Interview with Ante Bellum

 

Interview with Gerardo Medinilla from Mexican martial/neoclassical project Ante Bellum.

When did you first met with "martial industrial" / "neoclassical" / "neofolk" music and scene? Is it popular in Mexican "underground"?

A very good friend introduced me to the martial industrial music 4 or 5 years ago, but the neoclassical and neofolk and knew before. The scene in the city where I live is very poor and there are no industrial projects and the support is zero, but in my country is not popular like black metal, death metal, EBM, gothic, but I think if there are any folk bands like the pre-Hispanic, some projects martial industrial, experimental bands and few projects with the European folk style and there are people that if they show interest and support for this music and scene.

When did you start your project and why did you choose such name?

For it was to do different sound and music, so I started experimenting with noises and sounds like military marches, some ambience and clear, without leaving behind some bands as a reference.
The name is from the phrase "status quo ante bellum" did not want an English name, I wanted to get closer to an era in which the fate of many was the confrontation of different ideals, try several names in Spanish, but I honestly did not find a good name.

What equipment do you use to create your sound?

The sound was created with software and some samples, I do not have enough material to make it real or play live, as he had said before, there are people here to do that, otherwise I would like to do many things and a lot of music.

Do you listen to classical European music? Is it a big inspiration for you?

Yeah! since I was younger I hear some musical works of European classical music, so now I play some instruments like guitar, piano, bass, flute, etc. I can say that if been a great inspiration.

Your music is strictly related to the history of your fatherland, to memorable wars, battles and revolutions. Will it be a constant direction for Ante Bellum or maybe you are also interested in other topics?

My intention was that, to approach the story, the stages in which the people were patriotic, something that today is a forgotten.
The victories, defeats, big battles, distress, losses, some are wounds that never healed in my country and I choose my music to remember where I am and where we are.
In the future I will have in mind some different topics, but for now, not yet.

Please, tell us something about your albums "Siglo XIX" and "Sacrificio Y Victoria". What are the main differences between them? Do you think that the second album of Ante Bellum is better or more mature than the debut material?

The first album is based on the nineteenth century in Mexico, since independence until the end of the century, but is more about some facts, as some battles, was nearly a century of wars and chaos in my country, reflected in the names of songs, I think the second album, Sacrificio y Victoria, is more mature, it contains more structured and melodic themes, sounds more aggressive and sometimes calm, always liked me to play with the harmonies and I think that is reflected in the second album. I think both albums are good, someone will know what is best.

Ante Bellum...

Ciąg dalszy...

Why did you made a composition about "Batallon de San Patricio"? In fact, I've read about them after listening to your track from "Siglo XIX" and it is very interesting story. Do you think that modern Mexicans remember these Irish soldiers?

I love the story, and that is something that I had read before in a book and is a subject I like a lot. The track "San Patricio Battalion" is a tribute, a dedication to those foreigners Irish who gave their lives in the war of 1846, is something that many do not know or may never have heard of it. That song is a way of remembering them.

No doubt one of the most tragic events in history of Mexico was the "Cristero War" (1926 - 1929). Are you interested in this period? Do you plan to record any compositions about "cristeros"?

I have in my plans to talk about that episode, the two albums are based on 1810 and 1879, but I'm working on something new that will be from 1910, 1920, 1930, in the period of the Mexican Revolution, the Cristero war and other events.
But I think it will work on it until 2011.

Did you play live as Ante Bellum?

No, not yet. I need people and tools to do it, but if it had, I would do it gladly.

Do you have any side-projects? Are you active in any other bands?

I have one, Xe[no]fobia, is techno-industrial. And sometimes with some friends played in local metal bands.

You've released your first album via netlabel La Caverne Du Dragon but "Sacrificio Y Victoria" has been published on CD-R by SkullLine. Which form of spreading music is better in your opinion? What do you think about mp3, torrents and blogs with music albums?

The truth I do my music to be heard, for me, for my friends and those who like that kind of music, I like that people like my music.
The torrent, mp3 and blogger, not as it were, if that is disseminate my music, no problem, I think that if something bad for other musicians, I think it is a kind of piracy.

Are there any interesting martial / neofolk bands from Mexico? And do you know any bands / projects / composers from Poland?

I only know a project called Centauro del Norte who are from Puebla, Mexico.
I know from Poland Across the Rubicon, Ghost of Bresalu, Krepulec.

thanks for the interview and questions!
Ante Bellum