Back in the early ‘90s, three American musicians headed south of the border — packing little more than their instruments, their rocker attitude and a sense of adventure. These three guys have now spent more than a decade in the high Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico, honing their skills and defining what they believe in, while absorbing the music, language and culture of their latin friends. After many years of friendship, jam sessions, and performing every genre imaginable in other groups, Psychostasia came together in January 2007...three Mexicanized American rockers and one Mexican drummer with a passion for ROCK. That’s Psychostasia.
Psychostasia’s songs...
No single song epitomizes Psychostasia’s sound. You get sweet riffs (a la Floyd) one minute and a raw and ruthless adrenaline rush (Metallica-esque) the next.
Melodies and lyrics reflect modern-day conflicts and challenges ... realism infused with a dose of optimism. Expect a lot of ups and downs, multiple textures, rhythm changes, and climactic endings,
According to the band, "The tracks are raw and potent, from the cradle to the grave. We go for VIBE rather than technical perfection."
FAQs Answered by the Band
Q. What does Psychostasia mean? A. “We get asked this a lot. Psychostasia is an ancient Greek word referring to a spiritual plane where souls are weighed prior to battle to determine each combatant’s worthiness. The word just seemed to parallel real life, so we went with it. Also, everything else seemed to already be taken!”
Q. What is the biggest challenge in promoting your band? A. “Probably the same thing that has made our music different ... isolation from the world music scene, so our songs come from inside us. And thanks to the web and sites like Best of Bands, even a group from a tiny pueblo in Mexico is able to reach out.”
Favorite Quote, according to the Band:
“At the moment, Beno Albarran, host of Channel 2 / Televisa’s Leyendas del Rock (Rock Legends) program, who recently called Psychostasia ‘the best rock group in Mexico.’ That meant a LOT to us!”
BIO: Daniel Cordero (Lead singer, rhythm guitar, keyboards) Zodiac Sign: Libra Favorite Hobby: Inventing Heroes: Bob Marley, Steven Tyler
Philosophy: I’ll live while I’m alive and sleep when I’m dead! When not playing in Psychostasia, Daniel performs solo at restaurants, bars and special events, singing originals and all-time rock, blues, reggae and latin favorites in both Spanish and English — using a classical electric acoustic guitar.Songs from his 2006 unplugged album can be heard at http://www.danielcordero.com/. Although hearing impaired, Dan plays ten instruments and is one of those rare and gifted individuals who can “feel” the vibrations of sound. It is this special ability which led him to explore the dynamics of sound frequencies and their effect on the human body, mind and psyche. Daniel’s passion is music. He loves to perform — which he invariably is asked to do wherever he goes — so much so that during performances he must usually be reminded to take a break every few hours. Daniel is very laid-back and mellow off-stage. Onstage, he transforms into a compelling, dynamic performer.
BIO: David Cordero (Lead guitar & harmonies) Zodiac Sign:Scorpio Favorite Hobby:Design, Writing Heroes:Joe Satriani, Slash, SRV, Jimmy Page Philosophy:The “Golden Rule” David brought his electric guitar across the border, and devoted every spare moment to exploring its possibilities. His favorite pasttime is what he calls “noodling”... experimenting with different sounds, chords, and techniques. In 1995, David and brother Daniel started an in-house recording studio. Over the years in their adobe-walled home studio, the brothers have recorded numerous jingles, commercials, and bands in a variety of genres. David is a graphic designer and certified Photoshop expert. Most of Psychostasia‘s design work is done by him.
Off-stage, David might be seen as the most serious member.However, anyone who has seen him get down and party can tell you that impression is deceiving!
On-stage, David definitely puts the introverted, serious image to rest with body contortions and flying, waist-length hair. He throws himself into his performances, playing for sheer enjoyment, and it’s payoff time for all those hours spent “noodling.”
BIO: Bryan James(Bass, vocals) Zodiac Sign: Leo Favorite Hobby:Video editing Heroes: Flip Nicholson, George W. Bush (NOT!) Philosophy: If there’s grass on the field, play ball! Bryan is the youngest member of Psychostasia, but also the one with the most performing experience. Tall, blonde and long-haired, Bryan is often mistaken for a 3rd Cordero brother, until one sees those baby blue eyes. Born in Colorado, Bryan has lived most of his life in Mexico. At the age of only four, Bryan began appearing with the house band in the family nightclub. “I remember playing a 1979 Gibson Les Paul that weighed more than me.” he says, “I could only make it through about four songs before I had to sit down.” Today, Bryan plays multiple instruments and owns a music store / recording studio where he gives lessons and helps his students start bands of their own. Offstage, Bryan is spontaneous and outgoing. He cracks jokes, and makes no bones about liking the girls. Onstage, he plays a mean bass with great moves.
BIO: Diego Rivera (Drums) Zodiac Sign: Libra Favorite Hobby: Painting & drawing Heroes: John Bonham, my mom
Philosophy: Keep it simple and real! Diego is the oldest of (gulp!) 12 siblings born in Jalisco to a multi-generational family of accomplished musicians. By age 13, he was already playing in established bands. Off-stage, Diego is humble, but always the jokester.On-stage he is deadly serious and doesn’t hesitate to get flamboyantly wild. He has been known to dye his hair any color, cut or style it in whatever crazy look he’s into at the moment, pierce anything, and twirl and toss his drumsticks with skillful abandon. Like his namesake, one of Mexico’s most famous painters, Psychostasia’s Diego is a talented artist; his murals can be seen in public plazas and businesses around the area. Diego helps support his family by giving drum lessons at Bryan’s music store/studio and as an electrical contractor. He is the true athlete of the group, giving him almost unlimited stamina when on Psychostasia’s drum throne.
For more on Psychostasia, check out: http://www.psychostasiarock.com http://www.myspace.com/psychostasia
