INTERVIEW: DJ Panko
- Posted on October 8, 2007 11:41 AM
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Interview By Katie Spain
DJ Panko is part of the magnificent, eight piece band from Barcelona, Ojos de Brujo. Ojos de Brujo blend Hip Hop with traditional Flamenco beats, resulting in a wonderland of funky, eclectic sounds. Over the years, they have built up a large fan base all over the world and are continuing to grow.
When we chat to DJ Panko at London's Cargo, he talks about his music with an infectious fervour. The band's dedication to their music and the inspiration the fans draw from their music is touching. This is a band that took a huge risk when they ruthlessly discarded their record company to set up their own label. It worked; this allowed their creative imaginations to run wild; blending music and freedom into one.
Their new album, Techari Live is out on October 15th, it was recorded on the last date of the band’s 2006 tour at the Barcelona Teatre Musical . Here's just a taster of what to expect from the band's gig at The Roundhouse. If music is a feast for the ears, this is an all you can eat 'aural buffet'!
You grew up in Barcelona didn’t you? How did music find its way into your life?
Very deeply and strongly. I was born very close to the Lyceum, and in the middle of the house that I was living in, you could hear the ‘ahhhhhh’ of them rehearsing before the Opera. On the other side, you could listen to the flamenco beats coming out of the streets and at the same time, I had older brothers, they were hippies, who were listening to soul music and a lot of black music – so, I was involved in a lot of different music early on.
I guess that reflects in the bands that you are in and the way that you play. You played various instruments and you now DJ with Ojos de Brujo – do you still play the instruments you played when you were young?
Yes, yes! I play around more at home in the studio. I used to play drums, bass and the guitar and then sing. I never thought that I would be a DJ, but, life is like this and you have to be open to whatever comes. In another way, I think that it has been an experience to understand the music itself by mixing. Everybody can mix music, but, if you know a little bit about harmony…in most of the music that I play, there is a musical route.
You played at The Roundhouse recently and I know that it was sold out.
We were very impressed because it was full!
Was it mostly an English audience?
Everywhere that we go and play, there is a Spanish team that goes and they really feel where they come from, it’s like the roots. But, at The Roundhouse, we met a lot of English people that were real fans and had all the records. They were driving four hours to London just because they really wanted to see the concert.
As far as your live performance goes, can you tell us what to expect?
Our music is very difficult to define. Something that is really clear is that we come from the basics of the flamenco beats, but, we also like to play and investigate with other types of music. The result of all our trips and playing with different people and different bands with hearing new sounds, is that we started creating. Now, it would take another trip to create again.
I think that if you head to Australia, you should stick a bit of didgeridoo in there.
One of the first concerts from Ojos de Brujo had a didgeridoo in there! At the beginning, there were a lot of people, and it was a very open band. We were playing on the streets, so we were meeting a lot of musicians that come to Barcelona and there was a guy with a didgeridoo who was on one track.
You were part of the band from the very beginning weren’t you?
Yes, I was playing guitar and then I started to find my place as a DJ. I have been a DJ for a little bit now but after working at discotheques, I was missing playing music. When you play music, the eye from the musician and the view form the audience is very different. I am very lucky to roll the DJ thing into what I wanted to do. Each member of the band had different projects, mixing flamenco with other music. I think that we all had the spirit in investigating before we met. We say that life itself put us together.
Do you still wake up in the morning and love what you do?
Yes, yes, yes, even when it’s hard, it has not been an easy ride. All of us have put all of our lives to this project. Even though it has been a lot of work, I feel very lucky for what I am doing. Even though we don’t get much money, we are doing something and we are showing the rest of the bands that there is a way…and this is my carrot if I was a donkey you know! We all play in different bands, with different projects, and have had different depressions with various record companies, and so you lose a lot of spirit you know. Most of the bands die because of problems with record companies, but, we are still alive and we are known all over and respected.
It must be an amazing feeling standing up there and doing what you love and making people happy.
This is still something that is very special. We play all over, and everybody likes it – that is really what we live for. When someone comes and tells me that they put our record on in the morning and that it keeps them going in life – I am paid with this. Music is like the background of your life, to grow and adapt to this crazy world.
It has taken you to America and a lot of different places, is the travel good part of it or does it get quite difficult?
Well, it’s a part of the game that we have to do. We were almost at the point of breaking when we were not selling any records, so the only way we had to live is from playing live. After years of going to places, our name is known in Europe, the States and China, where we are going in November.
Are you and the band like a close knit family now?
We have seen each other more than our families in the last seven years. The main thing is that we are very close friends; of course there are troubles, like in every close family.
Your new live album, recorded live at your last show of 2006 is out on the 15th October. Tell me a bit about the gig.
This was a very special gig because we wanted to do something for the September parties in Barcelona. We prepared everything in front of the cathedral as it was a free concert – but it rained. We had all the material to record but it rained so we couldn’t play! We wanted to do a live record because it is very important for our music, so we decided to do it again. I t is a very nice record. The way we worked all the tracks into it is really special.
What is coming up for the future, apart from Australia of course!
Australia is a crazy thing because three or four times we planned to go but couldn’t, but, it looks like next year, we are going to do it. In October, we have a few gigs here, and in November we are in Hong Kong.
I ask every person I interview this, what is the most memorable gig you have been to as a crowd member?
One of the ones that I was very impressed by was a concert from George Clinton. It was amazing; he was playing for three hours. After the event, he was still playing even though they had put the sound system off.
Want to see Ojos De Brujo? Check out their official site for dates and details of their album release. See you on the dance floor...
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