Interview with Lead Singer Vin Dombroski of Sponge

April 29, 2024

Interview with Lead Singer Vin Dombroski of Sponge

By Mick Michaels

Cosmick View: Hello, Vin! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.

CV: How would you define the "American Dream," and do you feel you've achieved it based on that definition?

Vin Dombroski: The American Dream seems to be something that has eluded people these days, something they think works for someone else or is either old fashioned or a lie.

I’m from the broken and beaten east side of Detroit.

Managed to travel the world by writing songs with a band.

Shared the stage with the biggest bands on the planet.

Still have songs on the radio.

Have been fortunate in keeping a good crew of band members around me that are way more talented than me.

If that’s the American Dream, I guess I’m living it.

CV: "Planet Girls" was written and recorded 25 years ago in an effort the band took for a more pop-oriented approach. Was this a path that was fully embraced by the band at the time, especially coming off two mega selling albums?

VD: Our first 2 albums were self produced with A&R direction from Pablo Mathiason at Work Records and Columbia.

Our 3rd Album New Pop Sunday was produced by Kevin Shirley and A&R from John Kalodner. Something very different for us.

CV: What do you feel was the reason the album was shelved following its completion? Was it a matter of not living up to the label's expectation of being "pop" enough?

VD: We made an album the label didn’t like and at the time we didn’t like it either.

CV: Do you concern yourself at all with genre classifications when writing music? No.

VD: I don’t bully the muse.

CV: Are genres even that important for casual listeners in your opinion? Or is it a matter of just going with what they like when it comes to musical sounds and tastes and less about a labeling?

VD: Genres may be more important to casual listeners.

Unfortunately I’ve always been more concerned with what I like in a song.

CV: What do you believe "Planet Girls" says about the band musically then and now?
VD: When I listen now it reminds me why it didn’t work then.

There were some really good moments but these days we would have made different choices.

CV: You have partnered with Sound City Music Group for "Planet Girls" to be release exclusively on red vinyl on Record Store Day. What are you hoping fans come away with after listening to the album?
VD: The hope is the music brings back memories from that time period.

CV: Do you feel vinyl editions offer fans more than just a nostalgia piece of memorabilia? Is there that big of a sonic difference in your opinion?

VD: Yes if folks actually play the album as opposed to just collecting it.

CV: Can fans anticipate possible more unreleased music from Sponge seeing the light of day in the coming future?

VD: Yes… we plan on releasing unreleased songs from the first album this summer.

CV: What more can fans expect to see from Sponge in 2024 and beyond?

VD: We are releasing an album of cover songs this year.

CV: Thanks again, Vin, for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.

VD: Thank you.

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.