interview with Favna Abisal
Have any of you played in other bands? Daniel: Well, all the members have their personal projects. Pablo (bass) plays in a rock band called “Torkana”, Boris (Guitar) plays in one of the first electronic bands in Chile, which is “Aparato Raro”. Jorge (drummer) has a project called “Tierra de Pájaros”. Eliseo (keyboards) is recording a metal LP. And finally myself Daniel (vocals & synthesizer) I’m almost close to launch a project called “Sistema Tarr”, which is music created only by synthesizers.
How is it that you started playing music? Daniel: Everything started when I listened “The Beatles”, I was 6 years old and the only thing that I wanted was to play the guitar. I played one and bass in an informal way until I was about 18 years. When I was 20 years old I studied some music and since a couple of years I’ve been working with synthesizers, which is the instrument that I like the most.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you?
Daniel: (Vocals & Synthesizers)
Eliseo: (Synthesizers & Vocals)
Boris: (Guitar)
Pablo: (Bass)
Jorge: (Drummer)
I am 35 years old, but the ages within the band are diverse. We have members who are 25 years old, as well others who are 50 years old.
Have you had other previous members? Daniel: Yes, Andres used to be the drummer of Favna Abisal (Currently he helps us in some aspects related to the sound of the band), as well as Ivan and Sergio, who also played guitar for Favna. The current formation was stablished on March, 2015.
Where are you from? Daniel: Santiago, Chile.
What year did the band form? Daniel: Around 2007-2008. My memory is not a very reliable source though.
What's your style of genre? Daniel: Currently we define us as “Rock & Synthesizers”
What inspires you? Daniel: Everything that makes up our lives. Joys, sorrows, fears, thoughts, etc.
How often and where do you reherse? Daniel: We rehearse twice a week (Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings) in our own rehearsal room
How have you developed since you started with the music? Daniel: I think the main thing is that we have developed maturity. Not claiming to be a “rockstar” kind of band, neither something closely to that. We are 5 normal and ordinary guys who get together to make and play music, because we like it, without any unreachable fanciful goals
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? Daniel: Of course. I am a forensic psychologist, I work in the penitentiary system to be more specific. Pablo is a photographer, Eliseo a graphic designer, Jorge is finishing his studies in sports. Boris is civil engineer and he also practices climbing
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? Daniel: We are waiting to have in our hands our second LP, to start the searching process of an agency
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Daniel: As I mentioned before, we want to finish the LP first to then start the promotion.
What made you decide to make this music? Daniel: Because it permits to use all the music culture that each of the members have. Fortunately we do not have a define style of music. This allow us to use all kind of music without any barrier.
What are your songs about? Daniel: About perceptions of the reality that surround us. The interpretation of conducts from others and how they are related to my conduct. About dreams and fantasies that we have when we are awake.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? Daniel:In this new process, the musical composition is in charge of Eliseo and myself. Generally, I write the lyrics.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? Daniel: In my case I always start with the music. It is the music which allow me to imagine situations leading to write something coherent according to what I listen.
Have you done any covers live? Daniel: Initially we used to play a mix of songs from Pink Floyd, King Crimson y Los Jaivas. After that we made our own version of “Yo soy aquel”, an old song from an Spanish singer called Raphael. Nowadays there are a few ideas but is not something that give us sleepless nights. We have a lot of ideas for our own songs, and those have priority.
What language do you sing in? Daniel:In spanish. Maybe in our second LP we would include 1 or 2 songs in English.
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Daniel:Between 20 and 45 years old approximately.
What do you think of my work? Daniel: I would like to congratulate you for keeping the spirit of knowing new music. That is very rare in the current days.
Do you have any role models or idols? Daniel: No.
What have been your biggest obstacles? Daniel: Money. In Chile you have to be millionaire or go into debt for 10 years with a bank to make your band recognized. There are few places to play and not many public for music that is not commercial.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Daniel: Just rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. Practice at home everyday. There is no other formula than that.
Do you have any new material? Daniel: We are close to launch our new single in this new stage. At the end of this year we will start with the recording process of our new LP.
What are your web sites?
http://www.facebook.com/favnaabisal
favnaabisal.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/favnaabisal
How can people reach you? Daniel: Through the email [email protected] or searching Favna Abisal on Facebook, bandcamp,soundcloud, etc
What are your plans for the future? Daniel: Finishing our second album that can make us feel proud and eager to make a third one.
Do you have something to add? Daniel:.I would like to thank you for your interest to Favna Abisal. I wish you the best luck for your projects.