Honest and passionate.
Two words front woman Aja Volkman so fittingly uses to describe her indie rock and soul fusion band, Nico Vega.
And by the looks of things, it is evident that this formula is striking a cord with the release of their latest album “No Child Left Behind” and North American tour with Swedish indie rockers Johnossi and The Shout Louds.
The Los Angeles trio, signed to the newly formed label MySpace Records will appear for a Saturday night rendezvous at the Grenada Theater in Dallas
The East Texan caught up with Volkman on the road via telephone Monday in Washington D.C.
East Texan: How has the tour been going with The Shout Out Louds?
Aja of Nico Vega: Amazing. They’re great. The other band playing with us, Johnossi is amazing as well. We all really enjoy each other. It’s been a lot of fun and we’ve got to see a lot of the country – and that’s really cool because [North America] is all different all over the place.
ET: So, does the van stink up with two guys in there?
Aja: There are actually three guys including our manager. If you’re not careful it can. I think it would be a lot worse if I weren’t here.
ET: What can fans expect in Dallas on Saturday night?
Aja: They should expect to meet us, enjoy us and feel like a part of whatever we’re doing. That’s kind of my goal is to bring people into what we’re doing, so they’re apart of it. We provide a lot of love and family – and the more people we can share with, the better.
ET: How did the band start and where did the name originate?
Aja: The band started in Hollywood and my old drummer (Mikey Peña) found me at a solo show. [Mikey] said ‘why don’t you come play with this guitar player (Rich Koehler)’,” she said. “So I went and played with them and we kind of fell in love all at once and decided it was it. [Mikey] took off to pursue his movie career, so we ended up having to get a different drummer (Dan) to keep the band moving.
ET: What caused you to name your latest EP “No Child Left Behind”?
Aja: It’s sort of a political statement. We’ve kind of discussed several times in the band about who really ends up suffering because of the choices that people make and it’s really the children in any situation. And, that’s why it’s not necessarily a finger pointerish statement so
much as it is just a broad statement about children in the world. They just happen to be the underdog. They’re education system is the one to suffer in war and they’re the ones that end up parent less in war.
ET: In the spirit of Halloween, what are you guys dressing up as?
Aja: We’ll be in Atlanta that night. I’m not sure, probably be some last minute, half-ass attempt to throw something together. Maybe Rich will be Peter Pan. (laughs)
ET: I have to ask, any plans of cow tipping?
Aja: (laughing) No. I like animals a lot. I’d be nervous to push over a cow while its sleeping. I’m not going to be very popular if I’m not a cow tipper.