CanEHdian's Dave Brosha speaks with By Divine Right's frontman José Miguel Contreras on the release of the band's Good Morning Beautiful release.
DB: By Divine Right are sort of old-timers as far the lifespan of a band goes. To what to do you attribute your longevity?
J.M.C.: If I had to sum up the reason why I have been doing By Divine Right for this long, it's because I love music; I've been lucky in that I can make records and have people buy my music and want to make records with me.
D.B.:If you weren't in a big rock band (with a label) and were instead working a regular nine-to-five job, do you still think that you would be making music?
J.M.C.: Absolutely: there have been times when I haven't had jobs and haven't been working regularly. I'm also not sure that I would describe myself as a big rock star. I've been very lucky, though I have to say that I've never done it for a record deal and never will; for any of that kind of thing, fame or whatever. All of this stuff (including talking to you) is a blessing; it makes this labour of love all the sweeter.
D.B.: You're the first music artist who has said that talking to me is a blessing (laughs).
J.M.C.: Well it is. You spread the news on my band and I think that what BDR has is sort of revolutionary; not in a musical sense but on the level of what the conscience of our music is and what the vibe is. I feel really good at the end of the day that it is translated to more people than just me.
D.B.: What aspect of the musical process do you love the most?
J.M.C.: I love the whole thing. I love writing music; writing songs; the moment of inspiration. I love recording; working with the band and putting the love show together, and of course playing shows is really exhilarating. I love traveling and doing interviews. I can't complain about one aspect of it.
D.B.: Do you ever say enough is enough with any aspect of it?
J.M.C.: Occasionally you need more oxygen; a few weeks of sleeping only a few hours at a time will tire you out. The physical exhaustion (once you're on the road for so long) can really get to you. As soon as you play a show though, everything is amazing. I have played a show on no sleep and have been completely rejuvenated.
D.B.: You've recently released "Good Morning Beautiful". What do you think this album offers to your fan base?
J.M.C.: Another 60 minutes of confounded noise. It's like a chapter; it's one more step toward the unreachable goal. It's a little more extreme that any of our other records; it's crazy and its cuter and its less self-aware. I let go of the steering wheel and just let it where it wanted to go.
D.B.: Do you have a favourite song from the album?
J.M.C.: I kind of do, although I have a problem naming less than a few. Definitely "Hugger of Trees", "Sweet Lovin'"...and then I could start rhyming off the rest of the record. It's amazing and I love all of them.
D.B.: Could you say the same about all the tracks off of your first album?
J.M.C.: I'm really not tired of any of them. I think they all stand out. I am still most comfortable with this record. I took my time. I'm pretty proud of it. I think that it sticks out as being different.
D.B.: How has your music evolved since its earlier days?
J.M.C.: I think that it's gotten…crazier. I don't want to be one of those guys that settle down. I get weirder and more far out. I have embraced my inner madman (laughs). It's been a process of discovery that everyone has to go through.
D.B.: What has been your biggest rock star moment?
J.M.C.: I'm afraid it's unprintable.
D.B.: What about a censored or PG-13 version?
J.M.C.: I've had lots of them; I could joke around. My biggest rock and roll moment is spoken from a compete music nerd, who would say: "the glory of working on this last record, completely the way that I wanted to do it, waking up at the studio and realizing that I have been doing this the way that I have wanted to for the last ten years and I'm still making all my dreams come true and partying on". That's pretty heavy.
D.B.: I'm going to press just a little farther, any embarrassing antidotes you can share.
J.M.C.: Is my Mom going to read this?? I always love partying with more that one fan at a time (laughs). I think there's not much to be embarrassed about. I like letting it happen.
D.B.: Explain an average night after you have finished performing.
J.M.C.: We like to hang. There are times we like to have a good hanging and meet people, go dancing or even end up at someone's house jamming. We ended up with a group of people that we met, swimming naked under the moon in the ocean. Actually, we went swimming two nights in a row down there. This other time we went to this punk rockers basement and had a wicked jam. Sometimes we just drive home listening to Bob Marley.
D.B.: Looking back in time, what groups have you played beside that you were initially awestruck by?
J.M.C.: I can go way back, when we first played with Groovy Religion and we were completely awestruck by them. Change of Heart. Rheostatics. When we were little kids, I couldn't believe that we were playing with Change of Heart. They became my close friends, but at one point they scared the shit out of me and became a heavy band. We have also played with cool underground acts like the Swirleys and Transistor from Winnipeg. When we played with the Hip, I had been a fan of theirs but had never seen them play and wasn't completely aware of what was going on with them. The first show we played with them was in Kingston in a little club and they completely blew me away. I was not aware of the incredible spiritual power that they unleashed when they played; the total magical elation that they bring, and the trip they bring their fans on to. Those guys are fucking magic. So that was pretty heavy. We have also played with other heavy bands like the Foo Fighters, but if I had to sum it up with who blew me away the most, I guess it would have to be the Tragically Hip.
D.B.: Would there be any one single band that you have not yet met or have not yet played with that would still be that much higher, sort of your ultimate dream to play with?
J.M.C.: Yes, I could name a few: Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Sparkle Horse. Those are bands that would be great to play with.
D.B.: What is your ideal vacation? What would you do with two months off?
J.M.C.: Make another record. Camp out with my girlfriend. Maybe move to Paris for two months with my girlfriend. Drive around Europe. Spend a lot of time naked.
By Dave Brosha, CanEHdian.com (October 10, 2001)
