VIRTUALITY PRESS Interview with POWER PACKER Magazine 1. Tell us about Scott Mosher. Who is he? What are his musical plans? Well, I am a musician/graphic artist/activist and Allaroundniceguy®. It's all emblazened on my business card(s) so you know it's not just bloated hyperbole or gross exaggeration. I am also the artist formerly known as 'He who rises with the sun and falls asleep during a GWBush Jr. speech', which translates into many foreign languages nicely. As for my musical plans, well, I have just completed relocating back to NYState (Long Island, to be more specific) so I am getting myself re-established within the musical community here. I am currently finishing up the music for my 3rd CD, and hopefully I'm looking at an early 2003 release. I am attempting to avoid competing with the next Lord of the Rings movie (it's gonna rule, man!), Santa Clause and his directionally-challenged reindeer and snow. But seriously, hopefully early 2003.   2. Tell us about the demo CD 'Virtuality'. Well, I think the term 'demo' is most certainly a misnomer. I definitely don't consider it a demo. While I'll admit to being 100% self-financed and an independent musician, I never was fond of lacking major or minor label credentials denoting a musical release a 'demo'. Not by any stretch of the imagination. THis is a full fledged, multi-media project, and was intended as such since it's conceptualization and inception. Anyhow, now that we got the semantics out of the way, VIRTUALITY is a 70 minute excursion into the world of ambient, neo-progressive rock music. It also encompasses the world of digital art (my profession) and therein, functions, to a certain extent, as a graphic design portfolio. Additionally, considering the somewhat extensive liner notes delving into my personal philosophy and idealogy, I think VIRTUALITY represents both an abstraction and the reality of my artistic and creative ideals.   3. From what I gather, 'Virtuality' is a solo project. Will you ever try and put together a real band? I get asked this question all the time. The short answer is no*. The long answer (the * ) is that if I: 1) had proper funding, 2) the right combination of musicians willing to perform with the dedication and methodology a live show would require, 3) the money to invest in an applicable and complimentary light show, 4) the desire, and 5) more songs! I would consider it. I have to admit to being slightly more enamored of being a studio/recording musician at this juncture than a performing or touring musician. I do think the question is obligatory for the simple reason this kind of music is practically born as a combination of the audio and the visuals. IT would be awesome, if I could do the concept justice, man.   4. Tell us about those persons that have helped/contributed to your project. (i.e.-Todd Corsa on vocals, etc) Actually, Todd is really the only collaborator. Mickey James, who produced and recorded the CD, slapped down a dope bass solo on whim during a fine evening of recording. Todd really functions as my voice. I'm not the worlds greatest lead vocalist, and while I could probably hold my own with the Danny Partridges of the world, I'm no Steve Perry or Ray Alder by any stretch of the imagination. Todd's voice is at once both complimentary and divergent with the music I write, and it's a challenge for us both to work at this level of composition and arranging. Basically, he writes most if not all the vocal melodies and thereafter, sings. I am going to get him to drop atleast another guitar solo or two on the next CD. Our musical mentalities travel on a similiar path, and we are often on the same wavelength when it comes to collaborating on music.   5. You call your music "ambient neo-progressive cyber rock". Explain this phrase and its meaning. Yes, but you may be sorry you asked (lol). I coined that term for lack of a more descriptive phrase. The majority of people who read the liner notes find it kind of humorous, but once they hear the music, it becomes clear. To clarify, I incorporate a diverse range of atmosphere into my sound, hence the ambience, and the progressive is the approach I take as both a songwriter and instrumentalist. The music IS progressive in that at times I stretch muself OUT of modern songwriting techniques, and conventions, and work with a myriad of tones, odd-meters and song lengths. It's actually quite similar to the dynamics of a movie at times. Experimental, and yet dramatic.   6. Your music is not exactly metal. More of an atmospheric-rock. Is it hard trying to find a musical niche to be able to promote your music, especially since rock is not as popular as it once was, commercial-wise. Being a schizophrenic when it comes to my own diverse interests in music and film, I have to say I do maintain, almost subconsciously and unintentionally, an enigmatic approach to music. It's hard to define sometimes, hard to digest in one listen, and even more difficult to both promote AND discuss with people who aren't tolerant and adventurous in their choices of music. The paradox is that it can be incredibly hard to find an audience, but conversely, it can by tremendously rewarding for those willing to take the chance on something different. And I am not re-inventing the wheel here, but it IS strange enough in this corporate music climate, to warrant a disclaimer, at times. Much to my chagrin... And yeah, I'm still trying to find my niche!   7. Favorite song(s) or part(s) from the CD? Hmmmm... I really like the guitar solo's on 'Sorrow in a World of Darkness' and the outro of 'Sometime After Midnight'. As a whole, I can really dig 'The Human: Machine' and 'Re-Define' as songs, though they are, within the confines of VIRTUALITY, vague opposites of each other. Todd's vocals impressed the hell out of me, and still do to this day, as does the fact I remembered to play most of my guitar solo's in key and spontaneously after much time fretting about the loss of much of my 'technique' over the years. But, what one looses in ability, one gains in phrasing and style, I guess. Or so I am trying to convince myself! (lol)   8. Your music reminds me a lot of that of Alan Parsons. How much of an influence is he and his music towrds your music? Not much at all. I do admit a fondness for quite a number of his (the band) songs, though. I would consider Fates Warning, Kitaro, David Arkenstone, Tangerine Dream, Rush (really?), Journey, Saga, Dream Theater, Prince and James Brown (though you don't hear it) much more influential. And I still dig alot of coolass trance music, too.   9. The artwork contained within the CD booklet is amazing, especially the center artwork of the booklet with the pyramids, lightning, and stars. Is there a meaning to this one piece of artwork? Thanks! I'm ;leaving that all up to the interpretation of the viewer/listener. I could draw some parallels, or point out the symbollism, but I would prefer to defer to the art itself, taken as a whole with the concept of the CD. Besides, I'd have to facilitate litigation against myself for revealing ancient artistic secrets if I admitted to any conscious thought or theme. But, there's a number of recurring motif's and concepts.   10. Also, is there a meaning to the CD cover? It is a very pro-industrial type cover yet while reading your comments, you seem to be very pro-environment, anti-industrial. You hit it. I am absolutely an avid environmentalist and advocate for ecological responsibility on a personal, economic, global and political level. Anti-industry? That's a little more critical than I like to consider myself. Perhaps more sublime, such as anti-pollution? But isn't almost everyone, eh?   11. Thoughts about the Earth and its environment and where mankind is heading? Yes, not a pretty or scenic sight, either. With our current political climate, and the administration that's in office right now, the anti-environmental regieme is in full motion, along with a long-winded smear campaign against the environmental movement, which disgusts me. Without mentioning the obvious names, our politicians are treating our environment, and our well-being as both a nation and a global community, as an expendable resource to be exploited. THe welfare of the citizens and our ecosystem have fallen far from being first on the list of our politicians policy plans and future legislation. It's all about money, votes, partisian politics, and greed. I don't need to give anyone a road map to show how far down the road towards self-destruction we are heading. Not to come off sounding to alarmist or anything, of course (lol)! Mankind, as individuals, and collectively, really need to hold our leads and government accountable, and as citizens, we need to become both more aware, informed, and responsible.   12. With such a vast array of music contained on the CD (i.e.-sythns, sound bites, etc), do you play your music live? No, but I did once, back in the late 80's and early 90's (and that's the 1900's, wiseguy!).   13. What does the future hold for Scott Mosher? Hopefully a grammy award, the nobel peace prize, a golden gloves boxing award, the pulitzer prize, a subscription to my favorite entertainment magazine, a German Shepard named George, a nice hot pepperoni Pizza, plenty of Dr. Pepper (alternating with H20 of course), a few more CD's (and 1 8-track release for purely selfish nostalgic reasons), avoidance of traffic violations, a healthy planet and the breakdown of intolerance and ignorance in our increasingly materialistic society. I am not a hippie and never played one on TV! Seriously, though I have enough music right now for the next 3 follow-ups to VIRTUALITY and I intend to bring those to fruition.   14. Last comments? Support independent progressive-minded musicians and artists. I have an extensive website and plenty of song samples posted therein. If you like what you read, hear and see, please order a copy or twelve, tell your entire extended family, and drive safely. Feel free to contact me with comments, suggestions, donations and fine wines! Here;s my current contact information: