What once was an unassuming garage was transformed into a private concert. Brothers Dorian and Damian Artiga, as well as their friend Diego Rios, have been in their band, Pileup, for almost a year. Their band is in the style of melodic hardcore, but also features a fast and punky sound. This style comes from the brothers’ upbringing in punk and indie.
Dorian is the lead guitarist for the band and also writes the riffs and lyrics. He is also the one who steers the band in certain directions as their genre changes over time.
“I really like writing songs because I think it is cool to be able to work together and create something as a whole. It is very rewarding, and it’s a lot of fun,” Dorian said.
According to Damian, nothing beats a live audience. His eagerness to play for other people is why he decided to form a band in the first place.
“When we play for a crowd at concerts and shows, I get to jump around and move. It’s just fun. I love it. There’s no comparison between playing for a crowd and playing for yourselves,” Damian said.
The brothers said independently that they play to share music that would normally never leave their garage. They aim to connect with people who like the same music as them. Pileup does so by performing, and getting their music out there.
“I just want to have something that people listen to and sing along to at the show,” Dorian said. “Just connect with people that enjoy our music.”
Pileup’s main goal is to have fun doing an activity that they enjoy, and to share this joy with the people at their shows. They also have music out on most platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music. When it comes to making the music itself, the band has a unique methodology. Led by Dorian, the band has a very improvised style of creating songs that builds up instrument by instrument.
“Usually, one of us comes up with a guitar riff, and then it allows me to use that as a stepping stone and build the rest of the song off that one riff. After most of the instrumentals are certain, that’s when I try to add lyrics to the experiment with what works and what doesn’t. [I look at] what fits, and then we put it all together, and we work out the kinks,” Dorian said.
Dorian and Damian both plan on pursuing music in the future. Dorian plans to go to architecture school. He wants to use what he learns there to give back to the music community by building venues. According to Damian, he wants to always be in a band, because it is his outlet for creativity.
“I am making my own riffs because, in college, I want to make my own band. Music will always be a part of my life,” Damian said. “To let go of that in the future, I would be letting go of myself.”
