Laguaria are a post hardcore band from West Orange, NJ.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Alexander Rodriguez - Guitars/Vocals
Nick Toscano - Screamed Vocals
Mike Moraes - Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Laguria? How long has the band been around?
Alex and Nick were a part of numerous bands before Laguaria. The first being The Notorious Cleopatra which was a hardcore/punk band that was very short lived. Following that, Nick and Alex formed Results May Vary with bassist Dylan Lawrence, vocalist Marios Athanasiou and rhythm guitarist Paul Rodriguez. Nick played drums in this band. Results May Vary was also short lived but played one off-the-wall backyard birthday party in West Orange, NJ. Laguaria formed in January of 2014 with Nick and Alex finding a real direction in metalcore and posthardcore music.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The origin of Laguaria is quite simple and funny. Our drummer Mike's father is a pilot and as we were brainstorming names for the band we thought of La Guardia airport. The Spanish words mean "the guardian" and we thought that'd be cool but the name was taken by a popular band in Spain. So we mushed the words together and took out the "d". Thus, Laguaria was born. The word means nothing, as far as we know.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Alex writes all of the guitar parts. We lost our bassist and rhythm guitarist so right now he writes everything. We use a backing track for live performances. Nick Toscano writes many of the vocals. Most of our songs revolve around relationships and inner struggles. Anxiety, prescription medication dependence and politics are common themes. Our song "Pirate Song" is best described as a rambunctious party fest. Our writing is certainly evolving over time.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Alex is heavily influenced by guitarists Thomas Erak (Fall of Troy) and Will Swan (Dance Gavin Dance.) Nick Toscano is a huge fan of Avenged Sevenfold, Enter Shikari, Parkway Drive and bands of the like. Mike Moraes has heavy modern metalcore influence (Of Mice & Men, Bring Me The Horizon, Issues) but also revels in technical influences (like Matt Halpern of Periphery.)
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
It is hard to attribute the inspiration to one single event. Speaking for myself (Alex), the whole festival environment (Warped Tour) and the underground DIY (do it yourself) scene and local shows really got me into forming a band and making people happy.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
Nick and myself do vocal warm ups that we have learned from mastermind vocalist and musical genius Joel Monet of Circuitry (who also produced our debut EP.) I'm trying to quit smoking cigarettes, but until I do, I usually smoke right before we go on.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
The biggest highlight would probably be releasing our debut record "Bonkers." It is available on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and most other online music retailers. You can find it here: laguaria.bandcamp.com
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
I would personally love to tour with The Fall of Troy, Dance Gavin Dance or any of the bands on Blue Swan Records. Mostly because these styles have inspired me most musically. I enjoy most bands on Rise Records as well (DGD, Issues.)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We are looking to do big things in the coming year (finishing our full-length and doing some small tours!)