Fans enjoy group’s golden sound

By Mariko Obrero

Daily Bruin Contributor

Music was something that used to be a secret passion in the
Batarse household.

“I had to hide playing my music from my parents when I was
younger,” said Mathew Batarse, bassist of See Through Red, a
well-rounded group of musicians.

“I would hear them yelling at me through by bedroom door.
I even had a really small amp.”

The versatile band thrives off of passion. Mathew commented on
the band’s name in a recent interview, describing its
purpose.

“I see it as doing everything with passion and
energy,” he said. “Almost like seeing the world how we
do ““ our closeness as brothers. Our love for
music.”

The band even has a mission statement in its official press
release: “Music without passion is as good as dead.”
Their sincerity and closeness are striking.

See Through Red’s expansive musical ability was evident
throughout the group’s performance at the Key Club on April
28. The evening marked the release of its first album which was
completely written, funded, produced and recorded by the
three-membered band. The trio’s performance spanned from a
poppy punk rendition of “Brown Eyed Girl” to the
humorous “Rox Pants,” to the slow harmonies in
“Clone” to the rock metal in “See through
Red”.

The positive melodic tunes were enjoyed by a varied all-ages
audience who excitedly sang along throughout the performance.

Such an audience is purely indicative of the band’s
diversity in age and influences. Mathew is 24, lead
guitarist-vocalist Mark is 22 and drummer-backup vocalist Jon is
16. They draw upon their interests in The Doors, Metallica,
Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Blink 182 and Green Day to create
an original and appealing sound to their songs.

“We all write the songs and we all play the guitar. Some
of our songs take years to evolve. We have 60 to 70 bits of songs,
just riffs and songs that are incomplete. Some are combined to make
new ones,” Mark said.

For Mathew, playing the group’s finished songs in a live
setting is an emotional release.

“Music is best played when emotions match. We’re
drawn to different songs for different reasons. Our diversity gives
us freedom.”

The band commented that there always has been and always is
music around the house. The three of them are constantly playing,
thanks to Mathew, who had a profound influence on his younger
brothers.

The group’s father is a preacher and it took time before
rock “˜n’ roll was no longer resisted in the household.
But growing up in a strict environment forced them to actively seek
out music. With all of the group’s success and a solid
commitment to pursuing music, the members’ parents are the
most supportive fans.

For three and a half years See Through Red has played
professionally. It has toured nationwide, but the group’s
favorite fans are based in Los Angeles. Often after shows, the band
enjoys spending time with the fans, who they call equals.

“They have a certain kind of energy,” said Mathew.
“We have a really loyal fan base. They love our
music.”

The band definitely reciprocates the loyalty ““ they plan
on playing at a fan’s wedding sometime soon.

They’re incredibly grounded when it comes to decisions.
Mark and Mathew have graduated from college at UC Riverside while
pursuing their musical careers and Jon is already making plans to
study business marketing at either UCSB or Azusa Pacific
University. See Through Red is currently negotiating contracts with
record companies and have expressed gratitude in being able to
pursue a living doing something they love, and in each
others’ company.

“We figured as long as things are moving forward,
we’ll continue. And they have been. Now it’s a
priority. We always have our degrees to fall back on,” Mark
explained.

Perhaps Jon constructs the best illustration representative of
the band’s closeness to one another and its attachment to
music.

“I love just going and seeing live music with my brothers
and just being there with them.”

Mark illustrates the band’s unity through the analogy of
melting down gold. He says that through all of their disagreements,
the band can continue to refine its music and that the refined
product results in gold ““ being together onstage, playing the
music that the brothers created together. The refining gold
approach extends to all aspects of See Through Red’ music,
production and managing.

“The heat that melts the gold is even hotter because we
are brothers,” Mark stated.

“Even through all of the complexity, the highest highs and
the lowest lows ““ something I call functional dysfunction
““ we always make it.”