Nocion is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The band was formed in 2001, released “Existencia” (2006) and “Into the Darkness” (2017). New album “Beyond the Shadows” coming out soon on Curtain Call Records!
Interview conducted on January 21, 2021
By Dan Locke
Happy birthday David (bass) and MJ (vocals)!
Why, thank you!
Your band is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. What is your upbringing?
We grew up in the suburbs of San Juan listening to all kinds of music such as Salsa, Rock, Metal, Jazz, Reggae, Merengue, Hip Hop & so many others. You name it!
How did you discover music?
Some of our parents were musicians growing up, so we sort of picked it up from them. As such, we all grew up surrounded by all types of music 24-7!
How did you start to write music?
MJ and Caesar started the band back in 2001. They both came together since they shared so many similar musical ideas at the time and decided to start a band out of that collaboration.
Describe your music.
We like to call it hard rock/heavy metal or better yet, “Rock ‘n’ Roll” as Lemmy put it.
What is the metal scene like in PR?
Just like any other scene around the world. We have all types of genres and sub-genres within the rock and metal realm of music, while some bands support each other and others do not. It’s all part of the scene man!
How did you get your first bass and do you still have it?
I bought my first bass myself when I was 12 y/o. It was a Dean “Jammer” from ’90-’91, I can’t remember exactly. Bought it off the Sears X-mas catalog, believe it or not. Unfortunately, I don’t own it anymore. Came across one about 4-5 mos. ago in nearly mint condition, but its owner wouldn’t sell it. Bummer!
What is your bass guitar as of now? Year, make and model?
I currently own and/or use 4 bass guitars: a 2004 Fender MIM Precision with flatwound strings and DiMarzio pickups, a 2015 Rickenbacker 4003, a 2018 Yamaha TRBX174 also with DiMarzios and a 2019 Dean Edge 1 5-string, which is the one I currently use in Nocion for both studio recording and live performances. The other three I use with my two other musical projects: Los Hijos de La Cana (Latin/Spanish rock) & Cannibal Massacre (death/grindcore).
How did you form the band?
The band was formed in 2001 by Caesar (guitar) and MJ (vocals). They then rounded up its full, final lineup with the addition of a drummer and bassist.
How did your band name go from Nocion Nocturne to Nocion?
Yes, we were first called Nocion Nocturne, but everyone referred to us just as Nocion, so we decided to drop the Nocturne altogether.
What was your first performance at like?
Our first performance was a small gathering of bands and friends at a small pub, but we all had a blast. Emotions ran high and public acceptance was great for being our first show. From then on, we decided to make the band a full-time endeavor.
What makes a good songwriter?
Emotions, feelings and inspiration. Also, the world around us all and personal situations.
What is the process of writing your music?
Caesar usually comes in with a riff or two then I usually arrange most, if not all of the song, adding a few more riffs, time changes and/or melody lines/licks here and there. MJ leaves her lyrics for last; she likes to write them not at the studio while we’re rehearsing, but when she’s alone at home by herself. None of the rest of the band have any say as to what she should write about.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the International Singer-Songwriter Association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Yes, we belong to ASCAP.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Our first song ever was “Tears,” which we have included on our latest EP “Beyond the Shadows” as a hidden bonus track. We recorded it on our first album “Existencia,” released in 2006.
Tell me about the making of your EP “Beyond the Shadows”?
We started working on “Beyond the Shadows” at around mid-part of 2018, early-part of 2019, a year or two after releasing 2017’s “Into the Darkness” EP. A lot of the riffs on “Beyond the Shadows” were leftover riffs and musical ideas from the “Into the Darkness” sessions, but the majority of music on “Beyond the Shadows” is mostly new actually. We then went into the studio in the late-part of 2019, early-part of 2020 to begin recording “Beyond the Shadows.” We finished about 2-3 months after the pandemic started.
Tell me about “No Veil”?
“No Veil” deals with current world problems and events and how society as a whole is either too blind to see what is really going on or just too afraid to face it, due to this “veil” it’s wearing. “Lift the veil, that prevails!”
On your video “Bridges Collide;” why did you pick George Santiago to direct it?
George has been a really good friend of the band since its very beginnings and a long-time fan as well. We didn’t pick him to produce our video, instead, it was him who offered to make the video for us. We are grateful to him for making such a great video for us, as well as Mitchell Morales for producing our other ones as well.
What is your favorite track on the album?
We like all of them!
How do you stay healthy while performing?
All of us work out and eat well, which helps us give our 100% when performing live or in the studio.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
We think it’s great to pave ways and open doors to other countries and markets, but we disagree with the way the system is set up and its payout scheme. Unfortunately, music streaming is a necessary evil nowadays, whether you like it or not.
How can people forget about the origin hashtag # Sharp in a musical score? Because of social media #sonyrecords vs. F#
Easy; differentiating between one and the other.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Both, although we prefer vinyl, being avid record and tape collectors ourselves. But digital opens up a whole new world of possibilities, which have to be taken advantage of.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Not a song, but a book: George Orwell’s “1984” and its eerily similarity to today’s events.
Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna have concluded Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With these vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
We think many people will take the first one, but forget or obviate the second one.
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community, the herd, becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune).
We are well aware of what herd immunity is and what it entails. Hopefully, by the end of 2021 or early part of 2022 everybody will be vaccinated with only one vaccine remaining as the true, effective one out of all the ones currently available.
Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
It already has.
You released “Just Games” at the start of the pandemic. Did you think you would have had a chance to promote it before then?
Yes, we did, but obviously, the virus halted every band’s plans to promote anything once it hit everyone.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Staying sane and working on new material individually, lol!
What are the Legions of Doom?
You mean the warmongers or the wrestlers?
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Not really, we all have basically stuck to the same song and dance since the pandemic began!
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
Youtube.
With the streaming services (Disney (50+ new shows/movies Lizzie McGuire, The Sandlot, Beauty and the Beast prequel, Moana, Cars, Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, Sister Act 3, Pinocchio, Peter Pan and Wendy, all future Star Wars and Marvel movies and shows) and HBO Max ( including Wonder Woman 2, Godzilla vs Kong, Top Gun: Maverick, Mortal Kombat, Tom and Jerry, The Many Saints of Newark, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, In the Heights, Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Suicide Squad, Dune, The Matrix 4) planning to pull all the upcoming movies from next year and put them on their streaming service. How will that affect the entertainment industry?
Only time will tell.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that was going to change, at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestream shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience; this will include Facebook Live” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this has changed the landscape of Facebook?
A lot of people have left Facebook because of this.
How can bands keep fans if they cannot play live and sell merchandise to them at shows?
Internet streaming, podcasts, live interviews and performances. Online stores help a lot too!
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlists on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
Yes, it still is a thing. We’ve been approached by many major agencies offering us “pay to play” gigs and tv/radio appearances.
What about holographic concerts in our living room?
We’re not really a fan of them.
If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
Music.
What is your happy place?
Live and/or studio performances/recordings.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
We’d like to thank you Dan and all the staff over at UnRated Magazine for your support! You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, Youtube and ReverbNation, amongst other digital platforms and media.
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