Music Interview: Mike Occhicone, Trisula's singer and co-songwriter
Published: May 2, 2007 9:20 PM EST
By: Isaac Joseph Davis Junior
(Juniorscave.com)
Rock is not going anywhere folks and the next act being featured in Music Now clearly shows why this is true. Trisula, who begin around 2005 in Pacific Beach, California, brings to the music industry something that is missing as a whole: uniqueness. The one aspect that when you listen to the band's sound that will grab your attention is that Trisula sounds like Trisula. This is a remarkable task to accomplish when there are so many other bands sounding like mirrors of each other. Check out this great spotlight that Mike Occhicone from Trisula took the time to answer our questions.
The band members include:
Mike Occhicone (vocals, guitar)
Loren Perleman (guitar, vocals)
Jason Jenofsky (bass)
Andy Gilbert (drums)
Special Thanks to Mike Occhicone, Trisula's singer and co-songwriter, who provided us with the answers to our questions.
Band's website:
http://www.myspace.com/trisulatheband
Music Now: When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music?
Mike Occhicone: I've been fascinated by music for as long as I can remember. When I was eight, I got my first boom box and first cassette (Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet) for Christmas. Soon after, I had every song memorized. Listening to an eight year old belt out "Shot through the Heart" must have been hilarious. I picked up the guitar and started writing songs towards the end of high school, about thirteen years ago.
Music Now: What are your musical influences?
Mike Occhicone: Thankfully, I was able to break free of my butt-rock upbringing and find my angst ridden voice when grunge hit the mainstream in the 90s. The Pumpkins, Radiohead and Nirvana were all big influences early on. Nowadays, I have a much broader taste and spend my hours listening to the likes of Coheed and Cambria, Muse, Nada Surf, Climber, Modest Mouse, Pinback, Tool and hundreds of others.
Music Now: Does anyone in your family play music?
Mike Occhicone: Not really. My brother plays guitar and writes music but other than that I'm the anomaly in my family. It's ok though - everyone in my family has their creative side and we have many discussions about the creative process - even though we each have our own mediums.
Music Now: When you are making music, describe how you are feeling?
Mike Occhicone: It runs the full spectrum. You have the frustration of mining the song to find the perfect lyrics or chords to make the song complete in your mind. You have the satisfaction of getting it down just right. When the four of us are nailing the songs as one machine and playing live in front of a rabid audience - it's a blissful feeling like no other.
Music Now: Why did you write or decide to play any of your songs?
Mike Occhicone: Writing songs has been a necessity for most of my life. For me it's an important emotional outlet. I've never felt limited to writing for one type of style or one point of view. If I have a strong emotional reaction to something - I usually put it into a song and finish it within an hour or so. I remember one case distinctly - I had just moved to San Diego and this big news story came about a local middle-class guy who kidnapped a little girl from his neighbor's house then raped and killed her. The details of the case were just horrifying. At the time, my sister was about the same age as the girl. I dumped all the negativity I was feeling into a song I wrote called Picket White Lies. It helped me deal with the situation and it gives voice to someone who had theirs taken away. It's probably my darkest song - most of the songs I write have a positive, hopeful message.
Music Now: That's amazing how music can play an integral part in one's healing in a situation like the one you just described.
Music Now: Why did you choose to play this kind of music?
Mike Occhicone: It’s a style of music that I’ve liked for as long as I can remember. The only downside is that it’s hard to find other bands that sound like us in the San Diego scene. You’ve mostly got Sublime-type bands, Snow Patrol-type bands or garage rock bands.
Music Now: What do you feel is missing in the music industry today?
Mike Occhicone: I think were at an amazing time in the history of music. It’s gotten so inexpensive to make a record that there is so much new music coming out all the time. Today, you don’t need to wait for the big labels to get a hold of you so they can put your CD in stores and on the radio. Currently our CD is on internet radio stations all over the world – I get messages from people in Australia or the UK saying they’re into our music. I think the music industry is still trying to adjust to this being a more of a bottom up scene. I think their role will be focused on distributing and marketing rather than artist development.
Music Now: Mike, this is why it is so important to protect our Internet Radio Stations out there so groups like Trisula and many others can grow.
Music Now: Do you feel like you are a role model to others?
Mike Occhicone: I guess to some people that’s probably true. I’ve had people come up to me to say a certain performance or song was inspiring. I think if you’re passionate about what you do and you work hard – it rubs off on people.
Music Now: What keeps you going even when times you feel like giving up?
Mike Occhicone: I have a hard time giving up on things. I’ve put a lot of sweat and tears to honing my craft. It can be discouraging if people react negatively or indifferent to what you’re trying to do with your art. Playing to empty bars can make you want to pack it up and get a lucrative corporate job. But I know that all successful artists have gone through this – it ends up being a test to determine how bad you really want it.
Music Now: That is what keeps artists going is having that tenacious attitude to not give up.
Music Now: What are some of the big projects you are working on?
Mike Occhicone: Something that I’m excited about is that we’re working with Rockers for Life to raise drunk-driving awareness. They put an alternate cut of our song Swelter on their compilation and we’ll be playing some shows with some other cool San Diego bands to get the message out. I’m looking forward to it.
Music Now: What can we expect from you in the next several years?
Mike Occhicone: More albums, lots of good music and tons of shows culminating in us being crowned Masters of the Universe.
Music Now: (smiles)
Music Now: Any new releases, updates, or anything else you would like to tell our audience?
Mike Occhicone: Just – thanks for listening. If you want to send me fan/hate mail or need someone to drink whisky with – feel free to drop me a line at mike@trisulamusic.com
Music Now: Thanks for this great Spotlight!
Mike Occhicone: Thanks so much for featuring us – it’s sites like yours that allows independent music to survive. We appreciate it.
Photo used in this story was provided by Mike Occhicone.
Trisula
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