Macabre L.A. - Interview - PETE'S ROCK NEWS AND VIEWS.COM

Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)

PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?

M L.A.: SINCE EVERYBODY IS SO CRAZY FOR SPLITTING EVERYTHING UP INTO GENRES AND LABELS THESE DAYS (NOTHING NEW BUT MORE THAN EVER NOW WITH INTERNET) AND SO I REFER TO ‘MACABRE L.A.’ AS “DIVERSITY METAL”. METAL IS THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE DO BUT FROM THERE IT BRANCHES OFF INTO SEVERAL DIFFERENT AVENUES. AS FAR AS IF THIS GENRE WORKS WITH THAT GENRE AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED IT WORKS IF I SAY IT WORKS. “IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT DON’T BUY IT” SORDA DEAL I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.

M L.A.: I AM L.A.CA.U.S.A. BORN AND RAISED. MY DAD’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY ARE FROM SOUTHERN SPAIN AND NORTHERN MEXICO AND THEY ARE HEAVILY INTO THE ARTS MOSTLY FLAMENCO IN FACT MY UNCLE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE BEST AMERICAN BORN FLAMENCO GUITARIST. MY OWN DAD AND SOME OF HIS BROTHERS ALSO PLAYED AND MY AUNTS WERE ALL FLAMENCO DANCERS DURING THE 50’S AND EARLY 60’S THEY USED TO GO ON SMALL TOURS AS A FAMILY SOMEWHAT LIKE, SAY, THE OSMONDS. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL COUSINS WHO PLAY AND/OR SING OR ARE INVOLVED IN THE ARTS IN SOME WAY SO I’D GUESS THAT’S WHERE MY INTEREST AND ABILITY COMES FROM. PLUS (FUN FACT) MY COUSIN CARMELO WAS THE SINGER FOR THE BAND ‘THE LEFT BANKE’ OF “WALK AWAY RENE” FAME (HE CALLED HIMSELF ‘STEVE MARTIN’ WHILE HE WAS ACTIVE MUSICALLY (THIS WAS BEFORE THE COMEDIAN OF THE SAME NAME WAS FAMOUS).

PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?

M L.A.: MY LYRICS MOST DEFINITELY FOCUS ON THE DARK SIDE OF LIFE BUT THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE I AM INDEED INFLUENCED BY MANY THINGS THAT HAVE LITTLE OR NOTHING TO DO WITH MUSIC SUCH AS WILDLIFE (I’M AN EXTREME ANIMAL LOVER), HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, SPIRITUALITY, ETC. ETC. THIS QUESTION ALONE COULD EASILY TAKE UP SEVERAL PAGES SO I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I ALSO HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN ACTING / FILM AND HAVE DONE SOME HERE AND THERE OVER THE YEARS AND I THINK I COULD BE QUITE GOOD AT IT IF I REALLY APPLIED MYSELF BUT FOR ME AS FAR AS THE ARTS COMPARING ACTING TO MUSIC WOULD BE LIKE COMPARING AN OUTHOUSE TO THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING. I’M ALSO BIG INTO OTHER FORMS OF ART I’M QUITE HANDY WITH A PENCIL AND PLUS I ALSO DO ALL MY OWN BAND ART (ON COMPUTER).

PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?

M L.A.: WHY LIE OR TRY TO PRETEND HUMBLENESS I WANNA BE A ROCKSTAR PLAIN AND SIMPLE. NOT JUST FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS BUT REALLY ONLY FAMOUS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MUSIC. EVEN MORE THAN MONEY, WOMEN, ETC. OR WHATEVER THE ABILITY TO TOUCH OTHERS AT THAT DEEP PRIMAL EMOTIONAL LEVEL LIKE ALL MY FAVE ARTISTES HAVE ME OVER THE DECADES AND MOST ESPECIALLY TO REALLY BE RESPECTED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF MUSIC WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE DREAM COME TRUE. AND YES I CAN HONESTLY SAY MONEY, SEX, ETC. IS NICE TOO BUT I CAN HONESTLY HAND ON HEART SAY THAT FROM DAY ONE I’VE TRULY BEEN IN IT FOR THE ART. MAKING GREAT ALBUMS THAT TOUCH PEOPLE’S EMOTIONAL LIVES AND BRING OTHER HUMAN BEINGS ARTISTIC ENJOYMENT LIKE ALL MY MUSICAL HEROES HAVE ME WOULD BE THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, SO TO SPEAK. ALL THE OTHER STUFF WOULD BE ICING ON THE CAKE AND I DAMN SURE WOULDN’T TURN IT AWAY BUT AS PREDICTABLE AS IT MITE BE TO MAKE THE CLAIM THAT OTHER STUFF IS NOT MY PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR DOING IT.

PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?

M L.A.: ANYTHING THAT I CONSIDER A SUCCESS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE BAND I DON’T KNOW THAT I COULD REALLY CATEGORIZE THEM OR PUT THEM INTO BEST OR WORST COMPARTMENTS. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY, I GUESS, PULLING OFF A REALLY GREAT GIG WHERE YOU AND THE AUDIENCE ARE ALL VIBRATING AT THE SAME FREQUENCY SO TO SPEAK IS BEYOND SPECIAL BUT HAVING FANTASIZED ABOUT MAKING RECORDS EVER SINCE I WAS A BOY GETTING THE CHANCE TO RECORD BOTH MY ALBUMS AND NOW WORKING ON MY THIRD ARE ACHIEVEMENTS OF UNDESCRIBEABLE MAGNITUDE AND QUITE SATISFYING AND NOT AT ALL A “CHORE” I QUITE SERIOUSLY ENJOY THE RECORDING PROCESS HEARING YOUR IDEAS COME TO LIFE, ETC. DEALING WITH THE BUSINESS END OF IT ALL HAS NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN MY CUP OF TEA BUT IN THE END YOU GOTTA TAKE THE BAD WITH THE GOOD.

PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?

M L.A.: IT VARIES CONSTANTLY IT’S BEEN VERY MUCH AN UP AND DOWN ROLLERCOASTER RIDE AS I’VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A SALESMAN EVEN FOR SOMETHING AS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND SOUL AS MY MUSIC BUT I CONTINUE TO PROMOTE ‘MACABRE L.A.’ IN ANY WAY I CAN WITHIN MY MEANS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL I’M PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO DO IT FOR SOME REASON (LIKE ALZHEIMER’S OR BECOMING QUADRAPALEAGIC OR SOMETHING OF THAT SEVERITY).

PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?

M L.A.: WE HAD REALLY GOOD MANAGEMENT AT ONE POINT BUT SOMEBODY WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION EMBEZZLED A SHIT TON OF CASH AND THEY WENT CHAPTER 11 AND SINCE THEN THERE HAS ONLY BEEN THE ODD GIG HERE AND THERE (AND THEN THE WHOLE COVID DEAL, OF COURSE) WHICH REALLY SUCKS BECAUSE I ADORE PLAYING LIVE BUT THERE HASN’T BEEN ANY GIGS IN A WHILE NOW. I’M SINCERELY HOPING THAT MAY CHANGE BECAUSE I’D REALLY LOVE TO BE PLAYING OUT AGAIN. AT THE MOMENT I’M JUST CONCENTRATING ON RECORDING THE THIRD ALBUM AND PRODUCING NEW BAND ART.

PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?

M L.A.: IT IS WHAT IT IS. AS WITH ALL THINGS IN LIFE YOU HAVE TO JUST ROLL WITH THE CHANGES. IT’S A TRADEOFF BECAUSE IT’S SO MUCH EASIER FOR US KEYBOARD WARRIORS TO MAKE OUR MUSIC AND BE ACTIVE AT LEAST IN SOME RESPECT BUT THE DOWNSIDE IS, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY AND THEIR DOG IS MAKING MUSIC NOW SO THE COMPETITION IS WORSE THAN EVER. BUT, AGAIN, YA GOTTA TAKE THE BAD WITH THE GOOD IT’S A PACKAGE DEAL.

PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?

M L.A.: THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS I COULD WRITE A NOVEL ON ALL THE TUNES I WISH I COULD TAKE CREDIT FOR BUT AT THE SAME TIME MY ARTISTIC ABILITIES IS ONE AREA OF MY LIFE WHERE I SUFFER ZERO LOW SELF ESTEEM AND I AM WITHOUT A DOUBT A FAN OF MY OWN MUSIC AND LOVE ALL MY SONGS JUST AS MUCH AS THE VARIOUS TUNES BY ALL MY FAVE ARTISTS SO ENVY OF ANYBODY ELSE’S MATERIAL HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE NOT FOR ME AT LEAST.

PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?

M L.A.: OF COURSE, BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE I’D SAY IF THERE WAS SOME WAY OF GUARANTEEING NOBODY GOT RIPPED OFF BY THE PLETHORA OF SCUMBUCKET BERNIE MADOFF TYPES THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD START.

PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?

M L.A.: THE THIRD ALBUM IS IN THE WORKS PLUS VARIOUS OTHER BAND ART KINDA STUFF. AS MUCH AS I DON’T PARTICULARLY LIKE BEING ON CAMERA (AND ANYWAY MUSIC SHOULD STAND ON ITS OWN IT SHOULDN’T NEED A MINI MOVIE AS A CRUTCH) I AM ALSO IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF DOING A MUSIC VID FOR ONE OF THE SONGS ON THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS AND POSSIBLY SOME VOICE LESSONS COMING UP SOON HERE.ALWAYS UP FOR MORE, THOUGH, ANYTHING THAT PROMOTES THE BAND (WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITS NO SELLING OF ASS IF YOU GET MY DRIFT) AND GETS THE TUNES OUT TO MORE FOLK IS ALWAYS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR.

PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?

M L.A.: UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MOMENT WE DON’T HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE PRODUCING MERCH (HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE SOON) BUT CURRENTLY THESE ARE THE SOCIALS (MORE TO COME SOON) AND ANY QUESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO ME , ALEX CORTES, ON ANY PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS FOR MESSAGING, EMAIL ETC.

BANDCAMP: https://macabrela.bandcamp.com/

MACABRE L.A. FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/MacabreLA

ALEX’S PERSONAL FACEBOOK (best place to have any queries answered):

https://www.facebook.com/audionoir

YOUTUBE (currently undergoing a serious facelift but still functioning): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0P0OjziIKo-bO32VlHmZQQ

plus INSTAGRAM and SPOTIFY coming soon to a theater near you (ok so it won’t actually be in a theater other than whatever setup you got there at home but you get the idea).