We are thrilled to have the opportunity to query the members of El Cantador. They are just off big Nappie wins for Best Local Band, Best Bass Player – Johnny Gwin, and Best Area Singer – Heath Underwood. They graciously made time for us.
Doc: How did El Cantador form?
El Cantador: Heath Underwood started writing songs when he first got a guitar. He we was 15 then. Songs didn’t really start shaping up until he was 21 or 22. Flash forward to the end of the year 2006 and Heath called his old buddy Sean (former bandmate/drummer/music savant) to do some recording at Sean’s parents studio (Backdoor Studios). They recorded a bunch of songs and six of them made it to form their first EP (loosely titled: Orange). Johnny Gwin was asked to play bass with the group. Johnny and Heath met playing together in a rock group called Morris Minor, previously, and split off to perform Heath’s songs and had kept up a good friendship since. A fourth and fifth member has taken on several faces and talents, but they finally settled on Melody Duncan (violin/vocals/multi-instrumentalist) for that spot in July of 2008.
Doc: How have you all progressed/changed? Any influences you’d like to mention?
El Cantador: The group has changed in several different facets. One being the structure of the songwriting which Heath primarily does. A lot of the older material came from a quieter, sort-of contemplating place and the trend, lately, has been to experiment more with electric sounds/noise and what it is to be a live band and (most recently) how to experiment in the studio and layer the music. The band, as a whole, has helped to shape the dynamics of the newer material. Every member comes from very different backgrounds but there is some overlap.
Recent influences have been: Broken Social Scene, Johnny Apple Eyes, Colour Revolt, Helio Sequence, Theresa Andersson, Spoon, Arcade Fire, A.A Bondy, Sonic Youth, TV On The Radio, there is so much.
Doc: If Coastal Alabamians were to listen to one El Cantador song, which should it be?
El Cantador: One song? Jeez, that would give you only one version of our sound. I guess from what we have available online or disc it would be “Glean” because it’s a great combination of what we do best lyrically, melodically, and simply. It was written fast and definitely is the catalyst for our newest material. I’d say look out for new songs though at our shows like: “Dull Age”, “Summer Dog”, “If Heaven (redux)”, and more to come.
Doc: What are your plans now – new album, touring?
El Cantador: We have set-up some shows for the fall in Oxford, Bayfest in Mobile, Athens, Atlanta, and some others but we’re about to hunker down (starting next week I believe) and get going in the studio to do a full length. We’re going to take our time and get the right sounds and mixes for this one. It’ll be self-released with maybe an EP to come out before it or after to finish out the trilogy of EPs.
It’s tentatively titled: “HolyMysteryAbsoluteParadox” but that title could change tomorrow. That sounds overly ambitious doesn’t it? Titles are impossible sometimes.
Doc: Any other spiritual/philosophic advice for Coastal Alabamians?
El Cantador: Spiritual/Philosophic advice? Wow. I think we listen better to others than we could ever give advice. There it is. There’s the advice. Be a good listener and a lot can unfold for you. But don’t be creepy and never talk to girls. Or guys.
Doc: Thank you for your time.
Readers – Take a minute and check out their website at www.elcantador.com where you can listen to “Glean” and other favorites absolutely free – see the player at the bottom of the page – or order songs or the Orange EP, The Ground EP, or Dinner & a Show (Live at the Blind Mule) under the “Music” tab.
Also note Trey Lane’s award winning interpretation of “Always Wine” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Az1BDnozs or the video for “Glean” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjjx2Kf8ex0 .
