When you title your band Cardiel, you higher carry it—and this Venezuelan two-piece positive as hell does. Their exhibits are so intense that even when you’re not slamming up entrance you’ll be left exhausted. They’ve been touring the US continuous for the previous yr or so and put out Skaterock México in ’23—a killer 7″ devoted to Hubbard, P-Stone and Jake concerning the Mexican Skate Rock tour of 2017. When you get the prospect to test them out, don’t sleep on it. Sam Ambrosio (drums/vocals) and Miguel Fraino (guitar/vocals) parked the tour van lengthy sufficient to reply some questions by way of electronic mail just lately. As seen in our July, ’24 subject. All hail… —Wez Lundry
Photographs by Machado, Lundry
So that you guys are initially from Venezuela, however then moved to Mexico Metropolis, appropriate? It looks as if you’ve been within the USA for the higher a part of this yr.
Yeah, we had been each born and raised in Valencia, Venezuela however then in 2006 we moved to Mexico Metropolis. In 2022, we acquired the chance to start out working with an SF-based reserving company and that’s why we’ve been touring the USA loads currently.
How did the band type?
The band was fashioned in Mexico Metropolis in 2010. We began jamming and writing music for a great buddy from Valencia who began a skateboard firm and was making a video again then. I’m fairly positive the video by no means got here out. So, we ended up having a bunch of songs that we preferred to play and we determined to search for some gigs in Mexico Metropolis. Within the first two years of the band, earlier than we even began enjoying in venues and bars, we had been enjoying solely in skateparks and home exhibits with the assistance of our good buddy Nito who was placing loads of shit collectively throughout these years. México skateboarding household was the pillar of this band.
And the way did you determine on the title Cardiel?
Properly, John is a kind of people that makes you wanna exit and make issues occur, you understand? He’s an enormous inspiration and motivation. Earlier than and after the accident he’s stoked on life, for all times. That’s heavy. Watching his video components is such a visit—some Dangerous Brains in Money Cash Vagrant, or Black Sabbath in Yellow after which some Sizzla reggae in Sight Unseen. He’s at all times 100-percent dedicated and going as quick as attainable. Retaining that degree of destruction in numerous genres is a factor that we glance as much as—an inspiration to do higher and take a look at more durable, every single day. For us, it’s kinda a tribute of affection and respect.
Your band doesn’t match into genres like metallic, stoner rock, punk. Your exhibits are raging however then hastily it’s a dub breakdown, then again to pummeling the gang. So what do you name it?
Man, we don’t know what to name it both. However we like the truth that we maintain enjoying in numerous music scenes and someway we appear to slot in. Chameleon type, you understand? Preserve them confused! We wish to play quick and heavy after which sluggish and heavier but additionally some chill psychedelic dub. It’s all on the identical web page.
Inform me slightly about Skate Rock Mexico 2017, the inspiration for the 7” that got here out final yr.
From our perspective, being a part of a Skate Rock tour is likely one of the most epic issues a band can do. Now, while you add the truth that this all occurred in México and with a heavyweight crew like that. It was so loopy and we had been fortunate to have been on the street with Phelps, Mark Hubbard and P-Stone. Touring with Dangerous Shit and Arctic is an vitality degree that’s truly laborious to beat. Getting to look at skating like that every single day for 2 weeks, being with folks like Figgy, Grant, Rowan, TNT, Raven, Monk, Nuge and Provost; hitting the sketchiest spots ever and the hype and motivation from the locals is simply priceless. To get together each night time with this crew plus our closest associates was kinda surreal for us, so we determined to do a brief fuzzy music about it and put it on wax to honor these unforgettable nights that we barely keep in mind.
What sort of stuff do you guys wish to skate?
At this level, no matter you may get to skate is sweet. We do admire the financial institution to curb that’s down the road from our home and the mini ramp we had on the studio. Whereas on tour, we’d wish to skate as a lot as we would like, however if you find yourself doing 28 exhibits in 30 days, plus the driving, taking good care of the merch, loading out and in and partying, it’s a decent vitality finances that we attempt to sustain. Ultimately, it’s simply the 2 of us on the street.
Miguel pulls from Playing cards’ bag of tips. Frontside grind
What’s your van life routine within the US?
Retaining the devices in good situation is so necessary for us—automotive water heater for espresso and noodles, blender for smoothies, numerous ice and a great cooler to maintain the meals recent. We prepare dinner our personal meals as a lot as we will on the street. Eat your greens, ginger and sea moss every single day. We like relaxation areas and state parks within the US to get some sleep however we actually admire when associates allow us to crash at their properties.
Who did John Cardiel flip professional for?
Miguel: Antihero? He additionally rode for Powell, proper?
Sam: Was he a professional snowboarder first?
Incorrect! It was Dogtown. And he by no means rode for Powell! What’s his DJ title?
M: Juan Love. We performed a celebration with him and Dustin Dollin in Mexico.
What yr did he win Skater of the 12 months?
M: I believe it was the second. 1991?
Incorrect, however shut! It was 1992. Who did he title as his high skateboarding affect?
M: Mark Gonzales! Or perhaps Christian Hosoi?
Gonz is appropriate! And Hosoi was an affect, too, so bonus level! Who drew the graphic on the board he’s driving on the SOTY cowl?
S: This one is basically laborious. We simply watched his Epicly Later’d once more a couple of days in the past, after we watched the Nuge one.
M: He’s leaping by way of the fireplace. Is it Sleazer? I can’t keep in mind.
Incorrect! It was additionally Mark Gonzales!
S: We have to change the title of the band now—going through actuality.
Inform me concerning the time you met Cardiel the band in México Metropolis.
John Cardiel: They had been tremendous rad, enjoying music at this loopy get together selling tequila. Everybody was fucked up and light. There have been damaged tequila shot glasses everywhere in the flooring, within the toilet, in every single place. Dudes had been raging. I nonetheless discover blood and chunks of glass in my file bag from that present. It makes me really feel so good. There’s these vibes in it.
Only for clarification: you turned professional for Dogtown, proper?
J: Yeah, after a contest in Seal Seashore. They gave me some cash and Purple Canine gave us some weed. Then I went on slightly tour driving round with Karma and Wade doing demos. We confirmed up at a store and there was no demo. They had been like, No, we by no means acquired the decision. We by no means heard nothing. We talked to any individual again house they usually had been like, No, Dogtown’s carried out. Shit hit the fan. My board by no means got here out.
Did you flip professional skating or snowboarding first?
J: Shit, that’s a great query. I believe it was skating first. I don’t actually know, although. It was a bizarre time. I used to be doing snowboard contests and it simply type of converted, I believe due to the skateboarding factor.
Lea la entrevista en español a continuación
Entonces ustedes son originarios de Venezuela, y luego se mudaron a la Ciudad de México, ¿correcto? y ahora han pasado la mayor parte de este año en Estados Unidos… ¿Qué me pueden decir de eso?
Así es, ambos nacimos en Valencia, Venezuela. Nos mudamos a México alrededor del 2006. En 2022 se nos presentó la oportunidad de trabajar con un reserving company de San Francisco CA, y por esta razón hemos estado toureando bastante en Los Estados Unidos últimamente.
¿Cómo se formó la banda?
La banda se formó en la Ciudad de México en el 2010. Empezamos jameando y escribiendo música para el video de un amigo de Valencia que estaba empezando su compañía de patineta. Creo que ese video nunca salió. Entonces teníamos varias canciones que nos gustaban tocar y decidimos salir a buscar exhibits en la ciudad. En los primeros 2 años de la banda, antes de tocar en venues o bares, solo tocábamos en skateparks y fiestas en casas con la ayuda de nuestro gran amigo Nito que andaba bien activo haciendo eventos relacionados con el skateboarding durante esos años. La familia del skate Mexicano es pilar en la creación de esta banda sin duda alguna.
¿Y cómo decidieron el nombre de Cardiel?
Bueno, John es uno de esos humanos que te hacen querer salir y hacer que las cosas ocurran, ¿ sabes? Gran inspiración y motivación. Antes y después del accidente él es un entusiasta de la vida de por vida, y eso es algo muy grande. Ver sus video partes es un viaje, música de Dangerous Brains en Money Cash Vagrant o Black Sabbath en Yellow y luego un reggae de Sizzla en Sight Unseen, comprometido al 100% y patinando lo más veloz posible, manteniendo ese nivel de destrucción entre diferentes géneros musicales es algo que nos inspira a hacer música. Una inspiración de hacer mejor y esforzarse más cada día. Es para nosotros, una especie de tributo de amor y respeto.
Les he comentado sobre como encajan (o no encajan realmente) en los géneros de: metallic, stoner rock, punk. Sus exhibits van de ser muy furiosos y de repente hay un bajon en el dub… y luego vuelven a dar el golpe a la multitud. ¿Cómo llaman a esto?
La verdad que no sabemos cómo llamarlo, pero nos gusta el hecho que seguimos tocando en diferentes escenas y de alguna manera funciona. Estilo Camaleon sabes como? mantenlos confundidos! Nos gusta tocar rápido y pesado y luego lento y más pesado aún, pero también dub psicodélico. Todo está en la misma página.
Cuéntenme acerca del Skate Rock México 2017, la inspiración para el 7″ que salió el año pasado (este se publicará en 2024).
Desde nuestra perspectiva, el hecho de haber sido parte de un Skaterock Tour es una de las cosas más épicas que una banda puede hacer. Ahora agrégale que fué por la República Mexicana y con un crew pesado como ese. Muy loco y afortunado de haber compartido la carretera con Phelps, Mark Hubbard y P Stone. Tourear con Dangerous Shit y Arctic es un nivel de energía difícil de igualar. Y tener la oportunidad de ver patinar a diario durante 2 semanas a personas como Figgy, Grant, Rowan, TNT, Raven, Monk, Nuge y Provost, los spots más sketchy del área y la felicidad y motivación de los locales en cada spot que llegábamos no tiene precio. Festejar todas las noches con este crew + nuestros amigos cercanos fue surreal. Entonces decidimos hacer una corta y fuzzy canción acerca de todo esto y ponerla en acetato para honrar esas inolvidables noches que recordamos borrosamente.
¿Qué tipo de cosas les gusta patinar?
En este momento lo que aparezca en la vía es bueno. Apreciamos el financial institution/curb que está bajando por la calle vía a la panadería desde nuestra casa y el miniramp que teníamos en el estudio. Nos gustaría poder patinar tanto como quisiéramos estando de tour pero cuando tienes 28 exhibits en 30 días y tienes que manejar diario, encargarte de la merch, load in/out y pegar fiesta, es un finances energético apretado que hay que mantener. Al remaining solo somos nosotros 2 en la carretera.
¿Cuál es su rutina de “van life” en su gira por los Estados Unidos?
Mantener los devices en buena condición es muy importante para nosotros. El boiler de agua para el café y los noodles, la licuadora para los jugos y la hielera siempre full de hielo para mantener la comida fresca. Cocinamos lo más que podemos en el tour. Come tus verdes, jengibre y sea moss a diario. Nos gustan los relaxation areas o parques estatales de USA para dormir un poco, pero siempre agradecemos mucho cuando nuestros amigos nos invitan a dormir en su casas.
