We just made a new poster for our CDrelease/Jimmy Bosch concert!

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Finding Dislocados info in random places

I just came across this newspaper today. Check out page 9!

It's a Ukrainian-American newspaper by the looks of it, and it wrote about our CD release! Too bad I just found it now, because it was published on August 9th, but this is awesome!

Somehow from the text, it seems like I may have talked to these guys, but I don't really remember... Either way, I must say this is the first time that any text has gotten all the info about us and our release 100% right. You would think that's easy, but it's not. Every publication, review, promotion, etc has made at least one mistake so far, even if the whole thing is almost copy/pasted, so props to these guys for getting it right!

Special thanks to Matthew Dubas and Yarema Belej for the shout-out and enthusiastic writing. We're so happy that the Ukrainian diaspora is supporting us. Now, if only we could work on the Ukrainians... ;)

Great review

Big thanks goes out to Azucar y Candela for doing this great review of our album! Check it out here.

In other news, we're just working really hard for this Jimmy Bosch concert... so much stuff to prepare... But it's going to be worth it. I can't believe we've got like 15 people working full or part time on this and we still have new stuff to do every day... but it's kind of fun. And it will definitely be worth it.

Official ads and announcements go out in December. Keep your ears and eyes open...

In yet more news, my wooden guiro stick - my favorite one, the white one doesn't have enough friction for me - is finally starting to split... :( Also, I didn't realize how hard it is to find a Puerto Rican guiro anywhere outside of Puerto Rico. I can't even find it online to order (or at least a place that will ship to Poland). Boo.

Can I blog about this?

So it's November 9, 2009, the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of democracy sweeping through Central and Eastern Europe.

As the first original salsa band to come out of the former Soviet Union, we're proud to remember this day, even though quite a few band members (myself not included) were under 5 years old at the time.

At the same time, we're dealing with some frustration. And, unfortunately, I'm even scared to blog about this, which is a shame that I'm scared to exercise some free speech while we say we've come so far. So, before I go on, let me just say that I, Karolina Patocki, am taking this on myself, and am not expressing the views of any other band member in particular.

Presidential elections are coming up in Ukraine, and right when the campaign opened, a mass hysteria started about swine flu in the country. It is true that there are many people sick, but first of all, it is from all flus and respiratory illnesses, and as far as I understand, the statistics this year are not dissimilar to any other year.

Dislocados is organizing the biggest event of our lifetime as a band, and one of the biggest multicultural concerts to this date in Ukraine, intending to open the country up to embrace other cultures and people of different backgrounds working together to enjoy their common passion, regardless of their background.

And yet now there's a talk about a state of emergency in the country, possibly cancelling the upcoming elections for the foreseeable future.

And we are frustrated. We're working for a better Ukraine, for a better unity of international culture in these 20 years of freedom...

Well, we refuse to give in. The show must go on. We're going on with the concert on the planned date of January 23rd. We believe that it will happen and it will be a success, and we ask all Ukrainians to join us.

And as we close with the words of our Plena Pa' Tontos, now you understand why we sing:

A mi me cansa la politica

La economia, la religion

Quiero cantar en armonia

Porque la plena (y nuestra salsa dura) celebra mi pasion.

I'm tired of politics

Of economics, of religion

I want to sing in harmony

Because the plena (and our salsa dura) celebrates my passion.

Dislocados with JIMMY BOSCH!!! Jan 23, 2010

Well, we've been quiet for a while because we've been organizing our launch in Kiev (set for Jan 23, 2010), but we haven't been able to talk about it yet, but... we're super excited.

First, Andy Harlow writes the liner notes for our CD. And now, Jimmy Bosch is agreeing to come play with us at our CD release party in Kiev!!!

We're going bananas with excitement. I think JB is one of the only musicians that actually every single member in the band likes. (For other artists, we have varying opinions, which of course keeps things interesting.) He's the real symbol of salsa dura these days, and we're so happy to partner with him to promote international hard salsa!

Everyone is going mad. For me and Ilya this is the best of the best at this point for us. Now our task is to make a KILLER event.

But even I saw Sergey (2nd trumpet & flugelhorn) in our Lvov concert about a week ago, and he couldn't stop giggling like a schoolgirl. I hope Jimmy gives him a big wet kiss when he sees him, haha, that'll be it for him, he'll be set for life.

It's really important for me and Ilya that we use this event to broaden our audience in Ukraine. This is so that Ukrainians can really start respecting what they have in their country as much as outsiders do. We are

really trying to open up Ukraine culturally, and so we don't want only the regular dancers to come, although we LOVE it when they do. We of course want to take advantage of the exhibition of real live salsa dura to show the Ukrainian dancers that it's the best music to dance to (their repertoire is still a bit limited, although growing every day).

We also want to take the opportunity to show Ukrainian musicians that salsa offers a lot of satisfaction technically, artistically, musically... and to encourage opening cultural horizons in music.

As well, we really want international representatives to show up to support us, because we know the Americans, French, Germans, Canadians, et al, have all at some point expressed interest in investing in Ukraine not only financially but culturally. But, this is their chance to participate in a historic cultural event.

This is a huge deal. There has never been an event like this in Kiev. That's why we have to make it good now.

In other news, our beloved bandleader, Ilya Yeresko, just recently went to Yalta where he arranged the music for a certain portion of a new huge film that's being recorded there. I think they're doing it in Russian, it's called "Алые Паруса" ("Scarlet Sails"), but we're super proud that people are starting to recognize his talents. He recorded the track with our old friend Susana, who has recently gained fame as Jamala, the new Ukrainian pop sensation.

Let's hope "film composer" will add itself more and more to his resume. Congrats, Ilya!

I also mentioned we went to Lvov together. I can't believe I forgot to post news about that. It was super fun - our first time in Western Ukraine, a

nd the audience was great! We had a few technical issues (ahem) but in the end, the crowd kept their energy, and we're super happy they did. We had a great time, and I'm especially lucky because I

was able to come down for that (as I'm now living in Poland for a while).

Ok, I think that's all the news for now. Like I said, this is just when it starts for me an

d Ilya in terms of organization, and the whole band in terms of preparation, but we're really hoping we can create a valuable event to enrich Ukraine's musical landscape even further.

DISLOCADOS LYRICS - PLENA PA' TONTOS

And, here's track three, in Spanish, English, and Russian. I wrote this inspired by the fact that Ilya hates to talk about politics because political games have exhausted him so much in his country.

Enjoy.

------

PLENA PA’ TONTOS

A mí me cansa la política

La economía, la religión

Quiero cantar tonterías

Sobre gatos que bailan la plena y tocan tambor.

1. Había una papa

Que conocí cuando era bebé

Hablábamos de muchas cosas

Mientras tomábamos café.

Y de esa papa amable

Yo nunca me cansé

Hasta que un día me dio hambre

Y en vez de papa, tuve puré. (Lesya)

2. Yo vivo en la tierra de los dulces

Mi casa está hecha con galleta

Hay montañas de azúcar enormes

Y una cascada de caramelo secreta.

Para cenar, solo se comen tortas

Y ni tu abuela tiene mejor receta

Y aunque este mundo de verdad no exista,

A mí no me importa, ¡yo soy el poeta! (Karo)

3. Ayer conocí un conejo

Vestido con traje azul

Le dije que algo tan raro

No vi ni en mis años de juventud.

Contestó el conejo curioso

Orgulloso del traje azul

“Como ucraniano que toca la plena,

¡El único raro aquí, eres tú!” (Ilya)

A mí me cansa la política

La economía, la religión

Quiero cantar en armonía

Porque la plena celebra mi pasión.

1. Otro día, conocí una serpiente

Parece que era un delincuente

Me vació la cerveza

Por encima de la cabeza

Y me jura que fue un accidente (Lesya)

2. Me enseñaron, ayer, una planta

Que baila, que toca, y que canta

Pero siempre lo ensaya

Y así nunca se calla

Y la gente ya no la aguanta (Karo)

3. Yo creo que no me equivoco

Que los latinos se unen poco a poco

Boricuas y cubanos

Dándose las manos

¡Arriba el Truco y Zaperoko! (Ilya)

Ustedes tienen que sentirse inspirados,

No se preocupen, ¡ya llegaron disLOCAdos!

1. Que toque mi gente, el ritmo nos va a salvar, en lo que creo es en la musica, y la plena voy a cantar (Karo)

2. Y la plena vamo’ a bailar, y la plena vamo’ a gozar, los elefantes y los gatos, que sí, que van a participar (Ilya)

3. Sobreviviente, en este continente, disLOCAdos se van por su camino a contracorriente (Lesya)

1. Mi perro y mi gato viven en armonía

Hay que aprenderlo muy pronto

Así que, ¿por qué nos peleamos, sin vivir con alegría?

Esta es la plena pa’ tontos

2. Aprendamos algo de nuestros amigos, los animales

Hay que aprenderlo muy pronto

Parecemos infantes, ¡hay que cambiarnos los pañales!

Esta es la plena pa’ tontos

3. Por eso cantamos de algo que no nos importa

Hay que aprenderlo muy pronto

¡Disfrutemos! Que la vida es muy corta.

Esta es la plena pa’ tontos

----------

THE SILLY PLENA (PLENA FOR SILLY PEOPLE)

I’m tired of politics

Economics, religion

I want to sing stupid things

Of cats that dance plena and play the drum.

1. There was a potato

That I met when I was a baby

We talked about many things

While we would have coffee.

And I never got tired

Of that friendly potato

Until one day I got hungry

And instead of a potato, I had mashed potatoes. (Lesya)

2. I live in the land of sweets

My house is made of cookies

There are huge sugar mountains

And a secret caramel waterfall.

For dinner, you only eat cake

And even your grandmother doesn’t have a better recipe

And although this world doesn’t really exist,

I don’t care, I’m the poet! (Karo)

3. Yesterday I met a rabbit

Dressed in a blue suit

I told him that I haven’t seen

Anything so strange in all my youth.

The curious rabbit answered,

Proud of his blue suit,

“As a Ukrainian that plays plena,

The only weird one here is you!” (Ilya)

I’m tired of politics

Economics, religion

I want to sing in harmony

Because plena celebrates my passion.

1. The other day, I met a snake

It seems like he was a delinquent

He emptied his beer

On top of my head

And he swears to me that it was an accident (Lesya)

2. Yesterday, they showed me a plant

That dances, plays (an instrument), and sings

But it’s always rehearsing

And it never shuts up

And nobody can handle it anymore. (Karo)

3. I believe I’m not wrong

That latin people are uniting, little by little

Puerto Ricans and Cubans

Shaking each others hands

Cheers to Truco y Zaperoko! (Ilya)

You have to feel inspired,

Don’t worry, disLOCAdos are here!

1. I want my people to play, the rhythm will save us, I believe in music, and I’m gonna sing my plena (Karo)

2. And we will dance plena, and we will enjoy the plena, the elephants and the cats, oh yes, will participate (Ilya)

3. Surviving, on this continent, disLOCAdos are on their own path, against the current (Lesya)

1. My dog and my cat live in harmony

You must learn very soon

So, why are we fighting, rather than living in happiness?

This is the silly plena

2. Let’s learn something from our friends, the animals

You must learn very soon

We’re like children, you should change our diapers!

This is the silly plena

3. That’s why we’re singing about something that doesn’t matter

You must learn very soon

We should have fun, because life is too short.

This is the silly plena

--------

ПЛЕНА ДЛЯ ГЛУПЫХ Эй!

Наконец, плена пришла в Украину! С Дислокадос! Для глупых и для сумасшедших!

Мне надоела политика, Экономика, религия!

Хочу петь о глупостях

Про котов, которые танцуют плену и играют на барабане!

1. Жила-была картошка,

С которой я познакомилась в детстве

Мы говорили про разные вещи,

Когда пили кофе

И от этой любезной картошки

Я никогда не уставала,

Пока однажды не проголодалась

И не сделала из картошки пюре

2. Я живу в стране сладостей

Мой дом сделан из галеты,

Есть огромные горы сахара

Потайные водопады из карамели

На ужин (там) едят торты

И даже у твоей бабушки нет рецепта лучше

Но, хотя эта страна на самом деле не существует,

Мне всё равно – я поэт!

3. Вчера познакомился с кроликом,

Одетым в синий костюм.

Я ему сказал, что такого странного дела

Я не встречал даже в дни моей молодости

Ответил мне заинтригованный кролик,

Одетый в синий костюм:

«Будучи украинцем, играющим плену,

Единственное странное дело тут – это ты, только ты»

Мне надоела политика, Экономика, религия!

Хочу петь в гармонии

Потому что в плене торжествуют мои чувства!

1. Я недавно познакомилась со змеёй,

Мне показалось, что она преступница.

Она вылила пиво

Мне на голову

И поклялась, что это была случайность.

2. Мне вчера показали растение,

Которое танцует, играет и поёт.

Но она постоянно занимается

И поэтому никогда не перестаёт шуметь,

И люди её терпеть не могут

3. Я думаю, что не ошибаюсь:

Латиносы (люди из Лат.Америки) понемногу объединяются:

Пуэрториканцы с кубинцами,

Подавая друг другу руку.

Эй, Труко и Сапероко!! (группа, которая нам очень нравится и в которой играет половина кубинцев, половина пуэрториканцев – хотя в треке всё равно последней строчки не слышно)

Вы должны себя чувствовать вдохновлёнными,

Не беспокойтесь, уже пришли Дислокадос!

1. Пусть мои люди играть, нас спасёт ритм, во что я верю, так это в музыку, и буду петь плену!

2. Будем танцевать плену, радоваться с пленой, слоны и коты, которые да!, которые будут в этом участвовать!

3. Выживая (в хорошем смысле) на этом континенте, Дислокадос идут по своей дороге против течения

1. Моя собака и мой кот живут в гармонии

Надо понять поскорее

Ну, и зачем мы дерёмся, вместо того, чтобы жить с радостью

Это плена для глупых

2. Поучимся кое-чему у наших друзей – животных

Надо понять поскорее

Мы похожи на младенцев – надо менять пелёнки

Это плена для глупых

3. Поэтому поём о чём-то не важном

Надо понять поскорее

Давайте радоваться! Жизнь весьма коротка!

Это плена для глупых

Плена, которую мы знаем, может быть и из Сан Антона, но ещё её поют в Украине!

Dislocados Interview - Question One

So, we did a little sit-down with me, Ilya, Lesya, and Andrei to talk about our album. This is more for people who want to know more about the album, the band, or just the process of how these kinds of things come about.

I split it up into a few questions, and since youtube doesn't let you publish more than 10 minutes at a time, the questions themselves are split into various parts.

Above, you have Question 1, part 1, and below you have parts 2 and 3 of the same question, which is "how did we decide to record a salsa album & write original music?"