Nico Vega - UnCut
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Los Angeles rock trio Nico Vega recently stopped in Austin for the third time – as far as I can count – in ’09. First, they were here for SXSW, followed by two gigs at Emo’s (inside stage) in May and October.
Touring in support of their first full-length studio album, Nico Vega, Roxwel was lucky enough to score an interview, along with an acoustic rendition of “Beast,” during SXSW. And then we caught up with them again before their October 21 show at Emo’s, where we also shot their performance of “Protest Song,” “Living Underground,” “Taxi Cab,” and “Fe Fi Fo Fum.”
If you’ve ever listened to Nico Vega, it’s undeniable that Aja Volkman (vocals) has been influenced by strong and commanding female singers. In fact, having been compared to the likes of Janis Joplin and Fiona Apple, Aja tells Roxwel that attending Tina Turner’s concert at the Staples Center last year had a major impact on her, seeing the sort of emotion that went into Turner’s voice and performance.
“It was really inspiring to me just to see a woman be so powerful, despite what she was battling,” she said.
Aja’s explosive live performances and soulful vocals are pretty inspiring themselves, and the band’s bio on their MySpace page seems very fitting – here’s an excerpt:
“Nico Vega represents a modern day saint. A warrior that has led us to a more fulfilling, lighter way of being. She represents people and unity. She fights for all of us and teaches us to fight for each other.”
This description sheds some light on Nico Vega as a whole, as well as the creation of individual songs, which is a collaborative process among the three – and a far cry from being formulaic. It’s really all in the moment. The only recurring theme seems to be what the experience of their live shows should produce for both the band and fans: a release.
Check out the full interview and see what else Aja, Rich Koehler (guitar) and Dan Epand (drums) have to say about music that has changed their stage presence, their songwriting process, what they’re thinking before a show, and how it’s been working with MySpace records.
Also, check out their full live performance of “Protest Song,”“Living Underground,”“Taxi Cab,” and “Fe Fi Fo Fum,” or watch each song as a single (by clicking on the individual songs) – it’s up to you!