[Si] TV

Grassroots and authenticity drives East L.A. band Regime Noir. After an appearance on Si TV's The Drop, we probed front man, Israel Ramirez, on what it means to be an indie rock band from Cali who's carving a genuine niche. Here's a look into the unique sound, message, and heart of Regime Noir.

Si Ent.: Your sound is dubbed as "fierce flamenco-punk." Elaborate on that.
Israel Ramirez: It's a reflection of my background. Not only flamenco, I was also raised on Latin jazz, cumbia too. Then as a teenager, I got into the East L.A. punk scene. My playing style is a marriage between both worlds.

Si Ent.: Your MySpace has some interesting elements to it. Banners such as "Pray for Salvation" and "Honor the Fallen" decorate your page. Does your band have a message or a theme?
IR: We're a socially conscious band. In L.A., there's a stereotype of being self-absorbed. As someone who grew up in L.A., I disagree with that stereotype. There are honest people who are producing genuine and authentic music. Unfortunately, it doesn't get the spotlight it deserves. What we're trying to say is that we don't stand for the typical perception of what L.A. music is all about. We are aware. We read the newspaper, keep ourselves informed. My bassist and I are from humble backgrounds. Our message is not exactly political or militant, but we are aware of the issues that plague the city . . . the country.

Si Ent: What are some of the most important issues to you?
IR: I feel my generation is disconnected from the political process; the process of learning and gaining knowledge. I've come across people in my generation who aren't aware of who's running for president. They get their news from tabloids.

Si Ent.: How old were you when you started getting into music?
IR: Picked up a guitar when I was 12. I went to this inner city art center to get really inexpensive music lessons, but couldn't afford to pay further so I basically taught myself and came across good mentors growing up. When I was in high school, I would lock myself in my room hours at a time.

Si Ent.: Who inspires you?
IR: A lot of artists. All the bands my parents listened to. An Argentinean [singer] called Leo Dan. Now we draw a lot of inspiration from many bands such as The Clash. They have a message that's not so in your face. They're soft and aggressive and have versatility. Then others such as Radiohead and At The Drive-In inspire us.

Si Ent.: How has growing up in East L.A. affected your music?
IR: Being from East L.A., a melting pot of Latin, ska, punk, my sound is a reflection of that. However, some Hispanics forget where they came from and end up only recycling the British rock and ‘80s sound.

Si Ent.: Regime Noir are featured on Si TV's The Drop this week. Do you feel you connect with the young Latino/multicultural crowd?
IR: Well 70 percent of the inquiries on our MySpace page are from kids in Mexico. Even though my songs aren't in Spanish, they still appreciate the message. They're truly a very loyal group.

Si Ent.: So you've finished, Native Stranger, which will be independently released on Beat Renegade Recordings. What was your favorite part of the recording process?
IR: My bassist and I were playing all these instruments: congas, organs, vintage keyboards, etc. The best part is seeing all these elements come together like splashing colors to make a painting.

Si Ent.: Your least?
IR: The worst part is how it's a draining process-long hours recording. But it's all worth it.

Si Ent.: What's next for the band?
IR: Release [our] first CD [on the first week of April]. We worry a little though. Will anybody get this? But this is who I am and it's honest. I want to show people that there is good grassroots music coming from L.A.

Si Ent.: Do you plan to tour anytime soon?
IR: [We're] about to tour all over the Southwest and Northwest. Then [we're] trying to organize something in Mexico.

Regime Noir appear on The Drop this week. For more info on Regime Noir go here.