membership
member since: 08/17/06 16:53:26
background / biography
Bio coming soon, but for now will you settel with a INTRO?
Well, if you’re gonna be paying attention to us, you’re going to want to know who we each are. Let me take some time to introduce you to everyone. So we’ll start at the beginning and work our way through everyone from there.
We’re a 5 member band, all from in and around the Toronto and Missassauga areas, from various disciplines of music. It all started with a singer named Steve Vieira (hence the band name). He’d posted on MySpace that he was looking to put a band together, and was looking for musicians, that’s when I (jay) replied. Steve had been singing within the Portuguese community for quite some time, and had made quite a name for him self. He had an album out, and even had a video on the charts back home, but was looking to cross over into the more mainstream market of English music. He’s really got that great pop sound to his voice, and his lyrics are definitely from the heart. Everyone’s got stuff happening in their life and Steve is no different, but he has a great talent to be able to put it all into lyrics that we can all relate to. I’m actually really jealous of all the lyricists in the group. It’s something I’ve never really been able to do. Every time one of us sits down to present a riff or progression, Steve (and a few of the others) are right on it with lyrics and a melody line that are somehow perfect. So, he posted his ad in the classifieds section of MySpace, and that’s where I saw him. I’d been checking that ads regularly hoping to find just such an opportunity, so I wasted no time in drafting an email. We talked on the phone a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
My friends call me Jay, and I’m the Drummer in the group. I’ve been playing Drums/Percussion since I was in the 5th grade, and have a little more then dabbled in everything from Classical to Jazz to Rock and Roll. I’m a graduate of the Humber college Percussion program, and, while I’ve held a few jobs, I’ve always considered myself a musician first and foremost. That’s why I’m so happy to be working with the guys. It’s the most professional feeling band I’ve been with. Everyone has an opinion, we fuse our styles very well, and still make sure it sounds mainstream and appealing to the masses…..at least….that’s what we’re going for. I guess the final judgment will be up to you guys in the audience. So, a little bit about my colleagues. I won’t get into TOO much detail, as I’m sure you’ll be hearing from them all shortly.
Terrence is the what you might call the baby of the group, but in age (and face) only. He takes up the post of rhythm guitar, and very often, songwriter. He hooked up with Steve also through MySpace and slipped right into the fold. He really hit the ground running, so much so I found it hard to believe he’s only been playing for the short time that he has. He was a major influence on a hefty number of the songs that we’ve gotten completed already, including “I Said” which is definitely on the short list to be the single (hint hint !!) and I know he has a bunch that are waiting on our next creating phase (more on all of that soon). He’s a great foundation to a killer Guitar section that includes him, and lead guitarist Derrick.
Derrick was a find of mine, so to speak. I’m friends with a former high school guitar teacher of his. When I mentioned to this person that I was waiting on a guitar player to start a project, he got me in touch with Derrick. I put Derrick in touch with Steve, and we never looked back. He’s truly an astounding lead guitar player. He has a lot of experience for his years on the instrument, and I can’t wait to see how much further he has to grow. His band back home was a ‘Dream Theatre’ cover band, which really shows the boy has chops. Having said that, I’ve never heard anyone play as simply and freely as him when it’s needed. He has an almost ‘Edge’ (of U2) feel to a lot of the stuff he’s been playing lately. It’s very free and flowing over top of the band and the vocals. It’s very impressive. His plans are to attend some classes at Humber as well this year, and I think it’s safe to say that Adrien and I can’t wait to be able to help him out where he needs it. He’s going to learn a lot there, and also with us. That’s the one thing about ‘Vieira’. We all have our own styles, but we also get the chance to expose the rest of the band to them. It should make for a LOT of material. But Derrick was an amazing find for more then one reason. With Derrick, came Jackie.
Jackie is exactly what we needed to round out the band. We certainly have a great amount of rock influence, and a good amount of pop influence, but Jackie was able to wrap it all up in a nice neat package. He’s a great all around bass player, but leans towards the pop and funk influences. He brings out the funk in my playing, and together I think we lay down a really good base for the band to groove over (but I might be a bit biased). It gives everyone a chance to do there own thing but still know that when they need t, they can come straight back to home, and we’ll be there for them. I love sitting down and jamming with him. Laying down a killer groove, settling it in the pocket, and just letting it ride. At the same time, If we have to pick up the energy and rock a bit harder, I know he’s there to lay down that root note and ride it, making sure there is no doubt as to what’s happening anywhere. As I said, he’s the perfect way to round out the band.
As a unit we work on everything together. We’ve all been a part of the writing and arranging process, and it’s really been an asset. You’ll eventually see the band name as a credit on the songwriting line. Everyone has different experiences both live and in the studio, and I just know we’ll be able to mesh the best of all worlds to come up with the perfect group…..a….super group…..if you will.
So that’s it, that’s all the guys and what they bring to the table. If I might just say a few wrap up points about it all, I’d have to say that I don’t remember the last time I was able to work with such a group of competent musicians. Yes we’re all individually drummers, or guitars players, or singers, but at the same time we are all able to pitch in when something is (or isn’t) sounding right. We all write, we all compose, so we all have ideas, and the most magic happens, when we combine our ideas.
The guys will be posting little paragraphs about themselves on Ouviste.com and our MySpace page soon, and most of us have our own individual pages that you can link to from there, so keep an eye on that ( www.MySpace.com/VieiraMusic ) (uh....guys....you wanna send those paragraph in please???....lol. ), and other then that, you’ll see a posting here very, very shortly.
Thanks for your time, I hope you know us a bit better. And, as usual, you know how to reach us if you have any comments to make.
Jay
Well, if you’re gonna be paying attention to us, you’re going to want to know who we each are. Let me take some time to introduce you to everyone. So we’ll start at the beginning and work our way through everyone from there.
We’re a 5 member band, all from in and around the Toronto and Missassauga areas, from various disciplines of music. It all started with a singer named Steve Vieira (hence the band name). He’d posted on MySpace that he was looking to put a band together, and was looking for musicians, that’s when I (jay) replied. Steve had been singing within the Portuguese community for quite some time, and had made quite a name for him self. He had an album out, and even had a video on the charts back home, but was looking to cross over into the more mainstream market of English music. He’s really got that great pop sound to his voice, and his lyrics are definitely from the heart. Everyone’s got stuff happening in their life and Steve is no different, but he has a great talent to be able to put it all into lyrics that we can all relate to. I’m actually really jealous of all the lyricists in the group. It’s something I’ve never really been able to do. Every time one of us sits down to present a riff or progression, Steve (and a few of the others) are right on it with lyrics and a melody line that are somehow perfect. So, he posted his ad in the classifieds section of MySpace, and that’s where I saw him. I’d been checking that ads regularly hoping to find just such an opportunity, so I wasted no time in drafting an email. We talked on the phone a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
My friends call me Jay, and I’m the Drummer in the group. I’ve been playing Drums/Percussion since I was in the 5th grade, and have a little more then dabbled in everything from Classical to Jazz to Rock and Roll. I’m a graduate of the Humber college Percussion program, and, while I’ve held a few jobs, I’ve always considered myself a musician first and foremost. That’s why I’m so happy to be working with the guys. It’s the most professional feeling band I’ve been with. Everyone has an opinion, we fuse our styles very well, and still make sure it sounds mainstream and appealing to the masses…..at least….that’s what we’re going for. I guess the final judgment will be up to you guys in the audience. So, a little bit about my colleagues. I won’t get into TOO much detail, as I’m sure you’ll be hearing from them all shortly.
Terrence is the what you might call the baby of the group, but in age (and face) only. He takes up the post of rhythm guitar, and very often, songwriter. He hooked up with Steve also through MySpace and slipped right into the fold. He really hit the ground running, so much so I found it hard to believe he’s only been playing for the short time that he has. He was a major influence on a hefty number of the songs that we’ve gotten completed already, including “I Said” which is definitely on the short list to be the single (hint hint !!) and I know he has a bunch that are waiting on our next creating phase (more on all of that soon). He’s a great foundation to a killer Guitar section that includes him, and lead guitarist Derrick.
Derrick was a find of mine, so to speak. I’m friends with a former high school guitar teacher of his. When I mentioned to this person that I was waiting on a guitar player to start a project, he got me in touch with Derrick. I put Derrick in touch with Steve, and we never looked back. He’s truly an astounding lead guitar player. He has a lot of experience for his years on the instrument, and I can’t wait to see how much further he has to grow. His band back home was a ‘Dream Theatre’ cover band, which really shows the boy has chops. Having said that, I’ve never heard anyone play as simply and freely as him when it’s needed. He has an almost ‘Edge’ (of U2) feel to a lot of the stuff he’s been playing lately. It’s very free and flowing over top of the band and the vocals. It’s very impressive. His plans are to attend some classes at Humber as well this year, and I think it’s safe to say that Adrien and I can’t wait to be able to help him out where he needs it. He’s going to learn a lot there, and also with us. That’s the one thing about ‘Vieira’. We all have our own styles, but we also get the chance to expose the rest of the band to them. It should make for a LOT of material. But Derrick was an amazing find for more then one reason. With Derrick, came Jackie.
Jackie is exactly what we needed to round out the band. We certainly have a great amount of rock influence, and a good amount of pop influence, but Jackie was able to wrap it all up in a nice neat package. He’s a great all around bass player, but leans towards the pop and funk influences. He brings out the funk in my playing, and together I think we lay down a really good base for the band to groove over (but I might be a bit biased). It gives everyone a chance to do there own thing but still know that when they need t, they can come straight back to home, and we’ll be there for them. I love sitting down and jamming with him. Laying down a killer groove, settling it in the pocket, and just letting it ride. At the same time, If we have to pick up the energy and rock a bit harder, I know he’s there to lay down that root note and ride it, making sure there is no doubt as to what’s happening anywhere. As I said, he’s the perfect way to round out the band.
As a unit we work on everything together. We’ve all been a part of the writing and arranging process, and it’s really been an asset. You’ll eventually see the band name as a credit on the songwriting line. Everyone has different experiences both live and in the studio, and I just know we’ll be able to mesh the best of all worlds to come up with the perfect group…..a….super group…..if you will.
So that’s it, that’s all the guys and what they bring to the table. If I might just say a few wrap up points about it all, I’d have to say that I don’t remember the last time I was able to work with such a group of competent musicians. Yes we’re all individually drummers, or guitars players, or singers, but at the same time we are all able to pitch in when something is (or isn’t) sounding right. We all write, we all compose, so we all have ideas, and the most magic happens, when we combine our ideas.
The guys will be posting little paragraphs about themselves on Ouviste.com and our MySpace page soon, and most of us have our own individual pages that you can link to from there, so keep an eye on that ( www.MySpace.com/VieiraMusic ) (uh....guys....you wanna send those paragraph in please???....lol. ), and other then that, you’ll see a posting here very, very shortly.
Thanks for your time, I hope you know us a bit better. And, as usual, you know how to reach us if you have any comments to make.
Jay
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