Episode 142: Talk w/ LatinX musicians Terror/Cactus and Pahua!

0:00 Hello and welcome to this week's special Latin episode of Uncle Dad Talks, or I guess someone people would say, what is that, Bobby Theo? I don't know. What do you think, Mike? Sounds good to me. Yes. Both. All. Yes to all. Is there one other than Mike Hampton? Mike, say hello as always. Hello, hello, hello. You mean hola. Hola, hola. We have a very special guest today. I'm very excited about this. We don't really, you know what's, Mike, I think what I love about this show is that we do so many different diverse acts, right, from all walks of life. We always say that, right? When you and I talk about the show, we always say all walks of life.

0:40 And, you know, we don't get a lot of Latinx people on the show. So it's very exciting for me also being Latinx, having Latinx people on the show. So without further ado, let's give it up for Martin from Tarot Cactus. How are you? Good. Thank you guys for having me. Thank you for being here. first and foremost for our audience who don't know who you are and what you do can you tell us a little bit about you and your musical project yeah my musical project is called terror cactus, terror cactus and i make psychedelic cumbia mixed with electronica i also like to mix in other latin american folk styles and yeah oh man i i love that i think my favorite word is psychedelic i think microgreens so really i'm just curious you know you know i'm sure you've probably answered this before but just to kind of get us going here is where does how does someone get kind of into psychedelic cumbia.

1:37 Yeah, I think, you know, I've always been, for me, music was always a way of connecting with my cultural heritage. I guess I should back up. But I was born in Argentina and moved to Miami as a very little kid. And I always, you know, would connect with the music. For me, like music was a way that I would connect to, you know, to the part of me that is in Argentina. And in the 90s, the cumbia that was popular in Argentina was like cumbia vijera, which is like almost like gangster rap cumbia. So that was my introduction to like cumbia at first and then like the psychedelic stuff came later as i came into adulthood and uh yeah discovered like peruvian psychedelic cumbia from the 60s and 70s like los mitlos and los estrellos and bands like that yeah that's great i mean like it's it's fun that you know when we we move somewhere we're always still kind of tied to the roots to where we're originally from and music is often one of those things, right?

2:43 You know, like I'm originally from New Orleans and no matter where I'm at, like I'm always tied to the feeling of New Orleans jazz and the brass bands. And so in Miami, obviously there's a huge, I mean, the music scene out there is huge. Is that where you kind of got started? Yeah. How did it start for you? Like doing DJ music or were you starting to make your own beats from the jump? How did it start for you out there? Well, you know, as a teenager, I was into like punk rock and stuff like that and playing guitar. And, you know, as a kid, I learned piano. But I think one of the influences, just to give you even more background, is my family in Argentina had a record label that had a lot of folk artists and a lot of rock from the 70s.

3:36 I've never, to be honest with you, before I was presented with this opportunity here, I never really heard music like this. And I have to tell you, it really connected with me in a very unique way because it was like feeling my Latin roots coming out. But I'm very big into psychedelic recreational use, I'm just going to be honest, as we are on this show. And last night, I took a little microdose. And let me tell you, man, I could feel that I was a part of something bigger. So I'm curious, when you make your music and that vibe, do you ever find yourself thinking, hey, I'm trying to connect this to something larger, or I just want you to feel the vibe?

4:17 Awesome. And before we go, any last questions, Mike? Well, my deepest connection to psychedelics is with plant medicine from South America. And I would imagine having your music with some of that journey would be a really intense one. So maybe if that ever arises, I'll send you a note and let you know how it goes. Yeah, that sounds great. All right, everybody, we'll be right back after this break. Hey, everyone. This is Uncle Dad here with a quick little break.

4:59 So I want to let you guys know, I was relatively transparent here. We had a little bit of audio issues here. So you're not going to get the entire interview. As you noticed, that was pretty quick. I'm hoping to fix that down the line. And when we do, I'll re-release this. But I wanted to make sure we got this out there in time because it may have been missed, but they are going on tour and they're doing a show in our Bay Area of where we live, and that is Mill Valley. And I wanted to give you some information about it so you guys can be there i'll be there hanging out and i would love to see you guys so all you got to do is go to sweet water music hall and buy tickets now what you're going to buy tickets for is for our friends tara cactus who you just heard interview pawa which is coming out right now and a local act from oakland california giving off a combo to zeta three amazing unique latinx artists we have to support it get out there and support it support all all arts that you can, period.

5:55 And the only way to do so is by going to SweetWaterMusicHall.com. See how you can buy tickets. And I hope to see you there. Remember, that's Thursday, August 8th. And it's at the legendary Sweet Water Music Hall in Mill Valley. So looking forward to seeing you there. And remember, the only place to get tickets is there at SweetWaterMusicHall.com. Thursday, August 8th. Doors open at 8. Show starts at 8 p.m. Sorry, doors open at 7. Show starts at 8 p.m. all ages so bring the family have a good time vibe out tapawa combo tazeta and terror cactus i'll see you then guys. All right, everybody, Uncle Dad is back. Mike, say hello. Hello, hello.

6:37 Continuing our Latine Forward episode, which, man, Mike, I love saying that. I love saying that we have an all-Latine lineup. Yeah, Mike, I can hear it in your voice. It's very full and fruitful. Exactly, exactly. We are with another Latinex artist. Let's give it up to Hawa. How are you? Hey, hello. Como estan todos? Oh, man, I can't speak Spanish. He's learning, I'm the worst Mexican I swear. Which one is your full name say it again which one is your full name my full name my full name is I'm about to edit that out full Mexican, yeah I am my parents are from Ixalcán ah nice Nice. That's really nice. My dad's too.

7:35 My parents are from Michoacán too. I love that. Yeah. That's amazing. So are you from the Michoacán area as well or no? Well, no, I am super Chilanga. That's how we know to all the people in Mexico City. We say to everyone, Chilango. Mike, did you know that you go there a lot? A lot. I've been there once for about two weeks and Mexico City is great lovely city, there's a lot of things going in the same place there's a lot of art there's a lot of things that you have a lot of musical scene so yeah it's a great place to go and visit, Not if you go to bed early, because people were saying to me, hey, come to this place. It's really get started jumping off at around 3 a.m.

8:30 I was like, oh, well, I'll be asleep. See, Mike, for all you know, you could have missed one of her shows. I probably did. I probably did. Let's talk about for our audience that doesn't don't know who you are. Or can you just tell them a little bit about yourself and the kind of music you make? Yes, of course. Okay, Paua is a project from Mexico City that started during the pandemic. It's my solo project because I have another project that is mostly of cumbia, neocumbia, that I had with my brother, that is Sotomayor, is my last name.

9:13 And when I started this one, it was for me more intimate and more feminine and it's like more global rhythms. Like it has a bit more of like folk-tronic and also a bit of bulleringue, cumbia, dembow. There's a lot of things going on in the music. And I have a lot of collaborations with other artists from Latin America. So I have people from Colombia and also Dominican Republic, Cuba, and a lot of people that it has been also in the alternative scene. Seen and for me was also a window to to open my music to other rhythms and to other influences and also to their cultures and roots so i i love the albums that i have made i have the four different materials that i have you know platforms and right now i am doing my first tour in the U.S. and also in Canada.

10:13 And I am really happy and super excited because it's a lot of work to do a tour. And also... Yeah, for me, it's the first time also that I am in Canada. And right now I am going to play tomorrow in Ottawa. I played yesterday in Montreal. So, yeah, it's really good. And also I came to this tour with two of different friends that they are from the U.S. One of them is from Seattle and the other guy is from New York. And they are amazing musicians. musicians and it's really cool to have this kind of artist with me in company and yeah so I guess that also for the people that doesn't know yet my project I know that they are going to like it too much because it has a lot of diversity music that it's like chill and it's also down tempo so I guess that it's music for all kinds of moments so yeah oh yeah i like that you say it's music for all kinds of moments so we just talked to terry cactus and you know his music is very on the psychedelic side and i feel like your music can be in between that sometimes and so what i love about this whole entire show is that it's just going to be a good time if i'm on psychedelics am i right about saying in that mic uh yeah so so yeah so power so like when you go to record music so do you have like

11:45 a ritual or routine that gets you set up or is it just kind of like when you feel a melody or a song or a lyric you just start from there and then let it grow like what would be like an example. Yeah, I guess that I don't have a ritual, like, yeah, like steps to do music. But something that I really like to do is that when I am maybe on the street and I hear something that is like, oh, this kind of sound is interesting. I try to record it. So in my notes, in the cell phone, and also to have incidental stops and sounds. And I try to also play a lot with nature and it's also something that I can try to modify the sound and also to use with the production.

12:32 And many times that happens also with the lyrics. I try to record something and then I try to grow that idea to see how can this try to go somewhere else. And also I try to do a lot of music with other musicians because I am more into song camps right now because you have different brains and different people that is working in some idea that is like just in that moment, like growing in that moment. And that's great because you have a lot of feedback, like in the way that you are doing music.

13:15 And it's something that in the experiment is super helpful. So, yeah. I guess that. I love that. I love that. So when you come to the U.S., have you, well, first off, have you been to the U.S. ever before? Or is this just the first time, first U.S. tour? Yes, yes, yes. Also with my other project, I came, I guess the first time that I went to the, like, to the first gig, it was like 2015. And I met a lot of things in L.A., like Viva Pomona and other stuff in Chicago, in the Navy Pier, and a lot of things. and it was really great. But this is my first tour that is of a lot of dates in the U.S.

13:57 For this project that is Paua. And I have with this project three years. So it's a young project. That's incredible. So what, so far, what has been your favorite city you've performed? Right now, well, I had a lot of fun in Cleveland and also yesterday that we played in Montreal. It was really great. It was my first time in Montreal and they have beautiful cities. So I guess it is like very similar to like Williamsburg. It's that kind of neighborhoods that they are like, I don't know, like that kind of architecture, but with another kind of European style. So it's really beautiful. And also they have a lot of art. There's like a lot of festivals that they are going on at the same time.

14:41 So you have different disciplines that it's like music, Then you have like graffiti and you have a lot of circus stuff. And yeah, like they are like really related with a lot of art. And that's something that makes all the energy of the place super special. Yeah. Montreal is a beautiful, artistic city. And, you know, it's very, you know, it's in Quebec. So it's very French speaking and it's a fun mix. Have you tried being in Canada especially that part tried eating the poutine have you heard about it yet I didn't I didn't try it but a lot of people told me like oh this thing is amazing, but there's a dish that is also really good that is called the goulash that is like meat but with sour cream and potatoes too like fried potatoes and it's it's it's a heavy dish but it's good, how are the how are the tacos out there.

15:44 Do they have them there I think they have them there I didn't try them I don't want to have a yeah I don't I don't, Yes. No. I always... It's easy for Pastor. Ooh. Whenever I travel, I always try to try, like, internationally, I always want to try somebody's tacos. Like, I've been in Japan, and, you know, it probably sounds dumb, but I tried, I had to try the tacos in Japan, and they were horrible. Well, yes. Yes. I tried tacos also Also in London, like in, I guess there is like a very well-known chain that it's called Oaxacas. That's the name of the tacos.

16:31 And they were like a total deception for me. Like, man, this is not a taco. But yeah, I am Mexican. So it's really difficult to have that level. Yeah. Mike, I think my next podcast is going to be a tacos podcast. Well, yeah. If you're living in Mexico City, you don't want some other country's watered-down taco. It's just not worth it, right? You come from where the best street tacos are. Yeah. Talking about where you're going on your tour, you're going to be headed to Mill Valley. And Mill Valley is a lovely, lovely town in the Bay Area.

17:16 You have never been to Mill Valley, or have you been there before? No, it's going to be my first time. Absolutely beautiful place. Let's go and dance. Yes. Let's go and dance. Absolutely. This venue you're going to, Sweetwater Music Hall, is a legendary venue. Great intimate venue. Mike was just talking about it with Terracactus of how it's such an intimate space. So I think, and your music is going to, it does feel very intimate. It does feel very connective. So I feel like when you do your thing there, I think Middle Valley is in for quite the treat, if you will. Yeah, and I am super excited because also we are going with three projects that are amazing.

18:00 I have been doing music with Terror Cactus like maybe for three years, and we have different materials. And also right now that is also working with me, it's amazing to have this musician like in the line. and also it's going to be Combo Te Seta that it's also amazing and super Latin and I know that you're going to like it a lot. Yes, and then Como Te Seta, that's local to us. It's Oakland. Yes. So very exciting to have a Bay Area talent there. So can you tell our audience when you're going to be there again so people can know that they have to be there? I'm so sorry, but I have to be there. Change of dates. I have all the dates in an amazing app that is called Master Tour.

18:47 And you have like all your schedule the event, the local the locality and also the hotel and yeah it's going to be the 8th of August in Mill Valley, California, Sweetwater Music Hall, so I will be at that show unfortunately Mike will not be there but I will be there and I look forward to meeting you in person and all that good stuff I have to say something before we wrap up here we play a game on this show called Two of a Kind.

19:45 Just an example I get that Two of a kind. to make sure it's in your wheelhouse i promised um and we are going to be playing for a listener to win a prize and that listener will be chosen after this so if whoever if you guys get it right and we connect it when i reveal that listener they will have won a gift but if you guys get it wrong we'll try it next time all right any questions do we got it everybody okay here we go So, Pawa, are you ready? I am. I am working on this. She's ready as she's going to be. Okay, okay. Here we go. Here we go. The category. Easy one. The category is a type of, taco meat. Now wait till I count from three to one.

20:35 A type of taco meat. Okay. Three, two, one. Toyo. Cochinita pibil. You. Ew. What does that mean? It's a kind of, it's pork, but it's like little pork that they cook in like in a hole in the... Okay, yes, yes, I've had that before. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's amazing because it's like with a lot of species that they are like super different and it's with a lot of condiments.

21:19 And yeah it's very special it's something that you haven't tried it's like yeah I don't know it's personal I'll be honest with you both choices that you guys picked I was like man why didn't we just go with El Pastor that made the most sense. I mean I went with the most basic, one so that's what I sorry no two of a kind here i could you imagine if mike said that though i would have been like wow, i don't want some points yeah awesome and be sure to go check them out august 8th at sweet sweet water musical in mill valley california i will be there and we're very excited to hang out and get our vibe on and, you know, hey, have some fun, man.

22:15 Like Pawel said, let's all get together and let's dance. All right, everybody. Thank you for joining us. And we'll see you all next week. Music.