L.A. Rockers Nico Vega Discuss Their Growing Fame, Surprisingly Low-Budget ‘Beast’ Video + Upcoming Tour Plans

Nico Vega recently finished touring with Imagine Dragons, and according to singer Aja Volkman, the trek was like "a bubble of craziness" she couldn't see out of. That makes sense, since Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds happens to be her husband.

“Things are happening so fast for them, and we feel like our heads our spinning," Volkman tells Diffuser.fm. "It’s great, but I’m getting to see how that kind of fame can get overwhelming. In a way, it makes me appreciate the fact that Nico Vega is on a different pace, and it’s not overwhelming me right now."

That might change soon. Formed in Los Angeles back in 2005, Nico Vega have slowly built their small-yet-growing fan base through a series of critically acclaimed releases and a steady diet of touring. They've shared stages with the likes of Blondie, Neon Trees and Metric, and later this year, the combo will release ‘Lead to Light,’ their sophomore album.

Having laid some impressive groundwork, Volkman and her band mates are primed for big things.

“We’ve taken our live shows very seriously from the beginning," she says. "We’ve always been like, ‘We need to get better and better!’ The band has been touring for years, but we definitely played to a lot of new people on the Imagine Dragons tour. So weirdly, we feel like we’re finally just breaking."

Nico Vega’s recent video for the track ‘Beast’ has also helped break the group with a new audience. It's a powerful clip, as Volkman admits, though she says fans shouldn't confuse it for a high-budget production. In fact, she says, its creation is more in line with the band’s DIY roots.

“Our drummer [Dan Epland] is actually a director and editor now," she says. "Even though we had a really small budget, he pulled every possible favor he could from his friends who work in video production to make it happen. These were people that wanted to work on something cool that they believed in, even though there wasn’t a lot of money to work with."

"In L.A., you can do that, since there are so many talented people there," Volkman adds. "I’m sure Dan would love a ton of money to work on a big video, but I think it’s the resistance of a small budget that sometimes makes people come up with a really amazing piece of art.”

Volkman also dished on Nico Vega’s next road mission, revealing that the band will play a string of U.S. and Canadian dates (see below) with Crash Kings.

“We just hit those markets with Imagine Dragons, and they were huge rooms, but a lot of our fans didn’t get to see us, since the shows were selling out so quickly, before we even were added to the bill," Volkman says. "This time, we’ll be headlining, and there will be plenty of opportunity for the folks that didn’t see us last time to come out."

Nico Vega have known the Crash Kings gang for years, Volkman says it's about time they join their friends on the road.

“They are an amazing live band, and their singer, Tony [Beliveau], has been such a big inspiration to me," she says. "I’m also going to bring my baby on the road this time. It’s going to be truly a family affair.”

Watch Nico Vega's 'Beast' Video

Nico Vega's Co-Headlining Tour Dates

July 11 -- San Diego, Calif. -- The Griffin
July 12 -- Las Vegas, Nev. -- Hard Rock Café – Vegas Strip
July 13 -- Salt Lake City, Utah -- Bar Deluxe
July 14 -- Denver, Col. -- Bluebird Theater
July 16 -- Kansas City, Ks. -- Riot Room
July 18 -- Dallas, Texas -- The Door
July 19 -- Austin, Texas -- Stubb’s Jr.
July 20 -- Houston, Texas -- The Studio @ Warehouse Live
July 22 -- Orlando, Fla. -- The Social
July 23 -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- Jack Rabbits
July 25 -- Atlanta, Ga. -- Vinyl
July 26 -- Columbia, S.C. -- New Brookland Tavern
July 28 -- Baltimore, Md. -- Ram’s Head Live
July 31 -- New York, N.Y. -- Bowery Ballroom
Aug. 1 -- West Chester, Penn. -- The Note
Aug. 2 -- Columbus, Ohio -- The Basement
Aug. 5 -- Nashville, TN -- Exit/In
Aug. 6 -- St. Louis, Mo. -- Old Rock House
Aug. 8 -- Chicago, Ill. -- Abbey Pub
Aug. 10 -- Cleveland, Ohio -- Wendy Park
Aug. 11 -- Pittsburgh, Penn. -- Altar Bar
Aug. 13 -- Syracuse, N.Y. -- Westcott Theatre
Aug. 14 -- Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  -- The Loft
Aug 16 -- Cambridge, MA -- The Sinclair