Emmanuel Garcia: How do you identify?
Cazwell: I know sometimes it sounds corny when people say it but my identity is I am an artist. I express myself through music and visual art. I don't really think about being a gay artist... I guess I am what I am, but then I see the people that are attracted to me and it's a lot of gay guys who are attracted to me and my music. I think that's because everyone is always trying to find a voice that they can connect with. In that sense I'm a gay artist because gay guys tend to understand me, but it's certainly not limited to them. A lot of straight people show up to my shows too.
EG: When you first started you were in a group called Moreplay with Crasta Yo. Why did you split up?
C: Gays and lesbians are different and we have very different priorities. My priorities were always being an artist first and then whatever gig I needed for money, like my job and then like a boyfriend. Hers was like her girlfriend first and then her job and then as an artist last. We have different priorities and different working habits so she moved to Seattle. I've been solo since 2003.
EG: What have been some of your challenges in incorporating Hip Hop/Rap into your music.
C: I think we choose our challenges to a certain degree and it's all a state of mind. Being gay, white, and rapping is as easy as I can make it be in my head. I think that's kind of what changed me when I started to really move ahead and get successful. I just remember when I lived in Boston I was really caught up in trying to be accepted. I was never in the closet but I was really caught up in being accepted by Hip Hop. I was into the magazines. I would do all the shows and all the shows were straight. I just came to the realization towards the end of my stay in Boston that no matter how good I was, how good my music was, how good of a rapper I was, I was never going to be accepted by Hip Hop. Straight people don't roll with gay people—it's just a fact.
What really saved me as an artist is that I stopped thinking of myself as Hip Hop because there are rules attached to it and one of them seems to be that you can't be gay.
EG: What was it like being featured in Out magazine as an influential part of NYC nightlife?
C: I like the picture, it's cool.
Just to be affiliated with people who are in control of and contribute to nightlife, I'm really glad to be a part of that.
Sometimes I get burnt out and talk about leaving nightlife for three months or something. But I'm afraid of what would happen when I come back, what I would miss and if I would be able to come back. Then I think to myself, 'I'm really lucky that all my jobs are fun.'
EG: A lot of people don't know that you're the lyricist behind Amanda Lepore's songs. Tell me a little bit about working with Amanda Lepore.
C: Before I met Amanda I was a lot more unhappy. I was a lot more like the glass is half empty kind of person. She's had such an incredibly crazy life. She's had every opportunity to feel bad about herself. She's got everything in her life due to just having a positive attitude. She didn't come to New York searching to be a star or [ with ] these aspirations of becoming a model. She simply is who she is in her head and she lives her life like that. She doesn't think about how other people see her. She's really positive and laid back...people look at her and think she's really high maintenance. But she turns around, stays home, smokes a joint and watches TV.
EG: You've said that Amanda Lepore is your muse. Who is someone else that we don't know about?
C: Bugs Bunny. I want to be like him. I've always thought he was gay anyway. I like his personality. I feel like a cartoon when I'm in music videos and stuff. I just really like Bugs Bunny!
EG: What are some songs that you listen to that aren't yours?
C: Good question, I would get the Spank Rock album. Particularly the song 'Touch Me' is really good. I like Justice.
EG: Did you watch Britney Spears' performance at MTV's Video Music Awards?
C: It's genius. I've watched it like 25 times. I really hope that there is no tragic end for her. I think she's the last person in the world that I would want to be, but you can tell that she's a really nice person. She might not be the brightest ball or well-read, but she probably just got into the industry not by choice. She must get so tired of trying to please everyone.
EG: Give the readers some advice on getting past the velvet rope?
C: Like if I wanted to go to some tired ass club in Vegas, which everyone is wearing black and all the girls have fake tits, I'll just show up wearing all black with two hoochies on my side.
The people at the door, their job is to make sure that the people in the club are complimenting the club. You just have to know somebody.
EG: How did the Berlin gig come about?
C: For the past two years people have told me to play Berlin when they go to Boys Room. They say, 'Oh you really should come to Chicago and play Berlin.' I'm like hook me up then. It would happen again and again. Finally someone got in touch with my manager and hooked it up.
I get e-mails everyday about this show.
EG: Where do you see yourself in five years?
C: Well, thanks for asking! I hope to be more of a household name. I just got signed to a new record label, AVATAR Records. My record is being re-released. I have a brand new song that's going to be on the album that's called 'I've Seen Beyonce at Burger King' and we're shooting the video for it. It's great! Straight people will love it.
Get into it with Cazwell at www.myspace.com/cazwellnyc