BAND: Media Lab
INTERVIEWER: JenJen@bandvibe.com

In the vibes of a “melodic hardcore metal” band, Media Lab is a rising example that will intensify the human emotions by the essence of music. Media Lab will engorge into your most excruciating mental state of misery, anger, and pain. Within the gathering of chaotic inspirations, Media Lab consists of five members: Sean Nelson (vocals), Alexandria Reyes (guitar), Will Riley (guitar), Stephan Moran (drums), and Bill Hallaran.

“Our obligation is to provide you with the purest depth of raw integrated sound combining it with technological decoding. Let the music, the media, the brainwash apocalypse begin...” – Media Lab

Bandvibe: So.. You recently signed to Sunland Records. How does that feel?

Alexxx: I think I cried in the bathroom after we signed. I'm such a sap, but it's something I dreamt about since I was a kid. And for it to actually be a reality was overwhelming... The label treats us like family as well. They give us a lot of musical freedom most major labels lack these days.

Steve: It feels good...We definitely worked very hard to make it happen...We wanted to go with Sunland because of the creative freedom they gave us and their total support behind our band.

Sean: To work towards something your whole life...dealing with all the BS, Hardships, and constant struggle of trying to succeed as a musician...if feels amazing to finally have someone back what your doing and recognize talent that you at least hope you have to do this for so long. It feels amazing.

Bandvibe: Any LP Plans?

ML: Our Full Length album will be out soon, “Bleeding Memory”.

Bandvibe: When is the release date for Bleeding Memory?

ML: We’re planning for October 18th.

Bandvibe: Any Tour Plans your fans should look forward to?

ML: We plan to tour our asses off...we're pretty used to it... We have some major tour plans in the works....with some possible major bands.

Bandvibe: How does your song writing process go?

Alexxx: Me or Will usually bring guitar riffs to the rehearsal. Steve lays down some groove... Sean starts humming melodies the second we're all jamming together. Sean locks it in and works on the lyrics the very next day.

Steve: We have different formulas. Will, Alex, or myself will come up with a riff that would just grab us and then go from there. I would then lay a beat down. Not just any beat, but a beat that would help the rhythm and not take away from it. Then, we determine if the first rhythm is a chorus or verse. We don’t try to force parts together when writing a song. Usually, that’s when songs don’t come out as good as songs that have parts that flow together.

Sean: Usually someone comes up with an intense guitar part (riff), and then we go from there. As we're writing the music, I usually begin to feel...and the music will make me remember some hardship I went through, and I'll start running ideas through my head for lyrics. Sometimes, I'll use poems or journal entries I have already written. Either way, every song is very personal to me lyrically, and we always try to match the emotion of the lyrics with the emotion of the music.

Bandvibe: You have been nominated for “Best Hard Rock” in the 2005 San Diego Music awards. What are your thoughts?

Alexxx: I personally am not a fan of award shows. The whole competition of musical art always bothered me. But now that I think about it, I love San Diego. I love to support our local music scene and I realize it's actually a pretty cool feeling to be nominated. We're up against amazing bands.

Steve: it feels great that we are nominated and that we are getting noticed this early in the game for Media Lab....

Sean: Again, it feels amazing to be recognized outside of your family and friends.

Bandvibe: We see here that you did a cover of U2's without without, right?

ML: Yes.

Bandvibe: Why?

Alexxx: We were messing around with it.. It's a powerful song... a love song which Sean usually writes about anyway. We wanted to make it a little heavier than what it was without manipulating it too much.

Bandvibe: Who's idea was it?

Alexxx: Sean mentioned covering it and I was totally stoked on the idea. We had to persuade Steve in doing it... He thought it was too soft but he ended up giving in obviously. That song always got to me, especially the guitar riffs. I decided to keep most of the guitar lines because they’re equally as beautiful and important as the singing melodies.

Steve: Sean’s Idea...turned to be a good one for us

Sean: That was my Idea. It explains everything I write about. "I can't live, with or without you"... Think about that lyric. Very powerful in the sense that basically what it's saying is, misery will never dissolve. The ultimate love. It is totally what a part of Media Lab is.

Bandvibe: Where do you see yourselves 2 years from now, and what can we expect from Media Lab?

Alexxx: Well hopefully we'll have a number 1 album, put San Diego on the musical map. We're not going anywhere anytime soon so expect your ears to bleed til then...

Steve: hopefully further ahead than we are now...and headlining a tour...What to expect from Media Lab in the future? Great music and even better live shows. We want to take music where music hasn’t gone...

Sean: In 2 years I hope were tearing shit up still. In two years, hopefully we'll be a top band, internationally recognized.--you can expect Media Lab to get more intense, more complex and more emotional. Our goal is to drain you of emotion and then slam you with intensity. That’s what we do......it will never change, just get better.

Check out Media Lab’s Official Website at: http://www.medialabmusic.com/