JIHAD
INTERVIEW
Rich and James Mendez
March 10th, 1996
By Virtual Night Angel
Virtual - In the dictionary
it says Jihad is a Moslem holy war against infidels. Does this definition
reflect on any of Jihad's songs? What's your holy war about?
James - We don't mean that particular
definition. There is a second definition: a crusade for a principal or belief,
and we view it as strength in a group. We're really open minded and we don't
have a definite crusade or belief. I originally took it from "Jyhad"
the card game which is now known as "Vampire" now, I'm sure you've
heard of it. It has nothing to do with a Moslem holy war at all.
Virtual - Have the two of you
worked together on music previously to Jihad?
Rich - Yes we have. Prior to this
we've done a few experimental tracks that never saw the light of day.
James - We did a Benestrophe track
and a remix as well, but it never came out.
Virtual - When did Jihad begin?
James - We got serious in January
of 1995 when we submitted our first three tracks to RAS DVA for the quadruple
compilation. Shortly after, Ric Laciak extended an offer asking us if we
wanted to release more material under his label. We got much more serious
then.
Rich - As a matter of fact, I'm
working on a web page for you to put on Hallucinet. It's going to encompass
our Biography.
Virtual - That sounds cool
James - Basically, how he got
started with Benestophe. How it branched out to the much aclaimed Mentallo
& The Fixer. How the Benestrophe vocalist ends up vocalizing for Jihad.
He'll be able to go into more detail about that.
Virtual - I love the song, "Hands
That Hide" on the RAS DVA quadruple compilation. When can we expect
to hear some new material?
James - Ric has informed us he's
planned the full length release in mid May. Also, there's the "Interview"
CD I've been telling you about which will include an exclusive remix of
"Hands That Hide", in addition to two other tracks. One of which
has already been completed with my vocals.
Virtual - What is it called?
James - It's called, "Shades
of Gray".
Rich - I think you'll really like
the remix of "Hands That Hide".
James - The new "Hands That
Hide" is about eight minutes. I completely reprogrammed and restructured
everything. It will be extremely appealing especially for those who liked
the original version. It's very intense and somewhat contrasting in comparison
to the original version. The third track has yet to be completed. Rich and
I are still trying to decide who will vocal on it.
Rich - We're approaching it from
different angels, trying to gain a perspective on it.
James - It too, is a lengthy song.
About seven minutes. Generally, I like to keep them four or five minutes
long. The "Interview" CD will be the newest material released
until probably mid May which is when the full length will be out.
Virtual - Have you come up with
a title or idea for your first Jihad release?
Rich - Yes, "A Prayer In
The Night". Is this conversation being recorded?
Virtual - Of course, dude. You
will be able to edit the interview so everything is precise. Do you mind?
James - No
Virtual - This isn't going up
on the internet as we speak or anything like that.
James - We're also going to interview
with Ric soon. He's going to digitally edit our conversation to include
on the "Interview" CD.
Virtual - Will there be any fast
dance tracks on your debut release?
James - We have four more tracks
that need to be completed. We're going to have ten or eleven tracks total.
It's mainly going to consist of a lot of dark mood music but we've been
experimenting so you may see a dance track, but not too many.
Virtual - Well, I'm hoping for
one at least.
Rich - Maybe the next CD we'll
devote entirely to dance music, I don't know.
James - This first release is
not going to be your typical 120 BPM club music. It's music that people
will have to really appreciate for it's face value.
Virtual - Which we certainly will!
James - Oh, I hope so. I hope
that everyone has the same attitude as you and will appreciate it for what
it is.
Virtual - Do either of you like
to dance?
James - Oh, definitely.
Rich - On occasion.
Virtual - I know that Jihad has
been signed to RAS DVA and you have a contract to do two full lengths, plus
one more after if possible. What kind of benefits is RAS DVA providing you
both with?
James - So far exposure and distribution
big time which we value the most. He's a great guy, actually he got me a
good deal on a DAT player and he sent me a whole Atari set up, which you
had said was cheesy.
Virtual - Man, any piece of equipment
is awesome. By hanging out with Mentallo & The Fixer obviously you know
they don't have the best computer equipment, but they have the most advanced
music.
James - Oh yeah.
Rich - I think they're extremely
advanced.
James - For awhile their stuff
was released on a Commodore 64. I don't know if you could tell, but it doesn't
matter what kind of equipment that you have. It's how you use it.
Virtual - Yes indeed.
James - I'm using a Comodore 64
right now. That is what the first full length and "Hands That Hide"
were composed on. Moving to the ATARI 1040ST from the Comodore 64 is quite
an advancement. It's a hell of a lot better now. There are a lot more editing
capabilities. Yes, Ric has really helped us out and whatever monetary gain
we receive will be reinvested to improve our sound.
Virtual - Was the song, "Hands
That Hide" taken from your demo recordings?
Rich - The original version was
mastered to DAT. Of the three tracks submitted, "Hands That Hide"
left the biggest impression on Ric.
Virtual - Was your demo tape submitted
before RAS DVA decided to have you on the quadruple compilation?
James- Yes. He asked us to submit
a tape. We were treated like any other band.
Virtual - I was fortunate to hear
a track called, "Open Sores" (Remix) that James composed and Gary
Dassing remixed in early 1988. Would you like the Dassing brothers to be
involved in a remix for Jihad?
(Left to Right) Dwayne Dassing, Rich Mendez and Gary Dassing
James - Oh, definitely. We just
have to find time to get together since we all hold full-time jobs. I've
had Gary do remixing for some ancient experimental stuff I did years ago
when he use to live here in San Antonio. I would love to have them remix
some Jihad material. That would be great.
Virtual - Yeah, I asked Mentallo
& The Fixer what their favorite tracks were on the RAS DVA Quad. and they
said Jihad and Vatican, right away.
Rich - Yes, I like Vatican too
in addition to Mentallo, Necrofix, Informätik/DIN_FIV and Violent Arcana.
They're all very talented.
Virtual - I haven't heard any
clips in the demo ruff cuts I received on the new material, do you think
you may incorporate movie clips eventually?
James - I don't see any anytime
soon. Maybe in the future. I don't feel we need any clips right now. It's
just not an important role in our music at this time.
Virtual - I love your vocals on
the new track titled, "Killobyte" also "The Prophecy"
and "Love in Lust" done in 1988. James, will you be doing vocals
on some of the tracks for Jihad?
James - The only one so far is,
"Shades of Gray" which I've mentioned would be on the "Interview"
CD and maybe the third track that's untitled right now. I may concentrate
on vocals on our next CD but I prefer to leave that up to Rich. He's the
wizard of words. That's why we work well together.
Virtual- Recently you bought the
BOSS DR-660 drum machine, what other equipment do you use?
James - A lot of analog synthesizers
and some newer ones but a lot of them are older keyboards. I use a couple
of drum machines and Master Trax Pro which is a sequencing program.
Virtual - Rich, do you play any
instruments, have you in the past? Do you plan to in the future?
Rich - In the past, no nor currently
either. In the future, I've always wanted to play some guitar but I'm not
sure if it's going to fit in my agenda.
Virtual - Do either of you have
any side projects, except Rich in Benestrophe?
James - I have a project that's
been going on for a long time now but we haven't gotten together in awhile.
It's called, "Trial By Fire" with Jaime Chavez who did the lyrics
for Benestrophe's "Flesh Decay". It's very melodic. I even play
acoustic guitar on two of the songs and the vocals are very different experimental
stuff. We made a bunch of dubs and gave them to our friends.
Virtual - James, what was the
most recent mixing you've done for another band?
James - A local, live band called,
"Red Velvet Venus". They consist of two guitarists, a bass player,
a drummer and a vocalist. Usually, I don't record a lot of live bands but
I do a lot of electronic music where everything is direct. It's much harder
recording a live band.
Virtual - Did you have something
to do with the Oneroid Psychosis remix titled, "Prurience" (LSD
25 mix) by Gary on the "Complications" CD on Decibel?
James - Yes. I spoke to some people
and they said my name wasn't on it. Gary and I did the remix. I programmed
some string and bass parts in the song and Gary said he submitted my name
with it. I know Gary wouldn't exclude my name intentionally. I don't know
what happened.
Virtual - Rich, will the song,
"Resurrection Mary" be on the new Benestrophe?
Rich - We're really not sure at
this point.
Virtual - My vote is, "Yes"!
Rich - We had planned to last
summer, we haven't gotten around to recording it yet. "Resurrection
Mary" is a song we've planned to work on for a long time now.
Virtual - James, why were you
thanked on Mainesthai's "Out To Lunch" CD?
James - Gary and I have been good
friends for some time, that's why. I did not play any instruments on the
"Out To Lunch" CD. I just provide them with moral support.
Virtual - Will you include lyrics
in your first release?
Rich - Yes. Music is one of the
most powerful forms of expression especially when there are deliberate messages
to deliver.
Virtual - Is it correct that both
of you are or have worked for the military? Here's the chance to redeem
yourself. What secrets can you expose? What do you do for the military for
a living?
James - I mainly do clerical work.
I've been moved around a few times, but currently I am scanning documents
onto a computer. It all has something to do with military records.
Rich - Currently, I am a Client/Server
aplication developer. Computer programming believe it or not. Speaking of
which, I have been published in a magazine called, "FoxPro Advisor"
this month for the third time since January.
Virtual - Do you support the local
scene in San Antonio, Texas?
James - What scene? It's sad to
say that there really isn't much support for electronic music in San Antonio.
Mainly rock/grundge kids, rap, techno, etc.
Virtual - What bands have you
recently seen, or plan to see?
James - We plan to see Front Line
Assembly and Numb next month.
Rich - We'll travel up north to
Austin to see them.
James - Legendary Pink Dots was
the last band I saw.
Virtual - Are you two on the World
Wide Web often?
Rich - Ironically, we just got
off the Web. I brought my notebook computer over here. We spend a lot of
time on your page. I like the pictures!
Virtual - Are you interested in
a live performance?
Rich - I haven't been on a stage
for six years, but it's possible. We'd like to thank you for this opportunity
to express our views and perspectives. We feel that our music will speak
for itself and we are just as eager and look forward to it's release in
the very near future. Until next time.
Interview edit by Rich and James Mendez.
Contact James Mendez or
Rich Mendez of Jihad.