The music poetics of San Antonio's The Krayolas has found a place in recent years by mixing social and political themes with 60's garage edge. With the recent passing of Arizona bill 1070, front man Hector Saldana once again found a cause that sparked his lyrical mind. Whether singing about border violence or "looking brown," Hector and The Krayolas music is inspiring and unique.
Politics Inspire Music
Suite101: The Krayolas really struck a chord last year with "Twelve Heads..." Now with the song "1070 (I'm Your Dirty Mexican)." What was your inspiration ?
Hector: Just like "Corrido Twelve Heads in a Bag’" was inspired by a newspaper story, the news coming out of Arizona roiled inside of me. I was disgusted and astounded at the thinly veiled racism in the anti-immigrant rhetoric...and the dangerous and cavalier attitude about racially profiling Latinos. It’s ignorant. Mexicans are not the root of all evil. They shouldn't be made to be scapegoats. I’m sick of that view. I had to make a stand, if you don’t fight for the voiceless and the powerless, you’re not part of the solution. You’re part of the problem.
The Dirty Mexican Juxtaposed
Suite101: The Lyrics in your chorus for the song are kind of in conflict with each other. Can you talk about this interesting juxtapose you created.
Hector: The lyrics came out mysterious and poetic. The metaphors of silence, night and blood and the long road relate to the Mexican American experience, who are often made to feel ashamed of their heritage. People will ask me if I’m Greek, Italian, Jewish, Spanish – anything but Mexican. So the chorus touches on that conflict. I’m not going to let you call me a dirty Mexican. I’m not whatever some sicko’s twisted image of a Mexican. On the other hand, I’ll own it. I’m the dirty Mexican. If one is dirty, then I am, too and damn proud of it. But yeah, I think most of the Mexican folks in Arizona are thinking I’m not going back and leave us alone to live in peace.
Working with Mom
Suite101: With this song and "Twelve Heads," your mother was a major influence, how so?
Hector: My mother is a true artist. She’s a fantastic sounding board and she speaks bluntly. But sometimes I have to veto it. With "Twelve," she thought it was too gruesome, too honest. I knew it had struck a nerve, so I didn’t let her soften it. With "1070 " she helped me get the poetry of it just right. The song, which musically is a re-write of our "Good Little Girl" slowed down and with a groovier bass line and some Vox organ, was like a Dylan song with a lot of verses. She helped me organize the metaphors. There is a touch of Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Raven" in the ‘nothing more’ and nevermore, which I had and worked backwards from that.
Scary Americans
Suite101: Why do you think this bill, 1070, and now with house bill 2281, even get into the dialogue of Arizonian lawmakers and politicians?
Hector: Immigrants are easy targets. It’s an emotional issue. Politicians and hate groups get mileage out of that red meat. It’s also a way to avoid issues such as getting the Wall Street fat cats causing the recession we’re in. Fear is the other issue. David Bowie once sang he’s afraid of Americans. But some Americans seem really afraid of Mexicans.
The Original Krayolas
Suite101: This recording is the first time all original Krayolas members came back correct? Can we expect this same line-up in your full album, "Americano?"
Hector: The Krayolas have a brand new album called "Americano." We debuted it at SXSW this year and we have a hit called "Fruteria.: Like "La Conquistadora" and "Long Leaf Pine (No Smack Gum)" it features guests like Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez, Max Baca and the West Side Horns. "1070" however only features me, my brother and Van Baines. It’s the first recording since our very first vinyl 45 "All I Do Is Try," to feature only us, the original Krayolas.
Documenting a hot bed issue such as illegal immigration in music has been a cultural practice in the Mexican-American community with the creation of the corrido genre along the border in the 1800's. The Krayolas masterfully "hip" up the corrido structure with a Dylan-like focus as "1070" keeps politics in rock alive and well.
Paul Saucido - Saucido writes about music, culture, martial arts, movies and such. He has written about Latin music since the mid 90's for LA Weekly, La ...
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