The Spanish psych band Mohama Saz has a new video for their track “Quemar Las Naves,” the title cut from the group’s 2020 LP out now on Mock Records. Shot in El Algarve, Portugal, the visuals were directed by Rubén San Román Gámez. With a mantric riff headed for the stratosphere and driving rhythms to power the towering ascent, it’s the perfect soundtrack for this video’s elemental battle between the forces of creation and destruction.
Live Eye Tv recently chatted with Mohama Saz via email about their new video, life during COVID, as well as the band’s 2020 LP Quemar Las Naves. Don’t miss the discussion after the YouTube embed below.
LETV: Start off by telling us about this amazing video! Where was it shot, who was the director, and what was the motivation behind merging these space and desert themes?
MS: The video was shot in El Algarve, Portugal by Rubén San Román Gámez who is an old friend of the band that works in the theater in Scotland. He had this idea hanging around his head for a long time to make a short film in those landscapes that seem like from another planet using Mohama Saz music, so when we recorded the album he went there with his “Guerilla filming”crew and shot it. The music and the album concept fit perfectly with the images and story because it’s like a metaphor for the turbulent times that we are living, like the end of the world to which we are headed and of which we are all participants. But in the end we want to offer some hope and light. And also a pinch of humor. It’s like a therapy for us, to convince ourselves thare can be hope.
LETV: You’ve got an intense sound as a band with great chemistry, elements of post-punk, Eastern, and almost prog/jazz sounds. Who are you most influenced by overall and currently?
MS: We have many musical influences but also non-musical ones. In music, we try to avoid the Anglo-saxon influence and our influences go in that direction, Krautrock classics such us Can, Neu!, Kraftwerk, classic prog rock like King Crimson or Universe Zero, Magma…But also big influence of Anatolian Rock, like Erkin Koray, Ersen, Shelda. Mediterranean folk from Greece, Yugoslavia…And of course our Spanish musical heritage, flamenco and ’70s flamenco rock (Triana, Las Grecas, Los chichos…) But we always try to use those influences with respect and affection, and make them our own trying not to emulate anything.
LETV: How has 2020 been for the band, what have you been able to do in lieu of all the lockdowns and quarantine? How were the lockdowns in Spain, and how are musicians dealing with it?
MS: Buff it’s really weird, I think in all places must be the same horrible thing, but here in Spain, our lifestyle is the street, in the bars, concerts, sharing always with another people, family, and friends…so the lockdown was hard. Here in Madrid we live in small flats so imagine that, jeje. For the band it was the perfect time to mix the new album, make the artwork, and so on. But the musicians and musical industry are devastated, many clubs are closing…and the professional musicians are in a very bad situation. It’s really hard.
LETV: Last thing, tell us about your upcoming record and anything else you’re excited about for the rest of 2020 and beyond!
MS: We are so excited to release the album in the US with this great label, Mock Records. We cant stand the urge to play there in the US anymore and see the reaction of the American audience. Thank you so much, good luck with your elections, and please vote to kick the dangerous man out of the White House. Quemar las naves!!
Mohama Saz is a one of a kind entity made up of members from other Spanish musical projects with cult followings such as: RIP KC, Melange or Novak to name a few.
Their unique sound is made up from a blend of Javier Alonso on electric Baglama Saz; the hypnotic rhythm of Sergio Ceballos on bass guitar and Adrian Ceballos on drums; the tribal percussions of Ruben Mingo; the jazz virtuoso Arturo Pueyo on Sax, clarinet and bass clarinet; and the latest addition, Iñigo Cabezafuego on synth and samplers.
Their diverse influences span from Erkin Koray, Ersen, Triana or Las Grecas to Coltrane, Goat or Neu! Mediterranean psych gurus with a flamenco touch and a Turkish vibe.
Discography:
More Iran (Influx Records 2015)
Negro Es El Poder (Humo 2017)
Viva El Rey (Humo 2018)
Quemar Las Naves (Humo and Mock Records 2020)
