What are your names?
DENIO consist of Mike Davis, Andres Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez and Bill Caple
What is your genre of music?
Alt/Electronic Indie
How did you come up with the bands name?
The name comes from a game we used to play as kids, it sums up our childlike enjoyment when we write and play music together.
Give us a little bio about you as a band and individuals.
We’re a group of good friends that are serious about music, but we always make sure we are having fun with it. We have different music tastes; Dan is a big lover of jazz and Bill used to play heavy metal before we formed DENIO. We all played football and hockey in our younger days except Bill, because he hates it. Mike and Dan live in London studying slightly different music degrees at Westminster and West London Universities respectively and also work. Andres works in a restaurant and Bill pulls pints in a pub and does some acting on the side.
Are you a signed?
Not yet
You’re set to release your new song ‘Golden’, tell us what its about.
It was written about the moment you realize someone is a bit of a gem, but it could be too late to do anything about it.
What message are you trying to tell your fans?
The songs are always stories about our experiences. They’re conversations which we hope that people can connect and relate to.
Describe the track in two words.
Absolute banger.
What was the writing process like?
The writing process for all of our music so far as been very ‘organic’. We usually jam in rehearsal, find something we like, Mike goes to his book of wizardry and comes back with some lyrics, we jam a bit more and then we have the majority of the song.
What was the recording process like?
We work closely with producer Rob Whiteley (Whitewood Recording Studios, Liverpool). Anyone who works with him knows that he knows his stuff, and he always adds his touches and helps us to re-arrange the song to make it into the final product that you hear. We try to make sure we nail our parts quickly in the studio to give Rob time to work his voodoo magic on the track.
Who did you show the single to first?
Fairly sure it would be our girlfriends and parents first.
Do you have any gigs or festivals coming up?
We try to make sure that we don’t play too many gigs; we prefer playing once every few months and making it special rather than play every week and drag the same people to each one.
What made you go in to music?
Andres and Dan have been playing music since very young ages, Bill was given a drum kit at the age of 10/11 and Mike has always had music around him because of his dad, who is a huge music fan. I think Andres, Mike and Dan especially knew they wanted to do music when going into GCSE/Sixth Form years.
You’ve received support from BBC Radio Merseyside, how was that for you?
We are always very grateful and surprised to get the seal of approval from the likes of Dave Monks and Sean McGinty (BBC Introducing Lancashire). Dave played some of our previous band stuff so sending him the new band material was a bit of a make or break moment, as we weren’t sure if it was any good.
What was your first reaction?
Probably relief.
Do you play any instruments?
Dan plays piano/keyboard/synth, drums and a bit of guitar. Bill is doing enough with his limbs on the drums to focus on anything else which is fair enough. Mike sings and plays guitar, and Andres plays guitar, bass and piano, although the latter needs some practice.
Who are your influences?
It’s a very electric mix, and it changes for each band member. To keep it short I’ll say a mixture of Talking Heads, Foals, Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Tame Impala The Smiths, Alt-J, The Stone Roses and maybe some Tom Misch.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
It usually comes naturally. A random jam will produce something we really like, Mike get’s excited and throws lyrics at it and bam, new tune. Mike usually writes about personal experiences and will write things in a book, and then go back to them when we come up with some instrumental stuff.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Either headlining Glastonbury or some form of teaching.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Working our respective jobs/going to University/occasional gaming.
If you could collaborate with one UK Artist or band who would it be and why?
Foals. Just think they have paved a way in indie music, and would love some insight into how they do it.
if you could collaborate with one US artist or band who would it be?
Toto. Africa. Enough said.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Hard to give it to a song, but as a collective we would probably say the album ‘An Awesome Wave’ by Alt-J. Completely changed the way we look at music.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Don’t burn bridges as you go, or something like that.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Make sure you’re enjoying what you are doing.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Comparison is the thief of all happiness.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Instruments, jack leads, breakables, drum sticks and Mikes pedalboard.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Facebook
