MANUEL CASTILLO
METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Manuel. So glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
Half Blood is a Santiago, Chile based metal band that formed in 2014. What else can you say about the band that everyone needs to know about?
MANUEL: Everything you hear from us is honest, is the mix of every member of the band, is our guts, our happiness, hate, and love. Take a listen, you could hear something from your side too.
MPAP: If you like this band, then you will like Half Blood. Which band, or bands, would that be?
MANUEL: We think that we have direct influence from Tool, Slipknot, Sepultura, Gojira, Korn, etc.
MPAP: You have a new record coming out soon? It is supposed to be released mid-year? Are you able to give out a release date on it yet?
MANUEL: We are working hard on the date, but we have nothing yet, ‘cause we are expecting a bigger surprise!
MPAP: What can you tell us about the self-titled full-length EP? What can everyone expect to hear on it?
MANUEL: We pushed ourselves hard on this writing process 'cause we didn’t wanted[sic] an average album. We wanted the best songs we could pull from ourselves and also a sonic journey, not just the same songs, and the same patterns
over and over for the entire album, so there's anger, darkness, melody and a lot of energy!
MPAP: Logan Mader was also involved with it?
MANUEL: Yes!
MPAP: He has also produced for Gojira, Cavalera Conspiracy, Fear Factory, Five Finger Death Punch, along with many others. How did you get him on board to work with Half Blood?
MANUEL: We spoke with him about the project, then showed some demos, he really digs the songs he listened to so he was on board as a long distance consultant about the demos, and finally, he mixed, mastered, and recorded the vocals on[sic] his studio, what an experience.
MPAP: How was that being able to work with him in the studio?
MANUEL: It was challenging, we are from Chile, a really small and far country, so the pressure of being in the studio with someone like him was big, but also a dream come true and a reward to our hard work.
MPAP: Any war stories you can tell that happened behind the scenes in the studio?
MANUEL: The album was written by everybody, let me give you an example, someone had a riff, but that riff was changed involving every member of the band, then after a few songs we knew were we wanted to go in terms of songwriting, so it was like a snowball, from less to more involving every moment of the band at that moment.
MPAP: How soon until Half Blood hits the road and does a tour?
MANUEL: We already played here on[sic] Chile, and we have more dates to announce, also working on trying to schedule a tour sooner than later.
MPAP: A lot of bands can’t tour The United States, or even other Countries because it costs so much to apply for work visas and all the paperwork that goes with it and the time it takes. Will you be able to tour The United States in the near future?
MANUEL: We are working with some big names from EEUU, like Mikey Doling and High Road Publicity, so hopefully, we can end up doing a North American tour.
MPAP: It is also tough for new bands to start out and get somewhere right away?
MANUEL: It’s a hard business right now on getting attention from labels or booking agencies, we think that the first step is make[sic] a fanbase, hopefully, a big one, then things could be a little easier.
MPAP: What have been some of your struggles so far being a new band?
MANUEL: We can handle the local press, local tours or opening spots, but internationally speaking is really hard to get any of those, especially with a band from Chile, a country people only known for earthquakes and our soccer team.
MPAP: A lot of bands these days independently self-produce their music or do a Go Fund Me campaign to help. Why do you think the music industry has changed so much that major record labels are few and far between for new up and coming metal bands?
MANUEL: Now the loss factor is bigger than ever, nothing really can assure you a big investment on something so volatile like a band, I think that’s the biggest concern on the major labels, and that’s why bands who already have a big fanbase got signed, is a win-win deal.
MPAP: Are you able to make a sustainable and profitable living off your music yet?
MANUEL: No, absolutely not, but we had that clear since day 1, the first album always is the foundation of what will come latter, also the big first investment.
MPAP: What changes would you like to see in the music industry to allow you to make a living from your music and your band?
MANUEL: I don’t really know…but let me tell you what I think is the biggest complication nowadays, we don’t have a big budget, and for a record, you must have a really big budget, for production, promotion, videos, publicity, radio playing, social media publicity…etc. That’s what’s holding back some really good bands.
MPAP: Care to give any advice to the teenage kids playing metal music in a small garage hoping to make it big one day?
MANUEL: If you really love this, and you are really sure that this is your thing, then don’t listen to other people and sometimes don’t even listen to your own parents, just do what you love ‘cause you are the one that’s living your life, also be smart, pay attention not only to the music, pay attention on[sic] how you have to promote your music, how the booking agency work, collaborate with other bands and on top of that, be real, try to be the best on your instrument, study your instrument and be ready to kill it on stage!
MPAP: Who influenced you growing up?
MANUEL: My grandfather, he is my real-life hero.
MPAP: What got you into music?
MANUEL: I don’t know why, but when I was 13, I was watching the Nirvana unplugged and it was something there, something really special that simply caught me and then I decided, that’s what I want to do with my life. The funny thing is that I don’t even like Nirvana that much!
MPAP: Was metal music your first genre you listened to?
MANUEL: When I was a kid I really loved hip-hop, my favorite band was “Tiro de Gracia” Chilean hip-hop band.
MPAP: Some will say music saved their lives, do you agree with that, and do you have any stories or experiences you care to share?
MANUEL: I don’t know what would be with my life without music, it is therapeutic as hell, the best way to heal and express yourself .
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I would like to thank you, Manuel, for taking the time to speak with us. Look forward to what Half Blood does for the rest of 2017 and beyond.
MANUEL: Thank you!
MPAP: Any last words for the readers and your fans out there?
MANUEL: We are killing ourselves to get our music everywhere, so when we arrive on[sic] your town you better be there!
Half Blood is a Santiago, Chile based metal band that formed in 2014. What else can you say about the band that everyone needs to know about?
MANUEL: Everything you hear from us is honest, is the mix of every member of the band, is our guts, our happiness, hate, and love. Take a listen, you could hear something from your side too.
MPAP: If you like this band, then you will like Half Blood. Which band, or bands, would that be?
MANUEL: We think that we have direct influence from Tool, Slipknot, Sepultura, Gojira, Korn, etc.
MPAP: You have a new record coming out soon? It is supposed to be released mid-year? Are you able to give out a release date on it yet?
MANUEL: We are working hard on the date, but we have nothing yet, ‘cause we are expecting a bigger surprise!
MPAP: What can you tell us about the self-titled full-length EP? What can everyone expect to hear on it?
MANUEL: We pushed ourselves hard on this writing process 'cause we didn’t wanted[sic] an average album. We wanted the best songs we could pull from ourselves and also a sonic journey, not just the same songs, and the same patterns
over and over for the entire album, so there's anger, darkness, melody and a lot of energy!
MPAP: Logan Mader was also involved with it?
MANUEL: Yes!
MPAP: He has also produced for Gojira, Cavalera Conspiracy, Fear Factory, Five Finger Death Punch, along with many others. How did you get him on board to work with Half Blood?
MANUEL: We spoke with him about the project, then showed some demos, he really digs the songs he listened to so he was on board as a long distance consultant about the demos, and finally, he mixed, mastered, and recorded the vocals on[sic] his studio, what an experience.
MPAP: How was that being able to work with him in the studio?
MANUEL: It was challenging, we are from Chile, a really small and far country, so the pressure of being in the studio with someone like him was big, but also a dream come true and a reward to our hard work.
MPAP: Any war stories you can tell that happened behind the scenes in the studio?
MANUEL: The album was written by everybody, let me give you an example, someone had a riff, but that riff was changed involving every member of the band, then after a few songs we knew were we wanted to go in terms of songwriting, so it was like a snowball, from less to more involving every moment of the band at that moment.
MPAP: How soon until Half Blood hits the road and does a tour?
MANUEL: We already played here on[sic] Chile, and we have more dates to announce, also working on trying to schedule a tour sooner than later.
MPAP: A lot of bands can’t tour The United States, or even other Countries because it costs so much to apply for work visas and all the paperwork that goes with it and the time it takes. Will you be able to tour The United States in the near future?
MANUEL: We are working with some big names from EEUU, like Mikey Doling and High Road Publicity, so hopefully, we can end up doing a North American tour.
MPAP: It is also tough for new bands to start out and get somewhere right away?
MANUEL: It’s a hard business right now on getting attention from labels or booking agencies, we think that the first step is make[sic] a fanbase, hopefully, a big one, then things could be a little easier.
MPAP: What have been some of your struggles so far being a new band?
MANUEL: We can handle the local press, local tours or opening spots, but internationally speaking is really hard to get any of those, especially with a band from Chile, a country people only known for earthquakes and our soccer team.
MPAP: A lot of bands these days independently self-produce their music or do a Go Fund Me campaign to help. Why do you think the music industry has changed so much that major record labels are few and far between for new up and coming metal bands?
MANUEL: Now the loss factor is bigger than ever, nothing really can assure you a big investment on something so volatile like a band, I think that’s the biggest concern on the major labels, and that’s why bands who already have a big fanbase got signed, is a win-win deal.
MPAP: Are you able to make a sustainable and profitable living off your music yet?
MANUEL: No, absolutely not, but we had that clear since day 1, the first album always is the foundation of what will come latter, also the big first investment.
MPAP: What changes would you like to see in the music industry to allow you to make a living from your music and your band?
MANUEL: I don’t really know…but let me tell you what I think is the biggest complication nowadays, we don’t have a big budget, and for a record, you must have a really big budget, for production, promotion, videos, publicity, radio playing, social media publicity…etc. That’s what’s holding back some really good bands.
MPAP: Care to give any advice to the teenage kids playing metal music in a small garage hoping to make it big one day?
MANUEL: If you really love this, and you are really sure that this is your thing, then don’t listen to other people and sometimes don’t even listen to your own parents, just do what you love ‘cause you are the one that’s living your life, also be smart, pay attention not only to the music, pay attention on[sic] how you have to promote your music, how the booking agency work, collaborate with other bands and on top of that, be real, try to be the best on your instrument, study your instrument and be ready to kill it on stage!
MPAP: Who influenced you growing up?
MANUEL: My grandfather, he is my real-life hero.
MPAP: What got you into music?
MANUEL: I don’t know why, but when I was 13, I was watching the Nirvana unplugged and it was something there, something really special that simply caught me and then I decided, that’s what I want to do with my life. The funny thing is that I don’t even like Nirvana that much!
MPAP: Was metal music your first genre you listened to?
MANUEL: When I was a kid I really loved hip-hop, my favorite band was “Tiro de Gracia” Chilean hip-hop band.
MPAP: Some will say music saved their lives, do you agree with that, and do you have any stories or experiences you care to share?
MANUEL: I don’t know what would be with my life without music, it is therapeutic as hell, the best way to heal and express yourself .
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I would like to thank you, Manuel, for taking the time to speak with us. Look forward to what Half Blood does for the rest of 2017 and beyond.
MANUEL: Thank you!
MPAP: Any last words for the readers and your fans out there?
MANUEL: We are killing ourselves to get our music everywhere, so when we arrive on[sic] your town you better be there!
Manuel Castillo -Vocals
Sebastian Aguilera - Guitars
Pablo Abatte - Drums
Ismael Gutierrez -Guitars
Francisco Arevalo - Bass
Sebastian Aguilera - Guitars
Pablo Abatte - Drums
Ismael Gutierrez -Guitars
Francisco Arevalo - Bass
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