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Category: Music
Spotlightartist, October 10/28/09, 2009  | Don't tell the record companies but there are times that music piracy actually helps a band out. Take into account Diciembre Gris, a band that brings back memories of artists like The Cure and Joy Division or modern rockers like Palcebo and Volument Cero. This band actually asks its fans to spread there music where-ever and however; even if you have to make copies of their music for your friends or send them the band's mp3's? Well thanks to Diciembre Gris' efforts and those of their admirers they've built a fan-base in the US, Mexico and parts of Europe. Currently you can find Diciembre Gris working on their third album and soon to come presentations in its support. During a break we get to talk to lead singer Daniel Villegas about the bands history and motivations.
ROCKOLETA : Diciembre Gris (DG) actually has a following in Europe which is not common for Indie Latin Alternative bands. You're following is specifically in Utrecht, Netherlands. How did this come about? Have you gotten the opportunity to play there and in Europe often?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : Actually, we were In Germany for the World Cup in the year 2006 and on the days that México was not playing we decided to go to Utrecht and relax. Well one thing led to another and we met quite an abundance of girls that we ended up drinking with all night at the local pubs. I don’t remember if it was that night or the next but we played with a drummer from Philadelphia since Alex was not with us on that trip and we received a very nice response from the locals and made some new fans with our music. We do have plans for Europe in the near future.
ROCKOLETA : Many indie bands see members come and go. Usually it is because they move away, they have other obligations or there are creative differences. Unfortunately this is not the case with DG and the band has had to face the loss of two members in the past due to unforeseen tragedies. Sadly, in 2006 your original guitarist, Benny Lucatero, took his life and, in 2007, one of
your founding members, Erick Villegas, also committeed suicide. This obviously
could not be easy for the other band members. How has this experience
affected you? Have these events inspired you to continue forward with DG and its projects? If so, how?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : It’s affected us on a very personal level as well as on a musical level too. Benny was my best friend since 6th grade and Erick was my brother. Erick and I wrote all of the music and Benny toured quite a bit with us for a while. He was out of the band for a few years because of his dedication to film but he shot most of our live footage. However, around 2004 through 2006 we ended up playing together once again. For a while after their deaths, I started going through a very dark path myself as I was also going through my own personal issues. Dealing with that and the deaths in the family it obviously did affect the recording that we were doing at the time. I don’t plan on putting out those recordings that we did back then; I don’t want to think about those memories for a while. My mind is clear once again, I’ve left some bad habits behind and I’m ready to do what I love which is music.
ROCKOLETA : Your style as a band seems to be "dark" but then your music seems to be more "relaxed"; it is a straightforward sound with complex ambient melodies. Some persons have said it reminds them of the sound of the 80's and 90's from artists like The Cure or Caifanes. Other's have compared it to
brit-pop. How would you describe your sound?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : I would have to say Rock…Slow, liberated/echoing mind melodies that grab you from the heart and feeds the soul!
ROCKOLETA : You said in a past interview that you are not totally opposed to "music piracy" because of the way it has actually helped spread your music around the world. Can you further explain what you mean by this or the situation that led you to thinking this way? And, is this still a feeling that you have today?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : Yeah, of course it is. I mean I don’t mind having some income coming in so that we can keep this going. And feed our kids  I don’t need a Ferrari or a mansion in the hills. But I’ve always encouraged fans of ours to introduce our music to the world. It first started a few years back when we were rehearsing and I received a call. So I answered the phone and this guy asks for "Daniel". I said this is he, and you could hear him telling others in the background that he is talking to me “the singer”. So then I hear one of our songs blasting in the background and they start cheering. The thing is, that someone bought a CD of ours at a show in San Jose, then that person burned a copy for his friend and his friend took it to Mexico City and introduced our music to his friends and somehow they got a hold of my cell phone number and they kept asking me “when is Diciembre Gris coming down there?” That is the reason why I’m not opposed to it; we should be out there soon guys!
ROCKOLETA : You have songs that are in English and songs that are in Spanish. What is the motivation behind being a "dual-language" band? Do you feel one language reflects upon the bands persona better than the other?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : We started in English back in the day then I simply started writing in Spanish too, I was raised speaking Spanish and later on learned English. There was no real motivation besides the fact that we can do both, and if so, why not. Music is feelings, even without words. Well, at least to me it is…DG’s persona is in the bones… not in the language that we speak.
ROCKOLETA : Part of your band is made up of three brothers, obviously music must have played an important part in the family. How did you all (both
brother's and non brothers) become involved in music? What turned you onto
"Spanish Rock" or, the term we prefer, "Latin Alternative"? And, how has
working with family helped DG progress in its music?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : How did you know that? (laughs) We tried keeping it a secret just so that we can share groupies…just kidding! The fact that we’re brothers, best friends, cousins…ah, f*ck it we’re all brothers in soul! We argue more than you’re usual bands. But now that the tension has calmed down we’re a bit more cheery at times. Not as angry and irritated as we use to be. Maybe we’ve just matured a bit more.
ROCKOLETA : We've heard it said that DG has well over 50 songs but has only put out two albums as of yet. Does this mean a third is in the works? What can fans expect from DG soon?
DANIEL (DICIEMBRE GRIS) : Oh definitely! We are in the works of a new album and it should be out by next year. We have some very influential people that are helping us out! So do expect it and definitely buy it when it comes out! There’s some love, death and happiness all wrapped up in foil and grilled to a perfect taste for this album.
Check out more of Diciembre Gris at:
www.rockoleta.com/diciembregris
www.myspace.com/diciembregris |
11:10 PM
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