1. How did the band get started? How did you meet
and how long have you been together?
Eduardo Panigua:
We all got started individually at a very young age, but we actually
met each other around the early 80's. Ramon and Harold knew each other
since elementary school. In the 80's we were all in different bands
playing locally in Puerto Rico. It wasn't until 90 or 91 that we started
jamming as a side project because we were still in other bands. We
were a instrumental 3 piece band for the first three years. Then we
started auditioning singers until Sergio came along and made the move
with the band to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) So we have been together
for about 8 or 9 years but as "PUYA" only since '93.
2.
How would you describe your music?
Eduardo Panigua:
Our music is basically "Latino Hardcore" if you want to call it
something. But, what it really is it's a outburst of everything that
is inside us and everything that we grew up listening to. Our music
is the most pure reflection of what we are.
3. What are
your biggest influences?
Eduardo Panigua: We have
lots of different influences from the heavy stuff like Sepultura,
Pantera, Meshuggah, Fear Factory, etc. to Latin music that we grew
up with like Ruben Bades, Willie Colon, El Gram Combo, Hector Lavoe,
etc....and also older bands like Pink Floyd, Hendrix, AC/DC, Zepp.,
Phish, etc.....As you can see there is a pretty wide range of music
that influenced us but it creates a great chemistry and definitely
a new sound.
4. What influence do you think your bands
has in music and metal today?
Eduardo Panigua: Well,
one of the things that we hope to accomplish is to make people a little
bit more open minded and more receptive to something different. We
are giving metal a new flavor from the Caribbean and hopefully it
will break some ground and wake some people up. Maybe even make some
room for other up and coming bands.
5. What made you want
to be in the band? And if you weren't in the band what would you be
doing now?
Eduardo Panigua: Ever since the band
started we knew there was something very special about it and we felt
we had to keep pursuing this dream no matter what. I can't even imagine
what it would be like without the band. This has been our life for
as long as I remember and I feel extremely lucky to be with such talented
and open minded group of musicians.
6. Are any band members
in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about
them.
Eduardo Panigua: Ramón out guitar
player has had a few different side projects in P.R. and L.A. mostly
heavy stuff and punk rock.
7. How would you feel if a
band took their sound from yours and became very well known?
Eduardo Panigua: We don't worry to much about other bands
trying to copy our sound because our music is constant evolution,
that's what brought us to where we are today and because they are
not creative enough to come with their own set then by all means welcome
because to create is our business and we will always be one step ahead.
8. What current bands do you like or respect?
Eduardo Panigua: There are some bands out there now that we
like and respect like Soul Fly, Sepultura, Sick of it All, Fear Factory,
System of a Down, Roller Rage, Molotov, Govn't Mule, Etc....
9. How many demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!!
Eduardo Panigua: We have a 6 song demo we did back in
'93 in Ft. Lauderdale. In this demo the sound of the band started
getting more defined. After that we did a CD on a indie label in Florida
called Noiz Boiz. Then we went to L.A. where we did a series of demos
trying to put all our new and unrecorded material on tape. We worked
with producer Bob Earin which we think is a great producer and friend.
We also did "Outlandos de America" a "The Police" tribute album by
various Spanish rock artist put together by Juan Corajoria. And then
we recorded "Fundamental" with producer Gustavo Santaohlla and Anibal
Kerpel.
10. What demo/album do you like the best?
Eduardo Panigua:I think "fundemental " is our best recording
to date. Although there is very interesting stuff in some of the old
recordings specially on the indie label CD self-tittle "Puya". Sometimes
I go back and listen to all that music and it just sounds better than
I remember it.
11. What is the meaning behind the songs?
Eduardo Panigua: Different people will relate to the songs
in different ways. Maybe it won't have the same meaning to everyone
where they hear it but the general meaning behind the songs is based
on day to day experiences. We write about real stuff. And basically
we want to invite people to know themselves better and invite them
to be individuals with their own brain that they can use to take control
of their own life and not have to see what everyone thinks first before
making their own opinions.
12. What are the bands favorite
songs?
Eduardo Panigua: I think the band's favorite
songs are: Oasis, Fake, Remora, sal pafuera, Solo and Retro. It's
hard to choose but I think these are pretty much the favorite ones.
13. What does the future hold for the band?
Eduardo Panigua: The nearest future for the band will definitely
be lots and lots of touring.
14. If you could play with
any band who would it be and why?
Eduardo Panigua:
I think that one of the bands that we would like to play with
the most is "Rage against the Machine" because we had never had the
chance yet and it would be a real honor. We would also like to do
some more dates with Sepultura and Biohazard. They are great bands
and great people. So was Fear Factory.
15. Who writes
the majority of the music?
Eduardo Panigua: Ramon
(Guitar) and Harold (Horns) write the majority of the music with some
collaboration from Sergio (Singer) on the lyrics. In general all the
songs are a product of collective work among all the band members
but the main writers are Ramon and Harold.
16. Who has
been the favorite band you've played with and why?
Eduardo
Panigua: It's hard to say who has been the favorite bands we have
played with but I say that it was a incredible honor to open for "Slayer"
in Puerto Rico back in '96. I mean, opening for Slayer is a dream
for any band but in our own hometown ....Now that was a special night!
And, also opening for S.O.D. in New York city. Definitely two memorable
nights in the history of Puya.
17. Where did you get the
band name from?
Eduardo Panigua: It was back
in 1995 when Ramon had the idea for the name PUYA. The band was formally
named "Whisker Biscuit" and it did not represent what the band was
about. Besides no one even go it. We needed a strong, short name in
Spanish and "Puya" was it. Puya on P.R. is slang for Black Coffee
with no sugar and it also means the point of a sharp object like a
knife or anything that stings. It's either something that cuts or
wakes you up.
18. Describe what the band is like live?
Eduardo Panigua: The band is hard and heavy. There is
a lot of percussion going off! And the show is full of power and energy.
We also try to keep the set list fresh by including songs that are
not on the record. It's always healthy to keep it fresh.
19. If you are gonna do any kind of video what would be in it?
Eduardo Panigua: We already did a video that was shot
in P.R. in a live show which was exactly what we wanted. To have the
band live in P.R. and show a little of the island. The video is for
"Oasis", the first track on the CD and it should be on the screens
by last March.
20. Are there any touring plans made; if
so tell me about them?
Eduardo Panigua:Yes, there
are touring plans. We are going to start it off at the Metal Fest
in Jersey March 13th. With Sepultura , Meshuggah, Biohazard and many
others. Then I believe we might go on the road with Canderea, Hate
Breed, and Mad Ball. We got some other possible dates with Slayer
and also Motorhead. Summer '99 we are going to play the second stage
at the OZZ Fest. We are really psyched for that one.
21.
Where do you think the band will be 20 years from now?
Eduardo Panigua: It's hard to think that far ahead but hopefully
we will still be playing and doing what we love and do best. |
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