How many of us had the dream, yes, to be a Rockstar, make music that people love and appreciate. Well, for three young people the dream is becoming reality…and 10,000 fans can not be wrong.
May 25th is a Canadian Pop, Pop-Punk, Rock band from Montreal, CA. The band formed early 2009 with guitarist/vocalist A.J. Cordeiron, vocalist/keyboardist Valerie Brunet and the newest member, drummer/vocalist Kelly Hozmuller.
The band is currently working on their debut album, with the release of Winter 2009. So for all the fans out there, I introduce to you AJ, Valerie and Kelly….
Why did you choose to call your band May 25th?
AJ: I asked Val to be my girlfriend on May 25th.
Valerie: So AJ and I won’t forget our first anniversary date. It’s really to commemorate the start of the greatest period of both of our lives.
Kelly: I had no say it just happened.
What did you set your goals for this album?
AJ: To actually finish recording it? AHAHAHAH. Just joking. I really want this album to take listeners and give them a big hug. I really want them to enjoy every single track. I can’t remember how many times I have bought an album and only enjoyed two tracks from it. I want the people to enjoy it from track to track to track.
Valerie: For me, it’s really a vehicle to exceed my expectations and to prove myself that I be a valuable part of a successful band. So far, I have been blown away by our recent progress on myspace and on twitter. For us as a whole, we want to go all the way.100 000 devoted fans, International concerts, record label, or merchandise, money, the works.
Kelly: Introduce my style.
What is the most enjoyable part of all this, for you?
AJ: I loved the recording part. I love producing my own tracks, working with the instruments and vocals, fine tuning. Just getting into all the little details. I love listening to classic albums and trying to figure how theygot that certain sound, and then, in my own little way, try to achieve it. I don’t come anywhere near, but it still sounds okay.
Valerie: Being a part of a band was always one of those little fantasies dancing in the back of my head. Now it came true and i’m thrilled to share it with my coolest cousin Kelly and the love of my life AJ.
Kelly: Just going with the flow and playing drums when I can.
What’s playing on your iPod?
AJ: Right now, it’s mixture of Travis Barker remixes, Best Week Ever (Tommy Degrazia is an amazing producer), and little Eminem. Oh and Blink-182! Oh and don’t forget the ABBA. ABBA rules.
Valerie: If I ever leave this world alive- Flogging Molly.
Kelly: Accio Love – Ministry of Magic.
What’s your biggest frustration?
AJ: There are no frustrations or obstacles, just challenges that can met with time, patience, and confidence.
Valerie: I tend to discourage myself a lot and underestimate my abilities. I takes a good kick in the ass to pull off a task with flying colors. The worst is to wait for that kick. Also, it’s to accept that I had no musical training getting into this and I have to learn everything on my own on the go.
Kelly: Homework and people who think Harry Potter sucks
Describe yourselfs in three words?
AJ: Stupid. Funny. Deep. Lovable. Oh wait that was four words. Drop Stupid. I think that’s apparent.
Valerie: Maverick, honest, perseverant.
Kelly: 1. EXTRAORDINARY 2. SUPERCALAFRAGILISTICEXPEALADOTIOUS 3. ODD
Influence behind your music.
AJ: blink-182, All Time Low, Plus 44, New Found Glory, and quiet lullabies! And Inuit throat singing.
Valerie: Wikipedia. I learn my scales and modes and chords from there. Especially the D scale. Seriously, it’s Flogging Molly, for embracing my Irish roots, and Blink because they’re purely awesome.
Kelly: Bringing the classic back by playing with a simple drum set, and expressing myself through my crescendo drum rolls.
Describe your relationship with each member of the band?
AJ: Valerie is my girlfriend. I met her at CSKY John Abbott College Radio, where I DJ and work as General Manager. We both liked Queen, and that rest is history. Kelly is Val’s cousin, and she is just so rad. She literally walked in and yelled “HI! MY NAME IS KELLY! WHO ARE YOU?” I knew immediately that she ruled. And George is our monkey. He does monkey things, like go bananas, eat bananas, and do my math homework.
Valerie: AJ is my lovely boyfriend for more than a year and still going amazingly strong, and i dragged my favorite cousin Kelly along for the ride!
Kelly: Valerie is my cousin and A.J is now my friend because of her.
Your favourite band or musician?
AJ: Mille Vinille. ;P No, it’s all about Blink-182. The Foo Fighters. Nirvana. Damn, so many good bands.
Valerie: Anything AJ gives me (Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Blink-182, +44…) Otherwise, I grew up with Disney and Phantom of the Opera.
Kelly: Nickelback, A.C/D.C, 3 DOORS DOWN, CELINE DION.
What inspired you to make music together?
AJ: We were all friends. It started off a something by myself, and then I decided that I didn’t want to have a solo project, so I thought of someone I wanted to work it always, and it was Val. Then, when looking for drummer, we looked no further than Kelly. One audition and she was in! Not only is she rad, she can kick some ass on drums. We all have similar interest, so it was just the perfect fit.
Valerie: Blink 182. If a three man band can make it, so can a 2 woman and 1 man band. AJ is Mark, I’m Tom, and Kelly is Travis. Honestly, we are just close friends with different talents, raw or developed over time, who happened to make awesome music together.
Kelly: They ask me if I wanted to be a part of it and I said yes because I thought it might be fun.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome the challenge?
AJ: I think the biggest challenge for a band, a newly formed band, is to really form your niche is the music world. You have to build your fan base bit by bit, slowly, but surely. But it has been a blast from the start. All the great people I have met on the job and/or online have been so supportive and helpful, it’s really humbling. All these people who appreciate your work. I really makes it worth it, when I check the e-mail and I seeall this love and support. Thank you guys!
Valerie: Of course it’s a challenge to get our name noticed in the online community. It takes a lot of sleepless nights of friend requests and twittering about the band. It was a lot of hard work, but it was all worth it because we continuously get more and more fans interested in what we do and more and more people are getting to know us. It’s really rewarding to see that our hard work has paid off. Thank you so much for all your support. It means a lot to us.
Kelly: Well just starting it was difficult because we didn’t think it would go far but look at us now we have 10,000 fans and growing, so THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE’S SUPPORT, WE LOVE YOU. We now hope that we will go far and bring music to a new level.
P.S: TO ALL BIG HARRY POTTER FANS AND OF OUR BAND…I LOVE YOU GUYS TO THE ROYAL MAX.
External Links - more on the band
- May 25th website (under construction)
- ReverbNation
- jango
- MySpace
They sound rad!
Thanks for the post!
Mark.
I like the music, new and clean.. always the case with bands, beautiful music at start, till the big guns get involved and it ALL becomes commercial!
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