Méchant's music is a mix of high energy hooks and suggestive vocals, a modern version of edgy power pop (minus the saccharin) with a little electronica thrown in. It's girl-fronted rock 'n' roll as it was meant to be - sweet but tough, sultry and aggressive, clever, vulnerable, sometimes sarcastic, always feminine, sunny on the outside, dark underneath. Méchant's latest record, " Fate and The Arsenal ," is now available at CDBaby.com
Most of Méchant's songs, written by lead singer & bassist Regina Zernay, are based on her experiences living in Los Angeles. Every song has some basis in Hollywood reality, with stories about struggling actors ("Superhero in Training"), sexual predators ("Sick of You" and "Ruined"), raw lust ("December 11th"), overindulgence ("Suicide Machine") and old-fashioned, left-at-the-altar break-ups ("Everything Changed").
Méchant was formed by a girl who'd spent years hiding behind a bass guitar. As a bass player, Regina played with dozens of bands all over Southern California, including rock groups like Big Violin, Ten Pound Troy, The Syrups and Red Delicious. In 2001, she joined the well-known Dreamworks/Megatronic rock band Halfcocked.
Her experience in a major label band was a roller coaster ride, to say the least. "I'd spent so many years playing in the trenches. Playing in Halfcocked was a dream come true. But the ups and downs, and the final letdown of seeing this talented, hard-working, totally deserving band get dropped because of politics - it was heartbreaking."
Her response to the whole experience was to form a band that she could lead without restriction, writing her own songs and fronting the band herself. "I didn't want to have my music dictated to me any more. I wanted to have something of my own, something that stayed with me, no matter what happened around me. And I had a lot of things I wanted to express. It seemed like the perfect outlet."
In 2002, Méchant was born. The french word for "wicked," Regina discovered the band name while reading Fredric Dannen's best-selling book about the music industry, "Hit Men."
Regina began writing and recording music for Méchant's first demo with producer & guitarist Jonathan Hayes. The band, which included drummer Mike Earnhart and guitarist Jim Jet, started playing live shows in 2003, releasing their first 2-song EP by the year's end.
In the meantime, Regina continued to play bass. She stayed on with Halfcocked until 2003. In 2004, she joined hip-hop/rock band Jam Balaya, which landed her two guest appearances on the TV show "Half & Half."
She also spent a year and a half working as a background extra in T.V. and movies. "It was surreal. It was the closest I'd ever been to the Hollywood myth, and it was a bird's-eye view. You'd be walking around and suddenly, George Clooney is talking to you about the weather, Ben Stiller is apologizing for bumping into your chair, Omar Sharif is politely telling you it's okay to sit down in between takes, or Catherine Bell is saying your cup of tea looks good. I was awestruck, and I loved every minute of it."
It was also very inspiring, fueling most of the material Regina wrote during this time. As Regina recorded these new songs, Méchant underwent some serious personnel changes. The entire band was replaced, and now consisted of Mark Burgess on guitar, Robert Hirsh on drums, and Daniel Frohnen on bass. The result of the recordings was an eight-song CD called " Fate and The Arsenal ."
"By the time I finished the record, I felt like I'd been on a really long journey, one that wasn't completely within my control. And I felt like I learned a lot, both good and bad. Finishing the record was like reaching the end of that path, and walking in with a loaded gun. Calling the record ' Fate and The Arsenal ' just seemed to sum it up - it's about going where you're meant to go, and the scars & weapons you've collected along the way."
On the heels of finishing "Fate and The Arsenal" in 2007, Regina joined the very popular New Orleans-based rock band Cowboy Mouth . She's currently touring with Cowboy Mouth , known for their high-energy live shows and non-stop touring schedule.
"Talk about a life-changing experience. I'm playing bass for one of the greatest rock bands in the world. To say I'm thrilled about it is an understatement."
Does this spell the end of Méchant? Hardly. New songs have already been written, centering on people and places Regina says she never knew existed. "The world's so much bigger than I imagined. I can't wait to share the things I've seen."
You can pick up a copy of " Fate and The Arsenal " at www.cdbaby.com/mechant . For up-to-the-minute news and Regina's personal web blog, stop by www.myspace.com/mechant.
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