 
Published: May 04, 2008 12:47 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA
(Juniorscave.com)
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Urbansnake
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If you are looking for something that has a new punch to it, then I have something for all you Rock music lovers. Urbansnake, the five man colossal team, is proving that they are worthy to be in the music industry. The members consist of Lead singer, Vinny Corvino, Rhythm Guitarist, Kevin Aponte, Lead Guitarist, Andy Romeo, Bassist, James Papa, and the newest member to the band, Drummer, Hemi Bordowitz. Each member fits perfectly as the band’s sound certainly proves that Rock is not going anywhere.
Isaac: When I am listening to you guys, I feel that I am listening to some solid first-class music that has a powerful punch. Briefly elaborate on how your band came together as Urbansnake?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Kevin, Andy, James, and I were in our first “serious” band together, back when were kids – I was 16 years old. That band, Requiem, was a thrash metal band that did garner a lot of attention, in spite of our youth. The band eventually opened shows at the bigger NYC venues and for bands like Life of Agony and Biohazard. We were doing well . . . then came the grunge scene. I like grunge. But, I didn’t like all the attention it removed from any rock band doing anything else. Eventually Requiem split up. 8 years later, a song that Kevin and I wrote got airplay on 102.7 WNEW FM. Grunge had by then faded, and we all regrouped as Urbansnake. The powerful punch you describe must have to do with our thrash metal background.
Isaac: Expound on the name and the meaning behind Urbansnake.
Vinny of Urbansnake: When you think of music out of the Bronx, NYC, you think hip-hop, right? Very few – or any? – heavy rock and/or metal bands have come out of that area. That’s our home. We really consider ourselves an urban band, despite our genre. An urbansnake is a very old NYC slang term for a subway train – which is urban, heavy, fast, underground and sonically threatening, like us.
Isaac: What is the most rewarding aspect to making music currently for you as a group and as individual musicians?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Just knowing that people like what we’re doing. It’s not a monetary thing. To me, music is a form of communication. To know that we’ve communicated something through our writing to someone who needed to hear it is all we ever need. None of us have ever just been in it for the money or the chicks – which is probably why our tunes don’t suck.
Isaac: What has discouraged you the most about making music?
Vinny of Urbansnake: The live music scene is not doing very well, these days. While putting out well-recorded music is rewarding, there’s nothing like a great live venue --- and they’re all dying.
Isaac: How do you handle musical disagreement between the members of the group?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Cage matches. . .just kidding. . .honestly, this band is unique in that four of the five of us know each other since we were kids. No matter how many years go by, everyone stays in character. I’m always the driven neurotic lunatic. Kevin’s passion is always boiling over. Andy’s logical and strategic as all hell and, like James, willing to hang back and be patient when necessary. By now, we’re self-choreographed. It’s a strange chemistry, but it works. Our new drummer, Hemi, fits right into the family.
Isaac: What does being entertainers in today’s world mean to you?
Vinny of Urbansnake: I don’t know, anymore. Used to be you had to be good at something to be an entertainer. Now, it seems if you do something goofy in front of a camera and people talk about it, you’re an entertainer. And who am I to challenge that, really? If people find you running yourself into a wall entertaining, it’s entertainment.
While I don’t care that people are famous, today, just for being famous, I do find it sad that as a culture we so often admire people who possess no special abilities. One more thing. . .remember when rock stars and actors were allowed to be ugly?
Isaac: Yes, I do---beauty not talent prevails the industry now.
Isaac: Do you have a personal philosophy about music? If so, what is it?
Vinny of Urbansnake: I just think you know it’s good when you hear it, when it moves something in your body, mind and soul. That’s a very personal thing. I can’t define it for you and you can’t define it for me. If you’re writing it, don’t be deliberate. Let your influences come into you, seemingly from nowhere, like radio waves or something. Channel it. Don’t try to sound like your favorite band, because the worst thing that can happen to you is achieving that.
Isaac: When you are performing live in front of an audience, what are the thoughts that are running through you head?
Vinny of Urbansnake: If there are thoughts running through your head, you’re not performing. A good performance is the closest I ever get to the “zen” experience. You perform from your gut and off of the crowd’s energy and personality. When you’re locked in your brain, it’s like you’re trying to paint Starry Night by numbers.
Isaac: Why is being an independent musician important to you?
Vinny of Urbansnake: It’s not. I’d approach music the same way if Urbansnake were signed to a major label.
Isaac: Do you think the Internet has altered the path of music as an industry? If so, how?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Of course it has. A band can now reach so many potential fans on its own. Fans can hear more than just what the radio and big money offers them.
We’ve picked up fans all over the world, because of the Internet. In fact, a recent radio station contest awarded our latest CD, “Whiteknuckle,” to a guy in India, because he successfully provided the DJ with all of the lyrics to our song, “Energy.” How d’you beat that?
Isaac: Any advice for other musicians out there when it comes to using the Internet as a medium for getting their music heard to the masses?
Vinny of Urbansnake: No. Who needs more competition? Kidding. . .seriously, pick up some literature on how to market yourself on the Internet. Educate yourself. The information is out there. Then – and so many bands don’t take this step – DO IT!
Isaac: What kind of recording software do you use and why do you prefer using it?
Vinny of Urbansnake: We always go to an actual recording studio. You can have the top equipment/software in the world, but you can’t beat an engineer and producer who knows what you want to sound like and knows what he/she is doing. Sorry to say it, but I think you get what you pay for. Most home recordings sound like home recordings – no matter the software.
Isaac: I know that everybody has his or her idea of a dream artist, someone who for whatever reasons that person would just love to listen to and admire. As an entertainer yourself, if you could play with one of your "dream" musicians, anyone at all, who would it be and why?
Vinny of Urbansnake: I’d take a duet with Chris Cornell, or the opportunity to sing harmony with The Bee Gees. They’re out of my genre, but, man, what songwriters and what singers.
Isaac: What are you hoping to gain from your experience of being a musician and making music?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Back to Zen. I don’t think of gaining in this endeavor. Creativity is about giving. For some reason, when you’re generous, you’re also more receptive to all those subtle vibrations that inform your writing – when it’s good. That said; if I could only make music in my life and not have to bother with the peripheral stuff, that’d be nirvana (not the band).
Isaac: What are you hopes for your music in the year 2008/2009?
Vinny of Urbansnake: Totally unoriginal – a major deal, a tour, a third album.
Isaac: This is our Shout Out time. Please give props to anyone and everyone that matters the most to you.
Vinny of Urbansnake: Sorry to have to do this, but I just lost my cat, Hawthorn. The dude hung with me for 14 years. So, a big shout out to you, brother. If anyone else deserves a shout, it’s my band mates, because they’re also my closest friends, and, together, we’re better than we are apart.
Isaac: This is Shameless Plug time: Give us some updates on new releases and other projects in the works.
Vinny of Urbansnake: Our new CD, Whiteknuckle, is available at www.cdbaby.com/urbansnake2 and also on iTunes. Please check our website www.urbansnake.com for shows, and check out our video for the song, “Orphan” on our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/urbansnakemusic
Isaac: Final Thoughts:
Vinny of Urbansnake: Bring back CBGB!
Urbansnake
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