Band Interview: Ventana
Developed out Cleveland, Ohio in January of 2004, Ventana is coming out of the trenches and blowing our mind with their style of music. Ventana being Spanish for window, it is said it represents a time where we see not only the past, but also a slight reflection of our future in the dusty bloodstained glass.
Matt Foran- Vocals, Samples
Rick Thomas- Programming, Synths and Samples
Kyle Kotarski- Studio guitars
John Sustar- Bass
Winning the “2006 Cleveland Scene Music Award” for the best industrial Goth band, to the mentions, write-ups and interviews in numerous local and national publications, they are making their mark on more than just the “industrial metal” genre… but music as a whole.
Here is a little bit of info to better understand the band and what they are trying to do:
“Our efforts exists for no other reason than to bring back the type of music that we love with the tones and frequencies of the music that we are inspired by today; the music of violence, the music of honesty, the music of brutal sincerity that allowed to follow our hearts into the whirlpool that is “the industry”. We have been waiting in the shadows to release what we consider to be a demon that reflects a demon within our own souls and this primal sound being channeled through us. Our fans have kept the fires burning beneath our streets for so long that we have overcome adversity and continue to put our efforts into a sound that we feel represents what we want and what our fans demand. Villainous undertones and murderous inclinations resound throughout our composition. The lives of alienation and degradation that have brought us here shall now lead us. So what words describe our project and us? The voice belongs to the machinery of hate that drives us. To understand Ventana is to experience the direct connection we are establishing between our nature and the world we have come to reject. As for words to describe the beat of the dying sound, Just listen…..”
With their debut album “American Survival Guide Vol. 1” said to be out Halloween of ‘08, that doesn’t stop them from doing what they dream to do. They’ve shared the stage with Psyclon Nine and opened plenty of shows for Mushroomhead, of course.
I was able to have the band do our band questionnaire so that we and their fans may be able to get to know them a little bit more personally:
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THE BAR: What is the origin of the band name?
Rick: Ventana is spanish for the word window.. a group of us were involved with many other projects and bands and upon grouping came up as a clever way to describe our “window” of opportunity to make a band that was geared towards what we wanted to say in music.
Dan: What he said, it was gonna be Lil Dan’s Wang chung dance dance emo Killing machine. But was scrapped last min due to legal complications.
THE BAR: Who would you list as the bands biggest influences?
Rick: faith no more and nine inch nails are my biggest two. and most music that came out of the mid-90’s..dirty, angry, and honest
Matt: For myself personally I would credit Mike Patton, Trent Reznor, Burton Bell, Oderus Urungus, and the trio of vocalists in KMFDM.
Dan: White Zombie, Marilyn Manson(1994-1999) and Kip Winger!
THE BAR: What is your favorite song live?
Rick: the dying sound
Dan: Face to face and This Digital world
THE BAR: If you could do a show with anyone, who would it be and why?
Matt: Tough choice. There are so many bands and artists that I would be honored to share a stage with. Above all, I would have to pick NIN. Trent was a pioneer in making industrial music what it is today. It would be interesting to show an audience in one show how art is admired and then applied in new ways. VentanA definitely sounds the way it does because of bands like NIN. It would be cool to see it come full circle.
Dan: I would love to be the opening act for a White Zombie and Faith No More reunion show. Yea Rob if you read this get on it!!!
THE BAR: At this point what has been your favorite show you’ve played?
Rick: Halloween shows opening up for Mushroomhead here in Cleveland, Ohio
Dan: We played at a place called the Sky bar for an industrial Goth night. Ventana and Psyclon Nine played the show, that’s where the relationship Between Rick and myself with Psyclon nine.
THE BAR: What do you want the audience to take home after
Rick: enlightenment, motivation to change things that may be shitty in their everyday life
Matt: A hope that we can still survive through these apocalyptic times. A motivation to come together, to fight back, and to take control before it’s too late. Musically, a sound and experience like they have never heard or seen before. A breath of fresh air.
THE BAR: What have been the biggest complications you’ve run into since becoming a band?
Rick: keeping members involved..haha, taken awhile to find hard working “non- rock star attitude” people that really want to work and have something to say.
Matt: Distance has been an issue, but has not prevented progress.
Dan: The constant rotation of guitar players. Is it really that hard to commit and wanna be in a band and have fun?
THE BAR: Top five albums ever.
Matt: Faith No More-Angel Dust,
Nine Inch Nails-The Downward Spiral,
KMFDM-XTORT,
Mr. Bungle-Mr. Bungle,
Crash Test Dummies-God Shuffled His Feet
Dan: Marilyn Manson-Antichirst superstar
White Zombie-Astro Creep 2000
Kiss-Rock and Roll over
Motley Crue-Too fast for love
American head charge-The war of art.
THE BAR: Any Plugs or Announcements you guys would like to make?
Dan: We will be heading to Ante Up studios in Cleveland Aug 9th-20th. The Album will be out NO later than Halloween 2008.
EDITS: The name of the album is not “The Digital Stream” but “American Survival Guide Vol. 1″ and the picture we originally had featured ex-band members, so we took it down. Sorry for any inconvenience. Buy the album! -TMB
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“Lil Dan’s Wang chung dance dance emo Killing machine” would have been a better name.
Just playing, good interview Ry-Dizzle.
These dudes sound cool, but I dunno about a Crash Test Dummies album being in their top albums. Thinking about it makes me want to go “ummm ummm ummmm ummm ummm”…
Man these sound very promising, I cannot wait to see their first album soon.
This turned out really good, thanks to Ventana and Ryan, I hope the band keeps us updated on stuff.
Your shit still doesn’t work. Maybe it has something to do with the gun?
I don’t know
try another pic
s
Sp fucking proud of myself….and i love my wendell and winston lol….dont worry there is more to come…ryan got this down pack and is on the phone with her connections…..hee hee lov you guys
This band sounds pretty cool and the write up on this was really good! I’m impressed. I agree thought Winston, Crash Test Dummies?? And I believe it was “mmmm mmmm mmmmm mmmmm” not “ummmm ummmm ummmmm ummmm” lol I really dig their band name and meaning thats pretty fucking cool and if they sound anything like their influences other than whats noted above i’ll check the album out. good job Ryan.
Thank you shanetrain, that means alot coming from you
You can hear them on myspace, hit the link.
do they bleed black?
YEA YEA Lets get on it about the damn cd I been here been there done, but I be sure I get me a copy of it and I got to laugh about the photo they used for this interview haha anyways u guys still kick ass….
WeaZeL
Matt Foran is in another industrial metal group called CIRCUS OF DEAD SQUIRRELS they are talented as fuck and honestly have a sound style they have made their own and sounds like nothing else out there they are totally underrated and underexposed so check em out!
ps dan kicks ass for mentioning american head charge the war of art as one of the top 5 albums i am addicted to that cd i’ve listen to songs off it weekly for years it never gets old
Tell ole Matt Foran and CIRCUS OF DEAD SQUIRRELS to hook up an interview, maybe we can help them gain some exposure, I’m sure Ryan can handle them. If you can make sure she gets a copy of the new album we’ll get the review up quickly.
Yea for all you guys out there who don’t know yet these guys are fuckking amazing
And finally getting rid of there previous singer matt is a huge improvment its gonna be huge fuckers!!!!
It would appear Ventana has some fans. Awesome! I checked out the Myspace and I was impressed. “The Dying Sound” is my shit. Hope to them live someday.
Wendell I can handle any bandy ou through at me, I will talk to Dan and matt about Circus of the Dead squirrels!!! I LOVE MY JOB HA HA HA….
the name of the album is “the american survival guide vol. 1″
You better love your job, I expect coffee and donuts every morning.
This band is tight they remind me of the electric hellfire club at times.
No donuts for you tubby
Ryan, you are more intelligent than anyone else on this god forsaken site! Kudos for not spreading the poisonous and sinful junk food known as the donut to your fellow man, despite the fact that the “fellow man” in question is an unwashed heathen.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!! Why thank you!!! lol whoever that was ha ha..
Circus of Dead Squirrels? Now I’m totally sold, Circus kicks some ass, and Matt’s diverse vocal style is one of the biggest selling points of the band so I’ll have to check Ventana out too it seems.
“County Fair of the Possum Carcasses”