Carlos Elías left the primary care doctor consultation to focus on music. Now, it is full time producer and guitarist of Alcalá Norte, the group that is a favorite in several categories of independent music awards, which are delivered …
Carlos Elías left the primary care doctor consultation to focus on music. Now, it is full time producer and guitarist of Alcalá Norte, the group that is a favorite in several categories of independent music awards, which are delivered this Tuesday, April 29.
He was a family doctor. Did the specialty choose him always clear?
I liked to know everything, I was among family medicine, internal medicine or rheumatology. In the end, I chose family medicine because it was the only one that assured me not to have to depend on the hospital.
I have read that he misses his patients …
To the chronicles, of course. They are the best there are.
Is a link with them created?
No, none. I changed consultation every six months. It was the only way to work tomorrow and be able to compatible with the study and with other things: he made the consultation of a partner who was on low or on vacation. And, when he ended, he changed to another. I like that because it helps you always be alert.
Because?
Because you don’t know the consultation and you never relax. One of the biggest problems that primary care medicine has in this country is the fixed square. The strong point of the system is that you know your patients. But you relax, there are things that you stop seeing, they are in front and you don’t realize. There are many colleagues who are updating, studying, always improving. And that have residents. But many others do nothing. Therapeutic inertia is dangerous.
And when did you start playing music?
I started with the piano at age seven, until 16. And with the guitar in the race.
Was it difficult to make music and medical studies compatible?
It took two years more than what I owed. I studied in Badajoz the race and the MIR exam between September 2006 and April 2015.
When did you form your first group?
I had one with colleagues and another in my town, Navalmoral de la Mata. But nothing serious, it was to have fun.
And, at the beginning of 2019, he set up his study …
Yes, the coffee maker, in the center of Madrid. With my partner Pablo Fergus and, later, also with Alex Moreno.
Was it difficult to combine it with the consultation?
No, when I wasn’t going to the consultation, I went to the studio. It was a matter of looking for holes.
What albums that would have recommended?
Liberation Street, from Sexy Zebras, along with Pablo Fergus. That album was his consecration, because they had separated in 2019 and returned with this album and put them on the map definitely.
What is the difference between the study and the live stage?
On stage you are playing a role, a specific speech. In the study console, you are working for a band, giving a service. It has nothing to do with each other, even if they have both to do with music: you have to know how to read the artist who comes to the studio and put yourself in their place to get the most out of that band or that artist.
And do they be advised in general?
Some yes, others do not. Those who are more professionals are allowed to advise, delegate to you.
And those who oppose more?
It is a mixture of insecurity and being novice. It happens a lot and I have to work twice and adapt to make them happy. As the consultation, basically.
Returning to consultation, do you think artificial intelligence will help doctors?
Absolutely. If, suddenly, I have a deterioration of the renal function of new appearance, I have to review the last analytics of recent years, if the patient has requested urinary ultrasounds, background, if it is diabetic or not, if you have consulted for a thousand things … However, if the system tells me and is giving me clues, artificial intelligence is a tool that, in the end, should not scare us. Because the doctor has to handle it as one more tool.
And how do you see the issue until precariousness, to chain contracts? Or was it what I wanted?
It was my decision, because it was the only way to work in the morning. If they gave me some interim or fixed square, it was going to be some of the afternoon. I was not interested in that at all.
How do I hook with Alcalá Norte?
I discovered them playing in a small room in the center of Madrid in November 2021 and I was clear that something had to be done and I started producing them. Many things passed through and changed training several times. And in the end we made the album: I insisted a lot to surround themselves with the right people when working music and that everyone did their job well. And the play went well.
Although they are frequently demonized, social networks have played a key role in publicizing Alcalá Norte. What do you think?
It is still another tool to transmit your speech and communicate what you want. I do not share the opinion of other artists who complain that they now have to publish content in networks. We, in the band, have distributed the tasks: Rivas, the singer, goes to many interviews. It is a lot of work. I take care of the theme of musical production. And Paul carries the networks, it was something that emerged naturally.
Because?
He takes a lifetime in Internet forums and understands how codes work. And it always has a very ironic language, very permanent mockery and very meme. The power that Paul achieves on social networks is tremendous. Reality is already imposed, people are interested in hearing the things that happen to us, our concerns, things that are fun. Real stories.
He has even had to be a doctor from the band singer, Álvaro Rivas, when he had an appendicitis attack …
Yes, I did remote medicine, which in no case replaces a conventional physical examination. Blumberg’s sign was negative, the rovsing was negative, the psoas was negative, the foot-talón was positive and had the typical presentation of diffuse abdominal pain with vomiting. So I told him to go to the emergency room at eight in the morning to do an analytical, they did the ultrasound when they arrived [El diagnóstico se confirmó y Rivas se sometió a una cirugía, de la que se ha recuperado y que ha permitido que la banda retome su actividad].
And is it still updated in medicine?
After this, no.
Has it also had a doctor other times on tour?
Some twist or some insolation, nothing serious.
How do you see the future? Does it consider one day to return to the consultation?
There is always time to return because, among other things, there are no doctors: they are going to work in Portugal, France or Ireland because they pay twice. And it is normal for a young doctor to leave.
Do you have already closed for this year, how do you prepare for so many concerts?
At the moment, we are going to play at 30 festivals. I insist the musicians to eat well, not from snacks. On tour, you have to take care and rest what is necessary. In the end, people have paid the entrance, they are spending their time and you have to give a good show.
