JuicyBands.com: Rockstar Supernova's Dilana

During the run of Rockstar Supernova only a couple of artists stood out from the pack and set the pace of the show, most notably South African alt-rocker, Dilana. A front runner for most of the competition with her high energy stage presence and gruff vocals, Dilana seemed like a shoo-in to front Tommy Lee, Gilby Clark and Jason Newsted in Rockstar Supernova. As it turned out, becoming the front-girl for the band wasn't meant to be, which still put her in a good spot within the music industry. As Rockstar Supernova kicks of their North American tour, we caught up with Dilana to get her take on life after the competition, her upcoming debut CD slated to drop this summer, who she's been working with, and her new tattoo.
JUICY BANDS: Do you have any regrets about what went down on the show over your comments concerning the other contestants?
DILANA: Absolutely no regrets, I was just being myself. The way the viewers perceived it, it was entirely up to them. I can't judge how people see the situation. Of course, I learned a little lesson in the whole press thing and that is to aim and then fire instead of just firing away. Also, honesty is not always as good as it's believed to be. I've learned to basically just think and answer differently. I wouldn't say that lesson changed me into a different person or a professional liar or anything. I'm still always going to be honest and truthful and as real as I possibly can, and I'll always stick by that forever.
JUICY BANDS: We knew you'd be working with Gilby Clarke from the show, but how did Adrian Young from No Doubt get involved?
DILANA: I bumped into Adrian at a concert one night shortly after the show. I went to see Butch Walker's band and Adrian walked up to me and said he and his wife were huge fans of mine on the show. I didn't even realize it was Adrian Young. I'm very oblivious as to who is famous and who isn't, because I honestly couldn't give a sh*t, you know. I was just like, "Thanks dude," and Magni came up to me and said, "That's the drummer from No Doubt." We hit it off that night and were chatting away and he basically told me that during the show he told his wife he wanted to get a hold of me and see if there was anything that we could do together. So we exchanged phone numbers and since then we've become good friends. He plays on a few tracks for me already and he'll probably be doing a few tracks on the CD as well.
JUICY BANDS: Have you worked with Dave Navarro on your debut album yet?
DILANA: No, I have not. He did offer, but I don't think I'll be using him, because I have my own guys and I'm very happy with them, plus we get on very well on a musical and personal level. If there is a need for it, I'll think of it. But it's not like I really need his help right now and I have the option, which I'll gladly use it if I need to.
JUICY BANDS: Your debut is slated for a release later in the year. How has it been going and when will it be finished?
DILANA: I definitely foresee it in the summer, maybe June or July. It's going really well. I've been collaborating with different writers and I haven't written a single song entirely by myself. I'm not good enough yet, but that's something that I'm learning and working on and really enjoying the experience. Basically, I've just taken a couple of older songs that I co-wrote with one of my Dutch friends and had my current band rearrange them a little. I've also done some collaborating with a local guy here in L.A. and we've done two songs together where I've done the lyrics and the melodies while he did the music side of it. I've been working with a guy from the Wallflowers and during my tour last month I spent an afternoon writing with two guys in Nashville. Right now, I'm just working with different people and learning as I go and learning about this song writing stuff, which is new and really cool. I'm loving it.
JUICY BANDS: You're also featured on a track from Gilby Clarke's upcoming solo album later this month. How was that experience?
DILANA: I really love Gilby, we really clicked on the show and we ride motorcycles together on Sundays. We're really on the same page as far as people and life, but when it comes to music we're not on the same page. We quickly realized that after the show and we tried to work together, but it just didn't work out. I did him a favor by singing "Black" for him and he did me a favor by recording "Ring of Fire" for me, and we're cool with that. He understands that I want to explore and work with different people, and I understand what his influences are and it's not the same interests that I have. The chemistry just wasn't there, musically, but we're great friends and that's all cool.
JUICY BANDS: I heard that you just returned from playing with Magni. How is he doing?
DILANA: I was actually with Magni in Canada about a month ago. Magni is doing wonderfully, but he's having some visa issues at the moment. He's supposed to be on the tour with me, but it didn't quite work out the way we wanted it to. He might be joining me later on in the tour, but in the meantime I'm going to be using the guitarist from my band, Christian, and he'll be working with me until Magni arrives...if he does arrive. Magni is a little disappointed, of course, because there's nothing we can do about the United States Immigration Offices, but he's doing great and his album has come out in Iceland and doing really well. I think it sold over 10,000 copies in it's first week and it's a small country, so that's good.
JUICY BANDS: You recently started the tour with Supernova in Florida. What have you been doing all week besides talking to press? Have you had any time to decompress?
DILANA: Are you kidding me? [laughs] No, I've just been in some meetings working with who are working with me and my management company and I'm still working on songs, of course. I'm also on Myspace constantly talking with fans and I'm trying to work on the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which is one of the main motivations in life. Wherever I am, I'm trying to do stuff for my career and for a good cause as well. I'm not a person who sits on my ass is what I'm trying to say.
JUICY BANDS: In an interview back in September, Magni claimed that he doesn't want to be famous and would rather just play music and have fun without getting a massive ego. How do you stay grounded given the nature of the business and fame that comes along with the increased exposure?
DILANA: That's a very good question and it's quite easy for me to answer, actually. I make sure that I get some exercise, some time for myself every day, surround myself with good people who are not in the industry, eat healthy good food, and I make sure I look myself in the eye every day in the mirror and remind myself of where I come from and who I am. I've been doing this for so long, it's not in my nature to have an ego anyway. I love people and I love doing good things for other people. It's not even an issue for me to stay grounded, it's a way of life for me.
JUICY BANDS: How is the leg holding up after the injury during the series?
DILANA: Actually, my leg is doing brilliantly. I've been going for acupuncture since the show ended and it's perfect. I went running yesterday and I've had absolutely no problems, but before the acupuncture I was battling with it quite badly.
JUICY BANDS: Did you get any new tattoos?
DILANA: Yeah, I have one new one. I got one on my right forearm. I did a show in Toronto with Magni about a month ago and we spend the night in Niagara Falls. I woke up the next morning and saw the falls right outside the window, because when we arrived it was dark and I didn't even know it was out there. So it was just such an amazing thing for me that I wanted to get a tattoo to remind me of it, so I got a Canadian Native art... there's a word for it, it's a prehistoric fish.
JUICY BANDS: A Petroglyph?
DILANA: Yes, very good. Hardly anyone knows that. I got that on my arm to remind me of that trip I made to Niagara Falls, because I didn't want a waterfall on my arm.
JUICY BANDS: On the show you did a great cover of The Cranberries' Zombie and you recently did your own version of Roxanne, too. Is there anything that you've always wanted to do?
DILANA: I'd love to do a whole bunch of Johnny Cash songs. I love Johnny Cash. I wouldn't mind probably doing some Stevie Nicks stuff, but most of all I want to do my own stuff. I would love to do a tribute cover album eventually down the road and pick my favorite all time covers and re-do them all, but for now I'm just going to focus on my own stuff. I'm utilizing the internet to release my songs at the moment and my goal has been to release an original and my arraignment of a cover song as a bonus thing. So far I've released my single Supersoul and the cover of Roxanne. My next release will be an original called Holiday with a bonus version of Gilby and I doing Ring of Fire.
JUICY BANDS: When was the last time you were in South Africa?
DILANA: About four years ago. I'm hoping to make a trip there this year on tour. I'm trying to work out some tour dates to go to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the UK, so we'll see. I think the show is airing in South Africa right now as we speak. I would love to go back.