Check Out Dante Maes’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dante Maes.

Hi Dante, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story started back home in Trinidad, Colorado, when I was around 13. I took guitar lessons from a phenomenal local folk/blues/flamenco guitarist Jacquie Gipson. Eventually, I started writing songs during and after sessions with Jacquie, and she pushed me to go out on my own. I started a handful of bands during my middle and high school years – all of which contributed to creating a more diverse musical community within the teenage cliques in town.

I was constantly boasting about eventually working on tape machines, working in studios, and becoming someone who knew how to make records and conceptualize art. I had no idea what those roles were even called, let alone how to break into the music industry and make money doing those very things. But through my later high school years, I did heavy research and came across a sound engineering trade school (CRAS) that would allow me actually to accomplish all those, I guess, “manifestations.”

So, I attended CRAS in Arizona and learned what it meant to be an engineer, a producer, a film scorer, commercial audio – I mean, LITERALLY anything audio-related. I loved it all but, as expected, found myself in the studio. I was constantly writing songs for my peers to record and producing lots of material. Before I knew it, my little fever dream in Arizona had ended, and I had to make my next move. It took a little over a week to pack my things after I returned home upon finishing my schooling, but yeah. Now I’m in Nashville. I started working in studios, honing my tech skills, going to shows, and talking to fellow artists. Hearing so many different stories, and having the desire to make my mark, pushed me to get on stage and perform. Nashville has never been just some dog and pony show, so getting the confidence to be part of the community was terrifying! Next thing you know, I put out a record, set up my first show, and the rest is history!

I want to note that I’ve made many amazing friends along the way and would not be where I am today without the support from my family and the hardheadedness they instilled in me. I’m lucky and grateful to have the circle of people I do in my life.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has NOT been a smooth road. At CRAS, I wasn’t even at the top of my class. Back home, I was too immature and hadn’t had enough experience in understanding the psychology of people and their relationship to art – inevitably dooming any chance of long-term artistic success and band longevity. I mean, damn, even in Nashville, I was let go multiple times from the same studio, looked past for certain gigs, and miserably failed others. I could not take certain opportunities because of my financial status at those times and missed a lot of shots – metaphorically speaking – that I DID take. There’s been a lot that I’ve missed back home because I’ve been so dead-set on doing something with my ever-evolving career as an artist and tech here in town. I’ve rethought a lot and beat myself down way too many times to count.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’d define myself as an artist and songwriter through and through – even though tech repair at Oceanway Nashville and other contract gigs around town are essentially my day jobs (with a spritz of part-time dishwashing at an amazing Korean food spot in East Nashville called Babo’s).

I’m constantly writing songs – melody, lyrics, guitar and bass parts, the whole freaking pie. I’m no drummer, so I’ll get a rough idea and then take it to my drummer. I guess you could say that writing and performance are my specialties. I’m known for how loud and sweaty I get on stage and how emotional I get digging up a song from the confines and depths of my innermost self. I have a very large voice that people often jolt from when they hear it for the first time. I blame the elevation I grew up in for my lung capacity and projection.

An alias and the name of my band, Supercult, is probably the thing I’m most proud of. Supercult is an amalgamation of everything I’ve gone through and dreamed of on my road to becoming an artist. I’m so proud of how far the members of my band and I have come in creating the sound and color that Supercult has become. We’re a powerhouse on stage to be reckoned with – somewhere among the stars of post-grunge, post-punk, indie, shoegaze, and psychedelia. We love performing, and I feel like you see that on stage and FEEL that. The energy in the room always feels so saturated when we get off the stage. Like, WE did that. Of course, the perception of that energy is subjective, but to create anything and have it linger around long enough to notice is something I’m SO passionate and proud of.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
NEVER give up. My god, so many obstacles, recently and otherwise, have reared their heads in hopes that I change my course and change my mind. It’s tough, but sticking with it and pushing through all those distortions is a lesson I had to learn and practice.

Pricing:

• $20 per Shirt (when restocked)
• $5 per Debut CD (Magpie)
• Contact for Co-Write

Contact Info:

• Website: supercultband.com
• Instagram: @supercult.band
• Facebook: @supercult.band

Image Credits
First four additional photos and personal photo were taken by Anthony Kiriazes, last four photos were taken by William Tyson.