An Interview with Vaqueros Paganos

“I think we had no choice [but to make music] otherwise we would be in a mental hospital.”

Meet Vaqueros Paganos. Formed in 2007 in Buenos Aires as a duet compromising Diego Pagani and Clara V whohad been friends since they first met in 2005 at an Elliott Smith tribute concert.  The duet subsequently grew in to a 5 piece band, with both Diego Pagani and Clara V writing the lyrics and playing guitar; Coco is on bass; Lean Perry is on keyboards and piano and, since 2009, Martín Bocking is on drums.”

How they chose the band name is “a tough one, one we can’t answer. We swore not to tell anyone about it…”

With regards to their sound Clara says “We sing in Spanish, so the tragic lyrics and amazing voices in “boleros” are fundamental to our sound. I think “Monocovers” (we recorded it in 2008, as a low-fi experiment of cover versions recorded with just one microphone, in one hour) is a good way to get in touch with our influences.” Speaking of their influences, they range from “The 50’s and 60’s… the retro feeling of Nancy Sinatra… The 70’s… all kinds of psychedellia and the The 90’s… Alice in Chains, Mark Lanegan, Nirvana, PJ Harvey…”

In May they released their first LP, called “El Libro Negro” (“The Black Book”).  “We’ve been playing those songs in every possible format, in every possible place… rehearsal-pain-gig-rehearsal-pain-gig! We are already starting to make new songs for the next LP, even sexier and cooler than this one…”

They question the music industry saying “Sometimes it seems more like a show-off industry, and it’s not about “your craft” after all…   I think the main challenge is to play the music you really want to, and let it flow.” With that said, it would be great to get someone to support our songs, record as many albums as we want to, tour the world playing music, you know… But if it’s meant to happen, it will.  In the meantime, we’re having fun together.”

Clara’s favorite thing about performing is that “It’s real and as we like to take some risks, it’s always kind of an experiment and an adventure.  It’s fate itself.”

Recording the new album was an intense experience.  We had a lot of fun, but we also fought, cried, bled… The witness and judge sometimes was our producer Diego Acosta, for “No mires ahora” studios. It was all registered by the lens of Rafa Paz. The new single they are releasing is called “El pastor” (“The shepherd”). Her favorite track of the album is “Plegaria de verano” You can download it here . She says “It was the hardest.  Yet lovely. It’s our favorite…”

Off the wall antics whilst in studio included “eating cinnamon cookies and beer and pizza at the same time. Many times..” Clara takes the longest to get ready before a gig “I’m always trying to arrange plugs.  I can’t help it, it’s like they are alive and get messed in my bag, ALWAYS.”

Their side projects are many and varied. “Perry (keyboards) has his own solo project, he already released an EP, which can be downloaded for free from here.

Diego Pagani is also known as pobrediego, released an EP a couple of years ago, for free download.  He’s finishing his new album now, to be released during October 2009. Bocking has an affair with electronica… more information coming soon…Coco… Coco… you never know what he’s up to.  Math rock maybe…I have a project with some friends of mine called Cec and Lara, we’re also going to release an EP soon.”

Perry definitely talks the most rubbish and is also definitely the messiest on tour. One of the craziest things that has happened at a show has it’s answer “at 2:15 of this video” Be prepared.

Vaqueros Paganos are a quirky band with music that is a subtle blend of electronic, rock, psychedelic and grunge and will appeal to many.