Chicano Batman's sound — a blend of popular and niche tropes filtered through the lens of the Brazilian psyche-rock movement Tropicália — is nothing if not a loving and lively collage. The same could be said of the band's music video for their new single "Dark Star," premiering today on The FADER. Director Anders Ericsson collects a series of strange happenings that seem to revolve around a disco-themed cuboid not dissimilar to the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Except instead of giving primates the ability to use weapons, this one just makes people dance.
Over email, C.B.'s Bardo Martinez dove into the song's creation and meaning:
The music came together in John Hill's studio. The band met up and immediately we started riffing on ideas, Eduardo and I were talking about J Dilla, the bassline came, the usual chords popped up, melodies and song construction became the focal point once the groove was established. Gabo laid down that steady 16note high hat magic with that classic yet always wonderfully crafted beat. Carlos was busy on the wurli crafting a vibe that eventually became the bed for the chorus. The track came together super organically, while John whipped up the nasty sounds.
The hardness of the track lent itself to a more ominous meaning. The lyrics are multidimensional, in America there are so many layers of trauma that we all have to deal with that seep into our everyday behavior and attitudes towards each other. Genocide and slavery is embedded within the DNA of American culture and the social strife gripping America today exemplifies this. ‘Dark Star’ is about an honest feeling that seeks to break the status quo, tear down the physical and mental walls that hold us back from simply being ourselves.”
"Dark Star" is one of two new Chicano Batman songs out today along with "Pastel Sunrise." It's the group's first new music since last year's album Invisible People. Later this year, Chicano Batman will embark on an extensive tour of the United States. Find the dates below:
Chicano Batman tour dates
10/20 Santa Fe, NM: Meow Wolf + (SOLD OUT)
10/21 Denver, CO: Gothic Theatre +
10/22 Salt Lake City, UT: Urban Lounge +
10/23 Las Vegas, NV: Brooklyn Bowl +
10/24 Phoenix, AZ: The Van Buren +
10/26 El Paso, TX: Lowbrow Palace +
10/29 Houston, TX: White Oak Music Hall +
10/30 Dallas, TX: Granada Theater +
11/01 McAllen, TX: Cine El Rey +
11/04 San Antonio, TX: Paper Tiger +
11/10 Los Angeles, CA: Shrine Expo Hall ^*
11/11 San Diego, CA: SOMA *
11/12 Los Angeles, CA: Shrine Expo Hall ^* (SOLD OUT)
11/13 San Francisco, CA: The Warfield ^*
11/14 San Luis Obispo, CA: Fremont Theater *
12/09 Nashville, TN: Brooklyn Bowl *
12/10 Atlanta, GA: Terminal West *
12/11 Raleigh, NC: Lincoln Theatre *
12/13 Boston, MA: Paradise *
12/14 New York, NY: Webster Hall *
12/15 Philadelphia, PA: Union Transfer *
12/17 Chicago, IL: Concord Music Hall *
12/18 Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue *
+ w/ Angélica Garcia
* w/ Los Retros
^ w/ Crumb
Thumbnail photo by Veronica Lechuga
