NORTH makes love, nostalgia and growth at the heart of Let yourself be loved.
The Mexican indie pop band NORTH presented Let yourself be loved, an EP that the band defines as their most personal and ambitious work so far. Conceived as a movie coming of age Made into songs, the project portrays love in all its forms: intimate, euphoric, devastating and also difficult to accept when it finally arrives. On July 2, the band performed on stage Next Era in House of Vans CDMX and we were able to talk with them about the reception of the album, the process behind its construction, its emotional narrative and the importance of playing live and that people with their history in a city that is now part of them.
Indie Rocks!: It's been two weeks since they released their EP Let yourself be loved, How was the reception of this and the comments from your followers?
NORTH: Honestly, thanks to our team and all the people who have been involved with us, because I think it has had a very cool reception. Personally I think it's the best release of us to date, which makes me very happy. I feel that many people have already connected, beyond social networks and memes with us, but more than anything through the music and that makes me feel very grateful. Yeah, I think a lot of people adopted the EP because they just or maybe they related to it, or maybe, I don't know, or it resonated with them. And like a lot of people are embracing the release and that's really great, it feels very nice.
GO!: This new EP is a nine-month effort that you almost lost, but you recovered, what was it like to work on something that you saved for a while and reach that final result?
N: It was worked from scratch about two years ago before having a lineup change, Shout Out to the Mariano. And two years ago we had like these models. But we had what? Three, out of six. So we had several models and we had like a ton of models pending and we started to align them. Then when he came in LukeWell, we already decided to get to work again. for real. Yes, we took a hiatus there. But they were models that we already had and we worked, and worked, and reworked, and reworked. And then some also had no more than a hookthat is, that the choir. And then sometimes I kind of had a verse, and then the second verse we would arrange between the three of us.
GO!: They describe this EP as a coming of ageWas it something you planned from the beginning or did it happen during the work on the songs?
N: I think it happened, right? As we progressed song by song, later we began to think about the visual here. We began to give the boards and so on. And well, the sound that each song took was leading to this overall image that the EP had. And once we heard it in full, it was like, Ah! Simon already looks like this. Because lyrically apart, it reminds me a lot of our first years here in Mexico City. I was 17 when I came to live here. And we had pedas on Tuesday and we watered it. The apartment was a canteen. And we would go out to ride in the car and smoke there on the peripheral and things like that, coming of age. I feel like the intro is what established this EP so that it felt like a coming of age in terms of theme. Because apart from that, we really like to make EPs as if they were a movie. Like the credits at the beginning of the movie. That is, like a glossary of the topics that are going to be talked about in the EP and at the end a literal outro.
GO!: You just mention that the EP is made as if it were the soundtrack of a movie, what movie would you like to use the EP as? soundtrack?
N: One that does not yet exist, really. To me, the truth is, I know that we are like an emerging and independent band as far as possible. But if we had had more resources, I would have liked to make a short film or something like that. It's also like our idea to make a short film. But I also think it could be Midnight's either The Breakfast Club. Or here from One Car Wiseof Charming Express. Yes. Here at night. But I would really love it if it is going to be used for some film production. In other words, some Mexican production that hasn't been made yet, that has a really cool proposal. I would like to have a song from this EP in some series. Or an intro movie to a series of this EP. Or credits or something like that. Or a scene like this when you kiss someone you shouldn't or someone you should. In the airport scene, right? Yeah, dude.
GO!: After releasing the EP they had the opportunity to perform on the Next Era stage in House of Vans, How do you feel about this show and that there are platforms like House of Vans so that the public knows about new projects?
N: I feel like it honestly caught us by surprise. Still we pushed forward. I feel like the important thing here as a band is to embrace opportunities. And how to take them very seriously. Because if people don't see you trying or encouraging yourself to do something, I don't know. we made the Fuck of Room last week and I had left Mexico and in the end it went very well. That's the kind of detail that makes them take your band seriously and see that something is working. Because even if we had three days of promotion for this House of Vans, If we hadn't done it, I feel like it wouldn't… I don't know, I feel like it's a good strategy. It's jumping. It's a push and I think it's cool for us. And then maybe do the bottom part of House of Vans. And I really love the idea of ​​being able to give a show where people can get in for free. I'm happy to bring our music to as many ears as we can. Lately shows are no longer affordable for anyone in this country. Neither for those who play nor for the forums. There is a crisis of forums in Mexico. There are few forums that open their doors to you in this way. And just that people can come in just because they want to come is incredible. It's cool and more things like this should happen. I mean, it should be a lot of different things. We're not going to go in there. But what's cool is that we, as morros, skate, follow the culture, like music, from our noses we walk in the street skating, getting wild, playing, writing, producing. Being able to play in a venue like the House of Vans that has a real force behind it… And this infrastructure for the countries. And that it has all this cultural force behind it, all this social, cultural and artistic weight behind it. It's very cool and the reality is that it's okay to be here and anyone who sees it as something very far away or something very close or something impossible or something super achievable. The reality is that fuck it, fuck it. And taking advantage of the opportunities. And it's cool to play at House of Vans. In a nutshell.
GO!: After releasing this material, what can we expect for Norte during the rest of the year?
N: More of everything. Yes, I hope more everything. And I hope more audience. No, well that's how it's going to be. I don't wait. More music. So we have to do it with straps. We can't stop. There is North for a long time, the truth is. We have a hard drive with many songs. And I would like to release an album eventually and I would like to tour Norte like headliner. But for now more music and I hope more shows.
GO!: To finish the interview, how would you define Norte in three words?
N: Oh, fuck. Something very cool. No, no, that's not my answer. Let me think a little. I think technically it's… I think I have my three words. Throw them out. Patrick is thinking about it. Well, throw them out. Environmental with instruments. Gay emo music. That's queerbaiting, dude. Take it however you want. North, I think I could define it… I mean, yes, as something very cool. Three words, dude. And so I'm thinking, crazy. Something very cool. Emo indie pop. Music for you. No! Did I have to add anything else? Nothing, well I mean… Nothing, thanks for listening to us. Thanks to those who watch us live. It's good that you liked Déjate Querer. Thanks to the güera. Thanks to the güera. Thanks to all the people who support us. Thanks to our parents. And… Let Yourselves Be Loved. And thank you Mexico. And Mexico is going to win on Sunday.
