An interview with Tampa Flordia Band The Cruz
Suite 101 talks with Randy Ojeda and Ryan Backman
May 23, 2009
Recently Suite101 sat down with vocalist Randy Ojeda and keyboardist Ryan Backman for this one on one interview.
Minus the Guitar
After attending the same high school the piano, bass, and drum trio known as The Cruz weren't quite sure if their band would make it after graduation. But despite the distance of all three band members now going to college the band has been busy promoting their debut album and their In-Store Hot Topic Tour.
The band admits that they went through various versions of their band before settling on the final one, but guitars just didn't seem to fit the sound that they wanted.
According to vocalist Randy Ojeda The Cruz doesn't classify themselves as a certain kind of genre.
"Indie rock has become such a wide term," Ojeda said, adding that the term alternative is also very literal.
The On and Off Stage Image
Ojeda and keyboardist Ryan Backman admit that many bands feel they need to have a certain image on stage.
"We reflect our personalities instead of a character, we are not some band that thinks we are better than other people," Ojeda says.
The Cruz started recording their self titled debut album last summer, never intending for a full release. But now, it is the bands' goal to try to give listeners an idea of what they are truly about.
"(We) hope people will dig it, it's a lot easier to give people a record than to classify what we sound like," Ojeda admits.
The band is hoping that their current Hot Topic Tour will generate interest in the band and the album.
Backman admits that their current goal is to promote their album and then focus on the next one.
"Before we were making it (music) for ourselves now we hope to make it for listeners," Backman said.
"Part of a Scene"
Backman and Ojeda say that despite the many interesting bands and ideas in the Tampa Florida music industry most of them cater to a certain scene.
"What we do -there isn't a specific place for it," Backman says.
The Cruz also admits that using Myspace as a tool to promote their music isn't the best way to make themselves known.
"Myspace is for show," Backman says, both Ojeda and Backman admit that there are many bands on the website that have a huge fan ship but have difficulty selling records.
According to Ojeda the best way that The Cruz can market themselves is to get out there, meet the fans, and send their fans personal messages.
"(We) want to have actual fans," Ojeda said.
To check out The Cruz go to: www.myspace.com/thecruzmusic
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