A Dirty Dozen with AIDAN ESCALANTE from DONELLA DRIVE – November 2024

According to a recent press release: “San Antonio-based alternative rock band Donella Drive has just released their latest single, “Simian Transmission”, alongside an animated video. “Simian Transmission” is available now on all streaming platforms, and the music video can be found on Donella Drive’s official YouTube channel. Combining elements of alternative metal, post hardcore, and progresssive rock, San Antonio outliers Donella Drive cannot be categorized by a singular label. Consisting of Aidan Escalante (lead vocals/guitar), Andrew Salazar (bass), Steven Rodriguez (Drums). Donella Drive has expanded upon the previous boundaries of their work since their inception in 2012.” We get vocalist / guitarist Aidan to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

If you reverse the song you’ll hear satanic messages.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

It was always around, growing up in a family of musicians. It was a pretty intuitive thing for me.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Hard to answer as there are tons of artists who have inspired me. But in the beginning, Mike Patton showed me that a musician doesn’t have to be tied down to a particular style. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez was also pretty inspirational for similar reasons.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

80’s Thrash metal, Mike Patton, The production of El-P, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, and pretty much any artist on Warp Records.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

My grandpa. He was an amazing accordion player and I’m bummed I never got to jam with him.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I once heard someone diss our band by calling us “weird Metallica shit” and I kind of love that. So I’d say we’re like a weird funk metal band, with prog and psych elements. A comparison that made me cringe on the other hand? I heard someone say we sounded like Never Shout Never. Like wtf was that?

7. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Creating and playing music.

8. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Andrew is a pretty good cook. I bring beers to practice, but I usually just end up drinking by myself.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I met Jack Black and Dave Chapelle last year. That was pretty mind blowing.

10. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Professional slacker.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Not really. I think things are meant to play out the way they’re supposed to.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Seeing the recording process for Subtle’s album For Hero: For Fool. It’s such an amazing and creative record. I’d be curious to see how the songs were written and structured. Subtle is grossly underrated and slept on.

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Category: Interviews