OAKLAND'S MALDROID ARE YOU TUBE FAMOUSMaldroid has plans: plans to conquer the music world. And though the new-wave pop band may seem to have their ambitious heads in the clouds, they're also headed in the right direction. Having just won 'Best Video' in the You Tube Underground Contest for their song "He Said, She Said," was in the running to play the opening slot in Live 105's Not So Silent Night show, performing radio interviews in New York City and appearing on Good Morning America in the past week alone, Oakland's Maldroid is well on their way toward their goal. Not bad for a band formed in March of this year."We were hoping we'd create a buzz before we ever played, but it's way more than we ever expected," begins lead vocalist Ryan Divine, "Everything is happening so fast... But we're absolutely ready for it." Divine, along with guitarists Johnny Genius and Todd Brown, bassist Sean Shippley, drummer Mike O'Million, Prince J on samples and A.J. Riot on keys, have been plotting their entrance into the music scene for two years now. However for them, Maldroid's debut is more of a triumphant return. All of the members (ranging in age from 26-28) have been in former local bands (Solemite and the KGB, to be exact) that gathered a massive following in Oakland during the scene's peak in 2000-2004. Just as fast as the East Bay scene blew up, it quickly burned out as local bands faltered and the popular venue iMusicast closed down. The death of the scene didn't kill the connection between several of the bands however, who've remained supportive and helpful to each other's new projects. When Divine began formulating Maldroid two years ago, he immediately turned to his fellow musicians. With the crew on board, all Maldroid had to do was wait for the pinnacle point to unveil their music. "We waited for the scene to be dire and thirsty for something new," Divine reveals. "We want to quench that thirst," adds Genius. It's uncertain whether this confident new band is competent enough to be underground music heroes, but if there's one thing that proves what Maldroid is capable of, it's their homemade award-winning music video. Directed and animated entirely by the band, "He Said, She Said" is a stimulating presentation of the group's creativity, musical skills, and tuneful talent. Jumping in on the D.I.Y. treadmill trail of band OK Go, Maldroid intended on launching themselves through a music video. "It was a plan of ours and the You Tube contest just came along at the right time," says Divine. "It's a unique thing that You Tube, Myspace, and all those websites have created, where you don't have to worry about being on MTV anymore," says Genius, "That was a big concern for bands. People would be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on videos that never got play." It took a year and a half to compose the music video and was remarkably done on a zero budget. "Actually, we did spend about twenty dollars on hot dogs," laughs Divine. "He Said, She Said" was created on Photoshop, After FX, and Final Cut Pro, filmed on cameras borrowed from friends and shot in abandoned warehouses the members snuck into at 3AM.  Maldroid also records and produces all their own music, often times in their own closets. However, it doesn't hurt when you're band has connections - especially if those connections are within the band itself. Divine and Genius are also music producers who've worked on tracks for numerous Bay Area bands and hip hop artists. In fact, Divine and Genius worked on fellow Oakland-based band the Matches' disc Decomposer, producing the song "Lazier than the Furniture" and engineering "My Clumsy Heart." (You can see Matches singer Shawn Harris return the favor by appearing in Maldroid's music video.) Majority of Maldroid's EP Malfunction was produced at Oakland's Skyline Studios, where Divine and Genius work. Self-described as "60s British invasion meets American future," Maldroid's modern sound is a blend of music's past with influences from the Beatles to Devo to the Kinks. Though, don't expect Maldroid to list off influences from today's music genres. "We actually formed as an answer to the fact that most bands are crap," exclaims Divine. "I'm sick of all these kids whining about their girlfriends and bad haircuts." "That's not what rock 'n' roll's about," chimes Shippley. Maldroid's lyrics return to the basics of pop, with straight forward lyrics, banging beats, catchy choruses, and ultimately, having fun. "We listened to pop when it used to rock," continues Divine, "Rock 'n' roll is fun, it's about taking you away from your bullshit, not drowning you in it. People need to have fun rocking out again." Maldroid hopes that from the You Tube exposure they can bring their ideas into fruition, go on tour and make a living as a band. "We'd be the ultimate opener for any band," boasts Genius. Wherever the spotlight leads them, it won't stray Maldroid far from where they started. The band plans to continue expanding their You Tube career, teaming their vibrant music with artistic visuals in music videos for every one of their songs. If Maldroid is looking for success, they should continue on the route they're already treading, proving that triumph can be self-made. "If you really think things out and you really put the effort into working hard, you can make a great product with nothing. And that's what we're trying to do," says Divine. Though, a little help from others would be nice. "We have some great video ideas that would be good to do with a budget instead of zero budget," grins Brown. The others nod in agreement. "I'd like to pay rent every month," chimes Genius. What this band is able to do with nothing, there's no telling what they could do with a buck or two. If all else falls into plan for Maldroid, the music scene should prepare for their domination. And it'd be best to surrender. For more information on Maldroid visit www.myspace.com/maldroid
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