Zipakatli, in the ancient Aztec langage Nahuatl, means "first of the first." This new band, coming out of the valleys of rural California, is the first of the first in a collision and coming together of many styles making a fresh, innovative sound for today's Latino listener. Combining the drive of '90's rock with the soul of trio, bolero, and Cuban jazz, the story telling of ranchera and the rhythm of cumbia, Zipakatli will put rock en español on the new map of musical consciousness.The brain-child of Manuel Villegas (singer, songwriter, and guitarist), the band unites three very different styles and personalities in Manuel, Marco Antonio Hernandez (vocals, guitar, and production) and Leonard Martinez (drums). Coming together quite by accident and after many twists and turns, they have been working seriously for over a year now to perfect and establish a new style that combines their diverse roots and interests.
"I know that I am not the only one like me," says Manuel, speaking about busting through the musical monopoly of songs played on the radio that do not express the struggles and ambitions of everyday people. You have to be real with the audience. People can see right through you. I want our music to be raw....realistic. Like a page torn out of a notebook. Not sugarcoated.
Not sugarcoated: that is the phrase can describe many of the songs in Zipakatlis repertoire. In one, AquÃ, a man contemplates his own misery in the face of loss and noise, and expresses violent notions on how to end it all. In MÃrala, the scene is a strip club where a man has a soulful meditation on the dangers of love and lust when confronted with a ravishing stripper. Even in less intense songs, such as Tijuana, the band seeks to drive home the realism of peoples everyday desires just to make it through the week.
We want to reach all audiences, says Marco Antonio, old and young. We write stuff that can be played in the kitchen, in the car, in a club, or in a strip bar. With the diversity of sources in their music, the clash of creative minds, and a drive to get their music out there, success in this regard is not far indeed.
We are all shooting for the same goal, says Leonard, we are all open to new ideas and change. I was most influenced by 80s rock: Poison, Motley Crew, Pantera..... I had to learn a lot of this music just by playing it. Its not as agressive, but it rounds me out as a drummer.
Zipakatli is poised to tap into the new sleeping giant of Latino youth who have grown up on the borderlands of musical genres and styles. From listening to their parents old school corridos at home to the hip hop blaring out of the speakers of low-riders as they cruise the streets; from forming rock bands in their garage as teenagers to dancing salsa in a club as young adults, these youth are waiting for someone to express their experience, sorrows and joys. With these emeging new artists from central California, they are just beginning to find their voice.
We will define this genre, says Manuel assuredly, others will come out of the woodwork, following behind us.Spanish Rock!
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