Artist Information

Instrumentation
Troy Mork - Guitar
Krystof - Guitar
Stephen James - Vocals
Brant Maze - Drums
Mark Gutierrez -Bass

Contact Phone: 312-303-0330
Email: veritaemusic@yahoo.com
Web: www.veritaemusic.com

Biography
::VERITAE::

There is an exciting new project born unto the music scene right now. This band with renowned record producer have coupled forces to create an incredible new project.

VERITAE {TRUTH : : vin·cit om·nia ve·ri·tas : truth conquers all things}

Formed by former Hellshock Guitarists and main songwriters Troy Mork and Krystof, VERITAE is an extension of the alternative metal mixed with art-rock style amalgam popularized by Tool/NIN/APC. While similar to these bands in intensity and power VERITAE is dark, melodic and eloquent with a ambient quality that incorporates intermittent strings, percussion and other instrumentation creating a vivid sonic soundscape.

VERITAE is a Chicago-based band formed at the end of 2002 out of the ashes of their former project. In pursuit of a higher standard of music and creative freedom and not to be bound by any limitations, Troy and Krystof disbanded their former project to further their ambitions and dreams of something unique and powerful, each actively seeking to challenge themselves and their listeners through intense, inspiring and deepened performances and songwriting. With the help and support of their long time friend, collaborator and producer Paul Christopher Green (aliensound.com), Troy and Krystof set out on a mission to piece together the perfect members to complete their vision.

Over the next two years; while continuing to write music, develop their vision and amass a catalog of songs, Troy and Krystof; then called "The Project", scoured the country and in some instances Europe in search of the missing pieces of the puzzle only to find everything they were looking for in their own backyard.
Holding numerable auditions and reviewing countless demo submissions from all over the world they stumbled across a rough "live" recording sent in by a young undiscovered talent by the name of Stephen James. Bringing to the band towering yet vulnerable, brooding but emotionally charged vocal style. One audition was all it took to know that "The Project" had found their voice.

Knowing that "The Project" was using session drummers for recording and writing purposes but still searched for the perfect drummer, Stephen suggested his roommate who happened to be a drummer. A young powerhouse named Brant Maze. Combining imaginative rhythm concepts, acoustic and electric sounds and sheer driving power while melding Bonham-style heavy hitting with subtle and jazzy polyrhythms... One audition was all it took to know that "The Project" had found it's perfect drummer.

In what seemed to be a fruitless effort to find the final member, "The Project" persevered and continued to develop as a unit and a true collaboration of artists while continuing their search for their Perfect bassist.
Enter: Mark Gutierrez. a long time acquaintance of Troy and Krystof and former bassist extraordinaire of the Chicago band Lifewithout, Mark was introduced to the rumors of a new project developing in the area through mutual friends of "The Project". Told that this new project was in search for a bassist, Mark made contact to discover if the rumors were true. Indeed they were and one audition was all it took for the final piece to be found and VERITAE to be born.

The music of VERITAE is a remarkable amalgamation of creatively un-categorizable modern music, masterfully combining keen instinct with raw talent to create compositions of atmosphere, beauty and power.

Contact Phone: 312-303-0330
Email: veritaemusic@yahoo.com
Web: www.veritaemusic.com

How did your former band Hellshock’s sound compare to Veritae?
Veritae is an extension.. an evolution of what was Hellshock. Moreover, Veritae is an exploration into ourselves as artists and musicians.
“Verities' sound ……it is a mixture of energy driven bass/drums pushed by melodic ambient
Guitars and vocals setting a vibrant and deep soundscape. Hellshock’s sound was focused on raw power and “in your face” driven attitude definitely less ambient and more aggressive then Verities' writing.

2) How did your name come about?
VERITAE is a derivative of the Latin word for “Truth”
That one word “Truth”.. Encompasses that exploration in ourselves and the world around us. All consciousness places it roots in a belief, a truth, it cannot operate without one. Taking its meaning and applying that to the message of our songs and music This band and it's music are a reflection of that. Truth.

3) You formed in 2002, how did you guys meet to form VERITAE?
Veritae came to be under name of “The Project” at Alien Sound where (we) Krystof and Troy former guitarists and song writers of Hellshock made the decision to put this new project in motion with our long time friend and producer Paul Christopher Green . After the audition process which took a year or so Stephen James and Brant Maze joined the band and things started moving towards actual band Veritae as we know it today.

3) Was there a reason you were looking outside IL (and even the country) for the rest of the current lineup?
We had been searching for not only people to fill the ranks of the band but for the RIGHT people with proper attitude and realistic goals/understanding , we had wanted to get beyond the local band mentality and we wanted someone who believed in their skill and the craft of music enough to be willing to move to become a part of something great. in fact i think that mentality is necessary. We didn’t necessarily target any areas in particular in our search but in today’s age of Internet communication we have been receiving inquires from all over the country and Europe as well… and held audition based on the individual circumstances ……definitely interesting and eye opening experience if not humorous at times .
5) Was “The Project” name intended to be a permanent name for you? Or just temporary until you found the rest of the band?

The Project was the original terminology used by our producer/friend Chris Greene to differentiate us from the rest of his clients, we adopted it as such. It also gave our new project a base in reality.. made it a real tangible thing as opposed to just an idea or concept. We had played with the idea of “The Project” being the name. In the end we new we needed our own identity and needed to think about who we are as a band and the final step was choosing Veritae as our name.

6) Why did you change from The Project in favor of Veritae?
the philosophy of the word Veritae versus the project is more applicable to our goals, our desires.

7) Is it safe to say that finding band mates might have been the most challenging aspect to being in a band? If not, what would you say is the most challenging thing?
Indeed …..people in the band make the band and make things last or fall apart ……talent , understanding music business and perseverance as well as adjusting to the changes in industry will defy The possible success or failure of the band .

8) At what point in each of your lives did you have that ' I wanna be a Rock Star when I grow up' moment?
(Krystof)
I have been involve in playing and writing music since early teens and that is the only thing that stayed with me through out the years through all changes in my life, music have always been there for me and making sense …..therefore here I’m doing what I feel is right for me.

(Stephen James) watching the talent show in senior year, seeing people i sit next to in class up on stage and thinking i could do it better, i could show them the fire they've always felt.

(Troy Mork) I cannot recall a defining moment.. it has always been my only passion. The one thing I knew was right.. was true. I think allot of people who go through life not knowing who they are, not knowing what they are here for… and think how lost and empty that must be and I feel lucky to have always known what is right for me and have the direction. That is what is right for me at this moment in time..

9) Did you rush out right away to take lessons or are you self taught?
(Krystof) …..I was very active in sports and had friend who wanted to learn lifting weights …as a exchange he offered to teach me how to play guitar …..well he never made it to the gym but I kept my end of a deal and have not pass on opportunity to learn to play guitar ,that became my life passion and ultimately led to where I’m standing right now .

(Stephen James) after i resigned myself to singing (i wanted to play guitar but my playing was never better than my singing) i wanted to know how to do it right and how not to destroy my voice so i took some vocal lessons but i don't any longer. i did take music theory classes so i have the general understanding but we all play by ear so...

(Troy Mork) I took lessons and learned the fundamentals.. most of what I know is from learning my favorite songs… Throughout high school I took as much Music theory courses as they would allow.. I took college level Music theory courses during my Lunch and elective courses.. however I have never applied any of that theory to our writing.. what we write comes from inside.. pure emotion and feel.. over thinking and overanalyzing destroys that natural unadulterated beauty.

10) Who would you say are each of your biggest personal musical influences?
(Krystof)Depeche Mode , The Cure , Sepultura , Venom , Slayer just to name few that have been existent at certain points of my music life …….

(Stephen James)
my biggest musical influences are (in no order) my mom, dead can dance, faith no more, tori amos, alice in chains, vivaldi's four seasons, nine inch nails, fields of the nephilim,... i could go on...

(Troy Mork) Everything from The Beatles to Machine Head. Anything that moves me or that I find inspiring at a moment I will try to take something away from it to learn and to grow.. The Beatles and John Lennon ; Growing Up, was the biggest inspiration.. My sister introduced me to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal such as Metallica and Slayer and that just expanded to Machine Head, Fear Factory, Supultura NIN ect…
As I opened my mind to other types of music I have become able to appreciate the brilliance of artists such as Peter Gabriel, Tori Amos, Sarah McLaughlin, ect…

11) Do those same influences help to inspire you band?
Of Course they inspire..
Not in the sense of major influence but in the sense of taking the musical energy and vibe and trying to capture that.


12) Certainly Troy and Krystof you’ve must have written a number of songs in addition to what you’ve written now as a full band. But, do you still play the occasional cover tune? If so, what do you play?
Live, we do a hybrid cover of the police's "don't stand so close to me" and Sarah McLaughlin/delirium's "silence"

13) How has your EP entitled “What Lies Beneath?” been received?
It hasn’t LOL….its not released yet ….well it will be Very soon ……. We have not officially released that song or EP behind a full promotional campaign.. however in our test markets it has been received very well.. everyone seems to like it allot.. we like it allot.

14) Are there any projects you are currently working on or have in the works?
Definitely new songs and promotion of Veritae ….there are various channels we will be using to do that and if you like live bands and listing to rock music I’m sure you will see or hear about VERITAE.

15) Many local bands were fairly active in participating in benefits for the hurricane victims of the past year, are there any causes that you have participated in?
At that point of time we were still in preparation and development stage of the band and live show ,but definitely we are willing to participate in such great cause as we progress in to the future

16) How did feel to be included on Sonicbids complication?
It was an honor and a privilege.. we were glad that the song had been received so well.. initially we were just testing the water with that song.. It has been a great news and we new we had something special …..after we have learned about it we went and got drunk to celebrate..j/k ……. can’t wait to do a live show for Sonicbids in support of Sonicbids compilation and promote this great opportunity for all the bands on the compilation. Everyone at Sonicbids has been great to work with and very supportative.

17) When can we expect to see you guys Rock the city next?
……we have done few warm up shows and are in process of setting few in the Chicago and area , definitely more this summer …we will keep our website www.veritaemusic.com updated and please visit us for any new events and listing to new songs placed as a part of a promotion of Verities' music.

18) What are you plans for this year?
Promotion promotion promotion …hmmmm….did I mention Promotion LOL…….either it will be a show or CD or Radio , you will hear about VERITAE and it is our goal this year to share the music with everyone willing to listing …..we believe people will enjoy what we are all about and give a listing ……..

Thank you for your time!!

For more information about Veritae, please visit their Myspace page at: http://www.veritaemusic.com