Rata Negra is one of the better bands from the vibrant Spanish punk scene. Hailing from Madrid, they play a catchy yet raw and somewhat dark punk rock with strong vocals that will get you singing along (if, unike me, you speak Spanish!) in no time. They have a new LP called Justicia Cósmica coming out in October on La Vida Es Un Mus and if it’s half as good as their debut Oído absoluto, we’re in for a treat! I thought I might never see them live but I had the pleasure to catch them in Montreal this past July, on a short North American tour. -Ben F.
What’s the album that you’ve listened to the most in your life?
Pablo [drums]: Nevermind the Bollocks, SEX PISTOLS.
Fa [bass]: I would say MICHAEL JACKSON’s Bad.
Violeta [guitar and vocals]: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Normally we ask for a list 5 perfect songs but maybe we can do 3 -1 song each- that you believe are just perfect from start to finish. Everything about it.
Violeta: I got it. I’ll say…um…I’ll say…ah, I lost it! haha.
Pablo: I say Rocket man by ELTON JOHN. Holiday in Cambodia from DEAD KENNEDYS.
Fa: I got a dumb one but I’m not kidding. For me, it’s a perfect song and it’s one of my favorite songs…Linoleum from NOFX.
Pablo: Dancing queen from ABBA.
Violeta: Oh, that’s a good one. I’ll sayyyy…Shot by both sides, by MAGAZINE. I love that song and…what’s the one by SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES? I really like Spellbound but there’s another one that I’ve listened a thousand times…Arabian knights.
Fa: And maybe THE CURE. I don’t know…The Cure have some…
Pablo: Siamese twins by THE CURE. From the Pornography album.
Fa: Disintegration…The whole album is perfect to me.
What are some of your favorite lyrics? That are meaningful to you? It can be a specific line or maybe just an artist that you look up to for their lyrics.
Violeta: That’s hard for me because when I pay attention to the lyrics, it’s normally because it’s in Spanish. I really like ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES.
Pablo: I really like the ESKORBUTO lyrics. Eskorbuto is a band from the 80’s (Violeta: yeah ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES too) from Spain.
Fa: I like more poetic lyrics. In english, I like BOB DYLAN a lot. In Spanish, there is KIKO VENENO. He is a Flamenco guy who has very good lyrics, in Spanish.
Actually you guys have pretty much the same experience as I had growing up in Québec. I’m french speaking, that’s my first language, but I mostly listen to music in English. How do you all relate to English lyrics as opposed to Spanish? Is it all the same to you or Spanish strikes a different chord, deeper than English?
Violeta: It’s really hard cause I was talking to some friends that are English speakers the other day and they were asking something about lyrics and I realized that when I listen to music in English, I don’t pay attention to them even though I understand and I sing it, I don’t pay attention to what they’re saying. So I just don’t get it.
Pablo: The first time for me when I listen to English music it’s more like what I feel with the song. For example, DAVID BOWIE. I say holy shit, what is he saying in this song? I need to read what he’s saying. That’s the moment when I realize.
In English, are you able to enjoy music where the lyrics will be kind of bad?
Violeta: Probably! ah!
As opposed to Spanish where, if something is off then maybe you don’t listen to it.
All: True.
Violeta: Yeah but in English, probably we just don’t realize. I mean I’m conscious, like I listen for example to a band called 1981 and they are from Finland. They don’t speak English but they sing in English. I can tell that their lyrics are very intense and political but also very…the structure and the way they say things is very simple and probably if English was my language, I wouldn’t like it.
Pablo: I have friends from Texas, they sign in Spanish but very bad Spanish and it’s funny how they make it through a song… it doesn’t make sense but it’s cool, you know?
Do you think that makes you more open minded to music in a foreign language? You mentioned Finland before…An example for me is No hope for the kids. I love that band but I have no clue what they’re talking about.
Pablo: I like so much MASSHYSTERI and they sing in Swedish. It’s just really good music. Really good melodies and the music…
Violeta: I think that most of the people in the states that listen to our band, they don’t have a clue of what we are saying so pfff…I don’t know.
Pablo: A few people come to me and say, I want to learn Spanish to know what Violeta is singing, you know?
Violeta: On the other hand, I don’t understand how people can sing in a language that is not theirs. To me, it’s really hard and most of the Spanish bands, or a lot of them, they sing in English because their influences are English. And my influences are English too but I try to do something my own and transform it, instead of copying. Cause I think you’re going to sound…I don’t know, weird or not as good as what you could say in your own language.
Do you have a favorite place to listen to music? It could be in your car, at home, with friends?
Pablo: I like when I’m travelling with my iPod. Cause it’s my personal time and travelling, I can’t do anything really. That way, I can listen to all the details.
Fa: It’s the same idea for me, I like…it’s when you can focus and…
Violeta: Me too in the car. I love listening to music in the car.
Fa: Because you sing in the car!
Violeta: Yeah, you can sing really loud and nobody is listening to you and that’s cool.
When you’re on tour in the van, what’s the record that plays the most?
Violeta: Well, nobody’s gonna know this one but it’s a really strange synth flamenco from the 90s. Very strange music.
All: Like gypsy..spanish…electro-flamenco
Violeta: People who love flamenco hate this music and it’s like very funny. I don’t know…we love the lyrics. The lyrics are incredible.
Fa: They are a huge in South America too. The name of the band is CAMELA. We enjoy it a lot.
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or artists?
Violeta: For me, it’s really hard to say only one.
All: that’s tough…
Violeta: Well the RAMONES. If I can say only one, I would say the RAMONES but…
Fa: They put a gun to your head and…
Violeta: Yeah! I really like tons of other bands.
Pablo: Yeah. Normally, I say DAVID BOWIE.
Violeta: …but you always say ESKORBUTO?
Pablo: Yeah but artist? I say DAVID BOWIE.
Fa: No…aaaaaah…
It’s too hard?
Fa: Yeah, it’s too hard. There are a few but…
Violeta: I could say a lot but only one is difficult.
What genre do you listen to the most?
Violeta: I guess punk. I’m pretty eclectic but punk is what I listen to the most.
Pablo: Actually, I listen to more pop music but for sure punk music is what I listened to the most in my life. It changed my life.
Fa: I listen to pop music too I think but like Pablo, more like 80s pop or 90s pop, not commercial pop from the radio.
Do you have a favorite album for that genre?
Violeta: I say the ADOLESCENTS album.
Pablo: For me, a perfect pop album punk(…) The thing is, for me it’s a pop album but played by punk guys…RIKK AGNEW from ADOLESCENTS, the album where he recorded all the instruments…All by myself. That record is the best.
Fa: I say my first one is MICHAEL JACKSON’s Bad. It’s perfect.
Do you have any music that you love and share with your parents? Music that either you grew up with or that, to this day, you listened to with them and you both enjoy.
Violeta: They got me into KRAFTWERK…my parents. But they don’t listen to it anymore.
Pablo: I showed my dad one time COCK SPARRER. Because you know, my father likes rock music, like the ROLLING STONES, AC/DC, THE DOORS or whatever and I started listening to punk music my dad was like “oh that noise…” One time, I was in the car I put on Cock Sparrer (Shock Troops) and my dad was like “hey, that record sounds really good”.
What’s the most memorable show you’ve ever seen? What made it so special?
Violeta: Well, I remember like one of the most special…NOFX, in Madrid, in 1994, cause it was one of the first shows that I’ve ever seen. And to me it was incredible. And then after a while, nowadays when I speak to other people my age, they’ve all been to that show. And everyone remembers it as the best show they’ve ever seen. I guess it was truly memorable.
Pablo: For me, I saw DEAD MOON in L.A. with these guys. It was special because I thought I’d never see them and finally I did.
Fa: I think it’s because of the situation…We went to London to go see TOM PETTY and THE HEARTBREAKERS and a few months later Petty passed away. That made it kind of special because I really like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and…
Violeta: Same thing with DEAD MOON though.
Fa: Yeah, same thing. The same with the CRAMPS. When I saw the Cramps, it was one of their last shows and it was amazing.
What music has been the most influential for you as a songwriter in your band?
Violeta: Like, the one of the lyrics. I say like pop punk from Spain from the 80s. That’s how I would like to sound.
Any one band in particular?
Violeta: Well, PARALISIS PERMANENTE and PEGAMOIDES…I don’t know…
Pablo: ULTIMO RESORTE (Violeta: yeah!)
Fa: I started playing guitar with the RAMONES as a kid and maybe NOFX were very important to me in high school.
What’s the most impressive band that you that you’ve played with?
Violeta: Ah! We were talking about this on the way here and I said that, to me, it was playing with The Monjo…LOS MONJO…in Guadalajara, Mexico. And it was really cool to see them there.
Did you discover them out there?
Violeta: No, we already knew them and it was really cool to play with them.
Dan Pelissier (Montréal promoter…walking by): Is this an interview?
All: Yeah!
Dan: Are you guys huge fans of DEAD MOON? Cause I find that your record cover could be a Dead Moon record cover. And the logo a bit too.
Violeta: Yeah, it’s inspired by them.
Fa: It’s an homage.
Dan: ah, I saw it and was like whoa!(…leaving).
Is there any classic, universally acclaimed artists that you missed out on when they first came out or anyone very famous that you only discovered later in your life?
Violeta: I mean, I listened to Bowie when I was a teenager and really hated it, and I didn’t get how people could like him. Now I think it’s one of the best albums.
Pablo: I’m from the south of Spain and flamenco is really popular there. My mother played LOLE Y MANUEL and CAMARON DE LA ISLA, two famous artist (Violeta: Entriana) ENTRIANA too. I hated it cause it was the music my father liked. It’s not cool you know. But then, I live in the South and it’s my roots so now I like that music so much.
Fa: I used to hate FRANCO BATTIATO, an Italian guy that made weird music and now I love it.
Do you have any controversial or unpopular opinion on music that you’d like to defend? For example, someone who’d say “The Ramones are terrible”.
Fa: Yeah. I hate DEPECHE MODE. I don’t know if that’s polemic. Seems like most people can like them or like…(pointing to Pablo) you love them. (Pablo: yeah).
Violeta: I actually always fight with Pablo because I don’t get the SEX PISTOLS and he thinks that…Well almost everyone…(laughs)
Pablo: One thing I don’t like is melodic hardcore from the 90’s like NOFX…
Violeta: Pablo is younger than us so he doesn’t get our roots. But we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for NOFX.
Fa: Yeah, PENNYWISE, GOOD RIDDANCE…
Maybe we can do a group question for this next one…If you could create a dream band with any musicians, dead or alive, who would you pick?
Fa: Dave Grohl, right? (laughs) He must be there! (…Pablo and Violeta chiming in and laughing…) At least in collaboration!
Pablo: It’s really hard. You know what, sometimes, that kind of dream thing doesn’t work too well.
Fa: I will put Morrissey and Robert Smith in the same band.
Violeta: And Johnny Ramone.
What type of music would they play? What would it sound like?
Pablo: For sure, Johnny Ramone would say “this is how we do it” and they would.(Fa and Violeta agreeing).
What albums have you been listening to a lot lately?
Pablo: Now, I’m listening a lot to Flip your wig by HÜSKER DÜ. Tim from REPLACEMENTS. Minneapolis sound mainly.
Fa: Ahhh…I’m sorry because we just recorded a new album…
Violeta: …And this year, we’ve been very focused into that…
Fa: I’ve been listening to that in my ipod…
Violeta: …to The point where we hate music! haha.
Fa: So yeah, right now, I listen to our own album.
Are you are you able to take yourself out of the process and listen to it as as a fan? Or it just stays analytical?
Violeta: I can’t, no. Just when a long time passes, with perspective, but right now, no.
Well, maybe the first record then. Are you able now to listen to it and say “That’s a great song”?
Violeta: I listen to JUANITA Y LOS FEOS, which is the band that Fa and I used to have and now I listen to songs like that. Back then it was impossible for me and now over time I’m like wow this song was really cool. I wrote it! But back in the day, it was impossible. Yeah, I listen to a lot of Spanish bands right now. Things that came out this year…LA PLATA…CAROLINA DURANTE…And things that are like really hip in Spain right now.
Fa: I listen to THELONIUS MONK, some jazz. Piano, jazz.
What are some some newer bands and newer artists that you’d like people to discover?
Violeta: Those from Spain, I would say LA PLATA and FUTURO TERROR.
Pablo: SIERRA too. Good band from Spain.
Fa: ROSALIA! Ha. (Violeta: everybody knows her) Yeah, she’s famous.
Pablo: Oh! I Want to say one band, BUGG, from Indiana. Really good band. It sounds like noisey 90s, like DINOSAUR JR or something like that.
Yeah, good. I think that’s it. To finish off, is there anything you’d like to promote? Like you just said you have a new record. When is it coming out? And any other project that you may have going on on the side?
Pablo: Well, I have another band, LA URSS. I was here (note: Montréal) with them in 2016 or something. Maybe next year, we’ll come again. Maybe… Because crossing the borders can be hard sometimes. Just stressful. We have a new record that came out, Nuevo Testamento. It’s put out in North America by Discos MMM from San Francisco and Austin, Texas.
Violeta: We just recorded and it’s gonna be out before the year end. It’s gonna be called Justicia Cósmica .
Pablo: Will be out by the same label, La Vida Es Un Mus.
Bonus question done by email afterwards. They split it three way, with one collective pick…try and guess who picked what!
What are your ten favourite albums of all time (all genres)? Name a standout track on each of these albums.
RAMONES – Pleasant Dreams – The KKK took my baby away
ESKORBUTO – Demenciales chicos acelerados – Las multitudes son un estorbo
DAVID BOWIE – Hunky Dory – Life on Mars?
SEX PISTOLS – Nevermind the bollocks – Pretty Vacant
MICHAEL JACKSON – Bad – Man in the Mirror
PIXIES – Dolittle – Hey
NOFX – S&M Airlines – Five feet under
ADOLESCENTS – s/t – Kids of the black hole
WIPERS – Over the edge – Doom Town
ALASKA Y LOS PEGAMOIDES – Grandes éxitos – El
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