Tijuana Cartel

Tell us about your music - how did you develop your sound?

We started as a couple of guitars. Since then, with the aid of a few computers, synthesizers and a few few more musicians, we've managed to weave our way into some sort of Indy- Electronica-world-music movement. It sort of just happened. We love our beats and our bass. There's now five of us making what ever it is we make.

What are your earliest memories of seeing live Australian music?

We snuck into the Hoodo Gurus over 18's section at a show they played at Fishermans wharf on the gold coast, somewhere in the 1990's. I remember being in the middle of the mosh pit wondering why people would go to all this trouble to jump on each other. I was in awe of the Hoodo Guru's front man, they were a killer band live. It was also my first memory of being served at a bar, and my first memory of a hangover.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it from?

I'm generally bad at taking advice. My old man once said 'Advice is worth what you pay for it', or something like that. Gonzalez's (our percussionist) Dad once told him never to go into the music business if you want some sort of stable life, he was probably right.

Tell us about the bands and people in the QLD music scene that inspire you.

There's a real mixed bag of bands we're into in QLD. 'The Death Set' who are now based in the US were a favorite from the Gold Coast. Dan who plays drums and sings for 'The Death Set' has been a real inspiration.He has that perfect punk attitude of doing things as real and raw as he can, I've spent my whole musical career trying to emulate a little bit of that. There's something basic and sexual in good music - Dan has that quality in everything he does. We love 'OKA', a world music band who have recently taken on some heavier dub influences. We play gigs with them all over the place. They helped us out quite a bit when we started. "A French Butler Called Smith' are another quirky favorite from the Gold Coast. One more I'd mention from back in th 90's is a band named 'The Julian Date' they really inspired a large crop of musicians from the very small Gold Coast music scene. We love seeing other musicians living that dream, even though it often ends in tears and bankruptcy. There's nothing like a little passion.

What’s coming up in 2011?

We have a new album coming in the second half of the year, and more touring.

Australian music is?

Grouse.