Sitting Down With the Kinetic Midnight Generation

Interview by Christian Hernandez | Read the ACL Weekend 1 Recap here

On Day 2 of Austin City Limits weekend 1, I got the incredible pleasure of sitting down and meeting with a new group making waves in the dance scene, hailing from Chihuahua, Mexico: Midnight Generation. They are currently touring their newest album, Teacher, and are going to be hitting the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage on Day 3. Ahead of their performance, I got to ask them a few questions to get a little insight about them.

Midnight Generation by Pooneh Ghana for ACL

Chris: I'm joined by the exciting disco pop band making its way to the scene, Midnight Generation. How are you guys doing today? ¿Cómo están?

All Together: Bien, bien, happy to be here!

Chris: I want to give you guys the chance to introduce yourselves, why don’t we go down the line here.

Fernando: I’m Fernando, I play the keys, the talk box and the guitar.

Charlie: I’m Charlie, I play bass and synth bass.

Diego: Hello, I’m Diego, and I play the percussion.

Sam: Hey, hello! My name is Sam and I play the drums.

Bica: And I am Bica and I play the synthesizers!

Chris: I want to start off, how does it feel to be here at ACL, it’s you guys first time here, what does that feel like?

Fernando: First time here, we are really excited and looking forward to tomorrow for our presentation at Tito's stage. We got a nice set ready for the people and hopefully we have a lot of fun!

Chris: I wanted to talk about all the sounds you guys have. When I’m listening to your music, you know, you can hear the influences from Prince and Daft Punk, which I’m sure you guys have all heard before. The talk box, the synthesizer, especially on the last album [Teacher], which is incredible, by the way. What sets Midnight Generation apart from the artists and music that influences you guys?

Fernando: Well, this sound, the sound that we like, the ones we like to hear, that “Shake that ass” sound, that has been the best sound in the world and in history. That is something that could never be replicated. So we are doing our own thing with all the new technology, which is really the difference. We are Mexican, which is another culture, another taste, so we are trying to make our own thing with those differences and influences.

Chris: Since you guys are from Mexico, what was it like starting the band in Mexico? Was there a scene there, a disco scene? Was it difficult to get that sound going?

Fernando: Yea, well there is a scene, a really good scene in Mexico around this kind of music, but it’s not really that big, and so we took advantage of that, because we are one of the biggest bands there in that genre. So it’s been great, and the only thing that happened really slow for us is singing In English in Mexico, it was a little bit hard, but now the people are accepting it.

Chris: I love that you mentioned speaking in English, when I was listening to Teacher, I wasn’t catching a lot of Spanish lyrics, you have a few songs in Spanish, but the majority is in English. Is that a deliberate choice?

Charlie: I think it happened organically, you know, because all of our influences are in English, so when the project was starting, we were looking to want to sound like them, and so I think English is like, the obvious choice-

Fernando: It sounds better!

Charlie: (laughs) Yea, it’s also easier to write in English (laughs) I mean, but that’s another point. It was more of an organic choice rather than a specific choice-

Fernando: Or like a strategic one.

Charlie: Yea, that’s right

Chris: I was watching the sets of you guys, the ones internationally and the ones here in the States, is there any kind of difference from performing in front of international crowds versus performing here in the States?

Fernando: Like most of the people, they’re really passionate, the difference is, for example in Europe, they dance a little bit more, but that doesn’t mean they like the music better than the Americans. And the Americans, they’re crazy. They are loud, really loud. But, it takes a little bit more time sometimes to get them dancing, but as soon as you do, it’s great.

Sam: And another example that I can think of was in Norway. When we played Norway, what I could see from the stage was that nobody took their phones out, or almost never. So they were so into the show, you know? They did like a circle, they were dancing, they were crowd surfing, it was amazing.

Chris: Hopefully we are able to do that here for you guys. So you guys are on tour here in the States, you guys are coming to Houston, where I’m from, so I’ll be sure to be at the Houston show. Is there a different kind of preparation that you guys do when doing a smaller concert versus a festival? Is there a different set of nerves that comes with that?

Fernando: Well, we always are changing some of the songs that go in and out, like in the full show, we share more than in a festival. In a festival, you definitely have to bring the hits-

Sam: Bring the energy!

Fernando: Yeah, so that the people who are new, they have a good time and then they get to start to know the brand from scratch.

Chris: So what has been y'alls favorite memory or moment together since starting this band and going on this journey?

Bica: This tour has been the greatest adventure that we have had as a band, so this tour has been my greatest memory.

Sam: The same, but I don’t know. I think the show in Norway was very cool for me, you know? It was amazing to play there, the sun never set, so it was crazy. Yea, definitely Norway.

Diego: (Translated from Spanish) We have gotten to know each other like members of the band, like friends, we have played in different places, so many shows that have been so good and so many not as good. So I think this experience has been really special for the growth of the band.

Charlie: Yeah, I think also on a personal level, just getting to know the guys better because we’ve been at this 24/7, for months, and the bonds we made, and you also learn a lot about yourself too when you are out on the road for so long. And that’s also kind of the deal of the inside, you know? Not just going out and playing, but what’s actually going on inside here in each one of us. It has been super interesting.

Chris: My last question, what can the fans and new fans expect from you guys during your set tomorrow?

Fernando: We’re going to have fun, we’re going to bring some funky jams, we’re gonna bring a lot of energy, and [to the fans] try to enjoy the moment! We hope they like it!

Chris: I’m sure they will! Thank you guys for sitting down with me for a little bit.

All: Thank you very much!

Teacher is out now everywhere you stream music!

Check them out in a city near you, and be sure to check out the rest of my ACL coverage!