I am sitting here with a band that I myself just came across. A band that can not decide if they want to be from the L.A. area of the desert in Phoenix I introduce to you eMOTION@LARGE. Despite their name is something that I have never seen in an act before, once you hear their sound you will be blown away. It shocks me that I have not heard of these guys. They are a talent that truly deserves to be heard. It is my pleasure to introduce you to eMOTION@LARGE.
How in the world have I not heard of you guys?
(B-tek) We barely heard of us. (Roba) We just started jamming out these new tunes during the summer of last year. So, once this new record comes out this spring hopefully more people will hear of us.
How did you guys meet?
(B-tek) Exploring music in college. We put our first band together. Rob was a drummer, and I played the guitar. (Roba) Back in the days of UCR.
So what genre would you say your sound fits into best?
(Roba) Rock mixed with electronic mixed with down tempo. We definitely have the 90s rock influence (when we started writing / playing together) mixed in with an electronic techno sound. (B-tek) Some of my favorite from the MySpace list are Ghettotech, Chinese Pop and Zouk. I don’t even know what they are. Many artists pick absurd genres as a protest against being classified. The truth is we have trouble sticking to one genre. We have eleven songs on our upcoming album. We use acoustic guitars, bass guitars, clean and distorted guitar, funky envelope filters, plenty of cascading delays, multiple synthesizer patches, fender rhodes, electronic and acoustic drums. There is funk, rock, electro, acoustic ballad, dance, drum n bass, down-tempo and pop. We are not trying to impress anyone with the variety but rather satisfy our need to express ourselves. This in not the way to achieve commercial success, but then again we are not really looking for that.
I cannot get over how similar your voice sounds to Billy Corgan. Have you heard that before?
(Roba) Actually, I usually hear the comparison to Dryden from Alien Ant Farm. I guess a lot of artists I’ve heard over the years have taken a role in shaping the way my singing sounds. Ultimately, I’d like people to recognize my voice as Roba from eMOTION@LARGE. But, if people can make comparisons to other singers, that’s cool, too! (B-tek) (Laughs) I love Smashing Pumpkins. And by that I mean the band, I don’t torture fruit.
What was your decision to move into this rock and roll meets techno sound?
(B-tek) We got tired of only playing rock and are both fans of electronic music. However we can’t kill the the rock roots. We can’t pretend to be Chemical Brothers either. So you end up with a fusion of both. (Roba) I’ve always been drawn to electronic dance beats. They just have this primal feel that makes your body move. So, we thought it would be cool to mix in these beats – like drum and bass – together with the rock sound that comes naturally to us.
Where do you find motivation for new tracks?
(B-tek) It’s random. Sometimes I wake up with a melody in my head, sometimes it just comes out from messing around with the instruments. At times I can go for weeks without producing anything new and sometimes come up with several songs within hours. (Roba) I write my lyrics based on my own personal life experiences: love, relationships, and emotions at large. Coming up with melodies, for the most part, is instinctive when I hear something. Working with B-tek, he almost always writes something that stirs the musical soul within me to create what I do.
What are the plans for a tour?
(B-tek) First we want to hit up the major metropolitan ares in the southwest: San Diego, O.C., L.A., San Bernardino, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Then this summer hopefully the northwest: San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. (Roba) I just want to play whenever and where ever. I feel the more people that can hear, see and feel our message / energy, the better for all.
What is the largest crowd you have ever played for?
(B-tek) Fifty people if you include the staff in the count. (Roba) I’ve played in other rock bands, probably a few hundred people.
The smallest?
(B-tek) My mom. She was getting something out of the fridge in the garage. (Roba) His mom.
What did you have for dinner last night?
(Roba) Pastrami and a cheese bagel. (B-tek) I had some Thai food.
PC or Mac?
(Roba) I like Macs; they’re pricier, but you get what you pay for. (B-tek) Macs are nice but PC’s are a better deal.
So why Phoenix and L.A.?
(Roba) Los Angeles is my home, and Phoenix had a calling for B-tek. (B-tek) I shipwrecked in Phoenix.
Where did you come up with a name like that?
(Roba) I like it for all the words that you find within our name. We have emo for emotion, and then L.A. for Los Angeles. Also, for the cyberphiles out there, we have eMOTION for electronic music set in motion. (B-tek) It’s hard to come up with a name that’s not already taken these days.
If you could tour with any band out right now who would it be?
(Roba) Ghostland Observatory. (B-tek) Muse.
When did you guys decide to pursue music as a career?
(B-tek) We already have careers. Music is our passion. (Roba) As B-tek said we have jobs to pay the bills. I’ve been singing and performing in other various projects for the last 10 years or so.
Any plans on an album anytime soon?
(B-tek) March 2009. (Roba) Be sure to get your hands on one – they’re gonna go like hot cakes!
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
(Roba) Some sleepy beach town off the Amalfi Coast in Italy. (B-tek) Tokyo, Japan.
What are you drinking on stage?
(B-tek) Carb-free Monster, Vodka and splash of OJ. (Roba) Water and wine, in no particular order.
Ever been in a car wreck?
(B-tek) No, but I had few close ones. (Roba) I was in one in High School. There’s a section of road on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles heading west towards Pacific Palisades called Dead Man’s Curve. My friend was emulating the driving style of Emerson Fittipaldi. We were going about 70 on a 25 mph speed limit and slammed right into a huge oak tree. Thank God we were wearing our seat belts.
Any tattoos among you guys?
(Roba) One tattoo – eloh. Eternal life of Happiness. (B-tek) Do scars count?
If you could meet anyone alive or dead who would it be and why?
(B-tek) Alive – Michio Kaku (the crazy looking physicist from the Science Channel). Dead – I would love to smoke a bowl with Nostradamus. (Roba) I would want
to meet Albert Einstein to pick his left brain, and Prince to dissect the right side.
What is on your iPod right now?
(B-tek) I’m actually a satellite radio listener. Most of the time I listen to the indie, underground and chill electronic channels. (Roba) I’m a musicphile. Lately it’s been Willie Nelson and Ghostland Observatory.
Let’s play word association. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when I saw these three words? Go.
Piggy bank: (B-tek) Hammer. (Roba) Drug Money
Carrot: (Roba) Lipstick (B-tek) I rather not say, the image in my mind is quite obscene.
Hair spray: (B-tek) Flame thrower. (Roba) Donald Trump
What are your thoughts on MySpace?
(B-tek) It’s a site that people love to hate. The reality is that MySpace did a tremendous service for independent artists. What really deserves the hate is the corporate radio. (Roba) MySpace is the future of entertainment and how people can get their hands on new, unfiltered art – whether it be audio, video or written. I like how it evens the playing field for everyone who wants to get their message spread.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
(B-tek) Hopefully still doing the music thing with the same level of passion and creativity. We hope to have a dedicated cult following around the country and thus have a core base of fans and friends at our shows. Make enough money to pay for tours, recording and equipment. Put out a new album every year and always push the envelope. (Roba) Still singing and performing. I feel that I will always have something in my heart and mind to express to the world.
I always let the artist get the last word. Go.
(B-tek) Well, first of all I want to thank indyconcerts. com for the opportunity. We are very critical of what we do so it is nice to know that someone appreciates our efforts. For anyone out there reading this, look out for our new album. We appreciate all comments and feedback. (Roba) Special thanks to all the people who have taken an interest and vibe with our music. Just go out and have fun. There’s a time to be serious, and there’s a time to be free and let loose. We’re fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.
