Even before the official September release date of its highly anticipated debut album Users Cheaters Theatres, the popular Southern California based band Fuji Minx is already something of a global sensation thanks to a powerful presence worldwide on taste-making websites like myspace, IAC internet radio and YouTube.

Quickly after it was released to IAC, “Cat Wine” hit #1 on the site’s Alternative Modern Rock chart and the Top 10 on the entire site; the self-doubt anthem “But No No No,” which received over 6,000 hits in its first five days on the site, hit #1 in all genre’s for 15 weeks consecutively. In addition, other album tunes such as “Better Place” and “Free Lorainne” have recently hit #1 on IAC, Indie, & Cashbox Magazine’s indie charts.

The extreme visual side of the Fuji Minx experience comes alive on the band’s video for “Cat Wine,” which was directed by the all female team, Lady Ransom. While the rough cut of the video didn’t win YouTube’s official music video competition, it was viewed over 4,000 times in its first week on the site and is now on over 2,000 websites throughout the cyber world. Members of Fuji Minx are also currently working on a socially conscious film documentary that they hope will help change perceptions on how we all view other cultures.

An incredible musical tapestry about different characters and their different roles in society, the 14 song, 20 track collection addresses the tug of war between What You Are and What You Want To Be, highlighting the struggles we all have with our inner demons via an emotional landscape of joy and sadness, light and darkness, and above all, brutal honesty.

The powerful theatricality of Fuji Minx extends from the compelling album cover—where lead singer & electric guitar player, Greta Valenti is garbed like a naughty minx angel and her cohorts John Fry (acoustic guitar), Rob Zero (keyboards, programming) and Noel “Nolaig” McMurray (drums) appear deliciously mischievous—to its songs, which feature a mix of acoustic balladry, fast crazy rocking, avant-garde intensity and even choir and orchestration.

Originally conceived as a sociopolitical musical statement aimed at world situations and the government, Users Cheaters Theatres began to take creative shape after the members of Fuji Minx decided to steer away from outside targets and point the accusing finger at themselves. “The concept went from global to eternal,” says Fry, “boiling down to a tug of war between who we are and who we want to be, and the conflicting feelings we all have in that struggle.” Valenti adds, “It’s about us and our own demons. We placed the songs in an order that tells a powerful story during the live shows, that we will enhance visually on our upcoming tour” The show will develop over the next few months, but you can expect it to be donned with backup singers, costumes (Designed by Project Runway’s Kit Pistol or by GV herself & backup singer Natalie Wilde), video, and set pieces, and more. GV concluded, “We’re trying to something that will make your concert ticket a bit more worthwhile and perhaps do something you haven’t seen before.”

FUJI MINX LIVE:

Contact:

FUJI MINX
P.O. Box 4655
Orange, CA 92863-4655
US +1 (714)235-3595
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www.fujiminx.com
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Album Released by MonkeyMiddleFinger.
Album is now available on iTunes worldwide & at www.FUJIMINX.com

Watch FUJI MINX interviews, videos & more at: www.vlaze.com/fujiminx
Listen to the entire album online at: www.iacmusic.com/fujiminx

All of this reads great on a resume, but a lot of great bands get stuck in this sort of cozy zone—a realm far too limiting for the ambitious alt pop foursome whose dynamic debut album Users Cheaters Theatres tackles themes far too rich and universal to keep them regional sensations. An incredible musical tapestry about different characters and their distinctive roles in society, the 20 track collection addresses the tug of war between What You Are and What You Want To Be, highlighting the struggles we all have with our inner demons via an emotional landscape of joy and sadness, light and darkness, and above all, brutal honesty.

Even before the album’s official September release, “But No No No”, the first track on the album, and other songs from Users Cheaters Theatres have become true global hits thanks to the power of websites like Myspace, IAC internet radio, Pandora, and Youtube. Since Fuji Minx uploaded their entire album on www.IACmusic.com , the self-doubt anthem “But No No No,” which received over 6,000 hits in its first five days on the site, has since hit #1 for 14 weeks straight, beating out other indie artists, big and small. The catchy Pop tune, “Better Place” and “Free Lorainne” also have reached the #1 on IAC & on Cashbox Magazine’s indie charts.

The powerful theatricality of Fuji Minx extends from the compelling album cover—where lead singer & electric guitar player Greta Valenti, aka “GV”, is garbed like a naughty minx angel and her cohorts John Fry (acoustic guitar), Rob Zero (keyboards, programming) and Noel “Nolaig” McMurray (drums) appear deliciously mischievous—to its songs, which feature a mix of acoustic balladry, fast crazy rocking, avant-garde intensity and even choir and orchestration. One of their most popular tracks, “Cat Wine,” an incisive piece about addiction and inner torment, mixes all of these elements into an unforgettable emotional brew.

The extreme visual side of the Fuji Minx experience comes alive on the band’s video for “Cat Wine,” which was directed by the all female team called Lady Ransom. While the rough cut of the video didn’t win YouTube’s official music video competition, it was viewed over 4,000 times (more than any other band in the competition) in its first week, on the site and is now on over 2,000 websites throughout the cyber world. Two more videos are in the works for debut in January 2008 and members of Fuji Minx are also currently working on a socially conscious film documentary that they hope will help change perceptions on how we all view other cultures.

Originally conceived as a sociopolitical musical statement aimed at world situations and the government, Users Cheaters Theatres began to take creative shape after the members of Fuji Minx decided to steer away from outside targets and point the accusing finger at themselves. “The concept went from global to eternal,” says Fry, “boiling down to a tug of war between who we are and who we want to be, and the conflicting feelings we all have in that struggle.” Valenti adds, “It’s about us and our own demons. We placed the songs in an order that tells a powerful story during the live shows, that we will enhance visually on our upcoming tour. We’re trying to something that will make your concert ticket a bit more worthwhile and perhaps do something you haven’t seen before.”

Each member of Fuji Minx is from a different place and brings a unique set of musical influences and sensibilities to the mix. “GV” is from Louisiana, Fry from Pennsylvania and California, Zero from Ohio and their latest addition, McMurray—who joined in early 2006—from Ireland. Following a three-month writing binge, “GV” and Fry began performing with just voice and guitar and in 2004, released a popular acoustic demo called Valley of the Paper Dolls, which immediately sold out. While trying out many different drummers, the duo came upon Zero through an ad in the paper and the band finally clicked when McMurray joined in early 2006. Valenti and Fry had hired another drummer just the day before McMurray emailed them, but he dedicated himself to learning some of their songs and, as Fry says, “he got us, he got the vision and we loved him. Plus he had a cool accent and that helps!”

Alluding to the band’s unique moniker, Greta says, “John came up with Minx because the band had a female lead singer and had the sexy cat vibe going for it. The Fuji came from me just looking at a videotape, but it seems to work together quite well and we kept it! I think it’s exciting that we have been able to create something new here, with no rules, that brings together all of our influences. Despite the differences in our backgrounds, we love the music that happens when we’re working together. And that’s what a Fuji Minx is!”