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Hydrovibe
Fanclubx.com Featured Band
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Exclusive Interview by: Luis Pedron of Fanclubx.com
Luis: Your song "Killer Inside" is a fitting song for the hit movie SAW III. The song is hip edgey and powerful. Were you guys contracted by the producers to write this song for the film? How did you find each other? Who found who? It is a perfect match...
Heather - Thank you! It all happened when actress Shawnee Smith (Amanda from the Saw films) brought Saw II director Darren Bousman to a Hydrovibe show in Hollywood. We knew Shawnee though a mutual friend and she became one of our biggest supporters, so she insisted that Darren come out to our show to check us out. After seeing the show and hearing the music, he just said, "I HAVE to have Killer Inside!!!!". We said "HELL YES!!!"
Luis: I am so excited to see the "Killer Inside" Music video you are shooting for SAW III DVD. Pls tell me how exciting your experience in shooting this film and what can we expect from this MTV.
Mat - We are very excited to film the "Killer Inside - Messed Up World remix" video with director Stephen Borasch at the end of the month. The video is going to be featured on the upcoming Saw III Director's Cut DVD, which should be out sometime in August.
Luis: Actually as I hear your songs they may all be possibly theme songs for movies? They all pump up my andrenaline....Can you comment about that?
Heather - That's exactly what Shawnee always tells us! That is a huge compliment...thank you! We draw inspiration from real life...everyday life - the hardships, the triumphs, the successes, the failures, questions, answers, love, hate, pleasure, pain, friends, foes, and everything in between. Filmmakers often take dramatic subject matter and use strong, moving music to emphasize the moment....that's all we're doing, really - we are just leaving the visuals to the listener's imagination!
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Luis: Do you mind talking about your compositions: A lot of them are relationship storylines:
like "Disconnect Me" is about splitting up and "Savior" might be a Christian Ministry song or just a song about strong friendships....where do you get your inspiration and why do they sound so real and powerful?
Heather - I think because we base most of our songs on real-life experiences, people are able to identify with the songs and take their own meaning from them. For example, the lyrics to "Killer Inside" seem like they are describing the metamorphosis of Saw's Amanda character from the ex-heroin junky victim to Jigsaw's killer apprentice. However, the song itself was written by me and Mat before the release of Saw II, when we were at a bit of a low point in our lives where we had no band and life's obstacles kept mounting up against us, seemingly threatening the existence of Hydrovibe. We got a call that there might be an opportunity to get a song in Saw II and that they needed us to write and record a song and have it to them in Canada within 24 hours, so Mat and I wrote a song about reaching deep within ourselves to wake up that inner strength to overcome and to keep fighting for what we believe.
We were able to get the song recorded and delivered to them in time, but the timing was not right for the song to actually land in the movie Saw II, which ended up being a very good thing for us. We needed to take that time to find the right band members and have other songs recorded and ready to go for the release of Saw III. When it came time to discuss the music for Saw III, "Killer Inside" was unanimously voted to be one of the few songs actually in the movie and on the soundtrack. We quickly went back into the studio to re-record the song and we thought it would be fitting to ask our good friend and biggest supporter Shawnee Smith (Saw's Amanda) to do guest vocals on the song. Given the inspiration of the song an our obvious strong emotional attachment to it, it was an extremely triumphant moment for us when we went to the Hollywood premier and heard the song in the movie and saw Hydrovibe credited at the end! It was a huge success for Hydrovibe, Shawnee, Darren, and everyone involved involved in "Killer Inside's" conception to it's debut on the big screen.
Luis: I love your voice harmony, your rocky metalic sound and your Lead singer Heather St Marie.... Hydrovibe for me sounds a little bit of Cher and a little bit of Creed but a thousand times better. Please explain to what makes all this combo sound so perfect?
Mat - I haven't heard that one before!!! We have been told that we sound a little like a modern-day Heart meets Alice in Chains.....I like that! You have a strong female lead voice with lots of strong vocal harmonies....that pretty much sums it up! I'm a freak about harmonies...always have been! I hear harmonies to everything! I also think it is cool when Heather gets compared to Chris Cornell...not that I think she sounds like him, but the fact that her voice (like Chris's) is so original and distinct makes it hard to compare with many others. She is definitely LOUD!!!
We are also suckers for a good guitar riff....I usually start writing songs around a strong guitar riff until we find the right vocal melody to go over it and we build from there. We also like to include a good drum&bass groove...people need to be able to dance to it!
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Luis: How did your band start?
Heather - Mat and I started the band in north Louisiana. We experimented with a bunch of different types of sounds and styles there and did some touring. When our drummer had to quit the band for health reasons, we decided to relocate the band to Los Angeles to reform. Our bass player at the time decided that he just couldn't make that kind of move, so Mat and I were forced to do it alone. The mixed emotions, hardships, and excitement of that kind of massive life-changing move made for some great song material!
The first week we got to L.A., Mat got called to play lead guitar for Kelly Osbourne and was off doing lots of high-profile television performances and touring the world. He and I continued to write music... just emailing or iChatting song ideas back and forth while I began putting out feelers to find a drummer and bass player to complete our band. FINDING GOOD MUSICIANS IN L.A. IS TOUGH!!!! It took us a couple of years to find the right people, but it was well worth it! We were extremely picky when it came to filling these two slots because we had a clear vision of the immediate future of the band... We knew that we would be immediately launched into pre-production for an EP and album and put out on the road living in a van. You have to find the right mix of people to make that situation work! hahaha We are very fortunate to have found our drummer Philippe Mathys, who was just fresh off tour with rock band
U.P.O. (Sony/Nitrus Records), and our bass player Eliot Lorango, who was currently attending music school in Hollywood. We are absolutely like family and have been basically living together on the road for 7 months now!
Luis: Who are your inspirations - musicians wise and why ?
Heather - The Beatles...my mom and I always used to sing along to The Beatles when I was really little. Also, where I'm from, classic rock is King - I grew up on Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Journey, Rush, etc. Later on, I got into Pantera and Alice In Chains...which are two that Mat and I immediately found that we had in common from the beginning. I'm also way into anything Imogen Heap does, Keane, Coheed and Cambria, 36 Crazyfists, He Is Legend, and Mew.
Mat - I have older brothers, so I grew up listening to their music like Black Sabbath, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy, Lynard Skynard, AC/DC, Boston, Aerosmith...all that good stuff. I also love Pantera, old Metallica, Alice In Chains, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden, Helmet, Skid Row (hey, that was good stuff!!!)...the list goes on, really! Too many to list!
Phil - When I was very young, my uncle, a drummer, introduced me to the Beatles and Ringo Starr, I also like Sting, the Police and Led Zeppelin a lot. Some other bands include Tool, A Perfect Circle, old Metallica, Soundgarden, Living Colour and Toto. I also like anything Miles Davis did and enjoy certain Jazz artist like Brad Mehldau or Keith Jarret alot. I'm trying to keep an open mind to any style or genre music, I just appreciate good music!
Eliot - I've been influenced from so many different styles and artists. A few would be: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Alice in Chains, Tool, Jaco Pastorious, The Police, Metallica, Chopin....and the list goes on. Anything that sounds good, has good lyrics, or grooves has played and still plays a huge part in my influences and playing 'til this day.
Luis: Pls tell me what Operation Rock Tour is and how did you get involved in this US Tour?
Mat - We are all big supporters of the men and women of the Armed Forces...we definitely appreciate the sacrifices they make every day to ensure our freedom and the quality of life that we've come to expect and enjoy as Americans. We played alot of military towns this year and there are always touching stories of strength, honor, and sacrifice and we have been wanting to do something to show our support. Operation Rock is the brainchild of Hydrovibe and our booking agent Tim Corser of Paul Crosby Entertainment. We all came up with the idea to do a tour dedicated to the men and women of the Armed Forces that offers military discounts, and the tour blossomed from there. Bobaflex and Egypt Central quickly agreed to do it and we have been getting support (both Military AND Civilian) all over the country. We are honored and proud to be a part of it...it's going to be a great tour!
Luis: How exciting is it touring and do you have fun anecdotes on your experiences playing at different clubs around the US?
Phil - As a Swiss native, I have a great opportunity with Hydrovibe to see the US from a completely different perspective, which is something I can really appreciate. Traveling in a van from town to town is amazing. Today here, tomorrow there....it is a unique lifestyle - I like it! An interesting moment for me was when we played a show in a very small town in North Carolina, which was a town I've never heard of before and was very hard to find on the map. What was amazing to me was that we played the show and there were lots of people there that knew all the words to all our songs...unbelievable!
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Luis: Regarding marketing yourself? How important has youtube and myspace have been to reaching your fanbase?
Eliot - Both have been unbelievably helpful to us in more ways than I can even describe. Myspace allows us to reach thousands and potentially millions of people that we would not otherwise be able to reach. It gives every indie or unsigned band the same potential as the major label bands. YouTube is also great! We constantly are finding new clips of us live from tour. It gives everyone a chance to see how Hydrovibe sounds and feels live if they can't make it to a show. Aside to that, fans can see the consistency in our performance as well as find songs that aren't even released.
Heather - At all these shows, we're seeing a YouTube phenomenon where fans are singing lyrics to songs we haven't released - songs we know are only available on YouTube. It's such an amazing feeling!
Luis: Who is the Hydrovibe audience, please describe your typical fan?
Eliot - It is hard to describe a "typical" fan of ours. We meet so many different types of people varying in age, style, character, or anything else you can think of. In a lot of ways, I feel we are quite blessed to be able to touch so many different walks of life and to come across so many vastly different people. If there is one thing I can say that all the fans have in common is they all seem to be incredibly down to earth, real, and listening and watching for the right reasons.
Luis: What are your advice for the youth regarding pursuing their dreams in the Music field? What should they do? What should they avoid?
Heather - My biggest piece of advice would be to WAIT FOR NO ONE!!! If you have a dream, pursue it every waking moment and never let anyone get in your way or slow you down. You are in control of your future if you have the initiative and ambition to put in the hard work it takes to make things happen. We are big advocates of the indie "do-it-yourself" method and it is working for us. Avoid blow-hards...there are lots of people that say they'll help you and you'll sit around waiting and nothing happens. You can't afford that lost time...9 times out of 10, the people that talk a good game get nothing done...the ones that just get it done without all the talk are the ones you want to stick with. Work with ONLY good people... and never settle!
Luis: Where do you forsee Hydrovibe in 5 years? in 10 years?
Mat - Just seeing the growth we've experienced in the past 7 months, I hope to be selling out large-capacity clubs in 5 years....and who knows....maybe stadiums in 10?
Luis: If Ari from Entourage was your manager and I were a Producer/ Record Label how would he describe (sell) Hydrovibe to me?
Mat - Well, unfortunately, living on the road doesn't afford us the time or means to watch much TV, so we are unfamiliar with Entourage! Tell Ari to get us that tour bus with a flat screen and satellite TV!
Heather - I'd tell Ari to tell you that we are one of the hardest-working bands out there right now...we've been working the clubs nonstop this year, making HUGE impressions everywhere we play. We are ambitious, passionate, and determined to succeed...with or without a label!!
Luis: Thank you for granting me this interview. Congrats to you all and More power!
Heather/ Mat/ Eliot and Phil ( in harmony ): Thank you! Anytime!
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OPERATION ROCK TOUR
TOUR PRECEEDED BY JULY GIG IN NYC
New York, NY – Organizers today announce the Operation Rock Tour to kick off starting August 10th and go through September 29th. The tour is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, offering a discounted entry to military personnel.
Los Angeles-based Hydrovibe is a female-fronted aggressive rock band. Their song “Killer Inside” was featured in the film Saw III and can be found on the soundtrack. Metal Edge Magazine sponsored their tour earlier this year and the band has shared stages with Static X, Taproot, Dope, Soulfly, Powerman 5000, and Soil.
Before joining up with Operation Rock, Hydrovibe will be touring on their own. Among the stops on the tour include Snitch at 59 2 21st St in New York City. They are scheduled to play on July 2nd at 11 pm.
Additional acts include Memphis-based Egypt Central who recently finished recording their debut album with Josh Abraham (Velvet Revolver, Limp Bizkit, 30 Seconds to Mars). Also supporting Operation Rock is Bobaflex, who utilizes a unique blend of heavy metal and hip-hop beats. They have previously toured with Megadeath, Mudvayne, and Sevendust.
8/10 – TNT’s (Detroit, MI)
8/12 – Peabody’s (Cleveland, OH)
8/24 – Curtain Club (Dallas, TX) 8/31 – Clicks (Baton Rouge, LO)
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