El Otro Yo
El Otro Yo is an Argentinean alternative rock band. They made their debut in the late '80s / early '90s, with a demo tape called Los Hijos de Alien, followed by Traka-Traka. Later on, the group founded its own label, Besotico Records.
From the beginnings in Temperley to Abrecaminos (1988–1999)
El Otro Yo formed in the late 1980s/early 1990s in Temperley, in the south of Greater Buenos Aires. At the age of five, Humberto Cristian and María Fernanda Aldana started playing music at home with their father's classical guitar and a GEM organ. Under the influence of their mother, who was a poet, they started writing their first songs, which were simple in the early stages but revolutionary nonetheless, in the style of Velvet Underground & Nico. At school, they played together in a band called Revolución, where they covered songs by Sumo, Virus and Miguel Mateos. Afterwards, Cristian formed his first punk rock band: Los Apáticos. Between 1986 and 1987, Cristian played in Los Apáticos and El Gregal, where Ricky Rúa played drums; meanwhile María became part of groups such as Rebecca, whose drummer was also Ricky Rúa. Around those years, they decided to form a band together. Marifer had read a letter that French poet Arthur Rimbaud wrote when he was 16 and which stated "I Am Another" ; that phrase was imbedded in her memory during the formative years of the band. In January 1988, María told Cristian about the title of the poem, he rounded off the idea and thus El Otro Yo became the definite name of the band.Early line ups included musicians such as Sergio Ucci, Gabo Manelli, Lee-chi and many more. Back then, María Fernanda played keyboards meanwhile Cristian was the lead singer and guitar player. Later on, Omar Kischinovsky joined the band on drums and Daniel Rodríguez on bass, but Daniel left the band to pursue a career playing the sitar, which has proved to be successful. Due to the lack of a bass player, María Fernanda left the keyboards to replace Daniel. Now a trio, they left Temperley and started playing in Capital Federal, Córdoba, Mendoza and other Argentinian provinces. There are several demos that capture the work of all these line ups, but they never were released on CD.
Back in 1992, they already had a demo with two tracks and used two decks to make home recordings of songs such as "Analía", "Hola papá", "Vacaciones" and "Caminando". That same year, they released their first self-managed production: LOS HIJOS DE ALIEN. It was the first release of Besótico Records, the band's own label, thus sealing their independent personality. Carrying a small backpack, Cristian was in charge of distributing the album around the record shops. The cassette was regarded as Best Record of the Year by No, the rock section of Página 12, and also voted by several well-known artists as Best Album on the Sí music section of Clarín.
It was then when Daniela Cugliándolo and Sudor frío, her theatre group, joined the band on stage with a performance that depicted two actresses emulating one person. Later on, Daniela kept doing live performances that reflected the different emotions representing the intensity of the music. She appears on the "Corta el pasto" video with giant wings and a set of pruning shears. Afterwards, she became their keyboard player.
In 1994, the three band members – Humberto Cristian Aldana, his sister María Fernanda, and Omar Kischinovsky – record at Moebio Studios their second album and first CD: TRAKA TRAKA. Their artistic producer was Guillermo Picolini. The CD was launched at the Confitería Ideal.
In 1995, drummer Omar Kischinovsky decides to leave after having played in the band for almost three years. His final show was at El Borde, in Temperley. He was replaced by Raimundo Horacio Fajardo. The band's international debut was in Chile, in an exchange with Pánico. The same year, they record MUNDO, which has the distinctive feature of having been recorded with a portable four-track and using as a recording booth a derelict Dodge Polara that belonged to the Aldana family. The album was mixed by Diego Vainer, its recording engineer was Pablo Márquez and it was launched at Dr. Jekyll. To wrap up the year, they recorded a cover version of "Fuck You", which was the title of a tribute album to Sumo.
In 1996, they re-release a CD version of LOS HIJOS DE ALIEN, with unreleased versions of tracks such as "Lo de adentro" and a remix of "69", from the album MUNDO, in a production of Fantasías Animadas. That year, they join the Rock & Pop Alternativo Festival at Ferro Stadium, along with Soda Stereo, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Silverchair, Tracy Bonham and Robi Draco Rosa among others, thus becoming one of the best bands in the country.
The following year, María Fernanda told Cristian that she had some very experimental songs of her own that she would like to release. The project kept growing until it became a triple album called ESENCIA, which had a great CD edition and an album recorded by each band member. ESENCIA includes over 70 tracks divided into three albums that were recorded independently. It was presented on two occasions: at the Santa María Theatre and at the Ricardo Rojas Cultural Centre; the latter gathered the biggest audience of the Molotov Sessions.
In 1998, after touring around the country with Attaque 77, they release a 25-song compilation album called EL OTRO YO DEL OTRO YO, which includes the most outstanding songs of ESENCIA. Besótico also releases a book and solo album by María Fernanda called ENTRESUEÑOS. At the same time, they release EL MAR ALADO, a poetry booked penned by Ray.
In ’99, they release ABRECAMINOS, produced by Diego Vainer. This album will be widely accepted by the audience, thus expanding the frontiers of El Otro Yo. It was presented at the General San Martín Theatre. With songs such as "No me importa morir", "La música", "Melodías vibradoras" and "10.000.000", the band breaks the boundaries of the underground scene. That year, Ezequiel Araujo, Avant Press former bass player, joins the band on keyboards, after Daniela Cugliándolo moved to Barcelona, where nowadays she films and directs Super 8 art videos and is part of Spanish group Bradien.
''Contagiándose la energía del otro'' and the key of success (2000–07)
In early 2000, they continue touring around different neighborhoods, taking their music to the whole of Buenos Aires and other Argentinian provinces. Their shows in Chile, Uruguay and Peru prove to be successful, and their fan base in those countries rapidly increases. At this stage, Besótico Records starts releasing albums by Sugar Tampaxxx, Victoria Mil, She-Devils, Rey Gurú and De Romanticistas Shaolin. This was a key year for El Otro Yo. By mid-year, they record a new live album during two shows at Cemento. This album was called CONTAGIÁNDOSE LA ENERGÍA DEL OTRO. After years of an independent career, their well-known Gira Interminable tour took them to Obras Sanitarias Stadium for the first time, where they presented their latest production. The street posters for the show read "Independent rock arrives to Obras". Over five thousand people gathered at this special show. To wrap up the year, they reached an agreement with Gustavo Santaolalla and his Surco label to release ABRECAMINOS internationally.In 2001, a remastered re-edition of TRAKA TRAKA goes on sale and ABRECAMINOS is released in the United States and Mexico.
They embark on a new Gira Interminable around the country, finishing up once again at Obras Sanitarias Stadium, with guests such as Leo García, Adrián Dárgelos and Rosario Bléfari, among others. As the frontiers expand, they play in the United States and Mexico for the first time. They join the Watcha Tour along with Los Enanitos Verdes, Molotov, La Ley, Juanes, Bersuit Vergarabat and Dover, among others. During this tour, and with the help of Gustavo Santaolalla, La Ley invites EOY to play at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, with an audience of over 20.000 people. In addition, the band meets Justin Meldal-Johnsen, who invites Beck to an EOY gig in Los Angeles.
During 2002, the band starts recording COLMENA, which is released in December, with "Inmaduro" as its first single. COLMENA is the hive where they concentrated the resulting product of the pollen they collected in each place they visited, shaping and packing it into a CD with fourteen songs and an interactive video. The new material, with an unusual and original cover art, was produced once again by Diego Vainer and featured guests such as Gustavo Santaolalla, Horacio "Gamexane" Villafañe, Mariano Martínez and Ricardo Espinoza. It reflects a musical evolution and a greater integration in the songwriting process. Some of the most outstanding tracks are "Inmaduro", "Viajero", "Virus", "Calles" or "Me harté".
In 2004, the band releases ESPEJISMOS. That year, keyboard player Ezequiel Araujo decides to follow a new path as a producer and leaves the band. By synchronicity of the magical musical destiny, he is immediately replaced by Gabriel Guerrisi, distant cousin of the Aldana siblings and founder of Los Brujos, who had just left Juana La Loca. The hardcore moments and strong messages about society and the system that the band always conveyed are back on ESPEJISMOS. Nevertheless, they also show a softer side on songs such as "Debe cambiar" or "Tu ángel". The album is played at the Obras Sanitarias Stadium on 16 April 2005. That same year, they release PIRATA, a live album with songs captured by the fans during the band's latest tour.
In 2006, Besótico releases Marifer's new solo album: DIOS TE SALVE MARÍA, a piano CD that comes with poetry and which was recorded at La Alianza Francesa and produced by Diego Vainer and Ezequiel Araujo. Furthermore, the label releases the live CD of the band's first show at Obras Sanitarias Stadium on 4 November 2000. CONTAGIÁNDOSE LA ENERGÍA DEL OTRO captures on CD and DVD the best moments of the night. The set list includes the band's most acclaimed songs and some distinctive guests: metal singer Claudio O’Connor on “69” and Diego Arnedo on “Fuck You”. The album includes an unreleased track called “Lobizón” and the DVD features documentaries about the 2000 Gira Interminable tour and backstage moments at Obras Sanitarias.