You may know him, you may not. Either way, after this interview you'll probably love him. This young buck from the "San Fernandude Valley" is definitely something special. Just read on, damnit.
CLUSTERFUCK: If you had to pitch yourself to the world as to why they should know who you are, what would you say?
STEPHEN OBAR: I'd prefer goin with a high-definition commercial so people could see how handsome i am instead of them just being able to read my golden words of wisdom. However, I'd probably pitch myself as "the jack of all trades that knows jack shit". Or "Modern day Renaissance man, the myth, the man, the legend for no good reason". To be honest, I don't really know why anyone would wanna know me. I'm not looking for a best friend because i already have one in myself.
CF: Describe a day in the life of Stephen Obar.
SO: Not much to it. Wake up, make some coffee and breakfast, check my social networks (of course), chat with a few babes online, and then hit the gym. Come home, rinse and repeat. Sun goes down and I'll probably be found at my friend Funnyman's house eating his moms cooking and watching a movie like i own the joint. It's a rough schedule as of right now.
CF: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
SO: Five years from now i'll be somewhere around the age of 19 and i'll hopefully be doing the same shit i am today. Doin interviews, dancing, talking to people that are more important than me, and maybe even have a job. Ya never know. Don't count me out yet.
CF: What is the most noteworthy thing you've done in your life?
SO: I like to say that my life is just gettin started. I guess if i sat in front of you and told you stories about what i've been through, where, who, and when i did stuff it wouldn't be anything special. But, before you fell asleep you'd probably jot down that I beat cancer, I could beat your ass, and probably tear off a piece of the paper you were writing on and throw yur phone number on it to give to me, cuz i'm just that HOTT.
CF: You're an avid tweeter, what do you think you bring to the world of 140 characters?
SO: I wouldn't say "AVID", I've been on twitter for like 5 months now or something. I'm learning the ropes though, I'm still rough around the edges when it comes to ReTweets, and multiple mentions. Yet, I kinda look at myself as a rapper of the twitter world. I tweet shit that might not even be cool, funny, or clever, but since i'm hot at the moment my followers eat it up. I say "Gimme 140 characters and watch wut i do wit it", Kinda like Lil bow said back in the day about basketballs or some shit.
CF: You're also pretty big on working out & keeping your body in check, what advice do you have for those trying to stay in shape?
SO: Yeah, i made it a way of life. I used to be a fat kid, burger boy, burger kid, donut dude, french fry fella, etc. and i got sick of it. People don't know how good it feels to be in-shape, energized, and healthy. My advice for people trying to stay 
in shape or wanting to get in shape is this: Go for it, it ain't easy, you might have to sacrifice some shit you like such as eating junk, but if you take it one day at a time and just make the best choices day after day you'll be much more happy because you'll not only look better, but you'll feel better. And you can mark my words, bet me, challenge me, but I can guarantee that you'll feel better, even if you still are ugly as shit.
CF: What makes you worthy of being featured in a '10 Questions' segment? Besides me just wanting you to do one, that is.
SO: What makes anyone worthy? I feel like i can bring shit to the table. No one wants to talk about stuff that's on their mind. I'll talk about what's on my mind, your mind, all our minds all god damn day. I'll do '10 questions' every other day if people will read it and interact with me.
CF: I've seen some of your art work and you're really good; what got you into painting?
SO: Thanks, I dunno, i think it was the chicks. I started seeing all these girls painting these stupid fucking paintings and everyone complimenting them on how "artsy" they were. In my head, i was "fuck, that shit sucks bitch".
CF: Have you always been an artist or was it something you started up recently?
SO: I took art, cartooning, and painting classes in high school but i was never 
serious. I had this one watercolor painting featured in an art museum once, that was kinda cool. I don't know what the fuck happened to it though. I think it got stolen right out of the display cuz someone thought it was a Picasso piece or one of those other famous old dudes. But as of right now, it's tough gettin motivated and excited to paint. i get in these spurts where it's all i wanna do for a couple days in a row and that's when i'll actually get something done.
CF: Many years down the road when you're old and gray and you look back, what kind of impact do you hope you have had on the world?
SO: When i get old I just wanna be sitting on my porch with my buds, @miksmcfly, Funnyman from hollywood Undead, and all my other dipshit friends, and i just want us to be able to laugh at all the shit i DIDN'T accomplish in my lifetime. I wanna be able to say "Wow, I didn't have any money, didn't have much (or any) luck with the ladies, wasn't very educated, didn't do shit". But i wanna be able to say those things with a smile on my face. Bottom line; As long as i'm happy, you're happy, and we're havin a good time, that's all that matters to me.
Now make sure to follow him on Twitter for something to entertain your otherwise boring, drab lives. And honeyz, send him n00dz...or money for a haircut.
10 Questions With...Stephen Obar
10 Questions With....The Sleeping's Doug Robinson
Whether you have heard of them or not, Long Island's The Sleeping has really made a name for themselves. From being featured in video games to participating in sold-out tours across the country, they're conquering every avenue they set foot on. I was lucky enough to get lead singer Doug Robinson to take some time out and play 10 questions with me. If you don't love him yet...oh, you will.
CLUSTERFUCK: What do you like better about putting an album together, the writing or the recording?
DOUG: The recording... definitely. I mean the excitement of writing is beautiful but the true beauty lies within the recording process. You just enter a completely different world every time you head into the studio. Songs and their structures can be altered and the expansion of your mind and your abilities just grow without any thought. You come out learning an incredible amount about many different things when you leave a studio. You learn more about yourself and your limits, strong points, weaknesses, etc. You learn more about the others around you more and more each time. You grow a bond and even though we say the word "band" in context without always taking notice to the meaning, the word band means "Something that binds or ties together." That's a great thing to acknowledge when creating music with your closest friends around you. Whether it's in your garage or on a much larger scale. Not to mention how stoked you are on life once everything is complete. You hear your creations finalized for the first time and it's just an intoxicating feeling. Like no matter what happens around you... those creations are your babies and you have experienced a lot to raise them and watch them grow.
CF: Is there anyone that you would like to work with musically?
D: There's a million people I would love to work with. My favorite artist of all time is Fiona Apple and I always vision doing something with her. She is by far a huge influence on the way I write. So much angst comes from such an angel and it makes me admire her for never holding any of her thoughts or feelings back. She does whatever she wants and doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. She's the true definition of punk rock and punk rock is what I grew up on... Not just the music but the ethics behind the music. The drive and determination to make yourself become who you are without letting anyone poison you along the way. I would love to work with anyone with that mentality because people like that are always an inspiration.
CF: What do you do when you're not out on tour or
making music?
D: Well, I'm always making music and for the most part we are usually on tour,
haha. When we aren't though I just sit around and read as much as possible. I try to devour every book in sight. Also, Sal, our bassist, owns a bar on Long Island and 
since he's my best friend I was somehow able to catch a job as a bartender on Friday nights and now I consider myself an elite bartender, haha. I'm just glad he realized how bored I was and hooked me up because if he didn't I would literally just be sitting in front of my Xbox in my boxers. People think it's cool to be in a band and never have to work again (which it is great) but it's actually boring as fuck. I like staying productive and being as active as possible. I mean, I am sure that mentality could be different if you're rich but I'm pretty comfortable and I still hate not working. It's fun to take on other endeavors because it teaches you a little more about yourself as an individual.
CF: If you could put together the ultimate tour for yourself, what bands would you want to be a part of it?
D: I used to answer this with a list of bands I never thought I would ever get the chance to play with but now where I'm at in my life I realize that there's much more than that in the grand scheme of things. I would want to put together a tour of friends. People we have played with a million times and it never gets old. It would be a traveling fest. Let me name a few: Bayside, I Am The Avalanche, This Is Hell, Closure In Moscow, Hollywood Undead, Poison the Well, Fordirelifesake (R.I.P.), Envy On the Coast, The Fall Of Troy and many others I can't think of off of the top of my head. I wouldn't care if 10 people a night came to that show because all of those bands are some of our best friends and being with all of those dudes on a regular basis would be all I need.
CF: Is there a city you haven't played in that you really would like to one day?
D: There's a ton of places I can't wait to explore. I have no specifics really because to me every place has its gems. Even places that I have been to that are the worst places I have ever seen still have special memories stored inside of my brain and heart.
CF: Was it exciting for you to have your band featured on Guitar Hero, or was it no big thing?
D: It was definitely a great feeling. The accomplishments gained throughout this band's journey are amazing to me and I'm always thankful for cool shit like that to go down. I have only played our song on GH3 around 3 or 4 times because it's definitely a weird vibe but it's definitely something to be thankful for. It helped us get our name out a lot as well, which is always great. They also just started playing it during NHL games now. So every other day during hockey season I get about 10 texts from people who have heard "Don't Hold Back" over the loud speakers at Ranger/Devil/Red Wing/Islander games. Pretty stoked.
CF: Where would you like to see your band in the next few years?
D: I just want to see us the way we always are which is hard working and happy to be best of friends. I mean, of course I want us to be all over your television 
screens and your stereo speakers but I am happy for all that we have accomplished and I am even happier that I have a family who I can turn to for anything. Music is the most important thing in my life and being able to create music with my best friends is something many people don't take the time to just sit back and appreciate. Even when all is said and done, I still have brothers who I will continue to grow old with.
CF: What is your favorite way to spend your down time?
D: It used to be partying every second but honestly I've toned that down a lot. I mean I'm still the same old dude who loves to get shitty with my friends but a lot has happened in my life over the past couple of years and I have shaped into a different individual. I've realized that I have been alive for 26 years and I am now just starting to figure out who I really am inside. I love reading and I have found a new passion in writing. I mean I always love writing lyrics and whatnot but lately I have been expanding my writing horizons. I have been writing a ton of short stories and even though I can't say anything yet, I have some really exciting things coming up for me within the field of writing. I am about to step into a completely different element and I cannot wait to see what comes out of it. So in a nutshell I'd have to say my downtime involves Reading, Writing, drinking with friends then coming home to read and write some more.
CF: Besides being an amazing vocalist, do you have any other talents?
D: Ha, I appreciate the compliment... thank you. Other talents eh? Ummn, I can play the bass, I play guitar and I also play drums so I'm always busy focusing on all of that.
CF: What do you want people to take away from listening to your music?
D: I want people to take whatever they want with them. My message is for people to follow their own message and if I can comfort some broken souls along the way then I have fulfilled my dreams as a musician. I just want to help those who need it and keep creating music that I love and use as a release for myself as well as others.
Thank you for the questions. It was a great interview.
Pick up The Sleeping's album "What It Takes" and check them out on MySpace and Twitter. And make sure to catch them on tour this month with Scary Kids Scaring Kids in a town near you! I know i will.
Also, if you missed any of the past 10 Questions With... installments, make sure to check 'em out!
Lauren of Pride Clothing
Ryan Loco
Funny Man of Hollywood Undead
Apey of Rad Creations
Spotlight: The Sleeping
There are a lot of bands out there that don't get the recognition they deserve. The Sleeping is one of those bands. Especially after having seen them live multiple times this year, they are definitely flying too low under the radar. Yes, they did have a track on Guitar Hero 3. ("Don't Hold Back" from their debut on Victory Records, Questions and Answers.) And they have accompanied multiple big names on some sold-out tours (Hollywood Undead's TCB & Vatos Locos tours, Nintendo Fusion Tour, etc). Yet, they are still very much overlooked. If you still aren't convinced on these guys after listening to their music, make sure to see them live. If you don't absolutely fall in love, i'll punch you in the face because there's obviously something wrong with you. Ok, no not really. But The Sleeping live is definitely a sight to behold. Lead singer Douglas Robinson powers through the vocals in a high energy romp on stage that will give you chills. Each band member brings something special to the show. Whether it's Bassist Sal Mignano's display of amazing bass runs while in constant movement, drummer Joe Zizzo's hair-covered face pounding away, guitarist Paul Cadena ripping away or keyboardist Chris Evans rocking harder than anyone knew a keyboardist could. Their lyrics speak to the heart and make you feel every single word that comes through the speakers. Musically they are a breath of fresh air in a time when everyone is becoming musically monotonous and mundane. A sound all their own and not to mention, all really cool, down to earth dudes. They love their fans and definitely take time out, especially after shows, to spend some time and show some love. Don't ever be intimidated by these New Yorkers. They just might end up being some of the coolest people you'll ever meet.
Song To Listen To: "Heart Beatz". My personal favorite song. It hits a spot that i know too well.
Make sure to check out the guys on MySpace @ www.myspace.com/thesleeping or on twitter @ www.twitter.com/thesleepingNY. Also catch them on tour in February with Scary Kids Scaring Kids if they're coming to your area. You won't be disappointed!
(Photo Credit: Lauren Abria - Sacramento, CA)
