• For the folks who aren’t familiar with, Prozakistan, can you tell them a little about who you are…What’s the origin of the name? What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?, etc.?

  Kurt says he coined the phrase Prozakistan in the 90s (Prozac Nation). It refers to the overmedication of our citizens. The high rate of depression in the U.S. reflects the pharmaceutical-industrial complex. His philosophy is that many people taking antidepressives are simply repressed and needed more outlets –creative and otherwise. ‘Nuff said.Our music falls somewhere between the Captain and Tennille and the Pixies. When and how did you form the band? What inspired you guys to make music together?  Prozakistan actually grew out of a project started a couple of years ago by our singer Kurt Samson – with two former WHFS people, go figure. He then moved the project – at that time called No Ball for Lola, to this area and met our guitarist Dermot O’Sullivan, who had stopped playing for a couple years after ten years of trying to land a major label in LA/SF. Dermot’s old band MOTRKAD put out two CDs with Chris Isaac’s producer. I met Kurt around the same time, and when he found out I had played drums in my errant youth, he encouraged me to start playing again. His argument was that I had been immersed in music every day anyway, so my ability would probably come back. After a number of personnel changes we evolved into the current line-up, with Frank D. on bass and “Che” Ray – Ralph, on keys. “Drive-by” Russ Jones came in later on second guitar.Initially it was formed as a benefit band – Its in our official charter to play benefits for worthwhile causes. We’ll be playing a We Care benefit in June. 

• You spend a lot of time spreading the music love on air…but what aspect of making music excites you the most? In addition to being a creative outlet, something happens when you’re making original good music with others that is like driving 100 mph with the top down. It’s both liberating, transcendent and noisy. 

• What musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

 My taste in music, like most people I know, and especially in the band, is very eclectic. We’re the spawn of free-form radio in the late 60s, and 70s with roots that go back much further and are global in scope. Ralph, for example, also plays in an Indian Raga outfit.    In what ways does Annapolis (or other places you’ve lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?  For a long time, Annapolis had a very limited number of venues, especially for original music. That’s changed, especially with the Ram’s Head. It’s still a very small town, though. Fortunately, DC and Baltimore are within spitting distance. I don’t think where I live has much influence over what I listen to- that’s the point of music – to take you where the artists are.  

• What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show?

In Boston, there is a very famous club called "The Paradise". U2 played one of their first gigs there. There's also a gay leather bar called just plain "Paradise". I used to be in a band called The Blue Chowder that used to play Paradise. Prozakistan also played a benefit for the closing of the Senator Theatre in Baltimore, a landmark in Art Deco, and the location of John Waters’ premiers – Pink Flamingos through Hairspray. But Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention played their back in the day, as did James Brown. It was really great to be able to play on such an historic stage before it went dark for good. 

• Before you start you rocking out do you have a super secret ritual you do?  Honey, lemon, & pepper tea?  Naps on satin pillows? 
• I should eat a couple of bananas or take potassium supplements so I donlt cramp up, but I don’t. I prefer whole-body flossing followed by emersion therapy in a sensory deprivation tank. 

 

• Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Kurt writes the really strange/funny lyrics. Dermot writes most of the melodies and a lot of the lyrics too, and a lot of the arrangements. In many ways this is his project, but we all have a say in the creative hashing out that goes into the final mix. It’s like sausage – tastes good but you don’t want to see how it’s made.  Most of our songs seem to be about the realization that none of us really have any understanding of what reality really is – more questions than answers. But then again, in Prozakistan we’ve learned not to ask too many questions.

• Tell us about Prozakistan’s music-making process. Dermot has hours of recorded ideas to draw from, and Kurt can come up with lyrics almost on the spot. Dermot usually plays an idea and we improvise for a bit. Or he has one already finished. If we think it has potential we work on it. That said, some of our material just happened. Canyon Fire grew out of Ralph playing one note on a keyboard while everyone else was outside taking a break. Kurt came in and started reciting lines from a long poem we’d written a few years back when his mother was dying. The lyrics are strange, but they seem to have an affect on people. After playing Canyon Fire there’s usually an interesting silence –from both the audience and the band members.

 

• Describe the Prozakistan fan. Usually an unemployed steelworker with a sinus condition and dark secrets.

 

• What’s the ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune? Is it all about the Benjamin’s?
• This is all about creative expression and helping others feel good about life.

 As both a radio star AND a rock star, what advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands? Do it for love. 

• How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD? We’re finishing up a bunch of material for a CD with our great friend and recording engineer Mike Zull. Until recently he was one of the owners of Hour House in Baltimore, but he has a new studio now. Some of the demos are on our website www.prozakistan.com

 

• Any last words? Don’t shoot.