The music of Colombia is not only the reggaetón of Maluma and J Balvin, the pop of Shakira and Juanes, the folkloric rhythm of Carlos Vives and the alternative rock of Aterciopelados. there is also Mr. Perine, the most representative Colombian band of the last decadewith tours and recognitions all over the world, driven by a style that combines pop, swing and Latin American music.
Monsieur Periné is guided by the singer Catherine Garcia and the multi-instrumentalist Santiago Prieto, who have been blending rhythms ranging from bolero to cumbia or pop rock for more than ten years. His latest single, for example, is i dance for youwhich mixes bossa-nova, salsa and flamenco rumba, while also incorporating the sound of the ukulele.
This weekend they will be in Argentina again, with this one recital Saturday 18 at the Art Media C complex and another the Sunday 19 at the Cosquín Rock festival.
A registration with Vicentico
A few days before leaving for the tour, Catalina and Santiago connected via Zoom to anticipate the details of the visit and remember previous trips.
«It was 2019, we played at Niceto and at festivals», he recalls. “We were also recording part of an album, in 2018 or 2017, so we’ve been going there for a while.”
-How did you get to know Argentinian musicians?
Catherine: -Mainly in festivals and travel. It’s not like we went to Argentina and met someone and recorded together. When we recorded with Vicentico, for example, it was because we were finishing recording the album there and when we heard the song we thought it would be cool to do a feat. We started thinking about names and came up with him, so people from the record label called him, sent him the song and he agreed. We didn’t know each other personally and everything was done remotely, but it was very nice to be able to do it.
-Which Argentinian artists do you like?
Catherine: – To me, uff, that’s enough. My favorites from all stages of my life are Mercedes Sosa and Gustavo Cerati. They have been references and traveling companions. I’ve seen them both live.
My first concert was Mercedes Sosa, when I was very little, but I have the memory of seeing her as if she were a giant floating on stage in her black tunic. Her music is like a super ancient memory and she connects me like the earth is speaking to me. The bond is very visceral because she reminds me of my mother.
Then I got to see Cerati alone and the return of Soda.
Santiago: -I didn’t have the opportunity to see live the ones I liked the most. I am fascinated by tango and I like Roberto Grela, Juanjo Domínguez and the Polish Goyeneche, who has always been a guiding light for me. Also Alberto Ginastera, who comes from the world of classical music.
Obviously I like Cerati and Flaco Spinetta. Argentina has always been a very important place for me, musically speaking. There is a guitarist who is said to have been born in Brazil but was probably Argentinian, it is Oscar Alemán, who was the first Latin American to start playing swing on the guitar. Argentina is always ahead musically.
-What can we expect from this new visit to Argentina, both in the festival and in the show itself?
Santiago: -We are happy to come back. We haven’t been to Argentina for a long time, about three or four years, and we will be playing in Rosario, Córdoba and Buenos Aires. We are happy because it is not only going to a place we love, but also going to a kind of musical spring. It is very important to us and it will be beautiful. We are very happy to be back, as we haven’t played for a long time.
Ten years of intense activity
-Did you celebrate the tenth anniversary of your first album in 2022?
Catherine: -We didn’t, you know? We wanted to, but he had remained there in the inkwell, for when he will be another year old. Those who made the anniversary were those of our working group. Santiago’s sister, whose name is Raúl and we call him “hermánager”
-How do you see these ten years, did they go by quickly?
Catherine: – What madness! When the day comes and you see that ten years have passed, you think it’s impossible, that it happened very quickly. But when you start to look at it and look at it in a little more detail, you clearly see that ten years have not been wasted and that too much has happened in one moment. It’s been ten years of too much work, growth, travel and creation. And many beautiful stories and anecdotes.
-What can be expected from the new album?
Catherine: -I think we always make records with many elements and a great diversity of music and sounds. There is still a lot to discover. There are a couple of collaborations coming, for example with a Brazilian band, with a Chilean artist and with a Puerto Rican artist, so there will be some surprises and diversity in terms of music.
-With so many trips and tours, are you still in touch with the Colombian scene?
Catherine: -The scene in Colombia is full. It has grown a lot and there are many festivals where new music is always being discovered. Bogota continues to be the cultural capital of our country and everything that happens is impressive. And if you go to the rest of Colombia, music is definitely our flag. It’s amazing to see how this diversity really expresses itself in people. music is something everyday and nothing far away.
-Last month the Aterciopelados arrived. Have you had contact with them or are they more of an alternative rock circuit?
Santiago: -We have had contact with them, yes.
Catherine: -They are the parents of the chicks! We sang, recorded. They have been landmarks and continue to be. Much love, admiration and gratitude
Source: Clarin
