All You Need Is Love
Elefant’s perfect pirate life

by Romina Fasani
Translated by Elena Alvarez-Ramirez
Feb 2007

From New York City via telephone Batanga speaks with Argentine Diego García, who moved to the United States a few years ago, scored the funds to record a demo, and gathered the rest of the members for this tribe. Enjoy our recent encounter with Elefant, band of the moment.

Where does Elefant hail from?
I lived in New York and when I finished college I had the illusion of dedicating myself to music. When you’re underground, you meet a lot of musicians. One day someone gave me like $1,000 to make a demo. I called [drummer] Kevin McAdams, who brought [guitarist] Mod, and slowly we started forming Elefant. Another day we met Jeff Berrall and it was complete. Elefant started in the studio.

Elefant’s success is growing fast. What’s the secret?
It’s like a flower, you give it water and love and it grows; and if you don’t give it water it dies, if you give it too much water it can go crazy. In music, you need to move with sensibility, with your head placed very naturally, like a flower. Elefant has been given water and we’re slowly growing. It’s been beautiful growing like that, very natural, organic. You understand me, right?

Yes, of course.
There are bands that explode! In two weeks they’re number 5 worldwide, but that didn’t happen to us. Ours was natural.

Taking small and firm steps gives solidity.
Exactly. I’m more mature now than when I was 20, and I am making use of it in all this.

How old are you?
28.

You’re one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
In the world? (Laughter) No! No! No! That’s part of the circus and I can’t pay much attention to it. The most important thing is to write good songs. If I wasn’t writing beautiful songs from my heart, I’d be seen as a monster. People see you as the music you make and I’m fortunate to have a great, great band behind me that makes me look good.

Are you working as a model?
No! No! A model? Are we crazy? No! No! My thing is music, music and music. I’ve never gotten into the modeling world. To me being a male model is the last thing. Man, my dad would kill me!

Are you currently working on a new record?
Always! I’m always writing. I write everyday; in fact I went to Italy on vacation for three weeks, took my guitar and came up with some very nice songs. I’m thinking of getting into the studio towards the end of the year to produce the next album and it’s already clear to me.

Are you a big fan of Belgrano de Córdoba?
Yes, yes. And friends.

Do you keep track of the games from the U.S.? Are you aware of the results?
With satellite and internet it’s much easier. Before it was impossible. Now that Belgrano plays first rounds I go to Ole.com, Clarín, or La Voz del Interior. Through the internet I can follow the team and sometimes I even get to see a fútbol game via satellite. It’s really nice to have access to that information because that way my dad and I have something to talk about everyday. I can’t talk to him about music because he doesn’t understand anything about it.

What are the most outstanding aspects of Elefant’s live performances?
In every show, you need to be honest, be open; and once you connect with the ambience you have to give everything. But when someone comes to one of Elefant’s shows they should be ready to dance, have fun, and escape real life.

So that’s your stage presence. What are you like in general?
A sincere band that composes from the heart. A romantic band that thinks that love is everything, love to makes you cry, laugh; makes you kill, makes you live. Love is everything to me.

As rockers what other interests do you have? Food, sports, women? What goes on during tours?
Whoa, whoa, whoa… what happens during tours, stays with the tours. (Laughing) It’s a rule you need to respect if you are in a band. You need to get along. You’re with three guys all day, you’re with the manager, the lights, it’s a family, and you need to get along, have respect. It’s very similar to a pirate’s life!

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