antiMUSIC - Music From the Underground

Screw the mainstream if you really want to get your rocks off you have to go to the underground. That's just what we plan to do with this series, take some of the best emerging bands that are out blowing away hardcore fans on the underground music scene.

DOWN WITH CHAD BENEKOS
By Kim George

With so much adversity these days, anything positive one can offer is a welcomed change. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Chad Benekos understands this. "It feels like a mass awakening right now...like the world is reflecting on itself and trying to figure out what to do next."

Chad's own musical story began as a child of the 70's hippie generation. "My parents were young and I got to be exposed to good music real early. I remember hearing Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young on a daily basis. My mom would do housework to Pink Floyd. When John Lennon was shot, I was only 6 years old but I knew exactly what was happening because my Mom sat me down and explained it. Even then, I felt the difference between socially relevant music and the rest."

It's no wonder Chad's own music would explore themes of universal reflection and hope alongside personal realization and longing. "I've always gravitated toward music that makes me feel a certain way...like the singer is going through the same thing as me or something." Chad took up guitar at age 13 and soon fell under its spell. "Early on I just played with anyone who would let me. Even if I didn't like the music so much, I just wanted to get the experience. I even played in a church band!"

It wasn't long before Chad started to develop his own songs. "I was writing songs before I could even really play that well...music just became everything for me." This enthusiasm led Chad to play in rock bands into his early 20's when the opportunity came to do it professionally. He signed a major label contract [with Jive Records] and began recording and touring with the band (hed) P.E., a hip-hop, hardcore punk rock hybrid act, who hail from Huntington Beach, California. Says Chad: "That was so fun. We just lived out the whole punk rock experience. To travel around the world and play music was like a dream come true."

Years would pass before Chad felt it was time to share his own music. "I never thought I was ready...I just played in bands and worked on my writing until it became clear to me that this is what I have to offer and there's no reason to hold it back." A turning point in this decision was the unforgettable attacks of Sept 11th. "I just felt so many emotions at once. Anger, sadness, sympathy, confusion... all of it. It really reinforced my sense of responsibility as an artist." These days, Chad's focus is that responsibility to the human experience and his expression through music - not only in his solo efforts but in a band called Humanlab. "I knew that the Humanlab project was something I wanted to be a part of from the beginning. It has the true spirit and consciousness at its heart and that's what's important to me."

Chad's upcoming debut release reflects his views of the world and taste in music not only in his lyrics, but in the recording as well. "I'm drawn to artists who aren't overproduced. Like when I listen to Neil Young or John Frusciante's solo albums, you hear it all...the mistakes and everything. You know you're listening to something real. To me, that's what makes it special and that's how I like art." It's no wonder he approaches his own music this way. "I just record these songs in my bedroom as I write them. Like a musical journal of sorts...and for now I just want to share them the way they are..."

For those familiar with Chad's musical history, the mp3s featured on his website [and in this article] are clearly a departure. The musical style can't be pinpointed; it's a culmination of several genres. It's definitely melodic but yet has a trippy, hippie-ish, folk flair to it. It can be emphatically said that Chad's music is in a very pure state, almost innocent-like.

Instead of trying to explain the songs meanings, Chad instead opts to let the listener interpret for his or her own self a meaning. "I know what the songs mean to me. Songwriting for me has become how I figure things out about myself and the world and I hope it continues that way but I'm not looking to give any answers. I'm not a teacher or a preacher; I'm just another person and I want to share my songs with people. We're all in this together and that's overall what I want my songs to reflect. The other night I was watching Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth and he said 'He who thinks he knows, doesn't know....and he who knows he doesn't....knows.' and I thought to myself, ........exactly."

Being interested in Chad's current projects and a supporter of his former band, (hed) P.E. , I recently conducted a little one-on-one action with Chad. We briefly talked about (hed) P.E., Humanlab, his solo project, influences, among other things. And so it goes...

Kim George for antiMUSIC: Sup Chad? It's been a while, man! Last time I saw you was nearly a couple years ago when you were touring with (hed) P.E. Conflicting dates are circulating out there; when did you officially leave (hed) P.E.?

Chad Benekos: I'm just keeping busy! I officially left (hed) in the Summer of �02.

KG: I was real bummed to see you leave (hed) but I know sometimes musicians have to do what's best for them on an artistic level. Now, I know you parted on good terms with the guys in (hed). Do you still keep in contact with them?

CB: It's all good. I've actually remained friends with all of them and wish them nothing but the best, totally.

KG: That's cool. Aside from your solo project (which we'll get into in a little bit), I know you are also working with the band Humanlab. When and how did that union with Humanlab come about? Are you a permanent member of Humanlab now or is this just a side gig for you?

CB: OK, well the Humanlab thing has been in the making for some time now. It really was just a matter of time before we all came together to make it happen. I've known these guys for a long time. For instance, my drummer [Marco Forcone] and I have known each other and played shows together in different bands before (hed) even formed! The other guitarist [Scott Pfaff] and I met around the summer of �95 when (hed) was recording the EP "Church of Realities." His band rehearsed and lived in this house just down the street from me in Huntington Beach. They were called Society's Engine. Anyway, we became really good friends and found a musical connection right away. I think we knew even back then that we should play music together. So, after a few years passed and Scott had made a couple different bands, he sort of reunited with his Society's Engine singer [Mike Medlin] and bassist [Jason Honeycutt] and wrote a few songs with Marco on drums. They showed it to me and I was just so impressed. They never played any shows or anything; they were just recording these songs and I was like " This band is going to be INSANE." Scott broke it down for me like "You know there's no other guitar player for this band but you." And you know what? I knew it too. But again, this was still way back right before (hed) was to go on to record the "Broke" album - so it kind of started back then. We jammed a little in that time but no shows or anything like that. They were still strictly a studio project. After the touring for Broke was over, that's when we started really planning the band's live attack and started jamming every day. So I officially joined Humanlab in August of �02 and we played our first Humanlab show like one month later.

KG: That's a pretty insane history; I didn't realize it went back that far. Onto your solo project. I heard the mp3s on your site. How was your solo project born and what influenced you to go solo? Is your goal to primarily be a solo artist or is it a side thing?

CB: The solo thing has always been there for me and I've always wrote songs and stuff for myself ever since I started playing guitar. I just never felt I was ready to share it. One big moment that influenced me to actually start performing alone was when I went to see John Frusciante in London at this club called Borderline. Before that, I had seen lots of guys do the "acoustic folk" type thing and stuff like that but it wasn't as real. He just did it really well and really pure in my opinion. So, after the show, I got to talk with him (he was exactly like I thought he would be: totally cool) and I left that show with a realization. I started thinking that if I just sing these songs for my friends and that's it, I wasn't living up to my potential and responsibility as an artist. I, all of sudden, felt like I was hiding myself. So yeah, I guess the goal is to establish myself as a solo artist. It feels good to be challenged artistically and musically. That's what it's really all about. And it's definitely challenging. You can't hide behind anyone when it's just you up there! No loud drums or loud guitars. It's the most intimate thing.

KG: I'm definitely feeling your solo project but I have to admit, it's a bit of a departure from your days with (hed), not to mention Humanlab. The music is very melodic and has a trippy hippie-ish vibe to it, all that with a folk edge. Did this style just evolve with you or have you always been into this type of music? The songs I heard sound pretty deep, yet very pure. What influences your song writing and music?

CB: I don't know what style of music I'm doing, really. It just turns out the way it does. One of the most important things (to me) is for an artist to find their own style. So many bands and stuff, they don't have originality anymore. They just like a certain band or they like a certain tuning or the singer likes a certain singer and they just do that thing. It's...weird. For me, it's been about uncovering who I am as a person and finding out what chords I'm most drawn to and what comes most naturally to me - and nurturing that thing. I get influenced by different things too. It can be anything really...a conversation, a chord progression that speaks to me, a picture, the weather, whatever. I hear melodies over music all the time. The hardest part to me is the lyrics because I take the words really seriously. They have to mean something to me.

KG: Oh yeah, the thing with you and your style, it speaks volumes to me. I can see it in your live shows, even way back when. You know, I can still hear it in your music today. What I'm getting at is it's clear you have been touched by many musical styles and they have influenced you in a big way. With that said, who are your musical influences?

CB: You are right about that. My musical influences range pretty drastically since I was lucky enough to be exposed to lots of different things. I think most obvious would be the rock influence which early on would have been the classic diet of Beatles, Zeppelin, Hendrix, Sabbath. I loved the whole Crosby Stills Nash & Young thing to death. I really felt the early Stevie Wonder funk thing as well. Later on as a teenager, I discovered Punk and hardcore Rap and stuff like that. I really feel connected to the late 60's and early 70's I don't know why? Maybe because that's when I was born and I grew up with that vibe....something about the social relevance just feels right.

KG: Word. Same here. I've got a couple years on you but the funk thing really hit me hard. You know, players like Parliament, Brother's Johnson, Cameo, Barkays, Gap Band, Con Funk Shun, Wild Cherry, s*** like that. I can go on for hours about funk. So I'll shut up now about that. Moving right along, I read on your website that you anticipate releasing an independent CD later this year, available exclusively (at first) via your website and at your shows. Do you have a demo together that is currently being shopped? Any labels in particular you are interested in and vice versa? What month do you anticipate having your CD released?

CB: I've been working on my debut album although I'm not sure if it's going to be done in time to be released this year now...for sure early 2004. However, I'll keep posting songs on my website as they get mixed. Yeah, I have a pretty extensive demo; this year I copyrighted 20 songs! I plan on releasing an album that's really pure and trippy and full of songs. I don't know which label I'll end up signing with but I'm sure that the right one is out there. It's really just a matter of connecting with the right people who give me the right vibe. I'll be able to tell right away if it's the right thing or not.

KG: I know (hed) P.E. is a part of your musical past and you have killer memories...but I can't resist asking. Any possibility of you doing a live show with them for old time's sake, you know, like a reunion of some sort?

CB: You know, you can never tell what may happen. They only have one guitarist [Sonny Mayo] right now. He replaced me when I left, so he's mostly playing my parts. So, if I ever did play with them again, we might have to work something out. Now if Wes and I both did a show - now that would be most epic! Don't you think?

KG: (sighs) Looks like I'm going to have to get my private investigator groove on and track down and freaknap Wes! *laughs* Straight up Chad, it was great talking to you again and I'll be sure to review your debut CD once it's been released. I wish you nothing but the best, bro.

CB: Thanks a lot! It was good talking to you too! I really appreciate the support, it's very much appreciated!

KG: Peace out.