Carlos Niño
by Mister Mime
13th June 2021
Carlos Niño is an artist who operates in the spiritual realm and transforms his consciousness and divine energy into art through percussion, poetry, music production and more.
A modern trailblazer of spiritual improv, space collage and experimental jazz, Carlos, with the help of his band of collaborators, channels the vast expanse of natural vibrations on this planet and conducts them into tapestries of sound and space that beckon the listener to raise their awareness and tune in to the boundless beauty of creation.
MM: "Actual Presence" & "More Energy Fields, Current" - What do these album titles signify?
CN:
Actual Presence = Total Aliveness, True Being, Eternal Now Consciousness
More Energy Fields, Current = Depth, Expansive, Feeling, Auric, Flow State
MM: Your song titles are interesting, to say the least, from the seemingly evident ones like 'Thanking The Earth' (The way that I imagine it, the song feels like the title), 'Togetherness' or 'In The Moment', to slightly more cryptic ones - 'Pleasewakeupalittlefaster, please...', 'Mushroom Eclipse', 'Luis' Special Shells', etc. How do you name your tracks usually? Are there any stories behind these track names, their creation, or the making of the album that you would like to share?
CN:
My Titles come from anywhere, some are streams
of poetry, some are very specific acknowledgements.
"Luis's Special Shells" is a reference to the basis
of that piece: I borrowed "priceless" Mexican Sea Shells
from Luis Pérez Ixoneztli. He said that they are over
3000 years old. They have an incredibly unique sound.
I layered multiple versions of the recordings that I did
with them, then Jamael Dean added keyboards, then I
collaged in some of Jamire Williams' Drums. The Titles
are about how the pieces feel to me, or what inspired
the Music, and how the words flow.
MM: Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how your journey began?
CN:
My journey in Music has been constant from as far
as my Memory in this incarnation goes. I am first
and foremost a listener and collector of Sounds.
I create music in a variety of ways, with many
instruments and many collaborators. My Friends.
It's an always flowing, ever abundant stream…
Let's go for a swim.
MM: What is spirituality to you? How do you bring Spirituality into your life & music?
CN:
Spirituality is Consciousness, practice of Soul Awareness,
the interconnectedness of all life, on all levels,
holographically projecting, reflecting, interpenetrating,
in various forms, Omniversally…
MM: Your albums seem to always have an abundance of collaborators. Can you talk briefly about your collaborative process and how working with the right musicians is essential to bring out your own sound and creativity?
CN:
We are here Together, now, and I celebrate that.
Making Music Together is one of the greatest
things that we can do. Expressing from our
Hearts, the feelings/perspectives of our Experiences
here, the Visions we have, the Consideration for
and Projection of what's possible. I am so
grateful for the openness of my Friends and
their generosity to connect with me so much,
so often and so deeply, Musically and in other ways.
MM : Jazz, Soul, world, folk, psychedelic, experimental, new age, post hip-hop; What’s your take on the concept of ‘genres’? How do you go about drawing from different musical influences and sonic palettes to craft your own signature sound?
CN:
It's all Expression/Communication. The form
doesn't matter to me, I'm into the openness.
I'm not concerned with fitting into anything, and I Love so many
"genres," that they just seamlessly flow together for me,
and in a way do not exist. If it's Honest, Real, Authentic,
from the Heart...That's it! No need to judge it,
just let it out, let it go.
MM: Can you tell us a bit about 'Spaceways Radio'?
CN:
Spaceways Radio was my weekly Radio Show on
KPFK 90.7FM Los Angeles from 1995 - 2015.
I went through a variety of phases, playing lots of
Music, with many guest DJs, Interviews and Live
Performances.
MM: Who are your most significant musical influences?
CN:
John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Yusef Lateef,
Don Cherry, Sun Ra and his many Arkestras, Iasos, Laraaji,
and so many others...
MM: Who/which are some artists/records that you've been digging recently?
CN:
New Releases:
Ariel Kalma Le Temps Des Moissons Vol.2
Akai Solo True Sky
Sons Of Kemet Black To The Future
cktrl mazes
cktrl robyn
Flying Lotus Yasuke
and
everything by Knxwledge
everything by John Tchicai
everything by Maleem Mahmoud Guinia
many things by Cheba Fadela and Cheb Sahraoui
and
Nate Mercereau SUNDAYS (forthcoming)
MM: What are your interests outside of music?
CN: Hiking, Swimming, Body Surfing, Walking,
Talking with Friends, The Forest, The Beach,
Farmers Markets, Waterfalls, Psychedelic Journeys,
Yummy Organic Foods and Drinks, Deep Soul Connections
with Friends, Being Kind and Caring of/for all
living things on this Magical Planet Earth!
(Even those that I do not like.)
MM: Can you tell us about the album artwork for both the records?
CARLOS:
The Actual Presence Cover was made by my Friend
Nep Sidhu @nepsidhu / https://www.nepsidhu.com
We met through Ishmael Butler aka Shabazz Palaces.
He's Visionary. The Cover depicts a Portal / Gateway
in the form of a Cosmic Book, Craft, Ship
The More Energy Fields, Current Cover is a photo
of the Pacific Ocean by my Friend Todd Weaver
@toddweaver_ https://www.toddweaver.com
MM: What advice would you have for young/upcoming drummers, musicians and artists?
CARLOS:
My advice is to be yourself. As totally and completely
yourself as possible. What that means, is up to You!
Don't be afraid, go deep. Then go deeper...
Follow Carlos Niño on:
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/more-energy-fields-current
https://carlosnino.bandcamp.com/
All Images courtesy of Carlos Niño
