Nico Vega is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in … Read Full Bio ↴Nico Vega is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2005. The band consists of lead singer Aja Volkman, guitarist Rich Koehler and drummer Dan Epand. Comparisons have been made to The White Stripes in that they have never had a bass player (Note that in 2012, they added Jamilla Weaver to the touring line-up playing bass). The band is known for their dynamic live performances led by singer Aja Volkman. Her vocal style has been compared to that of Janis Joplin.

After releasing their debut EP, ChooseYourWordsPoorly, on their own in early 2006 and establishing themselves as a popular draw on the local concert scene thanks in large part to Volkman's uninhibited and minimally clothed on-stage performance style, Nico Vega signed with MySpace Records, the new recording arm of the popular social networking site, for their second EP, 2007's No Child Left Behind. Their first full-length self titled debut album was released in February of 2009. It featured three songs produced by Linda Perry -- So So Fresh, Wooden Dolls and Gravity - while the rest were produced by Tim Edgar. The album was mixed by Tchad Blake. The band's popularity soared when they performed three songs on Last Call with Carson Daly in 2009.

Nico Vega toured actively in 2009 supporting their first album with acts such as former Bush singer Gavin Rossdale, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Manic Street Preachers, and Shiny Toy Guns. In 2010 they toured with The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Metric, Sweethead, Saint Motel, and Imagine Dragons. In 2011 they toured with She Wants Revenge and Blondie. In 2012 they toured with Neon Trees.

The song "Beast" off Nico Vega's first self titled album was featured in a trailer for the video game Bioshock Infinite in October of 2012 creating a renewed interest in the track.

The band's sophomore album, titled We Are The Art, will be out in April of 2013 on Five Seven Music. We Are The Art was recorded in studios around Los Angeles as well as at Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas. It showcases the band's trademark blues-laden guitar rock, with soaring synths thrown in for good measure.

At the end of October 2012, Nico Vega debuted a video of the title track, We Are the Art, on Vice.com. It was written and directed by Daniel Epand, the band's drummer.

Wooden Dolls
Nico Vega Lyrics

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We dear are all wooden dolls
Plastic hair on my head keeps me small.
These matters take more than just a song to see them,
We've got our own souls even if we're buried beneath them,
We know these roads because we paved them,
We collapse at once when we cage the rebel
Ohohoho ohohoho
We dear are all wooden dolls.

Plastic hair on my head keeps me small.
These walls between men are built off of fear of each other
We misunderstand, the things that we say to each other
When will we see that we are stuck with each other?
We collapse at once when we cage the rebel ohohoho ohohoho
When we caged the rebel
When we caged the rebel
When we caged the rebel,
Oh oh, when we caged the rebel
Oh I feel it in my soul

When we cage the rebel
We dear are all wooden dolls

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of this song suggest that society tries to control and restrict individuals by fitting them into predetermined molds, represented by the metaphor of a wooden doll. The plastic hair on the singer's head represents an artificial and false version of themselves. The line "these matters take more than just a song to see them" suggests that breaking free from these molds requires deeper understanding and action.

The chorus "we collapse at once when we cage the rebel" speaks to the idea that when individuals who resist these molds are forced into conformity, both society and the individual suffer. The lyrics also address the barriers created by fear and misunderstanding between people, and the importance of recognizing our interconnectedness.

Overall, the song is a call for individuality and authenticity, and a message of unity and empathy between people.

Line by Line Meaning

We dear are all wooden dolls
We are all just lifeless objects, unable to change ourselves or the world around us.

Plastic hair on my head keeps me small.
The superficial and artificial aspects of society keep individuals from reaching their potential.

These matters take more than just a song to see them,
Societal issues are complex and cannot be solved easily, despite the power of music.

We've got our own souls even if we're buried beneath them,
Despite being constrained by societal norms and standards, individuals still have their own inner selves and identities.

We know these roads because we paved them,
We are responsible for the paths we have taken in life, and should recognize that we have the ability to change them.

We collapse at once when we cage the rebel
Opression and suppression of individuality causes individuals to lose their spirit and sense of self.

These walls between men are built off of fear of each other
Divisions and conflicts between people stem from a deep-seated fear of the unknown or different.

We misunderstand, the things that we say to each other
Communication breakdowns and misinterpretations of each other's intentions create conflicts and barriers.

When will we see that we are stuck with each other?
As individuals living in society, we are inherently connected and interdependent upon each other.

When we caged the rebel
Rebellion and nonconformity are necessary components for personal and societal growth.

Oh I feel it in my soul
The effects of societal oppression are deeply felt on a personal and emotional level.

When we cage the rebel
The suppression of individuality and creativity leads to stunted personal and societal growth.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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