Unless you have been living under a rock for the past two decades, you are probably familiar with the name De La Hoya. It’s a name that has become synonymous with the fighting spirit. Daisy De La Hoya is no exception to that rule and packs a mean punch of her own! She made a huge splash with her stint on VH1’s ‘Rock of Love’ and spawned her own successful spin-off, ‘Daisy of Love’. Proving that she is much more than a pretty face, this pop culture firecracker has set her sights on making a mark on the music world! Icon Vs. Icon’s Jason Price recently caught up with this multi-faceted artist to discuss her past, present and future in the entertainment industry!
I have been involved with music since I was a little kid. It has been a huge part of my life. I have had family members who were in bands, so music has always been around. When I was around 18, I joined an underground goth rock band and toured around the country for about three years and then cut a record with them. The band’s name was called Seraphim Shock. So, I was doing that and I got some sponsorships with Daisy Rock Guitar and created a little following for myself. Then I decided to venture off and do my own solo thing, because my ex-boyfriend at the time was in the band, so it just wasn’t working out. [laughs]
Who are some of your musical Influences?
My biggest influences come from ‘80s music. That is what I grew up on! Luckily, my parents were young rock ‘n’ rollers when I was growing up, so I was lucky enough to grow up listening to Guns ‘N’ Roses, Motley Crue, Poison and all of that really good ‘80s hair metal music. Then of course came Nirvana, which was and still is a huge influence in my life. There is also the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, so I was influenced by a lot of good music!
For those who haven’t heard your music, how would you describe your sound?
My sound is very rock ‘n’ roll! I have five songs out right now. I just released a song called ‘Addicted To Love,’ which I launched on my birthday. I’m very excited about the song because I feel that it is a lot more mature than the other songs that I have written. You can get the song on iTunes. My sound is always rock ‘n’ roll but I hope that it will continue to evolve along the way!
I am really, really busy with a lot of other things in my life, so it is only now that I am beginning to focus more on my music. At first I was very focused on doing the acting thing but the music side kept coming back to me. I sorta do it all — acting, singing, dancing, modeling, creating chaos, whatever! [laughs] I write a lot, everything from music to stories and things like that. Sometimes I will get writer’s block, so I just move from project to project. Inspiration for me is everything! The best inspiration for me, and I know that this isn’t going to sound good, comes to me when things aren’t going so well in my life … things like heartbreak. It is something like that, that gives me a sort of energy or inspiration to write. I tend to write the lyrics and the melody first. I have never had a band but I am very excited to announce that I have formed a band! One of the band members is Chuck Irwin, who is the drummer in Corey Feldman’s band Truth Movement. It is very exciting to have this new outlet for creativity!
Is the formation of the band and your focus on music going to lead to a full album at some point?
Ya know, I am not really sure. I am kinda of the opinion that albums at this point are kinda old fashioned to me because I have always just been able to do a single and put it out on iTunes, which has been really simple. So, I don’t really know at this point but as far as the songs that I do have already, we will be including them along with a couple of covers. I was very excited to do some covers because that is really part of the fun! Going out on tour with Corey Feldman, I would do a few covers from time to time with people singing along. That is when it dawned on me that I didn’t need to have a full, long set and that I could include some really fun covers! I am really excited to include that element as well.
Corey and I have been friends for a few years now, very close friends. He knew that I did music and that I wasn’t doing a lot this past summer. He was putting together his plan of attack for this year and he told me that he was going out on tour with his band and he asked me to be a part of the tour. I said, ‘Of course, I would love to be a part of that and tour with your band!’ After that I got a little nervous! [laughs] His music is really amazing and his musicians are brilliant. Doing backing vocals is something that I had never really done before, so when I first heard them I was like, ‘Oh God! Can I do this?!’ Then I learned it and it is something that I loved! I was super excited about it! We went out on a tour bus, which was new for me because I had always toured in vans … unless I was touring as a groupie of course! The bus was awesome and I had an amazing time touring with them. Luckily, I already had some experience with touring. It is pretty hard being a girl and touring with a bunch of guys. Guys don’t need all of the stuff that girls need! There were days where I was taking bird baths at Wal-Mart! But I already knew the process, so it was OK! [laughs] It was an amazing adventure and I learned a lot about being a better singer from the others and from Corey’s music. I really think that it helped me strengthen my voice and become a better singer. When I got home, I became really inspired by that whole situation and decided to put a band together, go on tour and do all the things that come with it. It is not 100% the way I had envisioned it back then but it is good. I am actually going to Japan in November to do a performance there. I am really grateful to Corey for taking me out on that tour because I had a lot of fun and I really needed it!
A lot of people recognize you from ‘Rock of Love’ or ‘Daisy of Love’. Those had to be some pretty unique experiences for you. Was it difficult to put yourself out there for the world to see in the reality TV format?
No, it wasn’t because I am a very honest person. To me, it was doing another form of entertainment. I was on reality television where there is no script and they are just following you around with the camera. When you are in that situation, there is a persona that comes out that is bigger than what I am in everyday life because the camera is on me. I enjoyed that and I am glad that people liked it. It became a huge part of my life.
I had a whole bunch of stuff that I was writing but sometimes my life gets really, really busy …
It sounds like it!
[laughs] Yeah! I have so many ideas and I should be writing it all down but I like to think I can keep it all in my head! [laughs] But yeah, I am writing it but it is a really long process for me. I am a very emotional person, so to get all of that stuff out and put on paper is very challenging for me and almost painful at points. But yeah, it will happen! It might happen 20 years from now but it will happen! [laughs] I just feel that I have a lot to tell people about myself and a lot I would like to share with the world. Hopefully, people will be inspired by that. I always think about young girls, kids and people in general and how we all deserve to be happy. We all deserve to have whatever it is that we want. I am slowly being able to learn how to achieve that and I would love to serve as an inspiration for others.
What other projects are on the horizon for you?
I am currently in talks with a network about a possible new show that I may be doing. I am very excited about it and I do believe it is going to happen. It will be something humongous for myself! I can’t really tell you too much about it other than it is something that really ties in and it is something that I had never thought of doing in a millions years! [laughs] So, I am really excited about that! I have also started doing some charity work which I am very, very excited about! One charity is called To Write Love On Her Arms (www.twloha.com). It is a charity that focuses on people who survived or struggled with suicide, depression, drugs or alcohol. I am really excited to be a part of this charity, as they have done some really amazing work. The other charity I am working with is PETA (www.peta.org), we all know PETA! I love animals and I am really looking forward to helping out in any way that I can! I think those are the major things right now. I am the worst promoter of myself! [laughs] I do have a MySpace account and there you can hear the music and check out the latest dates. You can find that at www.myspace.com/daisyrocksmusic.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you along the way in your career and what is the best piece of advice that you would give to someone getting into the entertainment industry?
I have gotten a lot of really good advice! Unfortunately, I can’t remember any of it! [laughs] I didn’t listen to any of it to be totally honest with you! [laughs] I am still trying to get into the entertainment industry myself! I have chosen an industry that is a very brutal one because there are a lot of negative elements that surround it. Some days I think, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore,’ but others I think ‘No! This is exactly what I want to do. I’m not going to stop!’ You have to be a very strong person and you have to surround yourself with positive energy and thoughts at all times. If being in the entertainment industry is really what you want, there is no reason that you can’t. The only reason that can hold you back is you. You have to keep fighting and believing in yourself and your dreams can definitely come true.
Just in talking to you on the phone, your positive attitude really comes across. That is pretty refreshing with all the negativity that is out there in the world today.
Thank you, so much!
Is there anything else you want to let your fans know before you go?
I just want to thank everyone who have believed in me and supported me along the way. I am really excited about all of these new projects that I am going to bring to them. I hope everyone will continue to give me some love. Check me out on Twitter (twitter.com/daisy_delahoya) and be sure to check out those charities I mentioned, that would be really awesome.
It has been a pleasure, Daisy! I look forward to talking to you again very soon!
Yeah! No problem! Thank you so much for chatting with me!
I LOVE THIS INTERVIEW DAISY IS THE BEST I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW DAISY STANDING THERE AMONG 19 OTHER GIRLS WAITING FOR BRET TO ARRIVE ON ROCK OF LOVE 2. THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT DAISY THAT I LOVED, HER TOUGHNESS,SWEETNESS,HOTNESS,ETC.DAISY IS ONE OF A KIND.