Keep up with Davier Here:
Davier on YouTube:
Makara:
Pit Fight Demolition:
The Mirage Theory:
With hardcore thrash metal in his veins, Davier Pérez Ortega impulsively injects passion and aggressiveness to a musically progressive mindset. His work in 3 stylistically different projects has made him an intrinsic element of the local Puerto Rican rock/metal scene.
Born in 1988 and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ortega began playing drums at the age of 15. Sharing the stage with bands such as Puya, Malevolent Creation, Misery Index, Black Dahlia Murder, Destruction, Warbringer, Ankla, The Acacia Strain, Job for a Cowboy, Impending Doom, Chimaira, Decrepit Birth, Carnifex, Exodus, Deicide, Trioscapes, Dark Tranquillity and August Burns Red.
He is best known for his complex footwork and a visually dynamic technical style demonstrated in his projects: The Mirage Theory, Makara, and Pit Fight Demolition.
Ortega has accomplished an LP and a tour to Trinidad and Tobago with thrash metal band Pit Fight Demolition. He is also currently working towards an LP with space rock band Makara, and has generated 2 self-produced music videos and a tour through the lower east coast of the US with progressive/metalcore band The Mirage Theory.
Davier Perez Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Davier: Compared to other drummers that usually start at earlier ages, I started pretty late. I was 15 years old when I started to play drums.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Davier: Yes, in the tenth grade I had my first metal/punk band at school. We participated in the school talent show, which at the time was kind of a big deal to me and to everyone at school. That is where it all started, where my obsession began.
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Davier: Blake Richardson, Matt Greiner, Shannon Lucas, Alex Rüdinger and Chris Adler.
SDM: Who are some other of your favorites?
Davier: Tony Escapa, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Efra Martinez, Eduardo Paniagua, Thomas Lang, Simon Philips, Neil Peart, Danny Carey, Adam Jarvis, Dave Weckl, Carter Beauford, Tomas Haake , Derek Roddy, Jason Bittner, Tony Royster Jr, Thomas Pridgen, Brann Dailor and many more.
SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Davier: Between The Buried And Me- "The Great Misdirect", August Burns Red-"Messengers", Periphery-"Periphery II", The Black Dahlia Murder "Deflorate" and Nero- "Welcome Reality"
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Davier: I bring a snare and bass drum pad to every show. I usually start with a ten minute hand-foot coordination rudiments (singles ,double strokes, triplets and paradiddles for each extremity), and then I play songs from my favorite bands in order of difficulty and tempos, from the slowest and simplest to the fastest and most complex. I do this for about 20 minutes. Usually the last songs I play in the warm up are always faster than my band's songs so that when I play our set I look comfortable playing it.
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?
Davier: I read a little now. Over the years of producing and playing music with many bands, I was forced to learn more about reading music. Playing wise I would say that it made me a more structured musician. I would always look to show off my skills as much as possible but now I have a better understanding of what a song asks from my playing and what it needs.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Davier:
Ddrum, Axis Percussion, Vic Firth and Sabian Cymbals – All of which I endorse.
Drums: Ddrum Dios Series – Bubinga – Natural Dark Wood
2x (22"x20") bass drums
10"x9" and 12"x9" toms,
14"x11" and 16"x12" floor toms
13"x6.5" custom maple Ddrum Dios snare.
Hardware- Gibraltar drum rack, stands, throne and Axis pedals.
Cymbals: Sabian
2 Chinas- 18" AA Metal X and a 17" holy china
2 Hi hats- 14" and 13" HHX X- Celerator Hi Hats
3 Crashes – 17" and 18" AAX explosion crashes and a 19" AA Metal X crash
2 Splashes- 8" AAX and a 10" AA Metal X
1-Ride- Richie Gajate Sicnature Salsero Ride 21"
1-10" Chopper
1- 12'' Vault Max Stax
1-7" Alu Bell
Drum Sticks: Vic Firth
3A wood tip
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Davier: Actually I would give five if I could – I would tell them to learn to read music, Always warm up before a show, Try to maintain proper posture, Have plenty of patience to go around and Never forget to have fun, no matter if things don't come out the way you expected.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Davier: I still remember the date; it was February 22, 2011. Misery Index was playing in Puerto Rico and Pit Fight Demolition, my thrash death/metal band, opened the show for then. That day was the first time I saw Adam Jarvis playing drums, and it just blew my mind. I had never seen a drummer play that fast with such precision while being a heavy hitter.
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Davier: I enjoy staying active, exercise a lot-indoors, I visit the gym and when I go out, I usually skateboard. Also anything involved with music, whether it's recording in my studio, reading about recording or producing bands.
Check out Davier's Exlusive Video Play-through of The Dying & The Dead by The Mirage Theory here:
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