After recently succeeding in becoming ‘Best International Newcomer’ for’ Kerrang!’ the Floridian group seemed to have found a common ground in the new generation of rock legends. I caught up with the band in Birmingham to see how things have changed with fame, and got the story from vocalist Gabriel Garcia and guitarist Austin Diaz.
Planet Loud – Welcome, Guys. How are you finding it here in England? Considering you come from Florida, how are you dealing with the weather?
Black Tide (Austin) – I love the weather here, yeah. Back in Florida it’s pretty much a swamp. I quite like the cold.
Planet Loud – In one of your interviews from Download 2008, you remarked that, ‘everyone over here is more into their music.’ Is there a type of audience that you prefer if you think that?
Black Tide (Austin) – I guess an audience that likes music. I like it when they get really into it.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah, I just like one’s who enjoy the fucking music.
Black Tide (Austin) – But I like it when they get into it. Back in the US they go crazy and make mosh pits everywhere.
So is there a big contrast to the reaction you get in the different countries you perform in?
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah definitely. Japan was a big difference. They just want to see and hear the music, they tend to just clap between songs, and it’s pretty quiet.
Planet Loud – Congratulations on the release of your debut Album ‘Light From Above.’ What’s the reception been like in the UK?
Black Tide (Austin) – It’s been great. I think so anyway. ‘Shout’s been on the radio for a while. And we won ‘Best International Newcomer,’ which was really cool. We were really pleased.
Planet Loud – So you’ve definitely made an impression.
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah I mean, pretty much.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah, that was all pretty cool.
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah, it’s awesome.
Planet Loud – You’ve toured with a lot of different bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Disturbed. What was it like touring with BFMV?
Black Tide (Austin) – It’s great.
Black Tide (Austin/Gabriel) – Those guys are awesome.
Black Tide (Austin) – We’ve known them for a while; we’ve toured with them in the US as well.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – The guys treat us really well, and we partied with them a lot.
Planet Loud – Gabriel, you’ve been playing guitar since you were eight and were taught by your cousin. Are you all self taught artists?
Black Tide (Austin) – Erm, no. I guess I started with lessons when I was like, ten. That was when I first started playing guitar. The only thing I was taught was how to play a song. Then I pretty much did everything myself.
Planet Loud – I know that you, Gabriel, have always said this is what you wanted to do, and school wasn’t really your thing. Have you all always felt this is the path you wanted to follow?
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah, music’s all around me. I went to school but I went to school for music. Performing is one of my favourite things. Music is life.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah, totally.
Planet Loud – Several of your influences started out at your age. They’re now considerably older. Do you still see yourselves doing this when you’re their age?
Black Tide (Austin/Gabriel) – Yeah definitely.
Black Tide (Austin) – We’ll see because things happen sometimes…and…livers…shrink.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah I mean I’m definitely going for it. No negative thoughts about it.
Black Tide (Austin) – I mean I just joined these guys so we’re just going to work and work and work.
Planet Loud – Gabriel, you’re fifteen now?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – No, I’m sixteen now.
Planet Loud – Do you find it daunting that the other band members are a little older than you?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I don’t know. It doesn’t feel that way, I mean we’re all friends too so we’re always hanging out.
Planet Loud – Are there any songs that you prefer to play live?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I like playing ‘Light From Above.
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah ‘Light from Above’ is one of my favourites. I really like that song. I really like ‘Show Me The Way’ and ‘Shout’ as well. To be honest I pretty much like the whole set. There are a lot that just seem to surprise you, like ‘Warriors of Time.’
Planet Loud – Are there any that you don’t prefer playing, even though you wrote them yourselves?
Black Tide (Austin) – Not really. I mean the playlists always differ. We don’t play every song at every show so it’s always changing.
Planet Loud – Considering you’ve come such a long way, is there anything you really miss when you’re away on tour?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Mostly friends I guess.
Planet Loud – At this point Darren wonders ‘What about the Alligators?’
Black Tide (Austin) – Oh yes and Alligators.
Planet Loud – (Dare to ask) What about the weather?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I certainly don’t miss the f*****g weather from here.
Black Tide (Austin) – I mean there are definitely a lot of people at home that we want to see. But after touring, I can’t be at home too long. I have to get back on the road. It feels good to be away sometimes.
Planet Loud – So are all your family’s supportive of what you’re doing?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah my family are and always have been really supportive.
Black Tide (Austin) – I love my Dad coz he’s always been really supportive of my music. I guess they’re ok with it because they’re really proud of us.
Planet Loud – You’re all teenagers. Is there anything else you do besides this job, like school? Or is this your only focus?
Black Tide (Austin) – Well I graduated high school and I didn’t go to college or anything like that. This is pretty much all I want to do.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I don’t really do anything either. I mean, I try to do online schooling but it can be pretty hard because we don’t have the internet on the road.
Planet Loud – What ideas do you have right now? Is there anything that you want to achieve in the near future?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I’m really exited to get back into the studio. I mean, we’ve got Austin in the band now so I’m really looking forward to working on a second album.
Planet Loud – Are there any people that you aim to or dream of playing with?
Black Tide (Austin) – I’m down for playing with anyone really. I’ll jam with anyone. It doesn’t really matter who they are.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – No, it doesn’t matter how big or little it is. We’d like to play with Metallica. We’ve never done a show with them.
Black Tide (Austin) – Not by ourselves but we did a festival with them.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – I’d actually like to do some stuff with Pantera, I think they’re pretty cool.
Planet Loud – What makes it all worthwhile for you? Is it the people you work with, the audiences you play to, or just the fact that you’re doing what you love?
Black Tide (Austin) – There are a lot of stories that come out of touring. Touring is a really good time. At times it can get hectic and people get fed up. A lot of the time I just like hanging out with you guys.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – It can get bad, but as long as you just take it day by day. I mean we’re all friends in this together, so friends always understand, and that can make everything worth it.
Planet Loud – So is it more of a case of making the music that you love or getting it out there and seeing the audience’s reaction?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Making the music pretty much.
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah making the music is definitely cool. I mean I didn’t have anything on this album, so hopefully on the next album we’re going to do some sweet stuff. But definitely, performing is great for me. I love seeing how people react to it.
Planet Loud – Is song writing a long process?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Well then next album is going to be a lot different because we actually have a limited time to write, whereas the first album was just songs we had for a while or wrote in the studio.
Planet Loud – Do you all have your different pieces and then you just put them together or is it something you work on together?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – Yeah, I mean normally we’ll just write some stuff then we’ll try and harmonise or we’ll help each other and then see what we can do with it or work with.
Planet Loud – Are there any embarrassing stories that have come out of your career so far?
Black Tide (Austin) – Well last night I fell down a flight of stairs and I was just passed out at the bottom, coz I was kind of in ‘party mode.’ That was in the hotel we were staying in. At one point I was running away from him! (Austin points to Gabriel) I don’t remember that but apparently he was checking if I was OK and I started running. I just remember lying there.
Black Tide (Gabriel) – We went to the Sound Bar or something for an after party and all the bands were just hanging out.
Black Tide (Austin) – Getting to know the bands too, a lot of the people were cool. People like 36 Crazyfists and Slipknot, all those guys are really cool.
Planet Loud – Is it easy to make music on tour? Or is it better to be settled in one place?
Black Tide (Austin) – Yeah it depends, I guess. I mean with our situation at home, we have time all the time even though we have to see family. Like at Mayhem, we had mini practice amps so we could just jam out in the tour bus.
Planet Loud – So what’s the next step?
Black Tide (Gabriel) – More touring pretty much. We have another year of touring then its pretty much back into the studio.
Black Tide (Austin) – We have been working on some stuff. Yeah we’re going to start writing soon and just see where things go from this point.
Interview by Holly Brookes
