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."

Mortal
Pastilla Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Estuve soñando en
La sala inmortal
Me cubrí los brazos para no tocar
Me paso la vida
Con fragilidad
No es que este tan alto es que ya no me importa mas

Y si yo pinto un universo inmenso

Es porque lo lamento lento
Y si no quiero estar conmigo
Es porque me detesto

Y la gente piensa que he cambiado
Y piensan que soy yo,
Pero no se han dado cuenta que son ellos
Prestame una mano para apoyarme en ti

No es que este cansado estoy enfermo

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Pastilla's song Mortal seem to capture the feeling of being disconnected and detached from the world around the singer. They reflect a desire to avoid contact with others, perhaps because of a feeling of personal weakness or vulnerability. The opening lines speak of dreaming in an "immortal" room, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for escaping from the physical world into a dreamlike, ethereal space. The singer covers their arms to avoid touching, suggesting a fear or discomfort with physical contact.

The lyrics then shift to a discussion of the singer's thoughts and feelings, revealing a sense of self-doubt and self-loathing. The line "If I paint an immense universe, it's because I'm sorry slow" suggests a desire to create something beautiful and meaningful, but also a sense of sadness or regret. The singer then admits to not wanting to be alone with themselves, indicating a deeper sense of self-hatred or emotional pain.

Overall, the lyrics of Mortal seem to be about the struggle to connect with others and find meaning in life, despite feelings of weakness and vulnerability. The singer seems to want to be closer to others, but is held back by their own fears and anxieties.

Line by Line Meaning

Estuve soñando en
I was dreaming in

La sala inmortal
The immortal room

Me cubrí los brazos para no tocar
I covered my arms to not touch

Me paso la vida
Life goes by for me

Con fragilidad
With fragility

No es que este tan alto es que ya no me importa mas
It's not that I'm so high, it's that I don't care anymore

Y si yo pinto un universo inmenso
And if I paint an immense universe

Es porque lo lamento lento
It's because I regret it slowly

Y si no quiero estar conmigo
And if I don't want to be with myself

Es porque me detesto
It's because I hate myself

Y la gente piensa que he cambiado
And people think I've changed