Alternative indie pop band ESTEBAN have not one but two full-length albums, along with them always writing when together they cannot stop! Lots of new music on the horizon and live shows with loads of fun to top it all off! The band goes into more detail about playing live, making music, and more!
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Back in 1995, three schoolmates, disinterested in most things unless it was cool or grungy, decided to start a band called Onion. They very quickly started playing this funky thing... skankin' guitar, funky bass and disco beats. Young and unflustered by the big stage, they supported local and touring artists coming to the area, it was a good excuse for the whole school to follow them to the theater to hang out and watch them do their thing! Fast forward ten years and they finally got around to finding a frontman - someone who could hold his own, dance to the groove, and belt out some anthemic hooks over the guys' honed style. That's when they began recording albums.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
The central character of the cult 80's cartoon The Mysterious Cities of Gold was named Esteban, child of the sun. They all watched it as it told or a near-to-life representation of the Spanish invasion of Peru and the fall of the Inca. Esteban translates as Stephen in Spanish which is the singer's name... To cut a long story short, our singer changed the name of the band to his own name and thought we wouldn't notice! The guitarist is pretty handy with the Flamenco style too and early lyrics were inspired by ancient stories from the Andes and beyond.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Based in Derby, Midlands. We might get told off for this but Derby is kinda famous for not having a scene as such. White Town released Your Woman in 1997 but off the top of my head, that's about all that has happened 'lately'. The band members are all over the place now, Manchester, Taunton and Dorchester but they still return to the guitarist's hometown of Derby to practice.
4. How would you describe your style?
Desert Funk. If you don't know what that is don't worry, they never set out to sound like anyone or any particular genre. Being pioneers just like those early explorers is what Esteban is all about after all, what's the point of being second to the post!
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
Esteban have just released their second album "Jackpot Motel", a 16 track odyssey into life in the deserts of your mind, or being home and dry with all you need around you, family, friends. You could be getting ready to go out or having a BBQ on the beach (responsibly), fixing your car, road-tripping, just waking up or collecting your MBE, "Jackpot Motel" has an indie-funk track waiting to exploit your need for cool. Their first album "Dirty Wrecked" was recorded literally whilst on the road between tours, if you want the party to light-up then that's for you.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Always. When we are together we can stop writing. We'll be back in the studio this year to record the next project and we're so thankful that our label The Animal Farm are supporting us on this journey once again. There seems to be no end to their passion for what we do, it's so unbelievably important to know that your label is on your side as a business, as a family and as friends. We're in an awesome position and we are very, very grateful.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We did. Like everyone we've put the live shows on the back burner for now. It's a shame because that's our bread and butter, we love the live thing, we lived for it back along sometimes playing 5 or 6 gigs a week, year after year. If you were there for those shows then it's like you are part of the family. We headlined countrywide and the party didn't stop at last orders I can assure you! We'll be back.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Take over the U.S government, outlaw bad TV, allow kids to have fun and not have to do exams, erm... open health food stores inside supermarkets. Nah, let's just say the band will be continuing their odyssey into what they call Desert Funk with lot's of new music, live shows and fun videos to keep you entertained.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Yes, you don't have to wait for the algorithm to find you, we are still allowed to find cool stuff by ourselves... Spotify is where all Esteban's work is. For those of you still running bangers or want a CD for the shed Sony, then go to www.weareesteban.com and we'll send you a spanking sounding album to you wherever you are in the world. There are some rare old albums of the early days there too if you want the full story so far.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
It's real. Real musicians with real instruments and voices with real engineers and genuine support. It's interesting to listen to Spotify playlists and the digital sounds that go on with new music, we love it but after a day your ears want for something warm, something handmade, something kick-ass, something real. Esteban are a conscious band, always have been, there are messages from all the members for you in their music, that's their gift to the listener, they can teach you how to love life.
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