Test Your Reflex keyboardist Andrew Ampaya said his band didn't have any idea of what it wanted to accomplish when it officially formed back in 2004.
"We just got together to play music and see what we could do as a unit," said Ampaya during a phone call on a drizzly day in Seattle. "We wrote songs and practiced. That's about all we did. The band was our job to begin with, and that's how we saw it."
Test Your Reflex — Ampaya, singer Ryan Levine, drummer Sal Cortez, guitarist R. Clark and bassist Agustin Sanchez — dedicated their lives to the band, which through their constant gigging and songwriting found itself signed to RCA Records.
"One of the things we really wanted was to not have our music influenced by others outside of the band," said Ampaya. "We wanted to be in control of our music. We didn't want the label or friends telling us what to do."
So far, that's been happening with Test Your Reflex, said Ampaya — who cited Queen, Elton John and, of course, Depeche Mode as some of his musical influences.
"When we went into the studio to record 'The Burning Hour,' we had a bunch of songs to work with," he said. "We recorded everything we had and worked things out."
Producer Pat Regan, who has worked with Kiss and Mr. Big, helped the boys play to their fullest potential.
"It was interesting for us to be put under the microscope individually," said Ampaya. "We learned a lot from the
recording sessions, and it was a great experience. We had no idea what to expect when we went in, but we have an idea of what we will be doing next."
With its debut released last week, Test Your Reflex is currently on tour supporting Electric Six.
"Since we're an opening band we don't have the luxury of a sound check," said Ampaya. "But we play every night. So we aren't lacking on practice.
"We want to make our music accessible to as many people as possible," he said. "And we want people to get to know us through our music."
If you go ...
What: Electric Six, Test Your Reflex
Where: Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East
When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
How much: $12
Phone: 467-8499 or 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com