David Fernandez has been providing the Coachella Valley with pounding drum action for many years. Whether it was with the defunct rock-metal hybrid Ormus, or it’s with his active projects, the Spanish indie rock stylings of Elektric Lucie, and star-studded System of a Down cover band Mushroom People, Fernandez brings a percussive fury. For more information, visit instagram.com/elektriclucie and www.instagram.com/mpsoadtribute.
What was the first concert you attended?
I am not 100% sure, but in my mind, it is quite memorable, because it was the one of the first ones, if not the first one, I attended on my own. It was 2005, and I was living in Mexicali, and there was this big national radio station that used to do this show/festival in a couple of different cities across the country. I remember seeing pop and rock acts like Natalia y la Forquetina, Jumbo, Ha*Ash, Mœnia, etc.
What was the first album you owned?
There are two albums that I must’ve gotten around the same time, because they’re the two albums I used to listen to all throughout my entire time in junior high: the self-titled Gorillaz album and SOAD’s Toxicity. I must’ve begged my parents to buy them for me, and I still remember the looks I got from them when I played them in the car.
What bands are you listening to right now?
One of my all-time-favorite bands, Austin TV, recently came out of hiatus with a new album called Rizoma, so I’ve been listening to that a lot. I am genuinely a fan of a few local bands that are in my regular rotation: Lazuli Bones, Analog Lab/Destroy Nothing, Robotic Humans, and Sleazy Cortez. Additionally, Turnstile, Chappell Roan, Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso, De La Tierra, etc.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
BABYMETAL!! No hate to whoever does like it. It’s not like I hate it; it’s just that I don’t understand it. The juxtaposition of the virtuosic metal with the ultra-cute vocals just happens to not be my cup of tea. I know they have an enormous following, so they’re definitely doing it right, and their success reflects that they’ve found their audience.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I would love to go back in time and see Iggy Pop and The Stooges.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
I don’t think any pleasure should come with guilt, specifically referring to music, but for the sake of the question, the fact that I love musicals could be interpreted as a guilty pleasure to some. Also, I listen to and enjoy a lot of ’80s to early ’00s rock in Spanish, for example: Soda Stereo, Zurdok, Caifanes, Molotov, Babasónicos, Fobia, Héroes del Silencio, Chetes, Ángeles del Infierno, etc. I mention it, because amongst people who like rock and metal in Spanish, all these sounds from all these bands have a connotation of being dated and old. I still feel it’s really great music, and I listen to it a lot more than I care to admit!
What’s your favorite music venue?
I can think of two, and they’re both in Ensenada. Years ago, when Mushroom People was first starting, and we had the opportunity to go play in other cities, one of the only rock/metal bars in Ensenada was called Abel’s Bar. The stage wasn’t super big, but it fit a lot of people, and that space is arranged in such a way that both the standing and sitting areas were facing the stage. It has an upper level where people can see the show, too. The second one: Elektric Lucie just played a show there a couple of weeks ago. It’s called Black Dog; it’s a metal bar/venue. The stage is truly amazing. It was put together by the owner of the place who is a musician himself and did a great job.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“They’re singing, ‘Happy birthday’ / You just want to lay down and cry / Not just another birthday / It’s thirty-ninety / Why can’t you stay 29? / Hell, you still feel like you’re 22,” “30/90,” from the musical Tick, Tick … Boom! by Jonathan Larson.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
I started listening to Gorillaz when I was 13 or so, and through their music, I learned how different and weird music can get, and I loved it.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
This one is a hard one to answer, but if I try to not get too into my head, the question I would ask Dave Grohl is: “Do you wanna have a beer with me?” Because that way, I can ask him more questions.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Volo al Cielo,” Austin TV.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Gorilla Manor, Local Natives. As an album, no skips. Every song is a banger.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
I would definitely like to encourage all of your readers to check out the new Austin TV record Rizoma. Other than that, I would encourage them to listen to every type of music there is, and find one aspect of it that they can admire, even if it’s not particularly the type of music you go for. It’s a good exercise in music analysis.
