James P. Mendez - Composition, mixing, mastering and producing.Richard M. Mendez - Manifestations, hauntings, lyrics and vocals.

2. Who’s the leader in your band?

Rich: My brother would probably best be considered the leader of our project.

3. Who or what were incentive for each of you to start in music career? Where do you find inspiration to write music?

Rich: Dissatisfied with commercial radio and striving for something different on the more experimental side of the spectrum, I became involved with writing music with Gary Dassing of Mentallo & the Fixer in the late eighties as Benestrophe. Two of our biggest inspirations at the time were Numb (with their self-titled release) and Skinny Puppy whom we considered innovators among a few others. To this day, I think I still gain my biggest inspiration from the earliest analog, industrial acts.

4. From where did the name JIHAD come?

James: The reason I chose the name Jihad for our group is because I found the definition to be very meaningful - "A crusade for a principal or belief"

.5. Today’s biggest achievements of you (charts success, shows, sales ...)?

Rich: Believe it or not, this really isn’t an area with which we concern ourselves. The album was written purely with genuine emotion only because we enjoy doing so. We both have technical careers and don’t rely on financial support from music. If it happens to do well in sales and on the charts then even better. 6. Describe, please, in few words your own musical style and album «A Prayer In The Night»?

Rich: In my opinion, Jihad is, perhaps, nothing more than an incarnation of tattered pages from an imaginary diary mixed with a collage of parapsychology, haunting short stories, mythical nursery rhymes and esoteric forms of expression.

7. How do you think, what makes your music original and unforgettable?

Rich: I think Jihad is intelligent, musical and genuinely elegant in it’s approach. Unbiasly, the compositions and the lyrics to the songs set it apart from anything else I’ve ever heard. 8. Where will you move musically in your next album and when should we wait for it?

Rich: I’m not certain when or where we are headed musically. We are; however, planning to begin recordings for the next album soon and I have some thoughts about titling it "Pandora’s Box".

9. Are your songs played in clubs and do they have success among electro-fans? Name, please some of your club hits?

Rich: From what I have seen from D.J. playlists and heard from other sources, the songs are indeed being played in clubs and receiving air play. Most notably, "Hands That Hide", "People of the Land", "Guardian Angel" and "Kil0byte". 10. Talking about JIHAD people often mention MENTALLO & THE FIXER... Do you like what this group do? What do you think about their rising popularity and latest work?

Rich: As you might expect, we are very big fans of Mentallo & the Fixer and love and support them wholeheartedly. Quite naturally, Jihad can also be considered an extension of this group but with an alternate methodology.Today electro/industrial/synth-pop/wave music work very good on dancefloor, but rave culture is more popular worldwide...

11. Why so? What do you think about it?

Rich: I think the rave culture flourishes simply because it’s associated with such a tremendous melting pot of different kinds of people who congregate together to have a good time versus the more darker, gloomy aspects of music often affiliated with the gothic genre.

12. Without doubts, Germany and USA are a main bastions of today electro/industrial... But what about other countries? Is it difficult to penetrate on their markets with yours production?

Rich: I have yet to hear anything in regards to this.I know that you started some side-projects...

13. Tell us, please, a few words about them? (ack this reply wuz lost it seems!)

14.What do you think about NINE INCH NAILS phenomena in the USA?

Rich: I happen to admire Trent Reznor for what he has done over the decade and still happen to be quite fond of his debut. Like Ministry, he is probably one of the few artists of his kind who has been able to reach such acclaimed commercial success in the history of industrial music. I honestly believe that timing is everything and it simply boils down to catching a wave by releasing exactly what people want to hear at just the right time.

15. What do you think about current state of electro scene in general? In what direction it will develop during next 3-5 years according to your opinion? Which of today bands do you find most interesting andinnovative?

Rich: Unfortunately, I feel that electronic music is in a state of dead lock. Eventually, like every other style of music (Heavy Metal is a good example), originality is exhausted, the crossing of styles wears thin and bands begins to redundantly repeat their mentors over and over again until it finally fades back into the niche market from which it emerged. I ask myself the very same questions and look optimistically forward hoping for something new. Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Raymond Watts (a.k.a. Pig) and his part-time collaborations with Anna Wildsmith titled Sow.

16. Your preferences and tastes concerning fashion, music, films?

Rich: I grew up a decade ago so quite logically, I’m still drawn to the Punk Rock and New Wave styles, sounds and films of the big eighties i.e. Valley Girl, Suburbia and films from John Hughes like Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.

17. Your relations with show business, MTV, commercial radio stations, clubs?

Rich: Currently, no business with the aforementioned.

18. Your attitude to sex, violence, religion?

Rich: Practice safe sex, no meaningless violence and believe in whatever makes your world go round. In regards to global affairs, the current state of the world is brewing under pressure and this has me a little concerned.

19. Where do you live now? Is your music popular in your city?

Rich: Currently, we reside in San Antonio, Texas - one of the capitals of Country, Rock, Rap and Tejano music. I don’t believe they are even aware that our type of music exists anywhere.

20. Are you idealists or realists by nature?

Rich: I must say that I am more of a realist.

21. Your favorite phrases or joke, please ...?

Rich: If the opposite of pro is con, then what is the opposite of progress?

22. What else would you like to add or to tell to our readers?

Rich: Sincerely, I would like to thank all supporters whom without, none of this would be possible.

23. Your plans for the nearest future?

Rich: To broaden my horizons and grow spiritually.