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WE GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH LEAD
VOCALIST HUGO OF THE ROCK GROUP TANTRIC. WE
WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEWEST ALBUM “THE
END BEGINS” AND DISCUSS THE COMEBACK OF ONE OF
ROCK’S FAVORITE BANDS. WHILE TOURING WITH LABEL
MATES, FOSTERCHILD AND FRAMING HANLEY. TANTRIC IS
ON THE RISE ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE SOME OF THE BEST
SINGLES OF THE YEAR ALONG WITH PULSATING SHOWS
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT ACROSS THE NATION. THE RISE OF
TANTRIC HAS ARRIVED.
VOCALIST HUGO OF THE ROCK GROUP TANTRIC. WE
WANTED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEWEST ALBUM “THE
END BEGINS” AND DISCUSS THE COMEBACK OF ONE OF
ROCK’S FAVORITE BANDS. WHILE TOURING WITH LABEL
MATES, FOSTERCHILD AND FRAMING HANLEY. TANTRIC IS
ON THE RISE ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE SOME OF THE BEST
SINGLES OF THE YEAR ALONG WITH PULSATING SHOWS
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT ACROSS THE NATION. THE RISE OF
TANTRIC HAS ARRIVED.
M4M: TANTRIC JUST RELEASED A NEW CD IN APRIL CALLED “THE END BEGINS”.
HUGO: YEA, IT’S TOTALLY BAD ASS! (laughs) I’M TOTALLY EXCITED FOR IT. IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN AN UP HILL
BATTLE SINCE THE LAST TANTRIC CD, TO EVEN GET TO THIS POINT. BUT TO HAVE ONE OUT AGAIN, TO HAVE A
SONG ON THE CHARTS AGAIN, I’M PRETTY MUCH WAKING UP EVERYDAY AND THANKING GOD FOR THIS CHANCE.
M4M: WHEN YOU RELEASED IT, DID YOU ACTUALLY GO TO THE STORE AND PICK ONE UP? YOU GET TO CREATE
THE SONGS, AND SING THEM EVERY NIGHT, I’D BE WAITING AT A STORE BEFORE IT EVEN OPENED, TO GET A
COPY OF SOMETHING I MADE! (everyone laughs)
HUGO: ACTUALLY I DID, I WENT TO A TARGET AND PICKED ONE UP. MINE’S EDITED THOUGH…(laughs)
M4M: I KNOW I SPECIFICALLY GOT THE UNEDITED VERSION.
HUGO: YEA, I AM THINKING I NEED TO GO GRAB ONE…(everyone laughs) ALL THE SONGS ON THE NEW ALBUM
ARE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE SINCE 2006 TO NOW. SOME OF THE SONGS ARE
MESSED UP (laughs). THERE WAS JUST A BUNCH OF TROUBLED WATERS, YOU KNOW? IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD
AND I’VE BECOME REALLY CLOSE TO THE GUYS (Eric, Kevin, Marcus and Leo). WE’VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
UP HILL BATTLES TOGETHER AS WELL. SO IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD, WE’RE IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT RIGHT
NOW.
M4M: WITH THE LATEST ALBUM, HOW DID THE PROCESS COME ABOUT?
HUGO: WELL, AFTER TANTRIC RECORDED “AFTER WE GO” WE STARTED TO RECORD A 3RD ALBUM WITH THE
ORIGINAL GUYS. BUT SHORTLY BEFORE THE RECORD WAS SUPPOSE TO COME OUT, THE LABEL HAD FOLDED
SO WE FOUND OURSELVES WITHOUT A LABEL AND SUBSEQUENTLY WITHOUT A MANAGER AND SUBSEQUENTLY
NOBODY CALLED US BACK (laughs). SO WE WERE PRETTY MUCH LEFT FOR THE DUST. THERE WAS A LOT OF
LOGISTICAL STUFF GOING ON WITH JUST TRYING TO GET THAT RECORD GOING AND SUCH. SO I KIND OF
“FORGOT ABOUT THAT ONE” YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I JUST WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND STARTED WRITING A
WHOLE NEW ALBUM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I MET JOE, BROUGHT IN A VIOLIN PLAYER (Marcus, who played in an
orchestra) THAT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE AND HE CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE AND PLAYED AROUND WITH SOME
OF THE SONGS. WHAT STARTED OUT AS IDEAS DEVELOPED WHAT YOU HEAR ON THE RECORD RIGHT NOW.
HAVE KNOWN KEVIN FOR YEARS, I EVEN TOURED WITH HIM WHILE HE WAS WITH FUEL. I RAN INTO HIM A FEW
YEARS AGO IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WE STARTED TALKING. HE WAS ALREADY IN ANOTHER BAND CALLED
FOSTERCHILD, WHICH THE BAND IS TOURING WITH US RIGHT NOW, AND IS SOUND DOUBLE DUTY PLAYING WITH
BOTH TANTRIC AND FOSTERCHILD EVERY NIGHT. HE WAS LIKE “DUDE, NOT ONLY WILL I PLAY WITH YOU, BUT I’
LL BRING MY BASS PLAYER (Erik) WHO CAN SING TOO.” WHICH WAS PERFECT! SO IT REALLY WASN’T TO
DIFFICULT TO RECONSTRUCT THE BAND YOU KNOW? BECAUSE EVERYBODY HELPED AND CHIPPED IN. SO YEAH
I AM TOTALLY HAPPY.
M4M: THAT’S A LOT OF HISTORY RIGHT THERE! (both laugh). WHICH SONG WILL BE THE NEW SINGLE? IT’S BEEN
RUMORED THAT IT’LL BE “THE ONE”
HUGO: ACTUALLY I’M NOT EVEN REALLY SURE WHAT THE NEXT SINGLE WILL BE. IT COULD BE! WE’RE JUST
TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH ONES ARE MORE “SINGLE MATERIAL”. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
M4M: OH, I DEFINITELY THINK “THE ONE” IS SINGLE MATERIAL. IT’S GOT THE TYPE OF MELODY AND LYRICS THAT
MAKE THE SONG STICK IN YOUR HEAD AND MAKES YOU WANT TO HIT REPEAT. A LOT OF THE SONGS ON THIS
ALBUM ALL HAVE “SINGLE MATERIAL” WRITTEN ON THEM BUT “THE ONE” HAS A LITTLE MORE GRAB FOR
ATTENTION.
HUGO: SEE, THAT’S WHY I ASKED! (both laugh) IT’S EDGY BUT WITH AN UPBEAT TUNE TO IT. SO WHO KNOWS, IT
JUST MIGHT BE (as he winks). PLUS WE HAVE KEVIN MARTIN OF CANDLEBOX ON THERE. THEY’RE ON OUR LABEL
SO I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO HIM AND BE LIKE “HEY KEV….COME SING ON MY RECORD” I KNOW HE’S HAD HIS
SIDE PROJECTS AND SUCH, BUT IT’S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN. HE’S PRETTY BAD ASS AND HE’S
GOT A NEW RECORD COMING OUT TOO, SO IT’S EVEN BETTER ACROSS THE BOARD! (both laugh) I ALSO THINK
“WISHING” COULD BE THE OTHER SINGLE. YOU KNOW HOW THE 3RD SINGLE IS USUALLY A SLOWER SONG, I
THINK THIS ONE COULD FILL THAT SPOT.
M4M: IT’S ALWAYS AWESOME TO SEE BANDS MIX DIFFERENT TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS INTO THEIR MUSIC, BUT
TO HAVE MARCUS PLAY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ALBUM INSTEAD OF MIXING THE PARTS IN, IS SOMETHING
EVEN MORE AMAZING.
HUGO: YEA, MOST DEFINITELY! ESPECIALLY HOW WE DO IT! IT’S LIKE WE’RE RUNNING A FULL MARSHALL CAMP
OR SOMETHING (both laugh).
M4M: DOES HE SHRED HIS VIOLIN BOWS OR ANYTHING WHILE HE PLAYS LIVE?
HUGO: AH MAN! HE’S GOT A LOT OF SHIT GOING ON! HE DOES DISTORTION AND THE WHOLE 9 YARDS. IT’S
REALLY AWESOME.
M4M: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS ASK BANDS, BECAUSE EACH BAND ALWAYS HAS A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT ANSWER AND IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT THE BAND HAS TO SAY: WHAT IS
SOMETHING YOU WANT FANS TO KNOW OR DO?
HUGO: WELL I’M PORTUGUESE (both laugh)… I’D REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE JUMP ON TO OUR
MYSPACE YOU KNOW? I MEAN, IT’S SUCH AN AWESOME WAY TO NETWORK WITH EVERYBODY. TANTRIC NEVER
REALLY HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, SO IT’S KINDA NEW TO US. IT’S JUST A REALLY GREAT WAY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE FANS.
M4M: THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE’RE HERE, TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO CHECK TANTRIC OUT AND MAKE SURE
THEY HIT THE SHOWS! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE THE SHOW AND HOPE THAT
EVERYBODY GOES OUT AND SEES YOU ON THIS TOUR!
HUGO: YEA THANK YOU SO MUCH! WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY COMES AND SEES US TOO! (both laugh)
HUGO: YEA, IT’S TOTALLY BAD ASS! (laughs) I’M TOTALLY EXCITED FOR IT. IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN AN UP HILL
BATTLE SINCE THE LAST TANTRIC CD, TO EVEN GET TO THIS POINT. BUT TO HAVE ONE OUT AGAIN, TO HAVE A
SONG ON THE CHARTS AGAIN, I’M PRETTY MUCH WAKING UP EVERYDAY AND THANKING GOD FOR THIS CHANCE.
M4M: WHEN YOU RELEASED IT, DID YOU ACTUALLY GO TO THE STORE AND PICK ONE UP? YOU GET TO CREATE
THE SONGS, AND SING THEM EVERY NIGHT, I’D BE WAITING AT A STORE BEFORE IT EVEN OPENED, TO GET A
COPY OF SOMETHING I MADE! (everyone laughs)
HUGO: ACTUALLY I DID, I WENT TO A TARGET AND PICKED ONE UP. MINE’S EDITED THOUGH…(laughs)
M4M: I KNOW I SPECIFICALLY GOT THE UNEDITED VERSION.
HUGO: YEA, I AM THINKING I NEED TO GO GRAB ONE…(everyone laughs) ALL THE SONGS ON THE NEW ALBUM
ARE PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE SINCE 2006 TO NOW. SOME OF THE SONGS ARE
MESSED UP (laughs). THERE WAS JUST A BUNCH OF TROUBLED WATERS, YOU KNOW? IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD
AND I’VE BECOME REALLY CLOSE TO THE GUYS (Eric, Kevin, Marcus and Leo). WE’VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
UP HILL BATTLES TOGETHER AS WELL. SO IT’S BEEN REALLY GOOD, WE’RE IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT RIGHT
NOW.
M4M: WITH THE LATEST ALBUM, HOW DID THE PROCESS COME ABOUT?
HUGO: WELL, AFTER TANTRIC RECORDED “AFTER WE GO” WE STARTED TO RECORD A 3RD ALBUM WITH THE
ORIGINAL GUYS. BUT SHORTLY BEFORE THE RECORD WAS SUPPOSE TO COME OUT, THE LABEL HAD FOLDED
SO WE FOUND OURSELVES WITHOUT A LABEL AND SUBSEQUENTLY WITHOUT A MANAGER AND SUBSEQUENTLY
NOBODY CALLED US BACK (laughs). SO WE WERE PRETTY MUCH LEFT FOR THE DUST. THERE WAS A LOT OF
LOGISTICAL STUFF GOING ON WITH JUST TRYING TO GET THAT RECORD GOING AND SUCH. SO I KIND OF
“FORGOT ABOUT THAT ONE” YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I JUST WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND STARTED WRITING A
WHOLE NEW ALBUM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I MET JOE, BROUGHT IN A VIOLIN PLAYER (Marcus, who played in an
orchestra) THAT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE AND HE CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE AND PLAYED AROUND WITH SOME
OF THE SONGS. WHAT STARTED OUT AS IDEAS DEVELOPED WHAT YOU HEAR ON THE RECORD RIGHT NOW.
HAVE KNOWN KEVIN FOR YEARS, I EVEN TOURED WITH HIM WHILE HE WAS WITH FUEL. I RAN INTO HIM A FEW
YEARS AGO IN PENNSYLVANIA AND WE STARTED TALKING. HE WAS ALREADY IN ANOTHER BAND CALLED
FOSTERCHILD, WHICH THE BAND IS TOURING WITH US RIGHT NOW, AND IS SOUND DOUBLE DUTY PLAYING WITH
BOTH TANTRIC AND FOSTERCHILD EVERY NIGHT. HE WAS LIKE “DUDE, NOT ONLY WILL I PLAY WITH YOU, BUT I’
LL BRING MY BASS PLAYER (Erik) WHO CAN SING TOO.” WHICH WAS PERFECT! SO IT REALLY WASN’T TO
DIFFICULT TO RECONSTRUCT THE BAND YOU KNOW? BECAUSE EVERYBODY HELPED AND CHIPPED IN. SO YEAH
I AM TOTALLY HAPPY.
M4M: THAT’S A LOT OF HISTORY RIGHT THERE! (both laugh). WHICH SONG WILL BE THE NEW SINGLE? IT’S BEEN
RUMORED THAT IT’LL BE “THE ONE”
HUGO: ACTUALLY I’M NOT EVEN REALLY SURE WHAT THE NEXT SINGLE WILL BE. IT COULD BE! WE’RE JUST
TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH ONES ARE MORE “SINGLE MATERIAL”. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
M4M: OH, I DEFINITELY THINK “THE ONE” IS SINGLE MATERIAL. IT’S GOT THE TYPE OF MELODY AND LYRICS THAT
MAKE THE SONG STICK IN YOUR HEAD AND MAKES YOU WANT TO HIT REPEAT. A LOT OF THE SONGS ON THIS
ALBUM ALL HAVE “SINGLE MATERIAL” WRITTEN ON THEM BUT “THE ONE” HAS A LITTLE MORE GRAB FOR
ATTENTION.
HUGO: SEE, THAT’S WHY I ASKED! (both laugh) IT’S EDGY BUT WITH AN UPBEAT TUNE TO IT. SO WHO KNOWS, IT
JUST MIGHT BE (as he winks). PLUS WE HAVE KEVIN MARTIN OF CANDLEBOX ON THERE. THEY’RE ON OUR LABEL
SO I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO HIM AND BE LIKE “HEY KEV….COME SING ON MY RECORD” I KNOW HE’S HAD HIS
SIDE PROJECTS AND SUCH, BUT IT’S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN. HE’S PRETTY BAD ASS AND HE’S
GOT A NEW RECORD COMING OUT TOO, SO IT’S EVEN BETTER ACROSS THE BOARD! (both laugh) I ALSO THINK
“WISHING” COULD BE THE OTHER SINGLE. YOU KNOW HOW THE 3RD SINGLE IS USUALLY A SLOWER SONG, I
THINK THIS ONE COULD FILL THAT SPOT.
M4M: IT’S ALWAYS AWESOME TO SEE BANDS MIX DIFFERENT TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS INTO THEIR MUSIC, BUT
TO HAVE MARCUS PLAY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ALBUM INSTEAD OF MIXING THE PARTS IN, IS SOMETHING
EVEN MORE AMAZING.
HUGO: YEA, MOST DEFINITELY! ESPECIALLY HOW WE DO IT! IT’S LIKE WE’RE RUNNING A FULL MARSHALL CAMP
OR SOMETHING (both laugh).
M4M: DOES HE SHRED HIS VIOLIN BOWS OR ANYTHING WHILE HE PLAYS LIVE?
HUGO: AH MAN! HE’S GOT A LOT OF SHIT GOING ON! HE DOES DISTORTION AND THE WHOLE 9 YARDS. IT’S
REALLY AWESOME.
M4M: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS ASK BANDS, BECAUSE EACH BAND ALWAYS HAS A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT ANSWER AND IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT THE BAND HAS TO SAY: WHAT IS
SOMETHING YOU WANT FANS TO KNOW OR DO?
HUGO: WELL I’M PORTUGUESE (both laugh)… I’D REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE JUMP ON TO OUR
MYSPACE YOU KNOW? I MEAN, IT’S SUCH AN AWESOME WAY TO NETWORK WITH EVERYBODY. TANTRIC NEVER
REALLY HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, SO IT’S KINDA NEW TO US. IT’S JUST A REALLY GREAT WAY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE FANS.
M4M: THAT’S EXACTLY WHY WE’RE HERE, TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO CHECK TANTRIC OUT AND MAKE SURE
THEY HIT THE SHOWS! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE THE SHOW AND HOPE THAT
EVERYBODY GOES OUT AND SEES YOU ON THIS TOUR!
HUGO: YEA THANK YOU SO MUCH! WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY COMES AND SEES US TOO! (both laugh)