Fantasmes formed between Mario Negrón and Darío Morales a few years after meeting one another at high school where they lived in Puerto Rico. Mario released an EP on his own, The Reveller, and soon asked Darío to join the band. After they began working together, however, Mario battled bouts of depression while bandmate Darío relocated to Spain. Just two years ago, in 2010, the men united once again and released a second EP while playing select performances in New York City. Currently the duo has released their first LP, Redness Moon, written in a studio in Puerto Rico they call “Casa Fantasmes” — a secluded space where they wrote and recorded the album. Fantasmes projects a sound that’s easily recognizable: 60’s psychedelia. Slow drum beats and guitar riffs with whirling vocals that are reminiscent of The Shins or The Beatles. You can pre-order Rendess Moon EP here, but before that, take a look at our Q&A with member Mario González where we find out why he was up watching the sunrise (something about tape loops), memories of his father driving him to school, and why him and bandmate Dario continue to make music…
Allow me to introduce myself, I’m…
Mario Negrón González.
You can find me in…
Santurce, usually posted up at El Local or walking around with friends aimlessly at 3 A.M. trying to buy cat food for my overweight tabby.
You might’ve heard of me because…
Fantasmes.
My next order of business is…
Establishing Casa Fantasmes as an interdisciplinary center for the development of local arts.
If it wasn’t for _______ I wouldn’t be where I am today.
If it wasn’t for my family, my friends, and 4-track tape recorders.
The first piece of music I heard that I remember waking up my ears was…
“I Should Have Known Better” by The Beatles. I remember it coming out of my dad’s radio in the mornings before he drove me to school.
The last piece of music I heard that woke up my ears is…
“Monkberry Moon Delight” by Paul Ramón & Apollo C. Vermouth
I hate to admit it, but I almost gave music up when…
I flunked a music theory class in college.
But it all came together when…
Darío and I started working on a track for the Trip Inside This House compilation. Through this opportunity we both found a new method for our songwriting and arranging that really came to define this last record.
Read more of our Q&A with Mario Negrón of Fantasmes after the Jump…
Fantasmes – Dance In The Shadows from Last Bummer Records on Vimeo.
“Working on a track we found a new method for our songwriting & arranging that really came to define this last record…”
If I was taking a train from Paris to Madrid, the one person I’d want to share the cabin with would be…
Cormac McCarthy. I’d ask him about the fate of the Kid at the end of Blood Meridian, and about anything that could help me complete my thesis.
If you want to put a smile on my face, you probably want to…
Talk about how mono is the way to go.
If you want to wipe that smile away, then you should…
Tell me my smoking disgusts you and is bad for my health.
The last time I saw the sun come up I was…
Making tape loops with friends.
One of the people I admire most is…
The four-headed monster called the Beatles.
The last time I lied was because…
Someone needed to hear that particular “truth”.
If you hit shuffle on my iPod you might be shocked to find…
Some kids decorated it with stickers of kittens and puppies (I was an elementary school teacher).
If you hit shuffle on my iPod I’d be embarrassed if it landed on…
The Dark Side of the Moon.
When I get my next really big check, I’m gonna go score…
An Altec compressor.
But it’ll never replace…
My books.
My one magic power is…
Napping after drinking coffee.
I’d like to give a quick shout-out to…
SeaBass and Coco.
And lastly, If I was Lost In a Supermarket, you’d find me in the…
Toiletries section.
