Band puts Prairie twist on Latin sound
Andino Suns put Prairie twist on Latin sound
When it came time to make their third album, the members of Regina’s Andino Suns brought a new sense of confidence to the process.
The band’s last record was nominated for a western Canadian Music Award. When the band formed in 2009, to play an event for the local Chilean community, the members didn’t have any expectations for how the wider Saskatchewan community would react.
With the new album Madera, the band continues its tradition of offering Saskatchewan a type of music deeply rooted in Latin culture (the members are sons of Chilean political exiles), but with a uniquely Prairie spin.
“When you bring all these influences in, it becomes a melting pot for your own sound. We have all these influences from North America mixing with these old traditional sounds of Latin America. Then we come up with our own new, I’m not going to say improved, but a unique Latin, Prairie album,” said singer and flautist Andres Davalos.
Madera, which mean wood in Spanish, features all acoustic instruments, a return to a style the band used on its debut. It was a choice based both on sound and the simplicity of touring such a record.
“Lately touring with a big guitar amp and electric guitars we just found it to be a pain in the ass,” said Davalos. “We stopped playing electric guitars because we don’t need it. It’s still pumping, there’s still lots of energy.”
Madera sees Andino Suns work with an outside producer for the first time. The band brought in fellow Chilean Daniel Emden, who is based in Montreal. Davalos said he was able to put a lot of trust in the producer, who also tracked all the drums on the album.
Madera also features several collaborations with some of Andino Suns’ Regina musician friends. The album includes contributions from Keiffer McLean, Scott Richmond, The Dead South and Megan Nash. Nash worked hard to learn the Spanish lyrics and pronounce them properly, performing co-lead vocals on a song called Madre. “She killed it,” said Davalos. Members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra also guest on the record. Davalos said the band would eventually like to score an entire album and perform with an orchestra.
Andino Suns added guitarist Cristian Moya to the group on Madera. They have known the young musician since he was a teenager, but he wasn’t ready then to join the group.
“He’s a young buck but he is the best guitar player we’ve ever seen,” said Davalos.
Now, at 24, he’s so good they’re willing to overlook some of his quirks.
“I always call him Allen Iverson. He’s the kid who’s late for practice, sometimes calls last minute to say he can’t jam because he’s sick, but he is a star. He’s so damn good that we forgive him for those little things,” said Davalos.
Andino Suns plays a show for CFCR’s fundraising drive FM-Phasis on Sept. 30 at Amigos.