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WELCOME to the first of many Spotlight interviews with the bands and artists of the Poptimes Magazine community!
Here's the first installment with the band from Los Angeles, California, Stella's Notch! The band was part of the historic 2-night event that celebrated the first year of Poptimes Magazine playing both Club Midway and The Delancey. *Editor's note: The interview was done through cyber chat and some words were not edited for emphasis. Some of the language used may contain expletives that are not suited for children. Parental guidance is adviced.
Brian: First off, thanks again for doing the interview! For the sake of the poptimers who weren't able to make the show or aren’t familiar with you guys yet, please introduce yourselves?
Melody: Melody, vocals, guitar. Hi everyone!
Jeremy: This is the Chadface, bass player, part-time scholar, full-time awesome.
Dennis: Hi, I’m Dennis. Umm that's all.
Brian: And we're missing one?
Melody: Yup, the drum roll.
Jeremy: Our elusive percussionist.
Dennis: Miguel is.. Hmm, I don’t know.
Jeremy: He is off in his cave of solitude. honing his craft.
Melody: As always.
Jeremy: It takes a lot to be as pimp at the skins as he.
Brian: So, how did you guys all meet each other?
Dennis: I met Mel through Annette at a Go-Go's concert.
Melody: I met Dennis thru Annette and then Jeremy & Miguel thru Dennis. Miguel was the last guy to join in.
Jeremy: It’s called symbolic interaction theory.
Brian: How did the band start up? Let’s start with Mel.
Melody: Gosh, this is gonna be long!
Melody: Ok. I started the band about 4 years ago with different members.
Brian: Here in the states? 
Melody: Yeah. I started out as solo then eventually I formed a band, and named it.
Jeremy: Yeah, they were sub-prime.
Melody: This is the 3rd generation for Stella's and the strongest so far! I love these guys!
Jeremy: It needed me, Den, and Migs to complete the circle.
Brian: Alright, here’s an obvious question. How'd you come up with the name Stella's Notch?
Melody: Oh no.
Jeremy: I like this story. Tell it Mel.
Melody: Okay it was from the Somersby movie.
Dennis: Actually...
Melody: Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.
Jeremy: Oh wait. That was the story. We should make up a new more exciting story.
Melody: Should I change it now?
Jeremy: Yes.
Dennis: Yeah, I don’t think that Gere movie will fly. (laughs)
Jeremy: Let's make it involve dragons and wood-sprites!
Melody: Stella's Notch is what you call that part of the woman's body. The depressed part between the collar bone. Men don't have it. (laughs) But I don't even remember if I got the name right. All I know is that it sounded cool as a band name and this was years ago! I’m surprised I remembered. Actually, I think I should watch it again.
Dennis: Just say you thought of it and it sounded cool so here's the name. (laughs)
Brian: So, to recap, it’s the part of the woman's body, the depressed part between the collar bone? And you got this from the movie Somersby?
Jeremy: Let's just say for sake of argument.... that Stella's Notch is the name of that part of the body where our music smacks you. Like clop to the chops.
Melody: Something like that.
Brian: Starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.
Melody: (laughs) Yeah.
Brian: Gotcha.
Jeremy: Like a judo chop to the ribs. It’s kinda like that.
Dennis: Delete the Somersby part!
Melody: (laughs)
Dennis: It's so baduy! (laughs)
Brian: But it’s the truth! It’s a good story!
Melody: And nothing but.
Jeremy: Truth is something that we co-create my friend.
Brian: Well put. So, talk about the LA scene?
Melody: The LA scene in general is saturated.
Dennis: LA Fil-Am scene?
Brian: Yeah, let’s concentrate on the Fil-Am scene.
Jeremy: Bands everywhere.
Melody: On every corner.
Jeremy: Like they fall out of trees and fight over the same walnuts.
Melody: It's out there but we do have a lot of indie things going on here.
Dennis: I like that one Jeremy.
Brian: How's the crowd support?
Jeremy: Good.
Melody: It depends. Well, the Fil-Am scene is supportive in a lot of ways.
Dennis: Fight over the same walnuts!
Jeremy: When you have a crowd that is.
Brian: I hear ya.
Jeremy: You need to distract them away from the walnuts and other squirrels. You do that the fill their ears and mouths with your nuts. And by nuts, I mean rock music.
Brian: (laughs) Point made!
Melody: For a Fil-Am band to penetrate the Am scene might be a little too difficult.
Brian: Speaking of the scene, what venues have you played in California? Which ones are your favorites?
Melody: We've played at The Whisky, El Rey Theatre.
Jeremy: I liked playing at the Glasshouse.
Melody: The Knitting Factory.
Jeremy: ‘Cause two of my favorite bands, Jimmy Eat World and Finch, have been on that stage.
Melody: Zen Sushi.
Dennis: Yeah, Glasshouse.
Brian: What are your thoughts on the whole mixed, Fil-Am, Fil-Fil scene? Here on the east coast, it’s kind of a new thing.
Dennis: From what I’ve seen, Fil-Fils have their own scene and Fil-Ams have their own scene.
Jeremy: They don't let me play in their little circle. They're mean. I just wanted to play duck-duck-goose.
Dennis: (laughs) Duck-duck-goose!
Jeremy: Hey, am I allowed to swear?
Brian: Sure!
Jeremy: FUCK.
Dennis: Can I swear too?
Brian: But of course.
Dennis: FUCK!
Brian: Hey, do you guys have any routines that you go through before you hit the stage?
Jeremy: I always like to have my lucky wristbands so I can rock out maximum style.
Melody: Well, nothing really.
Dennis: I look at Googlemaps.
Dennis: Or Mapquest.
Melody: Except for the 1st show there (Poptimesmagazine Anniversary) we kinda held hands at the back stage.
Brian: Wait, Dennis. Googlemaps?
Melody: And we swore to each other that we’d rock it out that night.
Brian: Googlemaps?
Dennis: (laughs)
(At this point, Jeremy excused himself for a pre-scheduled appointment and I was left in the company of Dennis and Melody.)
Brian: How about fears? Do you have any when you’re performing?
Dennis: My fear is that Mel's effect pedals might not work (laugh).
Melody: Oh yeah, that was a long time ago.
Brian: Share!
Melody: I had bad effects. Then I bought these new gadgets and now they don't have to worry. I swear it was every gig that my effects would mess up!
Brian: Ever have a "bad" set?
Melody: Yeah! When was this Dennis? Do you remember some?
Dennis: Like that second night in NYC (Poptimes anniversary show) because my guitar was out of tune. (laughs) Well, I don’t think we ever had a disaster gig
Melody: Not so far. 
Dennis: Most of the time we still have fun and enjoy the crowd.
Brian: By the way, did I mention that you guys rocked the Poptimes gig?
Melody: Thanks!
Dennis: Despite the tech problems or what not.
Melody: We try to.
Brian: So give me the scoop! Are you guys coming back to New York?
Melody: Yeah, if somebody pays for our airfare & hotel this time. (smiles)
Dennis: We wish! It looks like you guys have a pretty good scene going on there!
Melody: We will probably come back when the album is released.
Brian: Awesome. Is there a date?
Melody: None yet, but it's gonna be by November of this year.
Brian: How about a round about date?
Melody: Thanksgiving.
Brian: Oh wow! That’s right around the corner!
Melody: Well, here in the US. We're launching it in Manila first. We have shows there next month.
Brian: That’s great!
Dennis: We're playing a mini tour in Manila.
Melody: when we come back in the US, we'll focus here.
Brian: Congrats! That’s really exciting news!
Melody: Yeah, we're excited.
Brian: What else is happening with the band?
Melody: Next week we have a taping for Speak Out! Melody yep, so this will help us promote the album more.
Brian: Is it your first time on television as a band?
Melody: Not really. The NBC thing was an on-line tv sort of thing. I dunno if you guys heard about it.
Brian: Could you talk a little more about it?
Melody: Dennis, go!
Dennis: Umm...no (laughs).
Melody: well, it was just a little experiment that we tried but didn't work.
Dennis: That was a different Notch at that time.
Melody: (laughs) We were trying to be on TV! Miguel was just 2 months old with the band and he barely knew the songs and we didn't have enough time. So really it was just for the experience.
Brian: I guess you can chalk this one up as a “bad” set?
Melody: (laughs)
Brian: How long has this version of Stella’s Notch been together?
Melody: Two years, Dennis?
Dennis: Yeah, about that.
Melody: Probably a little more than that.
Brian: Aside from NY, have you played outside of California?
Melody: Nope, that was our first out-of-town show.
Dennis: We played in outer space.
Brian: (laughs)
Dennis: Oh wait, that was in my dream. Sorry, go on.
Melody: We got invited to play in Las Vegas but I turned it down.
Brian: How come?
Dennis: Because too many people committing sin over there.
Melody: I don't remember. I said next time. I think we were preparing for the NY show. And it was too close.
Brian: Too close together?
Melody: The dates I mean.
Brian: Time wise. Gotcha.
Dennis: Like lovers.
Melody: And we have to drive down there, rent a room, gas etc. Too many expenses for the band.
Brian: I totally hear ya.
Melody: The Speak Out taping originally was scheduled for June or July. I had it moved to this month because of the same reason.
Brian: Let’s talk about the album. Is there a title?
Melody: Beyond Wonderland.
(At this moment, Dennis excused himself to use the restroom.)
Brian: Nice!
Melody: Yeah, I like it too.
Brian: How'd you come up with it?
Melody: (laughs) This is a secret. It's actually a font name that I used in one of Stella's
Notch's logo. But I liked it so much I want it for the album title.
Brian: That's really cool!
Melody: Incidentally, it fits perfectly because of the songs.
Brian: It’s very catchy. I was about to ask. Was the title of the album influenced by the songs or vice versa.
Melody: Well, not really.
Brian: So it was coincidence?
Melody: It was just cosmic! The songs are real stories, stories that you won't find in fairy tales or dreamland fantasies.
Brian: Of your life?
Melody: Mostly, yeah.
Brian: Angst driven?
Melody: Nope.
Brian: Happy songs?
Melody: More on pain, love. Sex. Disappointments. Religion, faith.
Brian: That’s quite the mix.
Melody: Yeah, I’m a Scorpio so it's so intense.
Brian: Ah! Fellow Scorpio!
Melody: Ah my friend! When?
Brian: November 3rd. Yourself?
Melody: November 15th. So, Beyond Wonderland fits because the songs are stories
beyond Wonderland or Never-Never Land or Fantasy Land.
Brian: it totally does. Fantastic concept.
(Dennis re-joins the interview.)
Dennis: I’m back!
Melody: That was a long pee! (laughs)
Dennis: The "banyo" is a mile away
Melody: Right.
Dennis: I had to use a scooter to pee.
Melody: (laughs) I thought you were run over by a jeepney!
Brian: Some artists write to an audience, others write compulsively, and share with an audience, some are statement makers, others think it’s trivial to be labeled as such. When you write, are you catering to anyone? Or are you just writing? Deep shit, huh?
Melody: Just writing.
Brian: With no one in mind?
Melody: With "someone" in mind, all the time. Almost always.
Brian: Dennis, are you part of the writing process?
Dennis: She wrote all of that about me.
Brian: (laughs)
Melody: (laughs) Yeah, especially about the disappointments!
Dennis: Not really, I merely enhance her creativity.
Melody: He helps out with the instrumentation.
Dennis: I "score" her music if you listen carefully
Melody: Yeah, score!
Brian: (laughs)
Melody: that's the only time Dennis scores! (laughs)
Brian: So how did you guys first hear about Poptimes?
Melody: Dennis just told me about it.
Dennis: And Ted told me about it.
Melody: And I think Teddy's band from Manila and mine were under the same label.
Brian: BMG?
Melody: Uh-huh.
Brian: Sweet. How did you guys feel about the reaction you got from the east coasters?
Melody: Oh, great!
Dennis: Wonderful!
Brian: Did it take you guys by surprise?
Melody: Yeah, a bit. I just wish we could’ve played longer.
Dennis: We really felt welcomed.
Brian: Were you frightened?
Melody: (laughs)
Brian: I mean, there were bodies flying everywhere.
Melody: But that gives us a reason to come back.
Dennis: I know, the aura was very friendly. Like I can talk to almost anyone without hesitation.
Melody: Yeah, so home-y.
Brian: Yeah, I was hoping that. That the environment would make you guys wanna come back.
Melody: We want to. For the album launch maybe.
Dennis: You guys really did a good job getting all the bands together and welcoming them.
Melody: I agree.
Brian: Thanks dude. Are you guys going to submit for the next Rock in the Box album? Did you hear about it?
Dennis: Oh yeah! We should Mel.
Melody: What is this?
Dennis: Go to poptimesmagazine.com more often. (laughs)
Brian: It's a compilation album.
Melody: Sure thing.
Brian: Awesome.
Brian: Ok, in the home stretch.
Melody: Go.
Brian: What's on your respective mp3 players?
Melody: Rob zombie, Interpol, Garbage, Muse, Blondie.
Dennis: Primitive Radio Gods
Melody: Feist.
Dennis: Lacuna Coil, Dubstar, Beatallica.
Melody: Placebo.
Dennis: Akon, Kanye.
Melody: And of course... Stella's Notch.
Brian: But of course!
Dennis: Miles Davis, Sandwich, Imago, Slapshock, the Dawn.
Brian: Another question. What’s your fave Stella's Notch song to play?
Melody: Wow, that's hard.
Brian: (laughs) Are you looking at your iPod?
Dennis: Yes. (laughs) All! I like playing all of them!
Melody: Fave nga eh! I would say.. Hands? We didn't get to play it live there.
Brian: Dennis?
Dennis: My fave? Evil Jill because I get to do a guitar solo and I never played guitar in a
band before. (laughs)
Brian: What do you guys do to pay the bills?
Dennis: Work overtime. (laughs)
Brian: (laughs) How about you, Mel?
Melody: I’m a customs broker. Working overtime, too.
Dennis: Yeah, we work overtime. That’s why it took three years to record the album. Oh, I have to go to Cybertron soon. Oh yeah, Cybertron is the name of my studio. (laughs)
Brian: Cool! Is that where you guys record?
Dennis: Yes.
Melody: Yeah.
Brian: Sweet!
Melody: The best.
Dennis: Because we live 100 miles from each other.
Brian: Wow! Are you serious?
Dennis: Yes. Cybertron is midpoint. (laughs)
Brian: How do you guys find the time?
Melody: Passion.
Dennis: We escape from our spouses. Oh wait, I’m still single!
Melody: Dedication.
Brian: Last question. You're on a deserted island. You have a choice of 1 person, 1 item and 1 type of food to live with the rest of your time on the island. Who/what are they?
Melody: oh no, this is a survivor thing
Dennis: Einstein so I can talk to him about the Universe, a piano and Spam
Melody: Gosh. Guitar. For the one person, that’s hard.
Dennis: Say it Mel, You know its me!
Melody: Food.. chocolates.
Dennis: You just wont admit it!
Brian: (laughs)
Melody: Maybe a priest?
Dennis: Without me you're lost! And dark!
Melody: (laughs)
Dennis: Without me it'll be more Red Lily songs! No Stella songs! (laughs)
Melody: (laughs)
Brian: You guys seem really tight.
Dennis: We are tight, so tight I even sleep with her husband.
Melody: I didn't know that Dennis??
Dennis: Oh shit! Sorry.
Melody: Since when??
Dennis: Umm, last night.
Melody: TELL ME!!!
Dennis: I couldn’t resist.
Brian: (laughs) From our conversation, you guys seem really close.
Melody: So close, yet so far away.
Dennis:: So close no matter how far...Metallica
Melody: Just like me, they long to be.. close to you.
Brian: (laughs)
Melody: Close open...close open.
Brian: (laughs)
Dennis: Close to you by the Cure.
Melody: (laughs)
Brian: Plug your shows. Websites?
Dennis: No web site yet. Well, just myspace/stellasnotch.
Melody: Speak Out on TFC.
Brian: When’s the taping?
Dennis: September 22nd.
Melody: I dunno when it's showing. Maybe September 23rd or the 30th. Our Manila tour. If you guys have friends out there, tell them to check us out. The tour is from October 19-27th. We will be posting the dates on myspace by next week. Right now we have a back-to-back show with the Dawn on October 25th at Bar 42. Then, Club Dredd (formerly Gweilos) on October 27th. And then radio guesting at Jam 88.3 Live on October 21st. Other venues and dates to be announced.
Brian: Melody, Dennis, thanks a million. Please thank Jeremy and tell Miguel sorry that we missed him.
Dennis: No problem. Thanks, dude.
Brian: Anytime, man. The pleasure was mine. Hope you guys had fun.
Dennis: Absolutely.
Melody: ‘Til next time. Thanks again.
Dennis: I think Mel is yelling at her husband now because she found out about me and
him.
Melody: babay!
Tags: Poptimes Magazine Poptimes Stella's Notch Melody Del Mundo Dennis Diaz Jeremy Miguel Poptime Anniversary Brian Joseph Miguel Fil-Am Music Filipino-American Music |
