FOLLAKZOID plays Desert Daze May 2; Photo Ion Rakhmatulina
Started as a trance experience between childhood friends Diego Lorca, Juan Pablo Rodriguez and Domingo Garcia-Huidobro in Santiago, Chile seven years ago, Föllakzoid now finds these friends jet setting to showcase their sound to fans worldwide. Their 2013 breakthrough album II, filled with intensely loop-heavy, psychedelic and groove-riddled sounds now coming from South America, help bring Föllakzoid to the global following they are now enjoying on this current tour with stops at Desert Daze Indie festival in Mecca, CA on Sat, May 2.
Their grooves are heavily informed by the heritage of the ancient music of the Andes and techno, amongst other influences. According to Garcia-Huidobro the music has to do with very ancient Armonic and rhythm patterns that are used for ceremonial music across the Andes Mountains, which go almost entirely across South America. It is hard to describe with words but it sort of resembles trance-like Tibetan sounds.
After the success of II the group toured more than ever, playing across the world and taking in festivals such as Primavera, ATP, Lollapalooza and SXSW. This time spent playing and experimenting solidified a deep-set musical bond that would ultimately act as the foundations for their upcoming recording, III.
After recording and mixing the new album themselves in their own studio, which is a part of BYM Records (BYM stands for Blow Your Mind and also a record label that bassist Rodriguez runs with his brother Nes from the band LA Hell Gang), they partnered with German electronic master Atom TM. Atom TM is a musician and artist the group has a great deal of respect for, and unbeknown to Domingo, Atom was living just around the corner to him and it was a mutual friend who let on he was a fan of the band.
Keep an eye out for this trio as they bring their Latin American twist to dance music and check out their Facebook page for their full US tour schedule.