Q & A Interview: Dameon of Aranda

"half of the A&R don't know what they're talking about. You can quote me on that."

February 22, 2009, 03:50 AM

Views: 2297   Comments: 1

On the phone with Dameon Aranda, of the band Aranda.

Dameon, there isn't a lot of info out there about you guys, so let's start with some questions that Wikipedia SHOULD HAVE been able to answer, but couldn't. Then we'll get into some actual questions.

[laughs] Sounds good.

Where are you from?

Oklahoma City

How long has Aranda existed as a band?

5 years

When did you learn to play?

I was about 12 or 13 when I first picked up the guitar. I just learned from a lot of classics like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, artists like that.

When did you write your first song?

Around the same time, actually. I learned 3 or 4 chords and start writing songs right away.

Did you learn how to play specifically so you could write songs?

No, my dad had played guitar and I was just like I wanted to learn to play because he was playing. I was better than him in 3 months, so I starting thinking I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

What is the first band you were obsessed with that wasn't recommended by family? Like, who is the first artist you discovered on your own?

Jimi Hendrix. I listened to other classic rock, and when you're constantly trying to figure out who is the best of the best, you are gonna hear the buzz about someone. His music didn't come to me through family or friends, but through my own exploring of classic rock. So, that's how I got turned on to him. I still love him to this day.

Have you been in any other bands?

Not any worth mentioning. I wouldn't want you to Google any of that! [laughs]

When did you start playing on stage?

Right aroun-, actually, before I even played guitar, my brother and I would enter contests doing air guitar and lip synching. [laughs] We were hams. All we ever wanted to do was be on stage. We loved the spotlight! [laughs] It was really fun.

When was your first tour?

Actually, our first tour was not too long ago. When we first released this album we ended up doing stuff with Puddle of Mudd. Everything else before that, I wouldn't really consider it a tour. We did some dates here and there.

Not bad for your first tour. Puddle of Mudd?

[laughs] Yeah, it was pretty great.

Is this your first album?

This is our first album on a label. We released 2 efforts previously. The first one was called Greatest Hits Vol. 2. [laughs] Yeah, kinda stupid. The next one was The 405 Sessions. They were both independently released.

Where did you record your latest album?

In 4 or 5 different locations, actually. San Francisco. Athal, Idaho at this really cool place called Cider Mountain. Obviously Oklahoma City and also Louisville, KY.

Who recorded it for you?

Craig Alvin engineered most of it, and Neil Robbins. We also worked with Sam Waters and Louis Bianciello.

How was that whole experience?

Way too long. We got on this label, Astonish Records. They had 4 other acts. They really catered to the other 4 bands, so we pieced the album together over like 16 months. Obviously, we didn't record for that whole time, but we it in spots over a 16 month period. It was great, though. We made the album we really wanted to make. Not a lot of people can really say that, I don't think. We got to work with great people and it came out how we wanted, so it was really enjoyable.

What are the upsides and the downsides to being in a band with family?

I guess the upside is that you know that person really well. The downside is that you really know that person really well. You have the best and worst of both worlds. There are always these underlying things... like sometimes you think you don't want to hurt someone's feelings, so you have to watch what you say. But, since it's family it kind of feels like you can still say it. At the end of the day, we know we can't get rid of each other, so we stay together.

Kelly Clarkson picked up a couple of your songs for her new album, including her title track 'All I Ever Wanted.' How did that happen?

She stumbled on our stuff through Sam Waters. She didn't know it was on our album until after she recorded it. She called me about 2 weeks ago to make sure it's still ok. She sells much more than we do, so obviously it's fine! [laughs] So, it's just a stroke of luck for us to get it. For it to be the title track is just the icing on the cake.

Have you heard her version of the songs yet?

Yes, I have. I played on her versions, actually. I did guitar and sang background vocals. That doesn't hurt the ol' resume. [laughs] Her version of 'All I Ever Wanted' is really great. That is the poppiest song we have on our album and it fit her really well.

Is this the first time you have sold off songs to another artist?

Yeah. We tried for 3 or 4 years, but this is the first time it ever stuck. That whole world of people who don't write there own songs... it is hard to get into that circle. It's a tight knit group. We got lucky. I think it's a great song and good for her, but there are a lot of great songs out there. So, thank you, God!

There are really only 2 kinds of bands these days- small homegrown DIY operations and big money major label bands. There advantages and disadvantages to both...which one do you want to be?

Right now we're living the homegrown kind of thing. Out on the road, busting the pavement. We don't have distro for the album so we're selling it out of a trailer and on iTunes. I don't know much about the money making because I'm not really making much money right now. I am sure I would love it if I was. Right now, thought, we're just working as hard as we can to get a lot more fans and just make it work like that. We just want a career. If that means 50 thousand fans and just going through the region trying to make money and feed our families, that's all we want to do.

So, in one of your press releases, you said that Tommy Mottola doesn't really know what he's talking about when it comes to rock bands or some such thing. Care to expand on that at all? It's pretty ballsy of you. [laughs]

That's not what I said!! I didn't say that! [laughs] He didn't want us to be a rock band when he signed us. He wanted us to be more like...I don't want to say boy band. More like Hall and Oates, I guess. That's all I was saying. 5 or 6 years ago, he didn't want guitar solos or anything. He didn't want us to be a rock band. He said, "If you guys want to make that kind of record, go back to Oklahoma and play the bars and be the Allman Brothers..." He didn't want to be a part of that. What we have become... he didn't see that vision.

Do you think major labels, in general, lack vision these days?

Yeah, I do think they lack vision. They're not gonna take a chance on anything that is even developing right now. The only thing they'll sign is a sure thing. Every once in a while, I think they get really really lucky and sign a mainstream artist with a lot of talent to back it up. But half of the A&R don't know what they're talking about. You can quote me on that.

It's become relatively common for bands to attach themselves to a cause. Do you already have a passion you are raising awareness about? If not, what causes would you like to lend your support to, if any?

We haven't really delved into that at all yet, but I think anything that has to do with the environment would be our #1 priority. With everything that's going on with the Earth and how weird it has been... we want to help out. We have little kids now and we want them to have a decent Earth later on.

Fair enough. A word of warning though, if you pursue the environmental activism route, don't be a hypocrite. I think people are getting sick of seeing celebrities fly their entourage around the world in private jets to various fund raisers.

[laughs] Yeah, I guess we'll have to be careful! Some of those people are pretty clueless.

Thanks for talking with me. Good luck with everything!

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