Sol Okarina Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 17th 2010 12:01PM by Kit Jenkins
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Sol Okarina has been touring South America for years and is excited to perform for SXSW in Austin. She took a break from packing for her big trip to Texas to talk about her band, her experiences, and what's on her iPod.

Describe your sound in your own words.

My sound evokes joy. The listener can find Latin-American rhythms like Venezuelan calypso and Colombian cumbia, mixed up with electronic sub-basses and beats that refresh these traditional music styles, making them contemporary and universal.

How did your band form?

The project started with composing the songs with a guitar, and then it took shape in the studio with Felipe Alvarez and Julian Salazar. The actual band is the result of many different experiments on the instrumentation looking for the right alignment. In the beginning, it was difficult because starting a band of your own implies a matter of faith from all the members of the band but finally after many tries I found the right chemistry working with versatile musicians. My band is the Brodobbers - Andres Jimenez who plays bass and synth, Juan Diego Jimenez who play the drums, the guitar player David Carrascal, and me with the cuatro, a small guitar similar to the ukulele.

What are your musical influences?
My musical influences are vast. I grew up listening to Venezuelan traditional music so I think its obviously implied in my composition; then I moved to Colombia and studied the rhythms and instruments from this country. Because music reflects different stages of our life, I have listened to so many different styles like rock, pop, reggae, salsa and electronica. I love the music of Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto, the Beatles, Astrud Gilberto, Joao Gilberto, 99 Posse, M.I.A., Nikka Costa, Harry Belafonte, Calypsonians, Cuatro y Bum Bac, the Police, the Cure, Manu Chao, David Bowie, Nick Cave, Blondie, Les Rita Mitsouko, Sim 'n Diaz, Gustavo Cerati, Soda Stereo, Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, Goldfrapp and Bebel Gilberto, among others.

What made you want to be a musician?

I never chose to be a musician, music chose me. Many times I have tried to do something else, but music always finds its way and brings me back to the right path. I must keep doing music. That I understand clearly.

Who was your first celeb crush?

I think it was Axl Rose.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

I listen to industrial music like Funker Vogt, but not many of my friends can stand it!

When was your first concert? What was it like?

My first big concert was at Rock al Parque festival in 1997 in front of 30,000 people. I remember I was so inexperienced and really afraid of being there singing in front of that huge amount of people.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experienced while on tour?

While I was touring with Andrea Echeverri and Aterciopelados, I remember a fan of Andrea came to the sound check and she has a t-shirt with Andrea Echeverri stamp on it. Then I realized I was staring at her, but I didn't know the reason. After a while I knew. She had Andrea tattooed in her arm, not just on her t-shirt!

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