Solar Zalavia - Interview

Hey Breathing The Core fans! Here we bring you another interview. In this case to the  Metal/Hardcore band Solar Zalavia, from Mexico. They are epic so nothing more to say than enjoy the interview and like their FACEBOOK PAGE!  

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?  

We played for 3 years under the name "Solar", back in the day we were a spanish-spoken alternative metal band. Then we thought we needed a change. We switched lyrics to english to increase our audience, so a new name was the obvious step. The thing is we felt very connected to "Solar", so we only added another word, "Zalavia". This is a funny story, since a ‘zalavia’ is the forerunner of the ice cream cone. We thought it fitted right to our humorous personalities and the combination sounds quite unique.  

2. Why did you want to play this genre?  

We have always been into metal and heavy music. We started incorporating fast riffs and growling to our songs back in 2008, before that we were pretty much into melody and heavy rhythms. We’re always experimenting, if not changing the time signature, including latin ryhms or acoustic riff in the less expected parts of the songs. We always focus on keeping it heavy and keeping it real. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?  

Selko and So.Zald have been friends for more than 15 years (since elementary school) and have played/drank/composed together for the last 7 years non-stop. Then we lost our drummer, and Jair came to the mix with remarkable beats and ideas, e was playing for a post-hardcore band, they broke up and after a few talks/drinks we knew he shared the same passion as us. Diego is the latest addition to the band.  

4. Each band member favourite band?  

It's a very very hard question..  

Selko (vocals/growls/guitar): In Flames. 
Zald (growls/bass/programming): Pink Floyd.  
Jair (drums): Periphery. 
Diego (guitar): Opeth. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?  

The love for music and drinking, the amazing time at the studio, the creative months writing new songs, the energy on live performances. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

We are currently rehearsing to start pulling off great live shows. Our last gig was in a local bar.. nothing fancy. 

7. Where would you like to act?  

Selko: I would love to do a Mayhem, Warped, Download or Ozzfest tour, you can dream, right? haha. 

Zald: Mmm... Download, Warped, Sonisphere. Doesn't really matter, the point is to tour the globe while drinking with other bands, ha!  


Jair: Vans Warped Tour , California Metal Fest , Download Festival , Kerrand Festival Diego: Wacken Open Air, Download Festival, Warped Tour, any massive metal fest would be sweet 

8. Whom would you like to feature with?  

Selko: I'd love to write a song with Shaun (Seether), Anders/Bjorn (In Flames), Mike/Jeremy (TDWP), Chino/Stephen (Deftones), Mike (Opeth), Fred/Wes (Limp Bizkit), Jonny Craig and Maynard (Tool/APC). 

Zald: Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Maynard (Tool), Omar Rodríguez-López (The Mars Volta), Claudio Sánchez (Coheed & Cambria), Tommy Giles (BTBAM), Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation) and Steven Wilson.  Jair: Spencer Sotelo (Periphery), Brandon Boyd (Incubus), Matty Mullins (MMF), 

Jonny Craig Diego: Brandon Boyd (Incubus), Jason Richardson (Ex-Born Of Osiris), Phil Bozeman (Whitechapel), Misha Mansoor (Periphery) 

9. Whom not?  

Selko: Anything hipster-related. Can't stand it.  Zald: I'd rather not answer this one, ha! Diego: Any “indie” band.  

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? 

Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?  Not stage fright, but we happened to be filthy drunks, so it's the eternal battle between sobriety and getting wasted before/after the shows while pulling our show right, haha. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Pantera, In Flames, Opeth, TDWP, BTBAM, Incubus etc... 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?  

Once a 15-year old girl asked us to speak with their parents telling we are no delincuents so she can attend the show. 

13. What do you think of your fans? 

We like to think more of a "friend base" instead of a "fan base". We don't need fans, we need friends to party and have a good time with us. Friends who enjoy what we do. 

14. What do you think of our site? 

It's great that you show lots of support to the underground and independent bands. We think it's really cool what your doing in favor of the scene. 

15. Something to add?  

Our last EP (2013) is available on our YouTube channel (@SolarZalavia) on Full Stream and on iTunes for $4.95 USD. We are about to go back to the studio to the record our upcoming EP, the writing is done so it's time to get our asses to work. Stay tuned to facebook.com/solarzalavia, solarzalavia.bandcamp.com, soundcloud.com/solarzalavia and instagram @solarzalavia for updates!