Interview and Editorial Shoot by Annsley Jennings — @annsleymedia

Noisegate is an up and coming rock group based in the city of Houston, Texas. Houston has been known for their plentiful rock and metal scenes in recent years, particularly for styles falling within the subgenres of alt rock and thrash metal. Journalist and head of photography Annsley “AJ” Jennings hopped on the chance to sit down with all four members to answer some eye opening questions and to take some editorial photos to introduce readers to the true soul of Noisegate.

A Conversation With Noisegate

Who are the current members and what do they contribute to the band?

(Reese Coleman, Bass): Well, we have Mateo (Guitarist). He's where all our songs start. He brings us the riffs for any original we've written so far. Me and Leo (Bassist & Drummer), we make sure that Mateo's vision of the song can be flashed out with moving bass lines and groovy drum rhythms. Lincoln is our singer and lyricist. Any lyrics, vocal melodies, harmonies, and all thematic meaning behind lyrics are all thanks to his expertise.

(from left to right) Lincoln, Leo, Mateo, and Reese

How and when did your band start?

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar) : The band started when I had left my previous band “Tracing Paces”, I had known Lincoln for a while before then from playing shows together. A couple of days after our final tour concluded, I went to go see Zephyr Island play and got to talking with Lincoln about wanting to make a new band, one that had more of a darker and heavier sound akin to Alice In Chains, Black Sabbath and other bands, luckily Lincoln liked the idea and it was then that I asked him to Join and so the first incarnation of Noisegate was born.

How did you choose your band name?

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): The name was my idea, we didn’t have a band name yet but we had a show to prepare for and I suggested Noisegate which the guys liked and has since stuck.

What genre or genres of music would you say your band falls under?

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): Definitely heavy rock or metal, with most of our existing material falling into the former. We may lean heavier in the future, though.

(Leo, Drums): I would say like grunge but more of that hard rock kind of style like some of that divorced dad stuff.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): Avenged Sevenfold, any of Chris Cornell's projects, Mastodon, TOOL, Deftones, and a local band that was known as Adult Superstition

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): My main guitar influences are famous players such as Jake E Lee, Zakk Wylde, and Tony Iommi. In addition, I get a lot of inspiration from my friends in the scene such as my friends Ron from frequent Feedback, and both Cole & August from Thrower.

(Reese Coleman, Bass): My influences come from lots of different genres. Depending on what the song calls for, I take influences from Deftones for the heavier parts. But for any softer parts or "bass solos" I take lots of influence from early jazz artists like Jimmy Garrison or Victor Wooten.

(Leo, Drums): I’d say my influences are really whatever I’m listening to at the moment. Recently though, it’s been a mix of Joey Castillo from all his work with Zakk Sabbath, Austin Carango from his work with Mom Jeans, and Jimmy Chamberlin because recently I’ve been super into the pumpkins and one band that’s always been very inspiring for my playing is Red Hot Chili Peppers; Chad Smith is great at using simplicity to make a song really pop.

Please explain your creative process.

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): The creative process for us always starts with a riff, whether that be a bass riff or a guitar riff, that is the starting point. Once one of us presents a riff we either work on it at home to get some ideas down before rehearsal or if we come across the riff in practice we record it to save and then continue the writing. When the instrumental has a base, Lincoln is able to write the lyrics and melody. At that point we just go about adding and subtracting sections until we are satisfied with the song.

Leo

What was it like to play as a band live for the first time?

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): Exciting. Our first show was a house show essentially. We played on a stage in someone's backyard to a pretty big crowd. It was nerve-wracking, but we did pretty well. Mateo and I are the only two members remaining from that lineup.

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): For me, it was really nerve racking. Although I had a great group behind me, I was still worried about my performance. Leaving a band always gives me feelings of insecurity about my writing or playing but it all went away once we started playing and I realized that I’m not alone on stage.

How is playing live and writing music in the studio connected?

(Leo, Drums): Sometimes while playing live, the energy can take you either by mistake or on purpose: you end up doing something that actually sounds good and maybe you put that onto a different song or add it into the song your already playing, but I think it alters the energy in which the music itself is played.

(Reese Coleman, Bass): I feel playing live is essential to us getting the studio writing done. There are just times when playing a song live that you try to play something different then what you wrote and it sounds so much better and you can make a song great by going off on a ledge and trying new riffs or fills.

What do you like to do outside of music that contributes to your musicality?

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): I enjoy hanging out with my band mates outside of music. It’s not often that your band is just a group of friends like we are. We play games online, go to concerts together and hang out on almost a weekly basis, I definitely think that it helps us keep a good chemistry which we can apply to the band.

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): Keep an eye on politics and the movement of the world around us. I also like to play video games a lot.

(Left) Lincoln Coronado

What do you hope your music does for people?

(Reese Coleman, Bass): I know it sounds cliché but I hope our music brings happiness. I've been playing music live since I was in middle school and it has always brought me so much joy and I try to make every song a reflection of the joy music has brought me pretty much my entire life.

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): Firstly, I hope it opens their eyes to the struggles of their own selves and their peers. We've written about class issues; how our elite manipulate the general public and twist things to fit whatever narrative fits their agenda, addiction, and generational trauma, with plenty more to come. Secondly, I hope people jam the fuck out to it!

Anything you want to say to your fans or people who support you?

(Mateo Maldonado, Guitar): We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you. Thank you for taking a chance on us as a band and we hope to make you feel something with our music. I get so excited meeting you all because it doesn’t feel like we’re just growing but, as if we are creating a community that I would love to be part of.

(Lincoln Coronado, Vox): HI I LOVE YOU THANK YOU!

(Reese Coleman, Bass): Thank you so much for all of y'alls support! We love each and every one of you and we feel the love and energy from y'all when we play your favorite songs.

(Leo, Drums): Thank you all for being so supportive and amazing and dedicated to us! I promise we reciprocate the energy!