Danny Lee Blackwell (Night Beats) and Carolina Faruolo (ex-Los Bitchos) have long been friends and supporters of each other's musical endeavours. With Abraxas the pair finally capitalise on their mutual respect.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Danny: We are Abraxas, we come from Planet Abraxas and we make anti-gravitational dance music.

What encouraged you to start Abraxas?

Danny: We've been friends for a long time, and each other's music and approach to writing songs became a shared experience. During the lockdowns we wanted to create a different world or distant planet, together for us to wander free in.

Carolina: We began writing songs together without a fully formed idea of starting a band, the tracks ended up having a life on their own and Abraxas was built around them.

What is the background story of your band name?

Danny: Abraxas can mean a lot of things but there were a few factors in why we chose the name. Carolina's guitar melodies reminded me of Santana's Abraxas, but in a completely different way; more importantly we each independently came to the word itself. Abraxas has many meanings though, all mysterious in their own right.

Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?

Danny: After a while we felt the songs we were working on together deserved to be a full record. I was able to work at a great studio in Pomona, Ca called 22nd Dimension, and Caro did her parts at Brunswick Mill in Manchester, so we pieced together the songs and mixed ourselves, with help of friend Chris Maciel.

How are you feeling about releasing your debut album Monte Carlo?

Danny: Great.

Carolina: It's super exciting to have this collection of songs out in the world, it's a fun blend of all the music that inspires us.

Can you tell us more about the concept behind this album?

Danny: Monte Carlo is the first recorded transmission from Planet Abraxas. The music paints pictures of pink and purple moons, sparkling night sky jungles, jaguar breath thickening the already dense mist, moss overgrowing stone temples and heat.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

Danny: 'Love Below/Speakerboxx' by Outkast, cause it's great.

Carolina: "Corazon Valiente" by Gilda, it was one of my first introductions to Cumbia back in the 90s. It was also one of the first CDs I owned.

Is there any new music from 2022 you have been enjoying?

Carolina: My absolute favourite song of 2022 is "Waves" by The Soundcarrires.

There's a great new album that just came out by Uruguayan artist Paul Higgs called "Tridimensional" (favourite track "Ni Ahi"). It's a wonderful snapshot of the current music scene back home but done with a twist. It's a super interesting record.

I've also been really enjoying Yin Yin's new album and I've just been to see Jack Conman here in Manchester and loved all of his new songs.

What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to your music?

Danny: Have fun.

Carolina: Loads of reverb and delay!

What do you love right now?

Danny: My bandmates.

Carolina: A song called "Las Limeñas" by a Bolivian tropical band called Los Dantes, I've had it on repeat for the last couple of weeks. I particularly love the guitar sound, classic South American production from the 70s/80s, it's beautiful.

What do you hate right now?

Danny: Cops.

Carolina: The fact that the summer is ending.

Is there a particular place in the world you would love to play a gig one day?

Danny: Angkor Wat

Carolina: I'd love to play a show at a beach, so we can see and hear the sea while we perform.

Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

Danny: Trust your gut, but question everything.

Start Listening To: Abraxas