Evaline

Gemma chats with Dominic DiCiano from Evaline

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Evaline consists of six guys out of Modesto California who together merge their instrumental talents and come up with some beautiful music. Their unique rock-ambient style grabs your attention and their stage presence is so exciting you can’t look away. Like many other bands, Evaline started off playing in their garage and at local shows and dreaming of their big break. Soon enough their demo CD landed in the hands of Quinn Allman from The Used. Immediately Quinn saw potential in their melodic noise. Ever since then Evaline has released an incredible 6 song EP and gained a loyal fan base worldwide.

Recently, I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview Dominic, one of the guitarists from Evaline and here Dom will talk about Evaline’s new band member, their struggles and victories, and their productive trip up to England to record their up coming album! Hope you enjoy!

CONFRONT: Alright so, your EP was recorded and produced with the help of Quinn Allman from The Used and it was a big success, you ended up on the line up for Taste of Chaos 2007 along with Chiodos, The Used, 30 Seconds To Mars, and more… Would you say Taste of Chaos was a defining tour in your music career?

DOM: I’d say the opportunity to play that was one of our biggest breaks, next to Quinn discovering us, we’ve ever had or will ever have. Most bands never get to experience tours of that caliber.. if we wouldn’t have had such a huge break in between that, Warped Tour and now we’d be in a much prosperous situation

CONFRONT: Yeah it was an amazing tour to be on and I’ve noticed that a LOT of your fan base discovered you on that tour so that’s crazy and you know you did well.

DOM: I’d like to hope it benefited us to some degree. *laughs*

CONFRONT: I know you also toured with Placebo in the Spring of 2007, almost immediately after TOC. Do you feel you learned something from touring with such a large and respected European band? Would you do it again?

DOM: We couldn’t be more elated to be on that tour, to be sharing a stage with a band that has the notoriety and respect Placebo has. We would definitely love to tour with them again. We learned a whole new side of professionalism with them. The level of talent we saw come from that band on that tour was pretty surreal. They’re phenomenal musicians and performers. Very humble, very kind and very down to earth.

CONFRONT: Aw that’s so nice to say about them and yeah they seem to be great like that. And actually your former drummer, Steve Forrest, actually went on to take Steve Hewitt’s place as drummer for Placebo in 2009. Has this affected Evaline in any way?

DOM: Not really actually, its had a pretty neutral effect on our band. Touring with Placebo seemed to have created more of a stir, whether it be positive or negative, than Steve being in the band. Don’t get me wrong, some people have definitely discovered our band because of it, it’s just not overwhelming. You would think it’d have a dramatic change for how renowned Placebo is but strangely it hasn’t been too chaotic.

CONFRONT: Oh really? I also would have thought more of it too but it’s all good. Speaking of renowned things.. I am sure you’re aware that your song ‘Calm Touching’ was featured on the national television show “So You Think You Can Dance” several months ago. Did you catch that show and what did you think when you heard about it?

DOM: They actually had to contact us prior to him using the song in his dance…

CONFRONT: Oh yeah, that makes sense.

DOM: Yeah I dont think any of us had watched the show before. I’d heard of it but i didn’t realize how massive it was. It was pretty entertaining to see someone do a choreographed dance to that song, it’s not a very “grooving” song, however his performence was damn good, so to answer your question we were more shocked to see his dance wasn’t awful.

*laughter*

CONFRONT: That’s funny and yeah it was a darn good performance. In 2009, you acquired a new member, Daniel Petersen who happens to be Greg’s brother, how did this decision come about?

DOM: We have known Dan for eons. We used to play shows with him and Greg when they were in a band called Fairwell Madison. He recorded every recording we’d ever done up to the EP so he’s basically been a 6th member for as long as our band has been in existence. So for all the things going on in a lot of our new songs it just seemed very befitting to have Daniel join the ensemble. He contributes to the chaos that is Evaline live as well, whether it be good or bad for us personally, on stage it usually works as more entertainment for people watching to have another maniac up there struggling to survive.

CONFRONT: Is he as crazy as RJ on stage?

DOM: No, definitely not. He’s just another person up there contributing. No one loses their mind more than RJ up there. I may be a close second. Me and RJ have had our calamities in the past. I once cut his head clean open with my guitar and brought him to his knees. Not intentional but we expect things like that to happen.

CONFRONT: You expect it… *laughs*

DOM: I think it’s because we’re fairly reserved people in our daily life its really the only time we feel its appropriate to just really let loose.

CONFRONT: That’s amazing. your performance is really full of passion and I believe that’s what draws people in, your dedication and love for what you’re doing.

DOM: Yeah we are very passionate and energetic live band. Always have been. It’s our biggest pro and con live.

CONFRONT: Why con? because of the accidents?

DOM: Yeah and equipment gets hit and malfunctions… things of that nature. Our live shows are quite precarious but we’re fine with that, most the time no inhibitions live. I think some people don’t like seeing that as well. We’ve had people say it looks contrived and “rehearsed” but its definitely not. That is a certainty.

CONFRONT: I don’t know why when some people see something out of the ordinary it’s so hard for them to believe it’s genuine..

DOM: Yeah, I agree.

CONFRONT: Ok so could you do a little backtracking and tell us what Evaline has been up to until now?

DOM: Whew. The last 2-3 years have been rough. We’ve parted ways with our major label. That was a few years back so dealing with that and trying to survive as a band labeless isn’t the easiest. I mean I know most bands deal with that daily but I mean more in the sense of the momentum we had and when we got dropped that momentum came to an abrupt stop… and momentum is what makes most bands successful

CONFRONT: Wow yeah that’s true, it must have been tough.

DOM: So we parted ways with our management but luckily got picked up by Riverman which is Placebo’s management. Riverman, by the way, is a phenomenal group of people who really care about music. We’ve also been dealing with some pretty heavy personal issues within the band. There was definitely a point where I truly didn’t think we’d stay together.

CONFRONT: Aw don’t say that, that would have been tragic!

DOM: We all had a lot of demons to face but things are looking up so no sympathy. I’m not looking for sympathy, we aren’t. It’s just the truth, its the reality of how our situation was. Things are looking much more positive now.

CONFRONT: Good, that’s great!

DOM: From October to December we were in England recording our first real LP (long-playing album) with producer Dan Austin. It was an experience none of us will ever forget. It was first time any of us had been to Europe. A change of lifestyle was definitely necessary. We were working ridiculous hours while recording, we recorded 16 hours straight some days.

CONFRONT: Woah!

DOM: I think it was most trying on Dan the producer because he had to be there at all times recording and engineering but it’s safe to say we each lost our mind at one point.

*laughter*

DOM: We also played at SXSW during the last 3 years which is a very unique experience, not 3 years consecutively, just once in the past 3 years…not to confuse.

CONFRONT: Ah yeah that’s cool!

DOM: So we haven’t been in a massive stall.. just some obstacles.

CONFRONT: Yeah which is normal, and there’s a quote that goes, “it doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you never stop.” It’s a really great quote I think.

DOM: Yes, good quote although not entirely true in the music industry *laughs*

CONFRONT: How dare you disagree with me!

*laughter*

DOM: Sorry I retract my statement.

CONFRONT: You better! *laughs* How do you feel Evaline’s music has evolved since you first started making music?

DOM: Oh jeez. Well when we started we were all 16 so we were horrendous. We’ve definitely enhanced our skills become more comfortable as musicians.

CONFRONT: and got better looking, right?

DOM: Nah our looks have digressed.

*laughter*

DOM: Definitely better looking, I used to look like Kenny G, but uglier.

CONFRONT: Aw don’t say that! but I’ve seen the pictures of the fro you had back then *laughs*

DOM: People thought I was a women 90% of the time.

*laughter*

DOM: Oh also, we’ve become better and more mature song writers. Although that’s just our opinion, haha, that comment is subject to be scrutinized.

CONFRONT: I think so! And you guys recently posted a new song called “Beneath the Fire” from your up coming album. There has been a noticeable change in your music, but we all know and understand that as people evolve, so does their music. Could you tell me about the differences we fans can expect from your new album? (Download Beneath the Fire for free here)

DOM: Whew, it’s very different from the EP. Some of the darkest songs we’ve ever written.

CONFRONT: Really? Darker music wise, lyric wise or both?

DOM: Both, so I think people that LOVED the EP may have some trouble stomaching this. It’s not as hopeful but not hopeless. It’s just these last 3 years haven’t been the easiest for us and that darkness is going to come through in our music. We’ve grown and changed a lot the last few years and so has our music. It’s inevitable that our life reflects our music. It’s not entirely in our hands what direction our music goes because you write what you feel. I think that’s one thing you can always expect from our band, that we WILL change

CONFRONT: Yeah for sure and you know what, there’s a lot of pain going on in the world right now. People need someone to relate to, to know they’re not alone. You guys have a beautiful, eloquent way of expressing yourselves in ways others can relate.

DOM: I think people will relate. We hope they do.

CONFRONT: For sure! When can we hope to expect your album out?

DOM: Whew, no idea. The mixing process is taking a long time so who knows, hopefully by the end of this year but it’s really hard to say for certain. We cant wait to get this out to people. We know its been such a long time since we’ve released anything and we couldn’t be more grateful for the people who have waited around.

CONFRONT: It will be worth the wait!

DOM: We hope!

CONFRONT: It will! No pessimism Dom!

DOM: You have to know I am a pessimist, reluctantly but I am a cynic.

*laughter*

CONFRONT: Do you think there will be a tour following it’s release?

DOM: God I hope so. We want to tour so badly.

CONFRONT: I hope you guys do! You have the best shows ever! Ok so last but not least, if you could say one thing to your fans what would it be?

DOM: Do what you love. If your not sure what you love figure it out because life is better lived struggling for something you love than just struggling to survive.

CONFRONT: Wow that’s amazing and full of wisdom! Thank you Dom!

DOM: No, thank you!

www.myspace.com/evaline

Download their latest song “Beneath the Fire” here.

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