Urku Llanthu. Interview with Pablo Mesias

Interview with Pablo Mesias.

I n t e r v i e w b y A n d r e w S t a n t o n.

Urku Llanthu are a cool new band from Ecuador. Andrew Stanton talked to the man himself, Pablo Mesías, about the new album.

Hello and welcome to Inside the Darkness.

Greetings, my name Pablo Mesías, founding member of the band URKU LLANTHU. Thank you very much INSIDE THE DARKNESS for your attention and support.

- Can you tell our readers a bit about your history, please?

URKU LLANTHU" It is a solo Musical Project originating in the city of Quito-Ecuador, which was born in 2018 and which in turn formally comes to light with audio and video material for the year 2020, Full Disc in format physical that is available from November 2020. Album that contains 8 unreleased tracks (1 intro + 7 songs) and bears the homonymous name of the musical project “URKU LLANTHU” accompanied by its official video-clip. The musical trajectory of the only multi-instrumentalist member of the “URKU LLANTHU” Project (Pablo Mesías) dates back to 1998 when, together with more members, he was part of the band “ACRACIA” from the capital city, the vocal part being the position to occupy, a period that lasted until 2004. After this project in 2005 until 2010 he would be part of the band "NEKROPSIA" also from the Ecuadorian capital, occupying the same place in the vocal part. After a few years in the period from 2013 to 2016 he would be part of the group "BLASFEMO" in vocalization, going shortly after with some members of that same band to form "ALKITRAN" a project also originally from Quito-Ecuador; continuing in the same profile of the vocal part occupying the period from the year 2016 to the year 2018. Year in which an idea that was firm a long time ago was born and that comes to light in the present 2020 in a totally independent way with the name of "URKU LLANTHU" adding string instruments, percussion, harmonics such as piano, wind instruments etc. ... and thus getting to musically capture the ideas and compositions of its only member Pablo Mesías (Atuk Urku Llanthu - pseudonym) the same as in its atmosphere for maintaining the attachment to the Andean worldview and the rescue of the ancestral language "Quechua" typical of many indigenous peoples, it works with the genre "Dark Ambient" / "Dungeon Synth" / "Folk Metal" in an instrumental environment that marks the feeling and thinking of the person who gives rise to this musical framework and the project, under the proprietary seal by the same composer and author "TAKIRI PRODUCCIONES INDEPENDIENTE ".

- What bands did you like growing up?

I had the opportunity to listen to very varied music from a very young age, from instrumental works of classical music, the folklore of Ecuador, as well as works already more framed in rock and roll such as: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bathory, Celtic Frost among many more.

- What does Urku Llanthu mean?

Urku Llanthu is the name of the solo project that I represent, its name is taken from the ancestral Quechua dialect, which in its translation is Mountain Shadow.

- Is the Ecuadorian scene very different from the Colombian scene?

In terms of trajectory and validity in the rock and roll & Heavy Metal scene, there is similarity in chronology. If there is a marked difference in terms of international projection and diffusion, in that sense in the brother country of Colombia the bands have a different management than Ecuador.

- When people make this kind of music, is it everyone's dream to be better than Arcana? Are they considered the kings of the genre?

I have a lot of musical memories of Arcana and its trajectory. I find his instrumental proposal very interesting framed in the medieval aspect and that makes it quite interesting. In my particular case and especially in the musical framework of URKU LLANTHU there is a difference, especially in the cultural expression of the compositions based on the ancestral aspect of this region of the planet.

- What other Ecuador bands should our readers check out?

There is a good number of bands from Ecuador every day with a better proposal and quality, but among those that in one way or another have an international connotation are: Total Death, Ente.

- How do you personally describe your music?

URKU LLANTHU is created musically with very marked influences towards the genre Dungeon Synth and Dark Metal, emphasizing the rescue and mention of the ancestral culture of this region and that is still valid in its expressions, habits, customs, legends and sounds. Creating an enveloping atmosphere in the magical and ritual side of beliefs hand in hand with Andean mysticism.

- What do you think of Mortis?

Personally and from my criteria, Mortis is a musical reference with an extensive and diverse career. From its beginnings to the present, I continue with great interest and emphasis on its excellent quality work. Of course it is in my opinion and with good reason one of my biggest and most marked influences.

- When I heard your album, I heard influences of Folk music. Is this something that interests you?

Of course it is of my deep interest to maintain and promote in my musical work the ancestral aspect, customs, rituals, ancient beliefs that go hand in hand with the vision in folk art. Hence, among many reasons, plus a main one, which is the presence and use in URKU LLANTHU of the Quechua Dialect that is in force in Ecuador and in several countries in this region, such as Peru.

- Do your songs have any meaning, or is it just music?

They are musical compositions inspired by the various ancient places in the history of the original peoples of this latitude. The Andean worldview, rituals, spirituality as a way of life. Also at the same time they are subjective subjects and loaded with a great atmosphere and ancient memory that still has much to know and explore.

- Do you have a message for our readers?

First of all, I would like to thank INSIDE THE DARKNESS who made this pleasant interview possible, Andrew Stanton, a fraternal greeting from a distance. Greetings to the followers and readers; Keep exploring this musical universe with interest, each time you will surely find new expressions full of energy and ideas that are yet to be discovered. Follow and isten to URKU LLANTHU from Ecuador.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much.