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MM - Would you like to start by introducing the band members to us and telling
us where you all come from.
Well, in few words... we're 5. Bernardo is the guitar player, Jose plays
the bass, Fran the keyboards, Oscar, who hits the drums and me, Patri, the
singer. We're all Spaniards and livin' in Madrid and we're lucky to live
more or less close to the rest of the band. errrr, well, all except me, cos
I live in the opposite side of the town and the rehearsal room is a little
bit away from my home. but it's okay. all for the music. Nothing is
perfect.
MM - When was the band formed and how did you all meet each other?
I'm not 100% sure cos I entered the band later. I think it was nearly 3
years ago and I stay with them for 2 years or something less. They began
playing covers but without a singer, and they spent nearly a whole year
looking for a singer.
I think they wanted a male voice at the beginning, but
as they didn't have too much luck with the people they tried the began
trying girls.. and Bingo!!!!!!!! Well, before me, they had a Catalonian
girl for one month, then a Mexican girl for 2 months. So, they were
without a singer and with a demo half done by that time.
I already knew Oscar and Jose, as we had played together in other covers
band, so they asked me if I could record the vocals for that demo, and I
said YES!. Later I sang with them in some gigs, while they were still
looking for a singer, but one day I said. "Hey, why don't you stop looking
for? So, I entered the band officially.
I didn't knew Bernardo and Fran until the day we recorded those tracks for
that first demo (Whitesnake's Give me all your love, Mr Big's Green tinted
sixties mind and Europe's Let the good times rock).
MM - The band's name is quite unusual, where does it come from?
The name? Well, that's a good question ;-). It seems that we were going to
named "Ness" at the beginning, easy name, easy logo with the lake and the
monster and all that. Also I'm from a part of Madrid called Leganés.
It's
like Lago - Ness (Lago = lake). So It was funny, but that name was already
chosen for another band, so we decided (with some help form our friends)
to change the "ss" per "xx".
But actually we didn't think too much about
it. it just
sounded good, it could be from any country so.. It was ok. To me it always
sounds a little bit "hot", you know, for the xx, but you get used to it.
MM - How would you describe your songs and who do you think they would most
appeal to? Who would you compare your style of rock music to, which other
bands?
For us our songs are little bit difficult to describe cos they have a
little bit of everything. They mix melody, rock stuff, sometimes even
sound "commercial"!, but I don't use to think how they are or not, or if
they are similar to other stuff. we just write them, some in the
rehearsals room, throwing away some ideas, one says that, the other says that's crap, then
the other changes it, then... till we get the song.
Once the song it's musically done I or whoever use to look for a nice
melody line. it depends on the moment. yep basically it depends on the
situation when we write each song. So it's difficult for us to define
the style. it's just a mixture of the influences of each member of the
band, but with something in common: melody.
About which band we could be compared to. I don't really know. we don't
try to sound like somebody. or that's what I think. I don't try to sing
like this or that singer. and the same for the rest of the band. Also
that's what you (press) are for.. To look for which band we are similar to
(LOL!). It's true that some songs could sound similar to different bands
as we have pretty much influences, but also people don't agree in which
band! So better not try to think in that kind of things.
MM - I must say having seen you perform at The Gods
2001 festival your certainly looked like you were having a party up there
onstage. I take it you enjoy performing live in front of hundreds of
people?
I could say that it was fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! An unforgettable experience.
we really had a great time. not only there. we use to have fun on stage,
cos that's why we play for! And I hope we never lose that. I was a little
bit nervous at the beginning but when I saw the crowd I just forget
everything and enjoyed, only thinking in such a great time and fun we were
having there, and people seemed to enjoy too, so. what else we could ask
for???
MM - How would you describe the melodic rock scene in Spain at the moment?
Is it fair to say that it seems to have really taken off over the last few
years with bands more willing include it in their tours.
I think this type of music is growing again. There are very good new bands
in the melodic scene in Spain nowadays (91 Suite, Elyte, Skyline, etc.) and
I wish them all the best. But the truth is that there are not enough
support
to get something much better. I mean, this is an underground scene and
things have to go step by step, but these steps go a little bit slow,
because there's no media help. just fanzines, webzines, fans and the
bands.
But anyway, people who support us is very unconditional and very faithful
to this music and this is true, in each concert we make we see more and
new people, so that's why I think this is growing. On the other hand there
are very few record companies in Spain that bet for this type of music
although we have very good bands here. But, again, "few" is better than
"none", as we got in the mid 90s.
MM - Would you like to tell all the readers what your website address is so
they can all check it out.
This is the address: http://www.mejorsordos.com/nexx
We have some mp3s, photographs, news, chat, and please, sign in our guest
book!
MM -Have any of the band members performed in any other bands prior to Nexx?
Before Nexx we all played in other bands, but all unsigned when we played
in them. Oscar has played in lots of projects with different styles...
Also he, with Jose and me, played in a band called Fahrenheit where we
played Toto, Queen, etc. Fran played in a band called Still Here, but he
also makes tv background music and things like that.
MM - The band are currently unsigned but rumour has it that it won't be long
before a UK record label snaps you up. Can you discuss this with us yet or
is it still early days?
Well, we have been talking to a very well known company in the last months
and everything seems fixed right now. so, in few days/weeks we'll sign our
first record deal. We're very excited about this cos it's like a dream for
us.
We really want to make a nice first album and we're writing more songs
these days, so that we could choose the best material for it. We want to
do our best! For us an European label specialized in this styles of music
would
be the perfect one.. And if it is British, better ;-).
MM - What bands did you grow up with and how have they helped to inspire
the style of music you perform now?
I've born in a different musical ambient than the rest of the band...
well, all of us has its own influences! What I listened to was Spanish
urban rock and not very good by the way, but I was lucky cos my father did
like very
good music. From soul to 70's funk or 70's rock. to flamenco. so he used
to play in the cars tape or at home many different things. when I was a
kid.
Actually I didn't know anything of AOR or melodic rock till I entered
Fahrenheit. But I liked that music at the first listening. Maybe if I've
been born earlier I had enjoyed twice with this type of music... but you
can't change that kind of things..
So it's fun when I read reviews of our demos in web sites and I read
"Patricia sings like XXXX", and put instead XXXX: Witness, Alyson Avenue,
Dante Fox, etc, etc, etc. bands that I've never listened to!!!! Now I'm
asking some friends for this kind of bands, which actually I do like, but
I'm knowing them just now!.
MM - At what age did you decide you wanted to be a musician/performer? Who
did you look up to when you were younger? Who was your idol?
Since I was a very young kid I wanted to be a singer but my first chance
was with this band I told you before, Fahrenheit, and it was then, when I
decided become a singer.
And. idols. well, there are lots and lots of very good singers out there,
but maybe, someone who could "touch" my soul if one day I could met her is
Tina Turner.
MM - What bands do you enjoy listening to at present? What was the last CD
you bought?
There are lots but, I could tell you that the best show I've ever gone was
held few months ago by a Spanish band called O'Funkillo, that are very
talented musicians with a very enjoying show. mixing hard rock, funky and
music from Andalucia. Awesome! In the other hand, the last CD I've bought
isn't very new. Peter Gabriel - Real World, but it's excellent.
MM - What song do you enjoy playing more than any other live and why? Also
which one makes the crowds go wild?
I enjoy singing many songs, but to name only few covers, Europe or
Whitesnake songs are my favourites. Dunno why, but they are very "rocky"
and very fun to sing. People also have a great time with these songs, but
there
are one song, that isn't the best known by the "general public", but has
the most radical fans and its Stryper's Calling on you.
And talking about our songs, "If you could read my mind" is my favourite
one. and people use to like most "After the storm" or "One more day".
MM - Who writes the songs that you perform, is it the job of just one
person or do you all help out?
The songs are mainly written by all members of the band. Usually Fran
brings some harmonies or songs structures, and then the rest of the band
changes lot of things, adding a melody line (often my work). Then we work
on
the lyrics, mainly Bernardo, Jose and Fran cos they could speak better
English.
We often work in our rehearsals room writing songs all together. I like
that way cos it's a very creative way.
MM - What response have the band received so far from the music press and
all the melodic rock fans out there?
Oh, it's great! Dunno if this happens to all the unsigned bands, but web
sites and fanzines have helped us a lot. We all know that there are no
more "demos" pro gram in commercial radios or similar stuff. but nowadays
we are
very lucky cos we have internet and we could have our demo reviewed in
lots of web sites.
Also magazines like Fireworks or Powerplay are
supporting us a lot. For us
this is incredible. Appearing at the Gods has opened us lots of doors to
the press. And we were there just because of our good fortune. a
conjunction of casualties
and nice people helping us.. We feel that we're very lucky in this aspect.
MM - What is the most memorable concert you have performed at and what made
it different from all the others?
Well, we continue talking about the Gods ;-). It was our most intense
experience. And not only in the stage. just going out some days the whole
band altogether, to a different country. a very good experience. Moreover,
the reaction of the people there was amazing, and totally unexpected!
Apart from that show, one month before that, we played in Madrid,
introducing our 2001 demo, in a nice venue, and there were nearly 300
people watching us, so we were pretty much impressed by that response.
Anyway, we use to enjoy a lot playing. and. oh, I couldn't forget the
Nemelrock festivals. I and II, where we met greeeeat bands like Harem
Scarem, Dare, House of Shakira, etc.
MM - If you could perform/tour with any band/artist, who would you choose
and why?
It would be amazing going out with Harem Scarem, because I think they are
really good and we could learn a lot from them. Also they are very nice
guys, we met them twice in Madrid (in both Nemelrock festivals). But we
keep
on dreaming with that kind of tours.
MM - In 3 words how would your best friend describe
you?
Errrrrrrr, well, someone who says the things as they are, aaaaaaand
someone with sense of humour.¿?. okay, you got me in this one!
MM - If a lucky genie was to pop-up now and grant you three wishes, what
would you choose?
Like winning the lottery????...that would be the first one! well, okay,
I'd ask him that everything keep on going so straight between the band.
yeah it sounds very "polite" thing, but it's completely true. it's very
difficult to meet a band like this ... and a third one. well. I keep it to
myself, cos I'm sure one day it's going to happen ;-) . I'll tell you next
time!
MM - Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to all the readers out
there?
Yes, of course, helloooooo, I hope we could see all of you pretty soon in
an "album presentation"!. Till that day we'll keep on working in new
tunes, enjoying and having fun playing this music.
So, See you pretty soon! (believe me)
From the shortest NEXX member
Love,
Patricia |
