FANTAZZMO BIOGRAPHY

 
 

   

 

 

"Time to set our souls free…"

Do you remember a time when music had the power to set your soul free? Guitarist and lead singer Sergio Bedolla does, and he intends for you to as well. Infusing the swagger and vibe of a bygone era with the power and angst of modern alt-rock, Sergio has created a rock n’ roll alter ego to do just that: Fantazzmo.

As an enthusiast of all music, Bedolla takes his inspiration from such rock legends as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, while acknowledging the likes of 311, Sublime and Rage Against the Machine. Ranging in style from rock and pop to r&b, from jazz to funk and hip-hop, Sergio’s Fantazzmo persona is one of the most versatile musical units heard today.

"I’ve been playing guitar since I could walk" says the guitarist. "I got a toy guitar and a tape recorder and was distributing cassettes to my elementary classmates with my school picture on them." Raised in California and splitting his time between Southgate and South Central, Bedolla's influences came hard and fast early on. "The family listened to Motown, Soul, and R&B, but when I heard Van Halen’s "You Really Got Me", that was it!" Soon the stage was set for Sergio’s musical career as Fantazzmo.

Many fans will remember Bedolla from his days with popular band, Anima, who earned their hard-hitting reputation while playing countless shows along Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. They garnered national acclaim after they were featured in Spin Magazine, earning them the opening spot for Blink-182. After changing their name to Idle, the band released their first album, Plastic, to popular and critical acclaim. Despite Anima/Idle’s success, Bedolla said, "after five years I have to leave the group due to my own†personal obligations." After playing with different musicians for several years as a hired gun, Bedolla †rekindled his relationship with the members of Anima/Idle and found that all the magic he had shared with his bandmates was still there. Capitalizing on his success with bassist Rodax from his Anima/Idle days and alongside producer Tone (Green Day, Santana, Monte Negro), and alongside renowned drummer Randy Cooke (Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks), Bedolla hit Los Angeles’ Tonality and Stagg St. Studios to record tracks for Fantazzmo I: Enter the Fantazz.

The album was recorded in 10 weeks over a 6 month period. †"Tone got the whole Fantazzmo concept and the songs instantly. Tone used his production expertise to maintain a great "live" quality throughout the album.

Wanting to explore every angle of his songwriting ability and sound, his writing prowess with first single, "Superman," shows Bedolla embracing psychedelic rock and funk in a unique way, with lyrics about lust and love; "This song was just goin’ for it! I can’t help but be one of the billions of men who think about women and sex all of the time." Taking cues from rap and hip-hop, Bedolla says he wanted his "rock to have that energy and honesty". "Drown Your Lies", is driven by an infectious pop beat and according to Bedolla has a "sublime feel, but heavier... an ode to a relationship that was." He reflects on the writing process of Fantazzmo I: Enter the Fantazz and recalls, "Lyrics for the album were written randomly, but ended as an autobiography." Those introspective lyrics are found throughout the album, including within the track "I Know You’re Mine," which displays a more funk and groove feel and as Bedolla describes as being about a "jack of all trades, I was spread thin, only giving what I could to my family, work and the band. I had to face my fears and take a leap."

With his alter ego Fantazzmo complete, Bedolla intends to take the music scene by storm. Creating rock with lots of energy, memorable melodies and lyrics straight from the heart, Fantazzmo brings a side to music strikingly unique and is built to last.



WELCOME TO THE FANTAZZ!

FANTAZZMO 1:  ENTER THE  FANTAZZ

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 14, 2010