Cubenx talks.

Cubenx has just released On Your Own Again, his proper debut album for the French electronic music imprint Infiné. The album has been receiving great reviews everywhere, including the influential German magazine De:Bug, which is marveled at the album’s excellent production skills and compositions, specially because it shies away from Cubenx’s usual four on the floor bangers. I emailed some questions to Cubenx in regards to this and his new album:

Making reference to the obvious stylistic mutation in “On Your Own Again”, where did the necessity for change came from?

It was something natural, it was never premeditated, I always wanted to do this, but I did not have the skills nor the tools. I love techno, a lot, but it’s very limited and not very personal. I had the idea that without a band I could not make this type of music, but I learned that it can be done.

What have you learned about working with this new style?

The question is now that I have to learn to sing and better execute my instruments live. The most important discovery is knowing that I can let my music be honest and avoid making music to satisfy other people, which results much better.

Where is techno now in your work?

It is still there of course, but in another context. I grew up listening to The Smiths and Aphex Twin, so it will be something I will never leave behind. It’s better to keep searching and combining aesthetics, having a good time and to try and record as much as possible.

What is the good and the bad of living in Guadalajara and/or México.

Creatively it has helped me a lot, because I like Guadalajara and because every time I move to a new place it gives me new ideas. I also have many good friends here and this makes me feel at home. I am originally from Uruapan and lived in Puerto Vallarta, but I am considered a local artist here in Guadalajara, no one is a prophet in their own land. It has been hard getting gigs here and not be recognized. I feel at ease with my day job and my circle of friends, but I don’t get the same treatment as in other parts of the world or even in México City. I think this happens a lot to many musicians and it’s normal, you have to go out and do many things outside your city so the local promoters take that into account and be influenced by what they see in the foreign music media or because another artist told them about you.

Funny story, recently my French booking agency tried to book me in Guadalajara with a promoter I know that had not considered me for playing at one of his events.

Give us five musical recommendations to better contextualize “On Your Own Again”.

Scott Walker, Lee Hazlewood, Aaron Martin & Part Timer, Slowdive and The Caretaker.

Why should we listen to “On Your Own Again”?

Because I think there is a need to listen to songs again, to return to the pop structures, the simple stuff. It’s interesting to experiment, but songs are the things that help us remind about ourselves, our ex-girlfriends, our drinking binges, the good and the bad moments in life. The album, the way I designed it, is for listening and for musicalizing a personal story. If that happens, it means that it has fulfilled its objective.

Cubenx‘s On Your Own Again is out now on Infiné.

Federico Crespo‘s second EP for Static Discos is available as a free download in our website.

Cubenx’s video for the song These Days, you can see down below: