Doomed Confessionary: Carlos Guijarro (Cavrvm)
Photo credit: Raquel Mínguez
Cavrvm is a “dark music” solo project from Valencia, Spain. Embraced with a strong DIY ethos, Carlos Guijarro handles all aspects of composition and production.
His music is often described as instrumental and atmospheric, drawing heavily from soundtrack aesthetics and “western” moods. Its soundscapes are built on slow, fuzzy riffs and deep, reverberating textures typical for stoner, doom, drone and post-rock genres.
Cavrvm’s latest releases are collaborative singles »El Último Altar« (with Manu Pantano from heavy psych band Limonero Fuzz) and »Arder« (with D Prophet on vocals and Albertvm on guitar).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Cavrvm is a place to experiment with dark music. With every new release, you can expect literally anything, there are not many rules. Sometimes I start recording something at home without having any idea of what’s gonna be.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Being the only member of a band makes it difficult to prioritize Cavrvm over the other projects where I am playing.
So, that’d be the biggest challenge: to find time to write and record new material.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Well, some people mentioned that I look like a young Dylan Carlson…but it was even better when they said that my music also reminds them of Earth!
What was your biggest regret?
I have been offered to play several interesting shows around Spain during these last months but, unfortunately, I had to reject them since Cavrvm has no live band at the moment. Something I definitely need to eventually change!
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Last month I played a show with my punk band Esperpento in a bar without a license to hold concerts and the place was absolutely packed. The owner went outside and shut the door with everyone inside, so nobody could go in or out during the performance. It was WILD.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Well, I heard rumours lately about a possible Natas reunion…that will be a big surprise for sure if it finally happens.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I have been listening to a lot of Judas Priest lately, especially to their album »Angel Of Retribution«.
Also, I always got Melvins and Earth in my musical rotation as well as some black metal, right now the last Mayhem album, which is awesome.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Never make music thinking if people may like it or not.
What are your guilty pleasures?
There’s a Mexican music genre called Narco Corridos which I am a HUGE fan.
Also, I have always been an absolute fanatic of outlaw country (this is not even a guilty pleasure ’cause everybody knows it). It is probably the music genre I have listened to the most in my life (probably even more than metal).
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Spain?
There is a new band in Spain that mixes flamenco with doom metal, it is called Frente Abierto and their first album is very very cool and innovative. I totally recommend it.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Cavrvm is not gonna tour for now, but I will be playing live around Spain with other musical projects this year!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
There is a music video almost finished that is going to be the closest to cinema Cavrvm has ever been.
In the other hand, there also new music being cooked at this very moment. Some of this new music can be more or less expected but some of it is really something that nobody will even expect.
How can people best support your band?
The best way to support Cavrvm is to go Bandcamp and buy a track, but I’d be already happy if you just listen to my music anywhere and share it with whoever you think it might like it.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
My music is coming out quite slow but slowness is what doom is about, isn’t it?
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well