Rising Stars: Meet The Mouth-Breathers

Today we’d like to introduce you to The Mouth-Breathers.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Anikka Alvarez (guitarist): I have been playing music since I was young. When I was younger, other kids thought it was weird that I always had my guitar with me and honestly used to bully me about it. But when I got to high school, there were finally other musicians around me that were interested in the same music I was. My parents had me in music classes really young but it was really my dad that inspired me and started teaching me guitar. He was in a band when he was younger, and that’s what gave me the idea to start a band in high school. I started jamming with other musicians from my school and started my journey writing music.

My younger brother, Dorian, would hang around and wanted to be involved but I was really hesitant about letting him join the band. We needed a drummer, so I gave in. It turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened, and we clicked really well musically. Between me and him, the writing chemistry was immaculate and we were popping out songs left and right. We went through a couple of singers and bassists until we found the amazing Xavier. That’s when things really came together, and we found our sound. Every idea one of us had led to another and we’re suddenly reflecting off of each other’s vibes.

Dorian Alvarez (drummer and vocalist): I started taking music classes and performance classes to hone in on my musicianship. I just started singing and writing lyrics and became the “front man behind the drums.”

Xavier Solis (bassist): They were in need of a bassist, and I was in the scene for a while between different bands. They had a show lined up and needed a bassist last minute. They had me learn the songs in a day, and I played the gig that night. It was a full-hour set.

We started playing shows around LA, Pomona, the IE and basically anywhere and everywhere around Cali. We went from backyard shows, small venues, and colleges to stages and music festivals such as Minor League Music Festival, Viva Pomona, and Pomona Fairplex. We’ve played iconic venues, including the Fox Theater, the House of Blues, and even cultivated our own music festivals.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
People coming in and out of the band was hard. There were times we thought, “We found it!” and then something would happen, and they’d become either unreliable or not as committed to the band. Having so many personalities in one room and dealing with something as personal as music writing is hard. A band is like a family, and things become personal when writing, making important decisions, and depending on each other to move the band forward.

On March 25th, 2022, on the way back from a recorded performance in Lancaster, we were in a really terrible accident. It was probably midnight, on a mountain road, pitch black when a car came head-on, swerved into our lane, and crashed into us. We later learned he had fallen asleep behind the wheel.

Anikka: I was in severe pain. Being it was midnight on a mountain, there was no service to call 911. They had to wait for a car to pass and let them know to get down to the bottom and call 911. From then it took over an hour for the ambulance to come. That left me with a broken back, and it took a few hours to find out that I had internal bleeding in my intestines and pancreas. I was rushed to emergency surgery and wasn’t able to get my back surgery until a couple of days later. I have two metal rods fusing my spine and five screws.

She was in the hospital for weeks and had physical therapy and recovery for months. That also set back the band for a whole year, and we had to cancel all upcoming shows and plans. It also discouraged our last bassist from staying in the band, and that’s when we brought in Xavier.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re a hard rock/alternative/indie band that tries to stray from mainstream styles and create an original blend rooted in our childhood influences and diverse backgrounds. Our songs cover themes from love, laughter, pain, and sadness to mental health. We’ve become known for our original music that allows you to sing, dance, and mosh to.

Overcoming the challenges of youthful sibling rivalry, we unearthed the magic of creating music together. The band’s chemistry solidified with the addition of Xavier, who not only co-writes but also contributes to the stellar bass lines defining our sound today.

We are rapidly becoming a well-known staple within the Pomona and LA art scenes. We pride ourselves in impacting not only the local community but also the global music industry with our music.

We’re dedicated to building our empire from the ground up, guerilla-style. Anikka has studied for and is currently working as a talent manager with multiple artists, learning the ins and outs of the business side. We’ve created our own music videos, recorded our music in our home studio, and built our social media presence dedicated to boosting our music.

We each have a different part in moving the band forward, and feel we’re developing a really good system of doing that.

Last week, we just released a single and music video called “Now and Before” that we worked long and hard on, and it’s available now on all streaming platforms and YouTube!

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Dorian: P-town! I love not only the music scene but the art scene in general and all the supportive people we’ve met in Pomona. The direct contact we have with The Haven, Pomona has given us a great platform to showcase our music.

Dorian has even gotten a part-time job there.

Another one of the spots that seeded our presence early on was the “Artist in the Alley” gallery. The owner and attendees were really supportive of every show. Pomona is full of really unique, down-to-earth, artistic people. The arts district does a great job at supporting local artists and musicians. People come from all around to attend the art walk and there are several music venues to choose from to discover other amazing bands. We’ve become good friends with a ton of other musicians and artists around here.

Pricing:

• $20 “Pomegranate Seed” Album Cover T-Shirt
• $20 The Mouth-Breathers Logo T-Shirt
• $20 “Now and Before” Album Cover T-Shirt

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themouthbreathers.wixsite.com/my-site?fbclid=PAAaZ6Evq-qOFkykM_w1tYRdUHshBu6Q6ixoIr2SbdycbuNdy7jdeqeVveWXw
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themouthbreathersofficial/?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themouthbreathersofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themouthbreathersofficial
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ozziealvarez-393684247
• Other: https://linktr.ee/themouthbreathers

Image Credits
Yolie @ Yo Mama Photography