Mojada: Meet Marco Storm and Wez Roy
Mojada prove anything’s possible…provided you want it enough.
Charm… a little can go a long way. Optimism… it certainly helps in life. Talent… there’s no denying it has its benefits. Hard work… what it all comes down to in the end.
Mojada Photos: Our Manly Photographer Orlando Luminere
If these are the main elements required for success in today’s music industry, then it’s just as well for them that Sydney band Mojada have the top three in spades… and certainly aren’t afraid of investing in the last one! These were the facts that became quickly apparent when guitarist and front-man Marco Storm and drummer Wez Roy met with Our Manly to discuss the band’s past, present and future.
Along with third member Chad Kendrick (guitar and vocals) all indicators suggest that this is a band standing on the precipice of Fame.
Producing a sound that draws on a variety of influences, it’s fair to say that Mojada is a band that refuse to be pigeon-holed. Sounding like Jimmy Page bumped into Stevie Wonder in a bar…who then called his mates Curtis Mayfield, Flea and Jack Johnson to join them for a jam session… this is feel-good music for a generation in need of a little relief.
As our discussion commences though, it’s easy to see that it’s no accident such wide-ranging influences are found within the band’s sound. As Wez explains his musical history, it becomes clear that music is in his blood. Thanks in part to a Mum who taught piano plus the influence of his older brother, his was an upbringing spent listening to legendary artists.
“I’ve been drilled from an early age. My brother’s five years older than me so I was force-fed a lot of his musical influences like the Stone Roses, The Cure, The Police… Sting is probably my Elvis. Then later on I got interested in jazz with artists like Herbie Hancock who’s had a big influence on me… and on the band.”
And if it seems that there isn’t much of Mojada’s rockier elements to be found in this mix, you need look no further than the artists that defined Marco’s early musical education to discover where this comes from. “I grew up listening to Metal!” he states proudly. “I remember the first time someone gave me a Slayer tape and I just thought this is amazing!”
Given the easy-going demeanour of the man, this comes as something of a surprise.
“Well, I grew up in WA. The surf scene back then was really aggressive and to fit in you had to be a tough little kid. I heard this music and the power and intensity of it was amazing… it just gave me so much energy.”
And if anything defines Mojada in one word, that’s it… energy!
Image, Orlando Luminere
On record the band deliver an infectious groove, designed specifically to get you jumping around; but it’s live that Mojada really shine. The guys freely admit that being able to quit their day jobs is the ultimate goal, if for no other reason than to have the opportunity to play their music to audiences more often… a sentiment Marco feels strongly about,
“What drives us is the idea of trying to reach as many people as possible. You know, if you write a song or you make a sound that’s good and people respond well to it, then that’s the goal. And I think the reason that we do music is because we enjoy seeing the reaction of people so much… and getting that emotional response.”
And it‘s no fluke that this strong relationship with their audience exists, with the guys freely admitting that they’ve spent time concentrating on this aspect of their image.
“Just to see that there’s a whole bunch of people really getting into it, that’s what it’s about for us. We know we’ve worked hard and have got the band to a stage where we’ve got a great live show. We’ve learnt to really connect and get a good thing going on with the audience and to be able to do that on a greater scale and on a daily basis is what we are aiming for... that’s the goal.”
But if it sounds as if the band is all work and no play, nothing could be further from the truth. While they are obviously dedicated to their cause, there’s a sense of fun about the band that’s hard to miss. After all, these are the guys who managed to sneak backstage at the recent Police concert, with Marco even making it all the way into the dressing room.
“(Laughing) - Yep, we dodged security for about 45 minutes at the end of the concert while everyone else moved out. Then, when all the crew came in, we shot through to the backstage area and I managed to get into the dressing room. We actually followed Michael Chugg in, just walking around as if we were meant to be there.“
Eventually getting thrown out after being recognised by an industry ‘friend’, it doesn’t take long to get the impression that it’s this ‘go for it’ attitude that has helped the band get to where they now are.
A recent trip to the States to record tracks for the newly released EP ‘Exactly’, found the band working with some top industry producers. While most would believe this to be the kind of opportunity that only comes the way of established acts, it’s incredible to discover that the band engineered the whole thing themselves, running on blind optimism, faith and a little cash loan here and there.
However, despite their sense of adventure, there is sompte method in their madness. It soon becomes clear that it wasn’t without first packing a certain amount of humility that the band set off for the America’s West Coast.
As Wez states, “At first we were pitching ourselves to these guys and feeling like we weren’t really meant to be there. I mean we were meeting producers with all these awards on their shelves and gold and platinum records on the walls, (the band worked with Sylvia Massy of Prince and Red Hot Chili Peppers fame) and we’re thinking how did we manage to talk our way into this one?”
But it’s the prospect of taking on such challenges that is important to the band and certainly can’t be underestimated in relation to their recent achievements.
“I think it’s really important as a band, especially if you’re in it for the long run, to challenge yourself…” comments Marco.
“We’ve always tried to take on things that we probably shouldn’t have and the idea of going to the States was a crazy one. We don’t have a record company to lend us money (the band run their own label, Jdog Records, out of their house) so we had to save up all our gig money, take some loans out from family and friends and just go for it.”
And once again the almost fearless attitude that Mojada has, makes itself apparent. It’s not born of arrogance - far from it; rather it seems to be a desire to squeeze as much out of life as possible… and to push themselves towards their goals.
Mojada - Marco Storm and Wez Roy on Manly Beach
Mojada Photos: Our Manly Photographer Orlando Luminere
“The idea was that if we can overcome the challenges in the States then we can do something really good, be able to work with people in the industry and be in a really good space. As artists that’s only going to lift us up and we want to take those leaps.”
There’s little doubt that this philosophy is paying off, with the band enjoying a recent run of success. The release of the new EP and subsequent launch of their first single ‘Put My Love On You’ highlights the progress the guys are making. The fact that a remixed version of the single was recently picked up by Channel 10 for use on its hit show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’, is just another indicator of the attention the guys are starting to receive…not that they are letting it go to their heads of course.
“It’s a metaphor for life.” says Marco “When you feel like you’re doing well, you get punched in the face by circumstance… but it’s how you recover from it that’s important. And so we just really love getting punched in the face, because if we get through that little bit we know we are going to make it to the next stage… and that’s all part of the journey.”
Choosing to retain their independence has meant that there’s a lot of hard work that goes on in the background, all keeping the Mojada machine moving forward. The responsibility of running their own office, continually updating their fans on the band’s movements, plus the added responsibility of their day jobs, it’s clear this is not a group that can sit still for long.
Which, of course, appears to be the trick for Mojada… they work very hard at what they believe in! In an industry where the Internet regularly offers the false promise of overnight fame and fortune, these guys understand that it’s still vital to put in the hard yards.
As any legitimate band will tell you, “It’s the music that comes first”, but the business side of things should never be ignored, especially if you want to make a real impact.
So with the single launch taking off, an Aussie tour in the pipeline and a new album only weeks away, it’s all systems go for Mojada - just the way they like it!
As Wez sums up ”The main thing is that we want to give the music a chance to be heard by as many people as possible. Whether they like it or not is another matter, but we just want to be able to give people the chance to hear it!”
And well you should!
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Images: Manly Photographer Orlando Luminere
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