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Interview
by SashaS
20-12-2002
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| Ill Niño: six-strong gale-force rocking |
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A mirror-bauble
Ill Niño’s chat at the end of time… well, 2002
Ill Niño members are ready, eager and willing to hit the studio in the next few months after all the hard touring. At present there are roughly ten new songs written, all of which, according to the record company, “show a more confident but much hungrier six man Latino beast. The songs will speak for themselves but they do mark the addition of percussionist Roger Vasquez’s awesome back-up vocal harmonies as well as the writing debut of guitarist Jardel Pasiante and bassist Laz Pina. At present, no producer has been finalized but fans can expect a new Ill Niño record in the coming months that is surely gonna surprise with bigger melodies, huger riffs and a lot of spicy stuff in between.”
The band plan to hit the road once again upon completion of the new album and promise us to see them back in the UK in no time at all, just proving that they are the hardest working band in metal. Ill Niño are set for a work loaded 2003 but we focus on reviewing the last 12 months or, in their case – 18, since their album ‘Revolution Revolucion’! In absence of singer Christian Marchado, who turns out to have gone shopping, Pasiante and I find a quietish staircase at the London Astoria and turn the MiniDisc-er on.
A long, long time on the road but you’ve luckily found time to write new songs?
“We have but it was not on the road, it is so difficult, your mind is set on different matters. I think we all write better when we are off the road. Still, I pretty much hang around with an acoustic guitar on tour and come up with different things but you need to be relaxed… Music, to me, is an expression of inner feeling and you reach it the best when you are not distracted. We were home for two weeks and had time to put some ideas down.”
Step in time
New Jersey lot mix volcano-sized riffage with Latino Americana flavouring that is reminiscent of the Max Cavalera’s period Sepultura or Soulfly now. While Cavalera team’s ambition is to entice us into a tribe fighting all-kindsa injustices, Ill Niño’s aim is to get us to embark on a self-revolution that should ultimately spring global alteration of standpoints and, hopefully, eradication of all prejudices. Tall order, man.
Has the agenda changed, broadened?
“I think new songs are going to express new emotions, new experiences, new knowledge but the music is going to be heavy because that’s what we like, it will still have its Latin feel which became the thing we express our music through and definitely heavy vocal and melodic hooks. It will be a new album and not ‘Revolution Revolucion’ part two.”
It is often claimed that music is a universal language but is there a universal reaction to it?
“On a deep level, I think so. The more you travel the more you realise that we are all the same and we all share similar dreams, ambitions, drives… I think music affects people in the same basic way, whatever the nationality, religion, colour… How they express their appreciation differs but that’s normal, it depends on the society, whether they are emotionally demonstrative or not…”
“One thing I’ve noticed touring the world is how informed kids are and they really talk to us. They are very much in touch and supportive and we’ve always felt comfort from our fans.”
Energy watch
Ill Niño toured the OzzFest but, similarly to many other bands, they didn’t manage to meet the great Ozzy. That, Pasiante assures me, has been the greatest letdown of the year before explaining that they hung out with Jack Osbourne hoping it to be the best way to the man.
“I have to tell you, my first ever concert was Ozzy Osbourne at the Madison Square Garden; I was 13, I went with my two older brothers, my father dropped us off and picked us up, and that night I said that I didn’t just want to be a fan but be the music… maker. When we played on the same stage as Ozzy, it was an emotional rush for me because I felt like I set myself a goal and I achieved it.”
If you were to buy one record for all the people you’d Xmas gift, what would it be?
“Skindred, their album (‘Babylon’) is just the best, I love it. They are playing at our after show-party and I can’t wait, man! Everybody should get their album…”
What is your hope for next year?
“For this to continue as I’m enjoying every minute of it, we’ve worked so hard for it and I’ve been waiting all my life for this opportunity and I’m bent on enjoying every moment of it. I need to keep a positive attitude, life is all-too-full of chances… Great friends of ours, Drowning Pool, lost their singer and OzzFest ended for them that day, really tragic… So, you never know what can happen.”
“And, I wouldn’t like to see the war (against Iraq) happening; it is a shame we have to live this way but fear installs a different behaviour… I’d like it resolved by other means, when blood is shed a lot of innocent people suffer and it needs to be avoided from happening.”
Alas, words for the deaf…
SashaS
20-12-2002
Ill Niño’s album ’Revolution Revolucion’ is available now on Roadrunner
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