EMQ’s with WEIGHT OF EMPTINESS

EMQ’s with WEIGHT OF EMPTINESS

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Buin, Chile based Progressive Death/Doom Metal band, Weight of Emptiness. Huge thanks to bassist Mario Urra for taking part!

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Hello friends, my name is Mario Urra, bassist of Weight of Emptiness.

We formed as a band in 2015, managing to release our first album in 2017 entitled “Anfractuous Moment for Redemption”, and in 2019 we released the album “Conquering the Deep Cycle”.

How did you come up with your band name?

The name of the band is related to the human feeling of pain in its lower circle. It is at that moment that you feel that you have nothing, but the weight on your shoulders is the greatest meaning in your life.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from Chile, Metropolitan Region, south of the capital. And in this region, as in all of our country, the metal scene is still concentrated in the underground. We have export bands; however, there is no market that exists in other regions of the world.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Our latest video is ‘Invisible Mind Workers’; part of the promo singles for our second full length “Conquering The Deep Cycle”. Additionally, we released a lyric video, “Weight of Emptiness”, celebrating the 5 years of the band.

‘Invisible Mind Workers’ (Official Lyric Video)

‘The Flame’ (Official Video)

Who have been your greatest influences?

Personally, my biggest influences are in bands and bassists…. On bass I think there is no one like Geddy Lee (Rush), Chris Squire (Yes), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) or Snake (Voivod). But as for bands I listen to everything from The Beatles to Cannibal Corpse. Metal is a great pyramid and each one puts his brick.

What first got you into music?

My first experience was when I heard the song ‘Phantom of the Opera’ by Maiden, but on May 13, 1993 it was seeing Sepultura at the Caupolicán Theater in Santiago…. When I came out of that experience, I knew what I wanted in life.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Although it is something impossible, I would like to play one day in Dorso, a Chilean band…. But its leader is the bassist and vocalist, so as I told you…. It is impossible.

If I could play in a band, outside of my country. I would love to play in Voivod or Kreator.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I think Wacken is the dream of every metal band. Hopefully, we can go one day. I would very much like to bring the art of my friends and myself to such an important stage for metal fans.

However, if we are going to play in a bar with ten people, believe me we do the same show, with the same intensity.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Most of the time they give me some mugs of beer, with that I am more than happy. But once in Vigo, Galicia, a couple of women (who were girlfriends) invited me to spend their honeymoon with them. Unfortunately, I was in charge of merchandising that day.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

First, an infinite thank you to them, from all sides of the planet. Second, I would tell you that we are already working hard on more material for you.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Uffff what a difficult question. But I choose Chuck Schuldiner from Death. I think he could have shown us a million more things. Special mention to John Lennon.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

What I enjoy the most is making music, getting together with my band friends, that connection of the five is priceless. And on the other hand, I don’t hate anything, because if there is something uncomfortable in this, one talks about it and it is solved.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Personally, and referring to my country Chile, I would expand the music market which is actively towards foreign music or to a handful of ballads or tasty bands from Chile. The rest is underground. The few fans keep it. However, we are the vast minority.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

“A Farewell To Kings” (1977), by Rush. It is the power trio par excellence. As a child my head exploded with ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Cygnus’. I think that if I die, I want that same goodbye to the gods.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I grew up with cassettes, then I had a giant CD collection. But I keep sticking with vinyl. Listening to great classics and listening to new material in that format is very nice.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

The best was in Barcelona, Spain, at the “Sala Monasterio” on September 7, 2019. Where we played one of the longest and most complete Setlists. The audience was phenomenal, as were the bands that accompanied us. A special greeting to Don Mota.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

The truth is that I have a career, I am an Industrial Civil Engineer, and I am dedicated to being a Contract Administrator, especially in the area of project planning and control. Maybe I would get together more to play soccer or have a good barbecue on the weekends.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

What a difficult question. First of all, I would invite my band friends Jano, Juanzer, Nidia, Alejo and Weo. Now if the guests really did arrive, I would invite Mille Petrozza, Jayden James, Alex Lifeson, Scarlett Johansson and Rodrigo Pera Cuadra.

What’s next for the band?

Due to the social outbreak in my country, and the pandemic, many events were postponed to us, which was the current “Conquering Tour”. However, that left us time to compose, and at this moment we are walking to release our third album, however it has no definite release date.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

You can follow us on our official page www.weightofemptiness.com as well as follow us on all our social networks such as on our Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter. To listen to our music via streaming you can find it on digital platforms such as Spotify or Deezer. If you want to see our audio-visual material, enter our YouTube channel, and finally if you want to get any album or merchandising of the band write us to weightofemptiness@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/Weightofemptiness/
www.instagram.com/weightofemptiness/
www.twitter.com/Weight_of_E
www.open.spotify.com/artist/7n8FVerG2QVstroA507x0M
www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjZBSkHqfSQDaBlG92P-qw

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

I don’t know Jaffa cakes, but we are biscuits when we are alone, but we are cake when we are together.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

I would like to thank the guys in the band, both those who play and those who always accompany us like Pizzi and Torito, Nelson Vicencio and Marcelo Vásquez for their collaboration, to all the friends, fans and family in Chile, and to all the friends who during these years we have known throughout the world.

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