Conner Oberst recorded his latest, self-titled album in Tepoztlán, Mexico. (What is it with the hipsters and Mexico these days?) It’s the first time he’s not recorded under the name Bright Eyes since high school and he decided to rent a house far from civilization for the occasion. Aside from drinking micheladas and hanging out in sweat lodges with shamen, he also discovered the Mexican people are pretty nice.

It’s kind of ironic when you think about how a lot of people treat Mexican immigrants [in the U.S.] It just makes me really sad that that’s the kind of welcome that they get up here when they come, just to work. I did a very similar thing, and I was treated with so much kindness. It’s unfortunate.

Well, a very similar thing except for the whole renting a private mansion on a mountain part. After the jump, a very, cool illustrated map of all the artists Paste caught up with in Latin America for the world music issue where the Conor Oberst interview appears.

Conor Oberst’s Mexican Adventure [Paste, page 38]