Bio

Conquering more than one country: Javier Mendoza’s new CD’s, You and Tu, in English and Spanish, celebrate his cultural heritage and move his music onto the world stage.

In a journey that began in Spain and culminated in recording sessions at Red Pill Studios in St. Louis, Javier Mendoza’s eighth and ninth CDís, You and Tu represent both a departure and arrival for the performer recently voted by The Riverfront Times Reader’s Poll as “Best Male Vocalist.” Slated for national release November 14, the dual recordings are Mr. Mendozaís first on the Red Pill label. A culmination of his personal and musical lineage, You and Tú moves the singer/songwriterís work on to a new level of cultural and personal complexity as he prepares to tour internationally.

Working with producer, Jacob Detering (Bonnie Raitt, Amy Petty, R. Scott Bryan) You and Tu contain eleven songs that were first written in English and then meticulously translated into Spanish with the help of one of Spain’s Poet Laureates, Alvaro Tato. The musicís elixir echoes the influences of Death Cab for Cutie, Café Tacuba, U2, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright and Vetusta Morla. Born in Virginia and raised in Spain before returning to live in the U. S., Mendoza explains, “I wanted the poetry captured equally in both languages without any loss of the original intention and emotion. So often, the Spanish version of an English song does not have the same power or true meaning.”

With You and Tú, Mendoza invites listeners to travel with him emotionally as he arrives at a new destination musically, personally and spiritually. “This music is so very personal. I think it has a maturity and richness that reflects where I am in my life as I look at my future not only in terms of my music, but in terms of family as I raise my son.”

The new recording includes stellar performances by keyboardist Dave Aholt, bassists Eric Grossman (Sarah Bettens) and Logan Detering, drummers Joe Meyer and Dennis Stringfield, multi-instrumentalist R. Scott Bryan (Sheryl Crow), and accordion sensation, Martynas Levickis.

Touring to introduce audiences to You and Tú will kick off with a CD release concert in St. Louis on Saturday, November 14, at the COCA Founders Theater, as well as release concerts in Cincinnati and Chicago. The You and Tú tour includes shows in Kansas City, Dallas, Denver, and San Diego. Concerts are also scheduled for the east coast and include dates in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC. before Mr. Mendoza and his band also travel to Europea to perform concerts in Madrid and Athens, Greece in May.

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Throughout his twelve-year music career Javier Mendoza has been working hard and patiently waiting for his big break.  Born in Virginia, raised in Spain and now living in St. Louis Missouri, Javier continues to create and perform his amazing music.    His creativity and perseverance are easy to see in his evolution from a songwriter for Warner Chappell in 1996 to a full time singer, songwriter, and performer today.

Javier has received many honors throughout his career. He was a finalist in the Independent Music Awards 2007, won best St. Louis World Music and Pop Artist 2000-2004, became a Budweiser True Music artist in 2005, had songs featured on MTV’s Real World, has multiple magazine features and live performances on several TV shows.  He has also worked with some of the best musicians in the region and shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Blues Traveler, Everclear, Los Lobos, and The Roots.

With 8 albums spanning ten years Javier demonstrates that he knows where he comes from and where he is going.  On each CD he combines new influences, new musical inspirations and life experiences with the common thread of hope for the future.  His dedication to creating new and different material and his passion for live performance keeps bringing the fans back again and again.  Whether he’s playing for 10 people or a crowd of 10,000, Javier makes each show unforgettable.  The physical and emotional energy he delivers is truly amazing and must be experienced to be believed.

The approaching 10th anniversary of his first album Tinta y Papel and reflection on his twelve year journey have inspired Javier to begin work on his 9th studio CD.  Rather than focusing primarily on the future he is focusing on “Now” and how incredible the journey of life can be if you let it.  For Javier living in the “Now” is about personal growth, working with great musicians, new fans, long time fans, and welcoming all that life has to offer without hesitation.  When the big record labels come knocking Javier will be ready but until then, he plans to make the most of every second.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Readers Choice Tied Winner of 2009 Best Male Vocalist in River Front Times Music Awards
• Performs National Anthem at Home Opening Game for the St. Louis Rams in 2009
• Voted One of Colleges Hottest Artists for 2009 by Campus Magazine
• Finalist in the 2007 Independent Music Awards
• Won KDHX Audience Award for best Latin Artist in Saint Louis’ 2006 Music Awards
  
• Nominated for Best Vocalist on the 2006 Independent Online Music Awards
• 2005 Budweiser True Music Artist
• Voted Best World and Pop Artist in St. Louis 2000-2004
• Has had 7 songs featured on MTVs Real World 2000-2005
• Has played with The Roots, Los Lobos, Ben Folds, G-Love, Willie Nelson, The Smithereens and more
• Has played over 100 colleges in over 20 states & is a regular in the U.S. club scene
• Was a semifinalist at the Independent Music World Series Conference in 2003
• ‘Join The Party’ was voted one of MECA Conference’s best songs in Chicago in 2004
• Has performed at the Mid Atlantic, Northern Plains and North East NACA conferences
• Former Warner-Chappell songwriter
• Performed for Pope John Paul II in 1999

Dedication, perseverance, pure talent, honesty, humility and spiritual power are some of the things that can describe Javier Mendoza and his music. However that does not begin to depict who Javier is and what his songs speak. After 10 years of sacrifice, hard work and independent success Javier is releasing his eighth full-length album entitled “YOU”.

“I believe in growth, and although I can be reluctant to change, it’s what makes me thrive personally and musically”, Javier says, “ ‘You’ is change. It is a step forward for we can’t look back. It is who I am right now. It’s where I stand… in motion.”

Under “Red Pill Records”, a small St. Louis based Indy label working to develop new amazing emerging artists, and under the production of talented Jacob Detering, Javier has stretched his musical gifts to where he has always aspired but has never been able to mainly due to budget and time constraints. “I always look at major signed acts and marvel at the fact that after touring they take time off to write and then record and then tour again. When you are an independent artist, you have to wear all hats at once because there’s no one funding the machine. It’s all up to you to keep performing to bring in money to survive. It’s difficult to stay creative in those circumstances.” Javier says. However, Javier has managed to finish his 8^th full-length studio release and this one is a gem. “I finally hear my influences all over the place: From U2 and Radio Head, to Miguel Rios, Mecano, Cafe Tacuba, Floyd and Buckley.” Javier says, “but I also hear my signature in every song. It’s me but all grown up.”

Born in Virginia and raised in Spain and Germany, of Spanish mother and Mexican father, and now residing in St. Louis, MO, Javier’s biggest challenge has been to adapt to his surroundings. “Music is a diary, a description of the journey taken. That is why my style has so many colors. My life has been a rainbow in the storm. For better or for worst, that is who I am”, Javier says.

Mendoza also credits this amazing new recording effort to the great musicians who have helped shape the songs like Dave Aholt, R. Scott Bryan, Joe Meyer, Eric Grossman and others for having helped shape this album into the wonderful piece it is. But it was Jacob who helped Javier truly find his way.

However, Javier’s greatest feat in this new work is what he set out to do before even starting to write the songs. “I have always wanted to release an album completely in two different languages”. Javier says. And he has done it. “You” will also be released as “Tú”,  a completely separate CD with the same songs, but in Spanish.

As a very young writer Javier was signed to a publishing contract with Warner Chappell in Miami. There he began writing songs for artists such as Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Carlos Robles, Rosario. He developed a strong bicultural style writing in English and in Spanish. Since then Javier has been able to blend both languages beautifully. “Music transcends language. At least it should.” Javier says, “Before I could speak a word of English my two favorite bands were Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. I did not understand a thing. It was pure energy. I strive for my songs to reach people lyrically but also through its raw power”.

With the new CDs “You” and “Tú”, to be released November 14 of 2009, Red Pill plans on introducing Javier to old and new audiences and fans with songs that define and redefine Mendoza’s past, present and future. He plans to tour the globe to deliver his great songs and message, electrifying the stage with his honest and relentless power.