Belanova, the multi-platinum electro-pop trio from Guadalajara, Mexico will soon be back with their third studio album, Fantasia Pop. And while it won't be out until September, their new single, Baila Mi Corazón, is already getting spins on Mexican and Latin American radio. Still, the group, comprised of Denisse Guerrero, Ricardo Arreola and Edgar Huerta, is mostly unknown in the United States.

mun2 interviewed singer Denisse via mobile phone last month, while she and the rest of the band were being driven to Mexico's City airport to catch a flight for their recent South American tour.

What's new in Fantasia Pop?

It's a record where we've done all the stuff we'd not been able to do in past recordings. We were able to put some loud guitars in there. There are some new songs where the guitars rule. A lot of distortion and more new wave influences. There's also a minimal, "organic" track where Fito Páez plays, as well. A lot of stuff – the essence of Belanova is still there, 'cause we're the same three individuals writing songs, but there are lot of new things in there.

This is the second time you've worked with Grammy-winning producer "Cachorro" López. What did you learn from him this time around?

We love working with as talented person as he is. He has a great musical vision. And he respects our sound. That's why we decided to work with him again, 'cause he respects what we do. Working with him is always a humbling experience, because you learn to listen to everyone else's ideas and he also listens to our ideas. There's also the chemistry and friendship we have with him, which is essential when writing music. It's such a personal experience, that you want to share this process with someone you have an open communication with. And we have that with Cachorro. He is the extra ingredient we need for things to work out well with us.

So, there were no fights in the studio? Come on, give us some dirt!

No, not at all (laughs). All the songs that end up on the record are the ones we are 100% happy with. We recorded about 27 songs for this new record, but we only stay with the ones we're totally satisfied with.

So what's up with all the heavy guitars – is it "hasta la vista, baby" for electronic sounds?

I don't think so. People are more open to experience what they have around them. We have a strong rock influence and I think that rock is the new pop for this generation. It's what you hear all the time, and as an artist you become a filter for what you're currently listening to. Belanova has always been a project that, in spite of doing electro-pop, has always used elements of rock. The three of us come from rock bands and in our live shows we always try to use guitars, we also use drums, bass, we are very organic band. I tend to think that people now just make music. The musical tags are dissolving and Belanova has always done that and we don't limit ourselves to one type of sound.

Happy pop music always gets a bad rap. How does Belanova defend itself against criticism that it's frivolous?

I'm very proud of what I do. Pop music is a genre that deserves more respect. There's a general lack of information in regards to the genre of pop music. Maybe because other bands have not given pop music the props it deserves. But there's also good pop music. Pop music is the direction you give to the music itself, where one takes it when writing a song. There's also as much bad indie and punk as there is good. People tend to equate pop with bad music and I think that's a mistake. It's up to us to demonstrate that there's well-made pop written by musicians and not just puppets who are told how to dance and sing.

(image by Jill Greenberg via GwenStefani.com)

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