Lelahel Metal: Interview ÒDICA

In this interview, Johane Ambrano R. of ODICA, a heavy metal band from Ecuador, shares insights into the band's formation, musical style, challenges faced, and their journey from hiatus to a successful return, as well as their plans for the future.

Can you tell us about the formation ODICA and how the band came together in May 2007?

Hello friend, first of all thank you for considering my band Odica from Ecuador for your blog. The band is made up of Danny, Omar and I, we were former members of another heavy metal band from Ecuador. When we left that band, the three of us wanted to make our music and mainly we wanted each of its members in the band to have their own beliefs and ideology, and that the songs and music be according to the tastes of each one.

What was the initial vision or goal of the band when it was formed?

At the beginning our vision was to make music and write lyrics that reach all people, ideals of social injustices, love heartbreak and like everyone at the beginning to be famous... (haha)

How would you describe the musical style of ÒDICA? Which genres and influences are most prominent in your music?

For the founders of Ódica it is a band that has the heavy metal style, however several people have not described it as a power metal or symphonic metal band.

Each of the members has their own style and influence, which is reflected in the creations of Ódica's songs, so you can differentiate from themes with a classic heavy metal, such as the theme “SILUETA FUGAZ”, or even more metal strong and extreme like the song "UN SOLO CORAZÓN".

How did the band's previous experience as members of the Aztra group influence the formation and direction of ÒDICA?

I think that by belonging to a band before, each one of us helped us to have experience on stage, in the way of composing songs, contacts, a bit of managing the band itself, but mainly knowing what NOT to do inside of a band, respecting the ideology and tastes of each one of the members.

What were some of the challenges faced by ÒDICA during the early years of its existence?

In the first place, the discredit that the previous band tried to carry out against Ódica, as well as the economic part to be able to record our first album, demos in recognized studios as well as their distribution. And of course the immaturity with which we started this project.

ÒDICA's song "Silueta Fugaz" was included in the CD "Darkness No. 15" and featured in an interview. How did this opportunity impact the band's visibility and growth?

SILUETA FUGAZ, is the song that made us come out as Odica, our songs began to be heard on the most important rock stations of the time, and people at each concert asked for it. I think that this theme was accepted by the people and made us go on tour to various places in Ecuador.

In 2009, the band went on a hiatus due to personal reasons. What were the factors that led to this decision, and how did it affect the band's future?

The separation occurred because some members were parents before their time, others wanted to finish our studies. But I think the biggest reason was the immaturity of how we handled ourselves, on tour. Obviously, that influenced the band for the worse, because when we returned to the scene, people remembered very little of us and it was difficult for us to go back to the rock scene.

Why did you decide to resume the project in 2015 after several years of being on standby?

I had left rock for a long time, and the other members already had their separate project, however Danny contacted me and proposed to make music again, in fact we thought of making another band with another name, but we decided to continue with Ódica, In the end we had the name, songs, and everything that would open a new path for us in the Ecuadorian rock scene.

How did ÒDICA approach the process of integrating old songs with the creation of new ones when you resumed the project?

We had several songs that we had not completed, as well as songs that we had already recorded but that we improved, now with more musical and intellectual maturity. It was an easy process because in fact we had not forgotten the songs and we were creating more songs to be able to record our first album.

Could you tell us about your experience performing at festivals and giving interviews at the national level in 2016?

Returning to the stage for me and for the other members of the band, was a dream that we had expected for a long time, meeting our fans. Participating in the interviews was super good for me because once again people realized that Ódica was still alive and that the representation of women in the rock scene in Ecuador was still latent and stronger than ever.

What was the significance of the concert on February 25, 2017, where you officially expressed your return as a band?

It was a date that until now we remember as our new beginning, where the past had been left behind and where we began to continue with what we liked the most about music, but we already began to have a vision that goes beyond a simple taste, now we wanted to create more professional music. For what that return meant for us the new era of Odica, which we have maintained to date.

How did the audience respond to your return, both through technological means and at live performances?

The reception of the people was very good, and with the help of social networks we not only returned and reached the people of Ecuador, but little by little we were able to go out to other countries with our songs.

ÒDICA has participated in major festivals in Ecuador. How has this exposure impacted the band's popularity and fan base?

I think that each of the shows that we have given at a national level has had its importance, without a doubt that the biggest festivals have been a better showcase for people to continue learning about our music, so we continue to look at the possibility of entering big festivals in the country as well as in other countries.

Can you share some insights into the recording process of your album "WAR FOR PEACE," which you began in 2019?

The album has 9 songs, the same ones that talk about daily life and social injustices, that our country has and some Latin American countries, such as children in the streets, migration, war, among others. We started recording since 2018 but due to lack of money we postponed it until 2019, we did the reproduction in Colombia; And, it is in January 2020 that we released the album Guerra por la Paz in a Theater of the House of Ecuadorian Culture with invited bands where many people supported us and we were able to present our songs. However, in March 2020 due to the pandemic our promotional tour stopped. So what I did was promote during the pandemic on social networks and to other countries, which made our material heard in Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Russia, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba among others.

How did the launch of your first record label in January 2020 contribute to the band's growth and success?

When you have a recorded album, you have better chances to participate in festivals, and we achieved that with the release of our album.

What was the reception like for the album "WAR FOR PEACE" at the launch event and among your fans?

We got a lot of good reviews about our record; And, despite the fact that digital music platforms exist, people bought our records, so we were even able to distribute them to Japan.

Looking ahead, what are your future plans and aspirations as a band? Are there any upcoming projects or performances that you're excited about?

We are recording our second album FE EN EL CAOS, the same one that will have 6 songs, where a musical development is noticeable, leaving behind the classic sounds of the first album. Two singles have already been released "Final de Vida" and "Al Más Allá".

I wrote a theme of gender violence, the same one that will have a video clip of what we are about to record. Also, in March the album will be released and we will be part of a festival for women's day in Argentina.

Thank you for your interview and that you can get to know Ódica music from Ecuador through your blog. Johana Zambrano R.