The Controversy Q&A

Your names: 

Laura Vall and Thomas Hjorth.

Where are you from? 

I'm from Barcelona, Spain, Thomas is from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Name of band: 

The Controversy.

Who else is in your band?

Thomas and I are the founders and the ones who write and produce the songs but we also have a live band beside us formed by Amy White (synths and backup vocals) and Kris Persson (drums).

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

 We like to call it Electronic Art Pop Psychedelia.

Who are your main influences musically?

Massive Attack, Portishead, Radiohead, Beck, St Vincent, Fiona Apple, Bjork, Air, Miike Snow.. among many others. 

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

A long and successful career in music.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

We won Artist of the Year 2012 at Artists In Music Awards, Best Song Alternative Song of the Year 2012 at Hollywood Music In Media Awards, and Best Music Video of 2013 for "Real" at Artists In Music Awards, and all those awards gave us validity and strength to keep on pushing forward. With that said, it means the world for us very time we get a good review or a nice comment from a fan, that's always the highlight of our day.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

We are lucky to not have had any of those moments with this band so far, everyone has always been really great and we've always felt the love.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Our music is really eclectic and every song is our baby to us so it's very hard to choose only one. "Queen of Chinatown" is our latest single, so I'm gonna go with that one. 

Where can we listen to it? 

https://thecontroversyband.bandcamp.com/album/dont-count-on-me

Where can we find out more about your music?

Official Site - http://www.TheControversyBand.com

Facebook - http://www.Facebook.com/TheControversyBand

Twitter - http://www.Twitter.com/TControversy (Twitter handle - TControversy) 

SoundCloud - http://www.SoundCloud.com/TheControversy

Instagram - http://www.Instagram.com/TheControversyMusic

Bandcamp - http://www.TheControversyBand.Bandcamp.com

iTunes - http://hyperurl.co/15iedv

Lancaster unveil As Wild As Tigers video

ALT-rock five-piece Lancaster have unveiled the video for their single As Wild As Tigers.

The track is taken from the Spaniards' debut album Journey, which is due out on November 17th.

The band have cemented a good reputation in their homeland and are now beginning to spread the word across Europe and into the UK.

You can watch the video for As Wild As Tigers blow and for more information visit facebook.com/lancasterbcn

Tantrica Q&A

Your name: 

Pablo (bass).

Where are you from? 

Spain.

Name of band: 

Tantrica.

Who else is in your band? 

Eloy (vocals), Maria (guitar), Javi (guitar) and Jose (drums).

How would you describe yourselves? 

We are a power metal band with some progressive and symphonic touches.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Iron Maiden, Stratovarius, Avantasia, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish... to name a few.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

We want to create fantastic music and play it all around the world.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

We recorded an EP (Ancient New World) by 2013 and that was a huge experience for us, because it was our first release. We still have to record our first full length album. We are currently working on that, and there's not gonna pass so much time before we enter the studio.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Time for the revolution. It's a fast and powerful song, with a catchy chorus. It has all the elements that define us.

Where can we listen to it? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxAmitYUf0k

Where can we find out more about your music?

https://www.facebook.com/tantrica

https://twitter.com/tantricaMETAL

http://www.youtube.com/user/tantricametal

http://tantrica.bandcamp.com

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tantrica-metal/a1/11a/a69

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask? 

You can listen to our full EP in Youtube and buy it in Bandcamp! Hope you like the tunes!

Bowie Musicomio Q&A

Your name:

Bowie Musicomio.

Where are you from?

Valencia, Spain.

Name of band:

BOWIEMUSICOMIO.

Who else is in your band?

For the moment, just me. But with expectation of making a band with guitar, bass and drums.

How would you describe yourself?

A guy with a musical interests, friend of friends. A simple person.

Who are your main influences musically?

Par excellence David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Led Zeppelin, Guns and Roses (old formation), Slash, Loquillo, Heroes del Silencio, Elefantes ufffff I would be hours. I don't know if there's something of this people in my music, but it's what I listen to.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Actually that someone who likes it. No more. I think it's a sufficiently important achievement, without any pretension beyond.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

I haven't done any concert yet, I upload my songs on the web with free download. Perhaps, arrive to 17,000 plays in two years it's so important to me.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

I haven't got chance of spend bad moments, but it woud be good have them.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

The theme MAR it's so rock, and is what I'm triying to do. This is also composed for my daughters Maria and Marta, on the contrary what can may seem.

Where can we listen to it? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Tx1QtZRqw

Where can we find out more about your music? 

https://www.facebook.com/bowiemusicomioband

https://twitter.com/BOWIEMUSICOMIO

https://soundcloud.com/kakadelux

http://www.reverbnation.com/bowiemusicomio

http://migueloclimbing.wix.com/bowiemusicomio

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

Well first of all thank you for this space and say that it does not take a professional to feel and express music, just like doing. THANKS!!!!!!!!

The Magic Room Band Q&A

Your name: 
Andrés (singer).

Where are you from?
I am from Barcelona (Spain) but I've been in Manchester for most of my adulthood.

Name of band: 
The Magic Room Band.

Who else is in your band?
Jesse (bass guitar), Dan (lead guitar) and Javi (drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
We are a blues-rock band with 60s surf vibes. Our music sounds like rock'n'roll played with modern beats and melodies; very dancy indeed. However, it was conceived to listen to it on long car or train journeys (that's my favourite time to listen to music!)

Who are your main influences musically?The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, The Strokes, White Stripes...

What do you hope to achieve in music?We'd love to be someone's favorite band, in the way that our music brings positive energy to the listener. Our lyrics try to express our views about the world in the purest way we can, but always with a positive outlook.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?Our highlight must have been our EP launch party at Big Hands (Manchester). It's a pretty narrow pub, so from stage we could only see a big crowd of people smiling and having a great time. The response from the crowd was amazing.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?Probably when we were dressing up as animals in a gig. We've never been so hot in our entire life!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?Hurry Down. I wrote that song without even thinking. I don't think I blinked for the whole time I was writing it. It came out straight from the most hidden layers of my soul.

Where can we listen to it?You can listen to it in youtube. It also has a pretty good video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMEv9ZUB2JE

Where can we find out more about your music?We are pretty active on Facebook and Twitter, so you can give us a like/follow if you'd like to be updated with our latest thing
facebook.com/themagicroomband
Twitter: @magicroomband
But we keep all our things together in our website
www.themagicroomband.com

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

If you're about in Manchester, we'll be playing at Mono on the 19th of September. It will be a great party!

MorphiuM Q&A

Your name: 
Alex Bace.

Where are you from?

Spain.

Name of band:
MorphiuM.

How would you describe yourselves? 

Like a plague.

Who are your main influences musically? 

From Marilyn Manson to Porcupine Tree.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We hope to spread our illness, Morphium.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

After nearly 10 years there have been many important moments but playing at the other end of the world with groups like Motorhead, Testament, Inflames, Moonspell...is one of the most outstanding moments.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

I can't remember!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

En el abismo, it's a review of everything we are, you can get an idea with the music video of this song.

Where can we listen to it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQCUy2CmrLw

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Website: http://www.morphium.es/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morphiumofficial
Twitter: http://twitter.com/morphium_info
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Alexbace666
LastFM: http://www.last.fm/music/Morphium
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/morphiumo...
Other Link: http://instagram.com/morphium_official

5th and Pontiac Q&A

Your name: 

Mark Anselm Tait.

Where are you from? 

All over the shop.

Name of band:

5th and Pontiac.

Who else is in your band?

Bandmates.

How would you describe yourselves?

Disfunctional but kinda good.

Who are your main influences musically?

Who cares..us mostly.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

World peace.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Not considering it to be a career opportunity.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Splitting up!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Moleskin Joe...cos it is fab!

Where can we listen to it?

soundcloud.com/atholl/moleskin-joe-5th-and-pontiac

Where can we find out more about your music?

Seek and ye shall find.

The Suburb's one-a-week challenge

INDIE band The Suburb has been taking part in the One Year One Song A Week challenge - getting musicians to great a song every seven days, filming the process and releasing a video.

Barcelona's Raul Bonilla - the man behind The Suburb - is already more than halfway along with 31 songs in 31 weeks without interruption and as an acoustic duo has played 30 gigs in three months.

He told RealSoundsOK: "After more than 30 weeks in a row uploading a video song to YouTube every Friday , it's time to have a look at the result and analyze the trajectory, an exercise in objectification of what is coming out of the OYOSAW challenge.

"The idea was to make a videosong every week and upload it to Youtube every Friday, essentially covers of some of my favorite songs of all time and began in late October 2013 with a cover of Walk on the wild side which sadly coincided with the death Lou Reed, its author. So it meant both the presentation of the challenge and immediately posthumous tribute .

"As I uploaded the second video song , a friend wrote to me asking me to do an specific cover and it unleashed a flood of suggestions. As a result I have covered songs of all kinds and I have been able to study the compositions and resources from many different authors and different styles (watch XO – Beyoncé or Video killed the radio star – The Buggles).

"For Christmas (after two months of video songs) I got the first hints for playing live and on March 1st I performed as a three-piece band (bass, drums and electric guitar) at a private party in Riudoms (Tarragona, Spain) and the same week I started playing in acoustic duo format in various bars in Barcelona. This week I’ll give 30th concert in three months.

"The Suburb page is in three languages, gathers all video songs, live dates and a booking service for as musical performances (all kinds of band formats, electric, acoustic) and personalization of songs. Moreover, yesterday I launched the renamed blog category The ABCs of freelance musician  with a new post: experiences, tips and thoughts of a 100 per cent DIY, 100 per cent independent musician.

"There are still 20 weeks of challenge ahead, 20 videos to come and many concerts to give. Some of the new suggestions that have come to me are making a record with the best versions and videos when the challenge ends; touring all around Spain giving concerts at followers’ homes and making original songs."

You can view Raul's clip for Video Killed The Radio Star below and for the full list visit his YouTube channel.

Balamb Garden Q&A

Your name:
Magnus Dagon.

Where are you from?
We are from Madrid, Spain.

Name of band:

Balamb Garden.

Who else is in your band?

Balamb Garden is composed mainly of Alfonso de Lucas and me, Magnus Dagon. Sometimes we are helped by other musicians. In the early stages of the band we were three, because a common friend of Alfonso and mine, Pilar Barba, was the female singer.

How would you describe yourselves?

An experimental band that works in studio and love electronic music but not only works with synths. We love guitars (both electric and acoustic), sax, harmonica... Because of my experience as a fantasy writer in Spain, we also care a lot about the lyrics, and try to talk about unusual topics in the world of music.

Who are your main influences musically?

I completely love Hooverphonic and Garbage, and also the music from videogames and animes. Alfonso is a big fan of Lacrimosa and Mike Oldfield, and we both adore Depeche Mode. I would also say that Muse is the kind of band we try to be similar.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

This is difficult to answer. We love what we do, but here in Spain is almost impossible to live being an artist (of any kind), and it's even worse if you sing in English instead of Spanish. We would like, more than anything, recognition for all the hard work. And personally, I would like that people everywhere would know about our videoclips, because the director has put a lot of effort in them and I'd like that this could be appreciated in a way or another.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

When our music was selected to be heard in shops of the country. Of course we are an indie band and we don't sound in big stores, but this was a great step for us.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

The day we released a cover of Losing My Religion because fans demanded it. It was so different from our style... our songs have a very dark pitch and my voice is similar of Dave Gahan's, and recording this was just... well, it's better to forget it.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

The Ghost. No doubt about it. It represents what I said about mixing rock with electronic, I love the lyrics and the vocals are among my favourites as well as the guitar solo, and it was also our first videoclip, recorded in my own house because there wasn't another place where to do it.

Where can we listen to it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kWY7De-Hy8

Where can we find out more about your music?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balambgardenband
Twitter: @BGardenMusic
Official site: www.balambgardenmusic.blogspot.com
Bandcamp: www.balambgarden.bandcamp.com

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

'Do you believe your music is the best thing you have ever created?' Yes, we do. I've written several fantasy books, I like them a lot and I have get paid for them, but music is for me something at the next level. I don't live off music, but music has made my life happier in almost every possible way.

Kermit Q&A

Your name: 

Paco Trujillo.

Where are you from? 

Málaga, southern Spain.

Name of band: 

Kermit.

Who else is in your band? 

Gonzalo Presa (guitars), Miguel Seguí (guitars and synth) and Alvaro Parada (drums and percussion).

How would you describe yourselves? 

Kermit is an instrumental rock band that allows us driving other music paths like post-rock, shoegaze, prog rock, electronica and jazz, among some less frequent others.

Who are your main influences musically?

Kermit's musical influences include the names of Slint, Afghan Whigs, At The Drive-In, Tortoise, Manta Ray, Portishead, Shiner, Sonic Youth, Liars, Appleseed Cast, Mogwai, Karate, Burning Airlines, Cinematic Orchestra, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Massive Attack, St Germain, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, etc., yet its influences also cover other fields such as literature, films, graphic art & design, etc.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

Exploring new paths and exploring ourselves.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

The release of our debut album (titled "Autoficción", that is Spanish for "Self-fiction", a literary genre in Spanish-speaking literature with some outstanding novelist names such as Roberto Bolaño, Enrique Vila-Matas, Javier Cercas...) by Spanish microlabel Itaca Records, and a sold out debut-presentation gig in the second largest venue in Malaga centre, Teatro Echegaray.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

Oh, probably some gig with in front of a not very enthusiastic audience, but, anyway, these things make you learn and progress.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

11 different paths are explored in Kermit's debut's 11 tracks, so it kinda difficult to choose just one, as you have our indie side in Manu Samhita, funky-rock in Cocaine, post-rock in Sea Green, hardcore in Anacronópete, jazz-rock in Fronterizo, electronica in Aicnelav, prog rock in Speak No Evil and Dog goD. Anyway, we do guess it's Cocaine the track our followers associate with Kermit most.

Where can we listen to it? 

You can listen to it at http://kermit-band.bandcamp.com, and watch it live in high quality at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzGKAXoD-vs.

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kermit.band

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kermitband

Itaca Records: http://itacarecords.com

Spotify: http://play.spotify.com/artist/5XZbK7YQMObWOiRxf3uRUD

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mx/album/autoficcion/id576471973

The Suburb Q&A

Your name:
My name is The Suburb, I inherited the body of Raül Bonilla on the doctor's orders.

Where are you from?

Barcelona, Spain.

Name of band:

The Suburb.

Who else is in your band?

I play on my own and/or as a power trio with a couple of mates in live acts.

How would you describe yourselves?

I enjoy an indie rock punk folk pop fun approach to music. Recently, since I decided to make a videosong every week for one year, I've discovered how fun making videos is and I've found I love visual experimentation as much as music...

Who are your main influences musically?

I love Beck, Devendra Banhart and Micachu in their eclectic approach to music and Nirvana and Deerhunter in their blend of noise and straight forward melodies.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

I want to play around, record what I hear in my mind and share it and develope the visual side of myself I've just discovered.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

The Suburb is a new-born baby and since it is growing by the hour every day is a highlight.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Each time someone tells me how I should or shouldn't do things to succeed. 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

By now I'm only making covers, but you could judge yourself if you check what I've done with 'Video killed the radio star' by The Buggles - I think this is my best visual work -  or 'XO' by Beyoncé, both songs suggested by friends through my website (yes, I accept suggestions thorugh my website as a part of my own personal challenge ;)...
Oh....you said just one song? sorry...I'd go for XO then...it was the most difficult to adapt to my style.

Where can we listen to it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1jlI-s3-Rs  (The Buggles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GymWgEojeYk&list=TLyge45a1bVKYdVXRiSeNXohop0oq85Q7t  (Beyoncé)

Where can we find out more about your music?

http://www.thesuburbmusic.com/ if you join the mailing list you can suggest a cover ;)
https://www.facebook.com/thesuburbmusic
https://twitter.com/thesuburbmusic
https://www.youtube.com/user/thesuburbmusic

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

I'm making a new videosong every Friday (youtube) for one year. I'm releasing a covers album on the 23rd of April and starting a crowdfund campaign for it on the 5th of March. 

In May I'll start releasing original songs. 

Daylight Q&A

Your name: 

Wojtek Burek.

Where are you from? Barcelona, Spain 

Name of band:

Daylight.

Who else is in your band?

Olek Burek, Victor Vera and Will Colet.

How would you describe yourselves?

We're a fresh pop-punk band from Barcelona trying to make great music. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Everyone has his own influence, from classic rock to oldschool punkrock and metal.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We want to reach the biggest audience possible, and so, the people include our music in their lives. We wanna be their life soundtrack. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Knowing that people all around the world is enjoying our music, and waiting us to tour their city.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Hahaha The first show :)

If you could choose just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

It would be Summer Season. Its fresh, melodic, catchy, and all the band loves it! 

Where can we listen to it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi8i3k3Vgvs

Where can we find out more about your music?

www.facebook.com/daylight
twitter.com/daylightband
youtube.com/user/daylightpunk

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?

Dont forget to check out our music videos and like us on Facebook!

Hope to meet you soon in your city ;)

La Roux, Miles Kane join Benicàssim bill

TWENTY new bands have been confirmed for Benicàssim 2013.

La Roux (above), Miles Kane, Everything Everything and Woodkid all join the line up along with the likes of Le Carousel, Childhood, Christian Smith and Chvrches, among others.

They join what is one of the strongest line ups in the Spanish festival's history with The Killers, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, Jake Bugg and the Hurts already confirmed.

  

FIB 2013 will be held in Benicàssim's concert venue on July 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st.

Faked Idols Q&A

Your name:

My name is Pablo (guitars and backing vocals).

Where are you from?

We are from Madrid, Spain.

Name of band:

Faked Idols.

Who else is in your band?

Nacho (vocals and bass) y Dani (drums).

How would you describe yourselves?

Basically we move between pop-punk and punk-rock, we try to make a forceful and direct sound looking for catchy melodies and lyrics with message but without beating about the bush.

Who are your main influences musically?

We each have our own musical influences but unite us bands like Blink-182, Green Day and The Offspring among others.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We are aware of our possibilities and we don't aspire to more than being able to reach all people who are interested in us, play, express with our music, our lyrics and over all enjoy what we do.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

We are a relatively young band if we refer to its creation, for now we're focused on recording our first demo album. On the other hand, we did some interviews and we're being played on several local radio stations that broadcasting independent music. We think that the best is yet to come but no hurry for it, better go steadily.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

I guess those moments when you look aground, it seems that things don't go forward. For example, we've been a long time without a fixed drummer and that was frustrating, but now Dani is with us and things look differently and we are more motivated.

If you could choose one of your songs as an advert for your music, what would it be and why?

We haven't preference for any particular, maybe the song "Todo va a cambiar" ("All is gonna change"), we've much love for it because was our first song, people like it and we love play it.

Where can we listen to it?

http://grooveshark.com/s/Todo+Va+A+Cambiar/4UUQNc?src=5

Promote your mixtape at ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music?

http://www.myspace.com/fakedidols

https://twitter.com/faked_idols

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faked-Idols-P%C3%A1gina/217800471580705

http://www.youtube.com/user/fakedidols

http://www.reverbnation.com/fakedidols

Anything else you’d like to say about your band that I forgot to ask?

Soon we'll record our first demo with 14 tracks and we hope will have well received. Finally, just many thanks to sites like yours, for giving publicity to bands like us. Without your help it would be impossible to reach many people.

**note: English is not Pablo’s first language**