“Queremos Rock” & Emotional Tension
“Queremos Rock (Go Thru The Motions)” has a very emotional push-and-pull energy to it. What headspace were you both in while creating the record, and what were you trying to express?
Thinking back, I believe the beat my brother sent me was called “queremos rock.” It was mad funny because it’s a catchy pop-punky type of beat, sort of a School of Rock feel. It clicked in my head as I started to create melodies that would fit. Some songs require some thinking and mapping, but this one was pretty simple. I sent it back labeled “no hook” because I actually had to trim down some of the verses because I had too many. I really like the non-structure of the song. We were just having fun on a fun tune, nothing really too deep, man.
Following Up Momentum
After the response to “That’s All I Wanted,” why did “Queremos Rock” feel like the right next release for the ET Boys story?
We have a bunch of unfinished songs waiting to be released. Well, I wouldn’t say unfinished, but maybe a vocal layer is missing or we’re waiting on Monsie to send some guitar. Anyway, we found out we were gonna open for Riff Raff as our first show and wanted to create a set list with tracks already out in combination with tunes we hadn’t released yet. We chose those two tracks because of the live show playability. Two tunes on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum in regards to style, yet similar in terms of energy.
Blending Genres
Your music pulls from pop, alternative, electronic, and hip-hop influences without sounding boxed into one lane. How intentional has that genre blending been for you creatively?
I don’t think it’s an intentional choice, it’s just us being us. That’s one thing we’re good at because our tunes are just extensions of us as “characters.” My brother is inspired by many things and you can hear it in the eclectic style of our tracks. When it comes to vocals, it’s as simple as how I’m feeling at the time. Whether I’m singing badly or feeling my swag, it’s all the same. Inspirations are just that for us: inspirations. That’s the true combo that forms our style.
The Meaning Behind the Title
“Go Thru The Motions” is something a lot of people emotionally relate to. What does that phrase personally mean to you in the context of the song?
In the song, the character is aimless. He either keeps going or does something that regresses him to the past. I think going thru the motions here is a good thing, as anything is better than living in the past. I’m currently an ugly freak and find myself remembering how good I used to have it. It’s a very hard ask to live in the present. I need to take the advice of my own tunes.
Creative Chemistry
What does the creative process between the two of you usually look like when building records together?
I touched on it earlier, but yeah, my brother creates a beat or captures a feeling with what we call a beat “potench.” I record my ideas on it. He sends it back and maybe I record more or just add different layers or adlibs. When we are somewhat satisfied, we hit up baby boy Monsie for some guitar. I really have it quite easy, man. It’s a party for me LOL. Meanwhile, my brother is in the coal mines creating the tunes, doing the painstaking process that is mixing and really just making them sound whole. He’s the real force behind this group.
Visual Identity & Future Visuals
Both “That’s All I Wanted” and “Queremos Rock” give viewers a more up-close, almost rehearsal-style introduction to the band rather than overly polished performance visuals. What is it about that rawer, more personal presentation that felt important for ET Boys right now, and how do you see the visuals evolving moving forward?
Yeah, so the “Queremos Rock” video is not the one that I personally made. I think a filter was thrown over it and somehow both the original track audio and the live performance are playing. I guess it’s more “raw,” but in the sense of foolishness, not in the unrefined potential that our music conveys. If you want to listen to the track, go and listen to it on a streaming service haha. Anyway, our next set of visuals fixes that while keeping who we are true. I’m extremely proud of it and happy for it to release. And as with anything, the more you do something, the better you get.
Growth Since Earlier Releases
Looking back at records like “Long Night” and earlier ET Boys releases, where do you feel you’ve grown the most artistically?
Not sure. I just think we are more polished sonically. It’s hard to hear our tunes from the perspective of the listener. I think the same ideas are there, we just convey them better and they definitely sound better in my car speakers. Eh, the more that I think about it, my lyrical content has grown more mature in the same way my personality has. I find more in saying less, if that makes sense. Nothing needs to be so concrete anymore.
Independent Grind
You’ve continued building independently while staying consistent with releases and visuals. What’s been the biggest lesson from navigating the industry on your own terms?
Just keep releasing.
Audience Connection
A lot of fans seem to connect with the emotional honesty in your music. Why do you think vulnerability resonates so strongly with listeners today?
You know, I really just like making these tunes for myself, as selfish as that is. I’m glad people resonate with our sound, as again, it’s really just “us.” You know, we’re all human, so it’s nice to find something you can relate to and feel a little more connected to others. From my perspective, I’m just thankful people are listening. Sometimes I wake up after making a tune and I feel a bit embarrassed about what I said or how I sang. It’s not that I’m not happy with the tune, but rather trying to protect my “true self” from the night before. Does that make sense? Probably not.
“That’s All I Wanted” Response
You’ve mentioned seeing strong engagement and growth around “That’s All I Wanted.” What surprised you most about the audience reaction to that record?
I actually didn’t want to release that track until I showed my friends and they all loved it. Since we are the ones making the tunes, we often overanalyze every little detail when really all that matters is to just release and let whatever happens, happens. I think my brother wasn’t even that fond of the beat he made, but I thought it was sick from the jump. See, we were overanalyzing our parts of the pie. I got to learn to let go, man. It’s an anchor on my life.
Building the ET Boys Brand
You’ve built a very distinct aesthetic and world around ET Boys over the years. How would you describe the identity of the project today compared to when you first started?
I would say when starting we were probably like Kid Gohan. Now we are more like Cell Saga Gohan. That’s the only way I can describe it.
What’s Next
With both singles gaining traction, what can fans expect next from ET Boys creatively?
Our next release will be a song called “Impossible.” It’s really sick and it’s the first video we shot that I’m proud of. The song’s pretty sweet also.
Final Word
When listeners hear “Queremos Rock” and “That’s All I Wanted,” what do you ultimately hope they take away from the music?
I hope they take away anything at all. Art is cool because the same exact piece can be interpreted and felt differently to each individual person. If something means something to you, then boom, it has done its job. I just hope they like it.
Finish the sentence:
“ET Boys in 2026 represents ________.”
ET Boys in 2026 represents a year of new releases, new sounds, experimenting, and pushing our project to places we haven’t been before.
