In Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” the character of Peer Gynt enters the hall of the Dovregubbens (troll Mountain King) and is overcome by the sheer amount of creatures holding court at his feet. The bombastic crescendo that swirls around him is an immediately recognizable piece of classical music. Whether it’s a conscious nod or not, Oscar Herrera’s latest work certainly mirrors this ad hoc army while delivering an equally powerful punch.
Oscar Herrera, a name synonymous with the ethereal sounds of darkwave, has made a significant mark in South Florida’s music scene through his work with bands like Black Tape For A Blue Girl, El Duende, Halo, and The Sleep of Reason. Herrera has returned to his musical roots with the release of his debut solo album, Songs For The Fallen Mountain King.
“In April of last year, I retired from my regular job and after a 20-year hiatus, I was inspired to get back into music. I felt I had been away from music for far too long and I needed a creative outlet,” he said. To get the project together, Herrera contacted former bandmates and rekindled collaborations with musicians he deeply respects. The album features a diverse array of styles, merging rock with elements of jazz, flamenco, and theatrical influences.
Herrera reached out to George Berkowitz, his former drummer from El Duende, after years of declining invitations to collaborate on various projects, believing he was retired. This time, he expressed his readiness to make music again. He also enlisted Greg Young, his bassist from The Sleep of Reason, with whom he hadn’t recorded in four decades, although they had performed together at the Flynn’s reunion show at Churchills in 2017. Additionally, he brought in guitarist Alex Sanchez and bassist Joe Rodriguez from Halo, for the reworked tracks “Io” and “Hell Before Sunrise.”
Oscar Herrera Record Release Party
One of the highlights of the album is “Father Whiskey,” arranged by the talented Alex Lacamoire, known for his work on Hamilton. In 1994, Lacamoire was the 18-year-old keyboardist in Halo. “I now had three musicians from different phases of my musical career, musicians I admired and respected,” Herrera said, adding, “I also have my daughter Danielle and son Adrian singing on the album. They both heard music around the house growing up and we have gone to many concerts and music festivals together. When it comes to music we have no generation gap.”
In addition to a string quartet from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Herrera hired a three-piece horn section and a mandolin player from Buenos Aires, Argentina, a flamenco guitarist from Medellín, Colombia, and an R&B singer from Nashville through Fiverr and Soundbetter.
“When the recording was done, I released it on all the major digital platforms in early March, but my dream was to have it released on vinyl,” he said. “Inspired by Black Tape’s Sam Rosenthal who has created several successful Kickstarter campaigns I decided to do one of my own. It was a nail-biting experience but, in the end, it was a success.”
The finished product is also a testament to Herrera’s background as a graphic designer. The two-LP set comes with a full lyrics sheet and a set of tarot cards he designed. The bright red wax’s packaging is reminiscent of the Space Cadette era of local record-making.
To celebrate the album’s release, Herrera will host a FREE listening party at Sweat Records on Friday, October 25 at 7 p.m.
For more info and free tickets, click here.
