Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacque Mendez.
Hi Jacque, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hey, Chels began when Ricky and I decided to collaborate musically back in 2016. We wrote one song together and decided it was something worth pursuing. The name ‘Hey, Chels’ came up when I was talking to a friend and the Gin Blossoms’ “Hey, Jealousy” played in the background. I told this person about how when I was younger, I always thought the lyrics were “hey, Chelsea.” It had a good ring to it and Ricky thought the same.
We also have a wonderful friend named Chelsea, whom we call ‘Chels,’ so we decided to name the project after her. We thought about leaving it as just a two-piece but we soon realized we needed a full band to bring these songs to life. We knew Kevin and Steph from the music scene already, and the two were happy to join. We wrote and recorded our first self-titled EP in 2018, followed by our full-length LP “Everything Goes,” which was recorded in late 2019 and released in May of 2020. In April of this year, we headed out to an isolated Airbnb in Bombay Beach and recorded a new EP titled “Brick Roads,” which has yet to be released.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’d say the pandemic was the biggest obstacle for us as a band. We had a tour planned for the release of “Everything Goes” as well as plans for pressing it on vinyl. Unfortunately, that all had to be canceled and we ended up doing a digital release. I think the main reason that hit a little hard was because we really felt like we were about to gain some momentum with that release and tours/shows around it. It definitely felt like a setback, but we understand that we’re not the only ones who experienced that. We’re still here, and we’re ready for what’s next.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of the main things I wanted to accomplish with this band was a more unique sound than what the four of us and the community we play music in have been used to. We all grew up in the punk scene – listening to punk bands, going to punk shows, playing in punk bands. The last thing I wanted to do was start another punk band. You can still definitely hear its influences, and I’m okay with that, but I wanted to evolve the sound into something newer. The Wurlitzer piano I play on has definitely contributed to our sound, which we’ve been told is more of an indie, dream pop feel.
What were you like growing up?
As a kid, I was very shy. I always liked the idea of singing but truly never saw myself doing that beyond the comfort of my bedroom. I was never into sports but I became very involved in dancing. From the ages of 10-19, I trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. I absolutely loved performing. As shy as I was, I had no problem being on stage. I was also very into my academics. Being a good student was always important to me. Between school and dance, I was always fairly busy.
I didn’t get into playing music as a kid, but it’s definitely where the interest began. My earliest influences were Selena and Cristina Aguilera. I just remember being blown away by their powerhouse vocals, and as a Latina, their success was truly inspiring. It wasn’t until middle school when my brothers introduced me to punk music. I often thought about how cool it would be to one day sing in a punk band. Never did I actually think I would do it.
Contact Info:
- Email: heychelsbooking@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hey._.chels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heychels1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/heychelsband
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJU-gv7hTI&t=3s
- Other: https://heychels.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits:
Kal at Halfway Home Travis
