Juan from The Beets talks NYC streets.

Northside Festival 2013 begins today! We're so excited, we can't contain ourselves. Seriously, I can't wait to get out of work, pick up my wristband, and hit the shows! We have THE BEETS going on at about 10 o'clock on Friday night, and I was super lucky to get a chance to talk to front-person, Juan Wauters. We chatted about neighborhoods, music, New York, and abandoned schools. Here's the transcript:

Hearts Bleed Radio: I've seen it written a couple of places that you don't make music from Queens, you make Queens music. You seem like a big Queens guy, so tell me, what is it about Queens that you love so much?

Juan: I was actually born in a different country, but coming here, it's a really good place to move to. Y'know its very welcoming and I've made a big nucleus of friends. It's just something to identify with, and creates a sense of unity among ourselves, and my family, and all that. It's not so hard to take pride in that for me, y'know?

HBR: It's gotta be the most diverse place in the city.

Juan: Probably, yeah. So all that, and you know, it's the kinda forgotten borough, but where more "real" people live. We all share the same kind of society among ourselves. We all hustle for the same purpose. And a lot of us are building up a future there.

The band in nature.  awwww