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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
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