EMQ’s With SAINT DIABLO
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with American Latin Metal band, Saint Diablo. Huge thanks to their Singer/Songwriter, Tito Quiñones, 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?
I’m Tito Quiñones of Saint Diablo – singer and songwriter. We stated in high school in FXBG VA in the early 90’s and got serious while I was in college. We got signed shortly thereafter after. We have had many lineup changes but Justin Adams (guitarist) and Tito Quiñones have always stayed the main core to date.
How did you come up with your band name?
I made it up… my grandmother used to call me a Saint diablo as a child, so I took it and ran with it. To me – we’re all saint diablos. Each born with the potential to do good or bad or just watch… Saint Diablo is just another poetic way of saying human beings. Like saying, “We’re all just meat socks or talking monkeys!”… I like to say, “We’re all Saint Diablo”.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Saint Diablo is from the USA mid-Atlantic east coast (VA, NC, SC) the scene is vibrant and there are lots of places to see a Kool metal show.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)?
Our latest single and video is ‘ODIO’ on Eclipse Records, produced by Dave Chavarri of Ill Niño and vocal production by Chris Anger Serafin.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Ill Niño, Soulfly, Cypress Hill, Deftones, Tego Carderon, Funkdoobiest, House of Pain, Stone Temple Pilots, 30 Seconds to Mars.
What first got you into music?
Drama and theatre. I lettered in both in high-school at Chancellor high-school in Spotsylvania VA in 1993 – 1995.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
My up-coming EP is being produced by most of the people that brought you ILLNINO, so that is already a dream come true. However, I would love to work with Cypress Hill and DJ Muggs, Deftones, Korn, and Soulfly.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Any and all of the DWPRESENTS festivals in the US because we love DWPRESENTS and TWITCH TV!, Shiprock because we want to party on the boats with all the bands and fans, and any and all of the major European and South American festivals to get the world’s bilingual audiences.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Home-made clay plates with band logos painted on it. We ended up using them as weed trays.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Fight the power! Fuck the Police! Brush your teeth twice a day, eat your vegetables!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
B.I.G Notorious or Scott Wayland.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
What I enjoy the most about being a musician is the ability to create the reality around me through the eyes of my alter ego (Saint Diablo). What do you hate (?) – the fall of the CD, how it’s all about your social media status, how much money you can make a gate keeper, and the focus of content over substance.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Increase the artist pay out for each stream or download.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Black Sunday”, Cypress Hill.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
Depends on what you want. I personally like CDs and downloads.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Mayhemfest Jager stage.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Actor, lawyer, cop, Parole officer.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
B-Real from Cypress Hill, Chino from Deftones, Maxx from Soulfly, Bernie Sanders, and A.O.C.
What’s next for the band?
An EP, another video or 2, tours with ILLNino, and much more.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
You can get all our info and socials at www.saintdiablo.com but we are sold whereever music is sold on earth.
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
I’m from Puerto Rico… fried plantains, rice, beans, and mafongo! … I’m sorry- what was the question (?) 😉
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank for all your support and please check out our entire Saint Diablo catalogue at www.saintdiablo.com or at Eclipse Records! Hope to see y’all at a show near you!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.