Miami’s own Radioboxer it’s celebrating the release of their debut album with a big and unique party never seen in town.
This is one of Miami’s most original and hardworking band that it’s really taking the time to make things in a very professional way and with a big word under their arm: Quality!
Fabrika had the chance to talk with the band and learn a little more about the band.
Let’s start with a little background on the band. Band members, how long have you guys been playing together.
J: As “Radioboxer” we have been playing a little less than a year now. But Vane, Gian, Santos and I have been playing together for over 3 years. Esteban and Tekila are the new kids on the block.
Esteban: I joined the band on October of last year
Tekila: I have no clue
We need to hear from the band about your influences due to this magical circus experience.
Santos: Julio Jaramillo, Guillermo Rodríguez, Los Galos, Los Iracundos, Metallica.
J: Santos’ answer is probably the first time somebody mentions Metallica and los Iracundos in the same sentence. That is Radioboxer on a nutshell see how we can mix the stuff on our heads in a way they make sense. Just put the parts no matter how it comes out. Like a platypus.
VD: Definitely, La Strada and 8 1/2 from Federico Fellini; especially the music score of these two films by Nino Rota.
We particularly love "Radio Broke my Heart" Can we hear the story behind it?
J: The phrase “Radio Broke My heart” was inspired on the tumultuous life of Mr. Edwin Howard Armstrong. I originally wrote the song as a protest thing you know? Fuck radio and all that. I still believe radio sucks balls but right now I understand that that is my opinion and if people want to listen to Nickelback or Radioboxer is their choice. I will just concentrate in doing music I want to hear and play. Nowadays the song reminds me of the importance of doing something about the things you don’t like. So kids: Don’t just sit and whine, go out there and start some crazy shit.
VD: J told me that this song could describe what Mr. Edwin H. Armstrong felt when he lost the patent rights of his own invention, the FM radio. So now when I sing it, I just think about being him and trying to stop myself from jumping from the 13th floor of his New York City department (which he did)...so there you have it...radio can actually break your heart after all!
Name your top 3 songs from your album.
VD: The Killer, Bolero, Run Away From Home and Join the Traveling Band
Santos: GMV, Bolero, Reckless Behavior.
J: Placebo Effect, Run Away From Home and Join the Traveling Band, Bolero.
Gian: Placebo effect, radio broke my heart and Emily
Tekila: GMV, GMV, GMV
Esteban: G.M.V., Placebo Effect, Don’t Shoot at me
Where did you guys recorded, who produced it, how long did it take.
J: We were extremely lucky to have recorded the album under the guidance of our friend and hero Ferny Coipel at The Shack North recording studios in Hialeah. Words cannot describe the amount of love we have for this place and for Ferny. It took us near two years to actually finish our album because we mistakenly thought we knew what we wanted. We were dead wrong, but at the end the process made us better musicians and I like to think it made us better people.
If we run into a friend that we want to take to one of your shows, how can we explain what type of music "Radioboxer" plays? (In your own words)
Esteban: you'll have to say different/bipolar/power pop/indie/rock/alternative/danceable kind of music
Santos: I would explain not only what you expect to hear but what you expect to see and smell and touch and taste. It’s not always pretty.
Gian: temperamental power pop
We love all the artwork and production behind the shows and flyers for the band. Who's the crazy guy/girl doing this?
Gian: I would give a lot of credit to jota, but Santiago and Vane also work a lot on the stuff we use on the shows
Santos: Usually Jota will sit at work and come up with all this stuff. Jota is the idea man.
J: You guys are giving me too little credit.
What's the approach the band is taking regarding digital distribution, physical distribution and all the BS related?
J: Digital is king. Hit the web and hit it hard. The physical product is your card it will get you some press probably and fans can get it on the concerts (which is very important) but in terms of having your product available for people the internet is the way to go.
Gian: spamming until we make them love us...or hate us.
So, what's the touring plan? Any special spot you guys want to play at?
Gian: we'll play anywhere people want to hear us, or pay us, or at least give us free beer...we've been talking about Mexico, New York, Las Vegas and didn't somebody mentioned the middle east? Personally, I’d love to play at the Adrienne Arsht Center, I think we're classy enough, or Langerado...we could stop showering and be hippies for a while to show we belong there.
J: Radioboxer will start touring on 2009 so let’s see how that goes.
Describe "Artistic" Miami in 10 words
Gian : expensive, constant, versatile, occasionally fake and superficial, improving, happy, Latin, loud...sure-beats-Flint's-art-scene
Santos: Fear, ridiculing, ideas, mistrust, happiness, loyalty, self consciousness, fun, love.
J: I’ll do a haiku instead:
Miami hot spring,
Art melting on dirty bars,
I like chicharron.
I've heard for many years from friends "This band will make it in Europe, Argentina, Mexico, etc." This band's sound is not from Miami. Do you guys think the same from your band?
J: We get a lot of that but you have to work with the cards you’re dealt.
VD: I do not like to put a tag to our music; we play different genres so I think that this eventually will open some doors to different segment markets. The music that is coming from Miami nowadays is a very distinctive one; The Miami Sound Machine music era had passed already, don't get me wrong, I do like their music, but times are changing in our favor, especially for those who would like another "tag name" in their music rather than "Latin Rock"
Please share the best story from recording the album.
VD: When I recorded "Bolero". I had given up smoking cigarettes for a while; however J came up with the idea of me singing Bolero with a raspy and puffy voice. So before recording the song, a friend got me a package of Marlboro's 100 Menthols (my favorites) and a bunch of little booze bottles. I felt like in heaven not only because I was drunk at 3:00 pm on a Sunday afternoon, but I was about to record my favorite song of the whole album at that time. I walked into the studio and found myself trapped in multicolor sound isolating panels and all I could think was how cool those would look at my house. The all these fuck up memories from my past came up while I sang the theme until I finally broke down in tears for the rest of the session. I felt so mighty to let go all those memories once and for all.
J: I can tell you that the time Ferny “penis flashed me” it is not the fondest of my memories.
What can we expect from RB in the upcoming year?
J: lots of noise.
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