StreamLINE Artist Feature & Interview : Apex Zenith
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Hi everybody, welcome to another installment of our Interview Series as we bring you the story of Apex Zenith, the solo project of veteran music producer and recording artist, Juan “Punchy” Gonzalez. Punchy provides a fascinating and in-depth look into his music background, journey and what sparks his creative process, particularly as it pertains to his latest project. Read on to learn more…….Enjoy!
- Hi Punchy, welcome to StreamLINE! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We’re excited for our audience to gain more insight into your background, music journey and latest project. Thanks again. We appreciate it!
- Please tell us a bit about your background, where you’re from etc. What were your early music influences?
Well, I was born into music and performing. My parents operated a community theater company in Tampa. I was acting by 3, on TV by 5, stage managing by 12, could play 10 different instruments by 12, singing or playing guitar in bands by 15, working for other bands by 17, did my first regional tour (as a tech) by 20, and doing my first world tour (as a tech) by 21.
Since then, I have produced records for several international releases, done years of touring as a professional sound engineer and tour manager, toured the world with my industrial/electronic rock band (Diet of Worms), and continue to release records as a producer and as an artist as Cosmic Punch (Nerd Rock), The Synth Lord (Heavy Synthpop) and now, Apex Zenith (Heavy Synthpop).
I have several influences for my various projects, but for Apex Zenith, it was all about the synths, 80’s, parachute pants, and more 80’s! Any and all artists of the era inspired my work on this record. I wanted to include all the influences of those 80’s artists as well, so I dipped into my 60’s and 70’s rock icon vault to pull out some Queen, Beatles, and others.
My 80’s influences are scattered, like I said before, but Duran Duran, Human League, Vince DiCola, Uplio Minucci, Giorgio Morroder, Mike Post, and other icons from the era for me.
- What was the defining moment or time in your life when you decided that you wanted to pursue music on a professional level?
It was laid upon my feet. I have never known a life that was away from professional entertainment. To this day, this is the case. For my main employment (since I retired from touring) is as the Head Technician at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, FL. I still operate my studio (by appointment only) and make music for others as well as myself.
- How did the idea for the Apex Zenith solo project come about and it’s heavy leaning toward the gripping sound of 80’s pop? How did you choose the moniker Apex Zenith?
When I was in 5th grade, I had a teacher that was teaching us alternate words and I was always fascinated by language. Anyway, we learned that 3 words that also mean “top” are apex, zenith, and pinnacle. In music, everyone always talks about their music as “Over the top!” To me if something is “over the top,” it falls (eventually). To me the better idea was just being on top! I loved the idea of making something fun that is not “over the top,” but the “top!”
As a tribute to my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Principe, the project was called Apex Zenith and the album is titled, “Pinnacle.”
- Please tell us about the recording process for the Pinnacle album. As a music savant, you had a hand in all aspects of the project. What was the recording process like, and did you have any collaborators involved at any point?
I have spent a year working on the record in between making a Cosmic Punch record and having a second child. I really got serious about finishing this record in September. Since I have to juggle work, other people’s work, and being a dad, it took longer than I expected. It was also important to me to have the video released at the same time as the record, so I was also preparing the models and animating the video while I was wrapping up the record.
I work alone right now. On my other project, Cosmic Punch, I have guest vocals and guitar players, but I still do 99.9% of the work on the record. With Apex Zenith, it has to be all me. I would love to do some collaborating, but nothing says “FREEDOM” more than not having a committee to get things done musically. Having a band or an outside producer can be fun, but it can require too much coordination sometimes when you are just trying to finish something. TRUST ME, I send out test versions of stuff all the time to other musicians/colleagues to see if I am heading on the right path. The right people always chime in with critiques and encouragement. The ones that don’t probably wouldn’t help you anyway, so that is a great filtration process.
- What’s the story behind the first track of the album “Turn Up Your Stereo”? It’s energy abounds and has an anthemic feel to it.
I wanted an up-tempo rock song to start the record. In the modern Synthpop/Synthwave world, LOTS of artists have the SAME SOUND. They paint with the same sound fonts, they use the same mastering technique, they have the same NEON logo, their videos have grid patterns and slotted sunsets, and are generally stuck in the “Escape From New York” phase of early Synthwave.
With this song, it was about beating up those bully-like kids on the playground that stop forward thinking in the retro-modern world. I know that many in that community will not get the song or the video, but that is fine. I hope to inspire new sound in the genre. The 80’s were more than just Knight Rider and Back to the Future. This song tells you to dance and go crazy with loud music. How is that any different than “Footloose?” (which by the way was a bigger 80s movie than Escape from New York)
Turn up Your Stereo
Listen to Turn up Your Stereo on Spotify. Apex Zenith · Song · 2021.
- “See Me” is another track off Pinnacle that really grabbed my attention. How did the song and production for it come together?
That song was a total labor of love!! I wanted a busily-orchestrated prog-rock funky song with dashes of various influences surrounding an epic Duran Duran vibe. If you have not noticed, I like heavily-layered arrangements and I pull from a crazy catalog of music that I enjoy.
This is also the only song that has a guitar solo, so I strapped on my Brian May guitar and played through a Rockman Soloist for the tone to ice up the 80’s vibe. The “choir” vocals on the choruses are 32 tracks of me singing in 3-part harmony.
See Me
Listen to See Me on Spotify. Apex Zenith · Song · 2021.
- The “Turn Up Your Stereo” music video is visually captivating. Did you envision the concept already when writing a song or is it a completely separate process of creativity? Do you believe the streaming era has diluted the art of video making?
Thanks for the compliment! The video was a 3-month process of model building, scene/lighting design, filming, compositing, and animation. There are TONS of Easter eggs throughout it. Even the moving light fixtures I created have LED DMX Address Windows. I wanted the video to be a celebration of the kool stuff we liked back then.
For example, most 80’s videos featured cars and dancing girls. For each of my chorus scenes, there are those components as well as huge scenery, lighting, and fireworks! For fun, I featured the silliest cars of the era (Fiat500, Lada, Citroen 2CV) as opposed to typical “awesome” (Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW). On the verses and interludes, I obviously went full-on SciFi since that was also a big thing from the era. I mean…who would not want to pilot a lightcycle and a Colonial Viper??
Has streaming diluted the art of video making? In some ways yes, but in other ways, it has helped level the playing field for artists. It is one thing to entertain people on a TikTok video while you are twerking (and lord love them for that) and another thing to try to make “art” with video. Both are welcome and both have their audience. If anything, the new artists are going to get a voice for a change. The water will become polluted, but at least there is a fighting chance to swim.
Apex Zenith – Turn Up Your Stereo – OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO!!!
MUSIC LINKS IN DESCRIPTION!!This is the OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO for APEX ZENITH – Turn Up Your Stereo from the album “Pinnacle” available on ALL platforms on 12…
- What’s the best advice that you’ve been given; either personally or professionally?
Advice is funny. I have always known many people that have influenced me to do good and bad things (like anyone else). Most advice always follows with hard work to execute. I like to think I work hard at my craft, but I know I can always do better. I learned more from watching people and being near them than anything I was ever told. I got most of my good advice through example.
- What do you believe distinguishes you from the majority of the commercial pop and electronic releases of today’s era?
I’m older than they are!! 😉 I have no belief that I will be a “typical” commercial success. I would be very happy to have my music to just be played and enjoyed. The real satisfaction is the nice compliments of people that get what I am trying to do.
As far as what makes AZ (Apex Zenith) stand out, I would think it is the arrangements and the feel. When listening to this record, you are not listening to one vibe. Each song represents a different style from the era. It is like how MTV started out. You would have Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Quiet Riot in the same hour. To me, that is this vibe of this record.
- As a seasoned studio engineer, do you mix and master your projects as well? Some artists who are also engineers have mentioned to me that they outsource post production to get a fresh set of ears onto the project? What’s your opinion on that?
I do everything. My version of outsourcing is to send it to colleagues and see what they think. I actually like it when someone snaps back at me by saying “it needs something.” It reminds me that I have to work harder and maybe see that perspective. At the final mix, it is what I feel it should sound like, even if that means that it goes against some norms.
- What activities do you enjoy outside of your music endeavors?
I learn new software. I am a total geek! It is how I am able to animate these days. I always loved animation, and now (because I spent my time learning as opposed to playing video games) I can animate!
- What’s next up musically for you as 2022 approaches and beyond? Do you foresee another Apex Zenith project? Any features, videos or live shows on the horizon?
MORE MUSIC! I am already working on the new Cosmic Punch record. When I finish that and a video for the release, I will start working on the next AZ video for Pinnacle and start work on the next AZ record. The Synth Lord project was just a one-time thing, CP and AZ are my 2 main focuses right now. I may do a heavy-metal record, but that WILL require others, I afraid.
I would love to do live shows for AZ, but there is no scene here in central Florida for retro-modern music, so I may have to travel to Miami or LA to showcase the music live..
Follow Apex Zenith
- Website – https://www.apexzenith.com
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheSynthLordMusic
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/RealApexZenith
- Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiWS2nd-J8gUz0aRmhZv93g
Listen to the “Pinnacle” album
Pinnacle
Listen to Pinnacle on Spotify. Apex Zenith · Album · 2021 · 10 songs.
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