Today we’d like to introduce you to Buko Pan Guerra.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Nicki and I met in 2002 when I joined on bass in Project K. We were pretty tight as a rhythm section. It was a short run, but we had tons of fun. A few years later, my apartment got broken into, a thief stole most of my and my roommate’s equipment: computers, TVs, power tools, matching Gretsch guitar and bass, amps, sewing machines, etc. They left the banjo I bought in Ohio before I moved to LA in 1999. I started writing songs on the banjo and then later wanted to make a band in my newly created banjo style.
Back in 2006, I figured out a guitar tuning that would match my banjo. Since Nicki and I were pretty tight as a rhythm section I knew he was the only one for the job. 18 years later, we self-published four albums and three more are in the works. We’ve played lots of desert parties (my favorite playing under the stars), shows in greater LA, a few tours in Europe, Florida, West Coast, and the Southwest. One day, we would love to tour Asia.
The new storyline began with our last album released in 2014, “Blazing Through the Golden Mirage. The character hurdles through the golden mirage to find their true love in the end at the golden temple. “Himalayan Freakout” is about the party (wedding, honeymoon). Songs about drinking and celebrations. The couple gets separated in “Kismet Machine Gun”. They go to war separately and search to find each other. In “Mirage of the Stoney Eclipse”, they realize their fate is controlled by the stars and cosmos.
Right now, I am making music videos, starting with our first album to show the story of the band and the various characters in the songs. I always have little mini-movies in my head when I write the lyrics. I am having fun getting the visuals out of my head in digital form using Procreate, Procreate Dreams, and Adobe Rush. The new albums will be marketed as singles through the videos as the storyline unfolds. I plan to release 1-2 videos a week on our new YouTube Channel, IG, and Facebook. The first one was released last week.
For our 20 years anniversary in 2026, we will be releasing a vinyl box set of our greatest hits. We don’t have any vinyl out yet.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh man, as a DIY punk band, there are always struggles financially. We have had our day jobs. We pay for everything ourselves. We don’t care to make money besides supporting with gas, new albums, merchandise, and travel.
We do have tons of funny stories. Better left to be told at a campfire, at a bar, or after a party. Ask us about “Pink Shoes”, “This is how we do it in Santa Fe”, or “Paris”.
I am also the worst manager and publicist. I’m terrible at it because I have no time. We could really use a real publicist to help for promotions. We did do our first podcast this year. Tons of fun with our new friend Detlef Schlich on his channel ArTEEtude out of West Cork, Ireland.
Lastly, everyone assumes we are a couple. We are like twin siblings from another mother but definitely fell off the same tree. Unlike the White Stripes, you will never find that we are married. Too funny.!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Swords of Fatima is a two-piece band formed in Silverlake/Echo Park in 2006. The Swords of Fatima morphs your ideas of Rock or Punk towards a fierce version of Exotic Tibetan Spy Music. As the frontwoman, guitarist, and singer, I am known as Buko Pan Guerra, young coconut bread war or the “Bad Ass Bitch with a Banjo”. I play guitar in a banjo-styled tuning. I am fascinated by ancient stories and music from all around the world. Nick Scott is the architect behind the drums. He has many years of developing his craft behind the set with LA’s Al’s Bar Favorite, POPDeFECT. Many worlds converge into OUR sound: Bollywood, bellydance, flamenco, punk, surf, garage, country, and dark psyche folk. Some say that they are the only band who play multiple genres. Some try to compare them to something more familiar like Siouxsie and the Banshees, X-Ray Spex, or Dick Dale.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I don’t think Nicki or I could have survive le in this wild, crazy life without music. It keeps us going no matter what is happening in our lives. We feel most alive and ourselves on stage, playing music.
Nicki and I are non-traditional. We play by ear. We don’t know how to write music or even know what time signature, scale or any technical things like that. Both early beginnings (different decades) in punk bands as teens into adults.
In Seattle, Nicki started playing drums at 16. He learned how to play drums on a 75$ Sears True Tone drum set by learning every song on the Ramones Rocket to Russia LP. Later after attempting to play the likes of Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath in came Generation X, The Dead Boys, X-Ray Spex, The Rezillos, and more. Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and The Attractions) and especially Stuart Copeland have been influences throughout his life. Gang of Four huge. XTC huge. The Monochrome Set cannot be ignored. From all these bands, and many more, he learned how to play drums as he does today by assimilation. He was in a few bands as a teen until his main gig, known as Al’s Bar favorites, PopDefect, took him all over the US. Years living in vans going coast to coast. They are still going strong 40 years later.
I’ve always been an artist and musician. Singing as a kid. Making up songs. Got my first bass at 11. Guitar at 12. I grew up in the farmlands of Chesapeake, Virginia. I literally passed a creek and an oak tree to go across the grassy field to my guitar lessons in a little mini-mall. My first song on bass was JFA’s Walk Don’t Run. I loved SURF MUSIC even then. I tried to learn songs by The Exploited, Subhumans, Angry Samoans, Minor Threat, The Cure, The Smiths, Gwar, Crass, and others. Didn’t have internet back then. Playing the tape or record over and over until I had some resemblance of the song.
I always sculpted, drew, and painted. Went to art school for eight years at VCU, Ohio State, and CalArts. For my art, I find it is best on stage, playing music. I guess you can say we are an art band. I do still appreciate museums and galleries but for my art, live music is my favorite form. The funny banter from the audience. Dancing. The friendships formed from fans and other performers. We would never be able to tour without our amazing friends who have supported us along the way. Helping each other get gigs, couches to sleep on, travel tips, and life tips.
We’ve met so many amazing people along the way. We may not be super famous or rich, but we are rich with stories, friends, and an amazing community.
Looking back, I don’t think we would have done it any other way. Life is art. Live it to the fullest. What matters most to me and I’m sure Nicki would agree, is to always be true to yourself and your nature. Explore, take risks, fail, learn, love, and laugh! Eeka Eeka Boom Boom!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
longbladerecords.com/the_ swords_of_fatima/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ theswordsoffatima/ - Facebook: https://m.facebook.
com/theswordsoffatima - Youtube: https://youtube.com/@
theswordsoffatima?si= LbhSO5ltggJrMCh1 - SoundCloud: https://on.
soundcloud.com/ oYmRrGNUdj9zUSv69 - Other: https://open.spotify.
com/artist/ 4oKu0WTcqrB7tONby9uwlX?si= HmECQ5JeRFeDsbrR7ExUpA
Image Credits
Stephen Linsley, Kevin Hebbe, Greg Glaz, Buko Pan Guerra
