Ricardo Tobar – Influences

It’s difficult to put only ten songs that have inspired my music so I decided to put everything I’m listening at the moment. This one from Michael Bundt is the perfect start, it’s essential in every aspect: the arpeggio, the sound, the melodies. It makes you forget everything and liberates expansion and creativity. Amazing.

He only put a few singles out but it’s everything he needed to influence a whole bunch of artists. Double Heart might be his poppiest tune but you can find all the rawness you need to make a great punk song.

I didn’t know them from my shoegaze period but I think it was for the best. As with Robert Rental, I wish they would have continued to make music… This song in particular is so full of feelings that it’s almost an emo song with the hand of Robin Guthrie all over the place.

An obvious choice? Maybe, but when something sound like this you have to put it in your heart for the rest of your life. I don’t see any band right now that doesn’t take bits from this. Kevin Shields was so ahead of his time and it continues to sound from another planet.

After the noise of MBV, Laraaji comes and gives you a bath of transcendental music. Not that MBV is not full of mysticism, it’s just different. Laraaji send you to an hypnotic state with one of the best arpeggios I’ve heard, and that sound! It’s so vibrant and full of life!

I’ve been obsessed with Francis for ages and I could easily include more from him here. This song in particular was the one that attracted me to him in the first place, it’s so extreme and catchy at the same time, his scream is almost destroying that tape.

I grow up with Bjork because my sister was a big fan of her. I remember being a little boy and hearing this song, the first time it melted my brain. I didn’t understand it and now it feels so familiar.

Actress changed everything for me, his albums are so schizophrenic, always changing moods with no fear, I really respect that. Purple Splazsh is one of my favourites from him, there’s something behind it that makes it so special. Dark and full of inspiration.

This is one of the most beautiful gifts France has given me, that and my visa for that matter. I found this particularly amazing with the voice of his daughter a bit off… The whole thing is ground breaking.

I don’t know much about this but it was Lord Skywave who showed it to me and I’ve been enjoying it since then. Hypnotic music, full of chaos and honesty. It feels so good when something like this arrives.