Interview with my amigo Mario, from Vulgar Disease!
Red Light Grind:
Hey Mario,how are you this evening? How´s life in México ?
Mario
Night,not so drunk as usual but enough sober for the interview ... How´s life in México?
Well,it´s great here only death,druglords,war for territories,heads all over,nice tight young sweeties spreading AIDS,noise everywhere,it´s like a fair , just walk
few steps and a new shit is happening , without a doubt this is the best place to live , too much inspiration .
RLG:
Could you enlighten us a little on how Vulgar Disease came to be?
Mario
A patient enters the doctor´s room , the doctor asks , what can i do for you , you look pretty well .the patient responds,
i just got a disease , a vulgar disease , isn´t that bad isn´t ?
I just remember that during my college days , back in the late 90s , i was sick and tired of playing guitar and vocals in bands , i wanted to do something by myself
with no opinion from someone else ,trying to create my own music , plugged my guitar and started to play melodical stuff , then i just
came with the idea of "adding" pedals , distortion / delays / mostly old school type , that room was filled with
a strange ambience , suddenly i started to explore with equalizers from the mixer/amplifier/pedal combinations , plugged the mic and immediately i said
this is what i want to do .
Vulgar Disease was formally launched on july 29th 2008
Once , my hermano Jared Russell from Headless Rapist said ,
"Real music for real people that make real shit happens". That´s what Vulgar Disease it´s supposed to be , or pretends to be , or wants to be ...
RLG:
Dispite VD being so young you have a pretty large discography. How have you been able to write so much and appear on so many compilations ?
Mario:
Guess it´s part of the "multipolarity" , i do have many projects , i tend to record-a-lot , too much shit to say/too much shit to expose, in 2011 i was a bit
stopped , still recording but not much releases , 2012 will come with a nasty amount of works .
I spend most of my time "making music" . Being "indiependent" gives me the total power of being myself , it´s what i love , with commitments to no one/nobody/
nothing,neither you and probly neither me . Since i have sense of life , seems "art" is more ephimerous than ever these days , all the shit
that surround you is running fast , so creating should be too ...
I miss the days when i used to release an album almost every week , mainly splits and mostly under Vulgar Disease , the free download option also took a huge
role in order to saw my stuff uploaded in about hours or less than a week , Torn Flesh Records made a tremendous effort back then , the wide eclectic listeners´
range of this Net label suits to me .
to continue with the "album releasing" , 2012 will hit you all with :
Slut Disease (split w/slut kull) on 412 RECORDINGS (UK) cdR , artwork by the KULL KOMMANDER
Vulgar Disease-Guilty (solo album) on PURGE ELECTRONICS (UK) cdR , artwork by FRANCOISE DUVIVIER
Vulgar Disease - Odio,Caos y Destrucción (solo album) on TURGID ANIMAL ITALIAN DIVISION (tape) , artwork by NICOLA VINCIGUERRA in his form of TISBOR
Mary Bell & Las Poquianchis (split w/bagman) on RUIDO HORRIBLE (MEX) cdR ,artwork by SERGIO SÁNCHEZ
just hoping to see other deals coming to light soon .
Plus the usual charge of online/free downloads on TFR and The vegetable Kingdom .
RLG:
How's the VD fan base?
Mario:
They are all freaks,man . I often like to be in constant touch with, Most of them are involved in the "Indie/DIY" scene , industrial culture/post industrial , photographers/dancers/actors,mostly
in their 30s or older, perhaps the incoming of teenage blood approaching to me in 2011 was something to consider , both male/females . VD or any of my
projects are not focused only for an specific sector , i´m sure that there is a wide variety of earthlings that are listening to this , plus the ones
that hate me for this and that - in the bottom - they still love the vulgar man ...
RLG:
Have you put any of your releases out on a physical medium and how have they done?
Mario:
Sure it is , there are releases and compilation appearences on labels such as :
Ruido Horrible(mex),412 recordings(UK),Silent Novels Records(jap),Meziprostorem(czr),Harsh Noise Propaganda Productions(rum),Histoplasmosis Recordings(US),
Vaginal Apocalypse (US),Trashfuck Records (US)
RLG:
Would you ever want VD to become more than just yourself?
Mario:
No, never . I hate my kind ... they will never understand what i want to do anyway .
RLG:
What is the general writing process for you and VD?
Mario:
The most extensive album so far its PRISIONERO13-REPORTE DE GUERRA , which is still available via Ruido Horrible(mex) and HNPP(rum) , for this album
i had to travel to a city where all about was violence , day by day , i wanted to feel the real ambience of war , of an actual war , i wanted to breath the
air of blood , walking thru desolated streets,parks. i remember i picked up my cell phone with the ilusion to record some "action" to add it to the disk , and
fortunately i recorded only one , the rest are samples stolen from real narcovideos and from a mexican film called "Cero y van cuatro" .
Speaking about sound , i use my mouth & breath , drills , synth/midi controller,lap top,VST,a bit of guitar,a self constructed mini amplifier,some pedals,
machetes,tiny fireworks,my fists ... both "digital" (mostly) and analogue .
The abuse of equalizers and processing it´s my thing , of course all it´s recorded in one take , no AFTER EDITING , no masterizings,no post production,
only the final mix of channels , everything it´s in real time , all effects in real time , sometimes for the vocals i like to keep it clean/natural/raw
especially for VD .
RLG:
What influences you to write what you do?
Mario:
When i was a child in the 80´s my father took my brother and i to a certain barber shop almost every month , the main thing here
was that in the lobby/waiting room , there was this table full of ALARMA! magazines you can lift them and read them , total gorey , explicit violent stories , no censorship , everything
as real as it gets , cuban bitches selling their love and waiting to be choosen for to leave the island , topics about alchemy, alebrijes,aluxes,naguales,black magic,cultos a la santa muerte,naked whores,shaved pussies,skulls, and of course biographies from serial killers mainly from México and south america,lucha libre idols and boxing champs , etc ...
So i have to say that the first thing that comes to mind is ALARMA! magazine ,Narcos,Mexican cartels,The mexican drugwar,Mafia capos, drugs in all forms ,
Films mainly "underground/independent" or just the term "cult cinema" seems it´s how most people is now refering to,Street whores , young sluts,Sexy nurses ,Hot transsexuals , Satan, Jesus , Dictators , Dolls , Asian women,
Iranian female army,Adelitas,Hackers,More asian women, Ukranian prostitutes , Porno stars , Indian señoritas , African chicas , Brunettes with green eyes,
My cock , Anorexic bitches , Magicians , Scientist/Scientific theories,Hallucinogenic plants,María Sabina,The universe,Life outside the earth/Life beyond,RPG games,Prehispanic "mexican"/tenochtitlan
culture,Mesoamerican groups , Folklore/World culture,Hentai/Anime/japanese cartoons,Serial killers,Warfare,Witchcraft,Sports,Genetic experiments,Disasters,Nature,Religions,Psycoshamans,Metaphysics,
"Le Socialite", Suicidal minds , Urban culture/Cholos/vatos/fresas/nacos and the country that i´m building .
RLG:
You appear on a lot of elephantknuckle tracks as he does on yours. Can you elaborate on your two's friendship? Will there ever be a split between the two?
Mario:
Sam, that is also the GM of TFR is a long term hermano , i can´t imagine VD without him , he has been a part of this since the very begining , we often collaborate,
we did a split/sound collab in 2011 called Everything BAD , all related to serial killers , it´s a totally different way of what VD used to be doing
, it has the particular touch of EK plus the "harshy" parts of VD , I´m always being interested to work or take part with as many artists as i can ,
even if they aren´t doing noise as a primary goal , it´s always interesting to hear the final result .
RLG:
Can you tell us about your side projects?
Mario:
It´s a problem of multipolarity , i guess . I first came with Vertex Germ , it´s the "calm" side of this "musical" disease , mostly intended as a tribute
to the "mexican" culture , focused mainly in hallucinogenic plants that grows up in this country . A bit ritualistic (especially for the first 3 albums) ,
Glitchy sometimes , Atmospherics/Synths . The first album is called ALPHATOXIN , released by free on THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM (aus) and a DIY cdR
released by Ruido Horrible(mex) , copies are sold out , i recently spoke with Sergio and maybe it could be a re-edition (very limited) of this work.
ALPHATOXIN it´s inspired by the Sierra Mazateca´s (huatla de jiménez) Magic mushrooms , There´s a long story behind that trip , to make it short , a couple
of lads and i decided to climb a hill called "EL CERRO DE LA ADORACIÓN" (XICO NIN DO) , a place where the weather changes every minute , all kind of
meteorological states are there except snowing , you can feel the rain and suddenly it´s sunny , then it´s foggy , or cloudly , grey , sunny again , etc ...
I processed the prehispanic instruments by using many tools , and only for this album i took some samples from the mushroom velada that María Sabina did
with Robert Wasson and wife , about the rest , go download/buy ...
So far i have only 3 solo albums with Vertex Germ , "Té de Hierbas" on TVK for free , basically the same topics from ALPHATOXIN , but this time it´s more
ETHNIC and a bit of a more "melodical" style is more evident in comparison with the first and third release ... Then for PEYOTE i invited a close hermano
Edwin Arce to reinforce the prehispanic sonority , i found this album as a mix of the first two releases and it´s still available on RUIDO HORRIBLE (mex) IN
a DIY cdR the artwork version for PEYOTE AND ALPHATOXIN it´s in charge of Sergio Sánchez , an underground figure in the mexican alleys .
Nowadays the recordings for 2012 will be focused a bit more in static/melodical , i guess it´s this post rock/cinematic rock/slowcore/shoegazing genres
that lead me towards to dig into this ,the walls of noise again will be a huge part in building the tracks , the whole VG style will prevail ,i´m just
making new adjustments .
DOPAMINE LARVAE probly it´s the darkest of all , a fascination of satanism , sinthetic drugs , the abuse of synths , and more vocal processing/effects all in real
time and still no post production , for future releases i´m trying to involve more rhythmical parts ,melodical phrases-minimal in
structure , some people that are into "black metal" tends to enjoy DL , i don´t consider DL as a "black metal" project but of course "i´m not who" to deny
Black metal as part of my musical life , once there always there .
PRISIONERO13 , it´s all about pure mexican topics, a fucked up ultra nationalism , AK.47 pride , cuerno de chivo electronics , as i mentioned before in the interview
the first album it´s all bout the mexican drugwar , which is also a still from VULGAR DISEASE´S-URBAN STREET RAGE/FURIA URBANA album , about sound ,
P13, can adopt VD style or Dopamine Larvae .Synth classic abuse , minimal/static LFOs , it´s what i´m looking , Tracks like "FUHRER MEXICANO" and "TOQUE DE QUEDA" shows more or less what i want to do about sound issuess for the forthcoming album.They
are uploaded into the web .
GAS CHAMBER , with texas´ hermano Adam Mowery aka Wormburner , we deal with more melodical patterns , full of desolation and
nothingness , partially industrial , black noise , neofolk, shows our fascination for WARFARE ,apocalyptic phylosophy , hopeless stuff.
First album "PLAGUE CONTROL" it´s available for free on TFR .
ABASTECEDOR CALLEJERO , with Jared Russell (ex - headless rapist) from the money making manhattan , so far we have 2 volumes of AC.
Harsh, grindcore,speedcore,East coast hip hop , urban culture , gangs, mexican-american love and hate ,working with Dr.1(DrOne) for the mad rap rhymez,
right now we are finishing the third release , african/cuban culture oriented .
DOOMBOX , with Sascha Alexander Plein aka SAP also known in the scene for his projects like HERR SCHMITD HAT KRACH , LO FI HIGH, CIRCUIT DEMON ,
DOOMBOX it´s pure electric doom hop , first album "in drugs we trust" , haven´t been released yet .
and finally XIUHCOATL , which is the consequence of 2006 project called ALEAZIONE MENTALE , a duo with Edwin Arce , only dealing with
ambience/atmospherics , huge influence from german krautrock/electronics , we keep working in making long tracks around 40-60 mins , we changed
the name almost every gig we played , in 2008 a clarinet/keyboardist ALEJANDRA FUENTES join us in the trip but until 2010 we finally find the stability
with the arrive of HÉCTOR SÁNCHEZ FLORES (drums) , JUAN MANUEL CASTILLO (bass) , ISRAEL XCHELL (djembe) . It´s a fusion of styles , we have different
musical tastes one of us love PROGRESSIVE ROCK , while the others are into METAL STUFF , Jazz , Noise , Post Rock , Sea rock , Prehispanic cosmogonies/Culture,
riualistic phylosophy , Ethnic instruments (flutes,percussions) , the use of homemade masks during our gigs made by Hector and Juan Manuel , we often
play in cultural events/mexican festivities (Día de Muertos/Day of the dead,Day of the corn,Fairs,and such)
, you can search for this project on jewtube , try XIUHCOATL muñoztla, XIUHCOATL pachamama,XIUHCOATL
dia de muertos .
RLG:
What's there to do down in Mexico? How's the music scene?
Mario:
To do down in México ? that´s easy vato , DRUGDEALING/TRAFFICKING it´s the best thing to get involved with , travelling thru the country it´s also a cool
way to spend your money , pyramids , the suburbs , real cantinas , Pulque ("the bevearage of the gods-heavy drink) , the best food in the world,
street art , la santa muerte , you can live hundred years here and you will never get bored amigo ,
The noise scene is gaining ground day by day , small clubs open their doors to the experimental scene , not much people attend , the main sources of infection
are basically the big cities like México DF , Guadalajara , Puebla , Monterrey , Ciudad Victoria Tamaulipas with the Taladro fest/Función de repulsa , they are making full events , lot of the artists involved based
their performances by creating installations , applying "scientific & technological" concepts for their entire acts ,
In Puebla takes part the noise festival ,Iván Macuil Priego sarted with the idea & in 2011 was the third time of making it possible , it consisted of 3 days in a row of only
"experimental" music , if you are in México those days and want to show your "art" , now you know . Last year was a carousel of
30 bands between solists , duos , we had genres that are not only noise , also post rock/No wave/visual artists .
Labels like RUIDO HORRIBLE located in México DF are distributing DIY cdR , A.M.P. recs in Guadalajara too , and also a free download section
can be found there ,Hacked tapes in México DF , there is also a label called Carne de Ángel hosted by "Valefor Samigina " in Tlaxcala ,
mostly online/free download are diablero records , mosqquito recordings , are showing an interesting portion of indie projects .
all the labels mentioned are not only for the mexican , international artists are also involved .
Projects i have the pleasure to met or perform with are Lechones Sangrientos/El conjunto Aleluya , Amniosis , Los Heraldos Negros ,Apocalyptic Frequency experience,
Escuadrón de la Muerte , Melodiklasta , Erick Diego , Low Freq , I/C/O/C , Miasma , Deimusaranea ,
the names of Sergio Sánchez , Pablo Nieto aka Paultool aka Rento Nogart , Estanislao Pónz , Erick Diego , Iván Macuil Priego , Marcos Hassan , Marioklasta,
Marijose Soberón , ,Francisco Hernández aka "Alphil" ,Sinuhé Guevara , Omar Zamudio , Ramsés Guevara , are pillars in the labour of making the national indie/DIY scene never die ... and remains .
RLG:
Is there a chance to ever see VD live?
Mario:
I don´t play too often , there are some footages of some live performances in the net , unfortunately i don´t have past recordings from the very
old live aktions , neither the first one in 2007 , 2011 was a struggling year , i didn´t made much live akts , I´m not looking for gigs i´d rather
will love to play inside a cage of hungry lions , angry bears , inside an airplane , into a spaceship , over the moon , at cape canaveral ...
RLG:
Where would you like to see Vulgar Disease go in the future?
Mario:
Hidden places , secret towns , forbidden zones, playing with all of my hermanos/hermanas , they know who they are .
RLG:
Thanks again man i really appreciate it and i love vulgar disease keep the grind noise coming bro!
Hope to chat with ya again. Any last words for our readers here at RLG?
Mario:
Nice chatting with the RLD crew , man . Its always cool to known people who has bad bad bad "musical" tastes , keep it real , keep it straight,avoid hypocrisy,handle your double moral,
support everything that is censored,support everything that is prohibited , support everything that comes with a hole in between , fuck young girls,fuck your sister,
mount your pony,mount your master , mount your hen , kiss your cock -it´s the only beautiful person and the only one you can ever trust -
kiss yourself in the mirror -it´s the only true love you will ever find - Take care of your pussy - it´s the only thing that will makes you earn money for the rest of your life - you wannabe famous , you wannabe special , you wannnabe the cutest , you wannabe the foolest , you wannabe violent, you wannabe nothing , you wannabe l´omblique du monde ,you wanna kill , you wanna be afraid ,you wanna hate , you wanna hate those who hate, you are the product of your mesiah , you lick Marquis de Sade´s ass,you suck the semen of the imaginary Genesis P. Orridge´s cock , you eat Andrea Dworkin´s shit , you ask for pity ,you look for shelter,you follow dictators´ orders,you shave your head,you claim yourself as black, you are the roar of the panther,the power to the people,you wanna take a piss on a druglord´s grave,you wanna puke on a terrorist´s corpse,you wannabe rebel,you wannabe pacifist,you wannabe nihil,
you wannabe the 99%,you are the meaningless smallest tiniest fragment of the subnothing, you are the spit on the map .
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support Vulgar Disease!
Vulgar Disease & Projects Blog
Vulgar Disease Discogs
Interview has not been changed except for a few grammatical corrections.
Pictures are used for promotional purposes only, I do not own the rights to any of them.
