43.241.130.42 at 17:48, 19 June 2021

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{{Short description|Artist Bio}}{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{More footnotes|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Blackstratblues
| image = Blackstratblues live.JPG
| birth_name = Warren Mendonsa
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1979|9|12}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay, India]]
| instrument = Guitar Bass Guitar [[Fretless guitar|Fretless Bass]] [[Drum Machine|Drum Programming]] Keyboards [[Software synthesiser|Software Synthesizers]]
| genre = [[Blues]] [[Instrumental guitar|Instrumental Guitar]] Rock [[Rock & Roll]] [[Pop rock]]
| occupation = Musician Songwriter Guitarist [[Audio Engineering|Sound Engineer]]
| years_active = since 1998
| label = Unsigned
| associated_acts = [[Vishal-Shekhar]] [[Zero (Indian band)|Zero]] 3 Guys & A Girl
| website = [https://music.blackstratblues.com Official Website]
}}

'''Blackstratblues''' is a solo project of '''Warren Mendonsa''', who is a guitarist, composer and record producer currently based primarily out of [[Mumbai]]. All of his music under the moniker of Blackstratblues is self-released. The early albums released under the moniker of Blackstratblues were mostly solo efforts. While, the recent albums have been more of a group effort.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/need-know-blackstratblues-new-album-last-analog-generation/|title=All You Need to Know About Blackstratblues' New Album 'The Last Analog Generation' -|date=2017-08-23|website=Rolling Stone India|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref> He was the lead guitarist of the cult Indian rock band [[Zero (Indian band)|Zero]] in mid-00s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/the-crisis-in-indian-rock/|title=The Crisis in Indian rock -|date=2015-08-23|website=Rolling Stone India|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref>

He is the nephew of Indian musician and celebrated Bollywood composer [[Loy Mendonsa]] of [[Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy]] fame.<ref>
{{Citation|title=In The Studio: Blackstratblues|date=10 July 2012|url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/in-the-studio-blackstratblues/|website=Rollingstoneindia.com}}
</ref>

==Biography and playing history==
===Early years: late 1990s===
After picking up the guitar at the age of 5, Mendonsa went on to play rhythm guitar in a few local bands with friends Siddharth Coutto (drums) and Girish 'Bobby' Talwar (rhythm guitar, bass). Sometime around 1997–98, they formed [[Zero (Indian band)|Zero]], with Rajeev Talwar on vocals.

===With Zero: 1998–2005===
Over the years, Zero grew to enjoy nationwide popularity in India. With Warren, Zero released two albums and an [[Extended play|EP]] - ''Albummed'' (1999), ''Hook'' EP (2002), & ''Procrastination'' (2005).

Besides his work in Zero, Warren Mendonsa recorded & released numerous instrumentals - the most popular works being ''Christmas in July'', ''Spitleaf'', & ''Evil''- which enjoyed some fame on online music forums like [https://web.archive.org/web/20071222090418/http://gigpad.com/ Gigpad], & [http://www.harmony-central.com Harmony Central]. He was also involved in many online collaborations with musicians - most notably Adam Martin, Ed DeGenaro and Zorran Mendonsa - which resulted in a few songs. In late 2004, Mendonsa moved to [[Auckland]], New Zealand, thereby quitting Zero.

During this period, he was also a highly sought-after recording engineer and [[session musician|session guitarist]] in [[Bombay]], having worked on various film soundtracks, advertising jingles, & other albums.

===2005-2007===
After moving to Auckland, Warren Mendonsa began to work on solo instrumental material. While visiting India, he reunited with Zero for a few gigs, most notably at the Great Indian Rock Festival 2006.

==Nights in Shining Karma==
Blackstratblues' debut album, ''Nights in Shining Karma'', was released on 18 April 2007 as a free digital-only download.

The album garnered significant appreciation and popularity on online music forums.<ref>
{{Citation
| title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
| date =20 April 2007
| url =http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1607446
}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
</ref><ref>{{Citation
| title =Petrucci Forum
| date =21 April 2007
| url =http://www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46117
| access-date =9 January 2008
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20101017130839/http://www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46117
| archive-date =17 October 2010
| url-status =dead
}}</ref><ref>
{{Citation
| last =Larry
| title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
| date =20 April 2007
| url =http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=9da6649f5a3dc5af06b89adf652148cc&p=22158908#post22158908
}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
</ref>

{{cquote|In contrast to most instrumental guitar albums, Nights in Shining Karma travels effortlessly between melodic, ethereal and beautiful mood pieces and rocking, up-tempo numbers. Warren Mendonsa navigates through this varying musical landscape with a sure hand and impeccable musical instincts, creating an album both guitarists and casual listeners will find alternately touching, uplifting and energizing.

Eschewing the gymnastic stunts of many high profile solo guitar artists, Mendonsa's stunning technique weaves itself subtly into the musical tapestry of completely realised songs, rather than mere vehicles for a vulgar display of ability.

With golden tones and unassailable taste and touch, Mendonsa echoes Gilmour and Johnson without being derivative of either.

Nights in Shining Karma is surely the 'I'm here!' album from an emerging master.}}

==Musical influences and playing style==
Warren is heavily influenced by the music of bands such as the [[Beatles]], [[Queen band|Queen]], [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], [[Gary Moore]], etc., largely blues and classic rock oriented, and typically uses [[Fender stratocaster|Stratocasters]]. Most often, he uses a black stratocaster which led to the moniker "Blackstratblues". Mendonsa is known for his instantly recognisable, distinctive guitar sound and playing, incorporating immaculate phrasing and abandoning traditional, flashy "guitar hero" techniques, in favour of composing memorable melodies and playing with feel.<ref>{{Citation|title=Gigpad |date=30 August 2004 |url=http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183735/http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45 |archivedate=12 October 2007 }}
</ref><ref>
{{Citation
| title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
| date =20 April 2007
| url =http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22158908&postcount=87
}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
</ref>

== Personnel ==
The current lineup of the band is:<ref>{{Cite web|title=When It's Time, by Blackstratblues|url=https://blackstratblues.bandcamp.com/|website=Blackstratblues|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Blackstratblues|url=http://www.thewildcity.com/artists/10965-blackstratblues|website=Thewildcity.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>
*Warren Mendonsa – guitars
*Jai Row Kavi – drums
*Adi Mistry – bass
*Beven Fonseca – keys

==Discography==
===As Blackstratblues===
* ''Nights in Shining Karma'' (April 2007)
* ''The New Album'' (December 2009)
* ''The Universe has a Strange Sense of Humour '' (March 2015)
* ''The Last Analog Generation '' (August 2017)
* ''When It's Time'' (September 2019)

===With Zero===
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Artist
!Album
|-
| 2000
| Zero
| ''Albummed''
|-
| 2002
| Zero
| ''Hook''
|-
| 2005
| Zero
| ''Procrastination''
|}

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071012183735/http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45 Interview], ''Gigpad'', 2004-08-30
* [http://split-magazine.com/2007/05/07/blackstratblues-nights-in-shining-karma Nights In Shining Karma Review], ''Split Magazine'', 2007-05-07
* [http://riffcafe.blogspot.com/2007/05/nights-in-shining-karma.html Nights In Shining Karma Review], ''Riff Cafe'', 2007-05-17
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080403013505/http://hypnos-reviews.tripod.com/hypnosreviews/id165.html Interview], ''Hypnos Reviews'', 2003
* [http://split-magazine.com/2007/12/04/zero-procrastination/ Procrastination Review], ''Split Magazine'', 2007-12-04
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100412112946/http://www.jammag.com/music/show_music.php?music_id=396 The New Album Review], ''JAM Magazine'', 2009
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100115203443/http://meteorikonline.com/?p=116 The New Album Review], ''Meteorikonline'', 2009
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100119180211/http://chordvine.com/interviews/warren-mendonsa-the-interview-part-i Chordvine Interview], ''Chordvine'', 2010
* [http://split-magazine.com/2009/12/16/blackstratblues-newness-and-sunshine/ Split Magazine Interview], ''Split Magazine'', 2009

==External links==
* [https://music.blackstratblues.com/ Official site]
* [http://soundcloud.com/blackstratblues/ Soundcloud]
* [http://www.myspace.com/blackstratblues Myspace]
* [http://www.soundclick.com/blackstratblues Soundclick]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Blackstratblues Last.fm]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080105085541/http://www.divshare.com/download/2895281-940 Downloads]

{{Use British English|date=August 2010}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Indian guitarists]]
[[Category:New Zealand guitarists]]
[[Category:New Zealand male guitarists]]
[[Category:Blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century male musicians]]

Blackstratblues - Revision history

43.241.130.42 at 17:48, 19 June 2021