Jalisco band Psychostasia reaches for worldwide fame

Mexico (SANEPR.com) June 9, 2009 -- It takes some long arms to reach the world music scene from a small pueblo in southwestern Mexico, but that’s exactly what Lake Chapala’s own original, classic rock band Psychostasia is attempting to do.

In the 2½ years since the band was formed in the town of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, Jalisco (population about 5,000), Psychostasia has:
• won a worldwide “Best of Bands” contest
• had 5 songs chosen as finalists for a major motion picture
• been named one of the top 10 independent groups in North America
• performed by invitation in Las Vegas, Nevada
• received numerous awards for originality, lyrics, vocals, etc.
• been called “the Best Rock Band in Mexico” by a prominent TV and radio show host
and, most recently ...
• been nominated by the Indie Rock Music Awards 2009 as the country’s “Band of the Year”
• had their newly released video, Jonesin’, nominated for this year’s “Video of the Year” award.

As of this writing, the winners of the 2009 Indie Rock Music Awards and the winners of the motion picture soundtrack are pending and have yet to be announced, but Psychostasia and their many fans have their collective fingers crossed. The Indie Rock Music Awards winners will be announced June 21st on World Satellite “E” and www.myspace.com/indiemusicrock09.

The band is comprised of two American-born brothers, Daniel and David Cordero (lead singer/bassist and lead guitarist respectively), and two native Mexicans, Bram Ramirez and Omar Trejo (keyboardist/rhythm guitarist and drummer). The songs are written and composed by the Cordero brothers, who have called Mexico ‘home’ for well over a decade and are fully bilingual.

The intercultural band and their special brand of rock music stems from the need to follow an artistic vision. It offers an undefinable mix of attitudes, genres, time periods and special effects. You get sweet, orchestrated riffs one minute, and a raw and ruthless adreneline rush the next ... from lush, ethereal arpeggios to in-your-face power chords.

“We are aiming for music, not noise,” says Psychostasia lead singer Daniel. “Our songs are not heavy metal; they are melodic, and retain that foot-tapping vibe that characterizes the roots of traditional rock.”

Psychostasia has produced one CD/album entitled “Inside the Mirror,” and are currently working on a second. Their Jonesin’ video addresses the pitfalls of addiction and the need to “Hang onto your soul!”

Psychostasia’s local appearances are somewhat rare; you may never know when or where they will pop up.
For example, the band will perform a Metallica Tribute on June 29th in their hometown of Ixtlahuacán, repeating a prior performance to a packed house in Guadalajara. And, on July 15th at about 8 p.m. Psychostasia will perform at the annual Fiestas Patronales in Ixtlahuacán.

Thanks to the web, Psychostasia’s fans hail from all over the world. Locally, a large number of friends are equally loyal fans. For example, the owner of an Ixtlahuacán bar makes hand-carved and painted miniature surfboards bearing the Psychostasia logo. Another friend, Federico Enciso, a talented and well-known stone artesan in nearby Ajijc, makes jewelry for the band. Still another friend in Tonala makes embroidered patches, T-shirts and other Psychostasia memorabilia bearing the band logo.

What makes Psychostasia’s music so unique? Possibly, it is a certain degree of isolation from the world music scene that comes with their small-town Mexico roots. Says Daniel Cordero, “We have our influences, of course — such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Tool and a number of Mexican rock groups — but our songs come from inside us with very little influence from or exposure to other groups, which makes the songs somewhat different from mainstream music.”

Thanks to their ever-growing web presence and fan base, and an unwavering desire to ROCK, Psychostasia is proving that even an independent pueblito band can reach out to the world.

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Editor’s Note: To hear Psychostasia’s “Inside the Mirror” tracks, go to www.myspace.com/psychostasia. For a great power ballad, check out the highly-rated song Crying’ and Singin’. To view the nominated Jonesin’ video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzWQcewFwD4. To view videos of Daniel’s solo acoustic act, including the highly rated Malagueña, go to http://www.youtube.com/
and search for Daniel Cordero Ajijic.