SU senior releases LP about low-budget Western films

For Andy Mendosa, creating a soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist isn’t only possible – it’s normal.

Mendosa, a senior television, radio and film major at Syracuse University, crafts soundtracks for nonexistent films. On his debut LP, “Banzai,” released Jan. 13, he crafts a sound reminiscent of both American folk heroes and the work of director Sergio Leone, father of the “spaghetti western.” A regular of the D.I.Y. venue Space Camp, Mendosa is looking to expand his influence in the Syracuse area.

The Daily Orange sat down with Mendosa to discuss “Banzai,” his music journey and his idol, Bob Dylan.

The Daily Orange: How long have you been making music?

Andy Mendosa: I started when I was really getting into Bob Dylan. I’m still a “Dylan-ite.” Sophomore year of high school or junior year of high school, I started to want to write songs and I had no clue, no idea. I didn’t even make any songs.

… I guess when “Salad Days” came out is when I thought, “Oh, it’s that easy, it’s a really easy thing to do.” That’s when I started making songs. Then I started buying the equipment that Mac had and started messing around. Never really made an actual song until I started really conceptualizing it and putting “Banzai” down.

The D.O.: Do you want to elaborate on Bob Dylan? He seems like a big influence.

A.M.: I talk to anyone about it because I feel like I have a lot of things to say that no one sort of vibes with. He’s the closest thing I have to a god. I’m listening to Dylan every day. Sometimes it’s like a best friend where you may not hang out with them for a while and devalue it. But if I’m feeling super down, I’ll revisit it and be totally rejuvenated spiritually.

The D.O.: What is your album “Banzai” all about?

A.M.: It’s sort of like … Sergio Leone’s Westerns. Clint Eastwood is the main inspiration. The idea of the album is not having the amount of money you would need to make your own Western movie.

The D.O.: With the album, are you trying to go for more of a narrative, like a film, or for more of a general theme or feeling?

A.M.: There is a theme of guilt and being accused of something you’ve never committed. It’s going for both. There are strict narrative aspects of the story where something is happening … the most detailed song narratively is “Bad Bad Thing.” Then from there it becomes very loose and, lyrically, like a fever dream of each aspect of the story.

It’s like a chase. So the main character is running for their life, and every chapter is a glimpse into each part of that story. So there is “Sand Nap.” That’s a pretty narratively obvious thing. The main character trying to go to sleep in the desert and having to quarrel with that.

The D.O.: Will there ever be a film component of your album?

A.M.: I’ve thought about that. I don’t know, probably not. I like the idea of it being fever dreams, like I said. I could make it down the line but probably won’t. I have no interest in doing that.

At the same time, I don’t feel fully satisfied in the fact that there is still the story in my head, like visions. They become the song, and I describe them in my music with music and lyrics. It’s never physical, which I guess in itself is interesting but also sort of teasing. I guess in this way, that’s never going to be satisfied.

The D.O.: Do you see music continuing for you, or is this kind of like a hobby?

A.M.: It’s definitely something that I love. I’m taking a music recording class now, and I’m sort of learning the definitions of everything I was playing with when I recorded “Banzai” … It’s not well-recorded. I definitely realized in that class that I’m really passionate about recording. I love the process. I love the stories that come out of it and the intricacies of setting it up and obviously, the creative process.

But to get back to your question, now it’s definitely a hobby. But if people are liking it, and they are now, I guess, I want to spread it as much as I can and see how people think about it and how I can do financially with it. It’s a pretty vain thing to say. I’m sort of testing the waters right now; it’s still a hobby. It’s cool and refreshing each time I play … I want to go on tour and see if I like it. I’ll probably like it because I like road-tripping.

The D.O.: Any last thoughts?

A.M.: Something super important is that you really have to make sure what you think becomes real and that it only becomes real when you put it down physically. It doesn’t matter the art form.

Also hard work. I recorded the album over the summer, and there were some points where I thought, “Damn, this is actually hard work.” I had to keep trying and not be lazy.

The D.O.: Where can readers catch Andy Mendosa?

A.M.: I’ll mainly be playing at Space Camp. Probably all around Syracuse. I’d love to play at (a venue called) The End, shoutout to those guys.