Just in time for summer, Marinero (Jess Sylvester) is ready to release their second full length album Hella Love. This album will have you driving under the speed limit with your windows down, enjoying the breeze, completely relaxed. Growing up in San Francisco, Marinero refined their style, a smooth sound that clearly honors their West Coast roots as well as Mexican-American heritage. If you have never listened to Marinero before, their music is the perfect blend of influence of artists like Carlos Montoya, Perez Prado, and Los Angeles Negros. One of the singles titled Outerlands is reminiscent of a Big Band Orchestra, but still feels modern. Another one of the singles, Through the Fog has a catchy Bossa Nova vibe. On this track Marinero softly sings, “Even though we know this world is ending, but don’t you fear, we’ll get through this my dear, and we won’t have to get through this alone, it’ll pass, this will clear, it’ll pass don’t you fear. The album is a heartfelt goodbye to their home of San Francisco and reminds you nothing is permanent. It’s a beautiful example of staying true to your origins while moving forward and not forgetting where you’re from.
Hella Love is out May 21st through Hardly Art Records. Until then, look out for a couple of new music videos.
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
Se Telefonando – MINA
I’ve been on a big ENNIO MORRICONE kick these past few years and this song blows my mind. He composed and conducted it and I think it’s a perfect and secretly a weird ass song. To most normies, this song will sound like a regular 60’s Pop song, but for the real heads, you can hear the clever changes going on. The song structure is so cool to me. It’s basically one verse, then chorus, break, and then ends with a repeating chorus. It’s basically just a verse and chorus. I’ve never actually tried analyzing the song musically, but it sounds like it keeps modulating and changing keys, elevating the chorus into an escalating climax. He also finishes with such a classic Morricone vocal outro. Enjoy.
So Goes Love – CAROLE KING
The TURTLES and The MONKEES covered this as well but KING’s demo is way cooler and has a better groove in my opinion. For me, it’s a perfect example of blending a minor verse that’s haunting and beautiful, paired with an anthemic major, upbeat chorus. Low lows and high highs. Yin and yang. Luke and Vader. Perfect balance.
Before We Begin – BROADCAST
It’s easy to find perfect songs from the 60’s or 70’s, but I wanted to throw the millennials a bone with this one. Broadcast’s Before We Begin, is such an amazing song that mimics 60’s Pop that it could have actually been a hit back then. That’s how good I consider the chord changes, vocal melodies, harmonies, drum fills, vibraphone, and noisy synth parts are. And the song isn’t trying to do a retro thing for the sake of tradition. A safety net that I see a lot of bands doing today. Trish Keenan is by far one of my favorite songwriters from the late 90’s or early 00’s. You could totally imagine THE RONETTES covering this song back then, if that makes sense.
Sho’ Nuff – SLY, SLICK & WICKED
This track just bumps. It’s got lush percussion, big horn and string arrangements, a cool monologue in the middle, and one of the catchiest choruses you’ll ever hear, Shout out to my East Bay homegirl, LONELY GIRL for turning me on to this banger.
Y Volvere – LOS ANGELES NEGROS
This is definitely a popular track in my community and I’m sure a lot of people know it, but I wanted to highlight it because of the song’s cool structure. It’s actually really simple, and that’s why I respect it. In this five song list I’ve spent a lot of time talking about chords and changes and blah blah blah (fake music analysis lol), but this song really just repeats the same chord progression over and over. I give props to artists or songs that can make a repeating chord progression still keep a listener interested with melody and vibe. It’s a true flex in my opinion.
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
Just THE BEATLES and BEACH BOYS, or BRIAN WILSON more specifically. They just crush everyone. No debate lol.
Do you remember the first time music had an impact on you?
I used to dance to Thriller. MJ was my favorite artist as a kid and I would make my mom flip the vinyl for me as I moonwalked in the living room. I even brought a boombox to show and tell one day. I just danced to Smooth Criminal, unchoreographed, in its entirety for my second grade class. I was just feeling myself through the music. Maybe it stuck with me.
What were you listening to in elementary school? Then in high school? How much of that music is still a part of your playlists today? How have your musical tastes evolved since?
Some of the first CD’s or cassettes I owned were by GREEN DAY, WEEZER, and NIRVANA. I listened to the Blue Album so much as a teenager. With Weezer I could hear a sort of classical music thing in Rivers Cuomo’s songs that resonated with me. It’s hard to describe, but listen to Mykel and Carli and tell me those chords and vocal melodies couldn’t be played by a string quartet. But as much as there was early 90’s Alternative coursing through my veins, there were also musical influences from my mom like LINDA RONSTADT, PAULA ABDUL, SANTANA and PEREZ PRADO to name a few. In high school, I got more into OPERATION IVY, RANCID, and some Fat Wreck Chords bands. I also started to get into the STRAY CATS and Two-Tone Ska bands. Since high school, I’ve had a lot of different haircuts over the years, and have played a few different styles of music till I finally started making music as Marinero. In some ways Marinero feels like a full circle making music I sort of grew up listening to…minus the Nirvana and Green Day Alternative stuff. I don’t really listen to that stuff anymore but Perez Prado is still one of my favorites. Thanks mom.
What beloved music do you share with your parents (or children if you have kids)? Any specific memories?
My parents, sister, and I have a strong connection to the song Sabor A Mi. It’s a song that is covered a lot by many groups but the version by EL CHICANO will probably make us all tear up for my cool uncle Jorge. RIP.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them? Any classic show that you wish you could have experienced?
It would have been cool to see FUGAZI’S last SF show in Dolores Park back in 2000 when they were touring and playing tracks from The Argument. I was really late to the party on that one. I didn’t even get into them till about two years later.
What are some of your all-time favorite music books and/or zines, documentaries, biopics?
Some Kind of Monster, The METALLICA documentary is one of my favorite music docs to quote with my homies. It’s super cringy, but I do respect people trying to get sober and stuff. It’s just probably not the best time to have a camera rolling.
What band or artist do you believe has achieved the most flawless sequence of 3 records in a row?
The Beatles. Period.
Can you think of a band or artist that put out only one fantastic release (album, EP or demo) and then disbanded? One that you really wish would have kept going
GHETTO BROTHERS – Power-Fuerza is a dope album. They are probably the coolest band of all time and I think it’s kind of amazing they only made one album.
When shows are being played again, who do you want to see live first?
CHICANO BATMAN. They just put out a really great album last year and haven’t toured for it yet. I live in LA now and it would be fun to see them finally share this cool new direction they’ve gone musically. They’re friends of mine and I have hella love for them.
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
Yeti Season – EL MICHELS AFFAIR
Eldorado – ELO
What’s Tonight To Eternity – CINDY LEE
El Fabuloso – ALDEMARO Y SU ONDA NUEVA
Saint Latin’s Day Massacre – JOE BATAAN
Introducing… – AARON FRAZER
Flore – GABRIEL RIOS
What are some up and coming artists that you would recommend?
SMIRK, VIOLENT CHANGE, FAKE FRUIT, FAKE JAZZ, HEALING GEMS, SPELLLING, LA DONA, BEN VARIAN
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
Teoreme Con Voce – Bruno Nicolai via Youtube.
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