Check out Ralph Tafoya of Memory Bells

Ralph, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Fresh off the collapse of our last band, Josh and I knew that we weren’t quite done with creating music that we wanted to put out in front of an audience. It was very difficult to want to move forward initially because bands that are together for a long period of time start to feel like a committed relationship. It’s an odd thing to say, but it’s the best way I can describe the end of such a time consuming and emotional investment. So then came the decision to look for members to start a new project.

We had a mutual friend from a band we had played with who then put us in contact with our drummer Matt Moreno. It was pure coincidence that Matt had been going through a similar process with the end of his long-time band. We needed a bassist, which we found in the same circle of mutual friends of bands we had played within the past, and through that process, we were able to find Sergio German. For a short time during the shuffling of new members, I had attempted to play guitar and sing for our band, but I knew I wasn’t lending fair focus to singing and connecting with our audience by doing two things at once, so by pure luck, we found Taylor through a band Matt had been in previously. Taylor is from San Diego and lives in West Hollywood, which is why I say it felt like it was pure luck that we ever met. Once we were fully formed, it was obvious in the rehearsal studio that we had some serious talent on our hands.

We’d love to hear more about your band. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
When we set out to make music for this band, it’s a much more simplified process. It just feels really good. When we are making music, playing a progression and then laying a melody on top, it just feels so fucking sweet that it’s hard not to do it again, and again. We get in such a groove sometimes when we are playing in the studio or at a show that it’s almost intoxicating. I think we keep shooting for that feeling over and over again so we can share it with others. I hope that when people are listening to us at a show, in their car, or through headphones, that they get a sense of that. We want our music to make you feel some kind of way.

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Our fundamental goal has been to play our music in front of as many people as possible. To have as many people as possible, listening to our music and sharing it as previously mentioned. On a micro level, that might even be just seeing a handful of new faces each time we play a show. In the long run, I don’t think we have a cap on how many people that might be, but we hope to continue that trend of a larger audience as we move forward. And at the same time, we want to keep making music we are happy with and proud of. Music that we want to hear as well.

I’m not sure what characteristic is the most vital to that kind of success, but I’ve always admired those artists who exemplify humility. The Dave Grohls of the world, if you will.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your work?
Our music can be found on the major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. The best way to support us would be attending live shows and bringing a friend. Sharing the songs with friends. Posting the songs on their socials. This day and age, word of mouth is the most effective way of getting lesser-known musicians out there, and to provide them new opportunities to share their music to a larger audience.