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| ::Interviews:: |
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| review & interview content, as well as web site graphics & design, copywrite 2003-2004 Euphonia Online. use of materials granted only with reasonable purposes. |
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| interviewed by robby sumner |
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Bobby Lopez - Vocals (former) Josh Martin - Guitar Robby Philips - Bass Matt Clendenning - Drums |
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| Interview with Bobby, Josh, and Robby May 4th, 2004 |
| E: Estrela is quite possibly one of the greater bands ever to come out of Georgia. As a hardcore band, how would you say you follow or defy the stereotypes that are set for the genre? Bobby: Well, first of all... we don't consider ourselves hardcore. And we try to break out of stereotypes and cliches. We try to be as creative as possible. I'd consider us progressive. E: Do you find that other bands around today impact your own style as a group? Bobby: Not too many... but some of them are. Incubus, the Mars Volta... uh, Josh? List some more. Josh: Really, anything I listen to can be an influence. Bobby: Good answer. E: How do band members help develop each other's contributions to songs being written? Robby: We all contribute pretty much equally. Josh: Yes. Someone will come up with something, whether it be guitar, bass, drum riff, or vocal melody... and we usually will all take that and start brainstorming. Robby: Then, slowly, the song will come together. E: At what point is a developing song finally considered finished and ready to record? Josh: Well, usually we will have a recording date planned, so we have a set goal on when the songs we are working on have to be finished. Robby: Though if we feel the song isn't ready, we won't record it. Josh: [We'll] take more time with it... we try not to rush things. E: When songs are written, are they ever to specific people? Bobby: Not really. People may be involved, but [they're] not name-specific. It's not like we write songs to our girlfriends, and call it the girlfriend song. Girlfriend songs are stupid. Josh: I guess they can mean something to some people... it's just not the way we handle it. Bobby: Yeah, that's what I meant. E: How do the lyrics drive the direction of the song? What decides this direction? Bobby: I feel the words are every bit as important as the music. We all write the song together, and when it's complete, I decide the overall feeling of the song and write about what I feel relates perfectly to it. I don't like cliche lyrics and break-my-heart tear-me-apart stuff. I want to have something intelligent to say. And we don't curse... because there are smarter ways to speak. E: How much sacrifice has to occur for a band to be truly great? Josh: Well, we aren't in school... and [we] are working crap jobs so we can afford to tour and have merch. So [we're] pretty much putting our lives on hold so we can make this our lives. Robby: And when we aren't working we are usually on [the internet] promoting. We try to use the internet's full potential. E: How much money does the band typically spend a month versus the amount it makes? Josh: We spend every penny the band makes, and almost all of what we make at our day jobs, on the band. Right now, we are paying off our debts from pressing our new CD, and saving money to finance a new touring vehicle. Bobby: Yeah, we are 100% dedicated to this. It's not like we are out there buying clothes or rims. Josh: *Laughs* Yeah. I can't wait to get those new 22's for the van... E: How much can you interact with a live audience while still focusing on what you're performing? Josh: We try to have the best stage presence we can possibly have, without dying or passing out. Bobby: While being as tight as possible. Robby: Exactly. E: Were the band to achieve even greater success, would you consider changing your home base away from Georgia? Robby: Definitely. We want to get out of there as soon as possible. Josh: Yes. I mean, our town is good for what it is. But it's not where a band trying to get somewhere needs to be. I figure, if we just tour as much as possible, we can make an impact. E: How much experience did the band members have prior to Estrela? Robby: Well, basically, Josh, Matt, and myself were all playing together since about the seventh grade, and we kept looking for a singer, until one day, we found Bobby. We tried him out, and it just worked. As for Bobby, I know he had been in some previous bands for a few years, so he had plenty of experience playing all different positions in bands. Josh: Yeah, it was kind of like it was "meant to be." I dunno... after we tried Bobby out, we just knew he was the man for the job. E: How can music truly be emotional? Josh: You can tell by the way people go about themselves as they play it. And you can feel it. Robby: Yeah. It just hits you, like a train wreck. Josh: And it can make you feel a million different ways. Robby: Yes. E: Well, thanks a whole lot for sharing your time with us. Robby: Anytime. Josh: Thanks for doing this with us. |