UnderFire Interview

Interview date: 4.29.17

Max Carillo - Vocals/Guitar Favorite Color: Red

Brian Olivo - Vocals/Bass Favorite Color: Black, purple, and blue

Sean Taggart - Guitar Favorite color: Black

Jonny Beltran - Drums Favorite color: Green

When did UnderFire start?

2011

How did you get the name UnderFire?

Max: It’s like when you’re Under Fire, you’re representing your passion, your beliefs, everything that drives your desire to live.

How did you come together as a band?

Max: Columbia College. Sean’s been with us the longest for about two and a half years.

Jonny: Me and Brian were in a band for a while and that fell through. Later after sticking with UnderFire he told me they needed a drummer. We jammed once or twice and we instantly had chemistry.

Jonny Beltran on the Drums, photo credit Chris Volek

Who mainly writes the music?

Max: Originally it was just me, and then Brian and Jonny joined in December and now we co-write music. Everyone puts their own ideas into it. It’s a very collaborative process.

Do you write the lyrics or the music first?

Sean: 99.9 percent of the time I always write the music first and I usually like recording as I write.

Jonny: It always starts with one or two of us coming up with the music, and then someone else will come up with the chorus, like in our new song “Icarus”, and then from there it’s like a rolling tumble.

Do you always know what the song is about?

Brian: We have a lot of different topics that we like to cover but we go with what we feel. It’s like, you hear a song and it tells you what it wants to be about.

Brian Olivo on bass & Vocals, photo credit Chris Volek

What inspires you in songwriting?

Max: Us going through our own situations in life and then growing from it. It might be about friends who you thought you loved and when going through darker times, you know who really shows up for you. The themes could be about shadows, manipulation, betrayal, heartbreak, overcoming and what molds who you become. Its an emotional album. The audience can really relate to it.

What is the most important trait to have being in a band?

Jonny: When it comes down to it, it’s our passion for the music and how we perform together.

Max: The most important thing is being a family. It’s about being close, not staying mad over whatever and moving forward. Shits gonna go wrong and it’s a part of life.

How long have you guys all been playing music for?

Brian: I started when I was 11. I started on drums, then bass, then viola, then I got into production.

Sean : When I was 14 I heard Joe Satriani’s “Crystal Planet” for the first time. He’s a virtuoso guitar player and I really wanted to do that! I’ve been playing for about 13 years now.

Sean Taggart on Guitar, photo credit Chris Volek

Jonny: I started drums when I was really young, self-taught. I stopped playing in high school until I met Brian (bass player). I always played for fun on the side. I picked up guitar a little and currently ukulele. Luckily I met Brian and got back into it really hard.

Max: I started at 11, and thought guitar was the most impossible thing in the world, so I gave up like three times. At 13 I picked it up again and I’m like ok this is what I’m gonna stick to.

As a band what has your biggest accomplishment been?

Jonny: Honestly, I accomplished my life goal the first week of being in a band. Playing the House of Blues in Chicago has always been my favorite venue and my very first show with them was playing House of Blues. For the future our main accomplishment will be our new full length album.

Jonny Beltran on the Drums, photo credit Lianna Giovane

How often do you guys practice and play shows?

We practice twice a week. We play shows about once a month but now we’ve been focusing on finishing this album, which will be coming out in July 2017.

What are your biggest influences?

Sean: I’m big into Dream Theatre so I’m always trying to write more music that’s progressive.

Brian: Prog rock, post hardcore, I grew up playing punk, I’ve currently been getting into more electronic music and been trying to incorporate more electronic aspects into the band. I feel like that type of music has so much range and it’s just a broad area that no one’s explored yet.

Jonny: I listen to everything and everything influences me. I’m huge into reggae and punk will always be my go-to. I’m really into Logic the rapper. I love blink 182 and my favorite drummer will always be Travis Barker.

Max: Avenged Sevenfold, Papa Roach, and Steven Tyler. I love Steven Tyler because he is known to give random compliments back to everyone so I love how he makes others feel happy and spreads the joy. I want to be just like that.

What advice would you give other musicians?

Sean: Keep going!

Jonny: If you have a love and passion for it, do it.

Brian: Follow your passion.

Max: It’s fucking hard but don’t give up. Don’t do it for the money. Do it because you love it and everything else will come to you.