EL COYOTE JUST RELEASED A NEW TRACK AND WE'RE PRETTY NOSEY OVER HERE AT WIZARD WATER, WE THOUGHT WE'D DIVE RIGHT IN.
SINGLE NAME IS - Wicked Woman LISTEN HERE
El Coyote are a combination of dusty, soul-touching blues rock and melancholic Americana folk. Storming out of the gates with a rich, vintage sound, seasoned with astounding guitars and organs pulled together by a tight, groove inducing rhythm section and fronted by a singer who sounds like he was pulled straight out of the house band in Hell’s dive bar. This dynamic ensemble have carved out a niche for themselves with their raw, impassioned performances and a sound that pays homage to the legends while pushing the boundaries of the genre. Comprised of seasoned musicians with a shared love for authentic, gritty music, El Coyote delivers a sonic experience that's as powerful as it is unforgettable.
TRACK REVIEW
From the very first note of “Wicked Woman,” El Coyote transports you to a dusty desert landscape, where the heat shimmers on the horizon and danger lurks in the shadows. The track opens with a haunting guitar riff that immediately sets the tone—it’s as if you’re a lone Texas ranger on a mission, riding through the barren wasteland in search of lost love.
The blend of blues rock and Americana folk is expertly crafted, with each guitar lick weaving seamlessly into the next, creating a rich tapestry of sound that feels both timeless and fresh. The rhythm section is tight and groove-inducing, providing a solid foundation that drives the track forward, while the organ adds a vintage flair that harks back to the greats of the genre.
Lyrically, “Wicked Woman” is drenched in attitude and emotion. The vocals are raw and powerful, delivering each line with a conviction that draws you deeper into the story. The imagery evoked by the lyrics is captivating, pulling you into a narrative of love, loss, and retribution.
What inspired the unique blend of blues rock and melancholic Americana folk that defines El Coyote’s sound?
I (Julian) have been quite obsessed with blue music for a long time now, everything from Robert Johnson to The Black Keys. There’s something so honest about that style of music, that the players who defined the genre were able to capture and express so many different facets of human existence and experiences into 12 bars of music. I then started diving into Americana folk music, particularly the band The Handsome Family, and fell in love with the story telling aspects of that music, the lyricism really inspired me to be more critical about the words I put in my songs.
How did your diverse musical backgrounds contribute to the formation and evolution of the band’s unique style?
The bands makeup of musical backgrounds has allowed us to push genre boundaries, each member of El Coyote brings a fresh perspective to the song writing process. Pat (Keyboard player) is our music theory wizard, if we bring him an idea, he already knows where the song should go and really shapes our sound. Jaqs (guitar) brings a latin flavor to our music, you can definitely hear it in our latest song Wicked Woman, her solo’s are very Santana inspired. Andrew is our raw riff machine, the biggest Black Keys fan in the band, he comes out with these memorable riffs that act as the base for a bunch of our songs. Tom (drums) is our secret weapon, we can literally throw anything we come up with at him and he will find a way to not only make it work but sit so perfectly in the groove that once you hear one of his beats there’s nothing else that works. I (vocals) come up with some riffs, some chords and some full songs, and I know I’m a good song writer, but anything I come up with I rely on these guys around me to make it really come to life.
Your music has been compared to legends like Muddy Waters, Jim Morrison, and Carlos Santana. How do you channel such powerful influences into your performances?
Our performances are always brimming with energy and I think that’s how we channel our biggest influences. I’ve spent a lot of time watching these greats perform, Carlos Santana at Woodstock 69 creating a transcendent ritual-like performance, The Doors at the Hollywood Bowl, there’s this incredible Howlin Wolf performance where he comes on stage crawling on the floor that I love to watch over and over. These performers all left everything they had on stage every time they played and so if we want to play music like them, it seems only right that we carry on that tradition.
Can you tell us more about how your influences shape the groove and feel of El Coyote’s music?
I feel like we wear our influences on our sleeve, its kind of our way of paying homage to the players who made the music we love so much. So like we’d be playing a 12 bar blues, reminiscent of the Chicago Blues style and then launch straight into something more akin to The White Stripes for an outro. Combining our influences and coming up with something people aren’t really getting a lot of these days is very important to us.
What is your approach to balancing traditional blues rhythms with your own inventive style?
It’s all about being innovative, we’re taking a style that has existed for 100 years, so we are careful to toe the line between respecting the history of this music as well as adding to its progression.
Your keyboard playing adds a distinct layer to El Coyote’s music. What are some of your main influences, and how do they inspire your contributions to the band?
At this point in time my (Patrick) main musical influences are Snarky Puppy and Keith Jarrett. Snarky Puppy are known for their complex pieces, ringing with the sound of an anthem. It’s inspired my own writing for this band as it melts into the blues/rock genre quite well. Keith on the other hand is from another side of the playing field, showcasing the utmost intent with each note he plays in his solo albums. Pairing the two together helps keep both sides of my writing in check with the big bash on one side and the small. Singing melodies in the other.
As a band, what is your process for creating those memorable, dance-inducing guitar riffs?
Andrew! He is our riff machine. Sometimes me, Pat or Jaqs will come up with a cool riff that will turn into a song, but if the song has a riff it usually comes from Andrew.
El Coyote is known for electrifying live performances. Can you share a memorable moment from one of your shows that encapsulates the energy and passion you bring to the stage?
The first time we had a crowd properly get up and dance during our show, when you’revon stage and your energy and music that you’ve written is having that impact on a complete stranger, that they can let go and really enjoy themselves. You can feel that
they’re feeding off the energy that we’re putting out from the stage, and to me that’s how you know you’re doing your job right as a musician.
Your debut single "He’s Crooked" received critical acclaim. How did the band approach its creation, and what does it mean to you in the context of your musical journey?
That song started with the harmonica riff that I’d written years ago and just progressed from there. I’d always wanted to write a song with a harmonica part in it, particularly being inspired by Howlin Wolf and bands like The Murlocs. In terms of our musical journey I think it was a great platform to put ourselves on, but we’ve got so much more music to give, “He’s Crooked” was only just the start.
With a target audience spanning 24-40 year olds in the US and AU markets, how do you connect with such a diverse group of listeners through your music?
Well we kind of like to see ourselves as the bridge between younger and older audiences, we know we play an old school type of music so we’re appealing a crowd that grew up listening to those sorts of bands. Something I would love to see more of is people bringing their parents to our shows! Family is such an important thing to me and to be able to provide a common interest between someone and their parents would be amazing.
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