Logos
Interview courtesy of 1340Mag

1340mag - How long has Logos been together?

DM - Logos began in the summer of '97. We started out playing in backyards. I think it was in June or July a friend of ours put on a benefit show and we played along with PAX 217, 3rd root, Noise Ratchet, RSY along with some other bands that are now no longer.

1340mag - Why did you choose the name Logos for the band?

DM - A friend of ours, pastor Alan Diaz, gave a sermon one time about the power of God's spoken word, and he mentioned the word, "Logos," pronounced "log'-os. Greek spelling logos. This word like many others in the Greek language is a word used to describe many things. To us the most direct and the meaning we take on it is simply, "The Word." That was pretty much our inspiration. Read on if you want to hear more about the word, "Logos." God created the sun simply by uttering the words, "let there be light." No magic or some scientific blending of chemicals simply everything concerning the sun adhering to what God commanded by speaking those words. I know it's a long answer, but let me finish by sharing something I just learned about. Of every molecule of every single cell, in the deepest part of it, it's atoms, when taken to its most inner part; there is one common frequency or pitch. This pitch or frequency is common to every single cell known to man, proving that God spoke us into existence. Once again science proving God to be true.

1340mag - How did you come to be on Substant Recordings International?

DM - Ryan Hui, founder of SRI, also resides in San Diego, CA. Home of Dogwood and P.O.D. I'm not sure but I think it was Josh from Dogwood that actually recommended us to Ryan. I just remember seeing Ryan going to our shows as often as he could, he kept telling us! that he liked us and wanted us to sign. So we did.

1340mag - .On your record, "When Life Seems Senseless", you have a song called "My Point Of View". Could you tell us a little about how the lyrics to that song came about?

DM - Mark and Sam penned that one. The song basically deals with how hopeless it seems sometimes when you're trying to share the truth with someone and they just don't want to listen to what you have to say. It's something that called each and every one of us to do but, he also states that it is the Holy Spirit that does the work and not our words .It just deals with the frustration that comes with watching our friends fall down and just knowing it doesn't have to be that way. We just have to step back and shake the sand off our shoes sometimes and let God do the work. Just present the Gospel then let it be.

1340mag- In the "Thank You's" on your record (bassist) Mark Rivera thanks "...Ramon, Gene, and the rest of the kids in our ghetto neighborhood." Was that an "inside" comment or was it for real?

DM -No inside comment there. We all grew up in National City, CA and if you were from anywhere near there you would know that it's pretty ghetto. We try not to be. The fact that our parents raised us all in a solid Christian environment is probably what kept us from getting caught up in the whole gang thing.

1340mag - Take us through a day in Daniel Montoya's life.

DM -My life right now is pretty crazy. I'm getting married on July 15th of this year (Editor's Note: Congratulations married life rocks!) and so me and my fiancé Becka are trying to get all of the details taken of before Logos leaves for tour this summer. We leave for tour June 17th with Dogwood, get back July 11th, get married the 15th, go on honeymoon for a week, come back go back out towards Tom fest (at least Becka gets to come with for this leg of touring) and once we get back from all of this it would be time to cut our next full length record. So pretty much just planning for all of that takes up a lot of my time during the day. On the phone or running errands all day, Bible study, shows or just hang out at night. My fiancé is the one that usually takes care of Logos business but I have been helping her lately, as she has all the wedding plans to cope with.

1340mag -On the "Logos Vs. One Foot Forward" split CD you have a new song called "Does Anyone Understand?" can you tell us about that song?

DM - Track 2 on the EP, "Does Anyone Understand," is a song about being in any ministry. It's about sharing the truth and it also involves how the Devil will try what he will to try to bring you down. There's a type-o on the cover, the lyric should read, "...things that I will say, keeping all these things in my way." That line refers to how the devil will often times give you a hard time with reminding times of when we've fallen short. It's a fact that we all fall down at times, times when we let situations get the better of us but, God already forgave us and it's up to us to ask and to trust that he did forgive us. Sometimes we'll fall into sin, but it'll never keep us down.

1340mag - In my mind, one of the things that separate you guys from a lot of pop Punk band's is your big guitar/almost metal tones. I also noticed Iron Maiden in your "Thanks You's." Do the two relate?

DM - Definitely. I grew up on all of the metal stuff from the 80's. Even before I could play guitar. The most hair rock/glam metal I ever got was Guns N' Roses and everything else was more on the technical side i.e.. Iron Maiden and Metallica. Just growing up with that type of music, I can't help the fact that those huge guitar sounds that my, "heroes," had always seemed so powerful. Owning a Triple rectifier just makes getting that sound easy. Don't get me wrong, that's just what I grew up on and not what I listen to anymore. Lately it's been face to face, jimmy eat world and the not yet released dogwood album.

1340mag - What do you see when you look at mainstream music in the year 2000?

DM - It looks like there is a certain trend towards bands that aren't so negative. People are tired of all things negative, they're depressed and so they want something positive in what they listen to, just look at P.O.D. I'd like to see 2000 as the year that Christian music made a comeback.

1340mag -If you could tour with anyone, who would it be?

DM - Probably, Ok, my tour would be Logos opening for Face to Face and Bad Religion (we could reach a lot of people with their crowds.) I'm not sure; there are too many good bands out there that I'd love to tour with.

1340mag - Will you be touring this summer?

DM - This year we'll be going out with Dogwood. We leave June 17th starting out on the west coast, heading north then east eventually ending up at Cornerstone in July. We're not booked at Cornerstone so we'll be trying to land a slot at the impromptu stage. We gotta head back after that 'cause I gotta get married.

1340mag - Parting thoughts?

DM - Always look to God. Walk in His path, and He will bring you many blessings. Go see us on tour. Buy our stuff.