A Dirty Dozen with VEN from VENREZ – February 2022

According to a recent press release: “Venrez is an American rock band from Los Angeles, CA formed in 2009, comprising of Ven on lead vocals, Jason Womack on guitar and backing vocals who has played with such acts as Fuel and Juliette Lewis and the Lick’s, Victor Singer on drums who brings a monstrous sound and Gabe Maska on bass who has become a fixture on the Sunset Strip playing many of The Sunset and Ultimate Jam shows. After an absence from the music scene for a few years, the band emerges stronger than ever with their new studio EP, Purgatory Awaits, which drops on February 25, 2022 via Pavement Entertainment.  Three years in the making, the release has six new songs and features guest drummer, Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros). The song “Each And Every Day” was also mixed by Malcolm Springer (Tantric, Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty).” We get frontman Ven to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I think this EP is some of the best material we have written and recorded. I believe new listeners will feel like damn this sounds like something I have heard before then quickly realize they haven’t. I do write the lyrics; Jason Womack writes the music. I do not intentionally put hidden nuggets in my lyrics. I write from my soul and some songs are of past experiences which fans will not know exactly who and why I am writing the song although they will relate as so many experience the same things. Open to interpretation I say.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

When I was 7 years old and heard the Beatles on the radio. I dreamed of it daily, yet it was many years later before I actually did take a stab at it.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

My musical tastes are wide ranging. Jason Womack writes our music; I write the lyrics. The songwriters who greatest influenced me were Jim Morrison, Bob Dylan and John Lennon. Musically Jason was influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain and all the bands who came in the door they opened.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

That would be my former next door neighbor Chris Cornell although sadly the world lost him. Living, I would love to do a duet with Lady Gaga.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I love to travel to rivers around our country and flyfish. I find it spiritual and of course I release every fish I catch.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would describe it as a fairly new genre I call ‘Epic Alternative Rock’. As to comparisons, new bands on the rise are going to face this subject. I do not agree or disagree because I am me and do what I do from my heart and soul. Actually, comparisons have been quite complimentary and have been you sound like: Jim Morrison, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Ozzy to Bowie.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I do the cooking, Jason and Gabe Maska, our bass player, handle drinks, and it’s a tie between me, Jason and Gabe as to grabbing acoustic guitars. We do that frequently and I love that acoustic stripped down beauty.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I have never been starstruck. I was born in Los Angeles and have lived my entire life here. The Jackson Five moved in right down the street, my father was a doctor to the celebs etc. I have had stars around me since a child, therefore starstruck I never feel. Now if Mick Jagger asked me to come on stage and sing one on tour with the Rolling Stones, that might be a game changer for me lol.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Making feature films and actually I have been for years and will continue too. Film and Music are the arts I love and I’m blessed to do both.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Hahaha you would ask a question like this lol. The question I would like asked: What motivated you to start a band so late in life? My answer: If you believe, everything is possible. The questions I am tired of answering consist mostly about commenting on comparing me to other artists. I handle it well although please don’t do that!!!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Nope, everything happens just the way it’s supposed to and when it’s supposed to.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Yikes that is a hard one because there are so many. If I had to choose one, it would be the recording of Exile On Mainstreet by the Rolling Stones. That record was the epic peak of the Rolling Stones and how can you not be moved by such a masterpiece of the baddest boys ever in Rock N Roll!

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Category: Interviews