The Parrots: "We are people that do stuff, instead of just talking or thinking about it..."

Diego García, Alex de Lucas, and Larry Balboa recorded Los Niños Sin Miedo with the legendary engineer/producer Paco Loco in his Cádiz studio, far away from the band's Madrid home and the tightly knit scene they're helping make famous.

Could you tell us about recent single "No Me Gustas, Te Quiero"?

We were asked to do a show with Juan Wauters and we decided to form a secret band for it. I was playing drums and Alex was singing and playing guitar, so everything was kind of prehistoric. One of the songs we came out with for that project was "No Me Gustas..." and when we went to the studio to do the album we felt that we had to record this one, ‘cause we loved it.

How did the record itself come together?

It was a pretty natural thing for us, we felt we were in the right moment to do something longer that an EP or a single. So we started writing more songs and at the end it was weird, ‘cause all the songs were in the same direction, and we had a strong idea of what was happening with us in our lives - a feeling of losing lots of things and discovering new ones.

What lessons did you learn from the process?

I don't know, this is the kind of thing that you just do and don't think about it to much. We've always thought we are people that do stuff, instead of just talking or thinking about it. I mean, I’m sure we learnt a lot, but we wouldn't be able to describe or explain exactly what it was.

What did Paco Loco bring to the mix?

He was like another member of the band! He let us do our thing and encouraged us to do it as we wanted, a hundred percent. He is a guy we admire, he´s been playing and recording for the last 25 years non-stop and he still is younger than most people I know.

What song was the most fun to write/record?

"Windows 98" was fun because we wrote it in the studio at a moment we were really pissed because something didn't really work out. I think the whole process for composing and recording that song was like... three hours.

Which moments are you most proud of?

I’m proud of the moment we finished the album. It was a really good experience, like giving birth to an ugly alien or monster, but the moment we finished we we're the proudest and happiest parents.

What's it like being with Heavenly for the album?

It’s great cause now people are gonna be able to get our records outside of our shows, and they're really cool with us. I think we're gonna have lots of fun together, especially if we continue going to festivals together!

The Madrid scene is getting a lot of exposure lately, especially in the UK - why do you think it's become so prominent so suddenly?

I really don't know but I think it’s good that it is happening. It’s great to see that your group of friends, who had no expectancies but to play some shows and destroy some venues, are actually making noise outside of Madrid.

What's your favourite place in Madrid?

My favorite place in Madrid is El Rastro, a street market in the centre every Sunday. We usually go there after no sleep after a Saturday night and walk around, try some shades, buy a few sangrias, and eat a calamari sandwich.

Did recording in Cádiz have an impact on the album?

Yes, especially because we slept and lived in the studio. I think that if after everyday of recording we had to come to our house, it would have been a different thing. Being there 24/7 thinking about the music makes you do a way better thing.

Who should we be listening to?

Bones, a hip-hop artist from Colorado, is great. Cecilio G from Barcelona is THE CRAZIEST SHIT EVER! (we're addicted to him), but also give a listen to Dream Wife and The Orielles!

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Going to the beach and swimming, Madrid is hell right now.

The Parrots' debut record Los Niños Sin Miedo is out 26 August via Heavenly.