Pet Sounds #66: Sangre de Muérdago Frontman Lives in Paradise With His Dogs
Back in mid-July, we introduced you to Sangre de Muérdago, the only Galician Folk band you have heard of. The group uses Galician lyrics and a litany of instruments used in the Galician tradition to reflect on nature, mysticism and other themes.
We also exclusively debuted “O Abismo,” the first single from Sangre de Muérdago’s full-length album O Xardín, which came out 13 days ago. The band is led by Pablo Caamiña Ursusson, who handled almost too many roles to count on O Xardín. In addition to providing vocals, he also played classical guitar, hurdy-gurdy, music box, pandero cuadrado de Peñaparda, bells, pandeireta, shaker, and steel string guitar.
Another fact about Ursusson, and probably the reason you clicked on this article: He has some of the most gorgeous dogs you’ll see (at least today). We chatted up our favorite Galician musician about his pets and how much they mean to him.
What is the most salient/earliest memory you have of feeling an emotional connection to animals?
I don’t think I have a specific memory of a first emotional encounter. I feel more like it’s something that has always been there.
How did Lúa and Pippi enter your life? What makes each of them distinctly awesome creatures/pets?
Pippi was the first dog I “owned,” and she was born at home. She was the daughter of my friend’s dogs, so I felt it very much like destiny that she and I would accompany each other. When she died, I spent over a year without a dog until I found Lúa in a shelter when she was only 5 months old. I had a similar feeling with her as when Pippi was born … here she is, taking a nap on the grass:
Both of them were and are amazing companions who have taught me priceless lessons about life.
Did they get the chance to spend much time together? Did they get along well some of the time, all the time, or rarely?
Pippi died before Lúa was born, so there was no chance for that, unfortunately. Yet I dream of them meeting up often.
I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Pippi. If you would care to talk about what Pippi was like, you are more than welcome to. But no pressure.
Pippi was an incredible creature, kind to everybody and to every dog around. She was a cross-breed of Pyrenean Mastiff but had part Galgo [Español] in her, so she was an amazingly fast runner. She also had a strong hunting instinct and loved being in the forest, which we luckily had the chance to enjoy every day. I miss her very much and still remember her on a daily basis. She was certainly one of the biggest blessings I’ve got in this life.
Why did you decide to bring Lúa into the family when you did?
When Pippi passed, I kept on going for “dog walks” in the forest as if I still had a dog. I knew I wanted to have another companion, but it took just some time until I felt ready for it. I found Lúa in a shelter in Southern Spain, and I adopted her. It took no time until she adapted to her new life, and she’s been such a happy dog ever since. I feel very happy about having her.
Have your dogs always been well-behaved or was some training needed?
Pippi was amazing from the start. Surely, she was an energetic teenager who loved to run and play, and so is Lúa. Being born at home, Pippi always knew nothing but love around her, so her personality was calm as well, and she behaved amazingly from the start.
Lúa needed to be taught a little more due to being a rescue dog. After a year or so, I felt like a little change in her; she seems more calm and balanced somehow, yet she still always listens very well.
It is very interesting as well to see the parallels between them, and how somehow Lúa reminds me more and more of Pippi as she grows older.
Where do you take them walking, hiking, etc? The terrain looks gorgeous where you are.
I live in the countryside and would go around the hills with Lúa to walk around. Both of them like the beach very much and we are near the sea here, so they get the chance to visit the beach often.
When I lived in Germany I went into a big forest near my house nearly every day, both of them lived in Germany for a few years.
What’s the funniest scene that’s unfolded involving one or more of your dogs?
Dogs are so funny, sometimes I have the feeling all dogs are comedians and I laugh with them on a regular basis. Pippi chasing a wild boar in the mountains was quite an experience, especially when she finally touched the boar and it decided to turn around to attack back, then we all turned around running in front of the wild boar. It looked like a comedy movie …
What’s the scariest scene that’s unfolded involving one or more of your dogs?
The scariest moment by far was discovering that Pippi had a deadly type of cancer. It felt like a hammer [dropping] on me. I think the moments you’re worried because they hurt themselves or something like that are the only bad ones. Besides that, no real scary scenes They are both lovely creatures.
Do you anticipate getting any more pets?
I like having non-humans around me often, and I would love to have more animals in the near future. Touring makes it hard sometimes, and you need some sort of support from somebody that can take care of them when you’re not at home. It is always painful to separate from them to go on the road.
Thanks for the interview. It’s been a pleasure to talk about my dogs!
Check out Sangre de Muérdago’s Bandcamp page to get better acquainted with the transcendental, transformational group.
Go here for The Bad Penny’s Pet Sounds index.
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