“Yes, let’s talk. “I am available,” he says. Ariel Pink on the other side of WhatsApp, from some street in Los Angeles. The app was installed for this interview, because the initial proposal was to do it by phone. Yes, that device connected to a wall that in the prelude to the iPhone 16 is an anachronism. Since his celebrated Buenos Aires debut, 12 years ago, when He was the great figure of indie, the lo-fi scientist and musician who installed pink dye in his hair before the Crystal Generation adopted it as a symbol, a lot of water was under the bridge. So much so that the Californian almost drowned. After attending the pro-Trump demonstrations in front of Congress (turned into the assault on the Capitol), his world collapsed. The cancellation and the escrache were of such magnitude that his record label’s decision to cut him off was a small step in contrast to the death threats his family received.
He multi-instrumentalist born in 1978 had to go to Tucker Carlsonthe conservative American political commentator who became an admirer of Javier Milei, so that he would give him the opportunity on the news signal (also conservative) Fox News to have the right to reply. Or rather an opportunity to justify his actions. Since then, became more indie than ever. More for self-management than for musicbecause he is still betting on the sound aesthetic that made him known and that found its climax in the celebrated album Before Today (2010). After that black January of 2021, she released two more albums, which she comes to present in Buenos Aires this Tuesday, May 14, at Uniclub (Guardia Vieja 3360), at 8 p.m., along with, of course, the rest of his work. Which, at least in the live show, is still his. Because his records still belong to his former label.
-Although you did not face a civil trial for participating in the demonstrations at the Capitol, you went so far as to say that you were almost left destitute. What was it like putting your musical career back together?
-I have experience in that. I mean, then and now I always started over. Especially after releasing an album. Or something like that. It’s not so complicated anymore because, despite everything, I was able to continue. Although in some places I am still canceled and that is perhaps what worries me the most.
-How can the historic criminal trial against Trump that is happening right now affect you?
-I’m afraid, but I’m not scared. I guess it will be a very hard process. I don’t have much hope about it. However, I will continue doing what I know how to do. With the same conviction as always. Before the world changes.
-I assume you are aware of what is happening in Argentina.
-It seems to me that what happened with Milei in Argentina was a small victory for us. It is a good signal. I sincerely hope so.
-In this time, what does freedom of expression mean to you?
-Now we don’t have that freedom, if you want to know my honest opinion. They don’t want us to say what we want to say and when we do, what we get is hate.
-Does that motivate you to compose?
-Why would I write about that? If in the end they are going to judge me the same. What can happen to me for expressing my ideas is very cynical. I don’t say this to depress people but to scare them.
-And what encourages you to keep going?
-What encourages me to move forward is knowing that there are many things I have to finish. A lot of projects. Furthermore, I realized that I don’t know how to do anything else. I’m just an idiot who only knows how to make music.
-I don’t know if you know the Argentine musician Andrés Calamaro. He follows you on social network X. He thinks the same as you, and he continues making records and playing.
-It’s what should happen. I’m happy for him.
-Why aren’t your last two albums on Spotify?
-I don’t dare upload music to digital platforms because I’m canceled (except for his last two albums, his entire discography, including two compilations released in 2021, is on Spotify, which translates into half a million monthly visits). It’s stupid to invest money that I don’t have so they can try to exclude me. Anyway, I never paid that much attention to those types of formats.
Ariel Pink paid tribute to one of the cursed artists of the ’60s, Bobby Jameson (he was the victim of a bipolar manager who hurt the American musician so much that he ended up in an asylum, and then committed suicide, after a brief reappearance in 2007), through the album Dedicated to Bobby Jameson (2017). And he returned to the fray five years later with the Ariel Pink Darkside project, from which the album was the fruit. The Key of Life Is Disobedience, whose title alludes to a maxim often attributed to the esotericist Aleister Crowley. “It is an album inspired by my cancellation,” explains its author. “I did it with several musicians and it is based on different musical styles. In addition, there are some songs sung in Spanish (among which the psychobilly “Besos en la cama” stands out).
-Last year you took Never Made A Demo, Ever. Is it a kind of self-referential parody of your musical imprint?
-It’s basically an album of demos. Since I don’t have a record deal to fulfill, I can do whatever I want. I collected recordings I had and made several cassette tapes of this, limited edition. Cassettes and vinyl, recitals and my merchandising is what I’m living off of.
