Reach454 are from America and release their self titled debut album on June 10 via Lava Records. Drummer John Kamoosi talks to Music 24/7 Online.

For those of us who haven't heard of your music yet, can we have an introduction? How did you all meet up?

John Kamoosi: Well, we're Reach 454 (originally called Reach) from NYC. We've been together for about 7 years now. It's all about heavy riffs and melody that people can get into without having to think too hard about it. Richie founded the band after leaving Sick Of It All. After parting ways with their last bass player (who now tour manages us), Richie and Rene rounded up Danny Martinez on bass. About a year and a half ago, they parted ways with their former drummer and picked me up. We've been this way ever since.

When and how did you sign to Lava Records?

John Kamoosi: We signed to Lava in May 2002. It came about that we had a showcase lined up with Lava after showcasing for a huge number of labels that said no or just left the band hanging. We were so determined to grab a deal that we made sure we put on a showcase that they couldn't walk away from, or at least to make them really pay attention to what we were up to. The showcase was almost supernatural to us, and it was one of the personal best performances in my life and the rest of the band as well. Two days later, Jason Flom called my singer Rene to let us know he was signing us. After all that time, it still seemed to happen real fast when the deal finally came. We've been working with Lava for just over a year now.

What are the tracks you play live that are getting the best response? Does an audience's reaction make you decide the set list or possibly what record you would be releasing?

John Kamoosi: I think most of our songs are getting a great response live, but if I had had to pick a few I'd say New Scar, 6 Years, Growl, Am I Wrong, Enemy and Follow You Down are getting the biggest reactions from people. Audience reaction has been mostly really positive, so we haven't felt too much pressure to adjust the set list or question the record, but we'll change a couple songs in the set here and there, like swap Enemy for California if we feel a little mellower than usual, which is rare. We love to see kids go off because it makes the band go off and the show becomes that much better.

What's the best part about playing live?

John Kamoosi: There is no better rush than the stage and the live show, nothing compares and you can't buy that feeling. It's a raw energy and a synergy between the band, the instruments and the fans that can't be matched. My favorite part is seeing the masses of people into what you're doing, to know that your work is touching peoples' lives by the music and words that we spread from the stage. Like I said, there's nothing else in the world like it, period.

Do you prefer touring or recording?

John Kamoosi: Couldn't say if there was a preference, I don't really equate the two, they both have their ups and downs, but touring is a lot more work than the studio generally. But the studio can get more frustrating at times if things come out the wrong way or a part is tough to nail just right for the album. Fortunately, we've had an amazing recording experience and a great touring experience as well, I love doing both.

How often do you do gigs and where can people got to see you live?

John Kamoosi: We've had about 1 week off total since the start of 2003. Everything else has been straight touring all over the country. Right now, we're supporting, so we'll usually be attached to a larger bill and moving along with them, like Papa Roach, Evanescence or Cold. Most of these shows have been East Coast to Mid West dates. We've been wanting to head West for a while, but we've kept busy here on the East coast and seen many of the same faces twice which I think is a good thing, we've made a lot of new friends. I'm hoping we'll be able to get some NY shows in at CBGB's, I love playing there, it's like the greatest honor in a way. But we'll be out with Powerman 5000 this June and touring all over.

How crucial has the Internet been in getting attention for your music and gigs?

John Kamoosi: Completely crucial. The web revolutionized communications and it's still changing things and the way we live, so music has changed a bit with it. The band constantly interacts with fans in the chat rooms and message boards just to hang out and to see what people think, we check up on different music sites to see what's happening and see what other bands are up to, and our own site helps to promote our music and message in ways that conventional means can't. We've got a fan in South Africa that we talk to all the time and we've never even left the states to tour. He like many others found us online.

How involved in your website are you? How did you get involved with Sparkart for your website?

John Kamoosi: Very involved. I'm a former web designer, and Richie and Danny are graphic artists, so we know what goes into a site and what needs to be done to make sure people want to hit the site regularly, it's a critical tool for the band because it has endless possibilities if you put the time and effort in. When we spoke to Naveen from Sparkart, we weren't thrown some generic pitch, he was really involved in his work and wanted to make a big deal of the whole thing, and wanted to make sure it was tied in to street team efforts as well. So after several meetings and discussions, we decided Sparkart was definitely the move for Reach454.com. We've just relaunched a Flash version recently and it gets tweeked out every day to run better and stay current. Sparkart has been doing great for us, we've made good friends with Naveen, and we have big ideas for the future as things unfold for the band.

A lot has been said about Music on the internet and people downloading. Do you think people should be able to download music on the Internet either free or pay?

John Kamoosi: This is a really tough issue that comes down to copyrights and whether or not there's control over the mp3 format. Here's my view of it: When I was in high school, I was pretty much broke short of a few dollars I made on the weekend as a busboy. So if I wanted to buy a CD, I made sure. The way I did it was to copy a tape a friend had and listen to it. If I found myself playing the crap out of it, I would toss the tape and buy the CD because that meant I believed in the music and band enough to support them and buy the record. Holding the real CD made me feel a part of the experience in a way. I think it should be the same thing now with mp3's. The main difference is that the quality is better, and you can download almost anything in seconds if you have high speed cable. This makes it tempting to burn yourself a CD and I've burned a few mix CD's myself for sure. But again, if I find myself listening to the artist repeatedly and really use those mp3s, I'll go pick up the record in the store, because it's the right thing to do if you respect the artist and because I feel a part of the music that way. I think it should remain free, but if you choose to buy the mp3 because you only like a couple songs or simply don't want the CD, that should also be the listener's option.

Is there any message you're trying to get across with your music? Where do you get your influences for your lyrics?

John Kamoosi: There is definitely a positive message and one of hope and change in the lyrics. Rene only writes what he knows and he's been through a lot. I like that we send a message to people that you can change your life and/or the people in it in a second if you want to, it can be that easy if you follow your heart and dreams and believe in yourself. That no matter how bad your life seems, you can change it and make it better.

What do you think so far about the reaction of people who have heard your music? (Fans or Industry)

John Kamoosi: Tremendous. A really big response from fans and industry in a way that keeps surprising all of us. I think our music is hooky enough for people to get it, but not cheesy to the point where you want to puke. We love the record and have been hearing nothing but good things about it from all over the place.

Has local radio picked up on your music or magazines? And has there been any interest from radio or magazines abroad?

John Kamoosi: The first week at active rock, we were #6 most added to college radio play lists, the second week we were #3 most added, Metallica being #1. We've met with many magazines, fanzines, radio people and the like and have gotten tons of press scattered all over the country and at home in NY. Most of it has good things to say about us, so there is a definite interest.

What interests does the band have away from music?

John Kamoosi: We're into cars and miniature models of cars, PS 2 is always on, surfing the web and doing the chat/message board thing, graphic arts, reading up on conspiracy theories, audio engineering and tweeking our instruments for the best sound we can, lifting and working out, watching good movies, baseball and sports in general, and running around like tourists buying useless cool stuff in cities we've never been to.

Is there anything you would like to promote about? (Tour dates, records, etc.)

John Kamoosi: Sure, our self-titled debut record is out June 10th, check it out if you like what you've heard. We'll be out with Powerman 5000 in June and we'll be touring for the rest of this year at least, so watch for tour dates and come hang out if you see us coming through your area, it'll be a great show. Call your radio and request "New Scar" and check us out online at www.Reach454.com.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to say or a message for your fans?

John Kamoosi: Yes, thanks to all the fans and street team for your amazing support and efforts, we appreciate it and hope to see you at upcoming shows. And thanks to music247online.com for this opportunity.

Thanks to John and Reach454 for your time and help with this interview.

<-----BACK