NICO VEGA
The SiS Interview by Hali Baxter

Los Angeles trio Nico Vega crafts raw, ethereal and vibrant rock that defies boundaries. The trio also utilizes flourishes of electronic music and orchestral melodies to further expand their sound. Rock needs Nico Vega right now, and there's no doubt they're going to make an impression on everyone that comes under their spell. For their self-titled full length that was released via MySpace Records this week, the band teamed up with such heavy hitters as Linda Perry, Tim Edgar and Tchad Blake. In honor of this joyous moment, Hali Baxter took a moment to have a chat with these up and coming rockers.

SIS: How did your band come up with the name Nico Vega? What is the meaning behind this name?

AJA: Our original drummer Mike Pena's mother was named Nico Vega. She had a legacy that inspired us, and we thought it was such a beautiful name that we named the band after her.

SIS: It is neat to hear that many of your lyrics evoke togetherness and community. Who and what has inspired your band to have this common theme throughout your lyrics?

AJA: I suppose we just want to be a part of the growth and awakening of people including ourselves. We are inspired by the people we meet and by the current times.

SIS: Who are your main musical influences? We have so many that it's a hard question to answer.

AJA: It’s easier to say that we leave nothing out, and appreciate pretty much all kinds of music. Rock (Classic and Modern) Funk, Soul, Old school Xountry, Metal, Folk, Blues, Classical, Jazz Reggae etc...

SIS: Your band has such a fresh and unique sound, how did you manage to stay away from the mainstream/popular sounds seen today?

AJA: We just play what is natural for us, and never limit each other, or try to categorize what were playing.

SIS: You have very catchy and original riffs; do you have a favorite one from a song?

AJA: Thank you. Dan and I agree with Rich that the main riff in the song “Beast” is probably our favorite riff.

SIS: You are being compared to great artists such as Janis Joplin and Patti Smith. Do you find pressure being a female singer fronting a rock trio about to release a self-titled debut album?

AJA: No. It’s always an honor to be compared to other artists.

SIS: The song "Wooden Dolls", with it's enchanting and mesmerizing vocals, seems like more of a gripping anthem. What inspired this song?

AJA: Rich wrote the incredible guitar parts, and that inspired the rest of the song. It was really fluid. It’s just about how society can’t survive without great art, and the more conformity there is, the less beauty there is.