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Interview
by SashaS
2-10-2003
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| Ill Niño: 'Confession' afta 'Revolution' |
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Strip treatise
Ill Niño – ‘Confession’, Road Rage and horror… flick
After urging us to get on with our personal ‘Revolution, Revolution’, Ill Niño return with the second instalment that is encouraging us to continue the process by getting down to some self-serious ‘Confession’ time. It is a record that sounds titanium-solid considering that it was made under rather difficult circumstances: days before entering studio, after investing a quarter-of-a-year in songwriting, two founder members announced that they had some musical-differences issues…
Undeterred, singer Christian Machado, guitarist Jardel Paisante, bassist Lazaro Pina and drummer Dave Chavarri continued making album while recruiting percussionist Danny Couto; guitarist Marc remained to help out before ex-Machine Head member Arhue Luster took his place in the line-up. These changes have brought “new fire and a new energy”, Chavarri reckons.
We settle down with Ill Niño bassist Pina to discuss new material, altering band’s reality, fresh blood and forthcoming ‘Road Rage’ tour alongside label-mates Chimaira and Spineshank.
“We didn’t realise that people needed to go,” Laz explains, “they discovered they needed to leave the band. Unfortunately, they told us two days before we were due to enter a studio! There were some musical differences, some opinion differences and they didn’t feel they had the commitment to make this album.”
“It was shocking to us but we had to move on. After three months into songwriting we had to stop and look for new members. Everything changed and that influenced some of the writing on the record. We knew percussionist (Couto) because he played with Jardel in pre-Ill Niño days and despite (guitarist-who-quit) Marc’s agreement to play on some of the record. Arhue didn’t come in until the last part of the record and we were very pleased because we all are huge Machine Head fans!”
So damn happy
New members inevitably bring new quality to the ‘machine’; does it feel better, like a true ‘gang’?
“With Marc and Arhue playing on the record,” Pina continues, “I feel it is a good transition between two guitarists and it was great we didn’t haven’t to audition. These people have brought good change, the band is more united than ever, we got friends in the band, we had toured with Machine Head twice and it is very fortunate. We changed our perception and approach – and it shows on our album.”
‘Confession’ sounds more focused, it is heavier in parts but it also has more melody and more tropical flavour in general, displaying more Latino passion?
“I agree with you on all counts because the band has grown and not only professionally but also personally: we have more confidence in each other, trust in each other more and have more respect for each other’s ideas. We were really looking forward of going back into the studio and capturing our feelings, it was 100 per cent song focused.”
An order of HM faith
Ill Niño contributed a track, ‘How Can I Live’ to ‘Freddy Vs Jason’ soundtrack; picked as a single, it was re-emphasising the band’s honesty, even expending in into a new, confessional period in creativity.
“Christian is confessing to the fans,” Pina explains, “things he can’t share socially, he is expressing through music. A lot of it is muddled up stuff from before the first record and some new experiences that lead him to be more sincere in his private life. The whole confession is through our music and it’s got nothing to do with us turning into a Christian band!”
That’s more than clear from the opening riff!
“Thank you and we hoped it would be obvious but the fans have been asking us about it; no, we are not more religious than we were on the first album. Also, Americans tend to be more religious than Europeans, you are probably right.”
Yours is the church of Rock’n’Roll…
“Yeah, Sex & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll,” Pina laughs, “that’s our religion… We’ll take anything, but Rock’n’Roll is above everything else. Still, I’d love to be able to experience being rich but I’m not sure if we’d lose the edge.”
Perhaps you’d be playing from a rich man’s point of view, like Metallica?
“You said that, I still love Metallica. I believe that the more successful you are the more isolate you are and that’s not good. For me, I couldn’t live like that but it makes for some really introspective music, deeper songwriting, greater analysing… Well, we have no money and we can only rock! That’s enough for us!”
Last year you were on OzzFest tour; did you manage to meet the great man?
“No, not at all,” Laz sighs. “We hung out with Jack, he was on our bus, it was known as the Party Bus!”
Wow, so you put him into the rehab!?
“No, we never! You know, I don’t know where it came from, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kid out of control! He’s very sweet, his sister as well and they were very nice to the entire band. Everyone got the same respect!”
“There was a great camaraderie on that tour,” Pina concludes. “There is usually friendly, or not, rivalry.”
*
Road Rage tour
(with Spineshank and Chimaira)
03 October – Pyramid Centre, Portsmouth
04 October – Rock City, Nottingham
30 October – Academy 2, Manchester
31 October – Garage, Glasgow
02 November – University, Newcastle
03 November – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
04 November – University, Cardiff
05 November – Astoria, London
SashaS
2-10-2003
Ill Niño’s album ‘Confession’ is released 29 September 2003 on Roadrunner
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