In today’s A-Z challenge, we tasked Santi Rivillas (SR) and Orlando Draven (OD) to take us through 26 questions and tell us all about Zeistencroix.
A song that made you want to make music?
SR: “March of the Pigs” by Nine Inch Nails. Chaos with precision.
OD: “You Don’t Fool Me” by Queen.
Best rider you’ve had?
SR: One that understood coffee is non-negotiable.
OD: It’s hard to choose, but the pizza at Dingbatz in New Jersey was the best!
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
SR: Watching the crowd sing a song that started as a voice memo on someone’s phone.
OD: Too many to count. In Ukraine, a guy wanted me to have sex with his wife.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
SR: “And soon you’ll realize that you’ll be losing more than yourself.” — Kontrol
OD: I have a couple, but they’re unreleased.
Easiest song you wrote?
SR: The one that came from instinct instead of overthinking.
OD: All songs are easy to write. It’s more about how much time I spend tweaking the production.
Favourite song in your set?
SR: The one that makes the room feel a little smaller.
OD: “Sick” and “Get It On.”
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
SR: Trent Reznor. A drummer can dream.
OD: I’d love to sing with Shirley Manson or Marilyn Manson.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
SR: Finding silence long enough to hear the next idea.
OD: Consistency and patience.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
SR: The quietest person in the room usually writes the heaviest parts.
OD: Santi is an art director.
Jokes you have in the band?
SR: “We’ll fix it in rehearsal.”
OD: —
Key to writing a song?
SR: Write something true. Heavy comes later.
OD: Open yourself and be a channel to let everything happen.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
SR: Far enough to forget what day it was.
OD: We played Canton, Ohio, and drove all the way down to Harlingen, Texas, for the second show.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
SR: Danny Carey. Every note has intention.
OD: Shifty from Crazy Town. He was a great guy.
New band you’d recommend?
SR: Humanity’s Last Breath.
OD: Fountain DC.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
SR: Gojira.
OD: Marilyn Manson or Ministry.
Place you’d most like to tour?
SR: Japan. We’d love to see how our music resonates there.
OD: Germany.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
SR: Don’t just consume music. Let it change you.
OD: —
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
SR: It reflects the tension between who we are and what the world expects us to become.
OD: The definition of Psychotronic feels very current and fitting for all the craziness we’re living through right now.
See us live at?
SR: Wherever the PA is loud enough to shake loose a few bad thoughts.
OD: On our next tour, which is going to be next year.
The old days of music were better than the current. Do you agree?
SR: Every generation thinks it lived through the golden age. Great music doesn’t care what year it is.
OD: Not really. Music is a reflection of its generation, and this one has great talent. The thing is, it needs to be discovered.
Unusual merchandise?
SR: A sample pack of the electronic textures and industrial sounds we use in our songs.
OD: Rammstein’s dildos from Liebe ist für alle da.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
SR: I’d love to strip one down to nothing but piano, electronics and vocals, then build it back into something crushing.
OD: I usually do them already, so I feel happy with all of them.
What do your fans mean to you?
SR: They’re proof that these songs belong to more people than just us.
OD: Fans are the people who connect with us, and we’re very particular, so it’s special to find people who resonate with us.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band-related injuries?
SR: Mostly sore wrists, ringing ears and the occasional reminder that cymbals always win.
OD: More like psychological damage, haha. But yeah, the shows are physically demanding.
You’re late for a show. Whose fault is it?
SR: Traffic. Or the guitarist. Usually both.
OD: Santi’s.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
SR: A raven. Observant, loud when it matters and probably smarter than people expect.
OD: An eagle.