Tijuana Cartel return to the Gold Coast after a trip to Margaret River, a blistering summer festival run including sets at Peats Ridge Festival just before Gotye, a tent-packed performance at Southbound and a well-received debut in New Zealand.
Tijuana have spent their time honing their set and ensuring their crowds get an experience that will keep them entranced for the show’s entirety.
‘We’ve tried out so many new tracks, and we took time in selecting the right songs at the right times to give everyone in the room a total experience,’ says Paul George, the band’s singer and guitarist.
A new film clip being made by the band features a heavy close-up pashing scene between two cowboys set somewhere in Bolivia.
‘It’s a long story, but the clip is kind of a very left-field idea we had; we never really thought it would come about, but a filmmaking friend of ours was so keen that he up and left for Bolivia with a camera.’ The clip is due for release some time in March.
What makes Tijuana Cartel unique is their ability to so beautifully combine elements of so many different musical origins into one track.
‘We have different backgrounds that are reflected in our music,’ says Daniel Gonzalez, the band’s percussionist.
George says that their travels also have a tremendous impact on their music. ‘We toured India for six months and we recorded a few musicians there that we used on the album. We spent a considerable amount of time in the clubbing scene in the UK, which has really influenced our beats. We travel for the experience but we also keep the music in mind – if someone turns up with an odd instrument we’ll try to capture it.’
Tijuana Cartel includes: Paul George and Carey O’Sullivan as co-producers, guitarists and keyboard players; Daniel Gonzalez on Afro Cuban percussion; Josh Sinclair on trumpet; and tours regularly with the addition of MC Regan Hoskins and other special guests.
Like a snake charmer, Tijuana succeeds at enticing the listener with its exotic blends of sounds, samples and instruments. Tijuana Cartel are purveyors of a unique blend of music, one that immediately draws you in, intoxicating your senses and freeing your inhibitions.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jjy_50anCE&w=470&h=290]
