Hailing from New York City, Mala Vista have been a punk rock force to be reckoned with. They are Myke Miranda, Manuel Labour, Erik LAMF and Ben Heymann. Formed in 2016 they draw from a sense of shared experience found in their Latino roots. By playing on the name Buena Vista Social Club, Mala Vista takes shape by exploring a darker perspective. This is stylistically reflected by a vibrant sound twisting fast and snotty ’77 driven punk with a desperate rock n’ roll urgency. The result is music akin to The Boys and Kids but with a keen Clash-like sense of awareness. It’s a style invoking a nod toward what made the late 1970s punk authentic and charismatic. Thus fans of that era should waste little time finding their records and listen to them with expedience.

Since their inception Mala Vista have witnessed many changes overtaking their home of New York City. They survived the chaos of the Covid Pandemic, seen bands come and go ,and venues shutter their doors. Now they have found themselves among a nucleus of bands keeping rock n’ roll breathing. This is thanks to dynamic live performances and a string of solid releases.

During their tenure Mala Vista have put out three records along with several digital singles. Their records are their 2019 debut self-released EP and albums Ruthless and Toothless (05/22/2022 on No Front Teeth Records) and Fun Time ( 03/01/2024 via Spaghetty Town Records). Each succeeding record captures a tight and maturing sound by boasting ’77 influenced power pop laced punk that builds on a unique sense of foreboding youthful desperation. This can be heard with songs like “In Th Dark” and “Die Waiting” as they celebrate this genre with unequaled brilliance.

Fresh from playing several shows in Texas, Mala Vista are gearing up for several upcoming shows a 11 date tour of Spain in Spain. I caught up with Myke and Ben. They were kind of enough to tell me the history of Mala Vista, getting involved with No Front Teeth Records and Spaghetty Town Records and their upcoming Spanish tour…

NixBeat: Mala Vista are Myke Miranda, Manuel Labour, Erik LAMF and Ben Heymann. Formed In 2016, they have blazed a trail in the punk community.  What prompted Mala Vista to come together?

Myke: I moved from Texas to NYC in 2012 and had been trying to get a rock n’ roll band together since. I was playing in a band called New Oldies Club around 2015 but that didn’t work out. I met our first drummer Jordan Reisman at the start of 2016. Then I met Manny a few months later. We had way more in common, liked a lot of the same bands so I knew right away it was a better fit. I quit NOC to focus on Mala Vista.

Ben: I joined the band in 2018. I was playing in a few bands at the time, and I started hearing their name around town. The first person I met from the band was Erik. We both got locked out of our practice space one night, and we got to talking while we figured out how to get into the building. Soon after that, I went to check them out at the original Hank’s Saloon right before they shut their doors, and Erik introduced me to Manny and Myke. We started chatting, and they mentioned they were looking for a drummer. Eventually, I sat in for a practice or two, and that was that.

NixBeat: In an interview with gimmepaperface.com (published on April 14, 2023) it is referenced that Mala Vista is Spanish for bad outlook. Also mentioned is the importance to draw from Myke Miranda’s and Manny Dominguez’s shared Latino heritage. Can you expand on what you drew from for the name Mala Vista and how your Latino roots influence your music?  

Myke: We felt it was important to stand out and stand on something we could identify with. Neither of us speak Spanish very well but Latinidad, shared experiences, struggles, culture, and how that stands in juxtaposition to American society and culture were things we wanted to share lyrically, visually and so on. The name itself is a play on Buena Vista Social Club, but when turned around and made to be the opposite, it became something that felt in line with our dark and sometimes doubtful attitudes; our own club. The literal translation is pretty senseless though.

Ben: I actually didn’t even realize the true origin of the name being a play on Buena Vista Social Club until pretty recently. My pea brain never made the connection. Definitely glad it got shortened to just “Mala Vista” though…

NixBeat: Mala Vista has shared bills with The Mummies, The Kids and 999. What have been some of your favorite shows to play?

Myke: We’ve definitely supported some legends and definitely quite a few who we grew up listening to and who influenced the shit out of MV like the Kids, Protex, Gories…. My personal favorite was supporting Terry Six of the Exploding Hearts at TV Eye in Queens for the 20th anniversary of Guitar Romantic and the passing of the other members of the band. That show was really special and so heartfelt.

Ben: It’s still a pretty wild feeling to see your name up there alongside a band you’ve loved since you were a kid. Those shows were all personal milestones for me. But the shows I love playing the most are always ones where we’re playing with our current crop of peers, especially when they’re our buddies. Half the reason I even play music is for the camaraderie and meeting like-minded people.

NixBeat: Since forming in 2016, how has the New York music community changed?

Myke: Venues come and go. During the time, there were more DIY venues for Rock n Roll bands to play at. Now, most seem to cater to much more heavier bands. Hardcore was always a thing in NYC but even more so now. It’s interesting seeing Oi! make a comeback. Those are the shows that do best and often sell out and there’s been a shift. We have a pretty small but close knit community of friends, DJs, bands who still fuck with 77 punk, power pop, soul, 50s rock n roll and so on. Everyone we met in 2016 as we started playing shows are still our friends and people we support and look up to.

Ben: The scene has changed a bit over the years but not too drastically. Some people come and go, but I’m grateful that there’s still a majority of the same faces around, a large portion of whom have been around here doing their thing long before I ever started poking my head around. There’s always a fresh crop of new kids rolling through. Some make a splash and stick around but a lot of em can’t hack it. Makes it a little harder to book shows when there’s so many bands flooding the scene, but you find out real quick if you can pull a consistent crowd or not. You really gotta hustle to stay on people’s radar. NYC is a fickle beast, though. Unless you forge a lot of strong connections, people kinda forget about you as soon as you move away for greener pastures. I do feel like Covid separated the wheat from the chaff, though. A lotta people left town during shut down and stayed gone. I also definitely felt an increased sense of community with those of us that stuck around after things opened back up. Some people in the scene seemed like they got a little friendlier, and a lotta bands don’t seem as competitive or stand offish as they were before.

NixBeat: Where are some of your favorite places to play in New York City?

Myke: I work at TV Eye in Queens. It’s owned by people we care about and admire a great deal. Guys like Jonathan Toubin, people who have helped the band a lot, shown us the way, lead us in the right direction. They’ve all been in the business for so long and they just get it; how to treat bands, guests, etc. All is well thought out and designed for  rock n roll good time.

Ben: Ya, TV Eye basically feels like our HQ in a lotta ways. We’re always there, either playing or hanging at other shows. They do really take care of bands, it’s a great venue all around. NYC still has a number of great venues, though. Union Pool has a great stage. The Broadway is always a rad time. Ottos Shrunken Head holds a special place in my heart. Berlin is always real fun. Our Wicked Lady is a staple. I know I’m forgetting a bunch…

NixBeat: In an interview Mala Vista did with BKMag.com (Published March 13, 2024) it is referenced that the Clash (among Johnny Thunders and The Zeros) are an influence for Mala Vista’s musical approach. How do the Clash influence for you?

Myke: Erik teases me for my love for The Clash. I’ve loved that band since I was 15. They opened my eyes to many other bands who were around for the OG punk movement. More importantly, listening to The Clash helped me realize punk’s uniformity – it challenged me to think outside of that and prompted me to carve out my own style and to think globally, topically. I come from San Antonio, Texas where you’re either too poor or overworked so much that you have no interest in leaving. The Clash reminded me to get out, improvise what I need to do so, and get things going.

Ben: I love the Clash, how could you not?! And the Heartbreakers and the Zeros. We all cut our teeth on those bands. A million things have been said about the Clash over the years, but the fact that they were able to pump out so many expertly crafted songs, all the while experimenting with different sounds and styles, that’s always blown me away. They both embodied, and eventually transcended, the punk sound without turning their backs on their ideals. Personally though, I think we draw more musical inspiration from bands like the Boys,  the Kids, or Teenage Head. That’s where I hear the most influence on our sound.

NixBeat: Mala Vista’s first full length Ruthless and Toothless was put out by No Front Teeth Records. How did you get involved with No Front Teeth?

Myke: We released our first EP ourselves but really had no way to get it out there or to raise visibility so we kept our eyes out for a label who might be interested in doing our next release. I took a trip to London around the time and saw a band called Suicide Generation. I really liked them. They have a Colombian front guy and had a few records on NFT so it drew our attention. We all grew up knowing about NFT, buying records off their site and so I reached out. Marco was super nice and was immediately down to re-release our EP. We wanted to release a second EP but he recommended we repackage our first EP and the second EP together as a 12” LP. That became Ruthless and Toothless. That record sold out in the UK quickly

Ben: No Front Teeth has always put out rad stuff. I’ve been stoked on them since high school, so getting a chance to have my name on a record they put out is definitely another personal highlight for me. Marco wanted to combine the first EP (that I didn’t play on) with a digital release EP that I did play on, so we rearranged all the tracks to be a proper full length record so it could stand on its own. I think it turned out alright, all things considered.

NixBeat: Mala Vista’s sophomore album was released by Atlanta, Ga based Spaghetty Town Records on March 1, 2024. This album was recorded over two years at NY Hed Studios. What was the process like recording Fun Time?

Ben: Honestly, the recording of Fun Time was maybe a little TOO much fun, me and Erik definitely took a lot of booze breaks while walking around the LES in between takes. Matt and Rocio at NY Hed are pros though, they’re a real pleasure to work with and have since become our friends. I admit I was a little intimidated going in cuz here we are finally spending a decent chunk of money to record direct to tape, which I’d never done before, plus they have such a crazy back catalog both as producers and musicians. But they were real laid back and they definitely helped us hone in on a few different details we maybe wouldn’t have otherwise tried, like the keys Roccio played on “Juana La Cubana”.

Myke: Yeah, Matt and Rocio Verta Ray were so amazing. Everything is recorded live so that no energy is lost. Then all the fine details are worked out later. They were careful, patient, and knew exactly what tools to use to capture the right sounds. Their approach helped push us in the right direction as far as delivery, attitude, and tone. Rocio’s guidance especially was instrumental in helping me reach areas vocally that I had not really ever pushed myself to reach. They helped us work out harmonies and had a lot of cool insight as to how to layer my vocals, guitars, percussion, and keys (Juana). I keep the original tapes on my bookshelf at home. Very cool experience.

NixBeat: “Die Waiting” was written during the height of the Covid Pandemic. What are you drawing from for this song?

Myke: I was living in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn during peak pandemic times. During that time it was constant sirens, makeshift morgues in our parks, constant reminders of increasing numbers, deaths, NYC being the epicenter of the pandemic for a period. Meanwhile, police presence was intense as demonstrations were starting to mount up in response to the murder of George Floyd. A group started fire to a police truck a few blocks from my apartment. In response, the city set in place a curfew. You’d be fined or arrested if you were out past curfew. It made a lot black and brown communities vulnerable during this time because many just happened to be essential workers or people who didn’t have the luxury of working from home. Things were intense and to top it off, during curfew week, there were helicopters hovering over Bed-Stuy all day and night. I’ll never forget that.

NixBeat: What inspired the track “In The Dark?

Myke: Crippling depression, anxiety, suspicion and doubt over everything. You hit it spot on in your write up. Lyrically, I tend to write from the perspective of I as an observer of something I feel is relevant, urgent, or topical socially and politically. Sometimes I write from the perspective of those the song may be about like “I Don’t Wanna”. “In The Dark” is personal and I felt that might resonate differently with people compared to the other songs.

NixBeat: Can readers expect another release via Spaghetty Town Records?

Ben: We sure hope so! More than anything, we just like hanging out with Teddy. He is very good company, just a really good dude. But beyond that, he definitely takes good care of his bands and really knows what he’s doing. His output speaks for itself. We are buddies with a few of the bands on the label too, so it feels like a good fit for us. We got a bunch of new songs we’re pretty excited about, so hopefully they’ll be ready to go soon.

Myke: Teddy is the man. He’s definitely taken us under his wing and has been supportive since even before we were part of the label. We definitely have fuel in the tank for more and have been working on new material so if he’s down, we’re down. The next thing might be our best yet, btw.

NixBeat: Recently Mala Vista played several dates in Texas. How was it playing there?

Ben: Texas was amazing. Honestly, it was a miracle we even got there and back cuz that was the weekend all the computer systems went down worldwide. We had really great crowds though, and all of Myke’s longtime homies in San Antonio were so hospitable and welcoming. Shout out to all those dudes, and also to Greg in SA and Preston in Austin for putting us up! Hope we can get down there again sooner than later, cuz there was a lot we didn’t get to do or see.

Myke: Playing home was pretty fucking great. Honestly, for years, I had pretty mixed feelings about home and that took a bit to get through. I think enough time had passed, lessons had been learned, new experiences had been had and so on… it was time. It was really cool seeing my bandmates/close friends now meet the people I grew up with, got into punk with, and who some I was in bands with. Everyone was so loving and supportive as expected. Also shout out to the southside SA homie Aaron Peña and Gimme Gimme, Danny Constante of Hi-Tones, and Austin homie Jake Garcia of The 13th Floor. RIP to one of my best friends Elliott Ramirez.

NixBeat: Does Mala Vista have any additional tours planned for the remainder of 2024?

Ben: We’re heading to Spain in November! We’ll be touring there from the 6-17th. We’re all pretty stoked since it’s really our first proper tour as a band, and we’ve been itching to get to overseas to play. We got buddies all over Europe so we’re hoping this is the first of many jaunts over there. None of us have toured Europe with any of our previous bands. I’ve only ever heard good things about US bands playing there and getting treated well. So we hope it’ll be a wild time!

Myke: Yes, SPAIN! I’m so stoked. We are playing 11 nights throughout the country. Taking the Mala Vista international is an insanely huge next step for us and I can’t wait to play, to meet everyone, party, explore and have adventure time with the band. My biggest hopes are for us to gain a wider perspective of the world as a band, as friends, and to really plant the right seedlings for us to have a larger reach. Big plans for 2025!

NixBeat: What does the future hold for Mala Vista?

Ben: We’re trying to keep this party going for as long as we can! To me, it’s all about good times, good tunes, and good company. The more, the merrier. We’re definitely excited to continue touring to push the new record. I think we’re looking to get over to the west coast for a run early next year, which would be our first time playing out west as a band. Hopefully we can do Mexico and some other regional tours of the States in the near future, too. As I said before, we’re pretty stoked on this fresh batch of songs we’ve been working on, so we hope that will coalesce into a new release for 2025.

Myke: I think Ben really put it best here.

For more about Mala Vista visit their bandcamp!