ANiMALSOUL brings forth a “groovin’” mix to this year’s NDMF. Its electro-groove sound, as the band describes, offers an energetic feel to its listeners. ANiMALSOUL released its Color EP in March. They look forward to playing it at this year’s festival, along with new songs. Listeners can expect an upbeat, body-shaking performance, along with their newest member, Frank Cano.
DAYLUTA MEANS
KINDNESS Ryan Jimenez: drums Adrian Nava: guitar Christian “Reggie” Miranda: guitar David Moncayo: bass Jesus Chavez: guitar Sounds like: Mogwai, Caspian, Explosions in the Sky
Photography by Vladimir Avina
As this year’s only instrumental post-rock band, Dayluta Means Kindness (DMK) seeks to put its listeners in a free state of mind with its “cinematic” music. Although DMK doesn’t have a vocalist, its dynamic and expressive songs give its listeners the opportunity to create their own narratives to what the songs mean. The members of DMK came together in June 2014 and released The Ground is Lava in December of that same year. DMK signed with Electric Social Records in August of 2015 and expects to release its first record later this year.
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Written by Chris Luna ALABAMA
DEATHWALK
Eric Reed: guitar/vocals For Neon Desert, Eric will be joined by: Rod Mendoza: bass guitar Josh Mendoza: drums Sounds like: David Bazan/Pedro the Lion, Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens
Photography by Miriam Chavez
Alabama Deathwalk, begun in 2008, is the main songwriting project for Eric Reed. Reed has released several EPs and two LP albums of his Americana-folk style music. His smooth, melodic singing style complements his delicate, acoustic guitar playing. His full-length debut, Oh to Trade Nothing for Everything, was released in 2013. In 2015, he released the singles “11:14” and “Plans,” which he recorded with a full band. A rotating group of friends has helped with live shows over the years as the project has morphed. The current version of Alabama Deathwalk featuring Rod and Josh Mendoza has been consistent over the last two years. Hope Riot: vocals/guitar Tom Tinajero: drums Jon Cody Davis: guitar Nicole Velarde: bass
HOPE
RIOT
Sounds like: PJ Harvey, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails
Photography by Miriam Chavez
Neil Henry: vocals/guitar Evan Tremper: drums George Rodriguez: bass Nathan Gomez: guitar Sounds like: The Rapture, Maroon 5, John Mayer Formed in 2013, Great Shapes is an indie pop rock quartet with one goal: to make people move. Great Shapes released its debut EP, Murmuration, in 2015. The EP pulls inspiration from post-punk and indie-pop genres. The mix of their melodic guitar soundscapes with groovy bass lines and up-tempo drums is sure to keep your feet moving. I can speak from experience when I say that these boys are on point at their live performances and put on a killer show that is sure to leave your feet worn-out from all the dance moves you’re bound to bust out.
The Hope Riot debut album Lacuna was released in December of 2015. The full length album was recorded at Sonic Ranch. It features diverse tracks that can paint their own colorful scenes, whether it is the vocally-driven acoustic tune, “Frontera,” or more industrial tracks with heavy bass synths such as “Itch & Scratch.” Originally a solo project, Hope Riot has transformed into a rock quartet in recent months. Along with reworking the Lacuna material for live shows, the band has been busy writing new material for a follow-up release. Listen to: “Itch & Scratch,” “Frontera,” “Cool Blooded,” “Judas Tree”
GREAT
SHAPES
Photography by Miriam Chavez
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Daniel “Kilo” Rivera: drums Jason Daw: vocals/guitar/keys Bradeon O’Shea: lead guitar/keys Fred Porras: bass/synth
Written by Louise Reyes KILO AND THE DEW
Sounds like: Passion Pit, Twenty One Pilots, and Matt and Kim “Music is passion...something that happened in the past and will happen in the future… Working on Road to Victory helped me realize how much passion I have for music...” –Jason Daw Kilo and the Dew have just released their latest album Road to Victory. What started as two musicians, Daniel Rivera aka Kilo, experimenting with dynamic drum beats, and Daw, testing out jaunty synth cadences, has become a more voluminous band. It is no surprise that this rhythmic group relates to other Indie Pop/New Age bands. When they write music, they like to use interesting sounds you may never have heard before in music; lyrics and rhythms that will evoke emotions and draw you in.
Photography by Joe Nuñez
Joseph Saucedo: bass/vocals Christian Yañez: drums Steven Seigel: lead vocals/guitar
THE OTHER HALF
Sounds like: The Strokes, Kings of Leon, and Arctic Monkeys While drifting down a melodic stream of dreamy guitar rhythms, listen closely. “I can feel you slipping through my hands; I can feel you slipping through my hands…” Joseph Saucedo sings these heartfelt lyrics in The Other Half’s song, “Off the Deep End,” on their EP, Family and Fools. Within three years, The Other Half has performed at several festivals including Neon Desert Music Festival, SXSW, and Austin Free Week. Their music resembles a rock and roll sound that will get you on your feet. If you get a chance to see them at this year’s NDMF have your dance partner ready!
EMILY DAVIS
Photography by Joe Nuñez
Sounds like: Best Coast, Faunts, and Beach Fossils. You may have caught our March issue of RAD on the Southwestern Folk/Singer-songwriter known as Emily Davis. If not, no worries; we have your back! This ‘Firework Pixie’ puts heart into her music. Revealing harmonic stories and afflictions, she feels suitable to be heard, and rightly so. Her latest EP, The Worse Kind of Curse, was influenced by the death of a close friend; an album that, unlike her first two, sets a new tone and gives multiple perspectives on death. “This is the sound that I always had in mind, but had trouble executing,”Emily Davis stated in our earlier March Issue. Having been writing songs since she was a teen and performing for over a decade, she is well known in the local scene. Her music is best described as Aggressive Folk with punk rock undertones. Photography by Joe Nuñez
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NALGADAS
Written by Angela Saavedra Edgar “Rat Benatar” Delfin: vocals/guitar David Meza: guitar Albert Bagundo: bass Chief Leo Lara: drums/vocals Sounds like: Dead Boys, Jesus and Mary Chain What started off as a psychedelic rock band formed in Juarez, eventually got faster and dirtier, morphing into sleazy, noisy, aggressive garage punk. The band recently released a full-length album, Quibo, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered by their very own guitarist, David Meza. The DIY recording features twelve songs that capture the raw live energy Nalgadas has while performing onstage. With songs like “What a Waste” and “Rabies,” it’s clear that the four members are simply “doing it for the kicks.” Quibo was released on novelty cassette through independent California label, Burger Records.
Photography by Joe Nuñez
Photography by Joe Nuñez Photography by Reyna Rey
Krystall Poppin Mikey Cloud Tobias Brown
LFDC
Sounds like: TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment), A$AP Mob The three artists, collectively known as Live From Da Corner (LFDC), hit you with an intense, powerful delivery of each rapper’s distinctive flow. The three balance each other out with Cloud’s wild and energetic tracks, Poppin’s lyrical fierce execution, and Tobias’s smooth and slow tunes. The trio’s ambition has taken them far. They have performed at Neon Desert Music Festival and SXSW for the past two years and opened up for major artists Pitbull, Curren$y, Snow Tha Product, and Audio Push. They have all seen success from their recent individual releases with Poppin’s debut album, Starstruck, reaching iTunes Top 200 just days after its release. Collectively, LFDC’s video for “Weed & Boys,” shot on the downtown streets of El Paso, has gained over 28,000 views. Photography by Reyna Rey
Andy Ceballos “C-Notes” Josh Brown RARE Lavell Jones Derrell Peoples INDIVIDUALS Sounds like: 2004-2007 Kanye West, Pharrell/N.E.R.D., Kid Cudi Rare Individuals are just that: a collective of four soulful lyricists and instrumentalists that are blurring the lines of the stereotypical hip-hop sound. For the past two years, they have performed at both the Texas Tattoo Showdown Festival and Neon Desert Music Festival, continually proving that they are not just a rap group by having a live band backing them. Their band includes a live drum set, keyboard, bass, and guitar, as well as the sounds of two DJs known as “The Heavy Heads.” The Rare Individuals have been collaborating since their adolescence, each contributing their varied styles, combining soul, R&B, and hip-hop elements with indie, alternative, and classic rock. The four best friends continue to refine and evolve their sound collectively as well as individually, constantly pushing each other in a sort of friendly competition with the same pursuit; to inspire listeners with their positive messages.
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Written by Eric Acosta Selina Nevarez: lead vocals David Angerstein: electric violin/vocals Cynthia Gutierrez: flute/vocals Christian Charles: electric guitar CHUCO SOUL Fred Porras: bass JJ Hernandez: drums PROJECT Sounds like: Gloria Estefan, Chicos del Barrio Jethro Tull Chuco Soul Project is a cumbia-hip-hop sextet with jazz flute, trumpet and electric violin. It is an infant band formed in 2012 and this will be its first Neon Desert appearance. The music is Latin hip-hop jazz infused with ska and hip-hop swagger. Chuco is the sound of El Paso’s spicy heartbeat.
RIBOFLAVIN Photography by Joe Nuñez
Riboflavin members: Edward Provencio: drums Jay Gomez: vocals Frank Ramos: vocals Bruno Avatia: bass Contributing members: Billy Townes: keys Chris Oliver: trumpet Dj One Man: jazz Mack Goldsbury: Tenor Sax Sounds like: Jamiroquai, The Roots
Photography by Sergio Zamora
Riboflavin started in 2009 as a three-piece hip-hop jazz experiment and is now an 11-piece funk-bop jazz orchestra. This is the band’s third Neon Desert Fest. They drops beats solid enough to dance over – hip-hop in all its urban edges and exhaust pipe angles. Not El Paso’s hardest edge, but all of it is ‘grab a honey and jam’ fun. Ribo’s music represents the beauty of El Paso’s day-to-day grind. Tyler: singer/bass Michael: trumpet/keyboards Evan Tremper: drums Josh: guitar/bass
THE D.A.
Sounds like: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend Groovy dance-rock quintet, The D.A. (Digital Analogs), started in 2008 and is discoing down its fourth consecutive Neon Desert. The D.A. is El Paso’s snazzy side – the “parties all day, every day” side. Each song is a club moving 4/4 beat with kicking and catchy guitar riffs; it has a disco groove that deluges the soul with an urge to boogie. They are songs that get feet moving and bodies close enough to taste.
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MAGAZINE
ISSUE 3 MAY 2016