Cazwell: "Lady Gaga defends gays. Beyoncé? Rihanna? What do they say?"

Mar. 10 2014

by misterb&b

You loved his video "Ice Cream Truck " last summer, ultra sexy clip where torrid latinos barely dressed were swaying while licking ice creams (see at the end of this interview)... The gay rapper Cazwell is back with a new video, " Get my money back ", presented tomorrow in Miami, at Lords South Beach, the new gay hotel of Miami Beach.

We reached him a few days ago at his home in New York. Cazwell talks about the video, Lady Gaga, Amanda Lepore and his favorite places in New York.

Cazwell, can you tell us about this new clip " Get My Money Back " ?
Cazwell: Marco Ovando, the director, and I decided to take all the boys from the "Ice Cream Truck " video (see photo below) and bring in twenty more. And all together, we play a gang of monkeys. The costumes were designed by fashion designer Garo Sparo. Overall, the video is inspired by National Geographic reports (laughs). It's darker than "Ice Cream Truck ", but it's very danceable. And above all, very sexy!

"Ice cream truck" has been seen 3 million times on the web... Can you tell us the story of this clip?
C: We needed to release a video, but we didn't have the budget or the time. So we made it as simple as possible. First, the shooting took place in my street, and in my apartment. Then, we had the idea to make a clip in homage to the latinos of New York. The scenario was basic: a bunch of guys locked up in the middle of summer in an apartment without air conditioning...

With this success, all of a sudden I felt important (laughs). No, I'm kidding. It was quite a surprise. The video was shot without much thought, and I guess that spontaneity touched the audience.

Your name is associated with Amanda Lepore, David LaChapelle's muse. You worked a lot on her album, announced for June, "I... Amanda Lepore ".
C: Amanda is a real inspiration to me. She's also a really good friend. All of the songs I wrote for her were inspired by her life and all of our conversations. With these songs, I want to get to know her better. She is very funny. She's really one of my best friends and I travel a lot with her. We do a lot of things together. Except sleeping! (laughs)

The boys from Cazwell's "Ice Cream Truck" © Marco Ovando

You're a rapper, you're gay. And in an interview, you said that according to you, hip hop culture is incompatible with gay culture...
C: Of course. I'm willing to believe that things have changed but I highly doubt it. Basically, hip hop culture is a hyper masculine culture, of "real guys", far from what gay culture can be. Of course they are influenced. And it makes me laugh to see the clothes of some of them. I'm not saying they're all homophobic, but well... we have nothing to talk about, that's for sure.

I don't know what they think of me. But since I don't sell nearly as much as Jay Z, I guess I don't scare them very much and I think they ignore me (laughs).

Do you feel like a gay icon?
C: I love being considered an icon at all (laughs). Seriously? I have a lot of gay fans but I have some straight fans too.

A word about Lady Gaga... You worked with her in her early days, on "Just Dance". Any memories from that time?
C: I'm not surprised that she became so popular. The first time I met her was at a little club in the East Village. She was supposed to play "Just Dance" with 2 dancers and I was rapping over it. The stage was tiny but she made it look like a stadium. Even then, she had a vision. She told me "at the end of the song, I'm going to make you fall on the ground, I'm going to climb on you, astride you, and then I'm going to throw you in the audience, is that ok? I answered her "yes, that's cool". She is very rock'n'roll.

She is now in a sphere that is beyond us all but she remains an extraordinary artist. And especially, she is there for the gays. We may not like her, but she fights for us, she fights for our equal rights! And besides her who? Beyoncé? Rihanna? What do they say? Today, she is a pop star with power. People listen to her, they pay attention to her lyrics. That's good.

Your name is very connected to New York.It hasbeen said that you are the king of this city...
C: It was said at one time, yes, because I walked hard in the East Village and it was the place where everything happened. But it's not so much the case today. And then that title, it was more a good formula than anything else.

Cazwell © Michael Wakerfield

Your favorite places in New York ?

A bar? The Eastern Bloc, a gay bar in the East Village, I do parties there on Thursday nights. Very nice place. I also like the G-Lounge, where I play regularly with Amanda (Lepore)
A restaurant? Veselka, a Ukrainian restaurant open 24 hours. I love it
A hotel?The Gramercy Park Hotel. They have great parties on Sundays
A club/party? The Vandam party at the Greenhouse on Sunday nights.
A store?Memes, in the East Village, they have great designer clothes, great sneakers, t-shirts, ...

A place you would recommend to a tourist to feel the "real" New York ?
C: I would send him to Saint Mark's Place in the East Village. My life in New York started there. It's a perfect combination of everything you can find in this city, new, old, clean, dirty... It's great for artists.

What other city do you feel at home in?
C: Paris! I love this city. It's so beautiful, so alive. There are so many things to discover... The first time I came, I was 17 and I came alone. It's a great city when you're alone! Not for a second did I get bored. There are almost too many things to do and see.

Do you know the book "Giovanni's Room" (by James Baldwin)? This is what Paris reminds me of. A character in itself. I didn't think it was possible to feel so much a part of a place to which one is a stranger. The only thing that bothers me terribly is not knowing how to speak French.

Your favorite places in the world ?
A hotel ? The Ritz, in Paris. I'm sure Amanda Lepore would say the same thing. That place is so amazing. There's nothing better in Paris, is there? I had the great honor of being able to play there, for a Dior Hommes party, the night of Kriss Van Assche's first collection.
A bar? I'm stumped... really, I don't know what to say...
A club? Jodie Harsch's Circus parties in London. I go there as often as I can, with Amanda Lepore.
A brand, a store ? Fruition, in Las Vegas, for their great clothes. Or Opening Ceremony in New York. And I get a lot of clothes made by stylists, like Garo Sparo and John Renaud.
Favorite beach?Hawaii. The waves are great there. Waikiki, the Pipe... That place is heaven on earth.

Cazwell © Marco Ovando

A city to party in?
C: I would say San Francisco. There, when people go out, they are really ready to have fun. The parties are very hot, people are not uptight. You're pretty sure you're not going home alone, at least you're sure to get s***ed (laughs).

Where did you meet the most beautiful boys?
C: In New York and Sydney. In Sydney, the guys are muscular and they have pretty faces. Not just butch guys who dose their protein before going to the gym. They look really healthy, happy, positive. Like they're doing cardio all the time. Their bodies are lean and muscular, they must really have a very good diet.

In NYC, it's a different story, the boys are much more diverse.

A city to fall in love with ?
C: I would say New York in the spring. People are so fed up with winter that they put on a t-shirt at the first ray of sunshine. That's when it gets really hot!

and a city to get married in?
C: Hawaii, especially since they introduced civil unions. It's a really great place.

The most gay-friendly city in the world?
C: Definitely San Francisco

What is something you always carry with you?
C: Besides my wallet and a condom? I would say a moisturizer.

When flying, do you prefer a window or an aisle?
C: Window! With a little pill to sleep.

A travel tip?
C: Don't wear tight jeans on a plane!

Your next trip?
C: I'm going to Miami for the Winter Conference

A destination of your dreams?
C: Brazil. I've been there before, but I know I have a huge following there and I really want to spend some time there. And then Ibiza. I don't know it.

One last thing: could you share with our readers a picture taken during one of your recent trips?
C:Here is a picture taken during my vacation in Trinidad!

CAZWELL, to be found on his website and on his Facebook