Interviews: Quinta Essentia

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Death Metal/Black Metal band, Quinta Essentia from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Mostly through being inspired by different things that I was reading at the time. Specifically, Quintessence by Lawrence Krauss, which is a book about astrophysics. Also, aspects of philosophy deal with the spirit above the four elements (early Greek). In general, just studying and reading about different concepts that have to do with transcendence, searching deeper into the meaning of existence and things of this nature.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

First heard bands like Sabbath, Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica at around the age of 9 or 10 and then got very interested in the bands they mentioned as their inspiration. I would always find the interviews in magazines at the bookstore or record stores so that I could see what new and interesting music I could find by reading what the bands I was into were saying. Certainly, at some points, I wanted the darkest and heaviest possible but that's fairly typical of a young/hungry metal fan. There was no YouTube or Google then, so you had to depend on what you could find at the record store by looking at the cover and hoping that the music was as good as the artwork. Earlier than that, as a child, I grew up finding old records in my parent's closet like: Are You Experienced?, the first couple of Zepplin albums, and Cream-Wheels of Fire which were not defined influences of mine as much as catalysts to get me searching. I asked my father years later..where the fuck was the Black Sabbath in your record collection? I can cut him some slack for not having Sabbath (haha!) because he had a massive horror book collection that was also very influential on the kid version of me.

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

Yes, Matt Barnes (the other guitarist besides myself) and I knew each other from playing in different bands around the same scene for about 6 months before we clicked and started working together. Now, we've been doing it for 19 years.

4. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Music for me is a look behind the veil, a key to the gateway, the vibration of the cosmos, the universal language, the platform of frequency that can heal and create. Definitely, there are many heroes to give props to here but I'd have to say that the journey of life and beyond is the inspiration to create songs. When you put into the formula that you can speak things through literature in lyrics that coincide with the music and the music sounds like what you are singing about, you've got all of the elements to be able to resonate with your fellow humans through shared experience and through revealing your ideas in a way that is part of your DNA and is truly a part of you. 

5. Where was your last gig?

Memphis, TN on 6/17/23 

6. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Breathe and think of why you are there in the first place

7. What bands have inspired you the most?

Too many to list here and very difficult to say just one or two because none is greater than the other

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

A strand of hair

9. What do you think of your fans?

With great appreciation of course. How could anyone otherwise? The people who take the time to listen and visualize our art and music help enable us to continue as well as keep the music living on long after we are all dead.

10. What do you think of our site?

Nice site and set up for easy navigation. Glad to see the support for these bands!