As some people know, I am friends with the drummer of DownFire, Ignacio. With the upcoming release of their new album, Damnation on may 15th and the enjoyment of their previous album, I contacted him asking for as I call it, "a miniview." He and the band kindly granted my request and the following is the "miniview" I had with primarially the ne of the guitarists, Carlos Vega with added tidbits given to me by the rest of the band.

I hope you all, will enjoy reading this, as much as I had the opportunity to be writing it up and presenting it to you.



DJ Wildthing: What was the inspiration for the band and how did it come to be founded?

DownFire: We started off as a cover band, but the bass player and drummer never took it seriously. Black Label Society was a big influence so Dave and Carlos decided to write heavy melodic songs.


DJ WT: Can you tell us a bit about the members please, it's nice to be able to relate to people on a different scale. Names, ages, instrument, favorite food! Also what are the strengths and weaknesses of the members?

DF: Well Dave Diaz, who plays guitar and does the vocals, is 36 years old, loves pizza, comics and drawing.

Carlos Vega, who plays the Guitars, is 35 years old. Anything with Vegetables is the prefered meal. Motorcycles, photography and graphic design are what he enjoys.

Ignacio who plays the drums, well is a man of few words. He enjoys metal, cine and drums.


DF: As for strengths and weaknesses? Strengths? We all have a great love, and knowledge of all types of music and respect each other within the band. Weaknesses? We are all stubborn.


DJ WT: Hey what fun is it not to be stubborn? Being in a band, is like fighting with a sibling sometime, you love them, you hate them.. but at the end of the day, they are always and still will be family. *grin*

 
DJ WT: What are the musical inspirations for each member in the band? Did any one group or artist really stand out that gives you that... Wow I wanted to be them when I grow up?

DF: 
Dave: Zakk Wylde, Randy Rhoads and Nuno Bettencourt

Carlos: Zakk Wylde, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Metallica, Rob Zombie & Louis Armstrong to name a few.

Ignacio: A.N.I.M.A.L.(AR), Dorso(CL), Warpath(CL),Megadeth, Judas Priest.. Elvis, Beatles,Queen...


DJ WT: How long has the band been together? Have their been times when you thought of calling it quits?  
Have you always wanted to be musicians?

DF: The band has been around since 2004, 'Los and Dave are the only original members. We've all felt like calling it quits a million times over. You have your shows that you say "why am I doing this?" and you have your shows that you say "This is why I do this"

Dave: I always wanted to draw, music didnt come into play until I was around 16 years old

Carlos: Well it was music or superhero. Seeing how I couldn't find any radioactive spiders I got a guitar.

Ignacio: They found me over myspace, they were looking for a drummer, I was available...

DJ WT: After the wonderful mix of tunes from the last album, what was the creative force behind this one? Who writes the songs? Where do you find the creativity for them? How hard is it to make each one different, much like a melting pot?

DF: With such a large gap of time between albums we've all grown so much and our sound collectively has really taken shape so it was a matter of wanting to use all of that and outdo our first album. We all have a hand in writing the tunes and shaping them. As each person is introduced into a new riff or arrangement it takes shape with each members influence.

We decided to make it a reverse theme to our first album "Redemption" so we took the concept of "Damnation" which is also the title track to the album. The sound overall is heavier and darker even though a lot of the message in the lyrics are positive. With songs like "damnation" we wrote about unity and it was the perfect time for a song like that considering the state of the country. At that time 
especially their was a feeling that someone is always trying to get one over on you.. and us saying hell no your not...if you can't get it write we will. We're not a political band by any means and this isn't a political album but there is a strong tone to that effect on that track. The remaining tracks are all different stories from our lives as they happen. Our albums are melodic scapbooks. 

I think one of our specialties is that none of our stuff sounds the same, but that has a great deal to do with all of our influences. Each one of us are so different that when we get together it takes the songs in turns and spins that no one of us individually could have written. 

DJ WT: You earlier told me what you would have liked to do had you not been a musician so If you were not musicians what would you want to be doing?

DF:
Dave: Drawing

Carlos: Trying to find a radio active spider to make that superhero dream come true.

Ignacio: Living over my Gran Father's house at the beach "El Quisco - Chile."

DJ WT: Are their plans for a next album? Any studio time in the works or while on the road?

DF: Yes definite plans for a followup...sooner than you may think too.... we are actually going to be recording in-house this time around..... to have a little more say in what WE are producing. It will also give us the chance to really experiment with our sound and the album. We're considering a concept album guess we'll see what happens when we start writing. 

DJ WT: What is everyones favorite song on the new album? Over all song from the entire discography. 

DF: 
Dave: I think everyone has a different favorite, but if I had to pick one it would be the title track, Damnation.

Carlos: Damnation, it's just powerful but from our overall collection I'd say "Someday" the lyrics are for my Aunt that passed away so it's sentimental. 

Ignacio: all the music I write but on this case "DamNation" track, because we mean it.

DJ WT: Well it looks as if as the new album goes, you three are in agreement on the track there, and Carlos thank you for sharing that with my listeners. Sometimes knowing the story behind the lyrics makes it all the more powerful, my condolences.


DJ WT: Any tour dates coming up? If so where and when! in the works?

DF: We're always booking there is talk of Small stint in Texas and Chile. But we're always looking to back out there with cool bands like in the past we've been lucky enough to share the stage with Testament, Overkill, Misfits, W.A.S.P, Kings X, to name a few and it's always a good time. That is our favorite part of booking...the people we get to meet along the way!

DJ WT: If you could give one piece of advice to my readers what would that piece of advice be? 

DF:
Dave: Follow your heart.

Carlos: Do what you love for yourself no matter if it brings fame or keeps you jamming in the basement and if it ever just feels like work move on! 

Ignacio: Believe that you can!

DJ WT: Is there any time you look back and think, I should have written this differently, or sung that with a different pitch? Ever second or third guess yourself? 

DF: Funny thing with our band is when we start thinking that way we re-write it. Brings new life into the old songs we've done for so long gives us that honeymoon feeling with those songs again!

DJ WT: Well guys, I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions as well as taking the time to help give my listeners a better look into the soul of the musical machine that is DownFire! I have personally had the privlege of hearing the new album and have no doubts that the next one will be just as good if not better, *grin*. As a side note, I would love to tell you, that a fellow Krush DJ asked me to pass along this little note to you, "Definitly a quality group. Skilled musicians not noise makers. -Greg Easton."

So while the rest of the world waits with baited breath for the new album to come out, I will close this out for now with my wishes for continued luck and success to find you all and I can not wait to see and hear more from you all in the future.

Remember Kids, if its too Loud, you're too Old!

DJ Wildthing

**Links for Contacting DownFire**
Official Website: http://www.downfire.net
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/downfire
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Downfire/10803549547
email: downfire@downfire.net


PRE-SALE of "DOWNFIRE - DamNation" CD at:
http://www.digmetalworld.com/distro/north-america/54-downfire-damnation-volume-one.html



***At the time of the miniview, Ronnie was unavailable for comment.