By Keith Walsh
From Mexico City comes the highly imaginative sounds of Descartes a Kant. Starting with their debut album Paper Dolls (2006) to their new release After Destruction (2023), Descartes a Kant offer experimentations ranging from straight ahead rock to all forms of proggy art rock, nouveau cabaret, and electronically infused pop. In my email exchange with singer/songwriter/guitarist Sandrushka Petrova, who leads Descartes a Kant with a captivating theatrical style, I had the chance to find out more about this exciting, innovative band. (My review of “After Destruction” is at Punk Rock Beat.)
Popular Culture Beat: Descartes a Kant packs experimental sounds and approaches into conventional rock forms. How did the band find its sound and style, starting with Paper Dolls until After Destruction?Drushka Petrova: From Paper Dolls to After Destruction there has been a creative path, that although uncharted has allowed the band to maintain an identity, incorporating the unexpected elements we’ve discovered along the way. In Paper Dolls all the way to Victims of Love Propaganda the compositional result made the songs have as many contrasting and stylistic mood swings as the band could cram into them. With After Destruction the concept and structure of the songs is more riff orientated and focused, the songs themselves contain the bare minimum of elements to get the point across. There is a certain minimalism that was not characteristic of DAK until this album. We also created a new member of the band, ‘the DAK’ it replaces a synth/piano player and unites the whole concept of After Destruction.
“Our generation is witness to a great technological evolution that goes stupidly fast. Obtaining information in nanoseconds is marvelous; hyper connectivity allows a band like DAK to be heard and seen all over the world, however this hyper connectivity, disconnects and segments us in ways never seen before.“
Sandrushka Petrova Of Descartes a Kant
Popular Culture Beat: Since the band name is two foundational philosophers, I must ask if there are any of the 20th century and later philosophers that you favor, and if so whom and why? What makes Descartes and Kant so important to your message, in particular?
Drushka Petrova: Descartes a Kant is intended as an analogy for a vast confluence of thought and raw emotion in short period of time. However philosophy in general, from Stoicism to Existentialism have always been a source of inspiration and insight.
Popular Culture Beat: As you satirize the 21st century, what are some things about the present day that you actually admire?
Drushka Petrova: Glad you noticed. There is an element of dark humor, but it’s more a comment than a satire. There are things in this modernity that are fascinating as well as others that are extremely frightening. Our generation is witness to a great technological evolution that goes stupidly fast. Obtaining information in nanoseconds is marvelous; hyper connectivity allows a band like DAK to be heard and seen all over the world, however this hyper connectivity, disconnects and segments us in ways never seen before.
Popular Culture Beat: What is the songwriting process like for the band, with After Destruction and Victims Of Love Propaganda?
Drushka Petrova: The creative process is always very intimate; it’s a sublimation of personal experiences and the relationship with the surroundings at the time. After Destruction was written and recorded in very different circumstances than Victims of Love Propaganda, although, both stem from the idea of grieving. After Destruction came from an environment of isolation and overcoming adversity, as the band was going through very painful line-up changes. After Destruction seeks to involve the listener in a sonic journey that goes from anxiety to laughter ending in a note of hope.
Popular Culture Beat: Which of the members brings the nouveau cabaret style to the band? Similarly, who brings the punk the art rock, etc?
Drushka Petrova: I guess that would be me. I’ve always been fascinated by musicals and cabaret piano orientated music. I love plays like Chicago, Danny Elfman’s music, Tori Amos and Amanda Palmer as well as expressionist classics like Debussy and Eric Satie. The Art Rock element comes from influences that range from Devo, David Byrne, and Laurie Anderson to St. Vincent and Rosalia.
Popular Culture Beat: How did you all meet and decide to create music together?
Drushka Petrova: We all met in Guadalajara’s Punk Rock music scene, except for Leo who we met in 2012 when he played with Hong Kong Blood Opera and became good friends. Cristi and myself had a band called Go-Go Frenesi before inviting her to join DAK. Memo and I have always had a strong personal and musical connection and he’s been with the band since Il Visore Lunatique as well as Cristi. I’ve been incredibly blessed finding the ideal band members that believe in my crazy ideas and help me bring them to life in a way that enhances them with their talent and uniqueness.
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