Heavy Sigma EPK

Born: November 15, 1985
Ethnicity: Chinese, Taiwanese
Birthplace: San Francisco, California (billed from Taipei, Taiwan)
Instruments: Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Hobbies: Writing music, watching TV and movies, going to sporting events, sightseeing, education, spending time with his girlfriend Faith and friends.

Patrick started playing guitar and attempting to write his own songs at 13 years of age and grew up in San Francisco, California. His musical influences are Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, The White Stripes, Tesla, AFI, The Faces, and Green Day. Living in the SF Bay Area, Patrick attended CSU East Bay as a Philosophy major, graduating in 2011 while continuing his passion for making music locally. As it turns out, music wasn't Patrick's first serious passion as a child. He was into skateboarding and playing basketball until putting that all aside for playing guitar and writing his own music. His first rock concert was the Australian grunge band Silverchair while he was in middle school. It was watching that live musical performance that partially influenced Patrick to become a rock musician. He would go to Guitar Center, and buy him that "Hot Wheels" Epiphone Les Paul that would become his trademark instrument.

Patrick played in a nu metal band with friends from high school and college called the Band of Asians around the San Francisco bar scene, before deciding the problems he had with being in a band made him realize his music was better suited for a solo project. He started the solo hard rock group aptly called the Patrick Lew Band as a teenager, recording a countless number of musical ideas at home and uploading them online, alongside a revolving door of sidemen collaborating with him in the studio. In 2009, after nearly a whole decade of flops and attempts to get recognition and respect, the Patrick Lew Band began attracting a cult following on the Internet and in the SF Bay Area. Mostly comfortable as a home recording musician as opposed to playing guitar and singing onstage, Patrick feels most delighted whenever he writes a song on his guitar and records them on his laptop running Acoustica Mixcraft. Putting the finishing touches on every rocking new record he attempts before posting them online.

In 2011, Patrick accomplished a few small things with the Patrick Lew Band. His name was mentioned in an electronic music magazine and the underground media. He played bass in a side project with his college friend Greg Lynch called the P&G and made YouTube videos through Patrick's digital camera of their live musical performances as buskers in Antioch, California. His album "Let It Rise And Against" brought Patrick the critical moderate success he needed as an independent musician. Aside from his talent in music, Patrick has acted in a few school plays and is an avid video blogger and amateur comedian on YouTube.

Patrick is passionate about creating music and playing his guitar. Without focusing or dwelling on fame and fortune, Patrick is a determined hard working young man who makes his success in his music on his own terms. He loves and cares about the few fans who come out on his Facebook page and support him, and takes extra time to make qualitative rock and roll music while taking care of adult responsibilities. His own bedroom is his rock star playground, with musical equipment and the latest electronics. Patrick currently resides in the Excelsior District in San Francisco. Some of his interests outside of music include watching TV and movies, traveling, going to sporting events, reading, and spending time with his long-time girlfriend Faith Marie and his friends. 

Why this name?

Well, I typed "Heavy" on a band name generator online and got the name Heavy Sigma when I saw it on the computer screen, liked it, and declared my one-man band under that moniker.

UPDATE: I changed the moniker to Riot 92 so I can sound more punk rock as a one man band.

Do you play live?

Not really. I'm more into producing my own original music at home. I have too many limitations and things that hold me back from playing live. I like recording more.

How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?

I came during a generation, where bands and musicians didn't need to sucker themselves into signing with a major record label, getting on TV and radio, and doing mass live performing as a way of bigger exposure. I came during a time where the computers and social-media made it more possible for the little or middle fish in the pond to get themselves heard. Despite my love for 90's rock, I highly doubt I would have been recognized back then like I am now supposedly, and it's not a money thing either. It's recognition and making an audience.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?

Maybe. Who knows. If someone really appreciates what I do musically and gives me a chance to grow bigger as an artist. I would certainly do it.

Band History:

I'm a freelance rock musician who began making music in 2009 after several flops with a local band I used to be in. I'm always trying my best to get better when recording and when it comes to playing the guitar.

Your influences?

Silverchair, Nirvana, Green Day, Dead Kennedys, Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Guns N' Roses, Oasis, AFI, Box Car Racer, Sum 41, Nobuo Uematsu, The Donnas, Nine Inch Nails, The Raveonettes, The Black Keys, The White Stripes, The Beatles, American Hi-Fi, Foo Fighters, Slash

Favorite spot?

San Francisco, Seattle, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

Equipment used:

My musical gear. I use this equipment as a Bay Area musician...

GUITARS:
- Epiphone HotWheels Les Paul
- Excel Stratocaster
- Excel Les Paul (NEEDS REPAIR)

BASSES:
- Rogue LX205B Bass Guitar

AMPS:
- Fender 25R Frontman
- Marshall MG10

PEDALS:
- Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
- Digitech RP50 Multi-Effects
- Digitech Death Metal Distortion

RECORDING GEAR:
- Line6 TonePort Silver DI
- Peavey XPort DI
- Line6 POD Farm
- Acoustica Mixcraft 4
- REAPER (x64)
- Toshiba PC Laptop

INSPIRATION:
- 8GB Zune MP3 Player
- My BIG CD collection (mostly ROCK)

HOME THEATER:
- Insignia 19' HDTV Set
- Roku LT
- Mohu Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna
- Xbox 360
- HUGE collection of DVD's (movies & TV shows)