Salvadoran-American, Daglio, is a hard rock guitarist and singer who has a dedicated fanbase in his native country of El Salvador, along with his current home, Cincinnati, Ohio. His love of music has extended to not only his solo career but with previous rock groups, Ultravioleta, and Smoke & Mirrors. He and his bands’ influences were drawn from the Latin American pop-rock scene of the ’80s and ’90s.
His latest single and video for “La Puerta Oculta,” is sung in Spanish, and in translation, he’s writing about hidden doors – those occluded pathways between ideas, between cultures, and between states of mind that we sometimes find ourselves walking through without even knowing what we’ve done. His upcoming EP, aptly titled La Puerta Oculta, will be accompanied with a graphic novel that gives more in-depth insight referencing themes of the songs. In the video clip for La Puerta Oculta, the graphic novel can be seen vividly throughout the video. The video provides a bit of comic superhero ode, reflecting Daglio’s love of the comics.
We had an in-depth and insightful chat with Daglio about his love of hard rock music, the guitar, his upcoming EP and graphic novel, and how superhero themes play a huge part in a lot of what he does in music, along with his graphic novel, and music video.
What drew you to hard rock music and the guitar? Is it familiar, out of curiosity, or happenstance? What’s your story?
Daglio: I gravitated towards music at an early age. I had an uncle who was a prominent musician in El Salvador, and he got me started on my first chords which, by the way, were the intro to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. I progressed quickly and soon after I began to study under other local guitarists who played in Rock bands at the time were. So, as I was learning, I was also going to their shows to see my mentors rock out. In time, they became my peers, and it became a challenge to reach that level of musicianship. It became a way of life. While you would think living in a central American country I would lean on more tropical and Latin rhythms, I was that kid who was being taught Metallica, Soundgarden, etc. I was very much influenced by grunge and the “Rock en tu Idioma” movement from the late 80s and 90s.
Your upcoming EP, La Puerta Oculta, will be accompanied by a graphic novel that intensifies the themes of the songs on the EP. When did that idea come about, and what do you hope listeners take away from the novel and the EP, simultaneously?
Daglio: Anybody who knows me knows that I can talk movies, sci-fi, comics, and pop culture all day long! Comics were my escape as a child, as well as sci-fi fantasy shows like Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, etc. It has always been my dream to create a story with a certain mythology and theme. The Idea comes about from watching David Bowie doing Ziggy Stardust, and Coheed & Cambria creating elaborate worlds in their Graphic Novels (The Amory Wars) which also tie into their music. I just put my love for sci-fi and music together to create a retro experience. I do want the listeners to have the choice to immerse themselves in the world of Daglio or to give the music their own meaning. The concept is very loose and is not meant to be taken seriously. In fact, it’s almost a bit of satire and if you like the music, we hope you get a nice chuckle from the videos as well!
The video clip accompanying “La Puerta Oculta” brings the graphic novel to life. How much input and involvement did you have with the creation of the video?
Daglio: I was fully involved in the creation. Nuge, the director, really embraced the concept and we wanted to tell the story of the first part of the novel in a visual way. Between me and him, we really wanted to highlight the humorous aspect. What was unexpected and spur of the moment was the casting of “The Professor”. He is played by my good friend Nicholas Caserta who literally just happened to be there that day. After he agreed, we ran to goodwill and bought wardrobe pieces to resemble a lab coat and some other gadgets. Just like that, the Professor was born and the rest is history.
I see a lot of superhero themes with your graphic novel and the music video for “La Puerta Oculta”; would you agree, and if so, who are some of your favorite comic superhero characters?
Daglio: Those themes are definitely a big part of what I do! As a kid, I identified with these characters and their elaborate storylines. Each one of them was usually a tale of tragedy that would take the hero on a journey to overcome and triumph over adversity by finding out something new about themselves. It wasn’t always a “happy ending,” but these stories teach us so much about courage and resilience that I have always believed is what is lacking in the world. The idea of “never giving up” has always been central to what I do and has helped me through the most difficult times. To list a few of my favorite superhero characters I can say with ease that Green Lantern, Captain America, and Superman are probably my top 3. Having said that, who as a kid did not want to be Luke Skywalker or Han Solo?? (Makes cheesy lightsaber noises).
You’ve been a guitarist in a few bands and as a solo artist. What are some valuable experiences you’ve learned and/or had an impact on you as a solo and band member artist?
Daglio: Working in a band and as a solo artist are very different yet can be approached in similar ways. Being in a band is like a marriage and it brings the same pros and cons: You can find a shared goal and work towards it as one, or you can decide to go your separate ways. For either bands or solo artists, you need to set correct expectations from day one. Where are you going? Why are you doing this? People can get caught up in the emotional/romantic aspect of being in a band, but they forget that some hard objective thinking is necessary to take a step back and evaluate if it’s working or even if everyone is happy! So yeah, have regular temp checks with members and try to establish a bond outside of just musical activities. This goes a long way in solidifying the unity of your band or can help strengthen relationships with any collaborators. If nothing is working out, then keep in mind the following: If something is robbing you of any peace of mind, creativity and simply getting in the way of your progress, feel free to let it go.
Fun Questions
Who was your first concert, and who has been your favorite so far?
Daglio: My first concert was Café Tacuba, and my favorite concert so far has been Sting.
What was your first album on cassette, CD, and/or vinyl?
Daglio: This is a funny one because when I was a kid, I would walk into Specs music in Miami and buy cassette and vinyl singles any chance I’d get. I loved walking into the store and seeing that sea of tapes, vinyl, and eventually CDs. It’s hard to pinpoint my first tape, but it was probably “Off the Wall” by Michael Jackson. I know my first vinyl was “Hysteria” by Def Leppard and my first CD was Led Zeppelin 4.
Which five albums and/or artists would you not want to live without?
Daglio:
Here are the five albums and artists I would not want to live without:
Soda Stereo – Cancion Animal
Jeff Buckley – Grace
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
Jorge Drexler – Eco
Lenny Kravitz – 5
Do you have a guilty music and/or entertainment pleasure?
Daglio: Hmmm ok, I’ll admit: Lately I’ve got a playlist of Michael Jackson, Prince, and The Weeknd! Perfect for my morning drive!
What are you currently reading, watching, and/or listening to?
Daglio: I’ve been listening to Gustavo Cerati’s “Bocanada” álbum quite a bit, he’s a bit of an inspiration for me. I just watched Zach Snyder’s “Justice League” and thought that was amazing! My favorite recent documentary was “Rompan Todo (Break Everything)” which highlights the rock music movement in Latin America. I hope to continue the legacy and tradition of all those who brought “Rock en Español” to Latin America and created such a rich fusion of rhythms, melodies, and electric guitar riffs!
Connect with Daglio on Instagram and Facebook. Stream/download his music on Spotify and Apple.
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