As music progresses, new musicians continuously emerge. Thousands sprout from place to place, high and dry, around God’s good earth. Many we will never know of. Is the history of music, ranging from the “original” classic rock to the “new” classic rock, a series of buried talent that just doesn’t exist in the world today? Or was it all simply buried in technology? I believe it is far from buried, but technology is a taller building that cast a shadow over the common eye.
Of those thousands hidden, there certainly will be “musicians” who will remain and should remain in quotations for his or her lack of originality and bite. And of those the world is uninformed of, but SHOULD be singing themselves to sleep with is the voice of Jorge Gonzalez, current front man for ISO. ISO is certainly not Jorge’s first commitment to the music industry by far. Singing, certainly not his only effort. ISO is Jorge’s SEVENTH band. Jorge, however, was not always the lead vocalist, which was surprising for me to learn in our interview after I had attended numerous ISO shows. Each show I certainly left “Spiritualized.” This interview begins in a small coffee shop somewhere in the masses of Manhattan. This is certainly not my first time in a room with Mr. Gonzalez. The first time I recall was sometime in 1997 or so when his first band Ink and Dagger, better known for their theatrical onstage performances as the “Philadelphia Vampires,” played for me and the rest of the Indie rats in the lovely Staten Island. As I sit with Jorge I observe his fragile and somewhat anxious appearance. I am not sure where to even begin. As I know that Jorge is not the original guitarist of Ink and Dagger I begin my questioning of his past experiences.
Jorge, where did you begin in your chain of bands?
I began as the guitarist of Ink and Dagger late in 1996. I played with them until September or October or so of late 1998. I quit Ink and Dagger because I wanted more melody, you know like a pop band. I wasn’t really into fights at shows.
IM: What sorts of bands did you gravitate towards?
JG: My first band after Ink and Dagger was called The Series, which I was in with the keyboard player from Delta 72 and the drummer from Favorite Sons. It was like four part harmonies and somewhat psychedelic Beach Boys-like melodies. The next band I joined was called The Interpreters. We were on RCA, but right before The Strokes came out we were dropped.
IM: What did you play in this band?
JG: I played guitar, but I was tired of it. You practice for months and months and all the time. Honestly I just wanted to sing. I eventually got kicked out and ended up spending some time modeling. I moved to Paris and ended up starting a band called Soundtrak.
IM: What sort of music was this band?
JG: It was like early U2 meets New Order, sort of like older years of The Cure. We signed a development deal with Island Records, but it folded because of empty promises. Our bass player was just tired, you know? He wasn’t into it anymore.
IM: So, who did you first meet in ISO?
JG: Jared was first. Jared, Ari, and Joey were together at first. After Jared and I met, I joined and then we brought in our drummer, Nick.
IM: Are you very social or friendly with your band mates?
JG: I mean I wouldn’t say I’m not friendly, but we don’t hang out all the time. I keep to myself. I think you look smarter when you don’t say anything. I think that we are almost “there.” These guys have a lot of energy and are very talented and I think we can become a great band.
IM: Has anyone ever compared you to older Verve or Oasis?
JG: Not old Verve. I feel like we’re an American Oasis, but not as jockey or frat-like. I don’t really like old Verve. It’s like ‘get to the point already.’ There’s too much reverb. Newer Verve is songier.
IM: Who are your top five influences?
JG: Okay…Elvis, The Beatles, U2, The Stones, and The Pixies.
IM: What is your favorite lyric you have ever written? Please specify if this is NOT an ISO lyric and if not then what is your favorite ISO lyric?
JG: I would have to say that the chorus of Available Memory is my favorite lyric. I feel it really captures the emotion of betraying someone and the guilt involved. This is a Soundtrak lyric: “But the fear in your eye held a tear that was right in its place. Would you love to erase available memory of?” As far as ISO, I would have to say that the lyrics to Season are my favorite, mostly cause its not about a girl, but the overall vibe that everyone has been giving me these days.
JG: I really like Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields. His lyrics remind me of Roger’s and Hart musicals with their dry wit and elegant cynicism. “I don’t want to get over you” is my favorite of his.
IM: Where does most of your inspiration come from?
JG: Pain, anger and sadness mostly…I don’t know why. I have tried to write happy stuff, but I feel it is not familiar territory for me. It always comes out sounding sarcastic.
IM: Do you believe you were fated into your current career?
JG: What fucking career? Just kidding. I don’t believe in fate, I believe in God’s providence. He has a plan down to the hair on our head. That doesn’t mean things are going to be terrific, but he will ultimately use my life for his greater good. All I can do as a Christian is try to lead a life in the image of Christ, spread the gospel and be thankful and aware of the gifts I have been given.
Do you feel that musicians only have two fates, as some might suggest (i.e. complete success and fame or a go no where no one type of lifestyle)? Why do you think some of the most talented musicians do not achieve fame, success, respect / respectable fans?
I think if people work hard and don’t rely so much on back up plans, they will have some sort of career in music. I am pretty much unemployable in any other field so this is all I know. I think the reason a lot of musicians don’t make it has to do with the industry these days. In the nineties, record labels had a huge surplus of cash to help bands grow with due to the absurd profit margin of CD sales. Now, almost no one buys CDs. Now, they want a band with a built in audience of 75,000 people. In order to do this, one must have tons of money to promote, record and manufacture music. If you don’t have an investor, or a trust fund, you won’t have time to make enough money pay for all of this. So most musicians give up or just do it as “poker night.”
IM: Lastly, are you pleased with you current band’s name?
JG: I mean ISO kind of sounds like a hole you put a crazy person in. I think band names aren’t that important. I am really bad with band names…I mean Soundtrak, what the fuck is that? I think someone should name their band Craig’s List, the band that’s got everything.
And that was a final and hilarious note of our interview. He made me laugh and made me quite intrigued. Each time I have seen ISO live I am completely awestruck and impressed. I do agree with Jorge’s statement about a band becoming known that already possesses a built in audience, but I hope that this small audience expands to the millions. I also hope that I can at least beguile you into giving this band a listen. It will feel like the first time you heard the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on the radio and thought, “Wow, it’s been a while since a band came out that was good.”
For more information, check out: http://www.myspace.com/isoband
