“We Launched The Don’t Movement!” A Conversation With Meds and Nza of DemonScar
“The Don’t Movement! Don’t be thickheaded (read books by people smarter than you). Don’t impose your views on others (learn how to be quiet). Don’t be selfish (nothing wrong with being polite and considerate). Don’t blame others (be responsible and stay calm when the going gets tough). Voila, world peace!”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Meds and Nza of DemonScar, a hard and heavy rock ’n’ roll band from New York. They just released their second EP this month and have completed work on their first full-length studio album.
Thank you so much for joining us! What is your “backstory”?
Meds: Nza and I first started writing music and performing together in 1998 on Long Island. We met through mutual friends when my band was looking for a singer. I had known of Nza back in high school but didn’t realize we shared common musical interests until college. Actually I was quite scared of him in high school. He had this large and loud presence in the halls whereas I was deathly afraid of human beings. Still am, quite frankly. But we both proudly wore our Metallica and Slayer t-shirts, loved going to metal concerts, and appreciated all things rock and roll.
So Nza came down to the rehearsal studio one day to see my band practice. He ended up digging my loud and obnoxious guitar sound and then within a few months we began playing shows under the name Tangent.
This was during the rise of pop-punk and the early days of emo. We viewed ourselves as a heavy metal band but were playing shows with bands like Taking Back Sunday and Saves the Day. Great bands, but we certainly did not fit in with their style. There wasn’t much of a scene for hard rock or metal during the late ’90s on Long Island.
In the early 2000s we decided to step away from Tangent. I guess we were fed up.
Nza: We ended on good terms and saw hundreds of concerts together. Eventually, I learned bass and formed Hollow, then played in MFU, and later on in Death Proof. 17 years after the Tangent breakup, Meds and I were on our way to see Iron Maiden in New Jersey. I had these lyrics that I shared while on the train from New York. The next morning I get this text from Meds with a recording of guitar riffs. He’s like, “does this work for that song?” It did! It became “Pray on the Prey” which is on the first DemonScar EP.
Meds: Over those next few weeks, there were many texts like that. We pretty much wrote our first EP through text messages. As we wrote, we recorded everything in my makeshift basement studio. We would send the tracks out for mixing and mastering to our audio engineer in Los Angeles then have a final product within days.Technology has made it so much easier for bands to get their visions out. I wish we could’ve done this 20 years ago.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your music career?
Nza: Well, the funniest are either incredibly embarrassing or too inappropriate for print. Haha. There was the time I tripped over Meds’ guitar pedal board and deleted all of his settings one minute before taking the stage at our very first live show in 1999. He was so upset. He yelled at me and Meds never yells. But that look he gave me was priceless. He still calls me “Judas” to this day.
Actually, nothing went right that night. The drums fell apart 5 or 6 times during one song, the amps weren’t loud enough, I forgot lyrics, and we sounded awful. There may be a recording of that night somewhere. In fact I’m certain it’s still in my parent’s basement. We always joke that we are going to watch it.
Meds: That was painful. All of our friends came to see us and we were terrible. But that night did provide us an early lesson in rock and roll. When it comes to playing live, things are rarely going to go perfectly according to plan. There are too many variables out of your control like the quality of the venue’s PA system and equipment, the soundman’s mood, the crowd, etc. You just rehearse, show up, and give it 100 percent. You do your best to connect with the audience, whether you are playing to hundreds of people or just the bartender.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Nza: Our second EP came out on Friday, July 13, and it rips. It’s faster, heavier, and more melodic than the first one. It’s a legit rock and roll record. No fancy overdubs and certainly no autotune. We purposely left in all of the wonderful imperfections. Rock and roll should be raw, energetic, and fun. That’s exactly what you get on tracks like “Dead on Monday,” “Demonize,” and “Frankenbride.”
Meds: We are also getting ready to release a full-length album with nine tracks on CD, vinyl, and cassette end of summer or early fall. In the meantime we are focused on playing a bunch of shows.
Nza: Yeah, expect to see DemonScar live in cities like New York, Philly, Chicago, Vegas, and Los Angeles throughout 2018 and 2019.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
Nza: Several years ago I was performing in Las Vegas. I sang “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and it turned out that legendary Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul was in attendance. He came up to me and said, “It was one of the best versions of ‘Knockin’’ he ever heard.” Then we did a shot of Crown Royal in honor of his late brother Dimebag Darrell. And that’s all I have to say about that. Both of their deaths hit me pretty hard. Huge inspirations and musical influences.
Oh yeah, Ronnie James Dio poked me once backstage at a festival somewhere in Europe. I froze. Haha.
Meds: I’d say that Nza is one of the most interesting guys that I get to interact with. He’s such a character and you always know when he’s in the room. He’s magnetic. I’m quite the opposite so I have always been fascinated with the longevity of our friendship. He also has great stage presence and you never know what crazy drivel he’s gonna spew from his tongue.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
Meds: I’d have to go with my favorite thinkers like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Most of the classical intellectuals portrayed in Raphael’s “School of Athens.” Always been drawn to ancient history and its philosophy. We like to think that our world and its problems are so special and unique. Nope. It’s all been done before. When you break current issues down to the core, you find many similarities within the ancient world. Of course technology, social structures, and economic systems have evolved, but it doesn’t mean things are so different. If people in the past had to problem solve to conquer obstacles that stood in their ways, shouldn’t we listen to them for guidance today? It’s actually very mathematical too. You can calculate the most efficient outcomes for mankind in many situations. Don’t you think?
Nza: Huh?
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Meds: I am fortunate to work in education. I’ve written books, developed apps, and taught classes in some of the best universities in the world. Over the years I have helped hundreds of thousands of students worldwide exceed their own expectations through the usage of educational technology. But the only thing that matters at the end of the day is that they learn to be happy, considerate, and self-aware grownups that want to help others.
Nza: I really think that school shooting awareness is of paramount importance right now. We need safe schools. Mental health awareness is also important to me. I’d love to arrange a festival or event in the near future that helps raise money and awareness for school safety.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Meds: The Don’t Movement! Don’t be thickheaded (read books by people smarter than you). Don’t impose your views on others (learn how to be quiet). Don’t be selfish (nothing wrong with being polite and considerate). Don’t blame others (be responsible and stay calm when the going gets tough). Voila, world peace!
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Nza: “It doesn’t take a fortune to make a record, it takes creativity.” We’ve spent thousands of dollars in a state-of-the-art recording studio and we’ve spent practically $0 to record songs. Often, the cheaper alternative yields better results since you have to rely on the feel and your own drive as opposed to expensive equipment.
Meds: Actually, I kind of miss my old Fostex 4-track cassette recorder. Maybe we’ll make the next album on one.
Nza: “Stick to your guns. What’s right for you ain’t right for everyone.” Motley Crue revealed this one to me in the ’80s via my Sony Walkman, but didn’t think of its application until way later in life.
Meds: I have one but it’s not very rock and roll: “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” That’s a Marcus Aurelius classic. Most people know him as the old emperor guy in the movie Gladiator, but his Meditations can help get you through difficult times and make the good times even better. Wish I discovered that book a decade or two earlier.
Nza: “Be excellent to each other.” Bill and Ted offer arguably the greatest mantra ever, yet so few take heed.
Meds: It’s infuriating!
Nza: “Never stop playing and it’s never too late to start.” You are never too old to become a musician. So you’re 30 or 40 or whatever years old and always wanted to be in a rock band. Then pick up an instrument and play your heart out. It doesn’t matter if you’re single, married with kids, divorced, a recovering addict, or a grandparent, find people and make some noise. Book the shows and rock everyone’s face off!
I have been blessed with the opportunity to interview and be in touch with some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this. 🙂
Nza: Ozzy Osbourne! Does this really need an explanation?