Fun Fest Interview: Delorean

Funx3 Fest is now over and we can all make our collective sad face to show our displeasure towards the situation.  It was yet again a great weekend of music and fun was had by all.  Prior to the weekend, we had the chance to sit down with Spanish pop band Delorean and talk a bit about their band.  We spoke with band member Ekhi Lopetegi about the current state of his band and how they celebrated the Spanish victory this summer.  Follow the jump for full interview

ATH: So after many years together and a lot of self-released material and material released on small labels, you’ve finally signed to relatively large label True Panther (owned by Matador Records).  What do you think this will do for your career as a band?

Ekhi: It’s pretty long and steadily growing. Probably not as coherent as we’d wish in terms of sound. It’s been a long time, almost 10 years. During 10 years people can have 3 or 4 different bands, we just had 1 that we started when we were 17. To a certain degree, I do think that the last 2 years have been a new start for us, and honestly we feel this is the first amount of serious work we’ve done as musicians. TPS is Dean, our friend, and we’re lucky we get to work together.

ATH: You guys obviously like to get the dance party going for your live show.  How do you go about getting a crowd moving during the set?  What song do you turn to if the crowd is being a bit “unresponsive”?

Ekhi: We always have the same set working. Sometimes we feel people stop dancing and we feel that’s a sign of the show going bad but sometimes people just like to chill and see, watch the show you know? Still, we just want to translate some sort of energy live, create some sort of encounter that is also a collision.

ATH: When a huge amount of praise comes your way like it did for the new album “Subiza” do you feel any sort of pressure to perform on your next effort?  Speaking of, are you guys working on anything new while on the road?

Ekhi: We don’t work while we tour. There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding our future songs. We need to sit down and see what we come up with. It’s not scary but it’s exciting. We’d like to make a real album, with real songs, that’s what we aim for.

ATH: I majored in Spanish and now teach the language as my “real job”.  I’ve always wanted to travel to Spain but can never seem to afford it…. I’m curious, what’s the music scene like in Barcelona and the surrounding area?  Do you guys even spend much time there now that you tour so much?

Ekhi: Dance music in Barcelona is cool. Lots of clubs, big clubs like Apolo and Razzmatazz… Musically not very bassy though, there’s a lot of techno and minimal. Not a lot of garage, uk funky, Hip Hop, Booty, Bassline, grime… all that stuff is not as popular. We don’t spend as much time now here.

ATH: Also care to share what it was like playing the huge Benicassim festival last summer (2009)?  We hear it’s quite the event and you’re playing to a home crowd.

Ekhi: It’s pretty crazy. There’s a lot of tourists which makes it cool but not as local. It’s a big party, huge party I’d say. The show wasn’t our most loved show but people were into it.

ATH: We are huge soccer fans and supported Spain the whole way this summer.  You guys were out on the road for the huge win.  Do you feel like you missed out on the biggest party of the year?  Did you celebrate in anyway here in the states?  Hell, were you even able to watch the game!?

Ekhi: We got drunk at the Zebulon in Brooklyn when Spain won, we had a great time and followed the whole world cup either on the radio or on tv when we had the chance. The match was a great match too, it’s funny how americans love soccer.

ATH: Also, if the soccer question sparked your interest… In a bind, you can only send one striker on the field.  Is it Villa or Torres?

Ekhi: Villa. But, none of them are my kind of strikers. Anyways, Villa has a good shoot to kill attitude, but he’s not as combinative and flexible. He’s a ‘standing still’ kind of striker.

ATH: Have you guys looked over the Fun Fest lineup?  Any artists you are particularly looking forward to?  Anything you look forward to doing while in Austin?  I know you’ve come in for SXSW before.

Ekhi: I want to see Dirty Projectors. We’d like to hang out too. Lemonade are playing at the afterparty which is perfect!!!

Thanks again Ekhi for making the time to talk with us.  We hope you enjoyed your weekend and saw some solid bands ¡Viva España!