After many years abroad, Juan Mazzola has returned home in hopes of finding the password to break through the Argentine music scene. As the leader of the power pop group Baby Scream, he has released music in the UK, USA, Germany, and Argentina. In order to introduce Baby Scream to Argentine listeners, he has recently released a compilation album of his greatest hits or as it’s titled “Greatest Failures”. In addition to the album, Juan and Baby Scream will be performing live throughout Buenos Aires in the coming months. We caught up with Juan to find out a little bit more about Baby Scream.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how Baby Scream started?
My background has been changing luckily, haha. Baby Scream started being something like an acoustic duo that we had with a friend, it took us a lot of effort to put together a band, until we did it. After that, the band disbanded, then I was playing solo for a time (under the same name) until I put together another band, with other people. The bassist went to live in Germany, I went too and in Germany the band disbanded again. Then I played solo again..until finally I ended up forming the band for a third time with Diego Serra on drums, Leandro Emanuele on bass and Maximiliano Sueldo on guitar.
We know that besides playing in Argentina, you’ve been on tour in Europe and the US. What are some of the big differences you found between the stages and crowds that are so different?
The definition is like that of yin and yang, the good things about those places are the bad things about here and the good things here are the bad things of those places. Look, clearly abroad I had more of an audience but that generates false expectations also I had a lot more disappointments, one commits the error of projecting, I don’t know. The people that listen to music here are more passionate, abroad they are more calculating. With respect to the stage (literally) the sound and in regard to the technical aspects and organization, it could be a thing that’s better abroad.
How has Baby Scream evolved over the years? Has your music been influenced by your travels and exposure to different cultures, languages and places?
I think a little bit, but the intention was always the same, it was always a type of Argentine Power Pop sung in English. I always made the songs myself, that way I had a traveling infancy due to my father, that’s to say different locations have always been apart of my life…that fully influences you.
Recently you launched an album titled “Greatest Failures”, what was the motivation behind this release?
I always wanted to belong to the Buenos Aires scene, but I don’t know…I think I never had the password. At a point in 2013 I told myself: “Hey, you have 5 albums edited abroad and only one in Argentina.” That made me want to put out something here, but as they’ve always told me that I put out a lot of different albums, I thought that it would be better to show my music in Argentina as a compilation of all my albums. My friend named the album.
Any plan to release another album with new material this year?
Like I said, it was always challenging for me to put out material so often…finally I learned, in 2013 I recorded like 40 new songs, but I’m going to release them much later. I want to show this compilation for a long time, I like the summary, right now I prefer to do a lot of live performances.
Any favorite indie rock bands from Argentina?
I’ve been making some new songs together with Nick Schinder, who to me is brillant. I really like New Beans, Agustin Samur, The Kavanaghs, and Leylands.
You were recently living in Berlin. The next time we are there, where would you recommend that we go out?
To be sincere, if its to go out to party, I think Kreuzberg and Neukölln are the places, but I was more of a stay in my house guy, haha.
What’s next for Baby Scream and where can we keep up to date with your music?
We are going to try to play this album live various times, at least April 6th and May 6th, we’ll play it in the Cavern. The best way to hear us is in babyscream.bandcamp.com.