An impulse that keeps the musical essence alive.
Axel Catalan is a Mexican musician who has achieved great success and is now working independently. In an interview, we talked with him about his most recent album, age, death and his tour that is progressing through Latin America.
Indie Rocks!: Let's talk about the new Axel Catalán, this year you brought an album with you, tell us about He Sacrifice.
Axel Catalan: He Sacrifice It is called that because, literally, it was a sacrifice of many things, like a stage of my life, like people who came and people who left—but mostly who left—. So, it was like a very individualistic, very introspective stage. To make that album I sacrificed many things about my health, because I was in a stage, according to me, very rocker and, well, let's say that he did not live so healthily. It was like I saw it one way: that the album was a personal sacrifice.
Indie Rocks!: We are talking about the fact that in this stage of sacrifices you are living at 37 years of age…
Axel Catalan: Yes, we have already lived, we have enjoyed, we have been grateful for many things. Well, life is life, I can't say it has been good or bad for me. I've simply had some experiences and am having more. It's not like I can boast that I'm a person who's been through a lot, but music for me is like my toxic girlfriend, you know? I mean, I'm completely in love with it, but also the rhythm of the music… I don't know. I was talking recently, in fact, to a friend about that, right? I mean, I'm 37 and I'll see how things are progressing, but I don't know if at 40-something I could keep up with this pace of work, because it's a pain.
Indie Rocks!: Of course and also, I don't know how you see it, Axel, but we get the impression that we can't live things the same way we lived them at a certain age. For example, right now thinking about music, “Perro Viejo” around 2016 could no longer be written the way it was written at that time because you were another Axel, because you were experiencing other things.
Axel Catalán: I very much agree with you. Suddenly there are those songs that, of course, I enjoy playing because they are songs that I made, but mostly I play them because I have a great appreciation for myself. fan base. So, they are songs that they also learn and that they are often living. Because, really, my audience is relatively young people, so they also feel that experience is more their own. And just what you say, they are songs that many times I no longer feel that journey, but at the end of the day it was something that I did from the heart and that is why I also like to climb them. Also, I like it, I'm an addicted fan of listening to the audience sing, so that's where it goes.
Indie Rocks!: Of course, because you already have several consolidated anthems there, how does it go when the band tells you that your songs have moved them many things?
Axel Catalán: I kind of suddenly ignored that and started taking it more seriously. And they just send me messages about their feelings. I've been wanting to suddenly upload their stories, like, “This is why I'm here and there,” and that kind of motivational stuff, but I don't. I love that what I say people can also feel as something personal and as part of their development, that it will bring them out of emotional wells. They have sent me many things, in fact quite harsh, because yes, they are quite massive personal and family situations. Having the conviction that your music is doing something for people, I think it strengthens you and gives you more confidence to also do what you want and get a little rebellious with some people in the medium.
Indie Rocks!: Yes and I believe that your music, and well, in particular you with all the experience you have and so on, have always been on the radar of the rebellious, the rebellious.
Axel Catalan: I try, don't believe it, I suddenly feel a bit cowardly, but, well, what's wrong? What do I have to lose now? I mean, what am I going to lose? Who is going to stop me?
Indie Rocks!: Exactly and now you're in the middle of a tour, so how do you prepare for a show? What would Axel Catalán's ideal day be like, before performing, presenting his music to the entire band?
Axel Catalán: Eat very cool from early in the morning, wake up very grateful for life, say: “Envelopes, carnal, relieve yourself”, get pretty, take a cool bath, put on the clothes I want and leave all the right musical stuff on so that, later, I'll have a few drinks and walk more freely. And also, understand that we are doing this in a completely self-managed way. I am there with people who help me, with means like in this case, and I also have a staff, but I am not working with managers right now. So, it was already something I had done for years and this is the first time that I am taking charge of everything. So it's a bit heavy, but it's also exhilarating; It kind of gives me adrenaline and it's something I really like.
Indie Rocks!: That sounds very complicated, Axel, because you are there keeping an eye on everything about the showsthe merch…
Axel Catalán: Yes, right now I'm in everything and, I tell you, suddenly it's stressful, it's exhausting. But, let's say that I am not the healthiest or most organized person, as I told you, so you also have to do everything at your own pace and try to be smart about it. So, when I'm in everything, it's also like: “If you do it, then it's a pigeon, right?” It's a “Yes you can, bastard”, and a “Let's see what happens next”, and “It's okay.”
Indie Rocks!: Yes, and life takes many turns and we don't know where it's going to put us or how long it's going to last. Have you thought about that, Axel? Have you thought about how long your life will last?
Axel Catalán: Yes of course. My life is very messy and I am a very impulsive person, right? So I'm not, let's say, Keith Richards or something like that, but I have done my best with my impulsive way of being and, well, I don't know, what I have to do with it. I mean, also for that reason, exactly what we were talking about, right? For some people, 37 years is a long time, and for others—mainly people in hospitals and doctors—it is a long time. So, yes, I'm close to 40 years old, I have a projection of what I want to have at 40, and at some point, mind you, yes, I already thought that I don't know if I have that much time left to make music. But, on the other hand, I believe that music is a huge entity and that it accompanies you throughout your life. I believe that music is something much bigger than your decisions. I mean, I learned to play the guitar when I was 10 or 11 years old and it never left me. So, I don't know if this is going to be more massive or what, but I think the music will continue to accompany me. And these past dates I felt a lot of warmth from the people, it was like an impulse to “don't stop doing it.” Like that also gives you momentum.
Indie Rocks!: Of course, people feed the spirit in the shows live. And they just come shows important and in other countries, so what expectations do you have to approach other countries? In particular to Chile, how do you imagine it?
Axel Catalán: I can't imagine it better. So that? Why do I do it? Nothing. I mean, I'm not really necessarily against imperialism or things like that; They seem like shit to me, yes, but the truth is, I feel a very badass attachment to Latin America. Whatever life and music give me, but precisely for that reason I had the need to do Latin America. Traveling and meeting people who give you another perspective, that's what I think would be very useful for my music. I was already in Colombia last year, it was very cool, but now it's being there again, what I'm telling you, meeting people, seeing other people who make music, knowing the venues. I mean, yes I'm excited about it, I know it's going to be quite tiring, but I'm not afraid of it. And let's see what happens with this too, soon, to see if all this gabachos chatter ends, which is super bad for Latinos, but also soon I do want to do, at least, all of California, and like Seattle and things like that.
Indie Rocks!: To close this interview, what message do you have for the people who read this interview?
Axel Catalán: That they love music, that it is not going to end, whatever generation it is and whatever form it is. There are a lot of genres that are judged, that are even censored and things like that, but music is always going to be music and it will find a way to get out, it's like water. That mother makes cracks, doesn't she? So, love the music. Nothing more, also if you are going to make music and if you want to dedicate yourself to this, be prepared to have a lot of patience and, clearly, to put in a lot of effort, because this is not an easy job.
