Review Fix chats with Mayberry frontman Esteban Rodriguez, who discusses the band’s recently released EP, “Beautiful Mess.†Produced by John O’Keefe and Morgan Dorr (Boys Like Girls), the EP has a fun and energetic sound.
Review Fix: How did the band get together?
Esteban Rodriguez: It actually formed gradually back in 2012. We have all been good friends for a long time.
Throughout high school I actually played bass for my current drummer’s (Brayden) band. I was so determined to be in a band during high school, that once I heard Brayden’s band needed a bassist, I bought a bass that afternoon and tried out for the band with no past bass experience.  I pretty much lied that I knew what I was doing, but in reality I just was so focused and determined to play in a band that any spot in the band worked for me.  Playing bass in a band was fun but after a while, I knew singing and songwriting was my passion and soon after started my own solo project, “Mayberryâ€.  I started Mayberry at the end of my  senior year and soon after graduation I took a gamble and I used all my graduation money to fly up to Dallas and record the first EP “ALL I NEEDâ€.  When it finally came time to get a group together and take it more serious, I stole Brayden (drummer) back, met Andrew (guitarist) at a church retreat and recruited him  and well the bassist is my younger brother, so when he finally got old enough to join, I let him in! & The rest is history!
Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?
Rodriguez: Usually when we have no upcoming studio sessions, I like to write as much as I can whenever and wherever I can. Even if it’s just humming melody ideas into my phone, or when I’m writing some lyrics I like to jot down as much as possible on my iPhone notepad.
When studio time finally comes around, we build a beat, instrumental and the rest kinda takes care of itself. I’ll go in there and write what I feel fits the music best and we go on from there.
Review Fix: What makes “A Beautiful Mess” a special EP?
Rodriguez: I think “Beautiful Mess†is a special because it really showcases all the types of styles and genres we can pull off. We put no boundaries on what we try to do. Whatever comes to mind and sounds great to us, we write and record it. We don’t write for a specific audience, we try write music for everyone.
Review Fix: What inspired “Say What You Want From Me”?
Rodriguez: ‘Say What You Want From Me’ is basically a song about feeling anxious and alone. When you’re so used to a certain someone keeping you happy, feelings and emotions become routine. Once something tragic happens between two hearts, a unknown anxious heartbroken feeling takes over. The songs is basically a ‘cry’ for help and desperation. Literally asking the other person ‘tell me what you need, tell me what you want.. I’ll be what you need, anything you want’ .. trying and willing to do ANYTHING to save the relationship.
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2017?
Rodriguez: Hopefully a record deal we’re all happy with, more music and more live shows.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Rodriguez: We’ve got tons of new music still waiting to get released, and fall shows being booked as we speak. Follow @MayberryBand on all social media outlets to be the first to find out what’s next.
Leave a Reply