Every heart in the world understands the language of music. The pan-Latin American music dominated the music scene in the 1970s and 1980s with its raw and gritty approach and fearless use of garage organs, piercing guitars and spirited percussion. Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta revives those sounds in their own diverse style as they bring in their own fresh approach. The band comprises of five members: Peter Vale, Alex Chavez, Daniel Villareal-Carrillo, Jaime Garza, and Nathan Karagianis. The group made their debut in May 2013 and has been making rounds at Chicago’s premiere festivals and live music venues bringing Latin music to the streets of Chicago.
@Fmag: What type of band are you?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: Latin Indie: influenced in Cumbia, Rock, Salsa and Mexican folkloric rhythms from various regions.
Jaime Garza: We are a modern Latin psychedelic band. Our music borrows from strong Mexican and Latin American traditional music, to Afro-beat and dance music from all over.
@Fmag: Tell us the brief history of your band?
Jaime Garza: 2 years ago, the band started with Alex Chavez’ (guitarist, keyboard and vocalist) idea to start a cumbia/chicha band. Since our early rehearsal sessions, the band steered to more than cumbia or chicha, it was very powerful like rock music, but yet still maintained the cumbia dance essence. The band now has evolved and has been doing some experimental funk, salsa, Afro-beat and a good dose of Latino music with a modern touch.
@Fmag: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: musical: Giovanni Hidalgo; Pedrito Martinez
non musical: Pedro Albizu Campos
Nathan Karagianis: My biggest musical influence has always been rhythmic based. Being exposed to Jazz at a young age from my grandfathers big band, I was always interested in what the rhythm section (bass & drums) was doing. The drummer always looked like he was having such a great time and I could tell that my body wanted to move and dance and shake. So I’m constantly turned on by music that makes my body move and do weird things.My non-musical influence has been meditation which I have practiced for about 6 or 7 years. In a few words meditation has served as a way of self healing and self-psychoanalyzing tool. Over the course of the last few years it has evolved into a once in a while hobby, but this is not a way one would reap the most benefits. When I first began I did it as a way to understand my anger and anxiety and since I would say that I have a different perspective of most thoughts that come into my mind. As this pertains to music, I believe that the meditation has made my mind more malleable and open for more creative and original ways to play my instrument and as a composer.
@Fmag: What inspires you to do what you do?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: I remember how good music has always made me feel. What I play and how much feeling and love that goes into it is my way of paying it forward.
@Fmag: Tell us about your next shows?
Jaime Garza: We are excited to play February 13th at Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, MI. Its our first time, and we have heard great things about the venue. We will be playing alonside the DJ Collective Sonorama (who is also released our first 7″ in 2015), Chicago poet/spoken word artist Logan Lu and local heroes Cabildo.
Back in Chicago we will be playing at the monthly dance party Cuambiasazo! along with great DJ’s on February 27 at Double Door.
March 26 we play with Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade and Esso Afrojam Funkbeat.
@Fmag: Anything to share about upcoming songs/albums?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: Dos Santos is an evolving sound. From Pan-Latin sounds of Cumbia to the smack you upside the head rock licks to Salsa and Rumba, we continue to push the limits of what a band is supposed to sound like. I love being able to be a multi-expressive force.
Jaime Garza: We have been recording for the past few months our new material, It is being produced by Beto Martinez (Grammy winner, Grupo Fantasma, Brownout) to be release Spring 2016. The new songs sound mature yet experimental, still danceble, fun and energetic.
@Fmag: What equipment do you guys rock?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: I try to stay exclusive to LP: Latin Percussion, founded by Martin Cohen. I respect the quality of the instruments (Congas, Bongos, Cajon and bells) and enjoy the history of the greats who have played them before me!
Nathan Karagianis: My gear is fairly minimal. I play through a Fender Hot Rod Deville that’s got 2 12″ speakers. It’s got a really great clean tube sound that I use with a bunch of reverb to give it that really vintage wet sound. My main guitar is a Gibson ES-135 semi-hollow body that I’ve had for the last 10 years. It has a great warm sound with the dual humbuckers. As far as my pedal situation, I use a Crybaby wah, Ibanez TS-10 Tube Screamer (they didn’t make too many of those), Boss DD-5 Digital Delay, and my favorite the Electro-Harmonix Poly Chorus.
Jaime Garza: I play a G&L L2000 Bass, natural wood w/ a 500 watt Mark Bass bass amp. I also use a Boss Bass Equalizer and a Digitech Bass Synth Wah.
@Fmag: What was the hardest obstacle to overcome?
Peter “Maestro” Vale: Time. Trying to find time to take care of your passion while trying to maintain a 9-5 job requires the skill of a circus juggler.
If you’re passionate about music that originates from Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Argentina you can listen to Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta performing live. You can catch them at Founders Brewing Company, Saturday, February 13, 2015 at 9:30 p.m. The group will play psychedelic cumbia from Chicago and the ticket rate per entry is $5.
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Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta Live at Founders Taproom
When: Saturday, February 13, 2015
Venue: Founders Brewing Company
Time: 9:30 p.m
caption: Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta web
Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta playing at founders taproom, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
West Michigan Farándula Magazine is a bilingual magazine that covers, analyzes, comments on, and defines the news, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and personalities that drive West Michigan.
