HEAVy

Photography by Tone

12:45am, New York City… Brooklyn to be exact, a sweaty loft covered with graffiti artwork, drinks to go around and a DJ playing all the hip hop favorites. The band sets up. You know who they are. It’s HEAVy, promoting their debut JAZZ MONEY$$. You remove your coat, get your camera ready and finish that drink.

Five, Four, Three, Two, One…“Here goes that chick… I hear you talking all that Non-stop trash ish… Okay, alright! But be warned! You know my bite’s Venomous!” [Excerpt from Venomous]

No need to be shy, HEAVy won’t bite…or will they? You’re front row. It’s getting HOT! You wipe your brow. It’s an inevitable feeling…they’re contagious. “We’re just making music and if it’s making you feel good; then we’re doing our job,” states Casey, ½ of the duo. He is the producer/songwriter, vocal and keys player. She, Nicky is the lead singer/songwriter, the chick with the puffy hair seductively making you her next muse.

“All in my dome, Trying to get out, Oooo this feeling is killing me…” [Excerpt from Countdown]

The loft is getting tighter and tighter as the crowd comes closer. HEAVy plays louder and Nicky sings higher. By the third song, you’re convinced. The 10 dollar bill that was for the taxi ride home is now going towards their album. Sold and signed! Now for the follow-up and dry period…you get to ask those questions you wrote out…

Scheme: Who is HEAVy?
HEAVy: HEAVy is me, N.icky Guiland aka AMpJOnes and Casey Benjamin aka Stutzmcgee.

Scheme: For those who haven’t heard you. How would you illustrate your music?
Nicky: West 4th on an August afternoon.

Scheme: For those who don’t live in NYC?
Casey: Very mixed, we come from West Indian parents so it’s a fusion of party music, rock, jazz and funk.

Scheme: Do you consider yourself a genre bending band?
Nicky: Absolutely! I don’t think genres matter anymore.

Scheme: An article regarding the state of Black music was published a couple months ago and it included your band as a group that was changing the definition of Black music. Should artists like yourself be thrown into a category labeled as Black music and are you concerned with having a Black fan base?
Casey: To me everything and I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but everything is mixing and people are tired of being brainwashed by the radio. People just want to have good music, whether it be Black, White or whatever.
Nicky: Mexican…give em’ some of that good old Mexican funk!

Scheme: Who are you listening to now that you would consider an authentic artist?
Nicky: I dig Björk; she always stays true to herself and her work. Her vision is very clear. I’m not trying to be pc when I say Madonna, but she always goes with what she wants to do and stays true to what she does.
Casey: Herbie Hancock’s career is so inspiring. He transcended every decade. Toto, I’m really into experimental music.

Scheme: How important is authenticity in your music?
Nicky: 200% I mean, I think that being authentic shows in your performance, how you dress…who you are. What you are “selling”, it’s an extension of who you are or how you are feeling that day or whatever. If you aren’t authentic then you end up feeling like shit at the end of the day…so why not just be authentic?
Casey: Well put!

Scheme: What five adjective would you use to describe your HEAVy?
HEAVy: Stupid, Sweaty, Fun, Sexy, Hip, Mind-Blowing, Razzle-Dazzle!

Scheme: Do you listen to hip-hop?
Nicky: The backbone of my music, if it’s not jazz then it’s hip hop; Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, J. Dilla, I’m really into Pharoahe Monch’s last record, I dig Kanye’s new record.> Casey: I was always a big Dre fan. Daz Dillinger, Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Dilla.

Scheme: What is your opinion on Nas’s new album titled; NIGGER?
Nicky: I thought Kelis’s answer was wonderful (at the Grammy’s). But, no comment! Lol Taking the power away from the word…I think he’s trying to say that if I’m a Nigger than we’re all a Nigger. It’s just a broader term…right?
Casey: I think it’s a generational thing. And once it keeps going, it’s going to have a lesser effect.
Nicky: It’s also regional. Right now that word is being thrown around and it’s painful in certain parts of this nation. If we’re going to get rid of the Nigger, then let’s get rid of the word Bitch and trick and cunt!

Scheme: So, then how do you feel about the female image right now?
Nicky: Where is it? You know if we’re talking hip hop/rap. Who is it? We have Jean Grae, Tiye and Phoenix. There are so many few and far between and the ones that are publicized are always publicized. You know what? Who am I to talk? I say more power to you.

Scheme: Do you think there is a problem with the representation of female artists?
Nicky: I think that the problem is when people take over your image for you. If it’s authentic and part of your natural growth, then more power to you. But if it’s someone saying, okay, you’re going to be sexy now, I don’t agree. I remember when Ciara came out and she was like, “Yea! I’m not going to do that sexy thing” and the very next album she was skin tight. I mean, how authentic is that? Or little Mama, who I think is very talented, after the 2nd to 3rd single she was all of a sudden skin tight; and she’s a baby! Why rush it? That’s where I have the problem. I don’t have a problem when you’re a grown woman, like Cassie, she said this is who I am. I don’t care if I’m 18. I respect that.
Casey:I agree with her. It all depends on who you are as a person. It just seems like the younger artists that are coming up, they are being pushed through puberty. It’s like a sitcom, when a kid is in the 3rd grade and the next episode they are 16. It’s like they are so quick to push you to get over.>Casey
Nicky:They are thinking about how quick it will be to sell records and then….Good Luck to you!

Scheme: Do you have a manifesto?
Nicky: I don’t think we have a manifesto. We’re based off of fun; having a good time…I won’t hold my tongue. I think manifestos are pretentious. They can be misread. I just want to be taken for face value. We are what we are, what we’re doing right now is because we are artists and musicians growing and reaching. And in essence that’s what we’re doing…reaching.

Scheme:What can fans expect from you in 2008?
HEAVy:We’re working on a remix CD right now. A new record and some tour dates, TV appearances [laughs]. It’s all positive energy! Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O’Brien don’t know yet that we’re doing their show. SNL…we’re doing SNL by the end of the year. But that’s not until we get off the Glow and the Dark Tour…

Scheme: Where can you purchase your album?
HEAVy:You can get it on Amazon.com, itunes, Wal-Mart, Virgin Records, FYE, J&R and Tower.com…or your illegal downloading site!