3BALLMTY – Interview and Upcoming Tour in Texas!

Here is the English transcript of the great interview Nancy Mendoza had with DJ Otto, Sheeqo Beat, and DJ Erick Rincon, 3BALLMTY! You can also enjoy this on our YouTube Channel. The link is at the bottom of this article.

At what point did you know it was time to come back?

(3BALLMTY) Well, I was the one who was absent, and I think one of the turning points that made us come together, I feel like it was the people. I feel like it was the people who suddenly made our songs trend on TikTok, posted them on TikTok and Instagram, so it was like, hey, and well, all the people, I feel like it was like, people are using music a lot, and it was like, well, we have to get together.

(Nancy) Yes, in fact, “Try It” was the one that everyone started using on TikTok again. Well, it was super cool.

What was the first thing you did together after so many years, or have you continued collaborating in all these years?

(3BALLMTY) We’re still in touch, but we’re not working together as such, like on the Tribal project. But each of us did our own thing, and the sound… Well, that’s also something because we each produce individually. But the moment we got together, we started making our fourth album, which is already finished, but the release date is still pending. It’s tentatively called “La vuelta” (The Return), just like the Tour. It’s something we’ve been working on between teas. It’s our new project, and we’re still here, still active, ready to play a lot of music on this upcoming tour.

(Nancy) Yes, in fact, I was listening to it this morning. I hadn’t heard “Mírala” before, and I really liked it. I think that obviously maintaining the essence of you and I loved this one, we know that right now, everything that is electronic music is surpassing what we never thought, I mean I come from the era of raves before, when this function that I think you are pioneers was not yet done and now we see it more true. So I really liked it. Watch it and it’s like I tell you I’m super happy that you’re back, so well,

What was the reason for the pause or the retirement, what did you decide to do when you decided to do it?

(3BALLMTYMTY) The retirement is good, I think it was something we had always talked about in the group. We’ve always said that Tribal Monterrey was like our, our ship that was going to take us somewhere and then each of us could do what we wanted individually. And it was me who ventured to do my own thing individually, and that’s when I decided to retire from the project around 2015. In mid-2015, I left and so on, but well, I realized that many things are not the same, that many of the things I had were because of Tribal Monterrey and nothing. And well, I realized that I really liked being part of Tribal Monterrey, producing in a different way when it was under the name Tribal Monterrey. So I realized a lot of those things, and that’s why, I don’t know, I’m delighted to be here again.

During that time you were all apart, did you learn new things or were you analyzing the market or seeing where the trend was going, or what were you working on? I know you have your individual projects.

(3BALLMTY) Yes, of course. I think only—well, we’re all producers. I think at some point in my life, there was a moment where I said, “What’s happening with tribal music?” Afterwards, we’ve always been very behind the music regarding what’s happening. We producers are the ones who decide what’s happening in music in terms of sound. I don’t understand why we as producers have always been behind all the trends. I mean, we can pick up on trends years and years in advance of them being present, and I feel like we’ve always been right on top of what’s happening.

(Nancy) Yes, well, and in fact, that’s what I was saying, when you guys started this movement, now you see it in other types of DJs from Europe, and well, Deorro is from Los Angeles, but from others who are starting to add that flavor and that Mexican-Latin touch, and well, thanks to pioneers like yourselves. Because otherwise, they wouldn’t hear it. I imagine you guys are on SoundCloud, Mixcloud, everything that DJs are always looking for and searching for, including the song I just heard from Tiesto, which is very Latin. The world has always been very aware that Mexicans, Latin Americans, have that gift of what music is, the beat, what do you call it? And well, you, being producers, are already, as they say, one step ahead.

In the process that you were in this now, yes, not as Tribal Monterrey, did you keep in touch, did you still do projects like beats together, or was it just like each one of you went their separate ways?

(3BALLMTY) Well anyway we’ve always been a bit active well, whether it’s playing at parties in clubs on relatively big stages small, a time when it was just Checo and I and the truth is we were making music we had two tours in Europe we weren’t doing things and we were active we were releasing an album, I think that also people didn’t preside over it as much because the project has always been three, no and people have always had the image rule of the three of us together and I think that right now what’s happening with us is it’s something that now yes, people have it well identified again, not that the three guys are back that type of things all that no, but the whole time you haven’t been working as Tribal Monterrey and how Individually So we’ve been there active doing a couple of very good things, eh, I think that after this tour more incredible things will come out there is a collaboration is very cool that we are working, so you can wait for them.

(Nancy) And now that you say collaboration, now that it’s trendy, just like Grupo Frontera does with everyone. In your case, do you have a wish list to collaborate with someone?

(3BALLMTY) we already have one of the ones we wanted, there are already several artists that we wanted to join the project for the new album. There’s Alexandra Stan who sings Mr. Saxobeat, that was a tribal song and the lyrics are in Spanish. So it’s going to be something interesting that you’re going to be able to hear something new from us. There’s also Danny Flow on the urban side but with a very energetic tribal beat. There’s also a new single that we’re going to have out soon called El Nene and it’s with the band Nuevo Amanecer and the truth is, that vibe is really good. I think you could say that it’s going to represent the Mexican side of us very well. And well, none of the ones we would like, obviously it would be really cool to collaborate, I don’t know, with El Alfa. Also, personally, I feel like it would be really cool with El Alfa. I don’t know what other people think, but from my side, well, that’s what I can tell you.

(Nancy) Okay, and is there someone here who’s maybe Anglo who caught your attention?

(3BALLMTY) Well, I’ve always heard that you have to dream really big. I’d really like how Sam Smith would sound at a tribal festival. And I also agree with Checo El Alfa; he even makes a kind of tribal sounds, so it would be cool to do something there too.

(Nancy) Well, that sounds perfect, guys. You have to dream big. If you’re going to see, you’ll be with Sam Smith. Well, I know you’ve kept in touch and everything, but in your personal time over the years. How have each of you developed something new, or maybe new trends, something you’ve learned, or something you say? Well, during this time, I’ve focused on learning a new program…

(3BALLMTY) I feel like everyone was literally focused on different parts. I personally have been working with Raymix since 2020, and we say that I helped him produce a lot of electrocumbia, and well, we didn’t send it to him. The truth is, he was the one who brought all the direction. I simply supported him with arrangements, production, percussion, more than anything else. And I think I joined in a little bit on that side. I also started working on other projects where I produced music, and you had all the tribal influence. And besides, my music, Oto also worked on it, and various other things, what can I say?

(Nancy) Come on, talk, tell, tell.

(3BALLMTY) I played it for a while, and to this day I’m still doing it. More or less, like in 2019, I focused on an individual project. It’s a rhythm that was playing in the United States. It’s the combination of Tribal with a Huapango. It’s a little faster. Tribal is totally for the club. They’re remixes that I’ve been doing for a long time. All these years, they worked really well. There are many that reached millions of views. For example, I did a Huitlacoche remix and it reached 128 million, and for me it was very important because it was still Tribal for the underground. If you can say that for all the DJs who normally play remixes in clubs, I was stuck there, and we created a, I think, a good fandom of people who are still not there with Tribal at full speed.

(Nancy) Well, speaking of Tribal, for someone reading this, let’s just say they have no idea what the genre is, or no idea at all. What does Tribal mean? We all know the word tribal, but in terms of music, how would you define it?

(3BALLMTY) I could define it as a variant of electronic music in Spanish, especially Latin, approaching rhythms, for example, well, my Latin people, like salsa and cumbia, but with an electronic rhythm, an electronic variant in Spanish.

(Nancy) Are they scared or excited about reconnecting with new generations?

(3BALLMTY) I think we’re ready because we’ve always been in the middle, since when we started, all the people who are going now, for example, the Tour. These are the people who knew us when I was a kid, when I was in elementary school, and so now they can write to you, hey, I’m going to go see them. I used to listen to them when I was a kid or dance to them at my quinceañera, so to speak, an example. It’s a generation that has grown up with us. So I feel like we’re right in the middle to be able to move forward and be in people’s taste. Aside from the new things that are going to come out of us, if it’s very literal, current, Tribal is present because the essence, but well, it’s something new, it sounds modern.

(Nancy) You beat me to the new question, which was, “What sounds, ideas, or influences were present in this new phase?” And you just told me that you’re updating everything you know about sounds, and I think that’s really nice, right? Knowing that the audience that grew up with you is waiting for you. And that’s why you’re really going to be there, that you’re already… Maybe, like you were back then, children. Maybe, and now they’re teenagers or parents, or maybe your children are going to come with them. Or, I don’t know, really, growing up with you. And obviously, with TikTok, I imagine there are also people who didn’t know you and who know you now because of maybe one song, but who are going to come now because they want to know more about you. That’s very good.

How did you prepare to return to the stage?

(3BALLMTY) Well, first of all, we are doing a more exciting gathering, I mean that on stage we are trying to have a better production, we are also preparing ourselves physically and mentally because the last time we had a demanding tour was in 2015 and 10 years have passed, and we are putting effort into exercise and good nutrition.

(Nancy) The important thing is that the tour is already underway. From what I saw, you’re going to be in different places, right? I’m in San Antonio. So, here we go, because you know what Monterrey is. We’re from here in San Antonio. Basically, Monterrey is going to be really cool. The place where you’re going to play, like I told you, is a historic place, a place where they bring in electronic music icons who are already established people like yourselves, and you’re going to have a great time.

So, what can we expect from your concerts now?

(3BALLMTY) Well I’ll tell you this, normally our shows in the United States or before used to be like What is the stage but really now with the Tour since we said no we want our stage like this our dj booth we want it this way it was designed by Checo and this and also this the even the lights that we can say that we are going to have a little control of that on What colors. What colors do we want? What colors, we don’t want so if it is a much more produced show Where we are involved in percentage I could say so if you can expect something that is new for us as well and for the public as well

(Nancy) Especially now with the electronic shows, how great. We know a lot of it is about the music, but also a lot about the visuals and how they present it, and the dancers. Just bring it, right? But I love knowing we’re going to see new things.

What does this return mean to you on an emotional level, that is, for you as human beings?

(3BALLMTY) Personally, I feel like it’s something we’re all looking forward to because the three of us started in this and we’re the pioneers of this sound, also among those who took it to another level. I feel like it was something we needed 100% to be able to establish a second chance. And what’s a project? It’s long-standing. Try it, it’s already a song. What happened? It’s playing on the radio. Right now, it’s at all the parties. We have a big mission to continue playing good music and to have other new songs that stay in people’s tastes, just like our first hit.

(Nancy) I think it’s a great thing, something different, and we’ll see how good it is. As you’ve already said, you’ll have more creative control. I think that’s where your creativity will be seen, not just as producers, but also as talent and how you visualize it. Dreams will be the first event. Is the Chicago festival going to be the first?

(3BALLMTY) The first date is a dream come true, which comes with a pre-party. What do you mean, a few days before or something like that? But yes, more or less, there’s one of the first dates before, I don’t think it’s a Fortnight show or something like that, Fortnite in the north. We were also surprise guests at Pal Norte and the Empire Music Festival in Guatemala, a very historic set, an extended set, and the truth is that the crowd welcomed us for an hour and a half dancing with us.

(Nancy) As for the future, is this return a closure, a new beginning, or a let’s see?

(3BALLMTY) I think it’s totally a new beginning, okay, it’s like we were there, but now we’re here to stay and never leave, and it’s going to be like that. We’re obviously going to be releasing new music, it’s just that we’re doing it because people don’t ask for it either. You know, all the love that they have for us, well, we want to give it to them by putting on a show, putting out music, and well, we’re going to be very happy to be doing it, and that they’re going to have us at Tribal Monterrey for a long time to come.

(Nancy) Well, I think that’s the beautiful thing about the digital age, in which we’re more alive than ever right now. It’s that you’re more connected to your audience, right? Maybe this is obviously true. They go to the shows, like you said, like you said, I mean, they send them messages, they say, “We’re waiting for you,” and that’s a nice thing to know that you’re aware of that and that if the audience asks, you’ll give them more.

What it was the most surreal moment of your career? Past and now?

(3BALLMTY) I think the kids will remember this time, for example, the first tour, when I decided to call it, around 2013-2014, we were in a van, like a transit van, something like that, and we were surrounded by many fans, like, “Hitting the Van,” many fans. It was something very special, and it’s a memory we have. And where did that happen? You say it was in Veracruz, I don’t know if it was in Mexico, around Veracruz.

(Nancy) Is there any ritual you do before playing or that you remember, you as a group?

Well, I have an anecdote: we opened for Justin Bieber in Mexico City in front of more than 200,000 people. It had me very stressed, very nervous, and I decided to call my brother. “Bro, help me!” I don’t know. I think it’s nothing, just being well with ourselves, in harmony, but I don’t think it’s really an amulet. More like each person is mentally prepared, and then we go up and the connection between us begins again.

(Nancy) You guys already read each other on stage. Do you know what each of you is going to do? Do you practice?

Well, Checo and Otto play a lot around here in Monterrey or at parties. So it’s like you practice a little more, but I feel like we’re reading each other more, learning to read each other a little more, and well, if that’s the case. If not, if we’re on stage, if we know each other well enough, I’d say yes. Sorry, this point where you can let go. Try it again, like leading people in each other’s set because the three of us play. We’re like leading people exactly to the point where they have to play songs to keep the party going.

You’d think that if there are two or three people, the work would be divided, right? But I don’t think so, because it’s harder to agree, like stay in sync. I think it’s a little more difficult, but it’s still more fun, too, you too, because they’re different ideas and different rhythms that each of us likes.

(Nancy) And well, what would you say today to those who have waited for you all this time?

(3BALLMTY) That we are not going to let them down, that we are going to give our best so that this show is unforgettable and that Tribal Monterrey reaches the next step, which I feel we have longed for. So, nothing, and that we already want to see them just like they want to see us. We also already want to see them, and nothing, we already miss them.

(Nancy) Well, no, I think everyone here, everywhere, but especially here in San Antonio, we miss them, and we are more than happy to have them on June 21st. This is a day that, here in Texas they call Make Music Day. It’s a day when more than 15 cities around Texas all focus on making music and getting a show, so it could be a coffee shop.

So, this particular day that you’re going to be here in San Antonio is a very emotional day in terms of music, and I think the energy is going to be very high and you’re going to have a great time, like I said, the place is beautiful there, Selena, may she rest in peace, because it’s one of the places where she recorded, so the energy is going to be very beautiful, a historic place, and I can only wish you luck and that I hope to see you here in San Antonio and here, and if not somewhere else.

Thank you, 3BALLMTY for your time! We can’t wait to see you in Texas!