Sans Patrie don’t seem like a band that’s trying to please everyone, but their stance is clear—they’re in it for the long haul. It’s the kind of story where the protagonists face obstacles yet keep moving forward without worrying about looking virtuous. In a world where it’s easy to drown in the noise of advice-givers, they double down on raw sincerity and hold onto their own vision.

Talking with the band, I noticed how their outlook on life is deeply intertwined with their sound: New York, a mix of cultures, a passion for football, the rush of surfing—all of it feels like scenes from a fast-paced documentary. Their story is not built on a smooth picture; it’s a collage of club gigs, relentless rehearsals, chance encounters, and nights that stretch until sunrise. So it’s no surprise that Who I’ll Be carries a distinct sense of freedom—one that no one surrenders willingly. In our interview, Sans Patrie spoke about the challenges of big-city life, keeping the creative spark alive in an era of endless trends, and how they navigate the balance between reaching a wide audience and staying true to rock’s legacy. Their words carry the same conviction as their music. We talked about childhood records, favorite concerts, what it means to be a “nationless” band in New York, and why every fleeting moment on and off stage matters. Ahead of them are new releases, shows, and the search for new venues and listeners. But even now, it’s clear—they won’t get lost in the crowd.

photo by Yasef Mejia

Hey guys! Your new single, Who I’ll Be —hard rock swagger meets Britpop polish, with a chorus that hooks the soul and a guitar solo that could ignite a kid’s dream of stardom. I listened to it and felt this rush, like it’s a song that dares you to stand taller than anyone ever thought you could, all while winking at the fun of proving them wrong. Was there a moment—a sting of doubt, a spark of rebellion—that lit the fuse for this anthem?

Hey, thanks for chatting with us! “Who I’ll Be” was inspired by the ethos of ’80s & ’90s Hard Rock and British Rock bands. These bands had so much personality & stayed true to themselves. In today’s social media landscape, everything feels more homogenized—safety, trends and performative humility are prioritized. What I loved about bands like Oasis, Guns N’ Roses, The Stone Roses, ZZ Top, Lenny Kravitz, etc was their unapologetic confidence (even when it was a bit cocky). That attitude played a huge role in their success, and I liked the idea of  who you are and what you’ll achieve. I mixed that bold statement with personal experiences and those of people I know. We’ve all been underestimated in our personal, professional, romantic lives . We’ve all been told we’re too “something”—too slow, too fast, too tall, too short, too old, too young, too skinny, too fat, too late, too little—and wanted to prove everyone wrong.

There’s an optimism here, polished enough for the radio but raw enough to feel real, a rare beast in today’s fractured music scene. How do you walk that tightrope between crafting a crowd-pleaser that could fill a stadium and staying true to the spirit of rock music? Does the hunger for a hit ever clash with the urge to keep it honest?

I think it clashes constantly, for sure. Like I said before, it’s easy to be guided by the trends and way of the social media world. After all, we’re all trying to make a dent one way or another. We know that rock music isn’t as easily digestible in short clips like something more mainstream would be, and we’re not going to change our sound, arrangements, or style just to be more viral. However, our goal when writing songs has always been in line with the way we view music: Music is meant to be danced to, chanted or sung along to, and fun. We always try to add a catchy hook or chorus because when the audience has fun, so do we!

How do you decide which moments from your records deserve to be blown up into these larger-than-life performances? Is there one instant on stage—maybe a look from the crowd, a note that lands just right—that makes you think, “This is why we’re Sans Patrie”?

I think every song is special, but every once in a while, you write one that really clicks with the band, the audience, and your “brand.” When I wrote it, I just felt like “Who I’ll Be” was the most Sans Patrie-sounding song I’d written. I played it acoustically and could already hear people humming or singing the chorus after my set—at the bar, even in the bathroom! The real test is always showing the band. I always send Nick (our bassist) a few songs to pick from, and he instantly loved it. He even had the lyrics printed out at our first rehearsal. Once it passes both the acoustic & band tests, the full production usually comes together. We love making things sound big on stage, so something that already felt big just hit that much harder.

How did you arrive at Who I’ll Be sound—were there long nights, debates about where to crank up the guitar or where to let the silence breathe? What does this song mean to you personally now, when you listen to it after some time has passed since recording?

The writing process wasn’t too different from other songs—I pick up the acoustic, start strumming, and sing. The lyrical ideas or subject matter were pretty clear, but I wanted to change things up melodically. I started out squeezing the lyrics together like a punk song. But then I started experimenting, dragging out certain words and adding some bluesy intonations & slides. The main guitar riff is always something I play with before handing it to Eduardo. I approach it as a singer, trying to make it catchy—like a conversation between the guitar and vocals. Then Eduardo takes it and adds his magic, as always. Once the melody and structure are in place, Nick adds his touch, which, to me, is what really makes it a Sans Patrie song. His bass line during the solo is what makes “Who I’ll Be” ours.

Now when I listen, it feels like the first song we’ve released that I don’t need to step back from to appreciate. We’re all really proud of it, and working with Dima on the mix and master was the sweet spot. It just feels like we were all on the same page, and that it could be our calling card.

photo by Yasef Mejia

The way you weave English and Spanish into your lyrics feels like a conversation across borders, a refusal to pick a side in a world that loves its tidy labels. What drives the choice to sing a line in English or Spanish—is it the gut, the story, or maybe a jab at listeners who think rock only speaks one tongue?

I think most bilingual people who are stuck between languages, cultures, or worlds all understand the feeling of having alter egos. Sometimes you think in one language, sometimes you dream in another. Sometimes you can express something better in Spanish, sometimes a phrase makes more sense in English. And sometimes, an experience is experienced through one lens more than another. It’s a combination of factors that shouldn’t feel like picking one side over the other. It just so happens that I personally don’t often write or speak Spanglish, but having two languages to communicate a thought or feeling is a powerful thing, especially when it lets you resonate with more people.

New York in 2025 is a beast of a city—gritty, glamorous, unforgiving—and you’ve planted your flag there, claiming it as home even as you call yourselves “without homeland.” What does it mean to be a New York band right now, in a moment when rock’s pulse feels faint to some and fiercely alive to others?

I think of all cities for a band without a homeland to plant its flag in, NYC is THE city. A world within a world. A city that could be its own country with its own diversity and social norms. Unfortunately, things have changed & most longtime New Yorkers like myself will tell you the reasons (no need to dive into that rabbit hole). That being said, yes, it’s a difficult time to be a musician in general, let alone a rock band. However, I spent the last year going to at least 3-4 shows a month, as well as trying to book curated events with up and coming rock bands, and I want people to realize how many GREAT rock bands there actually are! I think NYC’s music scene has a branding & a community problem. I think NYC is automatically branded as a city of DJs & Hip Hop (which of course it is), but latin, folk, punk & rock music all have strong presences. The issue is that NYC is very event-oriented, and therefore, music communities suffer as a result. Also, NYC is a very individualistic city & I’ve noticed how little support there is within our own genres. We’re lucky enough to have met other musicians and artists who share the same passion for supporting live music & art, and it’s something I try to prioritize when booking gigs/bands.

Where do you go when you need to step out of the whirlwind of being a band? What’s the quietest place you’ve found that still feels like home?

It’s not exactly quiet, but I still love playing football (soccer). It’s the only time I feel disconnected from music, my phone, my tv, everything. Watching Argentina play (speaking for myself haha) is a very cathartic experience. I know That Nick loves to surf & skate, and he’ll get up at the break of dawn to catch some waves & detach. The beach is a happy place we can both definitely unwind on. Eduardo is more of a homebody that lives and breathes music, but I think when it comes to learning languages, he can sort of shut the music side of brain off for a while. I mean, you kinda need to if you’re teaching yourself Mandarin and German!

Your songs carry the weight of defiance and the lift of possibility, but every artist has a well they draw from—a memory, a melody, a fleeting feeling. What’s a song or an album from your past that still sneaks into your thoughts when you’re alone?

Speaking for myself, the albums that most resonate with me on a consistent basis are: “Definitely Maybe” – Oasis, “From Here to Infirmary” – Alkaline Trio, “Eliminator” – ZZ Top, “The Stone Roses” – The Stone Roses, “Chasing Yesterday” – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, “Pennybridge Pioneers” – Millencolin But really the memories of growing up watching live concerts on YouTube like Alkaline trio Live at The Metro (1997), Oasis live at Knebworth (1996), AC/DC live at River Plate (2009), Journey live in Houston (1981). And on a personal note, I’ve always spoken about feeling more at home now between spaces rather than belonging to just one, but when I was younger, I felt I had a cultural identity crisis that spilled into my music & day to day life. Those feelings always stay with me, though now I see them in a much more positive light of acceptance.

What’s a memory of just being together—not performing, not creating, just existing as Sans Patrie—that makes you smile when you think back on it? How does it remind you why you’re a band?

This is still kind of related to Sans Patrie, but our photoshoots are always a lot of fun. We all have really busy schedules with jobs & other musical projects, so it’s hard to get all of us in the same room. Obviously, there’s tons of fun memories at the beach, at concerts, at asados (Argentinian bbq), football games, etc with 2 or 3 of us at a time, but our photoshoots are really when all of us can come together without playing music or recording or being on stage. We really just get to be ourselves and bring skateboards or football (soccer) balls. We drink some mate, some beers and just get to chat about sports, girls, music, jobs, etc. When the music stops is when you get to enjoy the company of friends, instead of just bandmates.

What’s on the horizon for Sans Patrie this year—any stages you’re itching to conquer, cities you want to shake awake? What’s the one gig in 2025 you’re already losing sleep over, in the best way?

This year we’re getting ready to release at least 4 more singles and adding them to an EP release hopefully by the end of the year! As for shows, we’re hoping to get out of state a bit & really focus on putting together lineups with rock bands from the area to start forming a community. We’ve got shows lined up for April 13 (Sleepwalk, Brooklyn), May 2 (Bar Freda), and June 5 (Arlen’s Grocery), and will start getting dates for the summer soon!

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