Rocker Julio Mendoza Explores his Musical Roots in New Album

LOS ANGELES – Taking chances and exploring his musical passions has been at the heart of Julio Mendoza’s music. So when he formed Urban Escape, he knew the band would be more than the indie/alternative rock music its fans have come to love.

As the band gets ready for the release of its new album “Open Sea,” next month, Mendoza is excited about its prospects with its eclectic approach and unique sound.

“We been working on this album for almost two years and it was pretty natural to release it now, we felt that we finally have everything right in terms of sound, recording, mixing, album cover and all those details,” he said. “It wasn't difficult at all to pick up the songs, we did everything together as a group and before being band mates, we are best friends and that connection helped us a lot through the process.”

The upcoming album will feature a wide range of music that goes from hard rockers and ballads to quieter songs with a bluesy or moody feel that taps the band’s many influences. Among the band’s unique rockers is “Do You Want Me?” which explores the passion of new love, while the guitar-heavy “Angel” offers a melodic look at a troubled relationship.

As one of the band’s main composers, Mendoza takes a melodic approach to the music that has many influences that range from the Rolling Stones and The Beatles to Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers among others. But teamwork is at the heart of each composition, which uses contributions from each band member, which leads to Urban Escape’s unique sound.

“Julio has a lot of passion for music and brings a lot of energy and creativity to the band,” said the band’s lead guitarist Rafael Picoli. “It’s one of the reasons the band works so well together – we each bring a lot of passion and positivity to what we try to accomplish.”

Formed in 2017, Urban Escape has been on the rise thanks to its string of hit singles and energetic live shows that feature hard-driving guitars, powerful vocals and unique harmonies. The band is made up of Mendoza on bass, Eric Urban on lead vocals and guitar, Picoli on guitar, Lucas Bidran on drums.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mendoza grew up with a passion for music and a natural talent for playing guitar and drums. He soon would start his own band with some friends and begin playing at parties and later, at local clubs where he earned a strong following, playing covers of hard rock hits and his occasional own compositions. After joining several bands such as Mind Relief and Stanka, and then touring Latin America with several hit singles under his belt, the talented guitarist grew restless.

“I felt that I needed a life changing experience, more than just the music thing but the whole idea of putting me in a different situation,” he said. “I felt like L.A. was the place. Moving to a different country opens a door to a whole new world of challenges and experiences and I needed that in order to grow and to be a better musician and person.”

After arriving in the U.S., he performed with a number of bands like TNT, Oscar Code, as well as solo artists like Luis Kalil, Tony Harnell and others before deciding to form Urban Escape with fellow guitarist Eric Urban and creating a band that would allow him to share his unique musical sensibilities with an American audience.

With a string of hit singles like “Do You Want Me?”, “Angel” and others, the band has gained a foothold among alternative rock fans who appreciate the band’s eclectic bent.

“I am very excited about this new album and the support from fans who have been asking us to do an album,” Mendoza said. “We’re already planning a tour for the spring of 2020, so we can’t wait to share this music live with our fans!”

For more information on Urban Escape, visit www.urbanescapemusic.com or follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/urbanescapemusic and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/urbanescapemusic.