Pastilla is the recipe for your ears to feast on the latest and greatest of… Read Full Bio ↴Pastilla is the recipe for your ears to feast on the latest and greatest of Rock en Espanol by San Francisco indie Aztlan Records. Pastilla is already on the racks, with advance orders having flooded the distributor before the CD had even been pressed. The official kick-off for Pastilla's premiere release took place in Los Angeles at Leonardo's.

Pastilla, formerly Juana la Loca, is one of the most intriguing and popular groups on the burgeoning California Rock en Espanol scene -- the heartland of Spanish rock in the U.S. Pastilla's trajectory is phenomenal. These four young Latinos -- average age 20 -- are destined for national and international acclaim.

Pastilla was formed in 1992 in Los Angeles. The group was incarnated as a melodic punk band with an international flavor to their music and songs. Today, based on solid instrumentation (more than 8 years of playing experience each), excellent songs and youthful charisma, Pastilla has evolved into one of the most promising and innovative groups on the Rock en Espanol scene.

Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Adrian Monroy (guitar & vocals) and Victor "chicles" Monroy (vocals, guitar & keyboard) are the foundation of the group. When Los Angeles Native Eric Rubalcava (drums) and Mexican-born Heriberto Gonzales (bass) joined Adrian and chicles, the group solidified as Pastilla and hit the ground running.

In early 1996, Aztlan Records signed Pastilla to a recording contract and rushed the band into the studio to make their music available. After non-stop, grueling days and nights in the studio, Pastilla finished recording their self-titled 14 track album.

Ernesto Ramirez, guitarist for Maria Fatal produced the album. Gonzalo "Gary" Wallis, lead for the group La Tele, engineered the project. Reflecting on the completed product, Ernesto said of Pastilla, "Their music is very fresh and definitely very distinguishable from what is common in the Rock en Espanol movement to date. Pastilla is very lyrical, melodic and creative and as a producer I am very satisfied and excited with the CD. The guys gave me total freedom to work with them and experiment with various ideas and concepts. They treated me like another member of the band."

Balance
Pastilla Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Todos están aquí, todos alrededor
Todos dicen comprender, los tengo en mi corazón
Ahora que estoy mejor hoy si les quisiera decir
Extraño a todos por igual pero solo estoy mejor

Y yo estaré arriesgando todo
Y es que aquí todo esta en balance
No quiero ser lo que siempre quise y fui

Y sin saber en nirvana me quede

Les juro me arrepentí pero todos saben porque
Todos dicen conocer, dicen tener la solución
Ahora que están aquí, todos alrededor
Todos dicen comprender los llevo en mi corazón

No lo vayas a intentar, no lo vayas a quemar
Que aquí todos los queremos
No lo vayas a intentar no te vayas a matar
Que aquí todos te queremos

Y yo estaré arriesgando todo
Y es que aquí todo esta en balance

No quiero ser lo que siempre quise y fui
Y sin saber en nirvana me quede

Overall Meaning

The song "Balance" by Pastilla is a song that addresses the idea of balance in life. The lyrics describe the singer's feeling of being in the center of everything, with everyone around them claiming to understand and love them. However, the singer admits that they miss everyone equally, but they know they are better off alone. They acknowledge that they have everything to lose, but they are willing to take the risk.

The chorus of the song repeats the idea of "everything in balance." The singer struggles with their desires and goals, not wanting to be the person they always wanted to be, but finding themselves lost, in what they call "nirvana." The song also touches on the idea of mental health and suicide, with the lines "Don't try it, don't burn out," and "Don't try it, don't kill yourself, we all love you here."

Overall, the song is a reflection on the complexity of human emotions and relationships, and the need for balance in one's life to achieve inner peace.

Line by Line Meaning

Todos están aquí, todos alrededor
I have everyone around me, but feel alone.

Todos dicen comprender, los tengo en mi corazón
People say they understand me, but they cannot fully comprehend my emotions.

Ahora que estoy mejor hoy si les quisiera decir
Now that I am in a better place, I want to express my true feelings to everyone.

Extraño a todos por igual pero solo estoy mejor
Although I miss everyone equally, I am better off alone.

Y yo estaré arriesgando todo
I am willing to risk everything.

Y es que aquí todo esta en balance
Everything is balanced in this moment.

No quiero ser lo que siempre quise y fui
I do not want to be who I thought I wanted to be.

Y sin saber en nirvana me quede
And somehow, I have found myself in a state of enlightenment.

Les juro me arrepentí pero todos saben porque
I swear I regret it, but everyone knows why.

Todos dicen conocer, dicen tener la solución
Everyone claims to know me and have an answer for my problems.

Ahora que están aquí, todos alrededor
Now that everyone is around me.