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Mexican Institute of Sound
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Mexican Institute of Sound : Yo Digo Baila


Mexican Institute of Sound : Yo Digo Baila

Camilo Lara is Mexican Institute of Sound (M.I.S.), the mash up maverick making electronic dance music with a genius, playful edge. Based in Mexico City, Lara cuts vintage cumbia, Balkan mayhem, hip hop and punk into digital beats – an energetic mix of fun, freedom and killer club intensity. With a new album on the way, a novel on the go and a non-stop tour habit, M.I.S. takes a moment to talk to Mondomix ahead of his UK debut at La Linea Festival.

 


Your music mixes up lots of different sounds, places, eras and moods. It’s like a kind of utopia?


Camilo Lara : I never thought of my music as a utopia but I love that!
I guess if you look at it from the outside, my music is a little M.C. Escher. But for me it’s super natural. I grew up listening to English music. From Menswear to the Inspiral Carpets. But I was very exposed to cumbia. Mexicans must have cumbia in their DNA. You hear it on the streets all the time. Cumbia is the hip hop of Latin America. It's everywhere, everyone loves it but no one is willing to admit it.

 

 

 

(Mexican Institute of Sound – Yo Digo Baila)

 


Your recent EP Suave Patria was inspired by the Mexican Bicentennial, and your music soundtracked the celebrations in Mexico City. How did that feel?


Camilo Lara :  It was funny because there was a lot of political tension around the celebration. I didn’t feel completely comfortable. For me the bicentennial had to be more of a time to analyze ourselves as a society instead of a party. What is really cool is that I will be able to tell my grandchildren that I did the music for the bicentennial parade. Ha!
 

 


Since you started M.I.S., digital cumbia has become more and more popular all over the world, with bands like Bomba Estereo from Bogota and the ZZK crew in Buenos Aires. Do you feel part of that wave?


Camilo Lara : Well... we might all taste like chicken, but not all of us are chicken.
I like some of it, but we are very different from each other. Keep in mind that the only rhythm that travels all across America is cumbia. You can hear cumbia from Canada to Argentina. Each cumbia sound is completely different from each country. What we have in common is that we grew up watching MTV and listening to the same music. So we have the same roots. If marketing wise it helps all of us to be part of a cumbia movement and break globally, that’s fine, I’m in! France has done it with ‘French’ music. Why not? Can someone explain to me the similarities between Phoenix and Daft Punk? Pfffff!


 


You’ve said that you get your inspiration from Mexico City. What’s your favourite place to be in the city?

 


Camilo Lara : I love where I live, the Colonia Roma area. It is a simple place. Lots of art galleries and art deco buildings. Che Guevara used to live in my block and the Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco has a studio next to my house...I feel happy because if I ever go broke, I can always break into Orozco's house and steal a couple of pieces and sell them for a couple million euros.

 

 


Favourite band from Mexico right now?


Camilo Lara : I have two. She's A Tease...and Disco Ruido...Check out She's A Tease videos...Why? and Fiebre ...both are brutal!
 

 

 

(She’s A Tease - Fiebre de Jack)

 


And what other artists are you excited by lately?


Camilo Lara : Mmm...crazy about Velvet Underground. Always. But lately I've been obsessed with the Indian artist R.D. Burman and Cowboys International® and Vyto B from the 80s.

 

 

 

(R.D. Burman feat. Asha Bhosle – Piya Tu Ab To Aaja/Monica O My Darling (from the 1971 movie Caravan))

 


What are you reading at the moment?


Camilo Lara : This is sad, but I’m reading 1Q84. The new Haruki Murakami... I guess all the world is reading it. It’s like saying you were listening to OK Computer in 1997. He is a genius.
 

 

We’re looking forward to your upcoming show at La Linea festival – what do you have planned?


Camilo Lara : Crazy show...very energetic...Balkan, Punk Rock, hip hop and Cumbia. You will dance!

 


What’s next for MIS?


Camilo Lara : I’m doing a new album...can’t sleep...all I’m doing is making songs. Touring a lot all over the globe...writing ...I wish I could ever finish my novel...


 

Mexican Institute Of Sound


Mexican Institute of Sound – Suave Patria (digital/vinyl ep) is out on Nacional Records
 


 


A Night of Twisted Cumbia - 17 April 2011, Koko, London NW1
Mexican Institute of Sound, Axel Krygier and Pollito Boogaloo as part of La Linea Festival.
 

 


More M.I.S. tour dates: www.myspace.com/mexicaninstituteofsound

 

 


More on Mondomix:
Camilo Lara – Supersonico Mexico City chart

 


Jody Gillett







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