Eric Victorino – Your Next Substitute Teacher
January 28th, 2009 - Written by AngelI was surprised by this news as I remember having been to see a Strata show after they released the album. “I owed the label and the rest of the band my obligations to do the best I could with the finished record. But I was done with the band before the album even came out,” he explained, telling me that “there were strained personal relationships within the band; I felt like I was growing apart from them in my personal interests” when I probed a little further.
Of this new musical project, called The Limousines, he says: “it’s a project born of mutual respect, much more simple since there is one guy making music and I just sing on it. It’s more like a rap project – he sends me tons of beats and I come up with concepts and words to attach. (…) I found the process of taking the stage each night as part of a four piece rock band tedious… Limos music felt very natural for me because it’s much more like what I have been listening to for the four years or so…”
Beyond being a musician, Eric is a highly creative person who utilizes many mediums to express himself. To paraphrase a quote from his MySpace, he loves to draw, paint, sculpt, sing and write, although he’s “not necessarily great at anything but being good at things isn’t really the point.”
Obviously, the measure of his talent is a matter of perspective, given the impressive success his two books have garnered, particularly over the internet. Able to self-publish under the company name, Orchard City Books and Noise, Eric’s ‘Coma Therapy’ and ‘Trading Shadows for Sunshine’ are both anas worth your time and money. Through anecdotes from the past, present and future – some real, some fictitious – Eric paints a vivid picture of his life, and journey through; recounting, rather than preaching, a message of love, hardship and understanding.
“I don’t consider my book projects to be subject to failure or success.” I was told, when asked if he was surprised by the positive response his writing gets. “I’m happy with how [the books] turned out. They’re gonna be cool little mementos from daddy when I’ve got kids” he continued, adding: “I’m really shocked by how much the books have done for people; I’m flattered more than anything. But the last thing I want to do is assume anyone is going to give a fuck what I have to say tomorrow. I was lucky to have their attention in the first place.”
With attention comes some responsibility and educating a public isn’t to be taken lightly. Eric is the first to admit that he has some very staunch opinions on a wide variety of topics – on the state of the entertainment industry for example – views he shares openly and directly, whatever the medium may be.
“Oh I just feel like it’s important to be honest with my audience, however small or large and through whichever form of media – it’s tough trying to make a living on your art. In every way you can imagine. And if anyone thinks they want to write poetry or sing songs for a living they better know getting into it that there are liars and snakes and thieves who make their living trying to fuck you over.”
Given his honesty, I was happily surprised to see that some subjects were off the table; his favourite childhood memory being one of them. “Private! Some things are sacred. Either that or I just can’t think of a good one….”
“I don’t have a specific rule.” He offered, when I asked how he drew the line between what he shared and what he kept private. He admits that sometimes the lines have been blurred and he has said things he later regretted, making sure to add: “But I can’t let that shut me up.”
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