Blackstratblues
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| Blackstratblues | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Warren Mendonsa |
| Born | 12 September 1979 Bombay, India |
| Genres | Blues Instrumental Guitar Rock Rock & Roll Pop rock |
| Occupations | Musician Songwriter Guitarist Sound Engineer |
| Instruments | Guitar Bass Guitar Fretless Bass Drum Programming Keyboards Software Synthesizers |
| Years active | since 1998 |
| Labels | Unsigned |
| Associated acts | Zero 3 Guys & A Girl |
| Website | Official Website |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Stratocaster | |
Blackstratblues is a solo project of Warren Mendonsa, who is a guitarist, composer, and record producer.
Contents |
[edit] Biography and playing history
[edit] Early Years: Late 1990s
After picking up the guitar at the age of 5, Warren would go on to play rhythm guitar in a few local bands with friends Siddharth Coutto (drums), & Girish 'Bobby' Talwar (rhythm guitar, bass). Sometime around 1997-98, they would form Zero, with Rajeev Talwar on vocals.
[edit] With Zero: 1998-2005
Over the years, Zero grew to enjoy nationwide popularity in India. With Warren, Zero released 2 albums & an EP - Albummed (1999), Hook EP (2002), & Procrastination (2005).
Besides his work in Zero, Warren recorded & released numerous instrumentals - Christmas In July, Spitleaf, & Evil, to name a few popular songs - which enjoyed some fame on online music forums like Gigpad, & Harmony Central. He was also involved in many online collaborations with musicians - most notably Adam Martin, Ed DeGenaro, & Zorran Mendonsa - which resulted in a few songs. In late 2004, Warren moved to Auckland, New Zealand, thereby quitting Zero.
During this period, he was also a highly sought-after recording engineer & session guitarist in Bombay, having worked on various film soundtracks, ad jingles, & other albums.
[edit] 2005-2007
After moving to Auckland, Warren began work on solo instrumental material. While visiting India, he reunited with Zero for a few gigs, most notably at the Great Indian Rock Festival 2006.
[edit] Nights In Shining Karma
Blackstratblues' debut album, Nights In Shining Karma was released on 18 April 2007 as a free digital-only download.
The album garnered significant appreciation & fame on online music forums.[1][2][3]
| “ | In contrast to most instrumental guitar albums, Nights In Shining Karma travels effortlessly between melodic, ethereal and beautiful mood pieces and rocking, up-tempo numbers. Warren Mendonsa navigates through this varying musical landscape with a sure hand and impeccable musical instincts, creating an album both guitarists and casual listeners will find alternately touching, uplifting and energizing.
Eschewing the gymnastic stunts of many high profile solo guitar artists, Mendonsa's stunning technique weaves itself subtly into the musical tapestry of completely realised songs, rather than mere vehicles for a vulgar display of ability. With golden tones and unassailable taste and touch, Mendonsa echoes Gilmour and Johnson without being derivative of either. Nights In Shining Karma is surely the 'I'm here!' album from an emerging master. |
” |
[edit] Musical Influences & Playing Style
He is known for his instantly recognizable, distinctive guitar sound & playing, incorporating immaculate phrasing and abandoning traditional, flashy "guitar hero" techniques, in favour of composing memorable melodies and playing with feel.[4][5]
[edit] Equipment used
[edit] Guitars
- 1997 Fender Lone Star Stratocaster, equipped with a Seymour Duncan SH-AH1 Allan Holdsworth Humbucker in the bridge position and STK-S1 classic stacks in neck and middle
- 2006 Fender Standard Stratocaster (in Sunburst) with Suhr FL pick-ups
[edit] Pedals & Effects
Arion SCH-1
RMC Wizard Wah
MXR Carbon Copy
Handmade Octavia Clone
Lexicon MPX-1
Suhr Guitars MiniMix
Suhr Guitars Iso Line-Out Box
Xotic RC Booster (SH edition)
Xotic AC Booster
Lovepedal COT50
Black Cat OD-Fuzz
Maxon SD9
Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe
Roger Mayer Voodoo-1
Fulltone OCD v4
Peterson Strobostomp II
Boss FV500H
[edit] Amplifier Heads
Marshall JMP 2203 100W modded by Suhr Guitars
Suhr Guitars OD100 Classic+
Suhr Guitars Badger 18
[edit] Cabinets
Suhr Guitars Badger 1x12 Extension Cabinet (Celestion Vintage 30)
Matamp 2x12 (Celestion G12-65's)
Bogner 4x12 (Celestion Vintage 30's)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo albums
- Nights In Shining Karma (2007)
- The New Album (2009)
[edit] With Zero
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Zero | Albummed |
| 2002 | Zero | Hook |
| 2005 | Zero | Procrastination |
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Harmony Central Acapella Forum, 2007-04-20, http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1607446
- ^ Petrucci Forum, 2007-04-21, http://www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46117
- ^ Harmony Central Acapella Forum, 2007-04-20, http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=9da6649f5a3dc5af06b89adf652148cc&p=22158908#post22158908
- ^ Gigpad, 2004-08-30, http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45[dead link]
- ^ Harmony Central Acapella Forum, 2007-04-20, http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22158908&postcount=87
[edit] Further reading
- Interview, Mumbai Mirror, 2007-06-01
- Interview, Gigpad, 2004-08-30
- Nights In Shining Karma Review, Split Magazine, 2007-05-07
- Nights In Shining Karma Review, Riff Cafe, 2007-05-17
- Interview, Hypnos Reviews, 2003
- Procrastination Review, Split Magazine, 2007-12-04
- The New Album Review, JAM Magazine, 2009
- The New Album Review, Meteorikonline, 2009
- Chordvine Interview, Chordvine, 2010
- Split Magazine Interview, Split Magazine, 2009
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