Based out of Homestead, Florida is the up and coming local indie band No Compromise. The members include Damian Gutierrez (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Dustin Diaz (Lead Guitar), Luke Faulkingham (Drums), and Jordan Johnston (Bass). They’ve been together for three years and have lately started to come out into the music scene of South Florida.
So how did you start No Compromise?
Damian Gutierrez: Well Dustin and I had known each other back in middle school and played for some bands. It wasn’t until 8th grade when we started to seriously talk about being in a band. We knew that we wanted to start a band but we didn’t know who would be apart of it. I played at a church band with Luke and I asked him if he wanted to be apart of the band and he said yes. Then we just needed a bassist. Dustin said he knew a bassist and that’s how Jordan became apart of No Compromise.
Jordan Johnston: I met Dustin four years ago in school and at the end of the first year he asked me to be a bassist in his band.
DG: That’s when we started. We were lost when we first started. At the first practice we were strangers and it was just kids making noises with instruments. But until two years later did we start to make our own unique sound. For the past three years, we’ve become very close through No Compromise and they’re a family to me.
How did you come up with the name No Compromise?
Dustin Diaz: It kind of just came to us. One day I was just ‘hey guys we’re No Compromise’ and we all agreed with it and just stuck with it.
DG: We threw it on an Instagram and a Facebook and after that there was no turning back. We’ve come to grow with it and we like it a lot.
Why indie costal?
DG: In the beginning we tried a bunch of things. We tried punk rock for a little bit and then ambient. Now we’ve settled on the indie coastal rock genre, and we’re really comfortable here, we love it. It’s something that is now being explored by other bands like Wavves and Best Coast.
How long have you been actively playing gigs?
DG: Since about 2012, that’s when we started taking things more seriously. Last year [2013] was a big year for us. We started playing more, we started recording our songs in more organized manner, and we started getting a more defined sound and we started playing at house parties and other functions.
How do you record your songs?
DD: We record them all ourselves.
DG: At Dustin’s house we have a little room that we use to make music and record it.
Musical Influences?
DG: The thing that’s awesome about this band is that we all have pretty diverse tastes in music. For me personally when it comes to vocals and guitar cords Glen Hansard is a big inspiration as far as passion. As far as other bands,I like are Local Natives, Two Door Cinema Club, Surfer Blood. Bands like that.
Luke Faulkingham: I listen to electronic music more than indie. I actually make some myself. I also listen to Arctic Monkeys and stuff like that.
DD: For me definitely San Cisco, Local Natives, Surfer Blood, basically anything. Too many to name
JJ: The 1975 and Banshee are my favorites right now.
What do you think is your demographic?
DD: Girls
DG: Definitely girls
LK: Girls
JJ: Not that we’re complaining or anything.
DG: We’re lucky to have a really devoted group of local fans.
So how did you start No Compromise?
Damian Gutierrez: Well Dustin and I had known each other back in middle school and played for some bands. It wasn’t until 8th grade when we started to seriously talk about being in a band. We knew that we wanted to start a band but we didn’t know who would be apart of it. I played at a church band with Luke and I asked him if he wanted to be apart of the band and he said yes. Then we just needed a bassist. Dustin said he knew a bassist and that’s how Jordan became apart of No Compromise.
Jordan Johnston: I met Dustin four years ago in school and at the end of the first year he asked me to be a bassist in his band.
DG: That’s when we started. We were lost when we first started. At the first practice we were strangers and it was just kids making noises with instruments. But until two years later did we start to make our own unique sound. For the past three years, we’ve become very close through No Compromise and they’re a family to me.
How did you come up with the name No Compromise?
Dustin Diaz: It kind of just came to us. One day I was just ‘hey guys we’re No Compromise’ and we all agreed with it and just stuck with it.
DG: We threw it on an Instagram and a Facebook and after that there was no turning back. We’ve come to grow with it and we like it a lot.
Why indie costal?
DG: In the beginning we tried a bunch of things. We tried punk rock for a little bit and then ambient. Now we’ve settled on the indie coastal rock genre, and we’re really comfortable here, we love it. It’s something that is now being explored by other bands like Wavves and Best Coast.
How long have you been actively playing gigs?
DG: Since about 2012, that’s when we started taking things more seriously. Last year [2013] was a big year for us. We started playing more, we started recording our songs in more organized manner, and we started getting a more defined sound and we started playing at house parties and other functions.
How do you record your songs?
DD: We record them all ourselves.
DG: At Dustin’s house we have a little room that we use to make music and record it.
Musical Influences?
DG: The thing that’s awesome about this band is that we all have pretty diverse tastes in music. For me personally when it comes to vocals and guitar cords Glen Hansard is a big inspiration as far as passion. As far as other bands,I like are Local Natives, Two Door Cinema Club, Surfer Blood. Bands like that.
Luke Faulkingham: I listen to electronic music more than indie. I actually make some myself. I also listen to Arctic Monkeys and stuff like that.
DD: For me definitely San Cisco, Local Natives, Surfer Blood, basically anything. Too many to name
JJ: The 1975 and Banshee are my favorites right now.
What do you think is your demographic?
DD: Girls
DG: Definitely girls
LK: Girls
JJ: Not that we’re complaining or anything.
DG: We’re lucky to have a really devoted group of local fans.