Interview With Jose Velocet From Resistentes | “Resistentes Is My Current Velocet”
Jose Velocet is a well-known figure on the metal scene here in Argentina, both for his work with bands such as Velocet, within the thrash metal genre, and for playing guitar in IAN and his current position in Entre El Cielo Y El Infierno. In addition to this latest project, Jose has been quietly working on his project called Resistentes, something different from anything he has done before, with whom he has released an excellent album that went unnoticed by many. On top of all this, Jose is an excellent musician and guitarist, and above all, a humble and down-to-earth guy, which made it a pleasure to have this Q&A session with him, where he tells us about the genesis of Resistentes and what it’s all about…
How did the idea for the band come about? What is the idea and objective behind this project?
“Griego, Scasso, and I had been doing the motorcycle´s meetings circuit in Santa Fe, Córdoba, and San Luis since 2015. After years of traveling together and playing so many venues, we had developed a very good personal and musical relationship. I had my PC full of songs, and I started to feel that with them I could make them a reality, so one day I showed them some and told them that I intended to start making them and see what happened. They agreed, and that’s how we started. Ricky “Griego” Alonso and Walter Scasso were joined by Mariano “Chino” Barret on guitar, with whom I spent a lot of time in IAN. It was really great to have their support!
The idea at that time was to have no stylistic limitations or musical constraints. I really felt that it was time not to waste all the music I had studied, listened to, enjoyed watching shows, and played in so many different projects I had been involved in for so many years. That mixture is now my musical self. Adding the experience and musical versatility of the rest of the band, we achieved a very particular band language, which we continue to enjoy today.
The formation of Resistentes is a true Dream Team of the local scene. You really surrounded yourself with great musicians… Did you ever think about adding more people to Resistentes, even if only as collaborators?
“I am truly grateful to have these three excellent people, who are also great musicians. Considering the previous answer… yes, I think we would achieve more colors and very interesting results. If the band starts to achieve continuity in shows and recordings, it would be great to do so, since having so many relationships with different musicians and so many songs pending production would, I think, result in diverse and great works. Not to mention that this could then be taken to the stage!”
Tell us how the opportunity to record Resistentes’ self-titled album came about, and what the production and recording process was like….
“When we had six songs already playing in rehearsals, Leo Dobao, who was the drummer for IAN at the time, told us to go to his studio to play them and he would record us as a pre-production, to see how the songs were sounding. We did three live takes of each song, without vocals. When I heard the result, I was surprised. It sounded really good, the musicians’ performance level was great, and several of the live takes didn’t need any editing. A few months later, the pandemic brought the world to a halt, and I felt that we were going to disappear before we could even exist as a band. So we took the three songs that were best played, I recorded the vocals with Hernán Genta (singer of Velocet), and I sent everything to Uri Gelman, who offered to work on it at his studio “VoodooDoll” in San Fernando, CA. There, the songs were mixed and mastered. The result was very good! So I suggested to Hernán Dal Maso that we film a Live Session, which was also great. With those three songs, even in the midst of a pandemic, we were able to come out into the light. After a while, we recorded the rest of the songs in the same way. The songs were released as singles until, with the addition of the last two, they came out in album format. All the songs are live takes of the band, and the vocals were recorded later.”
What did you set out to achieve with this album, and how do you personally feel about having released it?
“We set out to be a rock band. The album is the summary of a first stage. Personally, it made me very happy to be able to start this new direction where I can express myself musically without limitations.”
Unlike other projects you’ve been involved in, we find that Resistentes is totally different from anything you’ve done before… Was it because of an artistic desire to do something else? How would you define Resistentes musically?
“As an artist, I believe that the best thing is to be sincere, to be who you honestly are, which results in different expressions over the years. I think the best thing about RESISTENTES is that I can only define it as MUSIC, since each song has its own style. Then the listener can give it names if they need to.”
When you’re composing, what comes first, the music or the lyrics? What inspired you to do it?
“In my case, the music comes first. I’m always playing my guitar, and that’s where the riffs, harmonies, arpeggios, rhythms come from… And when I get hooked on something, I enjoy singing about it, and that’s how the melodies come out. In some cases, the lyrics came out right then and there, and I work on them later. As Picasso said… Inspiration must catch you working. In my case, making music all the time for my own enjoyment generates everything else.”
I saw that you were presenting this album live at several shows. How was the audience’s reception? In addition to the songs on the album, do you play other songs or covers? Are there plans for new live performances?
“It’s very gratifying, after taking the risk of doing this, that the response we’ve had at the shows has been very good. It’s very motivating to know that listeners identify with the lyrics and the songs. The live repertoire always includes one or two covers of artists we like, and always songs that haven’t been recorded yet. We hope to do many shows this year in the interior of the country, which we haven’t been able to tour much yet.”
Are you thinking about a new album? If so, what can you tell us about it?
“When the album was released, we were already playing new songs live, and there are many, so yes, they will be released as singles or an album… We’ll see. But there will be…”
We knew you from your previous band, Velocet, which had a totally different profile, focused on thrash metal, and we know that you’ve done a few shows since getting back together. Is there any chance of a new reunion or of doing something on a regular basis?
“When Hernán and I started Velocet, I was 17 years old. We spent 10 years playing that style, which for us was the language that represented us. It was great, we learned and expressed a lot. And being an independent band, we managed to get some important shows and today people still listen to our songs. In my opinion, it’s one of the best Argentine thrash bands of those years. We’ve gotten together a few times, at events to play some songs, and in 2018 we also got together for a full show. And in 2024, for the reissue of “Sangre Para el Sacrificio,” we did a show at El Teatrito. I would like to close the cycle with a reissue of “Cuando la Oscuridad Reine” and record some new songs that came out of one of these sporadic reunions. That way we can say goodbye with some nice moments for us, because each of us already has a long individual journey ahead, with some shows in the interior and some countries, where there are many people who have never seen us and young people who want to enjoy those songs that were recorded before they were born. Hopefully it will be possible.”
Velocet and Resistentes would be your two different sides, something like yin and yang?
“Velocet and RESISTENTES, although different in style, represent two extremes of my life, my very young self and my current self. For me, they are not so different, since in both I had and have the freedom to express who I really am without conditions, and in certain riffs, phrases, or melodies, I realized that there is a certain relationship. I could even say that for me, RESISTENTES is my current Velocet.”
Speaking of other projects, what can you tell us about Entre El Cielo Y El Infierno? The last time we saw them live, we heard some new songs. Are there any plans to make a new album with that project?
“Being part of Entre el Cielo y el Infierno is something great, and I enjoy it a lot. I was part of the audience for that album, and being able to perform it live alongside those who recorded it is priceless. Plus, the new songs are very good. Hopefully, we can continue recording soon and make an album. Getting on stage with them is one of the experiences I am grateful for on this path I have chosen to follow.”
You’re an old-school guy, so I’m asking you, what’s your opinion on the dilemma between digital and physical music releases? What differences do you see between the two formats?
“My idea is to achieve authentic expression, like in the analog years, with musicians generating sensations in that imperfect but emotionally unique take, and everything that favored the artist’s expression and their own discovery and experimentation. Today, digital is the world we live in. I don’t have much to say or debate. Anyway, I want to make my MUSIC and reach as many people as possible. There are very good digital tools and possibilities for recording and communication. It’s up to us to ensure that they remain tools for our artistic expression, or to become tools and products of the digital world.”
Without bringing religion into it, do you believe in God? What do you think is on the other side after death?
“I believe that what they call God dwells in each of us, and that discovering it and living in that harmony makes us realize that we are all part of a whole, of what they call creation. I believe that being consciously part of that energy that flows and makes everything work leaves out all evil. I believe in love and truth. That’s why I prefer to focus on what happens in life, and then, if there is something else, I will exist in it.”
We are not exaggerating when we say that Resistentes’ self-titled album is truly great and its sound/production is among the best you can hear in these parts. That’s why we recommend you check out what Resistentes has recorded and discover something different but with a level of quality that will surprise many.
For our part, it was a pleasure to do this with Jose, whom we thank for taking the time to answer our questions. We will surely see him this year with both Resistentes and Entre El Cielo Y El Infierno, a project embodied by the musicians who were part of Rata Blanca at the time of the release of the excellent self-titled album, and of which Jose Velocet and Walter Scasso are also a part.
As usual, we leave you with the video clip of the song “Podrás,” from Resistentes’ self-titled album, and the band’s social media coordinates. And if you want to know more about the album, we also leave you with our review where we give our opinion on the album in question…
https://www.facebook.com/Resistentes.ok
https://www.instagram.com/resistentes_ok
