Draft:Descartes a Kant

Descartes a Kant is a group originally from Guadalajara, Mexico that fuses an eclectic palette of musical influences along with disciplines such as theater, dance and film. A balanced mix between composition and performance, made from a narrative language that the group has managed to consolidate throughout its career. Currently made up of Sandrushka Petrova, Ana Cristina Moreno, Memo Ibarra and Leonardo Padua, Descartes a Kant is characterized by fusing different musical styles and its performative presentations.

History

Founded by composer Sandrushka Petrova as a teenager in the early 2000s, Descartes a Kant formed in Guadalajara, Mexico originally as an all-female band, playing at parties on the local scene. They adopted the name from a philosophy book that contains a chapter titled "From Descartes to Kant" whose opposing philosophical works framed the beginning of the modern era, seeking to make analogy to the contrasts in musical style characteristic of the group in the beginning. In its early stages, his style was self-defined as a "bipolar-schizoid sound" by alternating sweet and melodic tonalities with dissonances and strident noises. His work includes influences from noise rock, punk, surf, electronic music, new wave, jazz, among others. Their live performances are usually theatrical performances, and the group members usually wear specific outfits for this.

After spending a few years in the local underground and several changes in its lineup, Descartes a Kant released its first album, titled Paper Dolls (2007)​, with the independent Mexican label Discos Intolerancia. Sandrushka Petrova participates in this stage along with Charlovsky, Dafne Caballo, Andro Muñoz and Frankie Mares, also drummer of the group Troker. The band's debut album challenges musical structures from a rabid and visceral female perspective. At the time of its release it was considered one of the most radical albums ever produced in Mexican rock. An album that aroused the curiosity of critics and national festivals, leading them to open for legendary bands such as Sonic Youth and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

In 2010 Frankie and Charlovsky left the project, and Jorge Chavez (Clondementto, Pito Pérez), Ana Cristina Moreno (Go Go Frenesí) and Memo Ibarra (Hong Kong Blood Opera) joined.

Their second material Il Visore Lunatique (2012)​ is a psychological-musical thriller inhabited by nine short songs and a musical. The album, inspired by madness and mental pathologies, aroused the attention of international media and people such as Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo​ towards the group. Considered a modern classic of Mexican Avant Garde, this album takes them to international stages for the first time, with tours throughout Russia, South America, Europe, Central America and the United States, sharing stages with artists such as The Melvins, Slayer, among others.

Victims Of Love Propaganda (2017) is the band's third studio album and first album released by a North American label, recorded in Chicago by legendary engineer Steve Albini. It is a concept album described as an autopsy of love, which throughout 10 songs full of sonic chiaroscuros and high musical contrasts, narrates the death of a romantic relationship. Through metaphors of crime scenes and forensic equipment costumes, this album was presented live as a 3-act concert (Teatro de la Ciudad in CDMX and Teatro Diana in Guadalajara) in which they developed a multidisciplinary essay on the concept of love Western and propaganda about happiness. This album takes them to perform in Mexico, Europe, the United States and South America, opening for artists such as Bauhaus , Cibo Matto and Dead Cross on their tour, and performing at festivals such as Roskilde​, Iceland Airwaves​, Youth Brigade, Ruido Fest, Rock al Parque , Cervantino , among others.

In April 2022, the group announced on their social networks the departure of Dafne, Andro and Jorge​, and in December of the same year they made their first presentation as a quartet​. In May 2023 they announced the integration of Leo Padua (Los Viejos, Annapura) as drummer, as well as a machine called "The DAK", also considered a new member of the group​.

They have cited artists such as: John Zorn, Mike Patton, Dresden Dolls, Sonic Youth, Queen, Dirty Projectors, The Locust, St. Vincent, The Blood Brothers, Veruca Salt, Mr. Bungle, Primus, Talking Heads, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Devo, Frank Zappa, Björk, as influences on the group among others.

Members

Descartes to Kant is made up of:

• Sandrushka Petrova (vocals, guitars, programming)
• Ana Cristina Mo (guitar, voice and synthesizer)
• Memo Ibarra (bass, synthesizer, voice and programming)
• Leo Padua (drums, sampler)

Former Members

• Dafne Carballo (voice, guitar and violin)
• Andro Muñoz (piano, and synthesizer)
• Jorge Chávez (drums, percussions and samplers)
• Frankie Mares (drums)
• Charlovsky (bass)
• Sol Rubí Gonzalez (guitar and vocals)

Discography

• 2007: Paper Dolls
• 2012: Il Visore Lunatique
• 2017: Victims Of Love Propaganda
• 2023: After Destruction

Others

• 2008: Gigantic: A Tribute to Kim Deal - "I Just Wanna Get Along"
• 2009: Juegos Inocentes Soundtrack - Juegos Inocentes (Sencillo)
• 2017: Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! Soundtrack- Motion Picture Dream Boy
• 2019: Carol of the Bells
• 2019: Tricky Presents: False Idols; Test of Time- Crime Scene
• 2020: A Tribute to Lou Reed EP