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Progressive Rock Interviews

Scott Mosher

Interviewed by Gary Hill
Interview with Scott Mosher From 2004


MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2004 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2003-and-2004/.


How long have you been performing music?
I've been a musician for probably somewhere in the area of 20 years (that's 140 in dog years for you funky canines out there) the vast majority of which has been as a woodshed guitar player - the last 10 years or so I consider my compositional phase. For better or worse, my "performance" years were limited to failed band rehearsals and rehearsal studio "gigs". I've never actually performed live in any capacity... I feel more comfortable composing and arranging songs, but that's not to say you'll won't catch me looking for live gigs one day if the muse demands it.
MSJ: Can you catch the MSJ readers up with what you have been doing up to this point?
Well I just ate a nutritious grilled chicken dinner with all the vegetable accoutrements one could hope for. If you are referring to creative endeavors, well, I've been plying my professional career as a graphic artist for the last 7 years. Musically I just released my third CD, INFERNO, in the spring of 2004, which followed VIRTUALITY in 2001 and AMBIENT EARTH in 1996. I've also done musical and graphic design work for Chris Rifkin/F5 and some fine funk fusion cat, Bryant Wilder. I'm working on my fourth CD for release, hopefully, in 2005, so start saving those pennies!
MSJ: Who would you see as your biggest musical influences?
It runs the gamut, so I'll give you a quick list: Fates Warning, Rush, Dokken, Kitaro, David Arkenstone, Prince, James Brown, The Time, Journey, Marillion, Mordred, Hall and Oates, RUN DMC, Sade and Tangerine Dream. I pull inspiration from almost every facet of life but my musical tastes delve into just about all genre's with the exception of Hungarian Opera and Swahili folk music.
MSJ: How about your influences as an artist?
I love the work of Travis Smith, Tomas Ewerhard, Mattias Noren, Hugh Syme and those cats. I come more of a computer graphic design background than as a fine artist or illustrator, and though I don't have the catalog of work of those dudes, I'm always seeking inspiration in the world around me. Trust me that I meticulously scrutinize ad's in magazines and book art on a weekly basis. I think Borders Books may have me on the "arrest on sight" list.
MSJ: Who is your favorite artist?
If you ever were involved in Dungeons & Dragons and yeah, you can admit it if you were, you would undoubtedly be familiar with the amazing group of artists who've served tenure there over the years. Some of those guys, like Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Clyde Caldwell, Denis Beauvais and Brom are incredible. But Jeff Easley stands out the most. His work is just fascinating and beautiful.
MSJ: What's up next with Scott Mosher?
I've got 2 CD's worth of songs I'm working on for CD#4, which I'm anticipating releasing sometime in 2005 if all goes according to the master plan, which of course, is left up to the whims of the gods of inspiration, determination and perspiration , so we'll see how things progress. From what I've gathered if you liked VIRTUALITY or INFERNO you'll love the new stuff. If you hated them, well, you just might love the new stuff anyhow.
MSJ: What can you tell me about the song that is on the MSJ Sampler CD?
"The World Fades to Gray" is a 4-minute edit of an 11-minute song, the piece de resistance from INFERNO and my favorite song that I've ever composed. It's a good representation of the music I hear in my head and would like to continue to craft. It features all the elements I find most important in my music: odd meter, strong melodies, atmosphere, evocative guitar solos, a heavy 7-string guitar bottom end, unconventional song structure, sonic dynamics and Chipotle.
MSJ: Are there any musicians whom you would like to work with in the future?
Ray Alder, Prince, Kitaro, and Ice T top the list.
MSJ: What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately?
Fates Warning X. I've also been listening to Styx, Evergrey, War, Billy Joel, REM and Sophie B. Hawkins.
MSJ: What was the last concert you attended as a fan?
Wow, imagine the odds, but it was the Queensryche/Dream Theater/Fates Warning show in July of 2003 at Jones Beach Theatre, NY. 1 word: WOW.
MSJ: What has been your biggest Spinal Tap moment?
During one of my band, Horsemeat, rehearsal gigs - which turned into mini-concerts depending on how many friends and hangers-on decided to come down to chill with us - our old drummer ran onto the stage after tormenting Bill one of the founding members and a nice guy too, with a steel chair. Like a professional wrestler getting some publicity at Wrestlemania XVII, he was eventually chased off the stage by Todd, another band member and a great knee dancer, and lived to crack jokes another day, but the moment was a classic hilarious event. You had to be there. Luckily no farm animals were injured.
 
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