ON A MISSION:
I was asked again recently of where I want the music to go. I never see
myself to be on the Top 40 or even the radio. Those have never been my
aspirations. And I never want to sell out any arena. I'd rather stay in
small intimate settings. As long as I can feed myself, keep clothes on my back,
keep a roof over my head, to sustain a music career (to do this for a
living), that's where I want to be. I'm an artist and I strive
for longevity. If it takes 20 years for me to be able to do just that,
so be it .
I SURRENDER:
People ask me what are my inspirations (musically), and I am influenced by everything from R&B, Motown, to Classical. I grew up in a very musically diverse household. My father and Mother would bring in Motown and 50's Rock N' Roll (Chuck Berry), my aunt and uncle at different times brought in Disco and Hard Rock (Rolling Stones, The Who, Eagles). My great uncle, who was from Mexico brought in old Mexican LPs (Rancheras). He played them every Sunday morning when he was at the house.
I also had other nearby uncles who had great influence on my musical development (from Classical to Jazz) as I grew up. When I visited them, I was always amazed by their huge record collections that filled large deep shelves which sprawled across their rooms. I don't think I ever finished paging through all those records, as I soaked in the artwork and when allowed listened to them from start to finish.
On one occasion I pulled a record from my Uncle's shelf that would be a turning point for my direction of life. I could not put down the album even before playing it. The art work was simple, yet mysteriously dark. ...My uncle put it on the stereo system and cranked up the volume. ...I heard a church bell and rain. Some distant thunder was heard. Then the roar of the first chord came in. Buuuarrgh! Then I heard, as the hairs stood straight up on my neck and arms, a high note and then a trill. ...It was Black Sabbath. I still get goosebumps when I recall this first time I heard the album. ...From that point I knew what I wanted to do.
With all the influence that I've soaked in, do I have a formula? ...No. This is where I surrender. I do not write songs in a premeditated fashion. I write songs on the fly. There are no structures here, at least in a 'Pop' sense. What I feel from the heart, from the ground up to the head and out through the hands is how I write music. It's as if I allow the the vibrations of the earth and environment flow through me and out to the amps and speakers. ...This is where I surrender.
ON THE MIND:
Is there a place for 'POP' music? ...There will always be a place for popular music. No one will be playing my music at wedding receptions.
I feel true music lies in the underground, always has and always will be.
Is being an independent musician a sustainable career choice? ...I feel that it is.
My only advice, or what I'd like to see from fellow musicians and bands is; play from what you feel is right. Play honest music. To go out there and purposely box yourself in a certain genre, that's not true art. ...We all have our influences and we enjoy what we play (at least I hope so, if not then there's a deeper issue), go out there and play what you honestly feel. That is what I feel all music in general is lacking, is honesty. ...Find your voice, and then play it as loud as you can. ...Surrender, rejection is synonymous with the true art form. Keep the integrity going.
Thank You for Your Time! ~ Mario Medina (((Amps for Buddha)))
