As we just about bring our SXSW coverage to an end, we chat with Asdru Sierra from LA’s Ozomatli – who sings lead, composes and plays keys and trumpet for the band. He’s a busy man on that stage! We chatted all things Austin, as well as about their forthcoming album release, Fire Away, and trip to Australia for the Byron Bay Bluesfest.
Thanks for chatting with us Asdru! So I believe this is your fourth SXSW?
I think so… I mean we’ve been around for almost 15 years, and I remember being here a lot. I think there were times when we were here even though there was a SXSW we weren’t a part of it, but we still had a gig out here. Kind of how most bands do it anyway. They just set up here and try to get in the mix.
How has it changed over the years as a festival?
I think it’s gotten bigger in many ways. And I think it’s gotten crazier. Seeing how many bands are here from all around the world. Whether you’re from Japan or Australia or Mexico or any other part of Central America – this has turned into the big “have to be there” kind of thing, especially for the industry and all the new ways the industry is going, with technology– digital flyers and all that – there are lots of seminars on all that stuff. I caught a bit of one that had to do with promoting yourself without using a printing company, saving money – it’s genius!
Has the industry part of SXSW always been more prominent than the music?
It’s always been an industry thing, from what I remember. But even if it was just about bands coming together, it was still the great place to come – very central to the rest of America for people to take a flight down here. And for a long time this was the live music Mecca of the US. It wasn’t New Orleans, it wasn’t New York… not anymore. It wasn’t LA. It was here. It’s probably because of all the colleges, there was a lot of amazing musicians out here in Texas.
They still brand themselves as the live music capital of the world – you don’t think that’s the case anymore?
I think it is man. I mean I walk around the street here and I see everyone I see in LA. I’m in the music world, and I can see them all here. It’s like a big happy reunion. Everybody’s here. If it’s not the biggest one, it’s up there.
And you’ve played Austin City Limits before, how does that compare?
That’s one of those shows that has been around for such a long time, everyone from Johnny Cash, to Radiohead – so many bands have done it. It’s really awesome. I love watching that show and see all the kind of bands that are on. I remember when we were on it was the same night that The Polyphonic Spree were on. That was intense.
I just love music. It’s the one tiny little spot of Texas that is really cool comparative. Because if you drive 30 miles out, all of a sudden you’re in George Bush country. And for me, that’s not as cool as Austin. The BBQ is pretty awesome there though.
Do you spend as much time seeing bands as you do playing in one?
I’m usually so busy when I’m here. I mean there’s a lot of us in the band, there’s six of us. We all split up the interviews. I’m usually a more mellow guy at home – my friends always make fun of us – I’m the real mellow one, and the rest of the guys are like the WWF announcers: “With these sixteen inch Pythons of music I will CRUSH you Hogan!” – I don’t talk like that.
You’re about to release your new album Fire Away, can you tell us a bit about it?
Yeah, on March 23rd, we’re going to have our pre-release on iTunes – and on April 20th – we didn’t choose that day, 4/20 – our major release is gonna be in the US. I think in Australia it will be around the same time.
But yeah man, we’ve got our next record and it’s gonna be a new experience for everybody than what we’ve done before.
How do you think you’ve changed musically since your last album?
I think, for me, and I only speak for myself, I guess I have a really short attention span, musically. I don’t like sticking with one style, one thing. I think it the middle of it I was listening to a lot of Tom Waits, weird stuff, so just imagine what it would be like… my dream would be to work with Tom Waits. Damn, I love that dude.
We worked with a new producer, Tony Berg, who worked with Lisa and Wendy – that was one of his first few gigs, from Prince and the Revolution – but anyway, we just tried to come up with something, not as slick and polish and clean sounding as we’ve done in the past. It’s a little more live vibey and sounding. We kept all the sounds of the guitarists putting the cable inside his guitar, making that big sound, doing stuff like that throughout the whole record. We’ve always been a little politically involved, even though I hate that word, it’s just a bunch of social issues.
Is Fire Away featured in the sets your playing at the moment?
I remember one time, I went to go see a band that I really like, and they’d been around for a long time, and they only really played new stuff. So it was a bit of a bummer for me, because you want to hear the old stuff. So we put enough of the new stuff in there so it doesn’t hurt – it’s a good mix of the old and the new.
And I imagine you’ll be bringing a similar set in a couple of weeks to Australia, during which time you’ll be returning to Byron Bay’s Bluesfest?
Yes! We actually have one track with Jack Johnson, and if all works well, with Planes, Trains and Automobiles, he’ll be able to play with us. Or we’ll play with him. We’re trying to work it out.
Bluesfest is definitely the place for collaborations. I remember years ago Jack Johnson made an unannounced appearance with A.L.O. and then played with Ben Harper, too.
Yeah all that stuff has to be organic. If you tried to organise it too much, it comes off as unnatural. And at the end of the day we just want it to be a nice party.
And what have your past experiences been like there? Your performance a few years back was definitely a highlight for everyone I spoke to that year.
Yeah well we’ve been a few times now… 3, maybe 4? But some of the best experiences I’ve had at Bluesfest, wasn’t at the Bluesfest. Not on stage or anything. Australia’s a beautiful place man. I remember hanging out with all the workers, the people driving you around and all that – they happened to be all locals. Man, I love just hanging out with them. When else am I going to get the chance to check out Australia? So I just hang out with them.
And it turned out that one of my drivers had a horse ranch, he was raising Arabians. The only time I get to see Arabians is at some horse race, and I hardly ever get to do that. And he had some purebred, thoroughbred, amazing horses. So me and our percussionist, we love horses so we thought we’d check it out. We got to see them, we got to ride them. Those things are fast! I got scared, I got off.
It’s amazing how much there is to see in Australia. The music’s great too, but I love that country. You have a cool country man. That’s one of the other places I’d love to live – either Japan or Australia.
I hear Jack Johnson and Ben Harper have a house in Byron Bay – that might be the way to go!
I’ll have to do that, I’ll call (Michael) Franti! If he doesn’t already have one…
Ozomatli’s new album Fire Away is available on iTunes and in stores now.
