Catching up with Los Bitchos: a reminder the fun isn't over
We caught up with Los Bitchos, just as they’ve dropped their exuberant tour video for Frozen Margarita!
The irresistible, breezy b-side on the five-piece’s sold out 7" 'Pista (Great Start)' was met with a lot of love since being dropped online, so best friend of the band Kika Rodriguez edited together some footage from their February 2019 tour with The Murlocs. The result is a compelling snapshot of life on the road that is, although a far cry from what’s happening right now, a reminder that the fun isn’t over. Even though Summer festivals may be cancelled this year, there are more to come in the future and we really can’t wait.
They’re a band who’ve been described as ‘all attitude and killer tunes’ by their upcoming album’s producer Alex Kapranos, and their unyielding devotion to Cumbia bangers and tequila is deeply infectious. To introduce them, there’s Nic, Josefine, Serra, Carolina and Agustina: read on to learn more.
Talk to us about the video!
Serra: Our good friend and honorary sixth member, Kika, toured with us during our run of shows last year with The Murlocs. She was filming and taking photos the whole time and compiled the classic times we had together into this video. There’s a lot of posing with tequila and sassy moments in there.
Caro: We really love that song! Is the first one we wrote when we first started the band with Serra, and we wanted to have a fun video to go with it.
Nic: It’s bittersweet to watch as we should be on the road most of this summer...great memories though and something to look forward to doing again at some stage, whenever that may be.
Agus: I think it captures the vibe of the band really well, it's just us having fun and playing.
Your KEXP session was killer. Have you managed to get some of that raw energy down on record for the debut album?
Serra: Totally. Before we started the recording process, our producer Alex Kapranos, was adamant that we should track the songs live in a room together. We didn’t really realise how much we feed off each other until we heard the tracks back and compared them to the earlier recordings I had recorded myself on Ableton at home. The vibe was totally different and really gave the songs a new lease of life and energy.
Nic: Yas! We recorded as a band in the same room just like with the KEXP session. We did the album with the same team as the singles we put out last year so it was a great vibe and a lot of fun.
Josie: I'd very much like to think we have - it was a lot of high energy and positivity in the studio so that's promising! When we recorded the album we ensured to do as much of it as possible in a live setting where we could feed off each other and play as if we were performing to an audience.
We've seen some of your tracks described as Cumbia and Chicha, can you explain the key differences?
Caro: They're very similar genres, Chicha is most commonly associated with psychedelic rock, while Cumbia is a bit more upbeat and tropical/latin. We definitely use elements of both!
Agus: I would say the most interesting difference is that in their origins chicha's songs had sadder lyrics, they spoke of social problems and other issues, while cumbia was what is considered more "fun" music.
Can you talk us through the creative / writing process?
Serra: It differs really. Either I’ll have an idea I can run with, or one of the girls will send through some awesome ideas or even little parts that end up turning into something we really enjoy playing. I write and record a lot of stuff myself initially at home but it’s not till we start playing all together that those ideas really take on a new path and it ends up being what we put out. It’s so good to work things through with the girls, they all have their own style, which they bring to songs and it can turn a rough idea into something really special.
Caro: We all feel passionate about very different types of music and genres, but we found this magical common ground that manages to bring all of these seemingly disjointed ideas together. And like Serra said, the songs end up having a life of their own after we start playing them live!
Nic: Serra and Caro have been the creative geniuses behind the first album... I’ve loved the challenge of trying to interpret the hundreds of drum and percussion layers on Serra’s demos and bring my own vibe to those parts to make it work live.
What plans and ambitions do you have for the next year or so?
Serra: As soon as we are allowed any type of interaction with the outside world, I would like to finish our album. Apart from that, I just want to continue the cycle of making records that we are proud of and people enjoy and playing great shows.
Nic: Really excited to get the album out and hopefully play some shows. It’s all pretty uncertain at the moment in terms of live shows but fingers crossed. If we weren’t in the middle of a global pandemic then our sights would definitely be set on playing in lots of new places. We’re already starting to demo some ideas for new material from our own homes.
Josie: To finish and release our debut album and play a bunch of shows! Continue to write and perform music we feel proud of and that people enjoy. Most importantly, keep having fun!
Agus: Keep playing, I personally would love it if we could play in Japan.
Which one act, past or present, would you like to play with?
Serra: Abba- I listened to their live at Wembley album (1979) and it’s OUT OF CONTROL AMAZING. The songs are amazing, the musicianship is 10/10 and Agneta and Fridas’ Vocal performances are out of this world. I think more than anything I would just want to see their shows every night, so jumping on that support tour would be a good way in.
Caro: World tour with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Nic: Madonna on the blonde ambition tour
Josie: ABBA, without a doubt!
Which London bands are you into at the moment?
Serra: Faux Real are my favourites right now. I played drums for a few live shows they did when they first started performing in 2018. I was hooked as soon as I heard Elliot and Virgils’ demos and that has not changed! Go check out their EP.
Caro: Love Faux Real as well! Also into Yak, Flamingods and Night Shades at the moment.
Nic: Goat Girl, USA nails
Josie: Really into Flamingods, Warmdusher, Dry Cleaning, Sorry, Working Men's Club. Can think of so many great bands I'm into right now but harder than expected to narrow down to London only!
Agus: Working Men's Club
What have you all been doing to keep busy during lockdown?
Serra: Writing new Bitchos material, cooking like there is no tomorrow and of course playing Yoshi’s Wooly World on Nintendo Wii. Apart from not being able to see or hang in person with my friends or play shows, I’ve been enjoying myself most days.
Caro: Completed Resident Evil Director's Cut, watched all Peep Show episodes (twice) and decorated my entire house with fairy lights.
Nic: I’ve been working on the wards at my hospital in London. When I haven’t been at work I’ve been trying to switch off by practising drums at home, painting, cooking elaborate meals for myself, and generally flopping on the sofa in the evenings.
Josie: I've aged about 60 years and been keeping busy by doing a big jigsaw and knitting. Of course, also doing the occasional noodle on my bass.
Agus: Studying loads, I recently started doing yoga too.
Which TV show would you like to resurrect and do another series of during lockdown and why?
Serra: Nathan Barley- I’m still bitter about them only giving us one season of total trashbat.co.ck gold.
Caro: Mr Bean! Would love to see him struggle with modern life everyday-ness.
Nic: I would like to see people recreating the crystal maze in their own homes.
Josie: Please give us another series of The Office (UK) and Peep Show...! Dry, awkward and painful humour is what the world (me) needs right now.
Agus: Games of Thrones, I didn't like the ending so would like to change it.
Favourite moment so far on tour?
Serra: Number 1 moment goes to our stage invasion when Mac DeMarco busted out Tequila for his last song. Me and the girls were singing and being ridiculous on stage, then all of a sudden, I turn around and see Nic, crowd surfing, flat on her back while playing the wood block perfectly in time. The actual footage of her gracefully stepping into the crowd and almost lying down into a bed of hands while keeping a perfect beat is magical.
Caro: It has to be the Birmingham date of the Mac DeMarco tour. We have been joining them on stage for some loose renditions of Tequila but this one was the one that involved the highest number of Bitchos crowdsurfing at the same time!
Nic: Haha yes!
Josie: Every single moment captured in the Frozen Margarita music video <3
Agus: I have plenty, I guess every time we play cards and we create even more inside jokes.
What's the toughest thing about being in a band?
Serra: The rigorous travelling. Knowing you need to make a flight or you will miss your show, or whether your guitar will come out of the luggage hold in one piece is a feeling we can all do without. But of course, can’t be in a band without travelling, so joke’s on me!
Nic: Having to get up at 6am for work after getting in late from a show.
Agus: Trying to built a tent at a festival
What are your favourite places to eat in London?
Serra: Dotori, Hana Sushi, Granary Thai Café, Q&T (All in Finsbury Park) and of course, Franco Manca- wicked sourdough pizza.
Caro: Del74! Tacos & Margaritas place in Dalston. By far my favourite.
Nic: Mildred’s
Josie: It's a tie between Serra's house (that girl can cook!) and Morito (excellent Tapas on Exmouth Market).
Agus: There’s a little sushi place in Brick Lane that has the best sushi I’ve ever tried in the UK.
Which record shops can you not stay out of?
Serra: Rough trade in Brick Lane- not only is their record catalogue extensive, but I’ve always enjoyed the array of books there too. Plus the store is quite large so you don’t get knocked about while having a browse. Waaghals in Nijemgen (Netherlands) is another one of my favourites. Apart from it’s convenient location across from a fabulous coffee shop, it’s always such a treat to dig around the store and come across some old 7” you didn’t even know existed or you wanted.
Caro: Rough Trade and Flashback.
Nic: Flashback. And charity shops.
Josie: I do really like the Rough Trade East store, lovely array of records, books and staff!
Agus: Rough Trade East. I also like the book selection there, it's really good.
WOULD YOU RATHER ...
Carolina, Would you rather lose all your memories or all the pictures you have ever taken?
Caro: All my memories. Pictures are probably more accurate than my memories (I blame Tequila).
Josefine, Would you rather be put in a maximum-security prison with the hardest of the hardened criminals for one year or be put in a relatively relaxed prison where Bankers and Tax Fraud types are held for ten years?
Josie: There are some obvious pros and cons here but certainly leaning towards spending a shorter amount of time with the real bad guys. Jeeez, imagine being locked up with people like myself for 10 years!
Nic, Would you rather snitch on your best friend for a crime they committed or go to jail for the crime they committed?
Nic: Haha! This is very triggering as my biggest irrational fear is being jailed for a crime I didn’t commit! I have a pact with my best friend that we would bust each other out of jail though so it wouldn’t really matter.. but obviously I’m gonna say I would do the time - snitches get stitches!
Serra, would you rather have everyone laugh at your jokes but not find anyone else’s jokes funny or have no one laugh at your jokes but you still find other people’s jokes funny?
Serra: Definitely option number 2. I don’t laugh at my own jokes often enough to warrant giving up laughing at other people’s jokes entirely. Maybe I just need to get funnier.
Agustina, Would you rather have the police hunting you for a murder you didn’t commit or a psychopathic clown hunting you?
Agus: I think I’d rather have a psychopathic clown haunting me, I can always ask my friends for help!
Words by Maddy O’Keefe and Keith Miller