Band of the Day: Bones Of Minerva

Have you heard of Bones of Minerva before? No? Neither had we, which is why we fired our Band of the Day questions over at them and checked out their video for “Overcoming”…

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

Ruth (Guitar): We’re from an area north of Madrid in Spain. Basically we live out in the sticks, surrounded by forests and mountains. It’s pretty cool and inspiring.

How did you meet?

Blue (Vocals): Chloé and I have known each other since we were 6 so we don’t really remember how we met, but basically we lived in the same little village. Ruth and I met at primary school when we were about 10, and from then on we were all close friends.

Ruth: We met our drummer Nerea a couple of years ago at one of our shows, but she actually joined the band in February this year. Apparently she wanted to be in the band from the moment she saw us play which is pretty sweet. We always joke about her doing voodoo or something to our old drummer so he’d leave the band and she could join! When we were trying out new members of the band she was the best, she just sat down and nailed all the songs, we’re really grateful we found her so quickly!

How long have you been playing as a band?

Blue:  Chloé and I started playing together in another band when we were 15 but Ruth was living in England at the time, she moved there for 5 years. When she came back we started jamming together and began the project officially with our ex-drummer in 2013. But since Nerea joined us, the band has been better than ever.

Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?

Blue:  We always liked the idea of having “Bones” in our name, and we were thinking of different options when Blue listened to the song Minerva by Deftones, so that was it. It’s a long name, but we like it because of its symbolism and what it represents for us, something very primal, raw and ethereal.

What are your influences?

Nerea: Chris Adler, Gavin Harrison, Dave Lombardo and Vinnie Paul.

Chloé (Bass): Justin Chancellor has always been my biggest influence, King Crimson and Machine Head. And when I started playing the bass, Johnny Christ from Avenged Sevenfold too.

Ruth: I started playing Hendrix and Led Zeppelin songs my dad taught me on the guitar, but I really love Adam Jones’ tone and style too and Tool are a big influence for all of us. I love Matt Bellamy and Jeff Buckley too.

Blue: When I started singing Christina Aguilera was one of my main influences even though I wanted to do metal, then Matt Bellamy and Chino Moreno influenced me a lot. Right now my main influences are Robert Plant, Ella Fitzgerald, Florence Welch, James Maynard and Joe Duplantier.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

Blue: Our music is very honest, very transparent. It’s raw, spiritual, aggressive… We just play what we like, and never worry about fitting in a specific style, our inspiration comes from many different places, it doesn’t even have to be metal. We don’t know if that might make us unique, but we know that when we play it’s always attempting to convey those emotions and that freedom.

Do you have any particular lyrical themes?

Blue: Inner fights, mostly about being able to thrive in spite of your demons, and some songs are very critical of modern society.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

Ruth:  It’s a but like a ritual for us, our shows won’t be the wildest you’ll see, but we let out a lot of energy and emotion onstage.

Blue:  Hmm that’s a complicated one, we must have played at least 50 shows I think. Touring has taught us a lot about the importance of working as a team, respecting each other and getting used to any kinds of conditions you might get at a venue. When it comes to playing, you have to learn how to give a great show in the worst situation.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?

Blue: There’s been nothing incredibly wild yet to be honest. We went to Ibiza this year and played outdoors with a huge storm above our heads, very metal, but freaking scary, it didn’t even rain water, it was raining mud! And the crowd wasn’t very big, just families with kids mostly! It was a very strange situation.

What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?

Nerea: I use a Mapex Saturn kit with Turkish, Paiste and Bosphorus cymbals. With Pro Mark drumsticks.

Ruth: My guitar is an Ibanez Custom ‘Black Beauty’ from the 70’s. I recorded the album with a Marshall JCM 800 head and an Orange cab.

Chloé: I use an Ibanez SR 520 bass guitar, but I’m currently looking for a new one, probably Fender. My pedals are pretty simple, I use the Boss ODB-3 and de Mooer Thunderball. As for my amp, I’m using Fender right now, but I’m on the hunt for a bigger one!

What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?

Ruth: We’ve just reissued our debut as a special edition! The first batch of copies completely sold out and we needed some more to sell at shows so we decided to change the artwork and include a couple of new tracks. This year’s gone really well for us, so it’s been a chance to celebrate how the band’s grown and kind of come full circle. Our new single “Privilege” is on Spotify if you want to give it a listen.

What are your plans for 2018, into 2019?

Chloé: Our plans for 2018 are our last gig on November 17th in Madrid, and then we want to have time to play and write, we are really excited about writing new stuff! Then we would love to play in 2019 again around Europe, maybe a small tour, play more shows in Spain and try the bigger festivals, hopefully Download Madrid…

If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!

We’d love to support Bala and have aathma on the bill too, they’re two great Spanish bands.

From previous Band of the Day Muscular Child: Dave Grohl, Mick Jagger, Prince – who would you kiss, who would you marry and who would you kill?

Chloé: Marry Prince, kiss Grohl, kill Jagger.

Nerea: Marry Grohl, kiss Prince, kill Jagger

Ruth: Same as Nerea. I’m a massive fan of Prince and the Foo’s so I’d pass on Jagger.

Blue: Me too, I love Prince but I think he’d be a bit crazy in a relationship and Dave looks like a really nice guy.

From another BotD, Vanity: if you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Chloé: Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone get you down.

Nerea: Choose the harmonica, it’s much more convenient to play.

Blue: Come on, girl! Stand up and kick some asses.

Ruth: Practice more.

And from Charly&Faust: what’s your underwear colour?

Nerea: Grey.

Chloé: Blue-grey.

Blue: Blue and pink flower print.

Ruth: White and blue. Think I’m seeing a trend here…

Header image by Bao Photography

Bones Of Minerva: officialfacebook | twitter | instagram | spotify

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