Interview with Laz of Ill Niņo
HOB - Las Vegas - August 13, 2004
Phil: How are you doin'? We're backstage with Ill Niņo and we're sitting here with Laz. Did I say that right?
Laz: Yea, you said it right. It's cool man.
Phil: I'd like to thank you for joining closedcoffin.com here in Las Vegas.
Laz: Thank you for having me!
Phil: Ill Nino has done extremely well over the past 2 years with over 350,000 albums sold.
Laz: On the first album, yep.
Phil: You've been on Ozzfest, Jagertour, and numerous other tours. What's coming up in the future?
Laz: Coming up in the future...ahhhh....we did so much touring on this record, on the Confessions record, we've been out with Sevendust. We were out in Europe doing all the festivals. We've done festivals with Metallica, Korn, Slipknot, Slayer. What's next? What's next is some international shows. We're on the Soulfly tour which has actually just began, about a week ago. We'll be ending this tour at the end of September. I think it might end in Puerto Rico which will be hot! You know, to end it on a tropical island! Then we're doing a military base tour. We're goin' out there doin' some metal for the troops!
Phil: There ya go!
Laz: Show our support to this country, which we all love, Hopefully it's a sign of showing our thank you for protecting this country, this wonderful country. Which is the greatest country in the world! After that we're going to do some South American dates, some Australia, Japan...before we get back into the studio. We also have a DVD coming out at the end of October or sometime in November I'm not quite sure when. But it's going to be a live concert that we shot while we were on tour with Godsmack, a couple of months back. And it looks amazing, just a lot of fun stuff, a lot of hanging out, a lot of unofficial shows from all over the world. Just gettin' stupid on the DVD, man!
Phil: How would you describe what your songs are about?
Laz: Our songs? I guess, up until this point, I mean the first album, my singer Cristian writes all the lyrics. They were a lot of just deep personal feelings. On the second album, it was kinda like just going into details on, you know, just on life and coming from a single parent. Not having that father figure, it was a big role in his life I guess. You know shaping his personality, with the absence of that. A lot of everyday life stories and struggles. Hopefully, on the next album we're going to experiment and venture out on other peoples lives, not just our own.
Phil: Cool. So, Confessions is coming up on the 1 year anniversary of it's release. You guys are happy with the success so far?
Laz: Yea, we're very happy! Very fortunate to be doing music. You know, I look at a lot of the bands I've toured with in the past 3 years and a lot of them are either dropped or no longer together. So I think just the accomplishment of making it to the second record was a great big deal. To me, when we got signed, I think we might have signed a six or seven album deal. It didn't matter to me, because all I was thinking was, I'm just glad I made it to one. I never imagined making it to the second. We're just happy and riding the wave. And I got to experience what I love to do and got to do it one more time. I guess I feel very blessed! The fact that we're making it to the third record, I think it' s a great accomplishment! You know that buys at least another year of touring and not having to go work a real job! *laughs*
Phil: So, how has Road Runner helped out in the success of Ill Nino, have they been doing some good promotion for you guys?
Laz: You know what! I have no complaints with our record company. They've been good by us, they've always showed strong support towards the band, I'm very glad. I think part of our success world wide, is that we're on Road Runner Records. Because records come out world wide as opposed to signing with just an American label or a European label. They really put their hearts and efforts into every band they sign! Releasing them and shooting for success and I think that's a great thing! We're very fortunate. You know in some countries we're more famous than others and just to have that opportunity to go and play in different parts of the world, is something unbelievable! Some people don't get to leave their home town or little lone leave the country. And we've been fortunate enough to have that opportunity because of Road Runner really pushing us world wide!
Phil: So, Fred's records of Omaha is out of the question?
(Laz, Jardel, Dave and rest of the room laugh.)
Laz: Fred's records of Omaha, well you know It's not out of the question. Because anything is possible! Especially with internet right now.
Phil: I'm just kidding.
Laz: You know, everyone has the opportunity to grab it. But more than likely, I mean it's a tough gig man, there's a lot of records coming out every day!
Phil: This is true. It's hard to keep up with them. I can't even buy them all they're coming out so fast!
Laz: Right out of Omaha, you gotta remember, there is also Fred and there's Stanley in Omaha!
(room laughs)
Phil: There's a whole bunch of 'em!
Laz: You know, it goes city to city.
Phil: So, Mark and Roger left the band during the recording process of Confessions. What happened?
Laz: Ahhh, you know what? When it all comes down to it. It was just musical differences at the time. And there was frustration building up over it, which the rest of us were not aware of it. Through the fact, that we were so involved in into just making a good record. You know sometimes you gotta take a step back and get a little reality check! You know and see what's goin' on amongst each other. That experience, made us a little bit more closer and more understanding to each others point of views and the way one wanted to express himself musically. I mean with that, we did become tighter and it's unfortunate these things happen. I'm still very cool with Marc! He, Jardel, my guitar player and I.. we have lunch just about everyday. We just hit up the buffet a little while ago, together!
Phil: So there's obviously no hard feelings or anything like that?
Laz: No, no hard feelings! I mean, you know, I have no hard feelings towards Marc Rizzo. I think he's a great guy, a very talented guitar player! I think one of the top 3 guitar players in this industry. He's just bad ass, the guy can do it all! And on top of it, his personality, he's just a great human being. He's a great kid and it was a lot to handle at the time. We were moving at a rapid pace, and sometimes it can be a cut throat business. And when you're young, I guess it's hard to realize that! That you just kinda go with the flow and do your music. And if the business aspect is just too aggressive for you, let somebody take care of it! Let somebody else handle it. But he's a lot more mature now. He's playing with Soulfly now and just kicking ass every single night! He got to play, he did play on the record, most of the record. So we were never really unhappy with him, because he was straight up forward and said he was gonna leave. But he was not gonna leave us hanging, as opposed to Roger, who left us hanging. But it's all good, you know we didn't skip a beat. Danny came in, our new percussion player. And just instantly, he had the drive and the desire! And some great new ideas that he brought to the band, and I think that it actually turned out for the better!
Phil: Cool. So you got Ahrue and Danny now?
Laz: Yes.
Phil: How'd that process come down? How'd you find these guys?
Laz: Originally, when this band came together, we were all in different bands. At the time Jardel joined this band, he was in another band called Point for Hope with Danny. Which they had a band together, we kinda stole Jardel away from him and then a couple years later we got him in the band. That's how we know him, he was a local cat from the area. Ahrue, we toured with Machine Head and we just bonded. Not just with Ahrue, but with the entire band of Machine head. We became real close and really enjoyed each others company and had a lot of respect for each others music. We had heard he wasn't in Machinehead anymore and he wasn't really doing anything. He didn't have his commitments locked down anywhere; so we called him up! Just asked him to come down and check out the situation; told him what was going on...and he came down. He originally came down for a week, to just jam and see if will gel. The truth is he came and never left. *laughs*
Phil: Now he claims to be from the Bay Area, but I remember growing up with him here in Las Vegas. He would always fall asleep at parties and they would spray paint all over him & stuff.
Laz: Oh man!
Phil: Tell him about that! They used to spray paint his fingernails and his toenails and shit! We'd come into the party, he'd be layin' there on the couch. We'd say, oh they got him again, every week I swear!
Laz: You know what? It's funny you say that, because that's happened to him in this band!
(room laughs)
Phil: It followed him!
Laz: Yea, it still happens to him! We turned him into a Mexican Vato, with tear drops and mustache and all we even put a bandana on him! *laughs* Well he fell asleep during a European tour, drunk out of his mind! So the tradition continues right?
Phil: *laughs* Yea, that's it!
Laz: I guess that kind of thing just don't ever leave your life!
Phil: No, it doesn't! That's funny!
Laz: Yea, Ahrue was born in Chicago, childhood up until 18 was here in Las Vegas. Which he always claims Vegas and Hawaii, because he used to spend a year in Vegas and a year in Hawaii, with his dad. Musically, his musical career started in the Bay Area, when he moved to the Bay Area. So he's like a musical product out of the Bay Area.
Phil: There ya go!
Laz: Sorta like me, I live in New Jersey now. But I grew up in, I was born and raised in New York City. So, I claim New York! I don't want to lie and fake the funk and say I'm a Jersey guy, like my fellow band members *laughs* the rest of my fellow band members. I'm from New York City! I live in Jersey now, but I live 5 min outside New York. My whole family is still in New York, so I'm very proud to be from New York City. Just my up bringing and the cultures, the different races. and New York, I think, it was just a great place to grow up! My music my musical life began!
Phil: How important is it to keep the Latin influences in your music?
Laz: That's something that came natural. It is really important because that is something that became our signature thing, so a this point it is extremely important! Originally this whole thing began as doing something fun, When I joined this band, I thought it was just a cool thing to be a part of. You know mixing the metal with the Latin. I thought it was cool and I was doing it for fun. In this band, I didn't think we were going to be getting a deal and get signed and everything was gonna happen so fast! I was actually very contempt with my music in my other band, there was always room for another project, to do something. Then this thing burst and blossomed into a garden, I guess. Into a jungle more like it! *laughs*
Phil: So, you have a couple of videos out off of Confessions. Including, How Can I Live, for the Freddy vs. Jason soundtrack. How'd you guys feel when you found out about that?
Laz: That was great! I mean when you think about the last couple of years of Freddy vs. Jason. You think on how poorly and bad these movies were. But when I think of Freddy and Jason, I think of the early ones where they were great and they used to scare the shit out of you! You used to go home and try not to think about those movies when you go to bed, other wise you stay up all night underneath your pillow. I mean that happened, we were still in the studio recording and How Can I Live, was one of the first songs that was almost ready. Then that came about, our record company was doing the soundtrack and heard that song and thought it was appropriate for it! We heard about it, I just thought it was great to be a part of that history of those movies! Because I know that one day, I'll have kids or just my nephews and nieces, they know about that movie. You know it's just that, I think, that is just a cool thing! That will always be around, everyone no matter what age you are, will be aware of that movie. To be a part o f that history was great! I was shocked to find out that it was number 1 at the box office 2 weeks in a row! Which made it even more special, because now I feel like we were part of the comeback of these movies.
Phil: Yea, that's awesome! You have the digipack out.
Laz: Yea, for the first record, yea.
Phil: Any plans for a Confessions digipack?
Laz: Yea, we do plan on putting out a digipack for Confessions. Later on in the year, around the same time with the DVD!
Phil: Ok, so around October?
Laz: Yea, there will be some bonus tracks on there. I'm not sure what else we might throw on it, but we'll try to do something special.
Phil: So what do you think about downloading on the internet? How has it helped or hurt you band?
Laz: Well, it's hurt the music industry. Record companies don't want to spend any money now, very minimal as possible. It cuts down on you tour support, you don't sell as many records because they're getting downloaded. Ahhh...I'm cool with it if you can't afford the music, if you're into the band and you need to have it...go ahead and download it! But if you do later on have the money...support, support the band and go out and buy the record. Have the complete package, have the lyrics...'cause with out that support then these bands will never come to your town, you'll never see them play again.
Phil: I agree with that! So, you toured for 2 years straight...then went in to the studio to record the new album , Confessions. How was that? Was that like, oh man is this ever gonna end, or what the hell is going on here?
Laz: It's still goin' straight!
Phil: It's still going straight on through, huh?
Laz: Still goin straight! I mean this is a hard working band and we love what we do and it's become such a part of our lives. If we're home for a week or two you we're like pulling the hair outta our head! Like what the fuck am I gonna do! It's not natural and I need to be doing something musical. So yea, we love what we do and we don't take it for granted. This is the type of band, that tries to get as much done as we can. You never know when it could end, it could all end tomorrow. Then you may have regrets and feel like, you didn't take advantage and do as much as you can. We do as much as we can!
Phil: So, there's no plans for a break soon?
Laz: No plans for a break, man. Considering we're already getting the word from the record company, about getting ready to get into the studio and record the next one. So it doesn't look like we're gonna be off the road until the end of November. Which is rough, a lot of times you just want to be home for a little while. But hey, how often do you get to play in Australia or South America? That may be the one and only time that we may have the opportunity to do that, so lets take advantage of it and lets go and play there!
Phil: Don't take a break, 'cause it might be your last! They might say, you know what, go ahead and stay on your break!
Laz: Exactly! *laughs* It could happen! I've seen it happen to other bands, man.
Phil: A lot of fans are saying that Ill Niņo gives the best live performance among metal bands. How's that make you guys feel?
Laz: Feels great! I mean, we go out and we pour our hearts out everyday! We're an energetic band and we're an energetic group of guys and the music moves us! We care about the fans participating in our shows, it's sort of like we put on the show for them and they put on the show for us. Which is probably why we get that reputation of having a great live show! It's almost like stepping it back, you know, for me...like the hardcore days! It wasn't just the bands on stage, it was also the scene that was happening in the crowd and that's the mentality that we have. You know there's a scene on both parts...on the stage and in the crowd! You know, you gotta make it happen! You gotta entertain each other!
Phil: I hear ya! I got a great picture, of a guy getting elbowed in the face at a show, recently in the pit.
Laz: Oh really!
Phil: I took a picture of the pit and it was a perfect shot. Elbow to the face!
Laz: Oh really! I'd like to see that picture. Where can I find that?
Phil: closedcoffin.com (Black Dahlia Murder)
Laz: closedcoffin.com, cool.
Phil: Yea, I got some pictures of you guys last time you were here too.
Laz: When we were with Sevendust.
Phil: Yea, Sevendust!
Laz: I think that was the last time.
Phil: Yea, that was a good show, a great show, by the way!
Laz: Yea, Sevendust, they're an energetic band!
Phil: Yea, he cut his hair off though. I remember seein' him and I was like what happened to his hair, man? Swinging his hair around and stuff?
Laz: *laughs* They're a great band, great guys!
Phil: Great singer and very nice!
Laz: Yea the whole band, we has such a blast with those guys!
Phil: So, there's a popular question on you message board.
Laz: Right.
Phil: What is the set list and do you change it from city to city?
Laz: We have a set set list for this tour. Depending on how much time we get, if we waste too much time, we have to cut a song or two. But we're playing all our heavy shit on this tour. I can't recall...I think I'm the only one in the band that's always looking for the set list on stage. I get into a panic, what's the next song? I play this shit every day I should know this by heart, backwards! But I just get so involved in the moment, I don't think about the next song until it comes up. So, we're playing all of our heavy shit, most of our heavy shit!
Phil: So, it basically remains the same or do you change it up every now and then?
Laz: Well we change it up, every tour we change up our set list. Another thing that we've been doing a lot, is doing these little jams in between songs. We do it twice during the set, you know, take a little break. Just start going into, like percussion and drums and bass and noise from guitars. Just to add a little bit of something refreshing, something new every night.
Phil: We can go ahead and cut it, it's close. I'd like to thank you, once again, for joining closedcoffin.com in Las Vegas.
Laz: Thank you for taking the time and doing this, man. I appreciate it!
Phil: Any final words you'd like to say to anybody, the fans out there?
Laz: I just want to thank all our fans, for being so supportive and always coming out to support this band. No matter what tour we're on, they represent for us and we appreciate it, we love you all! Look out for that DVD comin' through, it's gonna be hot, it's got a great live show. All kinds of band antics of just fuckin' around fuckin' with each other, you know, a lot of good saucy shit!
Phil: Very cool! Thanks again, I really appreciate it! We'll see you later!
Laz: All right man!
For more information on Ill Niņo visit them online at...
http://www.illnino.com/
or at their label...
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com