Interview with Coty Garcia, Vocalist of Wretched Tongues

Can you share the moment or experience that first drew you into music? What made you decide to pursue it seriously?

I was playing Guitar Hero with the whole instrumental setup with some friends one night, and I was on the mic doing “This Is Exile” by Whitechapel. I was just doing it for fun until I belted out and realized doing harsh vocals came naturally to me. I kept exploring it by practicing in my free time and realized how much I loved doing vocals.

How did you find your way into the metal genre specifically, and what about it resonates with you?

It all started with Disturbed. I watched a commercial for their “Ten Thousand Fists” album. It hooked me in, and I began searching and seeking heavier and heavier music.

Who are your biggest influences within the metal community, and how have they shaped your musical style?

Most definitely Whitechapel. I just love Phil Bozeman and everything he is capable of.

Beyond metal, which artists or genres have played a significant role in your musical development?

Ramirez specifically and older rap/hip hop artists. I love their flow and the way they attack the songs rhythm-wise.

If you had to pick one musician as your all-time favorite, who would it be and why?

Whitechapel. Ever since I got into metal, I’ve just been incredibly infatuated with all their work from “The Somatic Defilement” to “Kin.”

We all have them—what’s your “guilty pleasure” music, something your fans might be surprised you enjoy?

Lmao, pop music. I don’t really have any in mind, but I do be vibing to whatever Taylor Swift song my daughter puts on.

Describe your songwriting process. How do you approach creating new music, and what elements are most important to you?

I usually listen to the instrumental for at least a week as much as possible and write to it as I go. I like to tell a story, so I stay within a box lyrically.

Lyrical themes can be quite varied in metal. What topics or themes do you find yourself most drawn to for your lyrics?

Mostly personal and POV type of lyrics. I like speaking from the heart and telling about my experience as well as some fiction from somebody else’s view. I love telling a story through somebody else’s perspective as well as my own.

Vocal training and practice are crucial for any vocalist, but especially in metal. How often do you practice, and what does your routine look like?

I practice honestly a little almost every day. But every couple of months, I take a couple of weeks off of anything vocal-related for vocal rest.

Can you tell us about any current or upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?

All my projects have new music coming this year! Wretched Tongues, Earthveil, The Triceratops Experiment, Seven Ton Sledge, and an unannounced Invent Animate/Currents-like project.

Reflecting on your career so far, what would you consider your biggest achievement in music?

I’ve done a lot in the last 4 years. But honestly, my biggest accomplishment is putting myself out there to be judged and seeing where it goes from there. Once you do that, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Every artist dreams of the perfect tour. What does your dream tour look like, and who would be on the lineup with you?

Whitechapel, Crown Magnetar, Suicide Silence with Mitch, obviously Wretched Tongues, and Lorna Shore.

If you could collaborate with any musician or artist, regardless of genre, who would it be and why?

Phil Bozeman and David Draiman are tied haha.

Of all the music you’ve released, do you have a favorite song or album? What makes it stand out to you?

I’d say “Ascendancy” off of Wretched Tongues’ last release. It was our first song we wrote together when I joined, and I flexed a lot vocally to show what I bring to the table.

How do you see your music evolving in the future? Are there any new directions or styles you’re eager to explore?

I want to go with the less is more approach. I can do a lot of vocal techniques, but I want to save all those fun vocal moments for breakdowns and such and want to properly tell a story with the usual harsh vocals.

If you could have any superpower just for your stage performances, what would it be?

Honestly, just endurance/stamina. I do alright, but man, it’s a lot tougher than people think.

If you were to create a metal band with characters from any book or movie, who would be in the band and why?

Anybody from the Harry Potter universe. With all that magic, ain’t no way we would sound terrible haha.

If a movie were made about your life, which actor would you want to play you, and why?

Ryan Reynolds ’cause he’s hot af duh.

What’s the most bizarre or unusual venue you’ve ever played at?

I haven’t really played too many shows so far. I can say the most unusual thing was being double-booked with a rap/hip hop show and making it work lol.

If you could be any instrument, which one would you be and why?

Drums ’cause I wanna get banged lol.

Have you ever tried incorporating unusual or non-traditional instruments into your music? How did it turn out?

Not really instruments, but our Guitarist/Producer Jeff Key uses a lot of cool samples, and he did a lot of cool things in our last two releases.

If you were to have a dinner party and could invite any three people from history, who would they be and what would you serve?

Martin Luther King Jr., Elvis, and Caesar from the Roman Empire.

Coty Garcia is the vocalist for multiple bands, including Wretched Tongues, Earthveil, The Triceratops Experiment, and Seven Ton Sledge. He lives in Chipley, Florida, and hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Total Deathcore has released CDs for Wretched Tongues and The Triceratops Experiment and is a big fan of Coty’s content on social media, including his “dubbed in deathcore” series on TikTok.

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