Hollywood Music TV Lisa Interviews Madsic
Hello everyone. This is Lisa from HMTV once again I have the opportunity of interviewing Madsic.
Lisa HMTV: I just want to you let you guys know your music rocks.
Madsic: Thanks, Lisa. Always good to hear that!
Lisa HMTV:How did you come up with the name Madsic and how long have you known each other?
Madsic: We all put names up on our marker board, for about a month. As names were getting added we were scratching off names we didn't like. After a couple of weeks of looking at all the names on the board there were two that we liked best, and we all just happened to pick Madsic. We had Madsick at first and then dropped off the "k" to be different. We have known each other and have been together as a band since 2003.
Lisa HMTV: What inspired you to make music together and who are your current band members?
Madsic: We were all from different bands that had been breaking up at about the same time, and talked about getting together and writing some music. We had just met each other and had been together for 5 weeks, wrote 5 songs, recorded them in a week, and were ready to do shows.
Our current lineup is Coke – Vocals, Diego DeVera – Guitar, Evil Onek – Keys, Chris – Bass, and Shane - Drums
Lisa HMTV: Tell us about your unique style style of music your major influences?
Madsic: We are all into different types of music from each other, anything from Mudvayne, Hatebreed, Chimaira, Korn, Static X, Pantera, Soulfly, Fear Factory, Slipknot, Sepultura, and System Of A Down.
Since each of us listens to different types of music from each other, we throw our influences together to make a sound that is hard to stereotype as any particular band's sound.
Lisa HMTV: How has your music evolved or changed since you first began playing? Who writes your songs?
Madsic: We have had a lot of lineup changes since we started, so the music has been forever evolving yet retaining the Madsic sound.
When we began in 2003, our first lineup, which recorded our first 5 song CD was
Coke – Vocals
Evil – Keys
George – Guitar
Ed – Drums
Sal – Guitar
Alan – Bass
During 2004, Ed left and was replaced by Danny on drums
George and Sal left and were replaced by Larry on guitar
In 2005, Danny left and was replaced by Shane on drums
Also in 2005, we recorded our second 5 song CD with the following lineup
Coke – Vocals
Evil – Keys
Larry – Guitar
Shane – Drums
Alan – Bass
In 2006, Alan left and was replaced by Gio on bass
Larry left and was replaced by Diego on guitar
Shane left and was replaced by Justin on drums
In 2007, Gio left and was replaced by Chris on bass. Justin left and was replaced by our former drummer Shane.
As far as who writes our songs, we usually start with a drum pattern or a guitar riff and jam off of that to build new rhythms, which we use to build the song.
Lisa HMTV:What can you tell us about your instruments brand are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play whatever's available?
Madsic:
Evil: Korg, Roland, and Alesis. I like the Roland the best because it has a nice FAT sound.
Coke- I use 2 Yamaha 15 inch 2 way speakers, a Beringer 8 channel digital mixing board, 100 watt power amp, and Shure microphones.
Diego - Guitars: Fender stratocaster 1985 and Jackson King V Dave Mustaine edition
Rack Equipment: Art Ps4x4 Power Conditioner, Alesis M-EQ230 equalizer, Pod XT pro Pre Amp, Sabine RT 7000 tuner, BBE sonic maximiser, Shure Wireless, Peavey CS 200 x power amp, Rocktron hush C sound.
Cabs:Marshall JcM 900 with Celestion speakers and Marshall Jcm 900 with Eminence Patriot speakers.
Chris: Warwick and Ibanez basses, Ampeg SVT 4x10 cab fired by a Gallien Kreuger 720RB amplifier.
Lisa HMTV: What kind of recording environment do you have?
Madsic: We have recorded our first two 5 song CDs at Power Station Studio in Pompano Beach. We usually record and mix a CD in a week. We record scratch tracks in a live situation in which we use the drum tracks, that is Day 1.
Then overdub guitars, keyboards, and samples, that is Day 2.
On Day 3 we record vocals, then on Days 4 and 5 we mix and master it. Within a week we have a CD!
Lisa HMTV: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
Madsic: We have performed in many south Florida venues, anything from small venues like the Hideout to large venues like the Culture Room and Revolution. We have just recently expanded in the north and central Florida areas, playing venues such as Brass Mug, Crowbar, Stage East, and Jackrabbits.
Our favorite venue so far has been Revolution in Fort Lauderdale, least favorite we prefer not to mention on the grounds that they may incinerate us! But as far as venues, we feel more comfortable as far as performing at a venue that has a great stage with room to move around and a good monitor system, and the more people there the better!
Lisa HMTV: Do you guys get a good crowd when you play the Venues?
Madsic: We do in our local shows, and we are starting to build a fanbase in north Florida. We promote heavily both online and offline.
Lisa HMTV: I see you have a tour going on. How's it going so far?
Madsic: We are psyched about doing our first tour, it is being put together by Red Sea Booking out of New York. We will be touring for 16 days up to Virginia and back with 14 showdates. We have the cities and the dates in place, and they are working with promoters to book the venues. We have already begun to promote through MySpace to the cities on the tour. It is great to not have ever played in a city before, and when you get there people already know you and your music!
Lisa HMTV: Do you get more that come out to your shows that are already fans or do you get more people who have heard your music for the first time?
Madsic: A larger percentage are new fans at this time, since we are playing in a lot of venues and cities for the first time.
Lisa HMTV: You also have a Mascott, Arkicide. I know that Iron Maiden had Eddie. Where did you guys come up with the idea to bring him into your shows?
Madsic: We invite Arkicide to our special shows, Evil used to work with him in a prior band. He works great for getting the crowd's attention and mixing up the pit, he also comes up on stage and rocks out with us.
Lisa HMTV:Do you have a record label?
Madsic: We are as yet unsigned and looking for management and a label.
Lisa HMTV: Can you tell us about your latest CD release, anything from messages to inspirations, your biggest challenge as a band?
Madsic: The new CD will be written by our new lineup, we have not recorded with Chris and Diego yet. We will be writing new tunes during September and October, touring in November and December while tightening up the new tunes live, then recording when we get back from the tour.
As far as our biggest challenge, it is spending 8-9 hours a day at a day job, spending 4 hours a day online and offline promoting, and sleeping 4-5 hours a night. Sign us to a record label so we can do this full time dammit!
Lisa HMTV:What are some of the highlights of Madsic are there any crazy stories from the road?
Madsic: The worst experience was, while in the middle of a song about half way through our set we blew the power out at the venue and had to stop playing. The venue did get the power back on, only to be blown out again shortly after, putting a premature stop to our onslaught for the rest of the night.
The Best was a show we did in Melbourne , the crowd response was very overwhelming and inspiring.
Lisa HMTV: Where do you see the band in 5 years?
Madsic: Just coming back from our second world tour to record our 3rd CD in our own recording studio!
Lisa HMTV: Tell us how your fans are currently reacting to your music?
Madsic: A little hesitant at first, but that goes away after the first 5 seconds or so. Pure adrenaline rush mayhem.
Lisa HMTV:Do you have any remixes or are working on any? Complilation experiences good or bad ones?
Madsic: We are working on a theme song for Raven TV. As far as compilations, Buried In Skin and Tremor have been on Compiliation CDs, and Distance Of Hate has been picked to appear on the Sonic Onslaught Vol. 2 Compilation CD along with bands such as Soil, Mushroomhead, Powerman 5000, Vanilla Ice, and Sworn Enemy
www.myspace.com/madsic
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/madsic
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/madsic
Lisa HMTV:What do you think of the current Gothic/EBM/Industrial/ Noise/ Synthpop / Metal music scene today?
Madsic: Anything that has to do with insanity and getting all dressed up in black can't be all bad! The music in general has gotten a lot better, but it has gotten harder to find anywhere on the radio to listen to it. The quality of music on your local rock radio station has taken a big nose dive. They all sound the same, with no heavy music, at least where we are.
Lisa HMTV: If I'm not Mistaken your Keyboardist Evil has a clothing line correct?
Madsic: Evil can be found everywhere, but his clothes are all Madsic gear.
Lisa HMTV: Who does the designs and logos for Madsic?
Madsic: They are done by Annie Arts, you can find her on our top friends on our MySpace site. She does our T shirts, which we just mentioned above, and our CD design. Also she does all of our online art and flyers.
Lisa HMTV: From your experience is there a way bands interact with each other or does it depend on something?
Madsic: The bands that go out of their way to help each other will go far, where as the ones who stab each other in the back will suffer a horrible death.
Lisa HMTV: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Madsic: There is no formula for getting famous, except that you have to be willing to work your ass off for it, and be willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to make it happen. IT WILL NEVER BE HANDED TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER.
Lisa HMTV: How do you like our music site at Hollywood Music TV?
Madsic: Very professionally designed look, the colors and the pics present a very cool page with lots to explore easily.
Lisa HMTV: There is a kind of ancient connection vibe to singer, songwriters, something that ties the bands to write about their personal experiences inspirations worst experiences while performing or traveling , do you ever collaborate on these experiences in your music?
Madsic: Our song Pressure is about a guy at our corner 7 Eleven that used to hound people for money and food, and a new song we are working on called Someone Must Suffer is about people and circumstances that get in the way of reaching your goals in life.
Lisa HMTV: Is there anyone special you would like to acknowledge, and any last words. Where we can check out Madsic, buy your current cd and merchandise?
Madsic: We thank anyone and everyone that helps to support local and underground music.
Our main website is on MySpace at www.myspace.com/madsic, and we are currently working on getting a link there to where our Madsic Merch can be sold online.
I want to Thank you guys for taking the time to complete HMTV's Canada's Online Ezine Interview. We are looking forward to hearing more from the band!
Lisa Hollywood Music TV
