Amo Amo – Founder Omar Velasco
Interview conducted on May 29, 2020
by Dan Locke
Band Members
Omar Velasco, Shane McKillop, Justin Flint, Lovelle Femme, Alex Siegel
Dan Locke: What is your upbringing?
Omar Velasco: I was raised in California and Mexico.
How did you discover music?
Mostly through music, my parents played. They had very good taste.
How did you start to write music?
My dad had a Tascam four-track tape recorder and a Korg Trinity keyboard with a sequencer, so when I discovered you could layer sound on sound, that’s what did it for me.
Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
My parents bought me a classical guitar from Spain that I still have today.
And do you still have it?
Yes!
How the band did get its name?
We all sat around a table and thought long and hard. I got tired and went to sleep, while the rest of the band kept on thinking. And when I woke up- they’d come up with the name Amo Amo! I guess I just needed to leave the room. It was inspired by the title of one of Lovelle’s old songs.
What is psych dream-pop?
I’m not sure… Maybe it’s music that is catchy, has elements of psychedelia and transcendence, and is also dreamy.
How was it to have your song to be used for the iPhone SE? In the past, Apple would give the artist some apple products as part of the payment. Did they do this to you, for using your song?
It was cool! It was great that our song got so much exposure. They didn’t give us any products, though.
Maybe they should!
You are the backing band for Karen O and the Danger Mouse. How is she for a boss?
They were both very gracious and professional. It was very inspiring to be around veteran artists whose vision of their art is so clear and focused.
Tell me about your upcoming EP, which comes out on June 19th?
The EP is a collection of songs we’ve written over the past couple of years. We recorded most of it after a tour, so we were playing really well together. I really love all the themes that are explored- nature, connection, sanity, acceptance, diversity.
How was it to work with Jim James from My Morning Jacket?
It was so great. He is a deep lover of music and a great producer, and he really helped us find our musical identity through the process of making the record together.
What is your favorite track on the album?
The antidote is probably my personal favorite, but I truly love all the songs.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
It’s not easy. For me, it’s about having a routine, making time to exercise, and making time for some solitude… finding a park to walk around in and meditate. Eating healthy foods obviously is important as well.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
There’s a lot of positives that I can see. Artists can release music so much more easily nowadays – they can engage directly with their fans and not have to go through all the machinery of big labels. As a listener, we have instant access to so much music, and a lot of music that has been obscure for many years is now having a second chance and finding new audiences. I’d like to see artists paid better for their art, and hopefully, we’re headed in that direction.
Digital vs. vinyl?
They both have their pros and cons. Putting on a record is a beautiful ritual, and it sounds warm and sweet, but you can’t put it on your phone and go for a run.
What does Earth Day mean to you?
It’s a day when we celebrate what we should be celebrating every day we are alive: our complete dependence on the generosity of our planet earth.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song has to you?
Golden Lady by Stevie Wonder.
It reminds me of the mystery, allure, and beauty of the Goddess.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus is going to affect the music business in the future?
It has affected live music tremendously. That’s the hardest part. So many people depend on live music for their livelihood, and for their spiritual well-being.
I see that taking quite a long time to come back as it once was.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Writing and recording music, spending time in the garden with my family.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Gardening!
Because of Covid-19 Bandcamp decided to stop charging your fees. How has this helped your bottom line?
Not much. Most people stream our music.
A lot of bands are doing songs about the lockdown. It seems to me you are also with your song ‘Missed Connection”. Is this true?
We had written that song before the lockdown happened, so no.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
Not sure… we don’t find it very inspiring at the moment.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Probably not.
First, it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stone talked about it, and finally, Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until the fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Yes, I think that’s very possible. We’ll have to find other ways of making a living, and in the meantime hopefully, artists can keep busy writing and recording music. When concerts do come back, it will be very very sweet.
Any plans to tour?
Not as of now.
Is the Ohana Fest going to happen?
We don’t know.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
It could be weird and interesting.
Nothing compares to being with people physically- nothing can replace that.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Continuing to make music, spending time outside cultivating the earth, helping to change how we live and relate to each other, our communities, and the earth. I think we are in the midst of big, seismic change.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
It feels good to take this time to slow down, to really look at the way we live and the things we take for granted. I hope everyone is finding some purpose and love in these difficult times. I hope new and beautiful things grow out of all of this. We wish everyone peace and health and love!
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