INTERVIEW WITH KAZY CREATOR AND FRONTMAN RICH MARKESE

If you've spent time surfing MySpace or YouTube lately, or picked up a copy of the new SCARFACE video game, you have a clue about KAZY. The Chicago-based band seems to have blasted onto the scene out of nowhere to win video contests on MySpace, and they're about to claim a similar prize on YouTube. However, if you talk to Kazy frontman Rich Markese (pronounced Mar-Kay-Zee... like his band KAY-ZEE... get it? Good. I'm not going to type that again), you'll learn exactly how calculated his trip into the spotlight was...and continues to be. KAZY is making so much noise, and in a relatively short amount of time, we just had to track down the guy responsible and fire off a pile o' stupid. Here's how it went down... Steve C: OK Dude... you got my attention. You won a MySpace music video contest, and now your shit's all over the YouTube. You seemingly came out of nowhere. What's your story? I would look at the BIO on your website, but that ambiguous shit gave me a migraine. Spit it out.

Rich Markese: Ha…yeah man, to come out of nowhere was actually kind of the plan for KAZY. I planned 2 years with developing my writing style for the band before the public even heard it. The goal was to come out sounding and appearing as a major label act. I spent time writing a lot, working with good engineers and mixers, making sure the look of that band was TITE, and drinking a lot of JD in the meantime to keep sane. ; )~

Steve C: You do a pretty intense, creeped-out version of "Need You Tonight" by INXS. What made you want to cover that tune?

Rich Markese: I felt the lyrics were really deep and meaningful. I DIDN’T however think the song reflected the depth of the lyrics. “I need you tonight, cuz I'm not sleeping, there’s something about you girl, that makes me sweat….” To me it sounds desperate, dark, and sexual. The goal was to tie those elements together in the re-make of it. In what I’ve heard of Michael Hutchins, (the former singer of INXS) he seemed to be a dark, deep dude. I think he’d be proud of the KAZY version.

Steve C: With "Hooks", you venture into Zak De La Rocha territory and throw in some MARILYN MANSON for good measure. Who would you say your biggest influences musically are?

Rich Markese: Man I love so many bands and different styles of music. There are certain guys that I have a ton of respect for with their vision and accomplishments in the music industry. To name a couple, Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), and Maynard James Keenan (A Perfect Circle, TOOL). They are pioneers of our time and I definitely walk in their footsteps. Id like to think Kazy has a little different twist stylistically, but as far as influences, those guys are at the top of my list in their approach of music.



Steve C: You're a hell of a photographer, too. Very Maxim and FHM-ish. What's the best thing about photographing hot pieces of ass?

Rich Markese: Haha, the best thing about shooting hot pieces of ass is that they are HOT PIECES OF ASS! LOL The job is a cool one for sure… Did you see all the KAZY CHIX on my KAZY website? I had to shoot some of the girls for the band. I used the idea of ‘tattooing’ the Kazy logo on their stomachs, asses, boobs, etc. CHECK IT OUT!


(heh...girls' hineys are fun to look at...*butthead face*)

Steve C: OK, now what's the WORST thing about photographing hot pieces of ass?

Rich Markese: The worst thing…. Hmm…. Cant think of one right now… Ill have to get back to you on that…

Steve C: How'd you get hooked up with Toby Wright? That's a pretty cool score for an independent act. That guy has produced ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN, and METALLICA.

Rich Markese: I just went right at him. Got his agents phone number, called and next thing you know I'm talking to Toby Wright. He dug the music, so I jumped on a plane to mix a few songs with him out in Hollywood. The dudes a trip and is TALENTED as fuck. Amazing ears on that guy.

Steve C: The record business is a difficult place to make money. Hell, some artists who are all over radio and MTV are barely making enough to live off. How do you stay motivated considering the overwhelming odds against you?

Rich Markese: The odds are against me. The music industry is arguably one of the toughest to make it in. I just stay close to the reasons I do this; to move people emotionally through music. My goal is to finish this full length record I'm working on, then get out on tour to share it with people. I keep it in perspective. If it blows up big in the process, that’s great, and if it doesn’t, I can still satisfy the dream.



Steve C: When you're a kid, you dream of being a rock star, and you think it's all pussy, beer, and arenas. If you're one of the handful of guys who actually decides to make a go of it, you can quickly come to the conclusion that being a rocker isn't as glamorous as you thought...and some guys eventually come to the conclusion that 'being broke really sucks'...and wind up getting day jobs. What stage of the process do you think the you're at?

Rich Markese: I'm at “being broke really sucks!” Haha but I also see something I’ve created expanding and growing on a daily basis, that feeds the fire, the fire moves me closer to the dream. When that feeling is there, the feeling of seeing this thing start to really get out there and move people, it fulfills something money cant. Now If I can just get this hacker software to work…….

Steve C: Hypothetical Situation: You guys are walking through an industrial area in Chicago, scoping out a location to shoot your video. Through no fault of your own, your other bandmates are struck down swiftly and violently by a set of rotating knives and a large cumbersome 15 ton piece of metal that dropped from a faulty cable. This leaves you in a fairly awkward position, considering you have already taken advance money from the label. Do you press on and find other mates, or return the advance money?

Rich Markese: Haha… shit! Seriously, if that really happened Id likely continue working on the music. When someone dies that you were close with, I always try to think of what they would want you to do…. they wouldn’t want me to stop going for it, so Id likely press on.

Steve C: Describe, if you would please, your favorite sandwich.

Rich Markese: Oh man! Don’t get me started on how KILLER Chicago food is! If been to a few big cities and compared to Chicago, nothing comes close in terms of food. Sandwiches…. 2 places… Portollios beef sandwich (dipped) with mozzarella cheese and hot peppers … unreal. Then there’s a small chicken place in Old Town Chicago called The Fresh Choice… the best chicken sandwich ever. Tip: Portillos ships their beef from their website! GO ORDER SOME!

Steve C: I'm going to rummage through the KAZY porn collection. What am I going to find. No, you didn't have time to hide anything, and we can smell bullshit like a fart in a car... so out with it. What are you whacking to?

Rich Markese: Chix on Chix on Chix on Chix. No guys. Just chix. (I'm sensing that the guy likes All-Girl Porn... what do you think?)

Steve C: I'm naming a cocktail after you, sir. A cocktail that bar patrons will marvel at for years to come. What's in it?

Rich Markese: In the KAZY drink? Hmmm… I think it would be Jack Daniels with some dark chocolate liquor blended in somehow. Get the JD to be thicker ya know? Like a Guinness beer thickness but its Jack with that thick dark chocolate blend. Yeah… something like that.

Steve C: We've been hearing your music on a bunch of videos from webcam girls (CamWithHer specifically). How'd you get hooked up with them?

Rich Markese: Abbie over at CamWithHer is a big fan and huge supporter of Kazy. She always does what she can to get the word out, and no better way then having one of the girls put CHOKE on her hip while she’s doing a cam show. I was pretty blown away. Awesome stuff… thanks Abbie!

Steve C: What does the garden variety KAZY groupie look like? Do bands even have groupies anymore?

Rich Markese: Nahhh they aren’t called groupies, they are called ‘friends’ now. LOL

So there you have it... an ambitious guy, who knew exactly what he wanted, put together a plan of action, put the players together, and then pulled the trigger on his master scheme. So far, so good, I suppoe...because it appears to be working well for Rich Markese and KAZY.

Visit the official KAZY website at KAZYMUSIC.COM

Or chceck them out on their MySpace page: MySpace.com/KazyMusic

Finally...and most importantly... VOTE FOR 'CHOKE' BY KAZY ON YOUTUBE! (you know, if you like the song, that is...and you will...we've checked out a lot of the others, and so far, Kazy is so far ahead of the curve, it's silly)