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Muero: Interview

words by Tasha Bielaga, photos by Xander Marrow

A band of misfits, a boy band by definition-- Muero are newcomers to the Portland music scene. The band consists of members from Miami, Minnesota, Texas, New York, and one Oregonian, who now all call bridge city home. Vocalist and guitarist Alexander Ochoa, guitarist Francis Wilhelm, drummer Dilan Barajas, bassist Clark Newman, and keyboardist Colin Cauthorn spend most of their days jamming, writing, recording, and throwing shows (translate: All music, all the time). Springtime brought them an EP recorded at Revolver Studios, a name change, and some gigs. If all goes as planned, summer will bring them, in their own words, “ideas that bloom like flowers in the pavement”. As the sunny days roll in, we chatted about how Muero came to be, how their entrance to the DIY community is going, and the new EP.

Electric Daze: Tell us a little bit about yourselves? How did Muero become Muero?

Clark: I’m originally from Minneapolis, I’ve only been in Portland for about 2 years. Alex moved in with me because my roommates knew him.

Alex: I basically moved her from Miami with the purpose of starting a band. I was apprenticing at a studio called Miami Beach Studios and my old band Golden Arrow was close to getting signed, and it all kinda fell apart. So I left town and decided I wanted to do what I was doing there, somewhere else. Then I met Clark. Dilan was in another band called United Suns, I was going to record them but Dilan ended up getting kicked out, and we just decided to play together. Francis and Colin played in Alberta Paper Company together and they both got kicked out.

Dilan: We’re a band of misfits. It was kind of a stroke of luck that we ended up in the same room and realized we all played music.

Alex: We were originally called Hormones, then Swoon, but that name was used by a few acts and we didn’t want to confuse anyone. Muero means die, or the sensation of dying, in Spanish. It was originally a name I had came up with for a solo project before moving here. We’re also a boyband by definition, we all have our own personality and backstory but it’s cool because on a musical level we fit together right.

ED: Dilan’s in Mustrd, and I know you all jam a lot. How do you go about balancing other musical projects with Swoon?

Dilan: It’s difficult for me, because Muero just went into the studio and recorded our album, while Mustrd. is one step behind in the process. I just have to have patience and try to make myself available. Also with the fast-paced nature of Muero, when I work with Mustrd. I kind of already know how I want things, how I want my drums set up or what’s going to work best for me.

Alex: Muero is the main thing that I write for, I write other music and I have other ideas but a lot is just for me. I’m the initial song writer for Muero, but everyone’s also writing their own songs. Swoon is more of a collective of songwriters, and that was always my intention for the band.

 ED: How is throwing shows at your house?

Dilan: With the three that we’ve had, each one has been a little different. The first one was great, second show was on 4/20 and had a good turn out, but we had a bad house guest that upset a lot of people. With those two under our belt, we knew how to throw the third one and make it work. We got to facilitate a touring band as well as a local band that has a pretty good following. It took some trial and error, but we know how to do it now. It’s fun, it’s not the same experience as a venue show.

Alex: We do want to throw more house shows, but we’re trying to be very selective about it. It’s important to give time between each show to work out the kinks and plan better. Our next show is with a band from Seattle and we’re going to host them here, and when we tour they’re going to host us up there. There’s a couple other bands that I’d love to get on our bill.

Clark: I love playing house shows, but I’m awful around big crowds.

Francis: I love it, I love the diverse group of people and it’s fun. It’s very comfortable and carefree. Most people are very gracious and thankful for the house.

Alex: I get anxious with the people in our house. All of our stuff is here and it’s putting a lot of trust in others. We want to be able to provide a space for all kinds of bands, like On Drugs played here and they’re wild, but they didn’t get too crazy with our gear and they were really cool.

ED: How do you feel about playing house shows vs. shows at bars and clubs?

Francis: I prefer house shows, they’re more personal and down to earth. It can depend on the venue too.

Dilan: I’m on the other end of the spectrum.

Colin: There’s more chicks at the venues though.

Clark: I like house shows but with bars a lot of the work is done for you. They have a sound guy that does the soundchecks and they help point you in the right direction.

Alex: I handled the email, and that shit’s important. Working with the venue is a lot of backwork. But it’s awesome to play venues if you have a good venue. I was bummed that they charged five at the door instead of a free show. One thing about the venues here is that it’s a lot more business based and they want people to pay for every single thing. There’s a middle ground that we want to achieve where everyone can just come enjoy our music and have a good time.

ED: How do you feel about the Portland DIY community?

Dilan: We haven’t been a part of it for that long, we’ve only played with about 4 bands and we’re only homies with one really.

Alex: It’s very acquaintance based for us right now. There’s some microshade of people testing what you’re made of, but that’s just the world of music. Moving here from Miami, the scene there brought a lot of different styles of music together and they don’t do that here.

Clark: But we’ve yet to have a bad experience with a band so far, it’s all been really good.

Francis: I think it’s pretty inclusive, there’s just a lot of different pockets and genres. Everyone’s pretty friendly, it’s not super competitive.

Clark: I think Portland is kind of a clique-y city, but once we start playing more and networking it’ll be easier to break in.

ED: Let’s talk about the new EP! When did you start writing for it?

Alex: We're yet to set on a record concept yet, we’re considering a self-titled. I first started writing for it when I moved to Portland. I would make skeletons and give everyone the form of the song. Clark learned the roots of what I was doing and then made his bassline, and Francis knows the key and makes his guitar lines.

Francis: As far as writing for other people’s songs, I’m kind of an improv guitarist, I’m very routed in Jazz. I just listen and make it up as I go. I think we all kind of work that way when writing together.

Alex: We grind out the songs together and it’s exhausting and can be frustrating. But I’m very grateful that everyone here can work towards one goal. I love these guys and the music sounds great for our first go.

ED: What was the inspiration behind these songs?

Alex: I’ve written the lyrics over the past few months. Leaving Miami, I felt a really heavy loss and everything I’d come to known as my life was gone. When I first moved here I just had a bed, table, and chair. I cut my hair and had a bit of a mental breakdown in December, and shaved both my eyebrows. It was a bad time. We had a harsh winter, and I had never experienced coldness like that, and I had nothing. All the titles for songs are phrases and quotes. We have ideas and write them down. One is called Open Door Policy which is what our house is, we always welcome people over.

ED: What should people expect?

Dilan: Good vibes. I mean people always ask what kind of music I play and that question has always baffled me, I just end up telling them that my music feels good. They can expect good music.

Clark: I think they should take it for what it is.

ED: With recording, Alex and Colin are really well versed in that. Are you excited to record in studio instead of on your own?

Alex: We’re recording in Revolver Studios and it’s beautiful. We’re very lucky because they’re picky with who they want there. I engineered most of our demo recording and they turned out well. I’m so excited to work in a legitimate studio and have an outside opinion.

Dilan: And this is what we want to do with the rest of our EP’s, so it’s a good start.

 ED: This is the first interview you guys have done as a band, and the first ever for some of you as well! As your first interview, is there anything you want to say?

Francis: Try to love your fellow man, you know.

Alex: We want to let everyone know that we just want to throw good shows and have people enjoy our music. We want to be friends with everyone and for them to feel welcome.

Francis: Musicians are just people

Clark: We might be a little more sensitive than others, but we’re just people

Alex: But yeah! We’re here to bring it for Portland!

Connect with Muero on Facebook and Instagram.

This interview was conducted for the PDX Summer 2017 issue of the Call Your Mom zine presented by Electric Daze. Check back here to read the other interviews and view photos of Portland bands.

Find Xander’s work on Instagram at @xandermarrowphotography

View Tasha’s work for the magazine here.