Introduction
Discography
CD Reviews
Musica
Electronica
The Color of Sound
Last Edit/Update
27 May, 2001
February
Feature Interview
With
Daniel Triana
This interview was conducted via e-mail on
18 January by Michael Lund and Kim Alexander.
Could you give us a brief Curriculum Vitae? Where you live, any formal
education, what you do for work other than create music, age when you started recording,
that sort of information...
I currently live in a boring
northeast suburb of New Jersey..for now !!!!...luckily just minutes away from Manhattan. I
work for a major record company...just paper work, a cog in a large machine...but it keeps
my mind on music which is my passion. I also feel I learn more about the music business
this way (it definitly is a BUSINESS!!!) Most record companies don't pay very well,
but because of the attraction/competition ...jobs are hard to get.
I am a University graduate with a
double major in Journalism/Spanish...the reason I studied Journalism was to write
about...what else?....MUSIC !!!. Spanish is a second language to me that I love dearly.
I'm in my late Twenties and I started playing music as a small kid (Drums)...age?...I
don't know like 10, I think !! All my life I played in rock/alternative bands with my
older brother and friends. I started solo work (around 1986) when the band kept their
equipment at my house, all these instruments were like candy for me.
When did you become interested in Electronic Music (year/age)?
My teen years around the time of DEVO
and Depeche Mode and all that new wave stuff !!!!
Was there any event(s) in your life that turned you in the direction of
listening to or creating Electronic Sounds of Music?
Hearing all this
"New" music gave me a sense of excitement. Like discovering a new world. That
was the impression "New Wave" and synths had on me.
How did you come to choose Electronic music as your medium of expression?
Using a synth and drum machines
gave me a sense of freedom, I could compose complete pieces or songs without having to
wait for anyone else. I was excited and didn't waste energy trying to convince others to
help me...I felt I wanted to tackle the music head on. If others wanted to work with me
that was alright and till this day I feel the same, but time doesn't stand still for
anyone.
Were you interested in other types of music before you became involved in
Electronic based music? If so, what bands, sounds?
Yup, believe it or not my first
exposure to music (besides latino music in the home) was KISS !!! Rock was the thing in my
neighborhood and Kiss and Led Zep were the kings.
What bands, if any, influence you in your current music creations?
What do you listen to for your leisure?
Big question....I must say the
following groups are what shaped my sound: Depeche Mode, Front 242, Trisomie 21, David
Bowie, Joy Division/New Order, Bauhaus,and Kraftwerk. But I listen to Phillip Glass,
Piano/Cello music, Latin, general dance music, jazz classics, and anything
different/interesting on the radio.
I notice on The Color of Sound CD that you sing on
most of the songs. Do you have any formal training with specific instruments and/or
vocals? IF so, did the training really help you in your current mode of creating
Electronic music? How?
I have no formal training vocally
or musically except for drum lessons as a kid and a few piano lessons in high school.
What are your thoughts on electronic/synthetic music? Where do you see it
going in the future? I find myself defending Electronic music to people who think that it
takes no talent to create Electronic music or to play
synths? Any thoughts there? What is your creative process?
Electronic Music and Synths are
just tools made for humans to express themselves. Some members of society find a need to
communicate with others through art....these are just another set of artistic
instruments...though I do feel electronic music does try to confront the future of
humanity in way. It deals with the future of art, and lets you experience new sounds which
never existed before. We as humans must come to grips with our new tools and
instruments...master them and make them express feelings, emotions because these
instruments do have that capacity...if it's human made then a HUMAN can make it sing,
dance and weep.
My creative process right now is
just me sitting in front of my piano keys (synth) and playing with melodies...but that
does change when I work with samples, or a multitrack recorder...sometimes the rhythm may
start things off...lyrics are an entirely different animal...these are written when the
thoughts or feelings come to me.
What equipment do you use in your studio? (the dreaded gear list)!
Right now I use a Nord Lead
synth...with a Korg sound module...plus an Akai sampler and Roland drum pads with a
built-in sound module. I also have a Yamaha sound module which I use once in a while. I
use a 16 channel mixer with a digital tape 8-track recorder for layering and acoustic/vox
instruments. I sequence all the synth sounds via a PC compatable computer and sequencing
software.
Do you perform live? If so, what
equipment do you use and where do you perform?
I have performed live, the last set
of gigs I performed was in the form of an experimental ambient duo with a guitar player. I
played live keyboards along with an 8 track tape of various sounds/beats etc....all mixed
live and treated with effects by yours truely.
What advantages/disadvantages do you feel are involved with in performing your
music live?
Right now it a challege performing
my CD releases live because I always felt an electronic one man act or duo should have
plenty of visuals in the background plus unique lighting for effect. It's hard to perfom
on the keyboard, sing, jump around/dance and keep an eye on the controlls all at once.
Do you or are you signing previously unsigned bands to Trilab Recordings? If
so, what determines whether or not a band can get released on Trilab? Are you currently
taking demos from bands?
Though TriLab is a small operation,
I would love to put together a various artists electronic compilation. It is a plan of
mine, but when and how soon is hard to tell right now.
Can you support yourself on your music/Label alone?
Right now I feel I can not, however
it is a difficult goal of mine and of most musicians.
Are there any messages you are trying to express with your music? Or is the
music itself the message?
I feel the music itself is the
message...
How would you describe/characterize your music.
Electronic/Alternative/Ambient yet
Dance...with hints of goth and industrial thrown in [to it].
How did you end up on the Sisters Of Mercy Tribute album First Last and
Forever?
Networking...I make
it a point to always be out there...and let it be known that I exist. I always get mail
from all over....now it's e-mail !!! I just keep my eye on the music press too.....now
it's web sites too !!!! Things change but still stay the same...anyway they sent around a
call for demos of anyone interested (via mail) and of course I was !!!
You were involved in a *goth* band early on in your career. What was your role
in this band? Was this project also electronic? What was the name of band, and are there
any releases that can still be found anywhere?
The band was BELLAS ARTES,
I was the drummer, lyricist and some keyboards. It was a bass/drums/guitar set up with
some keyboards...we played a bit live...just demo tapes came out of the project plus
various cassette compliations. [The] release can be found but it may be near
impossible...the compliations were international...VERY LIMITED releases..maybe one day I
will remaster some of the old 4-track tapes.
What was the French Series: Tears Compilations? What did you do with that
project?
Tears Complitations was a series of
cassette-only various artists releases. It was put together by some dude in France ( I
wonder what he's up to now?) I usually found out about these compilations through Gajoob magazine, (now online..) a resource magazine
for unsigned musicians.
Your promotional data says: Daniel has also started work on a new
house/dance project entitled: NOVAK with NY's DJ Jaymz Nylon. What is this about?
We have a collection of songs
(about an ep's worth) that we worked together on while I was living in Brooklyn, NY. He's
currently shopping the material around...it was fun because I got see a different view
point on the music making process plus I discovered new sounds in the Roland MC303... ( a
new toy of his !!!)
Since you have started your own studio, what was your motivation in forming
your own label? Do you have any pointers to share with others who might also be
considering creating their own label/studio? Do you think the more established music
industry is unreceptive to the your style of music?
PASSION is only reason to do it.
It's very expensive and tiring. I do feel the music industry has been unreceptive to my
style of music...it's not typical or genre fitting like say pure TECHNO or AMBIENT or
ELECTRONICA. My music is personal to me and it reflects that....though it is definitly
electronic. Pointers you ask.....um....good luck !!!
Certain tracks on the CD The Color
Of Sound, sound a bit nostalgic of sorts to the synth pop of the early 80s. Did this era
of music influence the composition of this CD?
Not in a conscious
level...indirectly maybe...I did listen to the stuff but didn't set out to reproduce it.
There is a distinct change in sound from The Color of Sound CD with that early
80's-ish beat/vocals to the new release, Musica Electronica which is void of
lyrics and has a darker more ambient sway to it. What or who
influenced this change?
TIME......life experiences....I
don't know...change is good, change is life.
What are you presently working on?
I have a someone working on my
Website at the moment, I'm also listening to tracks I would love to release but i'm trying
to find the right vehicle for them... (ex..compilations? a new cd ?, internet only ?,
12" singles?) I'm always on the look out for new vocalists ....plus I'm working on
distribution (via the internet) for the my 2 current releases.
Where do you see your music and label going in the future?
Hopefully growing in terms of
catalog (size)....video maybe too !!! More releases, compilations and performances.
Thanks for the interview!
Copyright Last Sigh
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