What happens when a small-town Ontario musician and his Mexican-Canadian friend spend a weekend ice fishing in the vessel of a ship called The Nostromo?
For Anders Drerup and Izzy Martinez, it was a time to share their passion for rock and roll over (more than) a few tall boys, and pursue something beyond their late night jam sessions at Drerup’s recording studio in rural Quebec. With the addition of local friends Dan Joseph on bass and Ross Murray on the drums, The Nostromos was born.
“We’re all a bunch of Canadian rockers,” says Drerup, the lead singer and guitarist. He is inspired by bands like April Wine, Prism and Eight Seconds — what he calls, “The big heavy guitars, straight ahead meat and potatoes rock and roll.”
But what differentiates this band is the addition of Latin American elements, inspired in part by Martinez who is originally from Yucatán, Mexico. Martinez went to music school in Mexico City and holds two degrees. Drerup says his knowledge of Latin American music and culture is a big influence on the band’s overall sound.
“We’re drawing on our own experiences as Canadian rock musicians and we’re also drawing on the experience we have within the band playing Latin American music,” he says. “And because of the respect we all have for the process of mashing it up, we try to really get deep with everything that we’re doing.”
The Nostromos also incorporate an indigenous style of music called cumbia that originates from Colombia. In its traditional form, the rhythm features horns and brass instruments, hence the band’s rotating cast of keyboardists, horn players and percussionists to create a truly unique and upbeat sound.
Late last year, the band was in Juarez, Mexico to meet with promoters and shoot a video for their latest single, “Dinero.” The teaser video is on the band’s Facebook page and the full video will be released in the coming weeks.
“The world opened up to us down there in a way that I have never experienced in my life in Canada,” says Drerup, referring to the high costs of playing as a professional original act in his home country. “People came out of the woodwork to help.”
After the devastating earthquake that hit Mexico City in September 2017, the band felt it was their duty to give back to the people and the culture that had inspired them throughout their musical careers. They played an earthquake relief concert in Montreal on October 26, and hand-delivered the proceeds to community members in Mexico. Upon its release, the band will also be donating the proceeds from the sales of “Dinero.”
The Nostromos play mostly in Mexico and are currently planning a tour there this spring. The details are still being confirmed, but keep an eye on their website for dates and lineups. Drerup says he hopes to eventually play in Argentina and Colombia, but for now the band is focused on creating a buzz in Mexico. When asked where he sees the band in five years, Drerup doesn’t miss a beat.
“So busy in Latin America that we have no time to hang out in Canada.”