Interview Kiana & Marco Curse Icon

3/26/05 Interviewer: Sharita Lumpkin

LINEUP: Kiana - Vocals Leo - Keyboards Eric - Guitars Sean - Guitars Marco - Drums

"Besides music it's one of the other top medicines in the world."

Curse Icon is a band out of Florida that has built a huge following through My Space and beyond. Lead singer, Kiana, has broken a lot of barriers by being a woman of color that heads a hard rock band. The influences of this band reach from NIN, Stabbing Westward, Evanescence, and Lacuna Coil. They're about to release their CD Paradismal as an unsigned band. It's pretty impressive coming from a band that's out of Florida, where the scene is not like New York or California. In this interview, Marco and Kiana talk about their other influences, their favorite things, and their day jobs. They also sit through our famous speed round questions. Read on to find out more.

Sharita: Thanks for doing the interview.

Marco: You're welcome.

Sharita: Kiana, thanks for taking the time to chat with me and nice to talk to you on the phone.

Kiana: This is awesome, thank you.

Sharita: Ok, my first question is who actually got the band together.

Kiana: That would be Marco.

Sharita: Ok, did all of you play in other bands before Curse Icon?

Kiana: Well, I did and [for] a couple of the others, this is their first experience in a [better known] band, and Marco?

Marco: I'm sorry what was the question?

Sharita: Did you play in other bands before Curse Icon?

Marco: Yeah, a lot of us came in other bands. From time to time I've been in several bands, self created this one. A couple of the others played in smaller [ones]. Yeah, everyone has [done it] but finally we came together when I formed this one and everyone seems to be real happy with this situation.

Sharita: Ok great. Looking at the bands My Space page I saw that you have a large fanbase especially in Florida , what age group would you say it consists of?

Marco: It's an interesting demographic because we span from young to old. I know we have a lot of older people that come to our shows and the kids love us, anywhere from like 12-18. People who are 21 and over. There's even people in their 60's at our show.

Sharita: Oh wow!

Marco: So, it's very interesting. Kiana and her vocals seem to bridge a lot of gaps. Traditionally when older people wouldn't like our style of music, they seem to like it it because of Kiana.

Sharita: That's cool. So on your page it say that the band has too many musical influences to name, how about non-musical influences?

Marco: Non- musical? Hmm, I dunno. My personally influences would be my bandmates and that encompasses it all because it's like, thats where it all derives from for me. We don't try to be anybody or anything like that. When I'm writing or creating drum parts, I spawn my ideas off of what's going on around me. That's pretty much it.

Kiana: Non musical? That's a toughie. (laughs) Well before being in a band, I originally started being a dancer. I've always been into dance music, pop, and r&b. Then I had the exposure to rock music and I've always stayed in that realm but non-musical? Comedians, let's say that!

Sharita: Yeah, I read that you love comedians, who's your favorite?

Kiana: Who's my favorite? I don't even have a favorite. (laughs) Years ago, I would've told you Howie Mandel; over the years there are quite a few comics that have come out. Right now I would say...not Chris Rock, the other guy, he's got his own show now. Oh my God, he's so awesome I can't believe I just went blank. (laughs)

Sharita: Dennis Leary or Wayne Brady?

Kiana: No, he's got his own show on Comedy Central. Um....

Sharita: Oh, Oh, I know who you're talkin' about, but I can't think of his name. I'm looking at my friend Erika and we both can't think of it. I bet we will remember once I get off the phone with you.

Kiana: Yeah, don't you just hate when that happens?

Sharita: Did you ever want to be a comedienne?

Kiana: Um...oh stop. Marco says I am a comedienne. (laughs) I have this thing about laughing, I love to laugh. Beside music it's one of the other top medicines in the world; it's such a stress reliever and just the ability to make people laugh on a continuous basis is so amazing to me. Most of them kind of fly by the seat of their pants, just come out get on stage and start talking and always be able to come up with thing that are funny. It just...oh! I can't stop talking about that.

Sharita: Ok, cool. I read on the site that Leo is a self trained pianist, are the other members self taught as well?

Marco: Pretty much everybody is self-taught, I personally am. I didn't have lessons or anything like that.

Sharita: Ok, do you think that it makes a big difference if you're self taught as opposed to have lessons, like does it give you more freedom?

Marco: It works both ways really. I like that we have people in the band that are educated in music theory. So if there are questions, like if certain notes aren't together it's good to have that. On the same token, I think people play too seriously when they are trained in theory. I kind of interesting because I help out a lot with the keyboards and I will bring out a little notepad and Leo will be like, oh my God that is so cool.  He never would've thought of the simplicity because of his classic training. We bounce off each other that way and it works really well.

Kiana: Dave Chappelle!

Marco: Dave Chappelle she says.

Sharita: Oh yeah, that's his name.

Erika: I just thought about it, I didn't want to interrupt you.

Sharita: That's right I couldn't figure his name for the life of me. All I could think about was, I'm Rick James bitch and the name wouldn't come to me.

Marco: (laughs)

Kiana: (laughs)

Sharita: Ok, Kiana I have a couple of specific questions for you. What has been the reaction at shows when fans find out that you are a minority female?

Kiana: Oh...man. I get that a lot. Everyone likes to ask me what my heritage is, I guess they can't tell by looking at me. Some of them jump to conclusions or they guess. It's funny because some people have referred to me as Pat Latinatar because of being half Latin and half Italian. I look more like my dad, who is the Italian in my family but no one sees the Italian they see the Latin side because of the features. (laughs) They...I dunno. I mean at the shows there's just...I mean especially in rock music that is so dominated by men they're like man I usually don't like chick singers but you are this, so that, and wow. So when people say that to me it's such a great honor and I blush half the time. (laughs)

Sharita: Ok, and what singers do you draw your inspiration from?

Kiana: Um...wow. There's just so many. At one time, Mariah Carey was a huge one for me, just the purity in her voice. There's a prime example [of your last question] right there; if you heard her on radio you would've thought she was African American and you see her you're like wow. Christina Aguilera is another one who's got an amazing voice. Those people kind of broke that barrier. Tina Turner is another because she's got amazing energy. Um...wow. There's just so many, it just depends. Pat Benatar of course and the girl from Heart. (Ann Wilson) There's so many...(laughs)

Sharita: That's a pretty talented bunch right there.

Kiana: It's hard to pinpoint because I listen to such a wide variety of music, so I have certain favorites in each genre. Then you've got your generations from the 70's and the 80's to now.

Sharita: Great. As far as the lyrics, who writes them?

Kiana: I would say it's a collaborative effort although Marco is primarily the genius behind that. (laughs) I'm more of a literal person, so when I write I tend to write things too literal and we like to be more ambiguous and have multiple meanings into a song so it can be effective to anybody and have them relate it to themselves and what's going on. Marco is excellent at that so usually I'll just tell him what I'm feeling and what I'm thinking, and he just goes with it.

Sharita: Ok, what other My Space bands are you guys fans of?

Kiana: Ooh, um. Luther Cry, Morris and Poe. Who else... There are quite a few on there that are pretty good. InTension, Trendkill, who else.

Marco: There's quite a few talented bands on My Space, it's hard to list them all and not have somebody feel bad because they haven't been listed. (laughs) I don't want that responsibility. (laughs)

Sharita: Well there's probably about a good 2 or 3000. My Space seems to be a pretty big tool for unsigned and indie bands to get their music out. I actually found you on Skank's page who is from here in Chicago.

Marco: Oh right.

Sharita: What labels has the band sent their demos to?

Marco: None really. We're positioning ourselves right now. The game has gotten a little different; If you send your material to a label unsolicited it usually goes into what they call file 13, which is the garbage. You have to work it through some channels whether it be your management or some other types. Our manager just went to South by Southwest last weekend and he got some new insight. The big thing now days is they just want everything, the whole package out of the gate. They don't really do a whole lot of developmental deals anymore. Obviously, the music industry has taken some great losses in the last few years an they're trying to figure out how to come back from that. One of the things that they're doing is they're not taking as many chances they want a band that's got a built in fanbase, selling records, and all that stuff so. With the event of our CD coming out shortly we're really gonna be pushing that to get the sales up and the soundscan numbers [up] so we can position ourselves in a way that there will be some interest. I mean, don't get me wrong we've had some interest here and there but they really want the pre packaged thing now.

We're doin' a showcase on the 15th in Tallahassee in front of 3 major labels. Traditional methods of sending out demos ain't gonna work anymore. (laughs)

Sharita: Well good luck with that showcase. As far as your live show, do you cover anybody?

Marco: No, we decided a long time ago that we'd never do cover tunes. I played in a handful of cover bands and for me it's boring.  The only way to do a cover is to put your own twist on it and rewrite the cover. I personally don't like them because I feel you'll never do it as good as the artist. Some people do em' better and that's cool, we just have such a unique flavor in our music that we want to share it with everybody.

Sharita: Ok, great. I have a few speed round questions for you are you ready?

Marco: Yep:

Sharita: If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you take with you?

Marco: Kiana, do you have an answer for that one?

Kiana: (laughs)

Marco: I think she wants to take Dave Chappelle.

Sharita: Maybe she wants to take him because he would make her laugh all the time and make her forget that she was stranded. Is that what it is?

Marco. Probably.

Sharita: OK. How about you Marco?

Marco: I dunno, I have no idea, that's not a fair question for me. (laughs)

Sharita: Ok. (laughs) What's your favorite color?

Marco: Blue

Kiana: Black

Sharita: Do you guys work jobs while playing in the band?

Marco: For now. We're hoping that it all changes by the end of the year, I work in advertising right now.

Kiana: Yeah unfortunately rock star dreams are very expensive so we have to hold down 9-5 jobs till those dreams come true and you can be that forever and ever. (laughs)

Sharita: Yeah that is the harsh reality. What 5 bands would play with Curse Icon on stage?

Marco: What 5 bands? I would go with NIN, Stabbing Westward, The Cult, and probably 2 bands that suck so we would look better. (laughs)

Sharita: (laughs) Ok.

Kiana: I would definitely put Linkin Park in there. I would love to play with them. Disturbed, NIN, Stabbing Westward, I agree with Marco there. The other one would probably be Queens of The Stone Age. Yes!

Sharita: Wow. That's a great mix. Do you have any guilty pleasure bands or CD's?

Kiana: Uh, Britney Spears. (laughs)

Marco: Uh, I got this tribal rhythm thing. I got it when I was living in Arizona, it's all these like Indian drum and it has all these Indian flutes it's pretty cool.

Sharita: Oh that's not really guilty. Would you consider yourselves spiritual or religious?

Marco: Definitely spiritual.

Kiana: I would say a little of both.

Sharita: Ok. Are they're any plans to do a national tour?

Marco: That's the goal. I mean that's what I'm hoping. Right now we're trying to get the CD done and as soon as that happens we really want to push it. We've taken on management at What Time Entertainment and we're just reworking a lot of the business side of our band to try to position ourselves to make money and go on tour. I would love to be in Chicago, I love it. Midwest in general we want to hit big-time and quick. I'm hoping by years end that we'll be able to start traveling a lot more.

Kiana: And actually the My Space bands are making it a lot easier because I see a lot of friends through the nation, even in Europe and Japan and they hear your stuff and say you have to come here, way before we even get there. It's gonna be really cool.

Sharita: What is the title of the CD coming out?

Marco: We had a title, then we got rid of it, now I guess we have a title again. (laughs) I guess we settled on Paradismal.

Sharita: Ok well I look forward to hearing that. Thanks so much for the interview.

Marco: Thanks very much for having us.

Kiana: Yes thanks, it was great talking to you.

Sharita: Your very welcome!


Thanks to Marco and Kiana for taking the time to speak to FourteenG.