I've had the privilege to attend their shows as a photog! Friend! Big fan! And NOW on the brink of stardom allowed an interview!
I've known Drew Hill since high school but only recently (shocking) discovered his love for music! The entire group of guys are down to earth, fun and just enjoy getting on stage and having an absolute blast!
1. First, lets start with the cliche' how did your band form?? How long have you known each other?
Bobby Fazioli(bass) and I(Drew-guitar) have known each other since 2005 where we met while playing intramural flag football at UCF. Bobby Cevetello(drums) is the younger brother of one of Fazioli’s college friends. When Cevetello enrolled at UCF he moved in with Fazioli who then invited me over to jam every now and then just for fun. After a few weeks of jamming we decided to attempt to write our own music. We began performing as a three piece when I met Brad(vocals) at Jake n Mickeys, the bar at which I work. He was hammered and signing karaoke. I thought ‘Well, he’s better than me even when he’s sloshed so why not see if he wants to sing for us?’ The rest is rock n’ roll legend, of course.
2. What inspires you as a group (& individually) when writing and making music?
I believe the inspiration begins when you hear music that truly moves you. You find a band that has a sound with which you connect. Then you attempt to emulate the sound they make in order to evoke similar emotions. Finally you realize the only way make music equally powerful is to make music that is unquestionably yours; music that moves you from within in hopes that it does the same for others. We try to balance our individual expression as musicians with the direction of the song and band as a whole.
3. Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
We have performed at Hard Rock Orlando, the Haven, Backbooth, 57 West, Jake and Mickey’s, and Bombshells. Bombshells is tonight! Hard Rock was our favorite venue because the prestige and the size of the venue. But we have thoroughly enjoyed playing the Haven and Backbooth as well.
4. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
I(Drew) write the guitars, which our songs are built around instrumentally, and the lyrics. Faz(Bass) and Cev(drums) write their own parts and give input as to what they believe would make the songs better. Brad(Vocals) reads the lyrics and tells me what he likes and doesn’t like and we make the changes accordingly. All of our songs are based around a central story revolving around a cast of characters. The story begins with Thaddeus Chain and Trevor Marx who stumble through a portal in the cellar of an abandoned house which brings them to another world of the name Seladore. The first twelve chapters of the novel which couples our music is available in the note’s section of our face book page. The topics both will and will not change overtime in that the characters for the most part will remain consistent but, as with most books, this is simply the fictionalization of the issues I find myself and my friends encountering. The issues are love, honor, respect, death, etc and will be constant but differentiate in the manner in which they are presented and how the characters react.
5. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Indescribably. We are all very average musicians who, through the common goal of this band, have found reason to become better.
6. What has been your biggest challenge as a band??
Recording! It’s sooooo monotonous and boring. We really just want to jam out in Faz’s garage and play live shows.
7. What's your ultimate direction for your band? Album in the works???
We will ride this wave as long as it allows our company. What that means we’re not sure, only time will tell. We are headed back up to Jacksonville, where we recorded our first song ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’ at Rockbot Studios, at the beginning of March to record four more songs. Once that is finished we will figure out where to go from then.
8. What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Do it your way and have fun. Music is subjective. Make music you love and hope others do as well.
9. What's the best way for your fans to gain access to your music when they are not attending a live show??
Either our face book page or www.reverbnation.com/seladore
10. How did you come up with the name Seladore? And what does it stand for?
Seladore is an alternate spelling and pronunciation of the phrase ‘Cellar Door’. I already had the concept of the two characters entering another world via a portal in a cellar. Not all of the band members were happy with the name Cellar Door as a band name so we compromised and settled on the name Seladore.
