RGM: Thanks for joining us Zeistencroix in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
Santi: Thanks for having us! Coffee in hand, let’s do it.
RGM: Thanks for joining us today. Tell us a bit about where you are from and how you got into music.
Orlando: I was born in hell’s hottest franchise — Caracas — and from a very early age I became the cliche church choir boy. Eventually they made me the lead singer. My mother started teaching me music when I was six years old.
Santi: I’m from Miami, Florida. Music found me pretty early, but drums were the instrument that really clicked. There was something about rhythm that just made sense. Once I sat behind a kit, I was hooked. From there it became an obsession — learning songs, studying drummers and eventually wanting to create something of my own.
RGM: What’s the live music scene like in Los Angeles and Miami right now?
Orlando: Los Angeles? Undead. It can be alive and it can be dead. The thing is, nobody really knows.
Santi: Miami is a lot more diverse than people expect. It’s known for many things, but there’s a passionate underground rock and metal scene here. It might not be the biggest, but the people who show up really care, and that’s what keeps it alive.
RGM: Anyone we should be looking out for, bar you of course?
Orlando: Right now I like Fountain DC.
Santi: Absolutely. Go support your local bands. Every scene has artists who deserve more attention than they’re getting. Those are usually the shows where you discover your next favourite band.
RGM: Do you think it’s easy to become a victim of our surroundings sometimes?
Orlando: Not really. I think it depends on the character of the person.
Santi: Definitely. It’s easy to let your environment define you if you’re not paying attention. I think part of growing up is learning to choose what influences you instead of letting everything influence you.
RGM: What are your ambitions for the band?
Orlando: To connect with like-minded people and play as much as possible.
Santi: To keep evolving without losing who we are. We want to make records we’re proud of, tour as much as we can and build something that lasts beyond trends.
RGM: What’s your favourite social media platform to use and why?
Orlando: Right now, YouTube. So far, it’s the one that showcases music best for me.
Santi: Instagram. It’s probably the easiest place to connect with people while also sharing the visual side of the band.
RGM: We believe it’s essential to have a presence on Facebook, Instagram and X to introduce yourself to different audiences. What’s your take on that?
Orlando: That’s been the case for several years, but I still prefer real contact in person. People tend to be completely different online compared with real life.
Santi: Every platform reaches different people, so it makes sense to be present. The challenge is remembering that social media is a tool, not the goal. We’d rather spend time writing great songs than chasing algorithms.
RGM: What’s your view on the music industry today?
Orlando: Non-existent! But I don’t really care.
Santi: It’s never been easier to release music and never been harder to get noticed. The upside is that artists have more control than ever. The downside is that attention has become the hardest thing to earn.
RGM: What are your thoughts on AI-generated music?
Orlando: I’m always going to prefer the real deal with real people, although I know that’s probably becoming a fantasy. AI is here to stay, and at the end of the day it’s a tool.
Santi: Like any tool, it depends on how it’s used. AI can be useful for workflow or experimentation, but I don’t think it can replace the human experiences that give music its meaning. The imperfections are part of what makes music feel alive.
RGM: What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned recently as you progress with your music?
Orlando: Every day you learn something new, but I honestly can’t remember the latest one!
Santi: Don’t rush the process. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a song is walk away from it for a day and come back with fresh ears.
RGM: What’s currently in your ears and on rotation at the moment?
Orlando: My playlists are very extensive, but I’ve been into Chase & Status lately.
Santi: A mix of Gojira, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, VOLA, Humanity’s Last Breath and, surprisingly, a lot of film scores. Great sound design inspires me just as much as great drumming.
RGM: What was your worst experience on stage? Any funny stories to share?
Orlando: One time we drove 16 hours to get to a show in Canton, Ohio. We got out of the van and basically went straight onto the stage to play.
Santi: Breaking a stick is part of the job. Breaking a pedal mid-song is a different story. You learn to improvise really fast… and hope nobody notices.
RGM: Got any fun or funny stories from life on the road?
Orlando: Lots. Once we entered a restaurant in Riga, Latvia, really late — around 1:30am — and it was the only place we could find with an open kitchen.
We walked in and the entire restaurant froze and turned to look at us. It suddenly felt like a Mexican stand-off. They called a cook from the back and this guy rushed out holding a huge kitchen knife, asking us what our business was there.
We said, “We’re hungry.”
They didn’t believe us until we actually ordered food.
I was dying laughing inside but trying to keep a straight face. There were about 17 guys in the place and only two of us. I remember thinking, “How exactly are the two of us supposed to take down 17 of you?” I think they’d been watching too many John Wick movies. It was hilarious.
Santi: You haven’t really toured until you’ve driven for hours only to realise everyone assumed somebody else had packed the merch box.
RGM: I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Orlando: We’re releasing Psychotronic, an album we wrote right after our last tour. It’s heavier and more intense, and we had a lot of fun making it.
We made sure we had the best of the best working on this one, and I’m very happy with the results. I think it’s our best album so far.
Santi: We’re really excited about what’s coming next. The new material feels like a natural evolution of our sound — heavier in some ways and more atmospheric in others. We’ve pushed ourselves creatively, and I think people will hear that.
RGM: What was the recording process like?
Orlando: We recorded between Los Angeles and Miami and used several different studios.
We mixed seven songs with Ulrich Wild and one with Christoph in Germany. We wanted a different sound on this record, so we experimented with new sounds and new people.
We wanted some fresh perspectives on the songs — to stir the pot a little and see what we came up with.
Santi: There was a lot of experimentation. We spent time chasing sounds instead of settling for the first thing that worked. Sometimes the smallest detail ended up making the biggest difference.
RGM: Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Orlando: No. Everything we do is a reflection of that particular period in time for us. I think you should keep music true to the feelings and circumstances you were going through when you created and recorded it.
Santi: Every musician hears things they’d tweak, but that’s part of creating. At some point, you have to let the music belong to the listeners instead of yourself.
RGM: Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Orlando: Thanks for being with us along this journey, and we hope to see you all soon.
Santi: Just a huge thank you to everyone who’s supported Zeistencroix so far. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’ve just discovered the band, we appreciate you.
Keep supporting independent music, go see local bands, and we’ll see you out there.
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