All Great Ideas Start as a Joke... Chatting with Los Bitchos
Rabid dogs, overground rumbling noises, frozen screens and a constant stream of laughter were some of the best contributors to my zoom call with Los Bitchos. As I logged in into Serra’s meeting room I was greeted enthusiastically by Serra, Carolina, Agustina, Josy and Nic.
Photo Courtesy: Los Bitchos.
Hi Pilar! How’s Mexico?
It’s good, not a bad place to be stuck in quarantine, although I miss being in London.
What they don’t know is that the only thing that has kept me sane over the past 80 days or so in isolation has been sipping on tequila cocktails while dancing to their tracks in my backyard. A thought that according to the comments on their YouTube videos, is shared with the rest of the world.
Listen, I am no expert in music but what I do know is that growing up in a Latin country listening to Cumbia was never really a “cool” thing. We played it at weddings and at the end of parties when people were really drunk and wanted to bust a move. It was always like a guilty pleasure.
Yeah, it’s cheesy music! - Carolina says.
Somehow these gals have managed to capture the attention of brits and every other nationality residing in the multicultural city that London is, turning Cumbia into the coolest genre to listen and dance to at the moment.
The band itself represents the multiculturalism of the city with its members being from Australia, Uruguay, Sweden and UK. The idea of forming a Psychedelic Cumbia Rock band came to be when Carolina sent Serra a track from Los Mirlos, a Peruvian Chicha band.
It’s great, I’ll send it to you! - Serra offers.
Both, playing guitars, created a track for fun, eventually, Agustina joined playing the keytar - yes, the keytar - and Josy and Nic followed playing bass and drums. The rest is history.
When I asked if they were shocked by how well received the band had been, the look on their faces said more than enough, they were mind blown by their success. We have a lot of friends from South America, so they always came to the shows to support us, as you probably know there is a huge Latin community in London - Agustina says. But for the rest of the audience, Cumbia was something new. A sound like no other, something completely different that people couldn’t quite describe.
It is Cumbia, but we don’t like to label the sound. We all come from different musical backgrounds and it shows. Josy and Nic used to play in punk bands. It is good music, music that makes you happy and makes you want to dance - Carolina says
Photo Courtesy: Los Bitchos.
Their fans call them A Gift from the Cumbia Gods.
After After a year of touring with Mac DeMarco, The Black Lips, Ty Segall and Bodega, 2020 was meant to be the year Los Bitchos would play as headlining acts in London, do festivals across Europe, go to The States for the first time and were planning on visiting South America in December, fact that made Agustina super excited.
I think for us, the hardest thing about the pandemic is not being able to play live - Serra says. Also, we were recording our album and that had to be put on hold as well - Josy states.
The thing about Los Bitchos is that their instrumental music makes everyone want to dance and the beauty of seeing them play live is that you can see a stream of people from different cultures and different backgrounds dancing Cumbia.
Los Bitchos are meant to be playing at Moth Club in September, an ex-members club in the heart of East London that features a stage with a golden glitter ceiling and stage. Which incidentally also happens to be one of their favorite places to go out.
They always do this fun, retro 80s nights - Nic says. I think I went to a Mariah Carrey Christmas thing once. Wait, what? When was that?
That sounds amazing - Serra asks.
Back in 2016… maybe?
What places do you like to go out in London?
Carolina: The Shacklewell Arms is always fun, and it is near my house. It’s the kind of place you can go to listen to good music on your own and you know you will run into a friend.
Our interview that feels more like a conversation between friends gets interrupted again as we all get the giggles watching a very peculiar dog on Carolina’s background, who is sitting at the park, run straight into her. Looks like a rabid dog - Serra says as we all lose it.
Nic: We should do this every interview, just have someone sitting outside for entertainment purposes.
Josy: I needed that laugh.
Serra: Sorry Pilar, we just haven’t had anyone to talk to in a while, we are excited!
After another long round of giggles, we’re back talking about fun places to go out and listen to good music.
Serra: Oooh, what’s the name of that Karaoke Place in Kingsland Avenue?
The Karaoke Hole! They all say simultaneously.
Who is your favorite Spice Girl?
Josy: Baby, well. I had to be Baby for obvious reasons. Says while pointing at her blond hair. However, there seems to be a unanimous agreement around Mel C.
Nic: She is just so cool, she explored so many music genres, created that lesbian anthem, got a successful record, she just got so much out of her career.
Much like a margarita, Los Bitchos seem to have the perfect ingredients for success. A killer knowledge of music, an unmistakable new and exciting sound, and fun personalities to go with.
Since they all seem to love tequila so much and have a track called Frozen Margarita I had to ask what was their favorite tequila cocktail that was not a margarita.
Josy: Can it be a margarita but with pineapple? I just love margaritas so much…
Maybe you guys should do a live-streaming session of cocktail-making classes.
Carolina: Yeah and charge $50 and donate it to the music industry.
You can spin a wheel and recreate whichever tequila cocktail it lands on.
Serra: It’s a great idea actually.
I’m only half-joking.
Serra: After all… all the best ideas always start as a joke.
Follow them on Instagram: @losbitchos