Straight Up Random

SUR Featured Unsigned Band: The Given Motion

The Given Motion is a band based out of Long Island, New York and is comprised of singer C.J. Shiatta, guitarist, Frank Mitaritonna, bassist J Horbal and drummer Colichio. This quartet has a music video on the way, already has an EP out, and are working hard to get their music out there. The Given Motion are keeping it fresh and not conforming to any music trends, so if you want to listen to honest alternative rock, then this band is the band for you.

INTERVIEW:

How’d your band come together?

We’d all been a part of a circle of bands that played together over the last few years. They all broke up and we’d played together in other projects. J Ryan and Frank were all in a group that split and during that time Ryan and CJ started jamming on songs. When J and I were asked about filling the Bass and guitar slots, we got together. We jammed on“Machine” and we were all eager to get moving right away.

How’d you come up with your name?

We sort of agonized over the name issue for a while, not wanting something narrow or cliché. After a lot of Bickering, I suggested something CJ had come up with and we all just agreed. We knew ultimately that the music would make more of a name for us than the actual band. It isn’t too “anything” so it works.

What made you start playing instruments/singing?

Just the love of Music. We’ve all been playing music for years and are fans first and foremost. Ryan and I definitely played a lot in school and J is the biggest KISS fan I know. CJ just has a passion for his music that I’ve never seen, something that really prompted me to join this band in the first place.

Who are your musical influences?

Everything and anything good. Alternative, especially 90’s,Hard Rock, Classic and Progressive Rock. We also like contemporary stuff like Brand New and Incubus. Not excluding all the greats of classical, jazz and world music, it all finds its way into our music somehow.

How has the scene in Long Island had an influence on your sound?

There’s definitely a lot of repetitiveness and pressure to conform to a trendy sound. We don’t play anything we don’t feel is right for our music because we want to be good song writers and a strong rock band before anything else. We know that sort of thing stands the test of time and if you keep at it, you’ll find your following, no matter how discouraging the club scene is.

How would you describe your music for people who have never heard you before?

There is something for everyone in our music and if you don’t like one side of our sound, you’ll probably find favor with something else we’ve done. We like to be heavy without being unmusical and catchy and upbeat without being cheesy. We think everyone can appreciate a good song and that’s what we shoot for every time we get to writing.We don’t get upset when we forgot the guitar solo or the double bass part.

What does your live show consist of?

Keeping the BS to a minimum so we can play the most songs we can fit. That’s what people pay for, especially those who come to see us. If we’re only slotted for 25 minute sets, we make sure we get 5-6 songs in instead of 4 and a monologue.

Can you give SUR readers a peak into the not-so-distant future of The Given Motion?

We have a few really great opportunities ahead. We were lucky enough to have been offered a music video from a very talented young film maker Alex Lamburini to accompany the release of what is our first Official EP release. We are planning our biggest shows to date to really make a run at things so it’ll be an exciting time to come out and see us.

Can you give me one straight up random fact about each member of the band?

Frank is a Prospective psychologist in the disabilities field

Ryan is seriously into extreme sports like surfing, skim and snow-boarding or anything that can potentially cause him bodily harm on top of being a music major.

J has probably traveled more just to see the members of KISS, than we have collectively as a band in our whole lives.

CJ is secretly a nerd.

Any last words for the readers of Straight Up Random?

Thank you so much for the opportunity to get ourselves out there. We encourage all of the readers and fans to reach out and contact us, ask about our songs, request covers or for us to play, or a a show, we’ll do it all. And of course check out our EP on iTunes.