It’s a peculiarity that deserves a 2,500 character explanation. Nowadays, bands mainly release singles and music videos, occasionally EPs, rarely full-length albums. It’s unexpected when a group like This Drama suddenly puts out a photo book. “Hasta Que Duela: This Drama – Airports, Bunks, and Omeprazole” is the title of this piece. Asdrúbal Marichal, the vocalist, explains the release: “It all started because we wanted to do something special to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our debut album, San Diego XIII, which is this year. Deep Elm Records, one of our labels in the United States, had already confirmed plans for a special edition of the album. But on our end, we wanted to do something additional, something more personal and rooted in our initial history as a group, paying homage to the culture and identity of a band.” It all stemmed from a previous effort to see what was in the archives: “At some point post-COVID, we started compiling images from our early tours and were surprised by how many we had forgotten, especially those of our friends Pablo Hugo Hernández and Ventura Mendoza, which almost narrated a visual story of that early period. So, basically, we found the perfect opportunity to give them a purpose.”
Along the way, they face difficulties like not sharing the same geographic location, with Asdrúbal currently residing in Barcelona. However, excuses don’t motivate them: “The dynamics have changed a lot. It’s evident that we can’t maintain the same intensity or pace we used to have. Dealing with a project like this, with the distance between us and each one’s different life circumstances, poses a considerable challenge. Nevertheless, we have managed to find a way to continue doing things and remain active, focusing on specific goals and setting timelines and deadlines. If we were able to materialize our latest album, “Loose Talk” (acoustic EP from last year), while I was jumping between Spain, Mexico, and the United States, the reality is that we can keep working as long as the desire and passion are there.” An explanation that does not rule out future albums.
The other aspect of the group’s current affairs is the aforementioned anniversary with the reissue of San Diego XIII: “For this occasion, the album is remastered by Scott Middleton, formerly of Cancer Bats and with whom we had already worked on the production of “Summer Failures” (2017). What Scott has done is truly impressive. The album gains a lot in dynamics, definition, and strength. Additionally, we have added an extra track, “Radio Explodes,” our first single that was never available on digital platforms.”
‘Become dieyi’
Party at La Bowie
The Imaginative Choreographic Centre closes its annual event at the venue in La Laguna
Special party at La Bowie as the culmination of the Imaginative Choreographic Centre of Tenerife (CCIT). It will all start from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 10th May. There will be special performances and surprises, music by artist Chillov from Bulgaria, and the presentation of Ninf.A. The Gran Canarian artist will showcase her proposal with musical support from Ruiloba as DJ. Ninf.A is fully engaged with her monthly soundsystem at Baladero in Gran Canaria, preparing an album with her producer Sam Am and with several dates lined up for May. The night is rounded off with a set by Juana La Cubana, who is one of the residents of La Bowie.
The Laboratory of Live Arts and Territory (LAV), in collaboration with the transnational project-institution ICC (Imaginative Choreographic Centre), presents the second edition of CCIT (Imaginative Choreographic Centre of Tenerife). This artistic event, with local and international scope, focuses on dance and live arts, exploring themes of imagination, institution, and the future. With a focus on the main axes of “critical thinking, mediation, and exhibition,” CCIT II offers a series of activities open to the local community, both artistic and non-artistic, allowing for reflection, observation, participation, and movement of the body. CCIT II takes place from 1st to 10th May.
The context will include the participation of guest artists Israel Aloni, Kristin Gerwien, Aleksandra Janeva Imfeld, Ian Garside, Oda Brekke, and Sabina Scarlat, along with the ICC team consisting of Aleksandar Georgiev, Zhana Pencheva, Ida Daniel, and Darío Barreto Damas, as well as members of the LAV team, Beatriz Bello and Darío Barreto Damas.
As part of the CCIT II context, Steam Room presented the final piece of the choreographic trilogy “dragON” entitled “DragON Forever” at the Paraninfo de la ULL yesterday. In addition, from 5th to 10th May, the guest artists will open up their artistic practices for exchange with the local community at the Victoria Theatre and the Youth Information Centre of TEA. For more information, you can visit the social media of LAV, @laboratorioartesvivas.
CCIT II is held in collaboration with the Youth Information Centre of TEA, Victoria Theatre, Leal Theatre, Paraninfo Theatre, La Bowie, and Puzzle Atípico, with the support of the Tenerife Island Council and the ICDC (Cultural Development Institute) of the Government of the Canary Islands.
