By Omar Afra

Bianca Montalvo is fickle in the best kind of way.  One moment she is this quasi-violent front woman and the next moment she shifts gears into bubbly songstress. Her new album Humans are my Keyboards is a sharp diversion from Heist at Hand; the band she is known for previously fronting. The album is produced by Bob Hoag of The Ataris, The Format fame and is mixed bag of dark pop and lush ditties.  She was kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

We remember a more spastic, injured and bleeding Bianca on stage with Heist at Hand. Any of that with La Catrin?

The money question! Haha, It’s too early to gauge but I’m leaning more towards a more theatrical Bianca with La Catrin. Heist was my first band and pretty much all hell broke loose as I was trying to find myself and learn how to work a stage and audience. La Catrin is a much more refined, seasoned performer and I expect to link the visual to the instrumentation. Someone recently described me as a twisted Lisa Frank which is a much better description than I could ever come up with!

There is quite a bit of fantasy and fiction in these songs? Where does that come from?

Reality is just not enough for me. I’d much rather exist in a world that I create, to give myself free reign to think, to dream, and to challenge what I’m predisposed to. As artists, we have the ability to create something out of nothing and I just want to invite people into that world for a night….or forever.

In 10 words or less, tell us why your upcoming album is a breakthrough for you. Use the word ‘ Bon Jovi’ at least once. Twice if you know whats good for you.

“Take my hand, We’ll make it, I swear!!”  -Bon Jovi

Holy shit. You must be so flattered to be interviewed by Omar Afra. What is that like? Is he really 6 foot 8 ?  Is it true that the jasmine plant is really just trying to emulate the scent of his farts?

Actually, I am! You’re my first English interview and who better than the one and only Omar Afra who’s seen me though all my incarnations. It’s kinda hard to describe you since I’ve never been able to actually see you. You’re like the life giving sun..You can’t directly stare at it out of fear of going blind but you see and experience the things it creates all around you. Next time I see you, make it a point to rip a good one andI I’ll let you know if the jasmine plant is frontin’! haha

First childhood musical memory:

When I was growing up, we were a migrant family and ended up in Minnesota. I begged my mom to buy me this organ at a garage sale. It had the notes on the keys on scotch tape. I taught myself how to play “tale as old as time” from Beauty and the Beast. I love Disney movies and I still cry at the end when the Beast dies

We found a video online of you dancing to Juvenile’s ‘ Back that Thang up up’. Will this be a part of your standard repertoire?

Hahahaha Not to disappoint all the boys in the yard, but probably not! Iwas at a themed party on side stage with Anita Bump. Next thing I know it’s a full on dance party and the ghetto in me came out. I’m kinda cute when I’m drunk
Fill in the blanks: Houston is navel of the musical cosmos because_____luckily people like you and jagi give a shit to keep it alive__________.

I used to proclaim “support your local scene or it will move away” but now I’m all about give people a reason to WANT to support the scene. Give them something to be excited about. C’Mon artists! xx