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Nobleton based Outspoken has determination to go with big plans
They are Outspoken, literally and figuratively. The Nobleton punk-rock, alternative quartet's outspoken attitude and ambition toward rising in the competitive, money-driven rock industry speaks volumes to the dedication it takes to make it big in music. First signs of the band developing started in 2000, as a three-piece combo with front-man Anthony Mascarin, 20 (lead singer, rhythm guitar), his drummer brother drummer Alex Mascarin, 18, and bass player and backup vocalist Fabrizio Chiatto, 20. It wasn't until 2002-03 that things started to come together as the band got older and were finding their sound and who they were trying to become. "It was like we were scientists developing our craft, by just experimenting," Anthony commented.
"It was just the right time to bring him into the band," Anthony observed. "He brings a totally different skill level to the band and we sound more fuller because of it." Outspoken has its own registered company behind the music, Outspoken Entertainment, which allows them to legitimately manage themselves from the business end as well as deal with the marketing focus of the band and promote other bands. This enables them to play with other bands that they book concert dates for. "We've done it all ourselves," Anthony explained. "For the last year and a half, everything has been positive." Outspoken's biggest show was with one-hit wonders, The Ataris, at the Reverb CBIG BOP Building Oct. 5. The Ataris had a hit single, covering the Don Henley single, Boys of Summer. "Playing with The Ataris was a major stepping-stone for us," said Anthony. The Nobleton based Outspoken has determination to go with big plans They have been one of our biggest influences, so to play with them was an accomplishment we dreamed about." Some of their other influences are rooted from '90s punk rock and skate rock. Outspoken has had a few demo CDs, but their first major compilation, Hear We Go, was released in August 2007 and features ten songs, including their primary track, I Don't Know that the band is trying to promote as their current single. It has received positive feedback from their myspace page at www.myspace.com/outspokenrock. "The name (Hear We Go) is a symbol for us because this CD is an official start of our career and was the first step into the independent music world as artists," Anthony explained. "It was the best stuff we have ever done and it got the ball rolling for us, which led to distribution deals with HMV, Sun Rise Records, Amazon and iTunes." Outspoken's material has also landed on a few CD compilations, including an AIDS compilation, an international CD and a pop-punk CD from California that has received some radio play. They have also sent their CDs to several college radio stations to expand their listeners. They have also received some exposure in small magazines, such as an independent mag called Faze, as well as a German publication, which was actually called Outspoken, so there's a self-inspiring connection there. The band's winter tour this year will be in March, lasting about three weeks and will be similar to last year's, with stops possibly in Kingston, Ottawa and Montreal. Currently, there are no set dates from start to finish, and more concert dates could be added to the band's next leg to promote Hear We Go. Outspoken played a similar tour last winter as well as a summer tour, covering gigs in Scarborough, two in Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, King City and even Nobleton, where they have played about 10 shows at the Nobleton Lions Hall over the course of their career. They even managed to lure a big independent band to Nobleton, The Petit Project, who were featured on a Family Network show, Radio Free Roscoe. Outspoken's latest show was at Seneca College's King City campus. The band previously won a battle of the bands competition at the college in December and they were invited back to play a show. Alex is a general business student at the college, so they were able to compete in the college competition. "We've learned how to have fun at the same time as playing in a serious band that tours," he said. "We try to incorporate everyone's likeness into the band and since we're all friends, nobody's shy and everything goes smoothly as a result." The other Outspoken members also have backup plans in mind and are fulltime students, with Anthony at York University, taking music and a teaching program, Fabrizio at Humber College, taking industrial maintenance and Bonfini is an astronomy student at Athabasca University. Outspoken will be playing a show in a few months with acclaimed Canadian act GOB because they have done promotion for the band, including flyers, so they were given GOB's word that they would hook them up with a show with them. Also with their myspace page, they hope to become more internationally known, with a possible tour in the U.S. "Hopefully, our strong work ethic will continue to pay off and possibly a strong independent label will sign us," Anthony commented. "If you asked us five years ago, would we be at this level we would be doubtful, so we hope it will only get better from here." "I can speak for the whole band by saying I don't care how much money we make, as long as we can say being in a band is our job, because playing shows and seeing people in the audience is a rewarding pay in itself," Chiatto remarked. Anthony said the name Outspoken comes from the band's inner philosophy of work ethic and standing on their own no matter what. Despite countless music agents citing that Outspoken's punk-rock genre is dead, they are determined to prove their critics wrong every step of the way. |
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