#amendment records

So first thing's first I guess I should ask who is in the band and who does what etc. Do you guys work or study?

I'll do my best summarizing each of us. Philippe: singer, age 27, English teacher at a multi-language institute. I like riding my bicycle and listening to Morrissey almost every day. Daniel: guitarist, age 25, finishing up law school. He also loves bicycles and photography. Cristian: guitarist, age 25, used to play drums in our earliest line-up, ocasionally works in filming events or corporate conferences and studies system programming. Sebastian: bassist, age 26, works a tire salesman and spends most his time hanging out and playing guitar with his other hardcore band, En Mi Defensa (who we're touring with at the end of this month). Nelson: drummer, age 27, finishing up architecture school. Used to sing in two local hardcore bands, likes art, design and fine vegetarian food.

You have been a band for a while now and have put out an LP and 3 7"s. Why did you decide to go straight in with an LP first off the bat rather than start off with a 7" which a lot of bands seem to do.

  We started mid-2008 and jumped to the LP recording because it was one of our goals so managed to have enough songs to date although we did put out a demo in a cheap cd format (later released as a tape and 7"). Those three songs were re-recorded for "Accept". Chronologically, after the demo and LP came a 3 song e.p with React! Records, split 7" with Police & Thieves (D.C) with Amendment and a 7" single with them as well.

How did you guys get hooked up with React! for the Winds Of Promise 7"?

Through self-promotion on their messageboard and friendly correspondance with Evan from Mindset. After I did a collaboration with the essay for their Time & Pressure 7" is that Aram (Champion/Betrayed) who owned the label gave a good listen to the LP and offered to put out our next release. We agreed on a three song e.p. which we promoted on a three week U.S Tour in 2011. One of the best moments of that tour was playing the second version of the label's showcase in Gilman St, Berkeley.

I noticed that React! didn't put out your most recent 7" Pain Understood. Why is that? Are you planning on releasing anything in the future on React!? 

Our next release will definately be with them, a 12" e.p or an LP depending on how our song writing continues. The two songs on the "Pain Understood" single were meant for the React! release but because we were stalled on compositions and wanted something out fast before 2012 ended is that we had it released by our long-time friend Pablo who runs Amendment in the U.S. This coincided with a quick trip to the east coast on my part so I had many copies brought here with me for our local shows and a short tour to Brazil this year.

You guys seem to wear your influences on your sleeve (which is not a bad thing in my eyes) but your new 7" seems to be a lot more melodic....should we expect your new songs to be going more in that direction?

Although we may not sound exactly like our influences, it certainly is easy to perceive the different influences in the big mix. Our latest recording is much more melodic but we're not going to adopt that one style for our next release. In a "Winds Of Promise" kind of way, we plan to have a variety of songs in styles that are slightly different. 

How's the scene in Chile? I know some of you guys have another band Invierno which sounds something along the lines of Texas Is The Reason. What are some other bands and do you guys prefer to have vocals in your mother tongue rather than English?

It's tight, diverse, friendly and worth checking out. Bands that we're involved in at the moment are Invierno, Souvenir, En Mi Defensa and Waterglass, none of which sound alike. Depending on the bands on the same bill, local shows can be a blast and with around 100-200 people. Bands from abroad choose to come to Chile and have a great time. Personally as a singer I prefer English because it comes more naturally while writing and speaking. While we gain recognition outside there's the downside of not being able to reach to as many people in Chile and other spanish-speaking countries which is fine by me as long as we have other bands in Spanish to do so. I don't think about it much.

Any plans for any upcoming tours outside of South America? Europe? Australia perhaps? 

  The plan right now is to tour Europe during late July and all of August. It's all been arranged and we're ready to roll. Another U.S tour will be programmed for 2014, I just don't know the months yet. The new record will be done by then we hope. Argentina and Peru are other possible locations for a future tour for next year. 

If you could reform any band and play a show with them who would it be and why?

  I wouldn't reform any hardcore band but I would however love to see Johnny Marr on stage again with Morrissey in a reunited The Smiths. They're my favorite band and I get the feeling they broke up too early due to differences that pride, misconceptions and immaturity couldn't be reconciled at the time. I also wouldn't want to play with them, simply observe and sing along in awe.

  Tell us a random fact about Chile that you think most people wouldn't know?

  Second country to abolish slavery in the 1800s, it's narrow and very long. Because it extends from right below the equator line down to the south pole it has every geographical offering: desert, beaches, valleys, plains, forests, volcanos, lakes, mountains, glaciers. Come down and enjoy the scenery. Although we're part of latino culture I'm afraid chileans are some of the most stressed people so the average person isn't as friendly as some might think. It is such a globalized country that some cities are exactly like your own most likely.

Thank you for the interview, is their anybody you would like to give a shout out too?