What do you get when you combine eight guys from across the Caribbean and Latin America with a passion for creating sazón? Bachaco.

Named after the leafcutter ant in Venezuela, an insect that’s used to make salsa picante, the Afro-Caribbean-roots-rock-cumbia-reggae-ska band recently released its first self-titled album and the crew is already working on a new record.

With upcoming gigs at Blue Martini Brickell, The Stage, and Bougainvillea’s, the Bachaco guys are also planning another U.S./Canada tour with hopes of crossing the border into Mexico and Puerto Rico.

So last week, we here at Crossfade sat down and spoke with them about the Miami music scene, trends, and making it in the industry.

And no reggae interview would be complete without some weed talk.

Crossfade: What do you think about the local music scene?

Edilberto “Eddy” Morillo, lead singer: It’s a little harder out there to be honest with you. Because we’ve gotten into some places and we’ve had tough times as far as money, and that’s the truth for any artist starting off without any capital behind it.

J.P. Guinam, sax player: [Local musicians] sell out short and quit many times.

So do you think it’s hard to make it out here as a musician?

Farid Cure, lead guitarist: It definetely takes dedication. It takes an effort. I just think it’s about waiting. I remember just joining the band having this conversation with Eddy … just waiting. Like, the hard part is sitting there, and working time after time, not getting paid, and being broke and just keep going.

Eddy: I mean that’s not the only way to keep going. Like I said, if you have the capital as an artist, you can definitely get far. But at the same time, if you don’t have the experience having the money, how do you know you’re going in the right direction?

Cristian “Mumbles” Rocha, bass guitarist: I think it all depends on what making it means to you. You can make a living here. Like, you can make money off of playing music. But then you won’t be playing music that you love, you won’t be playing organically. You’ll be playing just to play as a job. You can make a living out of music. But if you wanna make a living out of your own music, then it’s different. You put your heart out there for people to listen to, you’re vulnerable and that’s where there’s less money, because people are waiting for you to prove yourself.

So you would say that making it for you is sharing your music, but not conforming?

Mumbles: Anybody can make a living out of everyone else’s music. Make a cover band, make a tribute band — you can make a lot of money. But you’re not as happy as when you play your own music.

Eddy: Everybody has different visions of what making it really is. When it comes to a band, it’s all about your music, so you have to prove yourself. This particular case, the truth is that money is secondary. The first thing here is to do what you love, to do the best you can, and for as long as you can.