Growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, guitar player John Dell was exposed to many iconic cumbia records.
鈥淚 was surrounded by it, and as with most musicians, I went in different directions over the years, but I kind of took it back to the roots to where it all started from,鈥� he said.
His new band channeled the energy of those classic cumbia vinyls in their upcoming release 鈥淐umbias Levantamuertos.鈥� Dell said making the record for a vinyl release shaped the creative process from the start. The band chose to record the music the 鈥渙ld school鈥� way, using amplifiers and instruments from the '60s, leaving in mistakes and recording to reel-to-reel analogue tape.
鈥淏eing a big vinyl guy, it's somewhat of a retro venture back to the '70s and '80s border radio,鈥� he said.
Austin has proven to be a hotspot for modern cumbia, and the city鈥檚 cosmic cowboy and psychedelic hallmarks can be heard throughout "Cumbias Levantamuertos."
鈥淸Austin is] definitely considered by some to be the 'Cumbia Capital,' it's in the DNA of Austin,鈥� Dell said. 鈥淚 think it all around fosters a community that is accepting of not only just cumbia but like new styles of cumbia.鈥�
In Spanish, the phrase 鈥渓evanta muertos鈥� is used to describe something so good it could raise the dead; from the first cup of coffee in the morning, to the first taste of home cooking after a long time away. The music in this release was crafted to be danced to and enjoyed with family, friends and long departed loved ones.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very interactive,鈥� Dell said. 鈥淥nce the band ramps up it's like the whole place becomes one.鈥�
Los Desechos will be performing at Antone's Record Shop to . They will follow that up with a performance at . Find more local shows in Austin Vida鈥檚 free Cultura guide. Sign up to receive it at .
