Peruvian metal band Chaska blends folklore and metal to create a unique sound. In this interview, they discuss their EP Rites of June, creative collaborations, and their journey as a band.
1. Congratulations
on the release of 'Winter Night Heights'! Can you tell us more about the
creative process behind the music video and how you collaborated with Tom Flynn
and Ricardo Velarde?
Thank you.
The basic idea was the video should include images of the band performing the
song, and some scenes from the film. We contacted the director of the film,
Ricardo Velarde, for the respective permissions and authorizations. The scenes
from the film which were selected, and all the images of the band performing
the song, were sent to Tom Flynn. Finally, Tom did a great job and we are very
satisfied with it.
2. The
music video features imagery from La Luz en el Cerro. How did this
collaboration with Caudal Films come about, and what inspired you to connect
the song with the film's themes?
One of the
main actors in the film, Manuel Gold, suggested to the director, Ricardo
Velarde, to use Chaska's music. Ricardo loved the idea and contacted us. Then,
Ricardo asked us to compose and record a completely new song, inspired by his
film, so also it could be part of it. To achieve this goal, Ricardo showed us
some scenes from the film, still in production, and gave us a general summary
of the plot. This is how the song Winter Night Heights was born.
3. 'Winter
Night Heights' is part of your EP Rites of June. Could you explain
how this EP represents different phases of the band's evolution?
Sweet Lover
and Imperio Caído are songs from the EP Chaska (2003), which was the first
release of our career. Nymph of the Lake and Bicolour Cannibalism are songs
from the full-length Pururauca (2009), which is a highly appreciated work by
people who have known us for years. The song Winter Night Heights was first
released as a single in 2015, shortly before the premiere of the film La Luz en
el Cerro (2016). And finally, we have the song Possession, which is the first
cover we have released in our entire career.
4. The
tracklist includes live session versions of older songs. How do these updated
versions reflect the band's growth over the years?
The live
session versions of the songs Nymph of the Lake and Bicolour Cannibalism, were
originally released as videos through our own YouTube channel in 2020. With
these versions we wanted to present two songs that are very loved by our fans
in our live performances, and to transmit the energy and power that these songs
have when performed on stage.
5. Your
music incorporates Latin American folklore elements alongside metal. How do you
balance these influences to create Chaska's unique sound?
We always
try to add those elements of our folklore, which have different colors and
textures, in the most intelligent and musical way possible.
6. You’ve
shared the stage with iconic bands like Sepultura, Primal Fear, and Moonspell.
How have these experiences shaped your music and performance style?
You always
learn something new at every show. At shows with iconic bands, anything can
happen. You have to be prepared for anything. Things can change in an instant,
and you have to know how to move and make decisions. I think these are the most
unpredictable and delicate shows out there. All of this has allowed us to gain
more experience and knowledge about what could go right and wrong at these
types of shows. The good and the bad. What to do and what not to do. You learn
about the way these bands and all their staff work and also about the promoters
of these shows.
7. The
song 'Possession' is a cover of Bad English. What inspired you to include this
track, and how did you adapt it to fit Chaska's style?
Somehow, a
while back, we thought that this song could adapt very well to our style. For
the making of this EP, we thought it would be interesting to include this song
as a bonus track or gift. To achieve this, we had the collaboration of the
outstanding musician Sergio "Checho" Cuadros.
8. Chaska
has participated in global events like the World Metal Congress. How has being
part of the international metal community influenced your approach to music?
We love
music, and we have a very special feeling for metal. Metal is a kind of global
or international community that makes it special or different from other
genres. Sharing your music with audiences from other countries is always
rewarding, especially if your music is well received. That is motivating and
always drives you to keep going.
9. Your
band has been active for over two decades. What keeps you motivated and
inspired to continue creating and evolving your music?
I don't
know exactly. Maybe it could be the fact that, in a way, we still have some
kind of spirit or inner flame that motivates us to stay involved in this and
continue doing it.
10. The
EP cover art by Fabián Flores-Castro is striking. What message or themes does
it convey, and how does it connect to the music?
Thank you.
The idea for the EP cover art came directly from the song Winter Night Heights.
The main character of the song could be some sort of solitary creature or a
winged traveler. We thought that this character would be well represented by
the hummingbird, whose type of beauty and size would achieve a certain contrast
with the immensity of the mountains, the night sky and the heights. We wanted
to achieve a certain harmonic contrast, and that's how we could define the
Rites of June EP, and Chaska's music.
11. What
challenges have you faced as a Peruvian metal band trying to break into
international markets, and how have you overcome them?
I think the
music of Chaska has been well received mainly in several Latin American
countries. We have always worked with Peruvian labels or independently. This is
the first time we work with an international label, such as Inverse Records. We
hope that thanks to this we can make our music reach new places and audiences.
12. Finally,
what can fans expect next from Chaska, and how do you envision the band's
future in the coming years?
We hope to
be able to play as much as possible, thanks to the support of the EP Rites of
June. In the near future, we hope to be able to release a new full-length,
which will allow us to grow even more and consolidate ourselves more as a band.
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