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Age: 24

For the record: Tucson's Versus the Mirror beat the odds — it penned a deal with a record label in June.

"We just wanted to play music and have fun with it," guitarist Gabe Borquez said. "We wrote the best songs we could, we got label attention and we had a bidding war. Finally we decided on a label mid this year. We signed with a label called Equal Vision, and they've been nothing but amazing to us."

Versus the Mirror was finishing the final mixes of its first full-length CD at a Phoenix studio last week. The album, "Home," should hit shelves this spring.

It's a success story for a young band that got together a little more than two years ago. Borquez began playing music his senior year at Canyon del Oro High School after his mother bought him his first guitar. He promised to make her proud someday.

"The reason I'm doing this is for my mom, so I'm happy that I'm at the point now that I can call her and say, 'I'm doing awesome and I appreciate all the help you've given me,' " he said.

"My mom loves it. We were in our first national magazine this month. It was Alternative Press Magazine, and even though it was the smallest little snippet with our picture, she started crying in a Borders book store. She and my sister were crying and showing people. I thought that was hilarious."

For a local band that's about to hit the national scene, Versus the Mirror is keeping a levelheaded perspective.

"We're getting to a point where we're getting really comfortable with everything, and we're happy with how everything is turning out," Borquez said.

"The most important thing to us is that the five members of Versus the Mirror, we're not going to get too far ahead of ourselves. There's never going to be the day when where like, 'We're bigger than this band' or 'We're the biggest band in Arizona.' It's not what we care about. We're having fun, making memories, making friends and making music that we enjoy."

Sounds like: Hardcore rock with roaring vocals.

How is your new record different from your earlier music: "Our record is an eclectic mix of music for us. There are a couple softer songs, there are a couple harder songs and there are some abrasive, some melodic. We try not to limit ourselves to one style. As far as anyone trying to hear him (vocalist David Siebold) sing a note, it's not going to happen. That's not who we are and that's not why we got signed."

What do you think of the Tucson music scene: "The music scene is awesome. I love the venue Skrappy's. That's the heart of Tucson music for us. I see some of the younger kids and I say that's me. I used to go out and support small, little punk rock bands. I still owe my heart to the independent music scene in Tucson. That's where I was and that's where I'm comfortable being."

What are the band's goals: "It used to be to get signed, but now it's more to get the music out there and spread it around the country."

What is the highlight of your musical career: "Knowing that we could at any moment help a kid out, that means the world to us. It's one voice and that's all it takes to change someone's opinion on something or change someone's life. We're in the position right now where we can help someone out and that's the highlight to me."

What is your New Year's resolution: "My personal one is to stay on the ground. Especially going into this year, I know there are a lot of people who get way ahead of their situations and take their opportunities for granted. I don't want to be that kid. I'm the dude that wants to stay on the ground and let our fans know we're still there for them. I just want to stay on the ground, stay true to my family, my friends and my fans."