The other me

El Otro Yo is an alternative rock band from Argentina, although they have been exploring different genres in all their albums; formed in the late 1980s in the Temperley neighborhood of Greater Buenos Aires, it was mainly influenced by Nirvana, Pixies, The Cure, Sonic Youth and The Smashing Pumpkins.

In 2016, after its vocalist Cristian Aldana was charged, arrested and convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of minors, the band went on indefinite hiatus. After nearly three years in pretrial detention, Aldana was found guilty in four cases of "minor grossly outrageous sexual abuse and corruption" and sentenced to twenty-two years in prison.

History

From the beginnings in Temperley to Abrecaminos (1988-1999)

El Otro Yo was born in the late 1980s and early 1990s, in the town of Temperley, Lomas de Zamora. The brothers Humberto Cristian and María Fernanda Aldana have been playing since they were five years old in their house in Témperley with a Creole guitar belonging to their father (who was a singer of boleros and tangos in old cantinas) and a Gem organ. Under the influence of their mother, who was a poet, they began to write their first songs, in the style of the Velvet Underground and Nico. At school they played together in Revolución, a band in which they did covers of Sumo, Virus and Miguel Mateos.

Later, Cristian joined his first punk rock group, «Los Apáticos». Between 1986 and 1987, Cristian played in the band "Los Apáticos" and others such as "El Gregal", where Ricky Rua (ex-singer of Los Brujos and current drummer of El Otro Yo) played drums, while María participated in other groups such as example "Rebecca", where Ricky Rua also played drums; It was around these years that they decided to form a band together. Maria had read a poem that Arthur Rimbaud wrote at the age of sixteen, I am another , and the phrase was imprinted in her memory during the process of forming the group.

In January 1988, María commented the phrase to Cristian and El Otro Yo became the name of the group definitively. After several formations in which musicians such as Sergio Ucci (Alerta Roja), Gabriel Manelli (Los Brujos and Babasónicos) and many more passed, by the year 1989, El Otro Yo became a quintet: Cristian on lead vocals and lead guitar, María Fernanda on keyboards and second voice, and Sergio Moreno (ex Los Brujos and ex-manager of El Otro Yo) on second guitar. Then Omar Kischinovsky joined on drums and "Pajarito" on bass. The latter did not last long. In his replacement, Gabriel Manelli entered, who also lasted a short time. Then, in 1989, María Fernanda began to use a Faim guitar that served as a bass. In 1990, Sergio Moreno leaves the group.

In 1993 they had a demo with two songs, "Los pájaros" and "Sexo en el elevador". In that year they released their first self-production in a completely independent way: it was the cassette "Los Hijos de Alien". This cassette was selected as the best record of the year by the rock supplements Sí of Clarín and No of Página 12. Cristian distributed the cassettes in record stores. It was the first edition of Besótico Records. A label called Random, which published Los Brujos, Babasónicos, Martes Menta and Suárez, among others, listened to them and proposed to make an album recorded in a good studio.

Daniela Cugliandolo also joined the band at that time with her theater group “Sudor frío”, which emulated a person who were actually two girls and went up on stage as part of the show; then she Daniela continued doing live performances going through different emotions representing the intensity of the music. In the video for "Cut the grass" she can be seen with giant wings and a pruning shears; she later joins the group as a keyboard player.

After this, already in 1994, the four members that made up the band at that time —Cristian Humberto Aldana (guitar and lead vocals), his sister María Fernanda (bass and second vocals), Daniela Cugliandolo (keyboards) and Omar Kischinovsky (drums)—recorded at Moebio, with the artistic production of Guillermo Piccolini (Pachuco Cadáver), their second production and first CD: Traka Traka. Before beginning 1995, there was a fundamental change in the structure of the group, since Omar Kischinovsky, the drummer, decided to leave after having played for almost 3 years with El Otro Yo, and said goodbye in "El Borde" by Temperley.. The replacement was made when Raimundo Horacio Fajardo appeared.

That year they recorded Mundo completely independently. That same year they participated in the compilation Fuck You, an album in homage to Sumo, interpreting the song that just gives its name to the album.

In 1996 they released Los hijos de Alien on CD, with unpublished versions such as “Lo de Adentro”, a song dedicated to Kurt Cobain, the late leader of Nirvana; and a remix of the song «69» belonging to «Mundo», in a production of Animated Fantasies. That same year they participated in the "Alternative Rock Festival" at the Ferro stadium.

The following year, they released a triple album, «Esencia», which is a solo production by each of the three members of El Otro Yo, totaling more than 70 songs divided into three discs and recorded independently. It all started when María Fernanda told Cristian that she had many of his songs but that they were not suitable for El Otro Yo and that she would like to edit a cassette. After that same year, Daniela Cugliandolo left the band.

In 1998, after performing more than 30 guest shows for Attaque 77 in the interior of the country, and more than 15 in the Capital and Greater Bs. As., a compilation album was released, extracting the most outstanding songs from Esencia, which is titled under the name The Other Me of the Other Me and contains 25 songs. They also publish, with Besótico, a book that comes with a solo album by María Fernanda, called Entresueños. Also, Ray brought out a book of poetry called "The Winged Sea."

In 1999 they released Abrecaminos, which was widely accepted by the public, further opening the borders of El Otro Yo. At this time, the ex-bassist of Avant Press, Ezequiel Araujo, joined the group, taking charge of the keyboards, he also served as second guitarist and together with María Fernanda, they exchanged their respective positions.

At the dawn of the year 2000 they began again and again with the “Giras Barriales”, taking their music throughout the province of Buenos Aires and to other parts of the country. They play successfully in Chile and Uruguay, where they begin to find more and more fans. At this point, the record label created by themselves begins to move actively: Besotico Records. Thus, in turn, they began to edit different bands, such as Sugar Tampaxxx, Victoria Mil (ex Victoria Abril) and She-Devils.

Catching each other's energy and success (2000-2007)

Maria Fernanda Aldana playing bass.

In the year 2000, after years of independent struggle, their well-known Endless Tour finally took them to the Obras Stadium. More than five thousand people gathered there.

In 2001, the reissue of his first album, Traka Traka, went on sale, remastered.

After three years of the last studio album, the Temperley band presents Colmena. The album was described as the honeycomb where the musicians concentrated the product resulting from the pollen they collected in each place they visited and which they processed, shaped and packaged into a CD of fourteen songs and an interactive video. The new material, which had the artistic production of Diego Vainer and the presence of several guest musicians, reflects an evolution from the musical and a greater integration of the group in the composition of the songs. Songs such as: "Viajero", "Virus", "Calles" or "Me harté" stand out. The album contains the song " Punk ", recorded with Ricky Espinosa, then singer of Flema, and which ended up being the last recording recorded by the musician before his death.

After two years, the group presents "Espejismos", more experimental, partly due to the departure of keyboardist Ezequiel Araujo, who would leave the band after finishing the album and say goodbye to his audience at the Quilmes Rock, a mega-festival at the Ferrocarril Oeste stadium, where they shared the stage with bands like Rata Blanca and The Offspring. In Espejismos you can appreciate the return of hardcore moments and messages referring to the system and society ("Sinners", "New Order" or "Mascota del sistema"), which the band showed in its beginnings. However, he also shows calmer sides in songs like "Debe cambiar" or "Tu ángel".

Six years later, “Contagiándose la energía del otro – En vivo en Obras” records the best moments of that night on CD and DVD. The repertoire includes the group's most celebrated songs: «10,000,000», «I don't care about dying», «La música», « E O Y”, “Alegría” and a cover of Nirvana's “Territorial Pissings”; and some guests like heavy metal vocalist Claudio O'Connor on "69" and Diego Arnedo. The disc includes "Lobizón", an unpublished song and, for its part, the DVD adds documentaries about the Endless Tour of the year 2000 and the backstage of the show in Obras.

For Espejismos's tours, and with the place Ezequiel left on guitar remaining vacant (an instrument he would eventually assume), Cristian decides to talk to an old acquaintance from his youth in Temperley, Gabriel Guerrisi, ex-guitarist from Los Brujos, whom he proposes to join the band.

20 years and Out of Time (2007-2009)

Ray Fajardo during an autograph firm at the Vive Latino 2008 festival in Mexico City.

In June 2007, Fuera del tiempo came out, produced by American Billy Anderson (Melvins, Mr. Bungle, Sick Of It All and Los Natas, among others) and Patricio Claypole. The album has a more pop sound than the previous ones. Many songs were sung by María Fernanda and it was the first album after the incorporation of Gabriel Guerrisi on guitar.

For 2008, the band's 20-year celebration was prepared at the Obras Stadium and an international tour. In addition, the group is the first in Argentine rock to launch a shoe model (Black Fin by Vans). In 2009, and after 15 years, Ray Fajardo stopped being the drummer of El Otro Yo to dedicate himself to music production. Ricky Rua, ex-singer of Los Brujos, enters his place.

Ailabiu EOY and Fifth Dimension (2010-2012)

Produced by the Mexican Paco Huidobro, the album was released on March 11, 2010 simultaneously in Mexico and Argentina. Members of the groups Café Tacvba, Molotov and Fobia participate as guests. On November 16, 2009, El Otro Yo released for download from its site the advance cut "Siempre fue yo".

That same year, the band is invited by the Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins to open their shows at the Luna Park Stadium in the City of Buenos Aires. In 2011, they were part of the Unite Tour, which toured all of Mexico for three months.

In early 2012, they entered the Panda and Cuzco studios to record their tenth studio album, «Quinta Dimensión», with the production of Cristian Aldana and Gabriel Guerrisi and the art by María Fernanda Aldana. On August 11 of the same year they officially presented the new album at the Vorterix Theater.

25 years of independence (2013)

At the end of 2012 they toured several provinces of the country, presenting their new album, closing the year on December 29 at the Teatro de Flores, and together with 2 minutos, Loquero, Expulsados, and Lash Out as a band medium. That day saw the surprise of the return of the long-awaited Ezequiel Araujo, who returned to stay as an official member again.

In 2013, the band turns 25 and decides to do themed concerts to celebrate them. On February 23 at the Vorterix Theater, the celebration of Colmena's 10 years was held, with guests such as Mariano Martínez from Attaque 77. On May 25, at El Teatro de Flores, they gave a recital with songs "just to poguear". On July 13, there was going to be an unplugged, but this was postponed to September 14 (with DVD recording included), due to drummer Ricky Rúa's health problems. For this reason, on the neighborhood tour in July and August, Rúa was temporarily replaced by Joan Sprei, drummer for Lash Out and Los Monos, former Eterna Inocencia and student of Ray Fajardo.

In September the album "Plato in the 5th dimension" was released, the official release of "Quinta Dimensión" (2012) in record stores along with a new song: "Plato", produced by Ezequiel Araujo on his return to the band. In October, the band celebrated the "Mamelucos Fest: Bodas de Plata" at the Vorterix Theater, with the return of the mamelucos and the official mameluco award to the fans with the mameluco most voted by the public. In December, the last celebration show, "25 years, 50 songs", with 50 songs chosen by the public through his website, was held in his hometown of Temperley.

The 2 faces of EOY (2014-2015)

At the beginning of 2014, Ricky Rúa stopped being a drummer and Joan Sprei entered as a guest musician, who had already replaced him on several occasions due to an illness that Rúa suffered in 2013 and prevented him from performing with the group. Likewise, Gabriel Guerrisi stopped playing for a while to dedicate himself to the return of Los Brujos. Finally, Joan Sprei was confirmed as the band's new drummer after leaving Lash Out.

On Sunday, October 19, the 20th anniversary of Traka Traka was celebrated in Palermo. The date featured special guests such as Tasmanian Devils and Dangerous Sparrows, as well as the band's first drummer, Omar Kischinovsky, who was present to play with El Otro Yo.

Cristian Aldana sentenced for gender violence and child abuse

In April 2016, he raised a complaint from the previous year against singer Cristian Aldana for pedophilia and sexual abuse. The complaints were first made anonymously through a Facebook group called Victims of Cristian Aldana that appeared shortly after the complaints against José Miguel del Pópolo, singer of the band under La Ola who wanted to be Chau. the mendacities and fallacies mentioned in those publications have no legal basis since I never committed any of the aberrational acts mentioned." He also counterclaimed that "the intention is, apart from sullying my reputation as a musician, man, father of minor children and husband, attacking my work". The musical group that Aldana is part of also published a statement to the same effect.

Finally, on May 3, the Specialized Fiscal Unit for Violence against Women formalized the criminal complaint of aggravated sexual abuse and corruption of minors after taking testimony from six women who said they had been sexually abused by the singer from a very early age, also stating that other girls were involved. These complaints were added to the one made a week earlier by the singer's ex-partner, Carolina Luján.

Ten days later, Aldana wrote a new statement announcing that she would be participating in an event called "Enough Rock Abusers" summoned by complainants in different cases of abuse by musicians within the field of rock. Aldana informed, through a statement, that he intended to attend the call. In the statement he stated: "I want to look lies and deep defamation in the eye, I want to tell my truth." The singer attended the event dressed as a nun, with a group of followers, and sang a song whose chorus repeated the phrase "Love defeats hate". After this attitude, the police made a fence around the musician and his group to prevent episodes of violence between them and the protesters. After this, Aldana left the place.

On December 22, 2016, Aldana was preventively detained by order of the prosecutor's office handling the case, which also issued a search warrant. The musician's defense requested his release; which was denied by the judge in charge, Roberto Oscar Ponce, because he understood that there was a risk of flight given the seriousness of the accusations against him, that it could hinder the investigation and because of the incidence that it could have on the affected women. Since then, he has been detained in the Marcos Paz prison, where he was housed in an individual cell facing the possibility of attacks by other inmates, given the type of crime of which he is accused.

The decision of the investigating judge who denied the release was confirmed days later by judges Juan Esteban Cicciaro and Carlos Alberto González of the National Criminal Chamber. The embargo for 2,500,000 pesos was also ordered.

On July 12, 2019, Aldana was sentenced to 22 years in prison. After assessing the testimony of 83 witnesses, the Court considered it proven that the musician had a whole mechanism to abuse his followers that consisted of a special selection of their victims based on their vulnerability and sexual inexperience, among other gimmicks. According to the testimonies given at the trial hearing, it could be established that, once captured, the musician subjected them sexually, on some occasions with violence, mistreated them, filmed them and forced them to watch the footage, and then encouraged them to convince friends to participate in threesomes or orgies that he organized. He forced them to perform oral sex on him, inserted kitchen utensils into their vaginas and anuses, and often involved other men in sexual encounters with the girls, forced them into relationships with strangers, and psychologically subdued them. Some of the victims claimed that Aldana enjoyed urinating or defecating on their bodies, and one of them, Ariell Carolina Luján, claims to have contracted hepatitis B that way. The same victim reports having been beaten and raped by Aldana the day after Aldana's suicide. his brother: "The day my brother dies is one of the worst times he hit me, that he raped me. The violent and pedophiles know very well at the moment that you are made of shit to make you more shit. It is a very intense story. Cristian is a very perverse person".

"Humberto Cristian Aldana's conduct was oriented towards the selection of special victims, chosen through direct questioning about family ties, the existence of previous abuses and the sexual inexperience typical of the young age of their chosen ones, taking advantage of the family context of each one that will position them in a particular state of vulnerability", says the sentence signed by judges Rodolfo Goerner, Rodolfo Bustos Lambert and Ana Dieta de Herrero. It was also evaluated that Aldana "was an adult man, who stood out as an idol of the subjected girls, on whom he imposed a kind of pact of silence under the cover of the incomprehension of the adults of the practices to which they were subjected. submitted".

Members

Current lineup

• María Fernanda Aldana: main voice (1988-hoy), bass (1989-hoy), keyboards (1988-1991, 1997-hoy)
• Gabriel Guerrisi: guitar leader (2005-hoy)
• Ezequiel Araujo: keyboards, synthesizers, rhythmic guitar, bass, voice (1999-2004, 2013-hoy)
• Joan Sprei: battery (2014-hoy)

Former Members

• Cristian Aldana: main voice, guitar leader and rhythmic, violin (1988-2019)
• Ricky Rúa (2009-2014): Battery
• Raimundo «Ray» Fajardo (1994-2009): drum, voice
• Daniela Cugliandolo (1991-1997): keyboards, theatrical performance
• Omar Kischinovsky (1988-1994): Battery
• Sergio Moreno (1988-1990): rhythmic guitar and leader
• Gabriel Manelli (1988-1989): bass
• «Pajarito» (1988): bass

Timeline

Discography

Studio Albums

• The children of Alien (1993)
• Traka Traka (1994)
• World (1995)
• The Other Self: Essence (1997)
• Abbreviations (1999)
• Hive (2002)
• mirage (2004)
• Out of time (2007)
• Ailabiu EOY (2010)
• 5th dimension (2012)
• Plato in the 5th Dimension (2013)

DVDs

• Connecting the energy of the other live in Works (CD + DVD), 2005
• The Other I Live Quilmes Rock 2003 (DVD), 2005
• Out of time (CD + DVD), 2007 (only in Mexico)
• Scattering your wild side (CD + DVD), 2008