Interviews: Quintana Dead Blues eXperience

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Rock/Grunge/Garage Rock/Heavy Blues/Fuzz Rock/Noise Rock band Quintana Dead Blues eXperience from France. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it come out just like that?

Ever since I started back in '91, the name "Quintana" has always stuck with me through different lineups (Quintana Roo, Liga Quintana...). For this project, I chose Quintana Dead Blues eXperience. I loved the irony of having this massive, long name when I was actually launching my very first one-man band. It’s also a nod to bands with that kind of naming dynamic that I really dig, like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Queens of the Stone Age, or Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. As for the meaning... It’s the experience of a broken Blues, almost a sham. Don't be fooled: it’s absolutely not Blues.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

You don’t really choose your genre; you just slowly drift into it, driven by your obsessions. Honestly, I have a hard time putting a label on us. It’s Rock, sure, but to me, Rock isn’t a genre—it’s a mindset. This project sweats dirty Garage-Blues, but my guts definitely belong to the '90s grunge scene. We want something in-your-face, music that hits you hard but comes from a place of good vibes. I have this visceral need to connect with the crowd, to skate on the edge of chaos with every chord in a wild, unpredictable urgency. Everything we write is thought out, shaped, and polished for the live arena. And if the sound is that raw, it’s also because we rehearse in a storage unit with god-awful acoustics!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

No, not at all. A mutual friend introduced me to Adrien. At the time, I was playing solo with an old drum machine, and everyone was on my back telling me to get a drummer. Since the live shows were pretty explosive, I needed to find a partner who could match that energy and was on the same wavelength. One day, someone told me, "You should jam with Adrien, he’s great at throwing his arms up!" (laughs) The chemistry took care of the rest.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Picking just one name is impossible. For me, I’d go with '90s-era Pearl Jam, but my playlist is constantly rotating through Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Iggy Pop, Jack White, The Kills, Owens Bones, and Night Beats. Adrien, on the other hand, is really into that Death From Above sound.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

The starting point is almost always a guitar riff—a raw hook that triggers an emotion and gets me moving. My influences, conscious or not, do the rest. I might chase a Jack White kind of tension, a Stooges groove, or some noise saturation passed down from Nirvana. I love sculpting the sound from a specific grain or texture—I’m a total sucker for the Big Muff, and the guitar is the backbone of the project. The lyrics come later, putting words to whatever mood I'm in at the moment.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last live gig was in Bordeaux for the Fête de la Musique. Right now, we’re on the eve of our release party for the album Ashes. We’re fine-tuning the last details for what's going to be a great night, where we’ll have the privilege of opening for Jon Spencer.

7. Where would you like to act?

I don’t have a favorite venue, though I do have a soft spot for the heat and intimacy of small Rock clubs—like La Maison in Bordeaux or Brin de Zinc in Barberaz. I usually prefer them over big stages. What drives me is traveling and meeting people. Showing up in an unfamiliar place, in front of a crowd that isn’t expecting you, has this incredibly exciting vibe: you have to surprise them, you have to win them over. Ultimately, the place doesn’t matter. The show has to be a wild experience where we edge on chaos to completely connect with the crowd. But if we're talking about long-term dreams, a tour through the US and the UK is definitely on our radar.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

(Smiles) Hands down: doing a duet with Iggy Pop would be huge.

9. Whom not?

No idea. I’m pretty curious and totally open to artistic encounters, even if they take me way outside my usual style.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Stage fright is a permanent companion, and that’s a great thing—it means you respect what you do. It’s positive energy. Once you step foot on stage, the tension vanishes and you just live in the moment. My only advice for beginners is: don’t overthink it. It’s only music, after all. Be generous, give it everything you've got, and have fun so the crowd can feel it too.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The golden age of '90s Grunge and the MTV era really shaped my musical identity. Staples like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Soundgarden are the foundation of everything I build today.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

So far, our crowd has been incredibly well-behaved! We usually stick to very classic interactions, like signing autographs or giving gear advice. But I gotta admit, now that the question is out there, I’m waiting to see what the future holds...

13. What do you think of your fans?

It’s awesome to see our core fanbase growing month after month, reaching new cities. Seeing people support us and keep coming back to our shows is the ultimate fuel for us.

14. What do you think of our site?

You can instantly tell your webzine is run by true music lovers. It’s an independent, must-visit space for anyone looking to dig into the underground Metal, Hardcore, and Rock scenes. Your dedication to supporting emerging artists worldwide, your deep-dive interviews, and the quality of your reviews earn a ton of respect.

15. Something to add?

Our new album, Ashes, dropped on June 26, 2026. It’s a straight-to-the-point, organic, no-bullshit record. We’re going to spend the next few months defending it on the road. We are definitely a live band, so come catch us at a show!

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