It didn't take long for Reckon Memoir frontgirl Sasha Zdjanskaya to get the attention of music industry executives. Two hours after stepping off the plane from Moscow, the striking, 5-foot-9, 18-year-old Russian singer met the CEO of a label under Interscope/Geffen, who would eventually become her manager. Only a few months later she caught the attention of one of the biggest producing tandems in the business, Harvey Mason and Damon Thomas of the Underdogs (Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears), which she would spend the first 6 months of 2007 writing and recording with, along with producer/songwriter/musician Corky James (Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Liz Phair).
The last 6 months of 2007, now living in Orange County, California, Sasha wrote with ASCAP Award-winning writer Paul Duncan.
Her band stuck in Russia without passports, Sasha met musicians Gary Nault, Enrique Suarez, and Manuel Rodriguez. All having similar musical influences and a common goal of making their passion a career, Reckon Memoir was born.
"It's really who we are," Sasha says with her Russian accent, referring to the band name. "The music we make is about looking back at our personal history, where we've come from in our lives."
Reckon Memoir's fun, young, energetic and edgy melodies and lyrics, laced with anthem-like pop hooks, has been described as Paramore and Fall Out Boy meets No Doubt.
Born in the small Russian village of Nahodka, Sasha grew up precocious, full of energy, and at times a little too rambunctious. She's had three major concussions and a crack in the back of her skull that she has to this day.
"I fell on my head a lot," Sasha says smiling. "I've always been a little crazy."
Growing up in Russia, she loved her father's music - AC/DC, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin. At 12 years old she tried out for and was accepted to the International Fine Arts Institute in St. Petersburg, one of Russia's top music institutes and joined the renowned choir, Radio Television of St. Petersburg. The choir traveled throughout Russia performing, including multiple performances for Russian President Vladimir Putin. At 15, with her heart into more punk and rock music than choir, Sasha formed a band with four musicians she knew in St. Petersburg, Russia. Inspired by her own favorite bands Godsmack, Staind, No Doubt, and Green Day, she began writing. She and her band toured throughout Russia, building a fan base, and lead by Sasha's high-energy Gwen Stefani-like performances, started to garner some attention from Russian record labels.
"The interest was great," Sasha noted. "But my dream has always been to make it in the U.S." So, at 16 she hopped a plane by herself and moved to the United States.
Gary (bass), 24, developed some of his pop rock sensibilities also being influenced by his parents' music - Madonna, Lynard Skynard, and Jim Croce. He would later developed his own taste for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and No Doubt.
An avid videogamer (World of Warcraft and Halo 3), Gary grew up in Southern California. He picked up the bass for the first time as a teenager."People attach memories to music," he says. "And that's something I wanted to be a part of."
Manuel (electric guitar/backing vocals), 19, grew up in Colombia. A rock-fusion guitarist whose influences are musicians Paul Gilbert, Jeff Tamelier, Greg Howe and Mike Miller.
At age 7, Manuel (aka Manny), first began playing the "Tiple," a traditional Colombian instrument. By 12, he was onto the guitar. At 16, he began studying music at the Cristancho Music Academy in Bogota, winning multiple contests, including the highest scholarship at the academy.
Graduating from the academy, he made the next big decision in pursuit of his dream, he would make the move to Los Angeles and enroll in the renowned Musicians Institute, where he's been since arriving from Colombia.
Enrique (electric guitar) was born and raised in South America. It took hearing bands like Korn and Slipknot to make the decision that he wanted to play music. At 15, he begged his parents for a drum kit, but instead received a guitar. He would teach himself to play. After graduating from high school, he moved to the U.S. to learn English.
"Instead of studying English," he says, "I spent most of my time playing guitar in my room and thinking about a career in music."
After returning to South America and studying business management, it didn't take long before he decided to drop everything and focus on music. He began studying music full time at a University, playing guitar and drums. In 2007, he would return to the U.S. and also enroll at the Musicians Institute in pursuit of his dream.
Enrique counts his influences as everyone from Nirvana, Slipknot, and Metallica, to Korn, Foo Fighters, and Latin Music.
From Russia to LA, Colombia to South America, this fivesome known as Reckon Memoir, fronted by the girl with a crack in her skull, steps into the future.