Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/106363
Heaven Knows by STEPHANIE CRIDER Up & Coming Weekly recently heard from Daniel Montoya of Heaven Knows. UCW: Who are your band members and what instruments do they play? HK: Heaven Knows is the brainchild of Daniel Montoya, who plays all the instruments and, sometimes, is the voice of the project. Instruments include synthesizer, electric guitar and programming. Lately, several DJ tools have been added to the sound. Daniel Montoya UCW: Give us a brief history lesson on the band. When and where did you get started? HK: I had been always interested in electronic music production since first listening to Kraftwerk coming from a tiny radio at an early age. This interest was sparked, not only from the textures and layers made possible by electronic sounds, but also the possibility afforded to one-man projects. In that sense, electronic instruments offer incredible possibilities to realize a musical vision in terms of soundscapes, without the need of involving a great deal of people. After being involved in several bands as a teenager, and a long hiatus due to professional demands, I went back to music in the context of church bands. I have been a worship leader in several churches, which has been the main source of collaborations and live performances. Parallel to that, I DJ weekly on "En Voz Alta", a radio show at WFSS, 91.9 FM. The show has been on the air since 2006. Heaven Knows is the name adopted since 2010 to present the results of several months of recording and mixing. As it is, Heaven Knows is a laboratory band, still carrying around its experimental baggage. UCW: How did the band get its name? HK: Heaven Knows comes from my favorite song by The Smiths: "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now". The first few chords of that song are worth an entire music collection. UCW: How would you define your music? HK: Under the name Heaven Knows I had explored several styles rooted on ambient, but moving recently toward chillout and electronica. The first two albums, Dust and Ancient Ways, both released by Restore Productions, under the name Darwin Artyfact, explored these ambient themes in the context of mystical solitude. The most recent work, Dry Season under the name Heaven Knows, is a more rhythmic work with synth landscapes, still exploring lyrically the same mystical themes. In general, the lyrics were always patterned after the Psalms, eschewing the use of rhyme and privileging free verse, which has been a source of criticism. The new material attempts to follow established forms more closely. UCW: Who are your favorite bands/influences on your music? HK: Early electronic music such as Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Jean Michel Jarre, Depeche Mode, Vangelis and even Kitaro. More recently, I have to mention Moby, Biosphere, Orbital and the russian band Triangle Sun. UCW: Do you write your own music and where does that inspiration come from? HK: Yes. The whole purpose of Heaven Knows, and the previous projects, is to be a vehicle for freshly composed music. The inspiration, until now, came from mystical experiences and how to translate them into the everyday life; the struggles and frustrations of trying to bring meaning to our existence. The new material has moved its focus from those experiences, but still tries to recreate their positive influence in the now. UCW: If you only had two words to describe your band what would they be? HK: Silver Dance. UCW: What are your hopes/goals for the future of your band? HK: Heaven Knows is a hopeful name, since it seems to indicate that indeterminacy in the future, where anything can still happen. The immediate goals are to start playing live again, presenting the new material and working in the follow up to "Dry Season", which will be a more upbeat album. I'm also interested in developing collaborations with new vocalists and other musicians. UCW: Where can Fayetteville music lovers check you out in the near future? HK: The project Facebook can be found at www.facebook. com/heavenknows7. The official webpage is at heavenknows1. tk. My DJ work can be checked at STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMdj.beatport.com/heavenknows. MENTS? Editor@upandcomin- FEBRUARY 9 • SWEETHEARTS DANCE at Legend's Pub. 8 p.m. Admission is free. Call 867-2364 for more information. FEBRUARY 23 • BREAST CANCER RUN at Legend's Pub. Event starts at noon. Call 867-2364 for more information. MARCH 16 • RUN FOR THE GREEN at Legend's Pub. Just for fun poker run. Prizes and fun. Rain date March 17. Call 867-2364 for more information. APRIL 13 • 3RD ANNUAL PONY EXPRESS RIDE at Cape Fear Harley Davidson. Registration 8 a.m., ride 9 a.m. $15/single, $20 double riders. 50/50 raffle. Proceeds benefit Community Schools Scholarship/Turkey Drop/ Toy Drive. Call (813)380-1018 or visit ncbuffalosoldiers.com for more information. APRIL 20 • 8TH ANNUAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUN CHARITY RIDE at the Retired Military Association Bldg parkng lot. Registration 8 a.m. Ride at 9:30 a.m. $15 covers ride, breakfast and lunch. Proceeds benefit NC Special Olympics program. Call 677-5595 for more information. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard. org for more information about the group. Super Bowl Sunday February 3rd $7.00 Steak Dinners Call for more information 4624 BRAGG BLVD. The Big Ones • February 22 to 24, Charlotte Progressive International Motorcycle Show, Charlotte, N.C. • March 8 to 17, Daytona Bike Week, Daytona, Fla. • April 27, Hogs and Rags Rally, Fayetteville. • May 10 to 19, Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally, Myrtle Beach, S.C. • August 5 to 11, Sturgis, S.D. • October 2 to 6, Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally, Myrtle Beach, S.C. • October 17 to 20, Biketoberfest, Daytona, Fla. gweekly.com 18 UCW JAN. 30 - FEB. 5, 2013 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM