Xolmani

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Matt Sabin: Bass guitar | Antonio Fernandez: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals | Alberto Nebel: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric) | Turi Martinez: Drums

Genre: Blues & Soul, Latin | Tejano, Rock

Sound description: Latin pop-rock, often to a reggae beat.

RIYL: The Jaguares, Dream Theater, Van Halen en Español, Alfonso de la Espriella

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Synoposis

Inception: Tijuana, 2001

Influences: Heroes del Silencio, the Jaguares, Daredevil Jane, Van Halen, Alfonso de la Espriella, Delux, Mana, Montecristo, Soda Estereo, Legion, Santana, Dream Theater, Dokken, Def Leppard, Celia Cruz, Caifanes, Malo, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Background:

Guitarist Alberto Nebel's band Xolmani -- based in Tijuana -- has been around since 2001. He says the American Idol-ization of Mexico's music scene has hindered his group's progress.

"Rock en Español doesn't get that much interest anymore. Everything has gone pop. It's not like it was in the early '90s. Rock has pretty much gone underground."

Besides an American Idol-like show called La Academia, Nebel says rampant CD piracy has helped push Mexican musical tastes away from rock.

"You can get a pirated CD on the streets for a couple dollars before the record is even released. It's so bad that the record companies will develop very few new [rock en Español] bands; they only want to invest in sure things, which means pop."

Though Xolmani won a 2003 battle of the bands for northwestern Mexico, he says it makes sense to try and break into the U.S. market.

"That's why we are translating [and re-recording] all our music into English."

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