Interview with Madina Lake

Posted on Oct 9, 2007 by DevotedToMusic

Madina Lake are an American based rock band who have graced the radio and TV with hits such as ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Here I Stand’.

I Alexandra McLoughlin was lucky enough to catch up with Mateo to find out a bit about the band and his current side projects.

Hey What have you been up to lately?

Um…playing a lot of shows, having a lot of fun and most importantly eating a lot of cheesy fries.

I take it you love cheesy fries then?

I love them! I never had them before but this time I got really drunk and I tried them and now I’m addicted they are like crack. They are the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.

Where have you been getting them from then?

Just local Kebab shops wherever we play. We try to sneak out when there is nobody about and just get cheesy fries.

Have you had a Kebab yet?

Yes. I don’t like them very much.

They are very famous here in the UK…

Yeah, yeah, yeah I’ve tried Kebabs before but they are just really tough on my stomach so I like cheesy fries.

You seem to be in every magazine at the moment. How do your parents and friends react to that?

I’m not actually in all of the magazines. Most of the time it’s the twins. It’s pretty cool for me because I don’t have to do embarrassing photoshoots but I mean my parents love it and they are like ‘Oh my god you guys are getting huge!’ So it’s awesome! It’s pretty cool.

Are you getting used to stardom yet?

I don’t think we’re stars. I mean I can still walk around so I guess I’m not getting used to it yet.

I think you are getting quite big at the moment. Do you not feel famous at all?

Um….not really.

Does it not feel any different for you?

No. I mean there’s a lot more kids at the shows and they scream a lot more and get more nervous but I guess that’s awfully flattering.

Have you been jumped on yet by any of the fans?

Yes.

It must freak you out right?

Yes it’s kind of scary. The worst part is when they cry because I don’t know why they do it. I’m just like why are you crying? Don’t cry!.

Crying of happiness? Or being scared? (Laughs)

(Laughs) I don’t know! I don’t understand. I never understand that and now it’s happening and everyone is like ‘Oh my god!’ and I’m like what?!.

Do you have any tattoos?

Erm… yes! I have a tiny, tiny little tattoo.

Where is it?

(He pulls up the back of his shirt to reveal a small tattoo) Can you see it?

Yeah. What it is of?

It’s out of the currency in Columbia where I am from, from Bogotá Colombia. The currency has that symbol in it, that’s the 4 birds of equity. Before I came to live in the United States I got this tattoo so I wouldn’t forget where I came from.

How long have you lived in the US?

4 years, 5 years I dunno.

Do you still speak very good Spanish?

Yes it’s my first language.

I know that you’ve had 2 singles out so far House of Cards and Here I Stand. Which is your favourite?

Um…Here I Stand.

Why is that?

I don’t know. It just came out, out of those 2 let me think..I think I answered that too quickly. Yeah it might be Here I Stand because it’s more of a fun song and it bounces a lot better, I just like the rhythm it’s like 110 BPM which is a lot slower to dance to, you can jump to it.

Which song which you perform onstage makes the fans go maddest?

True Love.

What is the most pit like when you do that song?

It pretty much gets crazy and then it gets happy.

What is it like having a pair of twins in the band?

It’s easier because they don’t fight that much. If they were just like 2 other friends then they would fight a lot more because they are twins they get along a lot more.

Are they similar to each other in the way that they behave?

Defiantly not. They are very, very different people.

In what ways?

I dunno. They are just very different people like one of them has qualities that the other one doesn’t have. When I first met them I didn’t know them very well so I was confused because of their looks but now that I’ve spent 4 years with them they are very different people.

Talking more about you and your other projects. I know that you are currently working on the new Ashlee Simpson record and other projects. What other projects are you working on?

Um..just kinda Rock ‘n’ Roll songs. It’s just something I like to do for….last time I did it for Hilary Duff. It’s a lot of fun and paid really well. (Laughs).

You co-produced a track on Hilary Duff’s 2007 album. What was it like working on it with her?

Um…it was surprising.

Why was it surprising?

I dunno I just never worked with an artist like that, not with an artist that big. It was just pretty surprising.

Are you close friends with her?

Absolutely not.

How did you come about helping her with this record?

My publisher one of the guys that I work with, was working on her album and he called me and said ‘Hey do have any songs for Hilary Duff?’ and I was like no! and he was like ‘Write on!’ and I was like ok! And then I wrote it and got into the project.

Did you enjoy yourself?

Yeah it was fun.

Where there any up’s and down’s?

No it was a pretty smooth process. It was really awkward because I’ve never worked on that kinda music before. I like heavier stuff but it was pretty interesting and a lot of fun.

I read that you love Line-6 products. Why is that?

I think Line-6 is the future of guitar technology. It’s like when computers first came out and everyone was like ‘Oh my god! What is that?!’ nobody really understood and there was a lot of people that hated them but now they rule the world. That is pretty much what Line-6 is its guitar modelling. It saves you so much money, time and space. It’s just the most unbelievable tool that’s come out for the guitar player in the last 40 years or so.

Are you thinking of ever designing your own guitar technology in the future?

Yeah! I just got offered by a big, big company 2 days ago to do my own signature line of guitar so that’s going to be fun. I dunno if I’m gonna take it but probably. I think I’m gonna.

Have you ever just for the fun of it, designed your own guitar logo on a piece of paper?

No. Never.

Who are your role models in the guitar world?

In the guitar world I would have to say probably Dimebag Darrell and In the musical world I’ll have to say Trent Reznor for sure. He’s the man!

Have you met any of them before?

No.

I bet you would like to…

No certainly not especially Trent. I’d be terrified and wouldn’t know what to say. If he didn’t like my band I’d shoot myself.

Awwww…

Yeah it would be wayy to scary.

Are there any countries you want to play which you haven’t played yet?

I want to go to Columbia where I’m from really, really, really bad. We’ve never played there. We were supposed to play there this year but it got really complicated. We were going to go to do a festival in front of like 100000 people but like our tour was going on and it just got too complicated and we weren’t able to do it. Hopefully next year.

Have you played any shows in South America at all?

Not with Madina Lake. I’ve played shows with other bands like I used to be in a hardcore band when I was in Columbia so I played there, other then that nowhere else.

Are you enjoying it in England today?

Oh my god I’m loving it. I’m a little sad it’s over now but I love it.

Have you been doing anything crazy apart from gigging?

Drinking. I’ve been drinking like crazy. I haven’t drunk in like 3 years I don’t know why and then as of last month I just got back to drinking and I’ve been parting every night. It’s pretty weird so that’s what I’ve been up to.

And earlier in the interview you were talking about cheesy fries. Is there any other British food you really love?

I also like…I don’t even know what it is but it’s a little mushroom made of like bread…

Breaded mushrooms?

It’s not a mushroom.

It’s not?

No it’s a little cake that looks like a mushroom. You guys fill it up with some kind of sauce. No I know breaded mushrooms but it’s like I dunno man it’s like a little cake.

It doesn’t ring a bell.

I love it! I love it! You put like gravy in the middle of it. It’s so good.

Have you tried a Yorkshire Pudding?

Yes I’ve tried it. It’s pretty gross.

You don’t like Yorkshire Puddings?

It’s mixed flavour right? It’s a bit bizarre. I think I have tried everything. It’s one of those things I really did not like. Another thing I didn’t like is ..what is it?! Those chips that have like prawn? Um… flavouring..

Prawn Cocktail chips?

Yeah they are pretty terrible.

You don’t like Prawn Cocktail chips?

No they are terrible.

I want to talk a bit more about your drinking again. How many times did you get drunk?

Um..out of 11 shows I’d say I drunk about 9 or 10. (Turns around and asks a friend) How many times did I get drunk? …I dunno every night.

What is the maddest thing you did drunk?

Nothing really I just laugh a lot.

Is it like someone just put a helium balloon inside your mouth and your just really hyper after that?

No I wish! Laughing really and I think we drew stuff on our camera guys face and shirt or something like that. We spent a lot of time partying on this tour.

When are you guys going back home then?

Tomorrow unfortunately.

You sad about that?

Absolutely.

Are you looking forward to seeing you loved ones again?

Well… I don’t really have any loved ones right now so I’m not looking forward to it.

Have you got any pets?

No. I’m gonna buy a pet though. I think I’m gonna buy a cat.

What would you name it?

Um…Trent.

After Trent Reznor?

Yes.

I think he’d be honoured if he found out you named your cat after him. What type of cat do you want?

A Cheshire cat.

Do you think you will buy one then?

Probably not because I am very irresponsible and I can’t even take care of myself.

I bet you will be really jet lagged when you get back home?..

Yeah and I don’t wanna take care of anyone but myself.

Is there any member of the band that gets really stroppy when they are jet lagged?

No but I get in a really bad mood when I’m In the airport.

Why’s that?

Because I am terrified of flying. I hate flying!

Thank you for letting me interview you.

My pleasure.

Interview Information

Taken At:

The Forum in Kentish Town

Taken On:

October 4th, 2007

Interviewees:

Mateo- Guitar

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