Simply Six: Bareto

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

I think our moment as a band was our first trip to play a concert in Tarapoto, a city in the middle of the Peruvian jungle. We were a reggae band at the time, and we somehow found a bond between Jamaican music and the Peruvian/psychodelic Cumbia from the seventies (Juaneco y su combo, Los Mirlos) that we got to know on that trip. From that moment on, Cumbia as a genre became a great source of inspiration and a defining element of our music. 

 

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

We have very diverse musical preferences within the members of the band, but I think Reggae is a genre that we all listen to constantly: Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, keyboardist Jackie Mitto, Skatalites. We also love the Panamanian musician Ruben Blades, because of his strong lyrics and extraordinary musicianship (his Seis del Solar period in particular).  

 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

On record, we are very proud of each work we've done, but we agree that our last, "Ves lo que quieres ver", is our best effort. Also, we get to travel all over our country and abroad (we've been in USA, Brazil, Chile and Japan so far), to play in places we've never thought that would ever listen to our music – this is our best accomplishment. 

 

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

 

We truly believe in the power of music as something that can unify us as human beings, no matter our differences. That's the whole point of making a record like our last one: because we believe we can reach peoples’ minds with our message... wrapped inside of a dancing mood.  

 

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

 

Technology makes it easier for anyone to access any kind of music anywhere in the world, and we think that that gives more opportunities for new artists to be heard and to get in the spotlight without the gigantic budgets for marketing, promotion, and publicity. On the other hand, technology has changed the way people consume music, so the "album" form is kind of vanishing from people's mp3-filled minds.  We think that is a shame: we love albums!  

 

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

 

Any pair of shoes that is good for dancing.