Interview
(Progressive Newsletter Nr.34 02/01)
excerpts from an interview with Claudio Corccione (Guitars)
The concept was born because of the need of not being identified with a musical movement. We dont want to be clasified as any kind of music. The concept “evolutive”, we think, is very clear. We dont want to follow existing musical models, that would be against the concept of evolution in music.
Exsimio is also an interesting name. What hides beyond this name?
The name has a relation with the "evolutive" concept. Ex-monkeys speak by itself about evolution, but there is always some animal reflected in the strength that the band has and Exsimio is focus toward the finishing, the dedication in the composition and the music in general, more than virtuosism.
Do you feel close to the progressive sound, not in terms of composition, but in terms of a creative risk and experimentation?
Absolutely, for the experimentation and search of authenticity in our music, not for the sound and progressions of this style, we like it, but its not in our future plans. That type of music was made in the past.
It is said many times that the music produced in Chile is not very vanguardist because of the flat society we have. Do you agree? What is the perception you have of Chile as a music generator?
We agree, everybody here is trying to do things, to do things the easiest way, quiting most of the time to spiritual and personal things, to fit in some piece of this society and survive somehow. In terms of music, the composition has turned out to be something absolutely commercial, another bussiness company, so that they can get a massive distribution in radio an TV stations doing most of the time just copies of foreign bands.
But there are exceptions, for example Fulano, Los Jaivas, Congreso all of which I consider are in another stage.
They deserve all our respect.....They do excellent music and they have done it for years. It's more work, more effort, but it´s real.
By the way, there also other bands more modern perhaps like Tryo, Akineton Retard, Daltonia, Ergo Sum....I include, of course Exsimio in this list.
There is a musical movement in Chile that wants to get out, with bands like the ones you named that are more comtemporary, direct and vanguardistic music, but don't have so many broadcasts like pop music, but this world has alway being like that in all yeras. There is a group of non thinking people that eat what some other wants them to and others that search for their own food because they've noticed the manipulation and are not satisfied with it. It's the circus in which we live.
Back to Exsimio, you recorded your first CD last year. Are you satisfied with it? Would it be posible to know some details about the recording?
It’s difficult to be satisfied, you always get the feeling that something could had gone better, but the album has recieved excellent reviews. For us it meant the closing of the first cycle since Exsimio was born. About some details of the CD: the recording process was produced by us and then we presented this project to "Fondart" - goverments fond for art - and we got it. With this money we could finish the album and make copies of the CD. Like wise Guillermo Maldonado worked with us as musical producer.
Musically, I've noticed a strong presence of King Crimson in Exsimios music, however, I must say that the essence of the band is hard to classify. I dont know, I even find some Primus, I may be wrong ….unclassifying?
We all have many influences King Crimson, Black Sabbanth, Rush, Primus and others, but we go from Massive Attack going thru David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Sepultura, Yes until Los Jaivas, Living Colour and Dream Theater and many many more. If we put all of these in a blender plus individual creation you have Exsmio.
Juan Barrenechea Herrera © Progressive Newsletter 2001