We were lucky to catch up with Sweet Vicious recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sweet Vicious, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

As the singer of Sweet Vicious, I took a huge risk when I joined the band, which ended up changing my life in the best way. My college band went through a nasty breakup, and I was looking for something new. I ended up answering a “singer wanted” ad on Craigslist and showed up at a house in Reseda to meet four strange men to jam and see if it was a fit. In retrospect, perhaps not the smartest thing to do. I remember sharing my location with my roommate at the time and telling her to call the police if I didn’t check in with her by the end of the night. Risky as it was, as soon as I walked in that house I was immediately put at ease – the energy was immaculate and I could tell that this was a great group of guys. We gelled so well musically and the rest is history: six years and 30+ songs later and we’re still going strong. Though I’m sure it would give my mom a mild heart attack, I’m so thankful I took the leap to answer that ad.

Beyond that, it’s a risk every day to put yourself out there as an artist. It takes grit and a truckload of determination to dive into unknown waters and face the ups and downs of the LA music scene. You have to trust the process and know that if you work hard and find the right people, you’ll end up where you’re supposed to be. The risk of the unknown – that it could all fall apart at any moment – that’s where the magic is.

Sweet Vicious, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We are a Hollywood-based rock band with a mission to keep the no-boundaries spirit of rock n’ roll alive in today’s music landscape, where rock is no longer at the forefront of the scene. No frills – just instruments, grit, and good music. We are unique in that we blend many rock sub-genres, from grunge to punk to alternative, as well as taking influences from other music genres and cultures.

Although we all come from very different backgrounds, we have united under our common passion to create music that represents a unique blend of all of us – which is really something special.

Above all – we’re about championing authenticity, good times, and great music. Our shows are a wild ride, you should join us on the next one.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best way to support artists is by showing up! Whether that means coming to shows, engaging with their content, liking/commenting on posts, or streaming their music – even small things can make a world of difference. And buy albums or merch from local artists! We’ve seen so much support within the LA music community, with bands hyping each other up in all of these ways – it’s a really encouraging thing to see and amazing to be a part of.

LA has so many amazing venues, but most of them use the “pay to play” model when booking talent, which results in bands losing most of the profits from their ticket sales. We’d love to see more free music nights that allow artists to showcase their art or, better yet, paid gigs that compensate artists for their time and artistry!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

What isn’t rewarding about rocking the f*** out??

Jokes aside, there’s so much about creating that feeds our souls. Being able to express complex emotions through this medium and connect with other people in the process is pretty incredible. When someone tells us that our song spoke to them in some way, that’s the best feeling in the world.

And although playing for an audience is absolutely exhilarating, perhaps the most rewarding thing is simply playing music with each other – the people we love to create with. It’s not always easy – almost like being in a five-way relationship – but when you find the perfect mesh, the groove, and you know you have something special – there’s nothing like it. At that point you don’t care if other people like it or not, because it’s yours. But more than likely, the audience will pick up on that feeling and vibe with it too, which makes it even sweeter.

Find people you love to share the stage with, and you’ll find fulfillment no matter what this crazy industry throws your way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetviciousband/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sweetvicious1558
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6qMkUWcBAJvtL4dqYKxjjK?si=PlgvmVF8TAiLMtr9gJpaew

Image Credits

Jesus David (@silencioso.clamor)
Mathias Fau (@mathiasfau)