¤ R a d i o D a y ¤

While surfing the NET I came across something catchy to my ear. It's also very rare that I listen to this type of sound.
On the V.M.U Florida based Radio Day gives us the honor to speak to them!
Enjoy,
VM

VMU: Hey guys how you doing?
    
 Real good! Thanks for asking!!
 
VMU: Could you tell us where your from and who's the current line up?
   
The Dirty South! Miami, FL
 
The lineup is: JDagger (drums), Jav (bass), Sonny Black (lead/rhythm guitars), Stevens (vocals/crowd   management), Tony Montana (lead/rhythm guitars)
 
VMU: How long have you guys been together?  And how many releases have you put out and who produced them?
 
  About 2 years now. Tony's been in the band for about 3 months.
 
  We haven't really released anything yet. We actually tried releasing a full length record, but weren't  completely satisfied with the way things were sounding productionwise. In the meantime, we've put a few demos which have really opened a lot of gigging opportunities for us. On our website, you'll find 3 demo songs (Sad Tuesday, Soon Forgotten, and Respect). So we wait patiently for another opportunity to record a REAL record.
 
VMU: Was the production done Digital or Analog?   If computer what programs and were they fully mastered?
 
These days, digital just makes more sense with the prices coming down. The stuff you hear on the website was recorded on pro tools. However, we never made it to the mastering stage.
 
VMU: I was really impressed with the song "Respect" tight jam!  What's the music scene like in your home town and   who are your influences musically?
    
Thanks! That's a really old song but it has become such a staple of our live show, that if we don't play it (just to mix things up) we get yelled at! Its cool to have everyone singing along to it too!!
 
The music scene here is hard to describe. The consensus is that there's not a whole lot of support for local music. But as soon as a national act comes into town, BOOM, 50,000 screaming fans. Unfortunately, people here (and of course in a lot of places) wait until something is big to be a fan. Its unfortunate though because there is a lot of good music out there that hasn't been commercially watered down. We're trying to change all that though! We always stress hooking up with other bands and doing shows together and really getting a movement going!! Hey, join up on the movement at www.radiodayonline.com  right now!! LOL
    
As far as influences, all of us are into almost every style of music. From Lamb of God to Sade. A band that is a big influence for all of us is Seven. This band has caused a big impact in all of us, musically and visually. Their live show has so much energy!!! Another band that some us dig is Deft. I think you'll need to do another interview about our influences cause the list goes on and on.
 
VMU: How do you guys feel about the mainstream music scene?
    
We're not going lie to you. All of us in the band would like to achieve some kind of mainstream success in our careers, but unfortunately 80% of the stuff on the radio and music channels is very shallow and lame. The bands that really deserve to be everywhere are just ignored by the "machine." Sevendust is a very good example of one of them.
 
VMU: Could you tell us what gear you use live?  And did you use the same gear while recording?
    
Stevens: Audio Technica Wireless Mics, Shure Beta 58, Radio Shack high powered MegaPhone
 
JDagger: DW Collector Series Drums, DW 9000 Series Pedals, Hardware, ZCustom Cymbals/HiHats, Gibraltar
Rack, Audix DSeries Mics.
 
Jav: Ibanez SR885 and Cirrus 5 (both 5 strings), Ampeg SVT4 Pro Head, Line 6 Bass Pod Pro, DTR1 Tuner,
Ampeg 8 x 8 cabinet, Ampeg 8 x 4 cabinet
 
Sonny Black: Fender and ESP (ltd) lefthanded guitars (one on regular, another on a whole step down, the last on a
drop C/other tunings), Stereo Fender Stage 160 amps, with Celestion speakers (for my clean sound), Peavey XXL
(for my distorted sound), Line 6 pedals, a Boss ME, Digitech XP 400, Bad Horesey Wah Pedal, Whirlwind A/B
Box, and a Boss Tuner.
 
Tony Montana: Fender Rock Pro 1000 head thru a Marshall 4 x 12 cab for balls and brutality, Carvin Valve Master
100 head thru a Line 6 (2 x 12 cab) for all clean and processed tones, BBE Sonic Maximizer and a Digitech 2112,
Phase 90, Digitech Whammy, and Crybaby Pedals on the board, Gibson Les Paul Studio, and two Fender Telecasters.
 
VMU: I noticed in your links on your web page that you posted Christian bands POD and Project 86!  My old group opened for Project 86 years ago, very cool band!  Do you guys have any Christian influence in your lives or lyrics?   And how do you feel about the Christian music scene?
 
The first thing we want to make clear is that we're not a Christian band. We are totally against and all labels of any kind. Especially when it comes to religion. We have those links on our page because some of us are into those bands.
 
God is an important part of our lives and continues to be whether we are musicians or not.  
 
VMU: Do any of you own a home studio?    If so what are you running?
 
Not yet!! We have a couple of little digital recording consoles (Akai and Boss) but nothing full blown. Hopefully, we'll get the money soon to be able to build our own little studio. Trust us, that desire is raging amongst us!!
 
VMU: What's in the future for Radio Day?   You guys shopping for a label or staying indie or are you guys signed already?
 
Gigging, pushing, fighting, and enduring. We understand that things take time and that's allowed for us to focus on building a fan base of LOYAL fans by gradually growing. We'd be crazy to not be shopping for a label!! But NO, we're not signed yet, we're still enjoying our indie status! We want to be focused on being road dogs and going out there each night to win people over. It's definitely happening...
 
VMU: Do you guys prefer live or studio? 
 
LIVE, all the way, baby! You just can't match the adrenaline rush, the energy and excitement of a live show!! You just feed off the maniacs going nuts in front off you!
 
VMU: I noticed alot of Florida dates!  We just recently interviewed a group from there called "Eversinceve" very good group!  Do you know who these guys are? Ever played with them?
 
Yeah, we know who they are. We've never had the opportunity to play with them though.
 
VMU: Any tour dates outside of your home town in the works?
 
Outside of Miami? Of course!  Where ever the doors open, we'll go! So far, that's been up and around Florida, but we can't wait to cross the state line!!
 
VMU: What would you say to the young struggling musicians that are out there today?
 
Keep going. If you truly love this, its going to hurt and frustrate you like crazy at times. But true love perseveres
 and that's where you have to dig deep. Also be honest with your music, lyrics, and everything. Don't try to be something just because that's what seems to be hot right now. Write and play from the heart!
 
 
VMU: Thanks very much for your time!!  Any last words?
 
Thanks Vic! Keep the music alive! Go to our website!!
www.radiodayonline.com
See you all real soon!!!!
 
VM Underground
Vic Mendoza www.vmu.com