Hollywood Music TV Canada Interviews Solo Artist Vic Mendoza of VM Music
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/vm
www.myspace.com/vm
www.myspace.com/vm
HMTV Canada: 1. Hi Vic How are you doing?
Vic Mendoza: Tired and busy been working on my new CD and its very challenging!
HMTV Canada: 2. Lets begin with your bio do you plan on releasing part two of Vic Mendoza's Bio soon so we can hear the rest of your story?
Vic Mendoza: Yes there's parts 2 and 3 I thought about doing 4 but don't know yet just cant get the time these days to sit and record.
HMTV Canada: 3. After listening to your CD VM Son I noticed the industrial/metal sounds with a gothic twist and intense emotions within your lyrical content , from anger to sorrow , loss , grieving and philosophy summed up as the sound track of your life from past to present day , presented from a Christians point of view. What are your influences for VM Son? Can you tell us about your own unique style of music?
Vic Mendoza: SON was a collection of old and new tunes half the album was written like 5 years ago on different demos I had. Then PsychoAcoustix came along and wanted to sign another project I have with William Stenner after pitching my solo music to PAX they enjoyed it much and signed VM also. So I had to write a few new songs to update it got rid a couple old ones also. But the style was very influenced by a lot of over seas bands and a lot of Pink Floyd lol! I really enjoy groups like Enigma, Delerium to Lacuna Coil, Kataonia and Nightwish.
HMTV Canada: 4. Can you talk about the anger in your tracks We R I, Lies, Grace and Virus, the sorrow and loss in tracks Close Your Eyes, Again, and Son, to the philosophical tracks Don't Be Afraid and Stand. What are the messages to inspirations behind your track Release?
Vic Mendoza: Im trying to remember I'll have to grab the CD cover lol! We R 1 talks about jealousy and back biting from family members, relationships and yes other Christians at that time. Kind of like why should you talk trash when Im just the same as you thing. Close Your Eyes is difficult to explain kind of like falling away from your faith and being at a certain place in your life with no direction or guidance . Don't Be Afraid was written to my friend Matt a guy I grew up with he lost his parents so it was an encouragement to him cuz I know the feeling. Lies is about the relationships in my life. Again that's like my fav on the album it talks about how people try to search for something greater in their life and seeking answers about life. Grace is about being in a relationship with someone that you know you're a screw up and they are still with you through it all when writing it I was writing to God. Even though I do a lot of stupid things in my life he shows a lot of grace. Son is a old song I wrote years ago I decided to call the album that and dedicate it to my parents its basically about remember the times we shared. Virus is about bad memories that keep haunting you. Stand is dedicated to our troops and more of the lines of not giving up. Release is basically like Grace but more of how one really tries to please someone and did their best even though I am not a perfect person thing. The rest of the CD was just reprises and instrumentals 4.U Son and Wisdom of the Ages.
HMTV Canada: 5. From VM Son do you have a favorite song? What was the hardest t song to write and why?
Vic Mendoza: Again was my fav and a little more challenging cuz I actually did a short solo lol! It's easy for me to write experimental and instrumental music then it is to write song based formats. I'm really not a song writer more of an instrumentalist.
HMTV Canada: 6. Mental Future is one of your biggest popular tracks aired on internet radio was this track self produced by you after VM Son was released by Psycho Acoustix Records? How are people currently reacting to VM Music?
Vic Mendoza: I produce everything myself in my home studio I do the writing recording and mixing. PAX only did the mastering process I forget the guys name who did it. The mastering made a big difference cuz the recordings are really rough and still is. I can't afford big time studio time and a producer and I can only work with what I have. Lack of time and money. It's not easy putting a record on your own. Metal Future was 1 of the main tracks for my 2nd solo album Willow Street. I think people will like this CD better then SON I didn't get good reviews on that one lol!
HMTV Canada: 7. Can you elaborate on VM Music's current project Willow Street? Is this part two of VM Son and will your track Mental Future appears on Willow Street that you been working diligently on this summer of 2007? What are your plans for Willow Street when your music masterpiece is mixed and released?
Vic Mendoza: Willow Street is more of growing up here where I live. I had a lot of rough memories. So Willow Street is basically all past memories and emotions about my parents passing on. I’m aiming for 2 CD's with W.S part 1 in Dec 2007 and hoping next year in 2008 part 2. It's really not much of a take off of SON I'm going under the name Vic Mendoza on this one instead of VM that was the label idea for marketing so I really don't consider this a VM album but we'll see what happens. I have no clue what's going to happen with this CD since I'm not on a label anymore.
HMTV Canada: 8. Vic I couldn't help notice that you have several diversified Great Self Produced Music Masterpieces ranging from Experimental Metal, Ambient, Electronica, Rock and Gothic? Can you tell us about your Music Masterpieces? Which one is your most or least favorite and are they based on Christian style of music?
Vic Mendoza: If it's the other projects your talking about a lot is for fun. I hate goth music lol! I listen to a lot of gothic metal, electronic and ambient I also love to hear film scoring which I'm very influenced by. Nothing really Christian based except my film music project Days of Genesis, Hardware Plus touches a little on it the others just like experiences. Sometimes if I don't want to write rock or metal I'll work on a project that's totally different. I really like all my projects don't really have a fav.
HMTV Canada: 9. Vic when it comes to religion and philosophy today in the world of music what is your opinion on the psychosis of humanity?
Vic Mendoza: I just think musicians have a right to express what they want not everyone's going to believe what you say. Our world so confusing sometimes but it really boils down to what you believe in and stay true to it. I think there a lot of judgmental people out in the world but then again they don't see themselves in the mirror. I try to live a good life I don't walk on water or some kind of holy man. I have faults and weakness like everyone else. I get a lot of names from people but never once pushed my faith on anyone in the last 6 years since I'm a backslider. People just need to love one another and I think that's the downfall in most people. As far in the music industry can be rough but then you can find people who'll respect you.
HMTV Canada: 10. What were your worst or greatest experiences working with other musicians and bands in the past? How has your music evolved since you first began playing? Where have you performed and what were your favorite or least favorite music venues?
Vic Mendoza: Long time ago I used to play in many bands. I loved meeting and working with new people and the practice room was always entertaining. I used to love playing live but don't anymore. I played a lot of places in So Cal a lot of theatres, churches only got to play in a few venues didn't like any of them. I did like Soma in San Diego that was a cool place. I'm more of the behind the scenes guy never a performer. I liked studio recording the best. I don't like playing in bands anymore to many bad experiences and drama but not all bands go through it. I couldn't do what I really wanted and felt going solo would be better on my musicianship and writing skills. There's to many bad memories I could get into but rather not.
HMTV Canada: 11. Can you tell us about your instruments? Brand name or are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play whatever's available? What kind of recording environment do you have? LOL yes I had to go here
Vic Mendoza: I started as a bass player and vocalist then grew into a little guitar, keys and drum programming. I built my home studio through the years cuz going to studios got to expensive and the quality is what you pay for. So I started buying cheap stuff from a Tascam Porta 1 4 track bought a cheap Casio key and drum machine then worked my way up toYamaha recorders, Boss drum machines ART and Alessis effects racks then now a Roland Digital recorder. I had few basses in the past from Fender to Ibanez but I don't play bass much now. I own also Ibanez JS 100 6 string a Roland XP sythn and that's pretty much it. I don't do computer recorder I'm to lazy to learn.
HMTV Canada: 12. Vic how do you like our music site at Hollywood Music TV? What advice can you offer to Artists who want to form their own bands?
Vic Mendoza: I like a lot of the bands on HMTV I pretty much interviewed a lot of them on my radio show. Advice just keep working hard and don't be afraid to be experimental and create your own thing. Following your influence is cool but make something that's your own with it. It's hard but you'll grow and find your sound.
HMTV Canada: 13. Vic what do you think of the current Gothic/EBM/Industrial/Noise/Synthpop/Metal Music Vibe today? Are you affiliated with any dark underground scenes or are you a owner of one? If you are a owner of a underground scene who are you syndicated to?
Vic Mendoza: As in music or Radio? Music it's hard to find good catchy bands these days. I still love listening to all those genres. There's some cool stuff out there. I really don't try to label my music but its hard cuz when someone listens to it the label it as goth which I really don't listen to it. I'm open to all styles of music but like I said someone always has to push you into a category. In my radio show I try to play a lot of dark stuff and mellow stuff but it's hard on the listeners.
HMTV Canada: 14. Vic it was a pleasure interviewing my teacher VM Damit! Do you have any shout outs any last words Vic Rants? You Rock Vic . Thank you.
Vic Mendoza: Time for tacos! - VM
HMTV Canada: Yum aquita ti Taco Bell Nacho Supremo - Tina
