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Joudy’s Diego Ramirez on Fleeing Venezuela, “Uneasy,” and Upcoming Album, ‘Destroy All Monsters’

Joudy vocalist/guitarist Diego Ramirez speaks about fleeing Venezuela, their new single “Uneasy,” and the upcoming album, ‘Destroy All Monsters.’

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Heavy psychedelic rock outfit Joudy recently released their new single/music video, “Uneasy,” a track lifted from their forthcoming album, Destroy All Monsters. Originally from Venezuela, Joudy eventually expanded into a five-piece band whose live shows attracted vast attention. In 2013, they released La Bestia, followed by Obetura in 2016. As their popularity and success burgeoned, Venezuela’s political and economic situation deteriorated.  Country-wide protests became a feature of daily life; music venues, theatres, and festivals shuttered their doors, leaving nothing of the scene behind.

By the time Obetura was released, three members of the band had fled the country. Eventually, the three founding members and cousins reunited in Brooklyn and began practicing and writing new material. Made up of Diego Ramirez (vocals, guitar), Gabriel Gavidia (bass), and Hulrich Navas (drums), Joudy’s upcoming LP, Destroy All Monsters, reflects their journey through Dante’s Inferno, where they were transformed and purified by adversity, and then assimilated into an alien, new world.

Destroy All Monsters is a mystical synthesis of hypnotic rhythms, dark tonalities, and crushing harmonies, capped by encouraging and esoterically laced lyricism. “Uneasy,” sonically and visually, encapsulates Joudy’s dark, brooding sound. V13 spoke with Diego to find out more about the inspiration for “Uneasy,” the forthcoming album, Joudy’s reunification, and his writing process.

What inspired your new single/music video, “Uneasy?”

Diego Ramirez: “‘Uneasy’ is the first song off the album. It talks about endings and new beginnings, feelings like fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. It’s about acceptance of self and acceptance of conflict, the two things necessary to withstanding unexpected challenges.”

Who directed the video, and where in NYC was it shot?

“‘Uneasy’ was directed by our close friend, Gabriel Duque, who we met in our hometown in Venezuelarena years ago. We filmed it in February. Outdoors scenes were filmed on the streets of Manhattan, around 47th Street and 6th Avenue. It was a challenging production due to the freezing weather.”

You have a new album, Destroy All Monsters, coming in 2023. What can you share about the album?

Destroy All Monsters is a concept album; it tells the story of all the trials we had to face individually in order to get here. The album’s lyrics are really one long story, divided into chapters by the songs.”

Where and when did the three of you first get together?

“We’ve known each other since before we can remember—we’re cousins, originally from San Cristobal, Venezuela. As a family, we shared many experiences growing up. The band helped us to stick together as a family, and being family helped us to stick together as a band.”

Artwork for the single “Uneasy” by Joudy

Eventually, you fled Venezuela. Did you think that was the end of Joudy?

“We thought the band was over for at least three or four years of separation. Nowadays, we think everything happened for a reason and with a purpose. We never planned for or expected this amazing outcome.”

How did you finally get back together?

“Each one of us moved to New York City at a different time; back then, we were all fleeing the country and saying our goodbyes, not knowing if we were gonna be together again. Gabriel arrived here in 2014, I (Diego) came in 2017, and Hulrich took his leap of faith at the end of 2019. When Gabriel and I met to pick up Hulrich on the day he arrived, we looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s do it again.’ And we did—we played our first show here later that year.”

Did your sound evolve naturally, or did you deliberately push it in a certain direction?

“After not playing those songs from previous albums for some time, we felt we had to adapt the sound to what we had at the time, challenged by the fact that we had been reborn from a 5-piece band and back home to a power trio.”

What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music, or other media?

“I get inspired pretty much by everything around me, poems, books, movies, music, experiences, nature, and people.”

What can you share about your writing process?

“Normally, I improvise the vocal melodies over song structures we like. After getting the right tones placed and melodies, I proceed to add words, following what the song makes me feel musically. Lyrically, I write about my present experience. I synthesize the information around me and translate it into poetry. I love writing little epic stories with hidden meanings that people can connect with.”

Which artists, in your opinion, are killing it right now?

Idles, Oh Sees, Amyl and the Sniffers, and Fontaines DC are really impressive bands, with strong personalities and explosive performances.”

How do you define success?

“I think success has to do a lot with doing what you love and what you feel is right for you. You will definitely need to build some resistance to failure and push your limits to get to know what’s best for you, but as long as you keep doing it, there’s nothing that can stop you.”

What can your fans look forward to over the next six months? Music videos? Live gigs?

“We will be playing a show near you next year, so please come to the show and buy our merch! We’re also working on two more music videos and a live session to be released early next year.”

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