Music
July 19, 2023
B-Side Music Fridays with Cerval & Destino
CERVAL and DESTINO take to the stage Friday, July 21.This season’s lineup is chock-full of Denver talent delivering soul-grooving sounds in all of the tasty genres of music. If you don’t know about B-Side, it’s about time to get familiar with one of the best ways to experience the amazing talent in the city. Do your stretches and gather your friends for some summer night dancing on the museum’s rooftop. But first, get to know this week’s B-Side bands!
CERVAL
CERVAL is a misfit. A dystopian pop artist and producer created in isolation and molded by dysphoria. A suburban nightmare and a chaotic good, CERVAL creates music charged with emotion yearning for an escape. Whatever past CERVAL may have had has fallen by the wayside, but in his music, therein lies the breadcrumbs. His debut single, “Unavailable” a woozy ode to discretion arrived on September 18, 2020. If the rumors are true, his debut EP will follow soon after.
Hi CERVAL!! How are things?
Things are good. Time is moving fast.
Who is CERVAL? How did the band come together?
CERVAL is a conceptual idea I’ve had for a while, but put into motion during the pandemic in full. It merges a lot of the rave sounds of the 90’s with pop music and otherworldly sounds to make what I’ve coined as “dystopian pop music”. The “group” is just me, myself and I, perhaps one day it will grow and become even more fleshed out with more moving pieces, but as the principal producer and singer/songwriter, I’m enjoying the current format, as it challenges me to be my most vulnerable.
How long have you been performing in Denver? What is your favorite thing about the Denver music scene?
I don’t perform all that often, but I’d say for years and the live show continues to morph into a vision of my own. My favorite thing is the many surprises that Denver seemingly holds in a musical capacity.
Where do you find inspiration for your music?
The ebbs and flows of life, mental health and existentialism in all of it.
Who are some artists/creators that are influential to your musical practice?
Danja and Timbaland are two of my favorite producers, bar none. Likewise, I am super inspired by the energy that The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Basement Jaxx have built their careers on. Also, I love a good pop song, and literally any big name pop star has had a major impact on me in that regard, especially in understanding songwriting and making a moment happen in a song.
Music can be an immersive experience. How would you describe your sound as a texture, a scent, or a taste?
To me, the music feels like dancing alone in a crowded room, and feeling everything at once.
What should we expect from your performance?
To dance a bit, and feel a lot.
What are you excited about for this year?
More life.
DESTINO
Born and raised in Denver, DESTINO is an inspiration forLGBTQ+ youth and individuals to live in their authenticity and express who they are. DESTINO has performed at The UMS, Meow Wolf Denver, Westword Music Showcase, A Taste of Colorado, Denver PRIDEFest, various Pride events across the country, and has been featured in multiple publications such as 303Magazine, TRAP! Magazine, and Westword Magazine for their accomplishments in music and art. DESTINO is a breath of fresh air in the Denver Music Scene, and delivers a lively performance of creatively unique pop music.
Hi DESTINO!! How are things?
Hey, things are going well! Been pretty busy in the studio working on a couple projects lately and I just recently moved downtown! So yeah, I’ve been good... for the most part... I think I’ve been going through a transformative time in my life. I’ve been seeing all the signs that change is creating space for something big to come into my life and certain things are really falling into place for me to create the future that I desire, which I’m grateful for. Change isn’t easy, but I’m doing well and excited for what my future holds!
Who is DESTINO? How did the band come together?
Born and raised in Denver, DESTINO is an inspiration for latino LGBTQ+ youth and individuals to live in their authenticity and express who they are. DESTINO has performed at The UMS, Meow Wolf Denver, Westword Music Showcase, A Taste of Colorado, Denver PRIDEFest, various Pride events across the country, embarked on an independent tour, and has been featured in multiple publications such as 303Magazine, TRAP! Magazine, and Westword Magazine for their accomplishments in music and art. DESTINO is a breath of fresh air in the Denver Music Scene, and delivers a lively performance of creatively unique pop music. DESTINO is me!
How long have you been performing in Denver? What is your favorite thing about the Denver music scene?
I’ve been performing my entire life, honestly. I always think about being a little kid sitting in my moms car singing to the radio while she drove me and my sister to school, daydreaming of being a pop artist on stage. Since I was 10, I took piano lessons and performed at recital halls and senior living homes, which translated into me dancing in a Mexican Folklorico Dance Group for about 5 years, and then I taught myself how to produce music in college and started to perform at open mics. I’ve always loved being on stage and sharing art with the community. I decided I wanted to pursue music in a more professional manner in 2020, and it’s kind of history from there. I’ve been living my dream since! I absolutely love Denver, I was born and raised here, and I only hope to be able to contribute to the creative ecosystem here in our beautiful city. I want to help establish a pop music presence. There's so much amazing underground talent that isn’t being seen and is undervalued. I aspire to uplift other artists in my community through my art and performances, so I tend to incorporate a lot of collaboration when I create and showcase my work. What I love the most about Denver’s music scene, is that everyone is so friendly, I feel like we’re all connected as musicians in the local scene. I love that the Denver music scene has so much of its own potential to grow into something bigger, better, more inclusive, and exciting! As artists, booking agents, and venues, we have the power to shape the future of Denver’s music industry.
Where do you find inspiration for your music?
I find inspiration in futurism, technology, synthesizers, friendship, sexuality, and love, among many other things. I think that a lot of my music has quite a bit of different inspirations that melt together to create my unique sound. I really just like to have fun and channel my feelings, personality, and energy into my music while experimenting with an electro futuristic edge. I think by not setting many expectations for myself, I’m able to create more freely and openly about my experiences. I like to write music that can have different meanings depending on the listener’s personal experiences.
Who are some artists/creators that are influential to your musical practice?
The artists that have shaped my musical style would probably include Katy Perry, Troye Sivan, Charli XCX, SOPHIE, and Umru. I love pop music and I love experimental dance music!
Music can be an immersive experience. How would you describe your sound as a texture, a scent, or a taste?
Music is definitely an immersive experience, I would say my music would have the texture of soft crushed velvet, the sweet and refreshing taste of kiwi and lavender lemonade, and the woodsy/floral smell of Alien by Mugler.
What should we expect from your performance?
Expect a party! I just love having fun doing what I love, performing and sharing my art with my city. Pop music, queer self-expression, creative synergy, collaboration, emotion, and a fun time!
What are you excited about for this year?
This year I’m excited that I’ve been able to perform more, I’m growing my team, building community, falling in love with myself, and experiencing new things. I’m excited for my creative collective, Wide Eyed Entertainment, to release our first collaborative mixtape. Excited to perform at The Marquis on August 10 for the first time! Excited to perform at UMS for the second time. I’m excited to meet new people and make new creative friends. Lastly, I’m excited to finish working on my next solo project
