Espiral

2 July 2010

By Jonathan Jackson, Photography Chris Sataua

(Christiana Pedronni, Luis Munguía, Gabriel Sevilla, Chayo Brown, Francisco Cedeño)

As their name implies, the group Espiral (Spiral) began with a broad idea that over time has wound itself into a tight-knit concept. At the end of 2008, musician and guitar player Francisco Cedeño started creating songs along with a vocalist but says he soon realized they needed a band “because two guys is kind of boring.” Once drummer Gabriel Sevilla and bass player Luis Munguía were added to the mix, things really started to spiral into control for the group.

“We did the writing process a little bit backwards from the traditional way bands do,” remembers Sevilla. “We started recording and pre-producing on the computer before we started playing. We wanted to lay down the general ideas and when we had something we found appealing, we’d start rehearsing.”

(Francisco Cedeño y Cheyo Brown)

Espiral spent 10 months or so pre-producing the songs before beginning to rehearse, but it soon became apparent that the singer they had was not going to work out.

“He had another band and couldn’t find the time to keep up with us,” says Sevilla, “but then we found these two creatures, these two beautiful little creatures to join our project and it’s been going great.”

The two beautiful creatures he refers to are vocalist Christiana Pedronni and rapper Cheyo Brown. Although they joined a project where many of the songs had already been started, both were encouraged to put their own stamp and experiences into the lyrics.

“The concepts were already there I just had to develop them, says Brown. “The joy for me was coming into the group and these guys giving me this set of songs but saying I want you to talk about [the same ideas] but I want it to be your words.”

The result has been a fusion sound unique on the Nicaraguan music scene. The chemistry and contrast between the vocalists is enhanced by the live instrumentation, especially the guitar work from Cedeño, whose solos often hold the songs together.

“Rock for me is boring right now,” Cedeño says. “I wanted to play something different, something new,” and with Espiral he and the band feel they have found that something.

Check out Espiral this Saturday, July 3rd, in their first official concert, accompanied by the bands Fusion and La Cegua.