Interview — Chris Tagaban

Skratch Magazine

Chris Tagaban is singer/songwriter from Yuma, AZ who has been making contemporary rock for seven years. Currently in the process of writing new material, Tagaban spoke with Skratch about writing music and the kinship he feels with cockroaches.

Skratch: What influences your band and stirs up your creativity?

CT: I derive most of my material through heartbreak. Not necessarily my own. I'll have a friend come to me after their other half left them, then I'll turn around and put myself in their shoes and hopefully get a song out of it. Then the rest of my material just comes from random crap in my head.

Skratch: Tell me about your favorite two songs and what they mean to you?

CT: "God's on Your Side" is one of my favorite songs I've written for many reasons. It's about someone giving up on life and their friends are sitting there saying, "listen, life's shit sometimes, but there's still something worth living for and we're here to help you find it." Plus it has the coolest guitar riff I'll likely ever come up with.
The other song I really enjoy is a song I wrote called "I have H.I.V." It’s about a conceited chick thinking the world absolutely loves her, when in truth, none of us can really stand her at all.

Skratch: There are many struggles being an unsigned band. Tell me what keeps the boat afloat?

CT: Being a solo artist in a small town like the one I'm from is really tough. It's hard to get shows and I don't have the budget to make trips out of town. I try my best to do what I can with the internet and word of mouth.

Skratch: Where do you see the band in five years? What are your goals?

CT: I see myself still playing in 5 years, small clubs maybe. If it blossoms into something more than that, I'd be grateful. My goal would be to reach as many people as I can with my music. If someone could hear and understand where my music's coming from and feel what I feel. I just think it'd be awesome knowing someone else is in the same place I am.

Skratch: Name one of your flaws.

CT: I become stupid around girls.

Skratch: What animal best represents the band and why?

CT: A cockroach. You can squash my heart and my dreams but I will not die.

Skratch: Tell me it's more than sex, drugs, and rock n roll! No?

CT: No....that's about right.

Skratch: What are your thoughts on the current political elections?

CT: I prefer to be close-mouthed about my political stance. I think when a band gets too politically involved, it can turn some fans away. I never want to be labeled as a political artist, a Christian artist, or anything that would potentially turn others away simply for what I stand for.

Skratch: What bands would you love to share a stage with? What bands would you not?

CT: I would love to share the stage with Augustana. They are my all time favorite band and they are the most mellow guys one could be. The Goo Goo Dolls would come a close second. I would not want to share the stage with Lil Wayne. Can't stand the guy.

Skratch: Last words/final thoughts/Anything you would like readers to know about you?:

If any promoter or venue or anyone who organizes shows reads this, I'm down to play as long as the cost of travel can be covered. I can be reached at endsetsky-music@hotmail.com
And thank you to Skratch Magazine for this opportunity to be heard.
To give Tagaban’s music a listen or for more info on upcoming shows and booking visit his official myspace page at www.myspace.com/christagaban.

» BACK TO TOP

Interview Archives