Yeah. Yeah. They're like, you can they there's, like, settings in them. So, like, when you go into a practice space, when they shut the newer ones, not the old ones. When they shut, it's sound locking.
Susy:And you can make yourself sound like you're in a cathedral hall or you're in a small auditorium Oh.
Tyler:Or you can make it,
Susy:like, super dry and then it hurts your feelings because every note you play sounds really bad. Aw. And then you can record yourself too Oh. In there. Except if you don't delete it, whoever goes in next can listen
Tyler:to So what you in theory, you could leave, like, a crazy note for somebody. Mhmm. God. I yeah.
Susy:Or just a really bad practice take that you don't ever was here. You know, ever anyone to hear.
Tyler:Oh, I was coming there with my kazoo, and I'm just like I have an electric kazoo. And what? How is it electric? That feels like way too much voltage that makes close to your face.
Susy:I kid you not. It has it has like the
Tyler:Like a
Susy:the quarter inch. I jokingly said I think this was like two years ago. My student one of my students, which I teach privately, violin, violin, cello. One of my students was asking me like, what do you want for your birthday or like Christmas? I was like, oh, that's so sweet.
Susy:You don't have to get me anything. And they had just gotten an electric kazoo at the place that I work at. And it was like a joke. And I said, oh, I would love one. Like, literally the next lesson, they were like, I got you
Tyler:the electric kazoo. What? I don't even Okay. I've been
Susy:trying to convince MUELAS to let me have an electric kazoo solo in the middle of
Tyler:the set. I have a I have
Susy:a violin solo. And I'm like, let me let me do an electric kazoo solo through, like, a boss distortion pedal.
Tyler:Yeah. Like the distortion on a kazoo. I mean, that'd be sick. I mean, like, can you imagine, like, the like, reverb on a kazoo and, like, oh my gosh.
Susy:Slap a whammy on that?
Tyler:Yeah. Yeah. Wait. Okay. Editor, please put a photo of what an electric kazoo looks like, because I'm looking this up directly afterwards.
Tyler:Because I don't see is it the same, like, shape as a kazoo? You
Susy:just got the cord at the end of it. Unless, you know, if you wanna get fancy with it, like, a wireless to, like so so you can mosh and kazoo at same time. Okay.
Tyler:So it's like a kazoo and the wire's kinda coming out the front. Mhmm. That makes somewhat more sense. That feels like you're blowing that feels like you're blowing into an amp. That just feels like you're
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:Just blowing an amp. That's what it feels like. Yeah. I'm gonna be honest. Are we ready to get into it?
Susy:Yeah. I'm ready.
Tyler:Sweet. Welcome everybody to the Creators Table podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Watson, and we're here with Susie of the band MUELAS. Give it a little round of applause.
Susy:Thank you. Excited to be here.
Tyler:Yeah. It's good it's good weather today. It's kinda like it's March 1.
Susy:It's hot. Yeah. Randomly. It's hot? From what it was the week prior.
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:This is true.
Susy:Yeah. And like our practice space is in Atlanta. And when it's hot, it gets so sweaty. It's it's really gross down there.
Tyler:Are you guys like outside for the practice space? Or
Susy:No. No. We practice at a place called Big House Guitars.
Tyler:Oh.
Susy:And they actually have a bunch of practice spaces for artists and studio artists Yeah. Down
Tyler:In, like, in Midtown or, like, kind of?
Susy:It's off 85. I'm trying to think where exactly it's close to. I'm kind of bad with directions. But if you look at Big House Guitar's Oh. Is there.
Tyler:We'll look
Susy:it up.
Tyler:Put the exact address just.
Susy:Yeah. You know? Put my schedule. No. I was kidding.
Tyler:Okay. When they'll be there? No. No. Put something fake.
Tyler:Well, you've been in the band for a minute now. You guys have you guys have been together for a while. Why don't you talk about the start of the band
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:And your role in the band?
Susy:So funny enough, the band's not even a year old.
Tyler:But it's it's like it's not like the yesterday's, like, garage band.
Susy:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So Do you
Tyler:have three if for for having three songs out in only a year span, it's pretty impressive.
Susy:Thank you. We appreciate it. Yeah. We so the band is kind of like the predecessor of the band what it used to be. It was a band called Nowhere Safe.
Tyler:Okay.
Susy:And Nowhere Safe had been around for a hot minute. It's actually how I met the rest of my bandmates. So it's me, James, Cayman, they both play guitar. James does backup vocals and guitar, and then bassist is Chris, and then our drummer is Moose and Moose. I love him.
Tyler:Great drummer name.
Susy:He's actually the drummer of Big Yellow too. So if you know Big Yellow, you know Moose. And when I had met them, it was right before COVID. I I I knew of their band because, like, they were pretty established and well known in the area.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:Right. Especially in East Atlanta, Little Five Points, all that all that great alternative awesome scene in Atlanta. And they they had been recording for a bit, and I met them right before COVID hit. I was a I was a photographer. So Okay.
Susy:I don't do it too much anymore just because I have I wear a lot of hats. I do a lot of stuff. But before COVID, was shooting a lot of shows. I did a couple of music videos. I was also doing like a lot of just band artists portrait shoots.
Susy:And, James had found me through Instagram and hit me up and was like, hey, my band know we're safe. We need a band photoshoot. And I met them and they were so nice. So, so nice. And, at that point I was still here.
Susy:I was studying music and, I was going to shows a lot. And so I've heard of them, but we really just like hit it off and we stayed friends, and then COVID happened. And then in 2022, I had exited from a previous band that I was in. But I still was doing music because I do music professionally, freelancing, studio gigs. I'm a violinist.
Susy:And then I'm also a mariachi. We talked about it. I have a mariachi band. Absolutely. And then I have another band that's, like, alternative, jazzy kind of stuff.
Susy:So I wear lots of different hats.
Tyler:So, yeah, you're you're all over
Susy:the place. Yeah. Pretty much, you know, mentally and physically. So but when I had exited, Cayman, the guitarist, he kept cornering me, not in a bad way, he I
Tyler:hope not in a bad way.
Susy:He he was very adamant of like, hey, when are we when are we gonna play music together? And he knew that I had just exited. And so in his eyes, I had a lot more free time.
Tyler:You're like, okay. So you're look you're, like, looking for a job.
Susy:Right? And, Nowhere's Safe, was ending, not because of anything bad. Their drummer was moving to Florida. And, instead of continuing the band, they kinda wanted it to, you know, let it be, put a time stamp on it, start something new. And for their last EP, they had hired me to do their album cover.
Susy:And it was a really fun concept. So the city of Marietta was hounding me to get rid of this broken down shed in the back of my house.
Tyler:In the back of your house?
Susy:There's this, like, really weird shed that I've had for years. It's just been back there. And it during a storm, it completely, like, fell apart. But it was still standing, and it wasn't up to city code. I get it.
Susy:And they were just like, hey. We we we really need you to get rid of this. But I was I told the band, I was like, how about I give y'all sledgehammers, and I do a time lapse of y'all completely destroying the shed.
Tyler:Oh, that sounds awesome.
Susy:And it's like a win win situation, you know.
Tyler:It's like a rage room, but that's all. And it's your old shed.
Susy:Exactly. And so I set up my tripod. And for an hour, I was just time lapsing them all going around the shed, like, beating the crap out of it. Awesome. It was so fun.
Susy:I mean, my mom showed up at one point and I let her take a swing. How
Tyler:an how long did it take to take down this this shed?
Susy:It was a good hour and a half. Oh, wow. That was like a hour.
Tyler:Are we talking like straight, like, all the way to the ground?
Susy:Yes. Wow. All the way to the ground. Yeah.
Tyler:Did you guys burn it
Susy:or something? I did later. I did later. Big old bonfire.
Tyler:Really? Yeah. I'm do they live? Yeah. Interesting.
Tyler:I mean, I
Susy:don't know if they do, but
Tyler:I Well, it was already burned. They're like, well, shed you wanted the shed gone. Yeah. Exactly. To the ground.
Tyler:Yeah.
Susy:We're hanging out my back patio, and that's where, for that EP, I had recorded violin for their, anti cop song, and it was a Bella Chao medley. They had their last single that they released was called violence. And Bella Ciao, if you know the history behind it, it's a very
Tyler:I know the song, but I don't know the
Susy:song. Yeah. It was very much an anti fascist theme from Italy. And so, when I recorded the violin on it, that was the first time that Cayman and I were hanging out, not just as friends or like going to a show. It was the first time where we were collabing.
Susy:And, we had a great time. We had a really great, great time. We realized that we were pretty much on the same wavelength with ideas and stuff and like vision. And so fast forward, we're hanging out on my patio. We were eating pizza and came and just goes, so we're starting this band.
Susy:Right? And I I looked at him and James and
Tyler:He saw the potential. He was like, seize the opportunity.
Susy:Yeah. He kept telling me in the other interviews we've had. He's like, I was just trying to scoop up Susie before anybody else got to them. And I was like, oh, thank you for you to think that highly of me. But in that band, it was James, Cayman, and Chris.
Susy:They were already in the band together. And, I've been wanting to start a project like this for a long time. I've just like I previously said, I wear a lot of hats and I never really had, like, the opportunity to to start it. And this really was kind of the perfect time for me. I had just ended a really long era.
Susy:It was my last year of my twenties, and Oh. I've been through a lot of stuff. And Yeah. It really felt like I was, like, closing a chapter and starting something new. I know that sounds a little, but that's Yeah.
Susy:That's how I felt. And James, Cayman, and Chris just were like, we can be your band. Like, we would love to be your band. And the drummer Nick was like, yeah. Like, you know, I'm moving to Florida.
Susy:You know? And and so I was like, oh, okay. And Cayman was like, cool. You free Saturday? I was like, yeah.
Susy:And he was like, great. First band practice.
Tyler:Get started.
Susy:Yeah. And I was like, oh, okay. And, I was so nervous just because I'm so used to being, like, the side character in a band, you know, violinist. I've done, like, heavier vocals through the bands that I've previously been in and, like, have done features here and there for other homies. Like, I have I've done features for Apostle.
Susy:I've done features for our friends in the band Harm. And, so it wasn't, like, new to me, this genre. This is really more of my bread and butter of what I listen to. Mhmm. But it was my first time really being, like, the front person.
Tyler:Right. Front vocals? Is this your first
Susy:time with that too? Yeah. Yeah. Like, front vocals, like, I'm kinda like I'm the front person. For my mariachi band, we have two main people.
Susy:I'm one of the main vocalists and violinist, and then we have Alejandro Cifuentes, and he's the main and male vocalist.
Tyler:What a great name. I know. That just sounds great.
Susy:You know what's funny? My mariechi band started in the room over there.
Tyler:Really? Yeah. That Oh, and then that and then the big hall or whatever? Yeah. Yeah.
Tyler:Oh, no way.
Susy:Yeah. We all met here, and there is a I forgot what fraternity it was, but they had hired a mariachi band, and it fell through. And they just happened to be friends with Alejandro. And so Alejandro kinda put out, like, the Hispanic bat signal and, like, like, the majority of all the Hispanic
Tyler:What would be the signal? Yeah.
Susy:I have no idea. A Mexican hoodie hoo owl? I don't know. A Mexican hoodie Put a little sombrero hat on it.
Tyler:We should be like that. You know? Actually.
Susy:But, you know, we've I've I've been doing that for a while, and I've I've performed for I mean, since I was, like, 15. I don't
Tyler:You seem to be no stranger to performances or the musical, you know, creative art or creative pathway at all.
Susy:Things. Yeah. And I but outside of the stage, I'm kind of a nervous anxiety wreck. Interesting. But something happens when I go on stage where I just, like, lock in.
Susy:And, but this was the first time where I was really being vulnerable.
Tyler:Well, it's like maybe you're everybody's watching you.
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:Right? Like, I I kinda, like, envision, like, you know, like, like, let's say you're doing theater or something. There's all maybe you might not be the front person. Right?
Susy:Mhmm.
Tyler:But there's all these other people on stage, and I don't know how it is for people in in theater, I guess, to be fair. Yeah. But I imagine it's a it's a little bit easier because you can kinda just phase in with the other people who are Yeah.
Susy:Yeah. I was in the opera program. Right. And so, you know, when we would do roles with that, the majority of time, you would have someone with you. Mhmm.
Susy:But there's such a there's something so different about heavier alternative music where you're really
Tyler:You're performing.
Susy:Yeah. Yeah. You really are. And it's not that all the other performance I've done haven't made me nervous in a way. But this is my really, like, my first time allowing myself to, like, fully just have a cathartic release on stage every time we perform and really speak about things that I've gone through, grief, political trauma, just the stuff that I've experienced, Mhmm.
Susy:Not only as a person, but also as a non binary queer, like, child of Mexican immigrants. And so all those experiences, this is really, like, my first time where I get to be so direct about it. And so
Tyler:I think you're kinda making the brand. Right?
Susy:And when we met up, I told them straight up. I was like, I'm nervous. And then Yeah. They also told me, like, yeah. We're we're also, like, nervous, really excited.
Susy:And we kinda realized that that night, it was just me, Chris, James, and Cayman. Moose hadn't entered the picture yet that we were all really excited to work with each other because we all really admired each other as not only people, but like musicians and talent. And so after that band practice, I remember coming home and I told my fiance like, I I guess I'm in another band now, and and I'm I'm leading it, you know? And, but that's how it started. It really was came in kind of pushing me, but in a good way because I was I was scared.
Susy:Just because it's it's it's tough to be vulnerable and Yeah. Let it all out, and but I really needed it.
Tyler:Well, the in specific genre you're going into, I mean, like, I think it's funny. So one of my first first concerts everyone to was a was a old country band. Oh. Old country band. And like, there's like there's no pizzazz.
Tyler:It's just an old dude strumming a guitar. And even with this one, they're an old country band. Yeah. I mean I mean, the dude was wandering around stage. You were kinda concerned at certain parts, like, is he okay?
Tyler:Like, does he not just need to go take like, at one point, they're like, he's gonna go take a break. Yeah. And we were like Okay. Okay. Okay.
Tyler:Cool. Okay. Yep. But, you know, country, you know, it's a that's you know, there's you can kinda just sit there and perform. Nobody's expecting anything else out of you.
Tyler:But, like, with with hardcore and punk, it seems like, you know, of all the shows that I've seen, whether in person or, you know, from just videos, it's like there's so much going on.
Susy:Yeah. Yeah.
Tyler:Like, it's it's chaotic, and I think that's kinda like some people, like, love it.
Susy:Yes.
Tyler:Right?
Susy:No. Exactly. There is, in my opinion, one of the best bands, and this is, you know, a lot of really cool bands have come out of Atlanta. But when I was growing up, The Chariot, I don't know if you've ever heard of that band.
Tyler:I have not.
Susy:They were huge in the Atlanta heavy math core chaotic hardcore scene. And, you gotta look them up because Josh Goggin and all of them, in my opinion, is probably the most cathartic, chaotic, insane live performance I've ever seen in my life. Like, there there there's a video where the bass is straight up. He jumps so fast into the crowd that it looks like he's like Jesus walking on water, but he's just walking on people's heads. From the way that he, like, launches himself, That band was really, like, one of my first exposures to this kind of music.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:And in the way of, like, how it is live. Because the band that, like, really started my whole journey into, like, heavier music was actually a visual k band called Durring Gray. They're from Japan. And, their lead singer Kyo is insane. I mean, there's some videos where, like, he would be cutting his cheek and, like, spitting into the crowd, blood and stuff.
Susy:And and, but I never got to see them live until, they came to, the Coca Cola Roxy. I was in middle school.
Tyler:Oh, yeah.
Susy:And so I remember going to that. I wasn't supposed to, but I made it in. And, that was my first time where, like, I felt the crowd moving, and you were just like, I was small. Me and my cousins were probably the youngest ones there and just being, like, moved around and, like, picked up. Like, the energy was just insane.
Susy:And when I was older and I started listening to the bands like Botch and the Chariot and bands like Converge, and there's just something so special about the heavier the heavier scene and, like, the way it is live. Like, not only is the music amazing studio, but you don't really fully experience it until it's, like, fully live. But they're giving it their all, every show. Like, there's there's not a show where they're going in and, like, half assing it. It's like, no.
Susy:This could be the last show. Yeah. And that's how I like to be and perform. And Absolutely. But it it takes not only, like, a level of confidence, but it takes a level of courage in the sense of, like, letting yourself get to that point.
Susy:Mhmm. And although I was such a performer growing up, I was I always was pretty reserved. You know?
Tyler:I'm Right.
Susy:I was in my bubble. But Yeah. This is the first time where, like, I'm allowing myself to reach those levels of release and anger that I have never been able to even in my youth, and that to me is super special. So I was I was nervous because I knew what I was gonna get into, and I knew that if this band was going to be what I want it to be, I have to be fully in it. I can't just half ass it.
Susy:And I have these great friends and musicians who really liked my idea and and the concept and the messages that I wanna portray, and they're willing to back me up. And, like, it's been so collaborative ever since we started. And it hasn't been long. It's crazy how much stuff we've gotten to do. We're super lucky and super grateful too.
Susy:I never thought everything like like, even our first show, which was debuted at we headlined our own debut show at the masquerade at Altar. Like, what? I yeah. I'm like
Tyler:I'm really, like, putting together a lot of things we've talked about and, like because I didn't really understand a a year because, like, a lot things you said, was like, oh, they've been around for a minute. And then No. You said five interviews in a year.
Susy:Yeah. Every time we're like, oh my gosh.
Tyler:Mean, I've interviewed people who've been artists for multiple years, and they've never been interviewed.
Susy:Yeah. It's it's really cool. I mean, we're very overwhelmed in a good way with the response. And after that first show, we had really sick bands. Like, we had tunnels play.
Susy:We love tunnels. Split silk was
Tyler:on it, and then we had
Susy:Big Yellow on it. Lots of shout outs. Yeah. It was it was Father's Day too. And I thought, maybe maybe a couple people will show up, like our friends, you know.
Susy:And for me, even if they're because I've played shows where there's been no one in the audience. And now That's gotta be hard for that young run. Whipping that violin around, like, in previous bands I've been in. I don't care. There is one show I played in Dallas.
Susy:Not a single person showed up. I took my wireless violin, and I was just moshing by myself. Yeah. In the middle, you know, running around.
Tyler:Why not?
Susy:Yeah. So, like, the size of the crowd doesn't really matter to me. It it was more so, like, wow. We get to debut. And then all of a sudden, when it was our turn to go out there, it was packed.
Susy:And me being who I am, I was like, if you're here and it's Father's Day, I'm your I'm your dad now. I guess you have daddy issues because you're here.
Tyler:Yeah. Well, no. Well, everybody with no father's
Susy:celebrating today. I know. But that just felt like it was like a launching point Mhmm. Into it. But, it's been really cool.
Susy:I didn't get to to say how Moose came into it, but the drummer, Musashi, we've been friends for about ten years now. And, Moose didn't really know James, Cayman, and Chris. So, like, kinda like worlds collided. Yeah. When we brought him Moose Moose and I have been in another band called City Playgrounds, which is led by Aldo Aldo Cartenas, and he also went to school music here.
Tyler:Sweet Casey.
Susy:Never forget him showing me, like, a demo in one of the practice rooms they talked about. And so we started there, and Moose Moose is so sick. He's, like, the coolest drummer ever. He also raps and, like, produces and stuff. And, we were having a city playgrounds rehearsal, and he had asked me, like, hey.
Susy:How's how's MUELAS going? And I was like, oh, it's going really good. We're just we're struggling to pin down a drummer. And James, the guitarist, is a drummer for so many bands. He was like, I love
Tyler:you. Yeah. Let me be guitar.
Susy:Yeah. He's like, I don't wanna drum for this. And he's in another band called Psychic Death, which shout out to Psychic Death. They're super, super dope. And, I had just mentioned that to Moose, and Moose goes, oh, yeah, man.
Susy:You know, I'd be interested. And I straight up I was like, why didn't you tell me? I would have gotten you from the start.
Tyler:Yeah. Like, forever ago.
Susy:Yeah. Right. Because Moose would have been, like, my first choice. I I love Moose to death. He's he's such a like, he's there's a vibe when he plays.
Susy:And to me, I used to be a drummer. That was my first instrument before I swapped over to, like, the string land.
Tyler:To violin.
Susy:To violin. I know. And so for me, when what captivates me in a band really is the rhythm section. It's my favorite. Drums.
Susy:Breath of water now. Oh, yeah. So good. And I've just always loved the way Moose drums and his style. And so we brought him in for a practice, and the first debut single we have is called Glass Smile.
Susy:And, that was the first fully written out song. And we showed Moose, and Moose was like, I don't know. That might be a little too technical. He was a little worried about it. And came in and was like, dude, it's hardcore.
Susy:We don't give up. You just whatever you want. Like, as long as you vibe with us and you're you like it, that's all we care about. We don't care about technique. And Yeah.
Susy:He crushed it. And it's just been, like, a perfect fit. And so ever since then, yeah, like, the debut show, we've we've done a lot of stuff. It's crazy. Yeah.
Susy:Yeah. At the last show we played was that pizza shop. Yeah.
Tyler:Well, in pizza shop, great location, must say. Pizza shop. I mean, just eating pizza and then listening to our core. Yeah. The owner was really flying everywhere.
Susy:I wish listen. I had a goal to eat a slice of pizza during the middle of the set, and I forgot. And in the middle of the set, I said, oh, I forgot to order my pizza.
Tyler:I will say, but, like, man, you had to down that piece of pizza fast. Mhmm. I mean, Mhmm. To be fair, I'm like, I would've maybe next time. Yeah.
Tyler:The pizza one next? Yes. Well, let's talk about you've brought up kind of, you know, drum is your first instrument, but also violin. Mhmm. Now, I for one when I hear violin in hardcore, I'm like, explain how that even works.
Tyler:Because I know you have an electric violin is kinda what you're saying. Yeah. Which is a cool thing in its own. It's very unique. It's very niche, I guess.
Tyler:Yeah. Tell us about you playing violin and when you realized that could be something you could use for your band right now.
Susy:Yeah. So I started playing violin. I was a huge weeb growing up.
Tyler:Okay.
Susy:And believe it or not, Inuyasha and Legend of Zelda are
Tyler:some of other a weeb thing?
Susy:No. But the music.
Tyler:Okay. Okay.
Susy:They had a lot of string stuff in their music. And there's another anime called Black Cat that had a lot of opera in it. And there's another anime called Elfin Lee that the main title track had an opera track and it was
Tyler:So you wanted to play all these really I nice soundtracks.
Susy:Yeah. And honestly, like, that was my way of introducing myself into the classical world. I've always gravitated towards it. Like, my mom had this, like, little leapfrog thing where it was like
Tyler:Love the leapfrog music.
Susy:Like, learn orchestra and band instruments. And this is embarrassing, towards the end of it, there's a button where it would play the star spangled banner. But it was
Tyler:a Sick.
Susy:But it was a full symphony, and I straight up my mom took it away from me because I would be like, I just kept playing it over and over
Tyler:again. Awesome.
Susy:And I I just liked all the sounds. Like, the sounds was just like
Tyler:Oh, we gotta find that leapfrog and, like, get you a new one. And, like, that would be a great sample.
Susy:Right. Right? Oh, man. And but I also love heavy music. My all my cousins, we were all, like, old, emo alternative kids, and my fifth grade photo cracks me up because I'm wearing, like, a choker Yep.
Susy:A full metal alchemist hoodie with an Iniasha shirt. I had, like, the panda eyeliner on, and I had, like, you know, just, like, the long hair. I was so angsty.
Tyler:So so emo. So aggressively emo.
Susy:But I was really into, like, bands like Rumstein and Daring Gray and then Job for a Cowboy and Suicide Silence. Like, I've always just really liked heavy music because it's just loud and angry. And Yeah. What's better for an angsty old teen? You know?
Tyler:Not the tween. After after, you know, choker number one for emo and then Yeah. Nam Kev.
Susy:So I I, you know, I was playing along those two worlds for the longest time. And when I was playing violin in high school, I was a violist first. Well, let me get back. I started drums when I was six. Okay.
Susy:And by the time I got to high school, I was really, like, into viola and violin, and I had decided that I wanted to go down this route, not only as, like, a hobby, but professionally. Yeah. And so I quit drums, which is the dumbest decision I could have ever made. I miss it so much. I used to play, like, evanescence and underwrote songs.
Susy:Oh. And, like, I was I'm gonna toot my own horn. I was pretty good. Now I can
Tyler:You can go back to it.
Susy:I can kind of blast beat. For my degree, you have to learn every instrument, and we were taking, like, jazz drums, and I just started going to go to go to go to go. When I got to later on in high school, and I was like, okay. I wanna I wanna go to school for music. I wanna be a violinist, and I also wanna be an opera singer.
Susy:And but I wanted to teach orchestra because I just my orchestra director, doctor Kay, she's at North Cobb. We're home still. Okay. She really inspired me and was like, you have a lot of like, I think you would be a great performer and educator. And then doctor Foster, who's the choral director, she's since passed, but she was really I didn't sing until I was, like, 17.
Susy:And then I discovered that I could kinda sing opera. And she was she, like, put a flyer in front of me. She was like, hey. You're auditioning for the Atlanta Opera High School Institute. And I was like,
Tyler:Yeah. Wow. Okay.
Susy:And I had kinda sang with my mariachi band at my well, not my mariachi band, but my family's restaurant that used to be here. All case you every anyone who graduated from case you before it was gone would be like, I loved that restaurant.
Tyler:Family had a restaurant on case you property? Chastain. On Chastain.
Susy:Okay. So was close to Case You. Yeah. Okay. And we had a mariachi band every weekend.
Susy:And so I was just constantly surrounded by music. Like, it really music was my life. But, like, it really it really was. And so once I came to KSU, around there, I started seeing people that I would see at shows at Swayze's. And Swayze's is no longer around.
Susy:If you ever say Swayze's, and there's like, I guess I'm considered an old head now. They'll either be like, oh, or it was a very interesting music venue. But that was, like, the last time Cobb County had a venue where, like, bands would comb through. Yeah. Yeah.
Susy:That's a good point. Yeah. So when I was, like, in high school, I'd be sneaking out, going to these, like, little local shows and, like, seeing all these bands and, like, screamo, emo bands and stuff. But then I would be here and performing in the classical world, and I got hit up by a long time ago, friends at that time and we're like, hey, I really want violin on this track that I'm playing, and it was like an alternative track. And I was like, okay.
Susy:Yeah. Let's do it. And then that just kinda started spiraling into kinda what's become now where, really, they're I'm not the only
Tyler:one doing it. Yeah. It's not like it's not like a you didn't in
Susy:invent it. But it. And there's a really cool band called Juan Bond Band. And they were one of the first bands, like, that I took notice aside from, like, what I was doing that also had an electric violinist in it. I was like,
Tyler:this is sick. I used to I used to follow somebody online who did just videos of electro electric violin. And, like, they would do covers of, like, like, heavy rock songs Yeah. And stuff like that. Yeah.
Tyler:Oh, this is kinda sick.
Susy:And then there's the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Oh, yeah. Yeah. If you ever hear, like, symphonic rock, almost like wizard y style. That's kinda like maybe that's
Tyler:a good, like it's like a I don't know if that's necessarily the middle ground between straight up classical to hardcore.
Susy:What I do now. Right. But it was along the pathway. It
Tyler:was like, it's you're kinda When I was passed by that when you go through a thing.
Susy:When I was younger, you know. Because that was the first time I saw an electric violin. My parents took me. They like we were pretty close. And when the pyrotechnics went off, I swear, I didn't have eyebrows.
Susy:Like, it was that close to
Tyler:my face. Because you had the big old flames and stuff like that.
Susy:Yeah. And so when I started playing in bands, I also met Amber. We became friends. Amber is the violinist for Dallas the Callous Dowboys.
Tyler:Is that the Callous Dowboys? Love that name.
Susy:Do you need listen. They're huge. Callous Dowboys. It's amazing to see how much they got.
Tyler:Great name.
Susy:You gotta look them up. Think they're I think they're still touring in Europe right now. They've done some crazy stuff. Like, they've been on festivals with, like, Metallica. They were on the Chiodos run too.
Susy:They just did a a a cruise where they were doing, like,
Tyler:show Like a on a cruise ship?
Susy:Yeah. Yeah.
Tyler:Like Oh, that's sick.
Susy:Like a metal festival on a cruise ship.
Tyler:That's yeah. Wait. Aren't, like I could be wrong. Last month on a cruise, like, the average age was, like, 60.
Susy:Oh, no. It's, like, all packed out. It's really sick. That's awesome. I mean, every time I die
Tyler:There probably is a 60 year old who wanders down there, like, this is kinda sick.
Susy:Oh, yeah. Like, that one thing you guys have. Exactly. Yeah. You know, like, every time I die, I would do these crazy shows on a boat.
Susy:And Every Time I Die is a huge influence. They're from Buffalo, New York. And they would do these crazy shows on a boat too. Like
Tyler:Wow. That's kinda crazy.
Susy:Right. So for me playing just music in general, I started meeting a bunch of people and
Tyler:Connections networking. Yeah.
Susy:Yeah. And just like becoming friends with people. And I've always loved hardcore music. I've always loved heavy music. I've always just I've just loved music in general.
Susy:And when I started this band, I told them, I was like, you know I'm gonna have to play violin in it. Right? And they were like, please please do it.
Tyler:Yeah. That's so unique. It really is.
Susy:Yeah. And it's also really fun. But the bands that I was in previously where I would do, like, electric violin, it was sort of like my my blanket. I would kinda hide behind it. Like, I would be dancing on stage and, like, screaming my parts, but I always kinda, like, hid behind it.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:So it's I I did tell them I was like, I wanna incorporate my electric violin into it. One, because I play it. Why not? I think it sounds cool. But I don't want it to be, like, the main focal thing.
Susy:But there's there's the band speed. Do you know the band speed?
Tyler:I do not.
Susy:I see. I see. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Susy:Vocalist has a flute solo in the middle of the hardcore set. I love I love stuff like that. Like, that's just so cool. You know? And I really wanted to continue it because in the bands that I was in previously, I would have, I mean, I'd have people come up to me
Tyler:and be like, you make
Susy:me wanna play my violin again. Or like, oh, I started playing violin because of you.
Tyler:Because there's lot of cool stuff you could do with it.
Susy:Yeah. And I'm an educator at heart. Like, that to me was like, yes. Yes. Because there's so much you can do with it.
Susy:Like, violin is not just this European classical instrument. I mean, you can find it in Indian classical music, mariachi, especially Yeah. Indigenous, indigenous music all throughout Mexico. Like, there's so much you can do with that instrument, and it Yeah. Adds such a cool layer to it, especially when you put pedals on it, and you make it sound like a guitar.
Tyler:Yeah. You're kinda used to just the the the just the acoustics of it. Right?
Susy:Mhmm.
Tyler:Now let's kinda talk about you also sing with the band. Like, violin is like one unique thing you bring to the band. But you you also just just being in the genre you guys are in. You have a really great voice, really great scream is what I was saying.
Susy:Oh, thank you.
Tyler:So how do you keep up that in, like, a live set? You're probably straining your vocals. Are are are you straining your vocals a lot? How do you keep yourself going?
Susy:Yeah. That's actually a great question. I like talking about this a lot. Okay. Well, here we go.
Susy:So one, if you're straining to scream, you're technically kinda not doing it fully right. Okay. There is an art to it. There's the first time I ever heard that, oh, you can scream without it completely, you know
Tyler:Just
Susy:draining your vocal cords. It was this lady that I came across online, and she has a DVD out, and it's called
Tyler:I did.
Susy:The art of screaming. But she was she was a an opera singer who would coach metal bands. What? Okay. On how to how to scream properly.
Tyler:And she had it oh, she had a d a learning and educational DVD. Yeah. I think it was the zenith
Susy:screaming, something like that. And, you know, I had lots of friends who were, like, great, like, harsh vocalists. And I was always like, how do you do that? Like, I love that. Because when I was in sixth grade, you know, I I did a little screaming in the car.
Susy:My mom would tell me to shut up, but, you know, I would do a little screaming on my own, but I didn't sound good. But when I started singing opera, that's how I connected both worlds. Because I realized, that a lot of the technique to keep yourself, like, healthy, it really is in your breath support and warming up and making sure that it's not just coming from the throat. Like, fry screaming is hard. I don't fry scream because I suck at it.
Susy:I'm trying to learn. Yeah. There's one song where I kinda do it, but I use false cord screaming. So it really like, that comes from, like, growls and, like, guttural
Tyler:What's the difference? You said fry screaming?
Susy:Yeah. Yeah. Fry screaming, you kinda hear it a lot. To me, that's, like, the most popular. Kinda like if you if you hear, like, bands like Underroath and, like, Every Time I Die, That that that's like a a break in your vocal for folds where, like, that's where it kinda comes from.
Susy:The kinda screaming I do, it kinda comes from, a growl. Like, it's just like a deep growl. That to me came really easy. And I had asked my friend, from the band Apostle because that that dude that dude's vocals are insane. Oh my gosh.
Susy:They're so heavy. And this was, like, 2017. I was like, hey, Maurice. I kinda scream, but I don't know what I'm doing. But it doesn't hurt, and I can do it for hours, and my voice doesn't go away.
Susy:And he was the one that was like, oh, you're kinda doing this kinda scream. I gotta do that. And so I just started practicing it more, but I saw, like, tips online from, like, just you know, I was doing the nerdy thing.
Tyler:Yeah.
Susy:Like, how to scream.
Tyler:Like, like, the how the wiki how to or whatever. You know?
Susy:Because, like, I really loved bands. Like, I wrestled a bear once and, like, and, like, there is a, like, other cool band. Like, right now, spirit box, like, corny. Corny was in I wrestled a bear once, I believe. Yeah.
Susy:No. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And Courtney's vocals are insane, like, top tier right now.
Susy:And it's just really cool to, like, see somebody who is fem be in that kind of space. And so when I was doing my whole journey of, like, kinda figuring out how to do
Tyler:it,
Susy:my a former partner had actually bought the DVD.
Tyler:Oh, really?
Susy:And it was like, hey, I bought the DVD. I wanna watch it because I wanna better my vocals. And so they watched it. And I was like, how was it? Like, how you know?
Susy:And I was like, do you think I should watch it? Because, like, I I kinda wanna get better at it. And they're like, honestly, it's all stuff you already know. And I was like, oh, and it was all the stuff from I learned here doing opera. A lot of breath support, diaphragm, making sure you're warming up, staying hydrated, taking it easy.
Susy:Because the thing is, like, ultimately, you are damaging.
Tyler:You know what I mean? Like, ultimately, can something you should just continue doing onto the entire day of everything.
Susy:Right. Know? Right. But for example, today, we MUELAS had a rehearsal for four hours, and Yeah. My voice is still here.
Tyler:Yeah. You sound perfectly fine. Yeah. So, you know, and I was like, are you really prepared for a hour long interview after that? Right?
Susy:But but, yeah, like, just learning the proper technique on how to sing is what helped me keep myself afloat when I'm screaming on top of it. It really has to do with your breath support. And with MUELAS, like, I I do pop into some singing here and there and and belting too just because I like it. It's what I hear, and I was like, oh, I wanna add that. But one of my concepts was I wanted to bring some mariachi lyricism and some mariachi vocals into the hardcore.
Tyler:Interesting. I'm like
Susy:Right.
Tyler:Well, yeah.
Susy:I was like
Tyler:We're seeing it.
Susy:I was like, I don't know how to do it, but I was like, I kinda wanna just, like, marry them and and figure out how to do it. And that's why I really love my bandmates because they're so down for anything. There's a song that we have out, on Bandcamp. It's called Pesares, and that song has lyrics from my favorite song, which is called La cigara. It's a And, if you're a music nerd, it's constantly alternating between six eight and three four time signature.
Susy:And so when you listen to that song, the vocals are so you know, like a cicada takes flight. The vocals are very much like that. And Right. I knew that I wanted to somehow marry that into this band to just try something out. You know?
Tyler:What we were gonna bring up is, you know, there's a lot of you know, the name is Spanish. Name The of some of your songs are in Spanish. So is there a lot of influence that you guys like to try to push into your music in that sense?
Susy:Yeah. So for me, when I I wanted to start this band for years. And there has been kind of, like, maybe, like, met up with a group of people, like, one or twice throughout the past, like, ten years.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:Right. But nothing really came to fruition. And marieche music is so special to me because that was my way of really connecting with my culture.
Tyler:And you grew up listening to it a lot. Like, could you
Susy:just listening be to it a lot. And but growing up in the early two thousands here as a Hispanic was
Tyler:Yeah.
Susy:Not the easiest.
Tyler:Right. No.
Susy:Yeah. It was it was rough.
Tyler:And you said you you told me I I hope it's totally fine if you bring up your parents. You're immigrants here as well. So, like, there's there's a lot of there's a lot of significance in that part of your aspect of your life Mhmm. Bringing that into your music, making your music a little bit more personable, something that people can relate to. And maybe there's people who are also Hispanic who are like, I wanna get into the hardcore scene.
Tyler:Look, somebody who's has the same background as me is just like me.
Susy:Yeah. No. And, like, I growing up, I was actually just telling my mom about this because I lost a lot of my Spanish when I was in middle school and high school. One, I kinda didn't really like talking in general.
Tyler:Right. Right.
Susy:I'm a I'm a very neuro spicy person and did not understand Yeah. How mentally ill I was and why I did the things I did and why I was the way I was. But I really was really reserved. But when you grow up Mexican American here, it's a very different experience from growing up in Mexico and then coming And I it's not that I was ever ashamed. It was just very difficult to find the spaces to fully practice Spanish outside of my home.
Susy:Yeah. Because a lot of people default to English because that's what's majority spoken here. And I was just telling my mom the other day because with everything currently happening, and we're just kinda talking about stuff. And I told her, I was like, yeah. I mean, I remember teachers would get mad at you.
Susy:Like, literally would take you like, send you to the office if you were speaking Spanish. And I remember I had a couple friends who when they would speak Spanish, they would get in trouble. Hey. You can't be speaking that. Like, you need to speak English.
Susy:And it would always be because people are gonna think you're talking about them. And and I don't know what you're saying, and you could be saying something inappropriate. We all know why.
Tyler:You could say the same thing about somebody who speaks American sign language.
Susy:Right.
Tyler:What are you gonna
Susy:It's like
Tyler:What are you gonna say to them in that situation?
Susy:We all clearly know where it's coming from. I mean, Kennesaw, before KSU, was not the most diverse place. I'm not talking about the university. I'm talking about the city. Oh, right.
Susy:Right. I mean, in Downtown Kennesaw, Wild Mans. That thing still existed until, like, I think it's just now being
Tyler:shut down. Yeah. I know what you're talking about. Yeah.
Susy:Right. That's what we grew up around. I have a friend who we've been friends since high school. She told me was like, yeah. Well, my parents moved here, and she's black.
Susy:She was like, there is a there is a a KKK rally when they
Tyler:called us. I mean, we're talking, like, there's it's it's it's I think, at least, I can say I can only say Georgia, because my dad's kinda grown up in, like, a lot of the same area, like, a long time. And there's some sad history Yep. Even as close to just when he was a kid around here, which, you know, that forty years ago, but still fairly recent Yeah. In in in thinking of really how things have changed.
Tyler:A lot has changed, you know, and, of course, there's still room for more. Yeah. But it's
Susy:I mean, if you look at the history of Forsyth County, it's insane.
Tyler:Yeah. Especially Literally type
Susy:in Forsyth County, Oprah, and you'll see some crazy
Tyler:stuff. Just
Susy:No. Right. So it wasn't the most diverse over here. And, I had my my grandfather had I miss him to death. I mean, he was really, like, the head of the whole family.
Susy:I I have so many aunts and uncles, and Mhmm. I grew up, like, surrounded by my family and, like, in in Mexican culture and speaking, but I lost a lot of it just going to school. And so when I got older, you know, my grandfather had passed away, we my family didn't really have those restaurants anymore. I found myself really disconnected. And I found myself really struggling to speak Spanish even though
Tyler:Now your family speaks Spanish.
Susy:Right. My mom doesn't speak English. But my dad does.
Tyler:Wow. Oh, they don't speak any English at all?
Susy:My dad does. Your dad does. My mom does not. No. She doesn't speak any English.
Susy:And my dad would always answer me in English. And so
Tyler:Oh, yeah.
Susy:My way of trying to, one, better my Spanish. Because there there's there's a kid stereotype. A is a word that people use for kids who were born of Mexican immigrants, but grew up here and know no Spanish. And it's like it's like looked down upon. Right?
Susy:And I have my own opinions on that. But mariachi music was, like, the first time in a very long time because my grandfather was a mariachi in his young days, and then growing around the restaurants and everything, and and then the restaurants weren't here anymore. I I really felt this disconnect. I felt like I didn't have community anymore. And so when I started, you know, started the Manichu Band here, and I was finally amongst my people again.
Susy:Because when I was going to these shows, the the alternative scene and metal scene, it was very white. It's yeah. I not it was very gatekeepy. Like, not only white, but I'm also a femme presenting person. And, like, there's still BS that happens with that, like crowd killers seeking out femme people just to mess with them.
Tyler:No. Yeah. I yeah. I know.
Susy:And so when I started reconnecting with my culture and speaking more Spanish, and I and I really, you know, to make sure I can speak it well, you know, and and stuff. And I I knew that I wanted to incorporate my culture into what MUELAS would be. One, because growing up, I didn't see people like me in these bands. I didn't. Like, the the first notable band that I knew of was Pierce The Veil.
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:And that to me was really cool. You know? And granted, at that time, I didn't know that there was other bands like Los Crudos and, like, all these really cool punk bands back in Mexico because
Tyler:Right.
Susy:I grew up here. Like, I would spend summers in Tamaulipas, Mexico because that's where my family's from.
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:But I would spend the majority of my time here.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:And so once COVID hit, I feel like all of us had a chance to sit and really ponder No ponder. Think about what we wanna do for the rest of our lives. And during that time, I said, I definitely wanna do this, but I I wanna I want it to be how I wanna do it. And when I started going to shows again in 2022, I went to 80 shows. Wow.
Susy:That's why I was side eyeing you when Sally said you did it.
Tyler:I know. I know.
Susy:I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Listen.
Tyler:I will go. I will go. I will go.
Susy:To shows in itself can be really hard right now, especially because of the state of the economy and we're under capitalism. It's really hard to be, like, find time to even just be a person because we're all just bogged down with work trying to survive. So I get it. You know? When I went to those shows, that really was, like, since COVID, I saw this huge, like, resurgence of not only really dope bands, but bands with POC in them.
Susy:Yeah. I started seeing so many bands with, like, Hispanic kids in them. And, like, I was like, dude, this it's just freaking cool. Like, in Texas, I mean, there's this whole thing of, like, Latinos run hardcore. And, like, really, the alternative scene in Mexico is freaking huge.
Susy:There's bands that wouldn't really tour like, Ramstein, that German metal band. Right?
Tyler:Right.
Susy:They would constantly tour Mexico and would barely hit The US. Like, the scene down there was, like, huge. Like, I remember being middle school, and I thought I was so cool because I had my Evanescence shirt. And then I went to Tamaulipas, and this this it was a smaller town back then. It was Ciudad Monte.
Susy:And there was a guy wearing an evanescent shirt. And there was, like, a small little punk shop in this town. I was like, what? This is so sick. I got, like, little studded, like, sweatbands from that shop, and I got these, like, little fingerless gloves that I still wear.
Susy:And they have skeleton
Tyler:on. Nose is here,
Susy:you know, like, black. And so when I saw these really cool bands, like, popping up, and I I I was like, the diversity in them was really freaking cool. I knew that one, as a front person, you have a platform. And with that platform, it really really kinda comes down to what you wanna put out there. And I wanted to put, especially with what's going on, like, I'm Mexican American.
Susy:I'm freaking proud about it. And I'm always gonna be extremely proud about my Mexican culture and and being Hispanic and and and Latino. And I think right now more than ever, it's it's important. It's important, especially because of the erasure that's trying to happen. And so I really wanted to incorporate Spanish into it, not only because it's so personable to me, but also because of the the the message behind it.
Tyler:Right. Yeah. And it it's and and this has been something with The United States especially for a long time is you have such a obviously, there's more dominant culture, obviously, in The United States, but there's still even amongst even amongst white people, there's a there's a kind of culture fight, I guess, for which which which kind of culture is gonna kinda come out ahead. Like, which one are we gonna highlight more? Are we gonna go off of more Irish, German, Italian?
Tyler:I mean, African American or African Hispanic? Like, there's all these different, like Yeah. And it's like there we these are good ways that we can kind of show them. And there's a battle for culture, but also find how we can kind of work to get like, work live simultaneously with different cultures Yeah. And then not just be a massive culture battle, a massive culture civil war in The United States twenty four seven.
Susy:And also too, like, a lot of people forget that, like, punk rock and rock, it came from black culture. Like, it comes from POC. And it just over time really I don't wanna say, like, what's the word? Not overtaken, but it was really interesting that it really started from POC people. And then the face of it was white.
Susy:And so, yeah, I really wanted to and I'm not the only one doing it. I do wanna preface that. We've been very, very, very like, it's it's been amazing, the reception, you know. And Mhmm. I've seen, you know, a lot of people say the word bilingual hardcore.
Susy:I'm like, is just this is just us. Like, a lot of people, a lot of a lot of there's a lot of Hispanic.
Tyler:Many people speak different languages.
Susy:Languages. You know? It doesn't make us special. It's just a part of who we are.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:You know? It doesn't make us unique or anything. It's just a part of who we are. Yeah. And I think that's freaking cool.
Tyler:If anything, I find the fact that you guys play violin way more, like like, wild, I guess. Yeah. Right? Way way more like, oh, that's unexpected. You know?
Tyler:I'm not gonna, like, look at a hardcore band and be like, there's somebody who is Hispanic leading the front of the band. Like, what? What?
Susy:And there's there's this really cool band that I really, really love. And I don't know if I can say their name because it's inappropriate, but I'll say it anyways. And then you guys can cut it if you want. Mannequin Pussy. That's what said.
Susy:Their front person, Missy. Oh my gosh. They're one of my favorite bands ever. And honestly, one of the big inspirations behind me wanting to do this. And in their romantic album, there is a song where Missy is screaming in Spanish.
Susy:And I was like, Like, I I didn't I didn't it caught me off guard. And I was like, oh, hell yeah. And when I saw them live, I remember the first time I saw them live before they blew up. This was in 2021. I wanted to see them in in, like, 2019 because they had just released patients.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:But I didn't I wasn't able to make it to the show. So I had to wait till after COVID. And there wasn't that many people. There is, like, maybe 60 people, 50, people. It was at I o five.
Susy:And when that song came on, I was, like, one of the only people screaming those Spanish lyrics back. And that to me felt so special. Yeah. And I just I love seeing vocalists where, like, again, it's not, like, the thing that sets you apart. It's just a part of who they are.
Tyler:Well, I think if you're not being who you are as an artist, then you're not really properly pursuing your art,
Susy:I would say. I've I've I've had many many, like, it like, MUELAS, I'm the only Hispanic in the band. And for a long time, I was like, I really want an all Hispanic band. And, you know, it just didn't manifest like that. It just didn't it just didn't happen like that.
Susy:And when Chris came in and James all approached me and were basically a band already Right. They all had because, like, one, just starting a band is can be really hard, especially when you're older. You gotta find time. You need people who are committed to to showing up to practice and, like, doing shows and, like, pushing it. Because, like, man, like, you just see them really like, you just see bands releasing music.
Susy:There's so much work that goes into that.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:Right. So it was a perfect opportunity to, like, start it. And I told them what my message was behind, and they they said, well, we wanna help amplify your voice and what your message wants to be. And so yeah. Like, that there there's so many so many I could talk days about all these really cool bands.
Tyler:But Absolutely.
Susy:Yeah. It's just been really, really cool. And and all the people I've met, like, coming to our shows, like, in particular, like, my Hispanic community coming out to our shows, like, it brings a tear to my eye. It really does. Like, I
Tyler:You don't feel like a like a black sheep, I guess, in
Susy:the community. Like, I look in the audience, and I'm like, oh, I see my people. Like, it's just so freaking cool. And and, like, I've had so many people come up and, like, my my friend Bruno, who I haven't seen in a long time, he he's he was in the band called Iris, and, they were they were they had a Karrang, like, article about them and everything. And then COVID hit, and, like, COVID really stopped a bunch of stuff.
Tyler:Right.
Susy:Right. But, like, Bruno came to my show, and I hadn't seen him in forever. And he when he was in Texas, he got this Metallica sticker, but it says Mexicana.
Tyler:That's awesome.
Susy:But in
Tyler:the Metallica Did anybody even Yeah.
Susy:Yeah. And so it's on my violin case. So whenever I go to shows, like, it's it's on my violin case. He came up and, like, he gave me the biggest hug, and he was just like, you don't know how important this is right now. Like and and he he was just everyone's been giving me so many flowers, and I don't feel like I deserve them.
Susy:And it's just it's just cool. So it clearly makes an impact. It clearly makes an impact, and and I just think that's rad. Because, again, I I've said this since the start when we started this band. I just wanna scream about my feelings, and I had a lot of feelings.
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:Absolutely.
Susy:Mhmm.
Tyler:Can we bring it to one part that we thought was particularly interesting while we're looking into you? We noticed that a lot of you guys' promotional content was a featured teeth. Now, see you laughing because I was curious as to what you would like, what you would think. Yeah. Is there a particular reason why teeth?
Tyler:Is it just kinda like, we just think it's funny, or is there some sort of subliminal message maybe you put in there?
Susy:There's it's layered.
Tyler:Whose teeth is
Susy:it? Mine. I'm just kidding.
Tyler:Oh, probably.
Susy:It's layered. Some is funny. Some is intentional. Okay. When we were coming up with the band name, I had mentioned how, like, there is, like, some previous iterations of it where, like, I kinda try, but it kinda fell through.
Susy:And I wanted the band name to be Chula, which means sweetheart. And it was just because, you know, it's a very, very popular term of endearment that hear all the time. And when I was working at the restaurant, like, I was I was a young kid. Like, I started working when I was 14. Yeah.
Susy:Yeah. And, like, all of them treated me like a daughter. They'd be like, Chulita or Chula Como estas. You know? And so I was like, that'd be a that'd be a cool name for a heavy band, Chula.
Susy:You know, sweetheart. Yeah. But I quickly you know, when you're coming up with a band name, yes, analytics matter, and we realized that there was, like, 30,000,000 artists named Chula, obviously, because it's really popular. Yeah. And so Cayman had kinda thrown around some ideas, and I didn't realize how hard it would be to come up with a band name.
Tyler:Oh, yeah. It is hard. Yeah.
Susy:But I, funny enough, had just had a dentist appointment.
Tyler:Oh, okay.
Susy:And I knew that I need my wisdom teeth out, but I've been they're not bugging me, but I've been prolonging it because I'm scared.
Tyler:Wait. You're currently prolonging
Susy:it? Yeah.
Tyler:Oh, wow. I mean, I thought I was prolonging it.
Susy:My bottom wisdom teeth are growing straight out.
Tyler:Oh, mine too.
Susy:Like, they're just, like, straight, like
Tyler:But they don't I don't hurt.
Susy:They don't hurt. They don't. And
Tyler:If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Susy:Yeah. And came in had said, what about glass smile? And that ended up becoming the title of our
Tyler:debut single.
Susy:Right? And I was like, I don't know. But I won't get too in into detail. But, basically, I'm a big believer that, like, if you talk too much shit, you're gonna rot from the inside out. Right.
Susy:And what is our most communicated vessel of how we express ourselves? Our mouth. And teeth are so visceral. Like, one of the most popular nightmares that people have in the world are their teeth falling out.
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:And it's usually from, like, people being stressed out or they're going through something really it's a very common nightmare to have. And for me, teeth are just they're weird. There's these little bones sticking out of her jaw.
Tyler:Like, what? You know? They're, like, crushed stuff in there.
Susy:Right. And my teeth are super crooked. I got I got a little fangs. I got a snaggle tooth. You know?
Susy:And and I like it. Yeah. And so when Kamin said glass smile, I was I started, like, doing something. And there is a particular instance in my life where people have not been so kind. And in particular, there's someone who really was the embodiment of, like, rotting from the inside out, from just how awful they were, you know.
Susy:And and when Cayman kinda threw this around, I jokingly said, oh, what about molars? And Cayman was like, well and then I went, wait. Like, MUELAS del Cucio.
Tyler:Like That sounds more pretty.
Susy:Right? I was like, wait. I like I like that. I was like, wait. That's and so because my mom literally was just talking to me about.
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:Because she only speaks Spanish. You know? That's weird.
Susy:So I was like, wait. That's kinda cool. And so when I presented it to the band, they were like, run it. That's sick. I like it.
Susy:Teeth is weird, and we wanted something kinda gross and you
Tyler:know? Right.
Susy:Right. But, yeah, like, the funny side of it is, yeah, I need my wisdom teeth out.
Tyler:I don't think you can anymore. I think it's too
Susy:late. Yeah. I don't know. If they grow into my brain, that's fine. It's already messed up.
Susy:And I wanted, You know, wanted my my wisdom teeth out, but also, like, it's it's a very visceral thing. And, you know, this really is, like, your vessel of the best way you communicate. And if you're just an awful person, your teeth are gonna rot out.
Tyler:That's a that's a great metaphor. Well, brought this up, and I thought this would be this is a very interesting thing that's happening for you guys. You guys are gonna be in a movie. A movie. Perhaps on the big screen.
Susy:Yeah.
Tyler:So tell us about and it comes out tomorrow, March 2. So this has already come out, so go check it out because it's already out. Mhmm. But how did you get this how did you get this opportunity? It's clearly collaborative effort effort.
Tyler:How was it put together? Stuff like that.
Susy:Yeah. I would love to talk about it. So it's called Standard Selects, the movie.
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:And we were reached out to by Asia. And Asia is a part of Mainline
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:Atlanta. And if you don't know Mainline, Mainline is an integral part of independent journalism in Atlanta. Mainline are actually the ones who broke the story about Cop City when it first happened. They were the ones who broke it. And so when Asia reached out, you know, Cayman and James live in the city of Atlanta, I'm, you know, I'm OTP.
Susy:They were, like, immediately, like, y'all, Mainline just hit us up. And Mhmm. I was like, what? This crazy. Like, what?
Susy:Yeah. And Asia had become a big fan. So we we performed we opened up for Upchuck at the goat Farm, which is insane, by the way, for us to just start. Yeah. And then opening up for Upchuck.
Susy:What? Like Mhmm. Upchuck's yeah. Yeah. We were honored.
Susy:One, that they even knew who my little rinky dinky band is. But, like, KT came out to a show and was like, I keep hearing about y'all. I I I want let's play a show, and and it ended up happening. And so that's how Asia found us. And so Asia and Standard Electric recording, they used to do these, like, live performances and interviews with bands.
Susy:I think it was before COVID. And then it just kinda, like, you know, sizzled out a little bit, and they're gonna bring it back. And it's called Standard Selects. And so the independent film is sort of like a collab of a series of live performances and interviews from bands notable in Atlanta. Not just notable, but like bands that are really kind of like snapshots of the Atlanta music scene.
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:And they had one spot left in Asia. Really was like, I want MUELAS on it. And we were like, what in the world? Because, like
Tyler:Sure. Why not? Yeah.
Susy:Like Right. Because, like, you know, UPCHECK's on it and, like, they're small as the bands on it. We were just, like, are we worthy? Sure. You sure about that?
Susy:Yeah. We right. And, I mean, we were not gonna say no. Like, that's so cool. And so they had us out at Standard Electric to record the live the live session.
Susy:It was really cool. It was like Audio Tree style
Tyler:Mhmm.
Susy:Like KEXP style, and then they filmed our interview after. Wow. And the interview is very heavy on just Atlanta community music and also the political activism in Atlanta. Because MUELAS is not only, you know, I'm screaming about my feelings, but we are a very political band on top of it. And it was it was perfect for us.
Susy:That way we could talk about our single Melt, which is a, anti ice song. And that single blew up on TikTok, and there's been a lot of people who have really resonated with my message, especially with seeing people like me, seeing people who look like my dad being kidnapped off the street. And so they it was really centered around that, and they were really interested in hearing our voice and our perspective, especially because we were newer on the scene, and we've we've done I'm I'm very proud to say that we've done some some great, like, donations for Yeah. We did some donations for Glar, and that was at our first show. And then since then, we have a donation box every show.
Susy:It's for the Latino Community Fund, LCF. My friend Amanda works for them, and that's how, like, we got connected. Because I knew that, like, on top of whatever message I wanted to to bring out there, I wanted to be a part in helping organizations because it's really important right now. And then we we just got together and, like, Asia did this great story together and and that and now it's coming out tomorrow, and we're like, what happened? Yeah.
Susy:Because we we recorded it, like, two weeks ago. Yeah. Two and a half weeks ago. And so it's exciting. So it's gonna
Tyler:be exciting. Absolutely.
Susy:At the Plaza Theater.
Tyler:Oh, and you're going to that tomorrow night? Mhmm. Oh, that's awesome.
Susy:30. Super excited. And but, yeah, that's how that happened.
Tyler:That's awesome. That's and what is this gonna is this gonna be on, like, YouTube, you think? Or
Susy:Yeah. They're gonna slowly release different sessions throughout the course because they're gonna start the series back up. So look on Instagram, Mainline Instagram, and Standard Electric on Instagram too. Yeah. But we
Tyler:Y'all look at it too.
Susy:But, yeah, we have that, and then we've got some crazy stuff coming up. I don't know if we have time for me to shout out some quick shows.
Tyler:No. We're literally right into our final questions. Awesome. Feel free just give me you wanna shout out some.
Susy:Cool. Let me make sure I have my
Tyler:Is that your alarm? My yeah. I don't know why. Like, was something. Yeah.
Susy:So, yeah, we have some cool shows coming up on March 8, which I don't know if it'll be out by now, but we're opening up for Palaces and Leaf Blower. It's Palaces album release. Okay. We were supposed to play with them in January at Boggs, but it got rescheduled because of the weather.
Tyler:Yeah. But
Susy:this is the reschedule. It sits on the eighth at Boggs. We're also gonna be opening up Back to Earth. We're playing with Back to Earth, Frigga five, and our friends and apostle on March 23 at the masquerade.
Tyler:That's the day of this that's the day of this upload.
Susy:So Oh my god.
Tyler:That'll be good that'll be good timing. Yeah. There you go.
Susy:It's being announced tomorrow. Well, you know, today is the day. You know you know what I mean.
Tyler:Right. Right. Absolutely.
Susy:We're also doing Little Fife Fest.
Tyler:Oh,
Susy:okay. Super excited to be doing that. Oh, absolutely. So we're going on around, I think, 04:30. Okay.
Susy:But lots of dope bands. Like, Tunnels is on it. Big Yellow is on it. Like, please come out, like oh, no cost to action. Sorry.
Susy:But if you wanna come out I will. If you wanna come out, it's a really great way to support the the music scene here in Atlanta. We also we've got some other shows coming up. They're not quite ready to announce, but we're finally playing Chattanooga. I have such
Tyler:a Chattanooga? Special Yes.
Susy:Chattanooga is so cool. I really like
Tyler:So tiny.
Susy:Man, y'all scene is insane. I I I've been to a couple shows up there, like, hardcore shows.
Tyler:Really?
Susy:It they pop off. They pop off. Listen. Chattanooga is where it's at. I saw a really cool show with, I believe it was gum and drug church in a church.
Susy:It was sick. And, like, drug church, they're they're pretty big now too. Were, like, they're one of my favorite bands too. And know. So that was really cool.
Susy:But we're playing there on April 26 at the Boneyard.
Tyler:That's right. Before my birthday.
Susy:Come out. Finally, come out to a show.
Tyler:I love the Chattanooga, so
Susy:I love Chattanooga. And it's gonna be a benefit show for an organization. They haven't they haven't choose like, chosen which one yet, but it will be an organization that helps with immigration. And then this is my first time announcing it, but we are touring Europe in May.
Tyler:What? Okay. Cool.
Susy:I know. It's so this has been in the works for a little bit now. We got hit up by Ilterfest. It's a DIY hardcore heavy fest in Denmark. Wow.
Tyler:That's crazy.
Susy:They we came across their TikTok, and they hit us up, and they were like, hey. We know you guys are, like, just starting out. This is kinda crazy, but really love your band. Like, if you guys I don't know if you want to, but we have this festival in May, and this was, like, almost a year ago. Y'all, like, just started.
Susy:What? Just started. And they were like, we'll we'll we'll do what we can to get you out here if if you guys wanna come. And, like, I looked at my bandmates, and I was like, are we really about to tour Europe before we do an American tour? Yeah.
Susy:And Kabe is like, I don't care. I wanna do it. Absolutely. Yeah. I mean yeah.
Susy:I just I wanna do it. And we were, like, so down. I'm like, are you kidding me? Yes.
Tyler:Have you already made an Instagram post yet?
Susy:No. This is the first time I'm announcing it. So I
Tyler:mean, wow. Okay.
Susy:Yeah. We're playing Denmark.
Tyler:Well, congrats guys. Like, Little round of applause.
Susy:I appreciate it. That's on the twenty second of May. Okay. And then we just confirmed a show in Copenhagen on the twenty first. And so crazy.
Susy:We've got another one hopefully, in the works.
Tyler:Oh, that's kind of a huge for you guys.
Susy:We have a a fan out in Belfast that has kinda reached out a couple times, like, yo. Can I get merch? Or, hey. That's crazy. Do you wanna come over here?
Susy:And I'm in I'm trying to see if there's a way to maybe pop over to Belfast. You know? But Yeah. But we'll see. And then, yeah, there's like I said, there's a couple of other stuff, but they're not quite ready to announce.
Susy:Lastly, I'll leave is we just got our masters for EP. Our first EP. Nice. And, we'll be filming a music video for that very soon. I'll be filming it our
Tyler:own Sweet.
Susy:Our own one. And, yeah. So that'll be in the next couple of months. We get to finally release it because people keep asking, and I'm nervous about it. But I'm excited.
Tyler:That sounds great. Mhmm. Well, thank you for coming out. Really appreciate it. I know this wasn't really a far drive for you.
Susy:Yeah. But
Tyler:really appreciate it. Great episode. You had a lot of great things to say. Easy it was an easy job for me today. Very easy.
Tyler:I didn't have to work very hard. Thank you guys so much for listening to episode of the podcast. If you guys like what to like to find any links, check the link in the bio. Look at The Creators Table podcast wherever you listen to podcasts or on YouTube. And look at The Band, WELAZ, on Instagram or wherever you listen to music.
Tyler:Other than that, have a great day. Bye. Bye. I wonder who's who's getting this one. Sorry.
Tyler:I would I would call them out if I could. Are you Valena? Are you Valena? I hope it's Valena. I'm so