ION INDIE MAGAZINE March 2015, Volume 10 | Page 128

FORMAL INTENT
Story and Photography by Timothy Schumann
Now here’s a band that caught my attention months ago at a “Battle of the Bands” that was held downtown,
but let’s add these little facts to the mix…WHAT’S UP MAGAZINE, a local rag here, did an article on them AND
they just signed a record deal with DYNAMIC MEDIA--not to mention the rather large following they have!
With all this said, I bring you FORMAL INTENT, all young lads, all from El Paso--except the drummer, who's
female, born in Japan and raised in Georgia. What's a huge surprise to me, is that they've only been together
for 7 months and their ages run 16 to 24! As far as I can see for a band that is so young, these musicians
are making leaps and bounds with their career and the local music scene here. They play a mixture of
Indie/Rock/Alternative music with a 90's spin on it, which really seems to sell tickets at the door. Plus, in
my opinion, simply because I attend so many shows, that a Formal Intent show is entertaining! You can see
the intensity of the front man Mike and feel the bands ebb and flow of musical expression! Members are as
follows, MICHAEL SANTOSCOY (guitar/lead vocals), MARY MORECK (drums), GABRIEL DE LA O (lead guitar)
DORIAN CEASE (bass) and HECTOR ROBLES (keyboards). Music that influences and/or drives this group are
bands such as TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THIRD EYE BLIND, FOSTER THE PEOPLE and KINGS OF LEON. The
band has plans to be in the studio for a few weeks and hopefully, release their debut CD within months, with
a 2015 tour to support this album. I've seen them twice and both times they have caught my attention. And
again, what surprised me was the crowd--and this was a crowd that just was there just see these guys. Truth
be told, that speaks volumes to me--it tells me Formal Intent is on the move and going places fast!

https://www.facebook.com/FormalIntent
http://www.reverbnation.com/formalintent