We’re gonna take a trip near the Texas border today to discover up and coming darkwave act The Polybius Cabinet. After a line-up change and some time in the studio, the project rose to prominence and is looking to keep expanding their sound (hopefully) across the world. Read all about them, their debut, and more in today’s edition of INTRODUCING.
Give us a brief about your band. Who are you and what do you do?
We are a bilingual Darkwave act from the most southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley which rests along the US Mexico border. The Polybius Cabinet consists of member Miguel de la Cruz (vocals, guitar) and sibling duo Alyse Galvan (synth) and Markus Galvan (bass)
When did you first launch the project and how has it come along since?
We started this project in late 2023. Mostly a local project in the first year, with original synth player Derick Castro. A year later he left the band, and we brought in Alyse to play keys. That is when the band really took off from our local scene and started to become a rising player within the Texas darkwave scene. We went into the studio in September of 2024 to record Level 1, our debut album, and we wrapped up recording at the end of December of that year. Our first single release from this album was La Tumba released in May of 2024. This was then followed by our second single release Mi Vida / My Love in July 2025, then later our third single Corazon Azul in September 2024. The complete release of our album was released October 13, 2025, on digital and cd.
What bands and artists influenced you the most and why?
Los Caifanes, Soda Stereo, Alaska Y Dinarama, Mecano, Fobia. Miguel de la Cruz was raised in Mexico in his childhood and spent a lot of time there in the summer with relatives. Belgian band Poesie Noire is another big influence because it was a unique band and represented everything we liked and thought music should be and they inspired us musically in that way. New Order is another band that has influenced our sound, in particular the Republic album and Substance. Other influences include Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Alien Sex Fiend, Fields of Nephilim, Depeche Mode, Cabaret Voltaire, Type O Negative,
If you could pick a single song from your discography to explain your music, which song would you pick and why?
La Tumba was our first single and was chosen because we felt it best represented a little bit each of our own individual styles and influences.
What is your most recent release and what is it about?
Corazon Azul was the last single released before the full release of Level 1. It’s a new romantic song about having a romantic interest in a person and courtship. It invokes intense passion and desire for someone.
Take us through your creative process. How do you compose a song from start to finish? Where do the ideas come from?
Miguel works by random inspiration that comes like waves. Usually, the backbone foundation of the track are the drums. A beat that makes Miguel feel something, which from there further influences the direction of the song. Then comes some atmosphere and synth patterns. The bass usually follows this process and then later comes in to drive the rhythm and direction of the rest of the song with added synth layers. This is typically followed by Miguels guitar and vocals as the final pieces to the puzzle, and then is done so for good reason because the guitar riffs are what purposely cuts into the space, we allow ourselves to leave open in our music. Lyrically it all flows automatically, channeling through Miguel, from situations, experiences and sentiments he has seen, felt or connected with to others he knows personally. It’s what he sees through his own eyes in which he tells the story. Maybe not the greatest explanation, but he states it is “a special feeling once it is all happening”.
What’s your current favorite song, band, or album within your scene? And vice
versa, what do you enjoy the most that’s completely opposite of what you make?
Currently, Miguel has been listening to a lot to the album “Leche” by Fobia. An artist that is the opposite he enjoys is classic Mexican singer songwriter Pedro Infante. Alyse has currently been listening to the new Patriarchy album “Manual for Dying”. An artist she likes that is opposite is Red Hot Chili Peppers. Markus has currently been revisiting Cabaret Voltaire #8385 Collected Works. An artist he likes that is opposite is Jamiroquai.
