47 magazine - Issue5

pánico

Sound Synestesias

draco and the zodiac Ecuadorian Indie Rock

MARÍA OCHOA argüello Theater and Puppets

king SELEKTOR A World of Rythms

PAM E L A PINTO

Surreal Visual Dreams

Andean devils THE PATH OF THE NOMAD

to be alive

ECUADOR i s s u e n ° 5 | e n g l i sh art / music / culture / travel / lifestyle

/basicpropaganda www.basicpropaganda.com

ECUADOR

Staff writers:

founders: Juan Casco EDITOR IN CHIEF

Emilia Trujillo music & lifestyle

Graphic Designer Visual artist / Typographer

Journalist and Radio Broadcaster

JuanCascoArt

La Tetera de Cobre

Omar Coloma CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rodrigo Heredia ecuadorian culture

Photographer / filmmaker Head music reporter

Cultural reporter.

Hanan Pacha

OmarColomaFoto OmarColomaEc

Harold Granda concerts & festivals

Alejandra Tapia SENIOR WRITER

Musician / photographer

Actress / Enviroment and Political activist.

ArnouxBand harold_arnoux

ENGLISH ISSUE:

guest writers daria krauzo DariaKrauzo

ALEXIS MARURI Parafernalia

47 Magazine © 2015- 2018.

The reproduction and total or partial distribution of this issue is forbidden without the authorization of the publisher. Phone: +593 0992861321.

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Cultural investigative reporter / Photographer /kkvandervort

miguel vargas aSSISTANT EDITOR lmiguelvargasf

ANA MISCOLTA aSSISTANT EDITOR Ana Miscolta

Contents Sound Synesthesias Pánico Ecuadorian Indie Rock Draco and the Zodiac A World of Rythms King Selektor Surreal Visual Dreams Pamela Pinto The Path of the Nomad Kayla Vandervort Theater and Puppets María Ochoa Argüello Syncretism Andean Devils To be alive Daria Krauzo

small city, big views PA STA Z A , ECU ADO R

www.puyo.city vacilapuyocity

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EdÄątorial We are very excited to release our first English edition of 47 Magazine to our readers. Our stories are about global music, art, culture, travel, and lifestyle.

Discover the world with us.

Juan casco editor in chief

Please check our past issues (in Spanish only)

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Pánico

Sound Synεsthεsias

Interview by Alejandra Tapia

Pánico is an alternative music and visual project based in Quito by musician and visual artist Sebastián Valbuena.

Sebastian was inspired by the author William Burroughs and the story of Pan, the Greek god Panic.

Everything is permitted because nothing is true. It is all make-believe, illusion, dream...ART. When art leaves the frame and the written word leaves the page - - not merely the physical frame and page, but the frames and pages of assigned categories - - a basic disruption of reality itself occurs: the literal realization of art.

The creatures of all your dreams and nightmares are right here, right now, solid as they ever were or ever will be, electric vitality of careening subways faster faster faster stations flash by in a blur.

-William S. Burroughs Sebastian was fascinated with the idea that art directly affects life; like how paintings jump out of their frames and reach the viewer’s eyes and come to life. Whether he was experiencing the brightness of dawn or the darkness of night, he felt the terrors and strong emotions that were his own living art; his own way of seeing the world every day.

Sebastian then realized his project had a name: Pánico.

"I do not put limits on music.

I follow what interests me, When the song said what it had to say, it ends and I start another one " Discovering Pánico for the first time may be disconcerting whether you like it or not. Without realizing it, you are already part of an image, where you have lost yourself in a face or shadow of animations.

Sebastian´s voice demonstrates the inheritance of silence and solitude of his compositions.

When you close your eyes to Pánico’s music, you listen in black and white. The depth of these sounds invades you.

Sebastian does not tell stories, but prefers to interpret concepts, atmospheres and sensations.

For example, I can not get out of my mind the picture of the rain and the cat) from the video: “No pude ir a la fiesta”

An Interview with Pรกnico

How do you work with different type of arts at the same time?

Fusing different types of art occurred naturally for me. When I was in school I always drew, and music was always self-taught.

These arts are my passion, they free me. I think the project is a bit eclectic because it has different ways of demonstrating lyrics, sounds and images.

Always being conscious of a budget. I worked with these different art forms the most efficiently I could.

After two years as the band Pรกnico, you came back to your solo project, tell us about this process.

It was very gratifying to be able to receive the energy of the public, that they knew our songs, one day they even gave us a comic of us. Playing in the band helped me about my song writing however I came to the point where I got stuck. I was not composing anymore and made the decision of do it solo, and now I have a little more freedom from the pressures of self-management, this was keeping me from creating my artist flow.

So I realized, when something gets stuck, it is necessary to return to the origin of your art to create new things to say.

"Although it is difficult to overcome the nerves on stage, it is important to be honest: I am here, I have something to say"

What stage are you now?

I am working on covers from popular Ecuadorian music. I am revitalizing songs that have similar lyrics and themes. “Vasija de Barro” I felt there was something of mine there. I am adding new arrangements to this song.

Sebastian plays live concerts with acoustic music and as a guest artist. Pánico will be releasing the new album "Señales" produced by an independent record label.

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draco and the zodiac Ecuadorian Indie Rock Interview by Harold Granda

Photography by Pablo Naranjo motasjr www.pnaranjo.com

“Draco and the Zodiac is the concept of a dream formed by the singer and composer Charlie Andrew Pride, the guitarist and designer Albert Hairson and the guitarist Adrian Peraliz.

A dream which is interpreted as indie rock , where they subtly found contrast between elaborated melodies, minimalistic atmospheres ,and energetic rhythms.

Sentimental Lyrics and modern illustrations, combined with the rhythm, seeks to create a catharsis that connects the body and the mind to the deligh of the senses” Released in Ecuador for the first time in 2015, with their first EP “beyond the white”

Quito /March of 2018 / Maroon Five Concert

Charlie Albert Adrian

Why the name “Draco and the Zodiac”?

Charlie and I (Albert) both like videogames, fantasy, and especially dragons, so we decided to use "Draco" from the Latin word for dragon, and Zodiac. for us means our spiritual and mystical interests.

We also think “Draco” as a kind of ship and “Zodiac” is about the universe and its different characters and possibilities.

What has inspired the music that you make?

We have many influences ranging from classic rock, modern rock, music soundtracks and latin rhythms. For classic rock we are influenced by Deep Purple, AC/DC, and Muse.

Modern artists we admire are The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, and Lana del Rey. Being latinos, we also took an interest in learning more about salsa and Ecuadorian pasillo.

What is the inspiration to write your songs?

We want to make your songs meaningful to anyone who's listening . We sing about themes that everyone can relate to.

When will the first album come out?

Why Ecuadorian Indie music in English?

For us it is not a question of language. Our objective is for our music to not only remain here in Ecuador, but transcend around the world.

Hopefully soon. The music tracks are recorded but we are still working on visual art as well as the cover. Apart from this, we are in the process of in making a music video. We feel strongly that we provide a whole experience; visually and musically.

Int e ract ivE VIDEO

G E T IN O N

ISHKAY PACHA

By Nina Gualinga

2018 collection

Indigenous women in the Amazon are the guardians of art for the future generations.

We all are custodians of the planet. The HAKHU project aims to support indigenous based community projects as a way to fight against fossil fuel extraction by providing fair sustainable income to women in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

www.hakhu.net

/hakhuwomen

/hakhuamazon

a world of RHYTHMS Interview by Juan Casco Photography by Italo Flores Translation by Ana Miscolta

How did you become an artist?

My dad inspired me to get into music. I have memories of being at his rehearsals for a folklore group he played in, and that’s when I fell in love with instruments. Then in school I would just fool around with the instruments because I didn’t know how to play them yet. Wanting to learn, I studied music and music production in Quito and Ambato. I played with some bands (Wisto d’mente, Los Kestamos, Txk, Acido Kapital, Noise Machine, Colektivo Soniko), playing different instruments and I’ve also been a DJ in the Kamikaze battles and with several artists from the hip hop and Ecuadorian reggae scenes. We are currently producing some songs with the Puyu Rap Company that will come out later this year.

My current project is King Selektor, which was born out of Colektivo Soniko. In Colektivo Soniko we played ska reggae and a few other genres in a local bar, and from there I started getting into song selection. I’ve been a DJ now for about 5 years.

What made you become a Dj? I needed to. Really, one thing led to another. I worked in bars for a long time in Puyo, in Zion and Tijuana, and I went from making drinks to putting on the music.

This is how King Selektor was born. These days I don’t only play in bars... I’ve been invited to play in concerts and festival after parties and that’s the kind of thing I like to do.

Tell us about your role as King Selektor With the “King” I try to provide the best music. I always try to find songs that I know will make me feel something when I listen to them, and of course I give them a personal touch. Without that personal touch anyone could be a DJ. I also like to create my own Riddims and once in a while I rap to them, or invite an MC friend to do some freestyle. Lately I’ve been experimenting with Tech House, Nu Disco, Downtempo, Indie Dance, and a few others, which I play a lot.

What inspires you?

Who are your influences?

Well, hard question. Music inspires me. I think there is a lot to listen to and with technology, the music gets very creative.

Everything influences me. I’m a real music lover, I listen to many things everyday and get my sets and remixes from them.

What defines your sound, beats and flavor ?

Maybe the variety of music that I listen to. I always look for out of the ordinary rhythms or new styles, I like avant-garde sounds and more than anything, music that sounds global. I like how sounds are universal and can be enjoyed everywhere.

What’s next for you?

In the future, I’ll be collaborating with different artists from Puyo and Ecuador. I have some new songs coming out with the Puyu Rap Company, which I’m a DJ for. I also plan to release some singles as a soloist.

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Pamela Pinto Surreal Visual Dreams pamelapintoart

Interview by Juan Casco

Translation by Miguel Vargas

Pamela Pinto Rojas was born in Machala in 1986, she has lived the last 13 years in Quito.

She studied Industrial Graphical Design at Universidad de las AmĂŠricas (UDLA).

How did you get started in visual art?

I think that everything happened because I wanted to leave my comfort zone leaving behind what I was used to. I got accustomed to seeing hundreds of designs, graphics of all kinds, and stuff that I had had no experience. I studied graphic design, and I had just graduated from university, so I started to watch tutorials and to design.

Then, I guess this was the beginning.

What is the importance of visual art for cinema, music and theater?

I have worked with several musicians. I haven’t worked in the cinema and theater fields, but I believe that all kind of art can reach people and inspire them somehow.

What inspires you?

Everything inspires me, or almost everthing, such as seeing the dawning, hugging my dog, the love for people, nature, animals and music, and so on.

What are the elements that you use in your collages and compositions?

Basically, I use almost every image I find. In several of my collages I have used images of the space, the Earth, the moon, animals. my colleagues are blinkered with nature and the world. However, there is nothing specific I use. It depends on what I am doing, the idea that I come up with, and how I am feeling.

What are the most important projects in which you have worked?

I don’t want to specify any project because all of them have been very important for me and they have changed my life somehow.

All projects I have worked have allowed me to learn and experience something new.

“Vagary”

“Bravery”

“Noche”

“Mundos”

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Norheast Coast UNITED STATES

Rincรณn PUERTO RICO Cahuita COSTA RICA T H E

P A T H

Santa Elena ECUADOR

Quyllurit'i PERร

Isla del Sol BOLIVIA

Puerto Cisnes CHILE

“By nature being nomad is human�

KAY LA VA NDERVORT

Northeast Atlantic Ocean Growing up near the Jersey Shore and living on the coast of Maine, I always find myself gravitating to the ocean.

The Atlantic northeast is vast in personality offering wild fall and winter swells, and water so cold that will instantly refresh your soul and body. In contrast to the turquoise warm Caribbean sea, the Atlantic northeast offers a darker more mysterious view. While free diving in the cold water, beds of seaweed will embrace you, while fish and seals will watch you curiously.

RincĂłn

P U E R T O

The flavor and warmth of Puerto Rico welcomed me to immerse myself in its natural beauty and culture. Every Saturday, sitting on the boardwalk overlooking the Caribbean, I joined a local group of drummers to jam to the local rhythms of rumba and bomba. Our group consisted of local drum legends and beginners like myself. It didn’t matter how experienced or good you were, we were just there to enjoy playing one vibration in sync with the Caribbean Sea that calmly danced beside us.

R I C O

With these rhythms set in my body, I learned to love and learn from the ocean in a new perspective. When free diving or surfing, the waves that rolled above, taught me to be not afraid for the challenges that come my way. In fact, the view from below a wave is one of the most amazing images.

Cahuita C O S T A

R I C A

The rhythms of Costa Rican Calypso Limonese fill the streets at night by Calypso legends in Cahuita. This small fishing village is home to a cultural expression descended from African roots, where the narrative has continued to give a glimpse of everyday life for the past 90 years.

This special narrative is sang in Creole focusing on storytelling, humor, and witty rhymes that are accompanied by irresistible beats to dance.

Junior Alvarez Calypso Legend

When listening to these Calypso lyrics, I hear a common message that no matter what happens in life, we can still choose to live happily. I had a lot of luck being ask to participate in documenting Calypso Limonese Music for Crespial UNESCO, as part of an initiative to safeguard this invaluable narrative.

Puerto Cisnes Patagonia

C H I L E

Puerto Cisnes is a small fishing village in Patagonia, Chile. The closest town of Puyuhuapi lies almost two hours from the the isolated seaport. Views of unending glaciers and ocean take over through the horizon. Just outside of town you can walk into the Enchanted Forest where you begin in the lush green fairy-tale like forest.

Two hours later, you can climb up some steep rocks where you will be engulfed by a crystalline glacier lake

In front of Puerto Cisnes lies Isla Magdalena and unending fjords they connect to the Pacific Ocean. Here in this region, you can witness so much untouched beauty.

Isla del Sol Titicaca Lake

B O L I V I A

Elvira told me of a time when her ancestors lived harmoniously with the lake, fishing with many varieties of fish that fed the island.

She told me that the trout that lives in the lake now, was introduced by the Spanish conquistadores, and a lot of native species were then wiped out.

Another day her sister Rita read me her poetry which transmits the essence of La Isla Del Sol and it’s culture.

Her father played the flute while her sister Elvira danced to her ancestors rhythms and movements.

Lago Titicaca is a magical and energetic lake, said to be the largest in South America. Here I was trapped on La Isla del Sol for 2 weeks, not having the ability to leave the island due to a blockade. This unexpected event led me to befriend a local Aymara family who shared with me their joys and pains of life living on the Island. One day while teaching my new friend Elvira how to swim, we sat in the calm water looking out in the vast abyss.

LAGUNA COLORADA

In the Southwest Altiplano of Bolivia, there lies a shallow salt lake filled with Andean flamingos. The colors of the altiplano are so perfectly placed between the mountains and the lake.

Quyllurit'i P E R Ú

Pilgrimage and Tradition A religious pilgrimage in Sinakara Valley that celebrates an ancestral tradition. Making this pilgrimage is a great deal of mental and physical strength due to the locations isolation and high altitude. In pre-Colombian times, the festival of Qoyulluriti (Snow Star in Quechua), was celebrated at the reappearance of the Pleiades Constellation in the sky, and also a around the full moon. This was a time for bringing things back to order.

As a dancer for the Capac Negro group, I never let my energy rest as we danced for 3 days. The rhythms, music and dancing continue without ever ending all day and all night. The days passed sunny and warm, while night brought freezing temperatures at an altitude nearing 5000 meters. A long list of other dance groups, representing other cultural dances from different regions, wait in a never ending line to dance and show respect for Lord Qoyulluriti.

This festival is an interesting fusion of old and new, pre-Colombian and later influenced by the church.

Pilgrims come from all over to either pray and receive energy from the sacred rock with an image of crucified Christ, or they came to receive the blessings of the sacred mountain. At the end of the day, I see that both reasons can ultimately be considered the same.

The pilgrimage that brings everyone together, sharing the same energy and hopes for a fruitful year to come.

Santa Elena Coast E C U A D O R

Rescuing Ancestral Sounds On the coast, the ancestral rhythms of Marimba are being reconstructed with guadua bamboo with the local community in the province of Santa Elena.

Young students, professional musicians, volunteers, and bamboo constructors are coming together with the focus of cultural revival on the coast.

Ayampe Beach

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María Ochoa Argüello Theater and Puppets Interview by Alexis Maruri Translation by Miguel Vargas

/teatrodeconstructivo

Yes, we can live from art, and we can learn. It is possible to be young and an entrepreneur. Yes, we can love and travel with our imagination. This is how María Ochoa’s lifestyle is briefly described when she is in front of a table between the magic feeling that is provided by the characters that live inside and outside of her. For every state of the soul, she has a puppet or a small doll that she calls “mampuchos”. In addition, she is the founder of a theater group called “Deconstructive Theater of the Elephant Man”.

How do you share your art?

You can use art to express and share without taboos and fears.

However, you can share not only love, that is something beautiful that we have, but also our negative nature.

Why did you choose theater as a tool to build freedom?

I did because I can be whatever I want. A painter will always be a painter, a musician will always be a musician, but an actress can a different character every time, and she can also talk through the characters about stuff she would never be caught dead doing.

What is the definition of deconstructive theater?

Well, my project is called Deconstructive Theater of the Elephant Man for many reasons. Deconstructive comes originally from philosophy, but later it was taken by architecture. Basically, the idea says that if I have an object, and this object can be fragmented, these fragments can build another object changing the order and deconstructing reality, and so the art.

Who is MarĂ­a Ochoa?

I am still discovering her. I think that she is made of many things. I would like to be braver.

La máquina de hacer mampuchos

“Mampuchos”, Do you create them as beings with feelings and their own qualities?

Yes, it is incredible how their personalities take shape. It is like they were alive. Mampucho is a word which is translated as rustic.

What materials do you use to make them?

I use basic stuff such as wire, featherbed, paper mache, porcelain, acrylics, enamel, cloth and wool. Every mampucho is made of all of these, so this is a long process.

Why did you like this kind of plastic art?

Everything started because of my love for goblins. My dad brought me some figurines of goblins from Argentina, and then I started to make them by myself. They ones I made were very different, and they were made with different materials than the figurines. I used to made just goblins and witches until I got bored. I stopped making them for many years, but at university I took a class about puppets, so I felt the need of starting again from scratch creating new characters. I have some plays in which I have merged my mampuchos and my passion for the theater. In addition, I have created an exclusive course called “The Machine to Make Mampuchos� which is part of a small company I have.

How long do you spend making a mampucho?

It is a process that takes some time because I use materials that must be dry before continuing.

The cost of each mampucho has a range between $5 and $130 approximately. In addition, the time also it depends upon the size of each mampucho. For example, I need 4 days to make a small mampucho, while 15 for a big one.

Working as a player in the theater and making mampuchos, can you state that you can live from art?

Yes, but it requires lots of effort and creativity.

If you were hired to make theater which goal is to promote a political campaign, would you do it?

Yes, I would. I have a bachelor's degree in arts, so it is part of my daily work. Once I worked in a play which was promoting feminism, and I am not a feminist, but as I told you, this is my job.

Do you have any advice?

To the young people, do not be afraid of trying everything. Try new experiences both good and bad, but never get stuck on them. Dream really big, but never forget about reality because if you have dreams as initial inspiration you can achieve big things.

LOS DIABLOS DE LATA DIABLADA DE PILLARO

SYNCRETISM:

ANDEAN DEVILS

by Rodrigo Heredia

Translation by Ana Miscolta

Ecuador is known for its folk festivals and its syncretism between Andean cultures and Catholicism, a cultural fusion visible in the celebrations of Kapak Raymi, with Diablos de Lata in the province of Chimborazo and Diablada de Pillaro in the province of Tungurahua.

Kapak Raymi is a traditional Incan festival that celebrates the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. During the festival the town comes together to thank Tayta Inti (the Sun God) for the beginning of a new harvest.

LOS DIABLOS DE LATA (Tin devils)

Chimborazo Province

The celebrations in Kapak Raymi in Chimborazo revolve around the figure of the devil. Although there exist many variations, Diablo de Lata is special. This devil moves elegantly, following the rhythm of the pingullo (Andean wind instrument) and the drum.

The locals see this figure as a good devil.

In contrast to other Ecuadorian traditions where the devil represents a defiance against Christianity imposed by European colonialism, this devil in Pillaro honors and reveres baby Jesus.

The celebration of Diablo de Lata dates back to 1779 in the parish of Cacha in Chimborazo.

The tradition spread to the area of Santa Rosa, a tin-making district, where the tin-makers, wanting to honor Jesus in their work, replaced the traditional cardboard mask with one made of red and white tin and a tied braid.

DIABLADA DE PILLARO (Devil of Pillaro)

Tungurahua Province The Diablada of Pillaro is a folk celebration that has grown in popularity over the last decade.

According to the legend, in colonial times, indigenous people dressed up as devils in rejection of the Catholic church and of the physical, moral, psychological and economic abuse by the Spanish.

The Diablada of Pillaro, one of the most popular festivals in Ecuador, represents a liberation from the rigid norms imposed by the Catholic Church.

Participants, of any age or origin, dress up as devils and join the procession, which lasts up to eight hours. These days, it’s common to see hundreds of tourists intermixed with locals in the celebrations. Though the origin of the Diablada de Pillaro is still disputed, many believe that in old times peasants dressed up as devils during the celebration of the new year, feeling a sense of brethren with the hated figure due to their class position within society. Since then, the devil figure has transformed into a symbol of wit and charisma.

To be alive

by Daria Krauzo

They say home is where the heart is But my heart is wild and free So am I homeless or just heartless

I started 2018 standing barefoot on the beach in Tulum, looking at the ocean and breathing in the salty air. Mexico, in general, resulted to be just glorious.

People are unbelievably helpful and warm, they receive you in their houses and share so many smiles and stories, without any expectation. The coast close to Tulum seems to be nothing less but paradise.

Getting up in the morning to see the sunset over the Caribbean Sea from the only Maya’s temple close to the water, is as surreal as magic. We joined a festival in the jungle, organized between the trees and crystalline Cenotes for two days. Merida and Bacalar followed with their different flairs and gifts. After jumping into the Laguna of 7 colours and running away from Cancun, Guatemala surprised me with a breathtaking nature.

The trip to the volcano Acatenango is surely an unforgettable experience.

You walk up during the day and sleep in a tent on about 3800m of altitude.

At night the temperature falls under zero, but frequent explosions of lava and magic dust that you can see just on the opposite side of the mountain can compensate (almost) any level of coldness. You can see all the stars and hear the volcano coughing out the fire and making the earth you sit on tremble every now and then.

At 4 a.m. it is time to get up in a complete darkness and start the climb to the top, just about to reach 4000m. You fight with a steep slope covered with volcanic dust and stones, making two steps forward, one step back. And just before the sunrise, you make it to the top, the wind reaches 80km/h, the temperature remains below zero. You are freezing and the sun comes up slowly, in its own rhythm. You stand above the clouds and all the brilliant mixtures of orange and pink colours on the sky, perfectly created only for you by Mother Nature that morning, give you goosebumps.

One of many explosions that night.

The photo was taken by Felix Bruns.

Days pass too fast when you feel endlessly free and gloriously alive. Nights are too short when you get few hours of sleep in the cheapest hostel or a couch-surfing sofa. Nature is overwhelming when it is so pure. Life is brilliant when all you have are your backpack and an extra package of wild curiosity.

I am 24 years old and I am free. I walk fast and I love life.

I’ve been through sorrow and hard things, as all of us, but when I sit on the top of a mountain with a turquoise lake below my feet. I certainly believe that simply being alive is a grand thing.

discover

TAYOS

cave

Pastaza, Ecuador

LOD G I N G / G A ST RO NO M Y CAV E E XC U RS IO N I N T E RC U LT U RA L VOLU NTE E RI NG /CuevaDeLosTayosTayuJee cuevadelostayosjee@gmail.com / Tel: +593 0999597249