Meet the Real Me
From left to right: Shawn Drover, Dave Mustaine, Alec Damiano, David Ellefson, Chris Broderick.
Alec Damiano has always had two passions: music and communication.
Damiano was born in Nogales, Ariz., where she was literally brought into the world with music—the doctor blasted mariachi music on his stereo while she was being delivered. At the tender age of four years old, she began playing the violin and singing in Mariachi Sombra de Nogales, opening for notable Mexican acts like Juan Gabriel and Los Temerarios.
Since she was able to pick up a pencil, Damiano was always writing her own poems, songs and short stories. She was part of her elementary school’s newspaper and had her own column when she was only in kindergarten. Throughout her academic career, she won various writing contests, whether the required mediums were poetry or prose. She would also write and film her own amateur plays, eventually falling in love with the camera.
During her teenage years, Damiano taught herself how to play a variety of instruments like the piano, guitar, and viola. She was the bass drum captain at Desert Shadows Middle School, and was a member of their mariachi and jazz bands. Damiano was also the first chair violinist of both the Desert Shadows Middle School and Nogales High School orchestras. She performed alongside Mark Wood of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a featured soloist in his “Electrify Your Strings” program. For her senior project, she constructed a seven-string electric violin called The Banshee, inspired by Wood.
She moved to Tempe, Arizona to pursue her bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University in 2011. She taught herself how to play bass guitar later that year.
After being in and out of bands that did not suit her vision, she created the solo project Black Monarch in 2013. Damiano wrote the material and recorded all the instruments and vocals herself.
She formed what would eventually become Varkan in January 2014, where she sings and plays bass. Varkan has opened for national and international acts such as Doro, D.R.I., and Holy Grail.
Damiano was also the art blogger for State Press Magazine, based at Arizona State University. Always thinking outside the box, she increased the readership of the publication by covering unique and innovative topics (like painting with blood).
Her narrative, “Tears of Joy,” was published in the online edition of Teen Ink Magazine, and her poem, “Ode to Ozzy Osbourne,” was published in the book “Stars in Our Hearts: Imagination” (2011).
She has interviewed renowned musicians like Doro Pesch, 1349, and Rachel Bolan of Skid Row (the first heavy metal band to have a #1 album in the SoundScan era). Some of her interviews and videos have been featured on prestigious metal news siteBLABBERMOUTH.NET. She has also created music videos and promotional tools for local Phoenix bands such as Warhead,Ye’iitsoh, and Autolysis.
She also contributed to Arizona Metal at The Blaze 1330 AM, sometimes appearing on metal podcast “Damage, Inc”.
She occasionally assisted concert promotion company Kill Death Productions with public relations, graphic design and photography. She also worked at the ASU Foundation for a New American University in video production.
Damiano is also a video DJ on Heavy Metal Television. You can see her weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST, making your work day slightly less miserable.
She graduated summa cum laude from ASU in 2015 and is currently pursuing her MBA in music business from Southern New Hampshire University. She plans to record and tour with Varkan in the near future.
For more information, visit alecdamiano.com
The Blog of Shredding 
Great blog, Alec!
January 28, 2013 at 10:22 am
Thank you! 🙂
January 28, 2013 at 11:27 am
Nice blog. Really enjoyed the interview with Witches Mass.
Wondering if you could give this a listen and if possible get in touch with me at nezeramusic1@gmail.com
Thank you for your time alec 🙂
January 30, 2013 at 6:44 am
No problem! I’d be happy to cover your work for TBOS. 🙂
January 30, 2013 at 8:22 am
Enjoyed your blog on Doro and Sis Sin at RPC. I manage the band, Hands Of A Traitor, who you made mention of and we appreciate your comparison of us to Asking Alexandria.
If you would ever like to do an interview with them and find out a little more of what makes them tick, I’m sure they would be happy to accomodate you!!
Keep on rockin’ Alec and all the best to you in your journalistic endeavors!
February 25, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Pingback: Album Review: MEGADETH “Super Collider” Deluxe Edition (2013) | The Blog of Shredding
Hey,
We are a Polarbear/PenquinCore band from Finland, called Versus Affect.
If you would like to listen to my pet Polar bear Jünas sing our vocals, check this link:
https://soundcloud.com/versus-affect/first-one-to-fall
You know i’m kidding right. There are no polar bears here. Nor penquins.
You can still check out the demo if you want!
July 8, 2013 at 4:54 am
Sorry bout that. Here’s the real working link:
https://soundcloud.com/versus-affect/versus-affect-first-one-to
July 8, 2013 at 4:57 am
Hey Alec,
For I Am King, female fronted metal from Amsterdam (nl) just released there first single ‘the Beast Within’. We would really appreciate it if you checked it out and if possible shared it on your site and/or facebookpage.
You can find the single on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSKjYIyv5EY
Thanks so much and if you have any question don’t hesitate to ask!
Greetings and have a nice weekend
Jaap (Drums)
For I Am King
For I Am King is:
Five-piece female fronted metal formation hailing from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
For I Am King started in early 2013. Combining ex-members of All Heads Rise, Price to Pay and So Called Celeste. With their single coming out October this year and a debut EP “Revengeance” in early 2014, For I Am King is set out to make a name for themselves. Playing fast and heavy riffs combined with breakdowns and catchy melodies.
November 9, 2013 at 12:24 pm
We are a melodic death metal band from Greece! Check our song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6vn2uB0GDk
December 20, 2013 at 7:37 am
Meanwhile, if you’re interested in more comprehensive editing of your template,
see our article on Blogger Template Designer. To download this theme, scroll to the bottom
of the theme and find the Download section.
February 10, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Hello!
What should I do in order to get a review about the new album of TarthariA band (CD/Vinyl, release date 14/04/2014)? What are your conditions and post address?
Thank you
Igor Anokhin
tarthariaofficial@gmail.com
tarthariaofficial.bandcamp.com
March 28, 2014 at 4:52 pm
Hi! Sorry I haven’t updated this blog lately. I’ve been pursuing a variety of endeavors, from photography to a documentary and haven’t had the time.
But feel free to send me an email at adamiano08@gmail.com with your album info.
Thanks!
March 28, 2014 at 4:55 pm