Barcelona’s Ojos de Brujo were a ragtail bunch of musicians united by passionate music powered by flamenco but taking in any other form of rabble rousing rebel music. Their extensive live show which incorporated players of many odd instruments, dancers and fire-breathers, lit many a Latin rooted festival and flaunted with the world stage.
 
But like all passionate relationships they split spectacularly. Lenacay rose from their ashes with flamenco composer Ramon Giménez (‘El Brujo’) and DJ Panko (‘El Mago’) continuing to make experimental fusion music - taking that Latino tradition and effortlessly mixing it with modern urban rhythms.
 
Ahead of this new electronic soundsystem bursting onto the stage at Village Underground we got DJ Panko to talk us through his new hatchling.
 
Dan Davies: So, Lenacay "rose from Ojos de Brujo's ashes" did you burn out in big blaze or was it a slow smoulder in the end?
DJ Panko: It was a kind of big fire at the end. I can only tell you my opinion but after building a name and a band like Ojos - known all around the world - it was very sad to see how everything ended. I didn´t expect it. That was maybe my mistake...
 
Dan Davies: Ojos de Brujo was a large collective, Lenacay are more stripped down - is there a more intimate working relationship in the band?
DJ Panko: Ramon and I wanted to keep investigating flamenco and other musical styles and from this essential point we built Lenacay.
 
Dan Davies: Is flamenco still the beating pulse of Lenacay?
DJ Panko: Yes basically but we mix it with other beats.
 
Dan Davies: How did you find the other members of Lenacay, or did they find you?
DJ Panko: When we start looking for musicians we heard about Paula. Somebody told us something about a girl who sings soul and flamenco, so Ramon got in contact with her. Charly came in for the studio recordings with his bass and then Alan Sousa withhis great set of percussion. Finally, Rubio on the Spanish and electric guitars and now Carol with her incredible dance
 
Dan Davies: Have you worked with Carol Morgado before?
DJ Panko: Not me, but I can tell you I'm very happy to do it. She is a great dancer, and a great person - and she has the power to make people happy!
 
Dan Davies: Ojos de Brujo were a much celebrated band with a dedicated audience, is it tricky to bring that audience over, and do you want the same audience?
DJ Panko: I think people will make a mistake if they expect to see Ojos again - with Lenacay it is not the same.

We obviously have still the feeling for rumbas like Ojos had, but this comes because of the way in which Ramon plays Guitar. People will feel the same warmth in the groove that they did with any Ojos song because that always came from Ramon.
 
People will see the dance and many things in common with Ojos but Lenacay is something else. We are still a young band and we want to keep moving forwards.
 
Dan Davies: Do you feel young again or do you carry the old wisdom of your previous band with you?
DJ Panko: We are a new band but the wisdom from the past is obvious in all of us.
 
Dan Davies: How do you go about warming up a British crowd on a cold spring day?
DJ Panko: Well, maybe the best way to warm up is do some clapping. Your hands get really hot after a while.
 
Dan Davies: How would you like Lenacay to grow and where will they spread their wings?
DJ Panko: I wish we could grow slowly and nice. We are going tomorrow to Gothenburg in Sweden we have some gigs in Korea; a proposal for India; and a possible tour in the States. I hope this project works and make us able to feed our families.

Band site lenacay.com

Lenacay - Beyond Flamenco
Part of the London Flamenco Festival
at the Village Underground
54 Holywell Lane
London EC2A 3PQ

8pm, Thursday, 21 March 2013
Tickets and info villageunderground.co.uk