We got the chance to talk to the band Ikkarus, and with a brand new album out, they sure do have a lot to talk about.
Q: Firstly, you’ve just completed and released the new album ‘Stains and Echoes’, how did you write the songs, and what does the writing consist of?
A: “Normally, Javo gets to the studio with the main ideas, or sends them to us through email or any other means. When I listen to a “skeleton” I start to think about patterns, rhythms and fills that would fit into it. Sometimes I just work on it by humming”.
“When creating music, I try to make it a spiritual thing. I ask for guidance within my beliefs and I start playing for a long time until something jumps out and catches my attention: Maybe a simple melody or guitar riff. Maybe just a chord sequence. I record that onto the computer, leave it sounding on and on for a while”.
Q: How did you finish off the album, how did you figure out the track list?
A: “We practically went through all the finished songs we had. We took care that the ones chosen for Stains & Echoes were all part of the style and genre we’re trying to work on”.
Q: What is your local music scene like?
A: “There are many projects I’m a fan of. However, I feel it can be monotone. It doesn’t really explore an original sound or seek to create one. Many local bands sound pretty much the same, and I feel emerging styles such as Indie-Pop and Indie-Folk constantly influence them and so the product all around is too similar”.
“I feel it has been a difficult scene in Mexico, for many bands (us included). It’s generally difficult to get a gig unless you have some sort of connection”.
Q: How do you guys think you fit in?
A: “We hope that the different elements we’re bringing to the table captivate our audience from the first experience, whether it’s live or listening to the studio record. If there’s something we’re looking to be, is emotional in our music”.
“Based on our live performances I feel we’ve had a good response from the audience, however, only time will tell what kind of part we played in our local music scene”.
Q: And finally, What do people need to know about the album?
A: “Stains & Echoes is our presentation card to the world and at the same time seeks to be an instrument to find some good vibes, solace and consolation through art”.
“I want to say that Stains & Echoes has a little piece of our hearts tattooed into every single song of the album”.
“Stains & Echoes is a huge thing in my life. The hope of its existence at the beginning led me personally through many rough places, helped me push through a multitude of musicians who just wouldn’t believe in this project, through a huge lack of self-belief and many other things”.
With that, be sure to check them out:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/stains-echoes/sets/stains-echoes-debut-album/s-EhKgD
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hXr34FFuQykjrjKNQt9ix
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx_8edZX53UC5yRFGLCZExw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ikkarusband/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ikkarusofficial
Instagram: @ikkarusband