Growing up in San Jose, Sam Mendoza spent his early years surrounded by a foundation of multicultural music, with his father playing saxophone in salsa bands and a home-bound influence of genres spanning from Italian rock to bossa nova. During high school, Sam began performing original music more consistently with his high school experimental art rock group, Cactus. 
 After being accepted into University of Oregon’s jazz program for guitar, almost immediately Spiller was formed, and since has become Eugene’s staple jazz/indie/emo fusion group, achieving feats such as EP releases and touring nationally. The group decided to take their talents to Portland to diversify their careers as individual musicians and with Spiller . 
 Salmon Doza was conceptualized as Sam’s solo project during college, but really took form afterwards with the release of Maintenance produced by friend/collaborator Stefan Reichardt (AKA Funny Voices ). The EP circled the meaning of familial bond and maintenance in one’s own life.