Part 2

Often, while writing, new ideas and alternative roads will open themselves up, pulling and pushing the creator in a different direction. Does this happen to you, too, and how do you deal with it? What do you do with these ideas?

Fernando: Yeah, all the time. And it’s very exiting when it happens. In my personal life, I listen to many different genres, not only artists from the postpunk- or the shoegaze scene. So I can often hear stuff that really inspires me, movie soundtracks etc. But because we love delay effects and reberb so much, applying those elements to these ideas makes it more shoegazy / postpunky just by that.

So it’s not always a given idea to make a song sound "80‘s postpunk" in that sense. Same thing with our songs that are more synth wavey - giving them these effects and with my vocals it suddenly sounds more postpunky.

Jimmy: Same for me. I think it is a side effect from having multiple sources of inspiration, although it never really starts with a completely blank canvas that could go in any musical direction.

The base line for a Principe Valiente song has those elements of darkness, atmosphere and melody. Very much how music was made in the early to mid-eighties. Apart from the obvious post-punk and shoegaze references, I draw a lot of inspiration from kraut, paisley underground bands and psychedelic music.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Fernando: At the beginning of an idea when I "force" myself to just see what happens and I have a lack of inspiration, it always turns out to be a more inspired process after a while. Even during the mixing process of an album the elements of spirituality - and when sensation of losing track of time - is a very pleasent feeling. And proof that the process is going well, in my opinion.

Jimmy: I would say it is all about spirituality and transcendence - the counterpart to the intellectual, problem-solving earthly being just trying to stay alive. Music might be the most physical and direct earthly religious experience you can have.

Especially in the digital age, the writing and production process tends towards the infinite. What marks the end of the process? How do you finish a work?

Fernando: Good question, I think when a track is like I imagined it to be like during the demo process, but way more "intense", then it’s finished. It's more a feeling.

The issue here is when I tend to take more time to get that deeper feeling than the rest of the band. I’m the one who is a little more difficult to satisfy so in that sense it can take more time.. It was also one of the reasons the album mixing process took more time that expected. But as I’ve said in earlier interviews, it was totally worth it.

Jimmy: In my opinion it is “finished” when it strikes that balance between feeling done yet not overworked and overthought. Infinity does not always work in our favour, you really need to have faith in your work and the strength to let it go.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

Fernando: The process this time with Barricades was that we got files through email from Adam (our mixing guy in Chicago) and then we replied with our opinions and with concrete ideas of changes. A couple of mails back and forth for every song. Until we "got it."

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

Fernando: We are all involved in this of course, specially me during the mixing process as I have some specific visions for all the songs I use to bring with me to that process from the demo stage. The mastering process goes much faster though.

Jimmy: As far as recording and producing records I myself have been deeply involved. The previous album Oceans was all recorded by me and mixed by the band during a couple of months.

On Barricades we almost repeated that process, but in the end we decided to work with an outside source for the mixing and mastering. It is a bit harder, especially when you are used to total control, but I think it served the album well in the end.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

Jimmy: Quite the opposite of emptiness for me, I feel relieved when the album is out there. Now I can use my time to focus on new things and explore new ideas without having to think about something we worked on for such a long time over and over.

Strangely as soon the album gets out it does not feel very interesting to me anymore, more like after a strange dream or like a close friend you one day lose that intimate connection with, but you still see each other now and then for practical reasons.

Fernando: I can relate to it. Even though it’s often like half a year after an album is done when it’s time to release it. So during those months I usually have began to work on new material already.

Barricades was finished more than a year ago before it got released (due to the vinyl manufacturer situation and the pandemic). During that time I already turned my mind onto new stuff. But we as a band of course appreciate the response we’ve got so far as it’s new to the audience.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Fernando: Oh, everything. The atmosphere and the reception you get from music is of course something I have the need to express from deep inside. This is art and a way to re-invent myself I would say.

Even though I am quite good at cooking and it’s very appreciated as well. I don’t drink coffee, my heart goes wild with caffeine. Music does that as well though but in a different way. (laughs).

Jimmy: I'd rather be starting my day with a great cup of coffee early in the morning than with a guitar riff. I don’t know if there are any inherent differences between a riff and a cup of coffee though, but I use both as tools to get by in life.

There is greatness in all things even though you don’t see it for sure. Or to quote William Blake, again: “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.”