Villarreal-Carrillo’s new album blends psych rock, funk and jazz
“I’m not trying to make pop music. I’m not trying to be like Madonna or anything like that,” musician Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo said about his new record, “Panamá 77.” Blending elements of psych rock, funk and improvisational jazz, the record is an artistic and creative achievement for an artist used to eschewing the spotlight while collaborating with others.
Work on “Panamá 77” began in 2019. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Villarreal-Carrillo split his time between the West Coast and Chicago. He’d make trips to visit his daughters who live in San Diego, then drive an hour up to Los Angeles, play music and occasionally DJ. One time, Villarreal-Carrillo (who also plays drums for the celebrated rock band Dos Santos) booked a live session in the lobby of the Freehand Hotel in Los Angeles. The live, mainly improvised performances with collaborators like guitarist Jeff Parker, Elliot Bergman of Wild Belle and Bardo Martinez of Chicano Batman were recorded by bassist Kellen Harrison. According to Villarreal-Carrillo, those sessions were the beginning motivation for him to do something for himself.
However, part of that momentum was put on pause once the events of 2020 began to unfold. “It’s been good and bad, probably like a lot of people. I think the main thing is just the flow of work was gone,” Villarreal-Carrillo said. “And then as a creative
person, you were left alone. I don’t have my peers and my community to keep creating and keep contributing to social gatherings or creating music and recording.”
Villarreal-Carrillo said the experience made him a “little bit sad,” but the feeling was only temporary. As a longtime member of other bands like Dos Santos and a frequent collaborator, he was used to working with other people on different projects. Now, forced isolation led Villarreal-Carrillo back to his own creations, sparking the desire to nurture a collection of music he could call his own.
“When I’m part of a band, I contribute with my drumming, my percussion, and also arranging or composing things together with a specific style of music or a specific theme,” he explained. “But with my record, I just wanted it to be a free, open-minded canvas. I don’t want to tell people what to play.”
That open-mindedness brought Villarreal-Carrillo back to Los Angeles around October 2020, where he recorded four live, outdoor sessions of new music on the patio of the International Anthem label Scotty
McNiece. To make it work, Villarreal-Carrillo drove from Chicago to Los Angeles during the height of the pandemic with his set of drums, taking two COVID19 tests along the way. Some of his Los Angeles collaborators included Martinez of Chicano Batman and guitarist Parker. Most important for Villarreal is creating a diverse, melting pot of a band that reflects an eclectic, all-inclusive spirit and motivation for making music.
“I think I’m very community-based,” Villarreal-Carrillo added about his dedication to working with others. “For great musicians, even if you’re the best mind or the best leader, you need a team. You need to work with people. I feel like you can have the greatest idea, but eventually, even if you do it all by yourself in your bedroom, you’re going to play it live. It’s kind of like giving birth to something.”
For “Panamá 77”, everything was recorded live, a feat Villarreal-Carrillo said was best accomplished through his love of improvisation. Part of the appeal, he said, is the ability to break the traditional song structure. What feels good in the
moment? What can come alive without the boundaries of conventional music-making practices?
“Improvisation brings room for a song to keep growing. It would never get old,” Villarreal-Carrillo added. Later, he worked with sound engineer Dave Vettraino from International Anthem to sculpt the live recordings into more cohesive songs.
“Panamá 77” is a densely layered record of abundance, evident from the warm introduction of “Bella Vista” to the skintight grooves and bright notes peppered throughout the single “In/On.” Charismatic and unique, “Panamá 77” is a perfect introduction to Villarreal-Carrillo’s strong ethos of community and musicality.
“It’s kind of an arc. It can be a little bit eclectic or experimental, but also have elements that might sound familiar to you or to others,” Villarreal-Carrillo said. ‘I wanted to take people on a journey.”