DC : Can we start with a presentation of the band ? Who does what ?
Where do you come from musically ? Teresa : Cria Cuervos is a female trio, composed by Isabelle (lead vocal and guitar),
Geraldine (lead vocal and bass), and me (drums). Isa and I have played in Ahorcados,
and Geraldine always plays in Kochise and Turtle Ramblers.
DC : How many copies have you made of your first CD « Soap Opera » ? How much were
distributed ? Have you Felt an impact on booking shows ? Teresa : We have made 1000 copies, the distribution is a "Do it yourself" one :
during tours, fanzines, infoshops. We have almost finished selling them.
Regarding booking shows, it is clearly easier when you have made a CD already,
that is useful also for this.
DC : In which countries have you already played, and which gig did you preferred ? Teresa : In France, United Kingdom, Switzerland and Spain for the moment. We hope to make
some gigs elsewhere soon. In October we played in Switzerland with SIN DIOS (Spanish
anarchist band from Madrid). Shows out of France are always a good experience, we are
meeting people who haven’t always the same way of life as you have, other characters.
But in France, there are our friends, our families, so that’s fun too. For me there
is not one show that I specially liked, there is a lot.
DC : Have you already had big problems with completely stoned
guys who didn’t understand or admit your way of thinking (insults, violence...) Teresa : Yes that happened to us, once in particular at a show in Tours (France).
The problem was drunk guys in front of us, who had taken alcohol obviously badly,
and haven’t anymore any respect for nothing nor nobody. That can happen on some shows,
and they are our worst memories of shows. But that does not concern only guys, there
is also some girls who adopt this attitude sometimes.
DC : Tell us more about your new release with Propagandhi. How did your meet them ? Teresa : That’s a Split CD produced by Diabolik Records : 10 live tracks, 5 each band,
including 2 new songs by Cria Cuervos. It will be out at the beginning of September.
We heard about Propagandhi (ideas, music) since a long time, and when we made
"Soap Opera" we sent them a copy of the CD. They answered us that they liked the
CD, and that it would be great to play together when they‘ll tour in Europe. Last
October 2001 we organized the Propagandhi’s show in France, and that’s where we met them.
Unfortunately our bass player wasn’t in France that day, so we could not play with them.
But we really appreciated their behavior, their attitude, I think we have exactly the
same way of thinking on many subjects. That’s rare to meet bands that are at the same
time: anti-sexists, antifascists but also involved in the animal liberation. People
who care and respect ALL the others. When we had the project to make a Split with another
band on Diabolik records, we immediately thought of them, and they agreed to make this
CD with us, so it was great. We are very happy to did it with them.
DC : Your association Horca organized great shows in Paris a few months ago.
Have you concrete projects for soon ? Teresa : No, Horca has ended. We like to do right the things we do, but that takes
too much time, and we do not have enough today, so we leave the shows organization
for now, but that doesn’t mean that we will not organize shows for some special occasions,
special projects, in support with some associations that we share the ideas, or for bands
we like. That will not be "Horca" anymore but that will continue just in another way.
DC : How can you explain the difference in the tickets price between the
shows you organized (approximately 7 or 8 euros for Propagandhi or Good Riddance)
whereas the shows of Millencolin or Nofx are out of price (22 euros). Do the bands
have their word to say about it ? Teresa : The ticket price is decided by the promoters. The More the band’s fee is
expensive the more benefits they wanna make, and more the ticket price will be expensive.
To make shows with a low ticket price you must have an anti-commercial way of thinking.
But when music becomes a job for bands and promoters, then their shows become a sale and
so that becomes a trade. The bands have always the choice to make or not a show which is
too expensive. The point is : do they care about this or not ? That’s a question of choice.
Many bands don’t give a shit about ticket prices, including some of those we organized
a show for in the past.
DC : Which were the bands that influenced you ? Teresa : Regarding me, the bands that influenced me musically when I started music
are not always those I appreciate today, my tastes evolved a little, even if
that remains nearly the same in general. When I started to play I listened to
bands like Kortatu, Les Rats, Les Cadavres.. Today one of the bands I appreciate
the most musically and regarding to their political / social ideas is Propagandhi.
For Isa, I think that her musical tastes join mine with a special mention for Bad
Religion, and for Geraldine we would add Crass, Conflict, and traditional French
singers as Edith Piaf for example.
DC : Since how long are you vegetarians ? what do you think about
people who are crazy about a baby cow or lamb but which will not hesitate to eat
a huge steak ? Teresa : I am vegetarian from 4 years now, 5-6 years for Isa, and even longer for
Geraldine. People who say they love the animals and still eat meat, remains in a
certain hypocrisy, and do not want to admit that eating meat means first of all
killing animals, most of the time in a violent and cruel way. There is many blindness,
hypocrisy and conformism, in this people, including in some of our close relations.
But we cannot decide for the others, one needs at one time to be honnest, and open the eyes,
and see the truth. The vegetarianism is a personal awakening.
DC : There’s a big deal these days with the struggle for the immigrants
to get "legal papers". Do you think occupating churches is a good way of pressuring
the Governement ? Since it first began wouldn’t it be more efficient for this movement
to become more radical ? Teresa : I don’t know, I think they’re trying to find the best solution to their problem.
It’s not easy, and being more radical would mean being more marginal, If they are
planning to become "legal immigrants" it doesn’t seem to be the best way to proceed
to me, but it’s up to everybody to see how far she or he wants to go.
DC : Recently, the governement refused to raise the "smicards" salary
(basic salary) but he raised ministers’ salary up to a 70%. Why do you think,
the majority of people accepted it without reacting ? Teresa : Just because the vast majority of the population voted for this
government at the last elections. Regarding the others there is always conformism
and some resignation. Some people protest though.
DC : As being feminists how do you feel face to Reality shows that stars
women as stupid as men, ready to play a macho game ? Teresa : This it not new, now it’s just shown on reality shows, but medias
generally just show bullshits and unfortunately this is not new. Sexism is also
everywhere. But, unfortunately this is what the majority of people want to see !
DC : To finish, tell us what will your dearest wish be from now to the end of
the year. Thank you for your answers et keep on well. Teresa : I’d be some utopist : That people become more respectful to others
(other sex, other specie, other race) and some superstitious: That the number of this
question brings us luck to us all and not bad luck ! Thank you.
