Inti Gonzales EP release

The idea and practice of the co-production has been in the film industry for ages. Producers and broadcasters from Country A and Country B join financial and creative forces to make and distribute a movie or TV series. More informally, this happens in music, too. Take Mexican-born-and-raised musician Inti Gonzales. After spending most of his life in Mexico City and around Quintana Roo (known here as a destination for pasty tourists), he’s been living in Halifax since last February and is releasing his first solo EP (he’s performed as a percussionist with Mexico’s Chak), Robalo Latino. The songs were written in Mexico and Halifax. “We consider it a Halifax-Mexico-made project,” explains Gonzales’ partner Winnie Bower by email. The two met while Bower was in Mexico studying. (She speaks Spanish.) Though his English skills have vastly improved, Bower says, he’s still working up to an interview. He was also putting finishing touches on the recording before it was printed.Halifax musicians, including bass players Graham Kerr and Phil Mackenzie, guitarists Daniel Wendt and Denma Peisinger, drummers Mark Bachynski and Ian Taylor, pianist Daniel Ruiz, trombonist Fernando Moncayo and singer Mary-Grace Koile hung out and worked up songs in “the shed” behind Bower’s parents’ place on Summit Street. (Gonzales appears on Koile’s latest record and plays drums for The Stance’s new album.) Bower and Gonzales bunked in the small structure until it got cold, though musical work continues.“We’ve called this little project Bajo la Canoa Productions, which means ‘under the canoe’ in Spanish,” says Bower. “A beautiful wooden canoe hangs on the ceiling of the shed (for storage purposes), which also serves as a great mechanism for sound in the studio.”