Aurelio Valle Interview for Wicked Spins Radio

People will know Aurelio Valle from his days in Calla. Aurelio is an extremely talented man and has worked with some big names in the music industry. He has just released his first solo release ‘Acme Power Transmission’. Wicked Spins Radio got chance to catch up with Aurelio and here is how it went.

WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, can you give our readers a little bit of info about yourself?

Aurelio – Thanks for doing the interview, I guess I could start by pointing out that I was the singer guitarist for the band Calla. I spent the last few years taking a break from the music industry. This record is my first effort since Calla took a step back. Pretty proud of it, hope it reaches the Calla fans and maybe find some new ears to appreciate the work.

WSR – Your sound is rooted in North Texas gothic traditions as well as other influences. What are these gothic traditions you write about?

Aurelio – Oh yes the bio, nice. Well we were a heavily Bauhaus/Joy Division/Nick Cave influenced goth band back in the early 90’s in Denton, Texas. Friend of mine Jason Friedman of the band “The Boggs” and “The Hundred in the Hands” was well aware of this when he wrote the bio.

Different singer but the members of our band then “The Factory Press” were essentially all “Calla” members. Our first full length was produced by Kid Congo Powers back in ’97. “Calla” formed shortly after that.

WSR – Your new album Acme Power Transmission you have released on your own label, why move away from the bigger labels and release it on your own? What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing this?

Aurelio – To be honest I just wanted to avoid the headaches of trying to please a label. My intentions for releasing a record this time around are very different than the expectations I had back then. It’s much more personal, I have a different perspective. It doesn’t feel like every things gonna come crashing down if it doesn’t sell what I’m expected to sell. This way it’s my music, I own it, here it is, take it or leave it.

WSR – You have written the music for a few films and most notably a few German films Egoshooter and Zarte Parasiten (Tender Parasites), how did your music style or writing style change for the German films and what was it that attracted you to the German films?

Aurelio – We started working with German director Oliver Schwabe when we were starting out in New York around ’96 he was doing a documentary called “Don’t bring a dog” It featured the New York scene of that time, Jon Spencer, Jim Thirlwell of “Foetus” Thurston Moore, Lee Ronaldo. We were the young up and coming band featured as recommended by Kid Congo. Oliver’s first film was “Egoshooter” produced by Wim Wenders, he asked me to score for the film, since then we’ve just always collaborated and worked together.

WSR – Who would you say are your influences as concerns your guitar playing?

Aurelio – My guitar influences are all over the place, I’ll have to say initially Rowland S. Howard, Duane Eddie, Johnny Marr, Mick Ronson to name a few. I also am a huge fan of soundtracks from Spaghetti Westerns by Ennio Morricone to David lynch and Angelo Badalamenti’s use of guitars.

WSR – You are an amazingly talented man, of all the many ways in which you express yourself which one do you enjoy the most?

Aurelio – I appreciate that thanks, I can’t say I have something I enjoy more than the other, I tend to get bored and constantly want to challenge myself. If I can get myself out of my element or comfort zone, thats where I think I’m the happiest. I’m always looking for those ‘holy shit’ moments.

WSR – What is the main focus for Acme Power Transmission, is there an underlying story hidden within the album?

Aurelio – I wish there was a deeper underlying story other than just me trying to find an interesting new approach to how I’ve always made records. I named the record after my landlords shop, I lived underneath the jmz subway line on broadway in Brooklyn. It was loud and often dealing with obnoxious noise, but somehow I managed to record 75% of the record there. I hear my experience living there throughout the recordings, listening closely you may even hear the train and maybe some of my neighbours Puerto Rican music.

WSR – You have worked with a lot of great people like Nina Persson just to name one. All those experiences must have been great, but out of all the people you have worked with musically or other wise which has been the most memorable? And who out of the people you have worked with has been a great influence to you?

Aurelio – I think of all I’ve been fortunate enough to work with would be Michael Gira and Kid Congo, Nina blew my mind when she sang “Electraglide” for the first time. I had written the song with her in mind but she really took it to another place. Honestly, they all opened my eyes in equally amazing ways. Seeing an artist you admire’s approach and way of working is priceless.

WSR – You often see in interviews people being asked their influences, but if you were to influence an artist how would you hope to inspire them?

Aurelio – I’m not sure I guess I’d like to think there’s some kid out there discovering new music like I did. I like to think it’ll make them want to create something of their own, tie their influences all together and change the way your average listener listens to music. The way I felt when I first heard VU, Roxy Music, Talk Talks “Spirit of Eden” or Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks”. Sorry couldn’t help but talk about my influences.

WSR – The music you listened to as a child that your parents played, has that had any bearing on your musical life as a whole and if so how? What music did you grow up listening to?

Aurelio – My Parents are from Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The music I grew up with around the house was Bolero’s, Rancheros, Mariachi. My mother with Rocio Durcal, Vicente Fernandez all the obvious stuff any Latin kids parents would have. My father loved Bienvenido Granda, Los Panchos, Los Hermanos Gil. That kind of stuff really gets me, It grabs you and pulls you in. Of course there were my sisters with their Cerrone, Andy Gibb and Bee Gee’s records. My brother and his records Rush, Judas Priest, AC/DC. I took it all in, eventually I was discovering my world, my first skate ramp in ’86 was where I heard what prompted me to start a band. Suicidal Tendencies, Misfits, The Dead Kennedy’s, Husker Du. That music wasn’t polished, it sounded like four guy’s playing in a garage. It made me realise I could start a band too, I was in 6th grade so a lot of discovering came since.

WSR – I often dream about experiencing a bar in the 40s/50s in New York, the kind of smoke filled place where they played slow jazz. Is there any place in any time that you would like to visit and experience the music and ambience of the place?

Aurelio – I think about that a lot as well, I often go and watch random Jazz bands in the city. I wouldn’t know where to start, I’d be all over the place! Stax, Motown, Max’s Kansas City. Kraftwerk to late seventies and very early 80’s Post punk from Wire to P.I.L., A Certain Ratio, The Pop Group, Rip, Rig and Panic. Man, I wouldn’t know where to begin. But I agree the ambience of an old Jazz club can you imagine seeing John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Pharaoh Sanders…

WSR – You quote one of my favourite artists and actors as an influence Tom Waits, how is he an influence to you?

Aurelio – Tom Waits is king, I love his work in the 70’s “Heart of Saturday Night” etc. Everything from “Swordfish Trombones” and on. I admire anything he touches. His acting is genius, the wit and sense of humor he brings. His film scores conjure up a different world. You can’t categorize him, He’s not even on left field, more like in the dug out late at night banging on pipes howling at the moon. He is an inspiration for the simple fact that he does things his way, with an aesthetic that will scare away most.

WSR – Have you ever fancied acting in any of the films you have scored the music to? If so would you play a bit or major part and what character in particular would you like to play?

Aurelio – That’s funny, I don’t think about that too much, Oliver Schwabe has mentioned some idea’s to me but I’m not an actor, unless I can play a bandito in an Alex Cox film. I wouldn’t know what to do.

WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, is there anything you would like to add?

Aurelio – Thank you man, nice questions. To the Calla fans out there, sorry it took so long. And for the new listeners, I hope you dig the record.

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