First off, thanks for your time! Please introduce your group to the readers.
Atom Crews (vocals), Roy Galvan (guitar/vocals), Robert Fishkin (guitar/vocals), “Cadillac” Mike Martabano (bass), and Eric Castillo (drums)
Xombie, an interesting stage name, how did you get it?
I was always a huge fan of horror as a child and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was probably the first time I was exposed to zombies. I was and still am obsessed with anything associated with them. So when Xombie was just beginning we were in a text chat for months all trying to figure out a name. I kept rallying for anything with the word “zombie” in it and kept getting shut down, until a mistyped version of it with an “X” eventually happened and stuck. Not the most inspiring of stories but that’s how it went down…
Where did your love for music derive from?
Growing up I spent a lot of time watching MTV (when they actually played music videos) and listening to hip-hop. I fell in love with Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and classic Outkast, Biggie, Wu-Tang, Cypress Hill and Onyx were always being played by my older brothers and cousins when I was a kid. It was always around.
Have any artists had a major influence on you? If so, who and why?
When I was a teen, Eminem, Canibus and Big Pun were probably the first influential emcees that made me pick up a pen and write rhymes. I was (and still am) mesmerized by their wordplay and lyricism. I’d sit there wondering how the fuck they were able to take the English language and make everything they said sound so awesome so I wanted to do the same.
Around the same time, a slight heavy metal influence started around my Sophomore yea
r when I discovered Slipknot’s first album. Corey Taylor blew me away. Obviously his singing and screaming are amazing, but people don’t realize that boy can rap! As I got older I started branching out into more rock and metal. I started appreciating older things that I’d skip past on MTV as a kid and found myself listening and freestyling over them. Things like Red Hot Chili Peppers and System of a Down suddenly changed my life. That’s what eventually led me to want to work with a band.
Is there a group of individuals you feel your music represents?
No one in particular. We have no idea what we are as a genre but our music can be embraced by anyone who has to deal with every day realities. And whether you like heavy metal, hip hop, or rock, everyone seems to find something they love and can identify with when they hear Xombie. We especially see this when we go from opening for major hip-hop acts like Cappadonna of Wu-Tang, Rittz and Apathy, to hard hitting, guttural screaming metal bands like Otep, Butcher Babies and Psychostick and the crowd embraces us as one of their own.
What are some elements that you combine in your music since it’s not typical Hip-Hop?
We blend a mixture of different styles that range from rock, heavy metal, punk and of course, hip-hop. With each member of Xombie coming from a different background and taste for music, we’re able to combine a style of music that is very unique and different from your stereotypical rap/rock fusion.
What is Xombie currently working on?
The “Capital X” album just came out and we’re working hard to get that and our video with Kimbo Slice (Rock Bottom) out to as many people as we can, along with a new video for the next single. On the music side of things, we’re already working on the next album. We have probably about 8 songs that are all completely in their early stages and need a ton of work still.
You are doing a lot of shows, what is a Xombie show like?
The one thing we often hear, especially while on tour, is the amount of energy we play with. There is nothing like a Xombie show and our fans bring their A-game every night. From metal heads to hip-hop lovers, to beautiful models dancing to songs like “Excuse Me Miss,” you can find heads bobbing in the corner, chiming in at the top of their lungs, or raging in mosh pits that inevitably break out.
What other areas of the entertainment business are you interested in? Why?
Right now we’re really into the licensing side of the business. Our music is great to catch live but we often find that our recordings are a great fit for video games, movies, tv shows and commercials, especially when they’re within the sports realm. We’re a great addition to these markets when they need soundtracks with some intensity. On the flip-side, our various styles of music allow us to bring it down to a calmer/happier side of things that can also open the door to a lot of other opportunities.
Think about all of the artists who have died. If you could pick one of them to have been on the album, who would it be?
Years ago I would have said something like 2Pac, Biggie, Big L or Big Pun. But being more mature now and appreciating things outside of hip-hop I’d love to work Freddie Mercury. His voice was so powerful and would indeed raise the level of epicness to a Xombie song.
Tell us how to follow your progress, where can we find you?
Our newsletter is the most convenient way for us to bring you up to speed without being those annoying social media posters. We send updates 1 to 2 times a month (max) to let you know everything that’s going on with us. You can join our list at www.XombieNation.com and get a free download of our single “Rock Bottom.”
Alternatively, you can subscribe to our channel on Youtube: TheXombieNation
We’re also active across the major social media platforms if you’re into that kind of thing:
Facebook: xombienyc
Twitter: @xombie_nyc
Instagram: @xombienyc
Lastly, is there anything you want to tell your fans and our readers?
First, thank you for all of your support. We appreciate it! Second, if you have an opportunity to see us live, do it. There is nothing like a live Xombie show. If you’d like to support us further, cop a “Capital X” album or simply spread the word. That goes a lot further than you think.
