Doomed Confessionary: Martin, Gabriel & Lucio (The Curse Of Sahara)
The Curse Of Sahara (previously known as Sahara) is a heavy rock trio from Entre Ríos, Argentina. The band’s line-up consists of Martin Ludi (guitar, vocals), Gabriel Ravera (bass, vocals) and Lucio Rodriguez (drums).
Sahara was a cult band in the Argentinian stoner-doom scene, who released two celebrated full-length albums as well as a live album and a split with Mephistofeles before involuntarily disbanding in 2019. But with the help of Mephistofeles members Gabriel Ravera (bass) and Ivan Sacharczuk (drums), founder Martin Ludi decided to continue with Sahara. In 2021, the band had released the four-track comeback EP »The Curse« through Helter Skelter Productions, teasing what the future holds. Sahara’s third album »III: Hell On Earth« followed in 2022, darker and more drugged-out than ever.
The first release under their new moniker The Curse Of Sahara was a two-track EP »Phantom Member / Cheap Luv« in 2023 on Helter Skelter Productions. Influences are as clear as day: Mountain and Black Sabbath, the grandmasters of the ’70s. The two tracks are quick hitters, both sung by bassist Gabriel Ravera. The vintage sound has been nailed down, not just the riffs and the distortion, but the entire essence, there’s even a dash of British psychedelia, courtesy of the keyboard in the mix. Martin Ludi takes the helm of the guitar solos, echoing Leslie West in a way that can’t be missed, while Lucio Rodriguez on drums lays down fills that nod to the likes of Neil Peart.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Martin: We’re a heavy rock band, like kind American, British and Argentinian 70’s rock band. We used to play stoner doom, but that was like 10 years ago, times pases by.
Gabriel: Yes, a few words about your band.
Lucio: I think we’re a very dynamic band. We’ve played different styles from beginning to now, but heavy rock and roll has always been present. Also we played together for years… That makes our live performances become a wild thing.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Martin: Try to rehearse regularly and stick to a schedule. We have to play a lot to sound good. When you’re touring, you play a lot and you play things that, if you only rehearse once a week, you don’t really get that same mojo that good sounding bands have.
Gabriel: Our instruments are too complicated to understand sometimes, we are still struggling and learning about them.
Lucio: Not to be redundant.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Martin: Being released on vinyl. If you really love music, you can be very proud of that.
Gabriel: That the band seems to be cool, to me is really cool. So do people think.
Lucio: Play the music we like, just the way we like. It doesn’t matter what the hell we are playing, everyone knows what to do at the correct moment. That coordination is something genuine.
What was your biggest regret?
Martin: I regret nothing.
Gabriel: Sometimes I think that I picked the wrong way to hapiness when being a musician. But its actually fun to me and i feel that im doing something that will remain alive even after my death.
Lucio: Not to be part of the »III« album recording sessions. But I’m very happy and optimistic about the band. Remember, trust in the process.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Martin: I don’t remember everything, but Chile and Córdoba here in Argentina great places to play.
Gabriel: I cannot tell right now.
Lucio: When I stepped away from the band, years passed by without playing any of the songs, but I had the opportunity to return for a few shows without much prior rehearsal… To my surprise, everything flowed very naturally, and they were very special and incredible experiences. That’s when I realized I needed to come back.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Martin: How many people still really dig ’70s music. There’s a lot of music going around, and a lot of it has that vibe and that’s good for me, because I love rock n roll in general.
Gabriel: Getting paid sometimes.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Martin: I highly recommend the album »Smash Your Head Against The Wall« (1971) by John Entwistle from The Who and the album »Toad« (1971) by Toad. Besides of that I’ve been listening a lot of old blues.
Gabriel: Lately I’ve been listening to »Cricklewood Green« (1968) by Ten Years After, »The Resurrection Of Pigboy« (1967) by Paul Butterfield Band and Electric Wizard’s self-titled album (1994). I recommend those.
Lucio: Every live performance by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. They’re crazy. And early albums from Rush of course.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Martin: Don’t do drugs. I never listened to that one anyways ha. But for real, don’t do drugs.
Gabriel: Do not get fucked up when you gotta get to stage, becuase you’ll regret it if you take music seriously. I mean, lately as a grown adult I have come to enjoy for real again playing live when not under the influence of something. After the gig, if I do well, i give myself a cool reward like coke. a good and cold bottle of coke from the freezer.
Lucio: Stay away from drugs. That ‘s not music.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Martin: I like going fast and running red lights on my motorcycle.
Gabriel: I like to do a bunch of drugs, thou not that often nowadays. Makes it feel even more guiltier the adreaniline of thinking about relapsing on something.
Lucio: There’s no pleasure in guiltyness.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Argentina?
Martin: There are a lot of young people playing blues and rock, and I feel really proud of that.
Gabriel: Nowadays theres kind of a proper underground scene, lead by a few band of kids that play really good and make good music. So i would say that the scene kind of fix itself a little compared to 10 years ago.
Lucio: People should pay attention to bands that can actually offer good and fresh music. They exist, and they’re young guys who really know what they’re doing.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Martin: We don’t have any plans to play yet.
Gabriel: No clue.
Lucio: Please stand by haha.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Martin: Still recording new music, I like the process of learning a new song.
Gabriel: To play a lot the new album, is very good and fun.
Lucio: To be away from the comfort zone, play in cool places, and create new and challenging music.
How can people best support your band?
Martin: Buying the album on Bandcamp, that the best way by far for support the band.
Gabriel: Buying the record or donating money to the band. Everybody knows that – you can also share the album with a bunch of people too that will be of help.
Lucio: Simply by listening to our music and buying our albums.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Martin: We’re going to release our new album with the label Saturn Eye Records, so stay alert on the social media and that, and thanks for your support.
Gabriel: yeah, you guys need to have patience nowadays with the band because we have grown older and we do have other responsabilities too that may delay some stuff with the band, but we’ll never stop playin, making music or releasing albums.
Lucio: Yeah, thanks for being there for us.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well