Time is of the essence for Santeria, a thirteen-year-old band who calls itself a combination of Psychedelia and rootsy southern Rock-n-Roll, with an emphasis on the dirtier side of roots. You got that? Rockers Dege Legg, vocals and guitar, Krishna Kasturi, drums, Troy Primo guitar, Chad Willis, bass, and Rob Rushing, percussion and sounds, have created their band on the solid ground of an enduring genre of music, and not some passing trend.
"We didn't have the strength of a big record label behind us pushing it into everybody's face like they do on TV. We did it on our own in a rootsy way," said Legg.
Although the band has always promoted itself without outside help, it has a considerably impressive following. In 2002, the band released its critically-acclaimed record called "House of the Dying Sun." Since then, by way of the internet and trading, the band has gained an international cult following, spanning as far as Germany and Australia.
The band has never actually performed outside of the United States. This fact points to Legg's opinion that if people like the band's music, it will be promoted in a natural way, without the help of the "corporate machine." This machine has supported trends that have come and gone since the early nineties, trends like Grunge and Rap-rock, to name a few, that simply haven't kept their staying power. Legg explained that the band has never tried to adapt what they've done to fit anyone's taste, nor have they ever tried to force it on anyone. This band has remained strong because of these very convictions, as well as the belief that things always happen in their own sweet time.
"It's like just being a gang, and going out, and living and experiencing life together with your brothers," said Legg. Interestingly enough, Legg values his time spent between shows more than his time spent during shows. He said the greatest part about being in the band is the experience of five best friends 2,000 miles from home sleeping at a rest-stop or campground, and living the day-to-day together. More than anything else, the band, for Legg, is about brotherhood and comradeship.
Putting aside the mainstream take on music, Legg attempted to answer the question What role do you think music plays in the grand scheme of things? His answer was that music is both "completely profound" and "absolutely meaningless."
He said that it provides the background for a person's life, with the power to conjure memories of a certain place and time. On the flip side, he also admitted that sometimes the music scene can be "puffed" up a bit too much, and that there are indeed bigger issues in the world.
For all you music enthusiasts out there, Santeria will be releasing a new album this Spring called "The Year of the Knife." For more information about the band, check out their website at OfficialSanteria.com.