VIRTUALITY PRESS with ROCK REUNION Online 1.) Please introduce yourself. Scott Mosher; Musician, graphic artist, social activist, Dr. Pepper connoiseur & allroudniceguy.® 2.) What musical background do you have? I've been playing guitar for about 20 years, and play bass guitar, drums, keybaords but as of yet, no flugel horn. I do most of my individual arrangements and composing on synths, although incidentally, my first instrument was the trumpet (which, obiviously, didn't last long)! 3.) How would you describe your style? Well, my musical 'style' is all over the proverbial map. I prefer to dabble in a little bit of everything from funk to jazz to classical to rock and metal, but if you are refering to my VIRTUALITY CD, then the official description is "Ambient neo-progressive cyber rock". 4.) Who are your musical influences? Ahhh.. this question always leads to an incredibly long response, but suffice to say I listen to a little bit of everything. As far as influences, I am inspired by events, conversations, paintings, poetry and atmosphere as often as I am influenced by other musicians. I find myself very pourous as a diverse music afficianando, although like anyone else, I go through my moments from total inspiration, to no motivation (a creative writers block) whatsoever. That being said, I listen to Fates Warning, Rush, Dream Theater (obligatory progressive references?), Kitaro, David Arkenstone, Steve Roach, Dilate, Tangerine Dream, Ice-T, Run DMC, James Brown, Prince, Sade, Iron Maiden, Journey, Mordred, Scatterbrain, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Weckl, Tower of Power, Tori Amos, plenty of trance and techno, etc, etc, etc... 5.) What are your 5 alltime favourite albums? Tough question, but I will go with these 5 for $100, Ralph: SIGNALS - Rush, OPERATION MINDCRIME - Queensryche, PARALLELS - Fates Warning, TUNHUNG - Kitaro & the Soundtrack to HELLRAISER II: HELLBOUND by Christopher Young 6.) What are your 5 current favourites? Hmmm... TO VENUS & BACK - Tori Amos, ENGINE - Engine, the Soundtrack to AMERICAN BEAUTY by Thomas Newman, 7.) Tell us more about the songwriting and the recordings of your current CD. In a nutshell, I was trying to break with modern conventional songwriting somewhat and apply somewhat more nebulous song structure. For the most part, even though the majority of the songs I write within this genre (progressive rock) are ogranized like pop songs, I consciously tried to take a more abstract and avant-garde approach, where the songs did not necessarilly require a basic verse/pre-chorus/chorus set-up. Sometimes purposely, othertimes subconsciously, I let the music dictate the flow of the song. I do compose right on my workstation and though I often write the lyrics well after the music is somewhat complete, I normally will just get a feel of where and how the song is taking shape. Some songs, like for instance, 'Sorrow in a World of Darkness', are linear, forward-moving pieces that musically and lyrically are broken down into sections that may not contain repetitive structure. I don't have an aversion to writing verse/pre-chorus/chorus songs (ie: 'Re-Define' and 'Human Machine'), but I also like to challenge myself and listener with being a little more creative with some pieces. 8.) What are your lyrics dealing with? Ah, the usual biochemistry, astrophysics and geonomic sciences... Honestly, sociology and environmentalism as both political causes and movements do conspire to form a large amount of my personal agenda. But also, most lyrics I write also are very autobiographical at the same time. Both 'Re-Define' and 'Promise of Truth' are very much contemporary songs based upon very personal connections and relationships, songs of understanding, communication and self-realization. 'World of Darkness' is my prototypical dark and somber epic song. 'Virtuality' is dealing with the breakdown of personal responsibility and communication and how that is part and parcel to the modern world in both politics and our personal space. 'The Human: Machine' is a very angry song that is fairly straight-forward for me, and deals with the issues of biotechnology, genetic engineering and human cloning, and the hypothetical consequences. Lastly, 'The Dreaming Eye', what words there are, are very abstract and surreal and to sum it up basically is playing out a scene of lucid dreaming and our connections to our own dreamspace. 9.) How did you finance the recordings? Haha! Swiss bank accounts and stock market tips? It's all self-financed... no lobbyists, PAC contributions, corporate donations or special interest dollars were used whatsoever. That being said, I'll let you know when I can obtain ownership of all my personal possessions once again... 10.) Where and how do you distribute the CD? Well, I have been pursing ALL internet options and the personal Viruality PR machine continues to roll on it's stainless steel wheels through cyberspace, for sure. Discussion groups (such as Perpetual Motion Board), mailing lists and clubs, and mass emailings do seem to take precedence and are the most self-serving, but then again, independent artists ALWAYS have an uphill battle even on the internet. Much like in a record store, we have to struggle against the big major-label marketing teams. Even on the net, many people are mostly occupied with established artists and musicians, even in the progressive rock and metal scenes, so the situation becomes one where we have to shamelessly self-promote when and wherever we can, even if some 'purists' (who generally seem to be couch potato, groupy malcontents) aren't keen on seeing the occassional plug spring up in conversation. 11.) Are you in contact with record labels? No, I don't think I am going that route, although I am still debating that matter with myself (and losing it seems). Perhaps it would be better to concentrate on obtaining a contract for financing my project with distribution and promotional rights? I am still formulating a plan, but in the meantime, I am certainly looking to get as much exposure, for better or worse, as possible, on any avenue I can. 12.) Do you have more finished songs? Do you already have plans for the next CD? Funny you mention that, I have been working on 3 new songs, very similar in style, for the next CD, whenever that may be. I don't want to deviate from concetrating on promoting the VIRTUALITY CD, but sometimes when the means to create presents itself successfully, well, one must take advantage of that. So the answer is YES. I also may re-do a few songs from the AMBIENT EARTH new-age CD I did back in 1995. 13.) Do you regularly play live? Tell us more about your gigs. Negative, dude. I have escaped from the live performance and gigging scene many moons ago. I prefer to concentrate on song composition and arrangements. Much of my music applies itself well to grandiose and dramatic conceptual backdrops, so I spend time on the artwork and graphic design work. Plus, Raleigh, NC is not exactly the optimal city for attempting to put together a contemporary progressive electronic outfit. It would seem the only places to play would be weddings, real estate inaugurals and tupperware/soccermom parties! 14.) Do you have a backing band? No, my spiritual advisor says they taste great but are less filling. 15.) What has been your biggest musical achievement / success so far? I would definitely have to say completing a CD of music that I can actually listen to in it's entirety and not become to self-critical of. That and the fact that I also managed to accompany it with a full-color 16-page color book with the lyrics, linernotes, and plenty of personal commentary and diatribes that I stand by 100%. Other than that, I think my chances at taking home the gold at this years Grammy award, while slim, are better than Gary Condit's. 16.) How can you be reached in the internet? My email: ninja@mindspring.com My website: http://www.theambientmind.com Virtuality website: http://www.theambientmind.com/virtuality/ You can buy the CD at: CD BABY - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mosher or you can email me and avoid all those corporate overhead costs. 17.) Is there anything else you want to mention? If you want to hear something a little different (cliché? yes. hyperbole? no!) then check out VIRTUALITY. It may shock your sister, stun your grandfather, and scare your mama, but atleast your pet's well appreciate it and so will you! 18.) What are your plans for the near future? Pushing the exposure level of VIRTUALITY to the stratosphere. Also, I will be attending Powermad and ProgPower festivals in late 2001. Find me, say hi and donate! Also, to organize my NASDAQ portfolio, the finish my political action committee fund transfer and continue corresponding with those Ukranian potato farmers... THANKS RALPH!