http://iamez.tumblr.com/

EZ VS DPM debate

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:39:13 -0500

I had this up originally on my blog, but the I Am The Trend guys made it look more pro!
ding ding ding!

http://iamthetrend.com/2009/11/19/how-much-does-it-cost-to-make-a-t-shirt-the-gloves-come-off/

Another Success, thanks to you!

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:27:00 -0500

I honestly don’t know where to start since usually when I write something up it usually ends up being long and drawn on rant babble.

so I guess I’ll start by thanking all my friends and fans and anyone who has ever supported me from the start.

It’s seriously the reason why I do this. I’m not doing this for the money or metaphorically compare clothing line cock sizes. I do this because I want to be praised and for the recognition, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. For kids to be as excited for my line to be released time and time again as if it were christmas morning, or the night before that really bad ass field trip you’re about to go on.

I’ve never been more proud of any line than I have this one. mainly because it’s something I believe in. I loved the summer line but basically everything was limited. To be completely truthful I did some more girlier designs and colors because I was hoping that the retail success would continue. I found myself sort of selling out and I immediately felt guilty. I found myself wearing 3 of the summer line and just putting the rest in storage. That’s like calling your own kid ugly.

I also saw a lot more culture spoofs. Now I am not one to say that I started the trend or that I am the spoof mastermind, but it just got ridiculous. I knew it was something I couldn’t do.

Most lines are claiming that they want to go more mature or that they went more mature. I think those people don’t know the meaning the word mature. Some people say that’s what I’ve done and that’s what the new trend is and will be. The fact of the matter is. I did what I want, what I wear, what I respect and appreciate and I didn’t open my photoshop with dollar signs in my eyes.

What makes electric zombie so successful? Perhaps it’s the fact that I don’t look at it as a way to make some cash and take advantage of trends and kids allowance or their parent’s money. This is all fun for me, and I’m not doing it to quit my job and sit back and watch the money come in. This really means a lot to me. I don’t see the point of charging over 20 bucks for a shirt. That’s just ridiculous and most of all greedy. You really need to sit back and look and listen to your customers, because without them, you’re just another failure waiting to implode on yourself.

I hope you realize that no one will really give a shit about your almost 30 dollar price point. You aren’t Johnny Cupcakes or Mishka or any other respectful line thats been around the block and back and have a following that makes yours look embarrassing.

I try and do my best to do whats right for myself and for my fans. If it’s spending about 2k on free goodies. To staying up until 3am tagging every shirt, putting 500 goodie bags together. Folding pizza boxes. It’s all me, this line is all me. My heart goes into every single one of these shirts. I know as gay and lame as that sounds it’s the truth.

For almost 2 years now I have spent nights, days, weeks, thinking of what to do next, what can I do to make everyone excited line after line. What trend can I set, what lines can I cross and who faces can I melt.

I know I get this reputation as this horrible sarcastic fuck head who hates everything and everyone. That might be the case. If you spent a day in my head and you juggled the things I do single handedly, you would understand. I don’t do this because I have to, I do this because it’s fun and so rewarding to get emails, to do interviews, to see things sell out, to be inspiring to people is the complete pay off. There’s times I’ve let shirts go for 5 bucks and hoodies for 10 just because I want to make fans happy.

I can’t express enough how grateful I am to be in the position I am, after spending hours and days yesterday / today to get this ready. To sit back and read responses is so amazing, words can’t even describe.

so all you nay sayers and all you people out there who think kyle crawford is just a dick head and electric zombie is just a joke. Perhaps you should back peddle and look at your situation and really get your game plans and priorities straight. If you do this to try and be the next big thing, the next big pay check and throw it in everyone’s faces, I will be sitting behind the screen smiling my arrogant told you so smile. Doing what others do, trying to fit into trends instead of making your own, trying to be something your not, ripping off your fan base and showing your like of integrity will be your ultimate downfall. Without your fans, you’re nothing but just another speck on the wall.

I want to thank everyone at merch now,

welcome, the dude that used to have dread locks who’s name I dont know, for helping me fold and get some tagging done…

Christian and B-RAIDs for helping me perfect and realize my custom garment visions

Rob Dobi, Horsebites, Deal and The Black Axe dudes for being stoked to work on my projects and supporting it after almost 2 years.

Munk one, Chris Lovell and Felix for being the new kids on the block.

Thomas Bailey for always listening to me bash and trash and making the best ez sites and look books a reality

All the twitter and facebook lurkers.Iamthetrend, coty, My fans and everyone reading this…

Thank you so much for a glorious 2 years.
here’s to many more (fingers crossed).

I have something special coming out for the 2 year anniversary. So keep your eyes peeled!

Happy Friday The 13TH!

New Blog, but no blog...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:25:33 -0400

I got a new blog layout coded by the infamous justin turtlesdove. Butttt they’re won’t be a new blog tonight as I will be a part of the I Am The Trend halloween broadcast tonight answering questions and talking about what thickness of wood is best to beat up grandpa with.

Check out their new site which launched today

www.iamthetrend.com

and I will see you tonight 8PM cen / 9pm EST

oh make sure you check out the new EZ facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Electric-Zombie/161544398675

and as always follow me on twitter butt wipers

www.twitter.com/kyleisez

somebody called the wahhh-bulance

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:27:00 -0400

So this past weekend was the photo shoot for the electric zombie winter line. It was such a blast. Adam is a good friend and an even better photographer. I am beyond excited for these shots. I flew out on thursday. During my layover in dc, I was rushing to my gate. then something caught my eye. A shiny red bright light shining 8 letters. (thanks v)

I had to stop and get it. It was pretty good too for airport food. Airport food is about as good as mall food. The price wasn’t bad either, same as a normal five guys.
when I landed in San Diego, we went right to a bar and had some drinky poos. Then proceeded to watch Maximum Overdrive.
The next day we went to missions and had breakFEAST! so good. Its probably some of the best breakfast places I’ve ever had besides waffle shop in orlando.
I got this breakfast burrito with potatoes, eggs, bacon, black beans and chipotle’ sour cream. it came with chips and salsa and this toast that tasted like the bread at macaroni grill

adam basically got the same thing, just not in burrito form and with chicken apple sausage

then we went and looked at the locations he picked. Everything was perfeeeccctt. Checked out a mall where I got some stuff from h&m that they didnt have here at mine. That night I went out with some of my designer friends bailey bear and raul rhino. I honestly dont know raul’s last name, ha!
Took me to a glorious mexican place and had some delicious margaritas. Checked out Zombie land as well. Such a good movie. the middle was slow and there were some flaws, but nothing that wasnt enjoyable. I was kind of bummed that all of the deaths were pretty much in the trailer.
the next day was the day of the shoot. We of course went to missions again. It was too good to not go again. This time I got the french toast. It was so huge that I could only finish 1 slab of it. It’s way bigger than the picture. don’t be fooled.

it took a few hours to get set up and for people to arrive. But the time passed very quickly. those 2 hours flew by so fast I dont even remember what I did.
We broadcasted the shoot, it was wayyyy too dark for anyone to make out anything,I apologize about that! we had almost 500 viewers, nuts!
all the models looked great and so did the shots. once we did all the product shots, we went to the location shots. After 5 mins of the shoot, a marine officer pulled up. Then another and another. They walked up and said that a woman called saying we were tagging on their bridge. after about 30 mins of questioning, one of the officers said it was out of their jurisdiction and that the san diego police would be on their way. 4 san diego police cars pull out. so we have 3 marines and 5 cops. at first they made it seem like that we were busted. the worst part of it is, I changed my jeans and left my wallet in the previous pair I was wearing. They asked everyone for their id’s and then asked who drove. I tried to say adam did and he said “no i didnt”. I was so nervous. I seriously thought the whole thing was going to be ruined. About an hour later we were allowed to continue shooting. The cops became friendly and less douchey. We tried to take a picture with them but they said that the US government wouldnt like it too much. Another one said they were going to be on youtube. Some of the models have pics and everything of the event and plan on posting them when I can…
after all the amazing and fun shots we all went to cheesecake factory and had a blasty.
all in all I feel like it was an awesome trip. The best people and models that I’ve ever worked with, fantastic locations, great shots. I can’t express that enough. If I had/have it my way I would LOVE to use the same people next line. Seriously….
below are some shots from this weekend taken by nicole rork http://www.nicolerork.com/

I still have so much left to do. It’s insane. I can’t even think of all of it off hand. Posters, postcards, catalogs, line sheets, websites, look books, goodie bags and so on and so on. That and I’m trying to do my book too! so much work, Until next week!

so behind!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:09:00 -0400

I haven’t blogged in 2 weeks, ahhhh! Time to catch up. (If I can remember everything)
Let’s seeeee.. Raw. Oh yea, raw was awful. The best thing was that the hell in a cell was there. I was so fucking bored. The best thing about the whole entire night was when orton and cena climbed the cell, that was it.

the shitty thing is when I went to the pay per view, that didnt even do that. They didn’t climb the cell. no blood, no nothing. I was beyond disappointed. HHH and Ted Dibase ended up fighting on the aisle we sat at the end of, so triple h was beating the shit out of him on my dads foot while my dad watched the ring. He had no idea what was going on and I was freaking out. That was probably my highlight, in case you’re wondering. They didnt even film that. They filmed the other 2 wrestlers fighting, awesome.

heres some pictures I took at the event

thats right 4 pictures. Shit was a boreeee fest…

All the shirts are done and packed in my suitcase. I was going to take a pic, but then you’d be getting more peeky poos! I don’t think so.

I updated my site over the weekend. I added over 50 tees, 3 cd layouts and about 12 new posters. I have a couple more things to add. Just waiting for some last minute approvals. check it out here

www.theelectriczombie.com/index2.htm

I also organized all my shirts of my designs I took copies of. Soooo damn many, theres this…

and 2 more just like them in storage. I might have to buy a unit, yikes!

thursday at 1pm , I officially go on vacation which is glorious. Flying to san diego on thurs afternoon. Tons of crap planned. Going to hang with some friends see zombie land and caress each other ever so gently, raul rhino and bailey bear are gonna cuddle it up! I hope thomas doesn’t shave, he’s a sexy man with facial hair, I hope he gets some taco cheese stuck in it. MMMMM

Probably going to go check out mayday parade and set your goals as well while I’m out there. Then the ez shoot which will be broadcasted live I hope. I think both adam and I will be broadcasting it. BLOWWWWING YOUR MINDDDDD….

stoked to work on the new ez sites and look books. Adding 5 new bands to the roster. Working on my book. It’s a much needed vaca.

hmmmm what else am I missing.
goodie bags should be awesome. I ordered a good amount of stuff. Can’t wait to cram it all in (that’s what she said)

Stickers are going to be awesome. I hope that the custom mailers turn out great too. Should be getting a sample in a day or so.

I wish I had more hints to stuff I could give out. The only semi secretive thing I can think of off hand is, something I said I would never do in a million years, I might be doing. Opportunity knocks, I just might eat my words.

Seeing how it’s the 13th, I made a list of top 13 horror movies for halloween.
(In no order)

1.Christine
2. Dawn of the Dead Remake
3. Nightmare on Elm Street 1-3 in a row, yea I know I’m cheating but watching them back to back rules. 3 by far is the best of the series though
4. Hatchet
5. Friday the 13th 6 & 7
6. Child’s Play 2 (fucking glorious)
7. Grindhouse (as a whole, not that split shit)
8. Brainscan
9.Tales from the Crypt Demon Knight
10. I might get some shit for this but my bloody valentine remake in 3d, how could you not love a 3d movie in your own home?!
11.Maximum Overdrive (how could you not love the soundtrack)
12. Shaun of the Dead
13. Final Destination 2, these movies suck, but I love the death scenes in this movie. Ridiculous

honorable mentions :

Army of Darkness (but you can watch that any time)

day of the dead - original

I’m not a fan of the actual halloween movies. I think they’re terrible. the character sucks and it makes me want to shit on grandma

I’m actually downloading drag me to hell and night of the creeps to watch on the airplane this weekend.

Also on the 26th I wont be blogging as I will be doing a video chat / interview with IAMTHETREND answering questions and possibly showing more sneaky peeks…

speaking of which.

see you next week loserssss until then, catch me on twitter

http://www.twitter.com/kyleisez

It's fall! eerrrrr tomorrow

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:57:00 -0400

That’s right! Tomorrow is the first day of fall. Bet you didn’t know that! I’ve been taking some much needed R&R, even though I’m kind of bored, been rearranging and organizing and cleaning. Mainly because I was getting a new computer set up, which rules BTW, you can see the new set up righttttttt HERE! (look close and you’ll see a not so noticeable preview of a new ez fall design)

I just finished half of the stuff I’m working on for new found glory, the stage set up is going to be awesome. I’m really excited to see it in person. Now i just have to crank out a bunch of tour merch and I’m done til november… Well, I might sneak some innerpartysystem in there and some miss may i. MAYBE! tons of shows coming up that I’m going to. Just a pile of crap coming up, I have to go through my calendar and schedule… So, I am going to go a little out of order and jump into one of the questions, because well it ties in with what I was going to talk about.

Skull Face asks : Tuffy or Rowdy? I’m going to have to say rowdy. Tuffy, is the far superior dog when it comes to looks and cuddles. But rowdy, sorry rowdy pupper, Is possibly one of the coolest dogs ever. He attacks tuffy all the time and steals shit from her and when he does he sounds like he’s saying “HI-YA!” SO AWESOME. that and he has some awesome nicknames.

-Rowdy Man
-Rowd’s (taken from Black Sheep)
-Rudes
-Poo Poo Man
-Doo Doo Dude
He had to get his teeth taken out today and he’s all tuckered out, good thing I was able to get this good shot of him I’m prob going to get printed 18x24 and hang it up, yesterday.

Took some pics of him in his halloween costume too (he’s actually got 2, because before his surgery today he had 2 rows of teeth top and bottom and I called him shark man, so he’s got a shark costume too) once he and tuff get groomed this weekend, should look awesome

anyway enough of the puppy talk. Onto the rest of the blog. so my PS3 died. I was watching Wolverine and BOOM, froze and cut out in the middle, won’t even read a disc now, awesome. So now I have to go buy a new one, it’s cool there’s a new slim one anyway with a bigger hard drive, in which I can now buy turtles in time, yes! speaking of buying things, here’s one of the first new halloween things i bought this weekend. Awesome vintage bat…

The weather has been so damn glorious. Windows open at night, sunny, wind blowing. Leaves are starting to change, I love the fall, and it’s so much better in NY, I don’t think I could ever go back to FL. Highlight of my week last week: Blink design of mine in hot topic, snagged this weekend, can’t wait to wear it!

here’s some ez news for you

- Something cool (to me at least) is going to happen on october 13th. Mark your calendars

-Something may or may not happen on Sept 26th (remember 13 is the magic number)

-First new EZ fall piece comes in tomorrow, or is it pieces?

I unfortunately won’t be able to blog next monday as i will actually be at Monday Night Raw, 2nd row ringside, prob going to bring an EZ sign. Not so stoked that the guest host is Rev Al Sharpton. WEAK SAUCE! be on the look out!
I’ll be posting a pic of the sign if i do indeed decide to bring one. here’s the rest of this week’s questions….

Rob Dobi asks: One wrestler I could design merch for I think in the past I would say Something NWO, Ultimate Warrior or Sting, big bossman would rule, maybe even Razor Ramon, wrestling was so amazing back then. Present Time… I think I would destroy CM PUNK merch, but I’d like to Jericho/HHH merch, as they are and have always been my fav wrestlers for the past 8 years.

Amee Asks: Do you have a good relationship with your family? ehhhhhhhhhh It’s a lot different now, so I guess it’s, better? I’m more into the idea of my own family and other people’s families other than my own. so I guess that’s a no. I haven’t seen my mom In almost 10 years and haven’t spoken to her in 3.

If you have any questions, you can email them to kyleisez@gmail.com until next weeeekkk, thanks for (maybe) reading!

week 2, not too shabby

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:10:00 -0400

So we are less than 2 months away from the release and we are officially a month and a half away from halloween!

but who really cares about the actual day halloween. I am more excited for the decorations. In fact a bunch of stores have already started stocking the stuff. I bought some cool shit already at joanns, including some scarfs for the dogs. Got these gnarly little headless body things that you set a pumpkin on, got a mummy and frankenstein. pretty sweet. Started to think of what we’re going to do for the dogs as costumes. Rowdy is going to be a ninja turtle and I’m not sure what Tuffy is going to be yet. Last year she was a werewolf.

Best candy ever for halloween = pumpkin flavored hershey kisses

I’m going to make sure to make my weekly trips to target and walmart this year. Target has the best character themed decorations. Last year they had this awesome frankenstein dude, in which I bought a mug and a bowl. This year they have these 3 little monster creatures. They didn’t have everything out yet. Maybe for the blog next week….

Got part of my new computer system today. right now next to my imac, are 2, 24 inch LED displays. The tower comes soon and I cant wait to hook it up. I think in october I am going to do another cribs revisit type thing and you’ll get to see it in all it’s gloriousness

got my sweet new backpack today as well… you can see it here
http://goincase.com/products/detail/cl55176

it’s even better in person. Definitely going to need it on my trip to san diego to do the fall shot with Adam Elmaki-maki

going to have a busy ass remaining of the month, I have a massive pile of New Found Glory stuff to do and I am super stoked on it

I decided to take off of freelance until November. I have to wrap up on NFG the rest of the month. Then I flew my dad out so we could go to Hell in a Cell, wrestling pay per view the first weekend of October. Then Working on some previous scheduled stuff the weekend after. Then the next week is the photo shoot. Then probably going to work on my book and EZ stuff until the release. Going to be INTENSE, so probably won’t be until the middle of November til I’m back in action…

I really need to get my game face back on when it comes to outside work. I’m a machine at work, I actually think Im over 30 approved tee’s already. I feel like I am lacking in the outside work, even though I always have something to do…

I feel like all my designer friends I talk to is just smashing through shit and is always busy. I feel like I am only naming off 1 thing while theyre naming off 5.6.7.857608476845 things

thats the great thing about numbers, theres no typo, you can mash things together and no matter what it’s not wrong. IT ISSSSS a number…

speaking of halloween, DID YOU KNOW? that daylight savings time lands on halloween this year?

In this time off I am taking, I am going to be once again adding new work to my site. I have 3 cd layouts and some vinyl stuff and tons of posters and shirts that aren’t up and I can’t release yet.

Heres some EZ tidbits/news/secrets I am giving away

- The Magic # is 13
- There won’t be anything coming out on Halloween and I am not releasing it early so you can wear it on halloween like last year
- I will be having some sort of sale at some point for halloween, might just be a 24 hour thing, haven’t decided yet
-There will be NO holiday shirts this year, I know shitty. But with the release happening in november it’s just another hassle, MAYBE NEXT YEAR!

I think thats it… now onto this weeks questions!

some of these I’m sorry guys I wont be answering, becase it’s weak stuff like, where do you like to eat etc etc….

if you have a question email it! kyleisez@gmail.com

Justin Ryan asks:lots of people talk crap on you and hate on you, why do you think that is? what do you have to say to “the haters”?

I think a lot of it has to do getting what I deserve. I admit I am not always the nicest person on the internet. Not that I wouldn’t say any of this to anyone’s faces. I am a very vocal person. But it’s the truth, a good percentage is just shit talk but I’d like to say a good 95% is just the cold hard FACTS. I am not one of those people to SUCK your nuts and kiss your balls to get somewhere in life. I feel no need to pat someones back and make them feel good. I think that’s a big problem. I think another big chunk comes from me having this “KNOW IT ALL” attitude. I think there’s a big difference between thinking I know and Knowing I know. I am watching everyone, if you know it or not, I am. I always keep up to date on who’s doing what, and what’s coming out. I think it’s IMPERATIVE as a designer in such a competitive profession….

I’ve asked a bunch of people their opinions, even you Justin, why people dislike me and a good majority say 1 of 2 things. “I’m an asshole, a truthful asshole” and then there’s the typical “They’re just jealous” answer. Now, I don’t FULLY believe that. I know people think I am this cocky arrogant dude. In a sense, yes I am. I work very hard and I can juggle multiple tasks and succeed 99% of the time. That is the only bit of cockiness I do have. I feel extremely lucky and privileged to even have GOT where I am today. I still don’t even think am as success as people like to perceive. I am not one of these dudes who quit their jobs and freelance full time. That’ just not realistic. Someone who is “Successful” wouldn’t HAVE to freelance and work a day job and own a clothing company. I have debts, I have bills. I don’t just flash my money and success around. I don’t think I ever have. I may say check out these BLU rays I bought. Or I’m going to wrestlemania. But I am not always going on vacations, or taking days off. I am always and I mean always working.

So I mean I think jealousy could be an issue. I know some people think that “All he does is throw a movie poster on a shirt with a band or his name on it”. Which is completely false. So much more than that actually goes into it, Textures, blending, airbrushing, text, customizing, ETC ETC. I wish it was as EZ (that’s for you jud) to do, but it’s so much more complex than that.

I feel also, that the arrogance, comes from me doing any style and being able to do it. I might not be the best at illustration, but I’d like to think I’m pretty good. I think that the vast areas I can cover might annoy some people in an envious fashion.

I mean I honestly can’t really answer that question. I feel as if some people feel like they can do what I do, and don’t get how I get the clients I do, but I think that if those people spent more time on art and less time calling me a dick and watching every word I say and always try to bury me and hating me, then maybe they’d get the work I get.

Nothing was handed to me, I worked (and work) my ass off….

Volatile V asks:Are you bothered by the fact that Hot Topic has not yet changed their name to Kyle Crawford?

I don’t think thats much the case anymore. I think Hot Topic, is slowly trying to figure themselves out and what’s cool in the scene anymore. I have a good amount of stuff in there now. But NO WHERE near as close as lets say 6 months to a year ago. I think now it’s got a good mix. So maybe it’s a good thing they never did change their name….

Seibei asks: with all the horror film franchise reboots, is there one horror film you’d like to see redone, and what would you like to see done differently?

I think (and heard they are) redo the chucky series. The first 2 were incredible. It got so cartoonie and shitty, and corny (as they usually do) and it ended as a complete piece of shit series. And for the love of god, can they make a decent looking chucky toy?! I mean the dude IS a toy. They always manage to make it horrible.

I really hope that they don’t ruin A nightmare on Elm Street. It’s my favorite franchise out there. I think that another (not remake) gremlins would be awesome. New Batch FTW!

Hopefully next week they’ll be some goodies to show you as well as the cribs redo.
Sorry If I bored you and put you to sleep! See you next week!

tomorrow it begins. I order the brand new Electric Zombie line and I am beyond excited about it....

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:08:00 -0400

tomorrow it begins. I order the brand new Electric Zombie line and I am beyond excited about it. This is really going to put to the test the future of the company. Right now I am a little up in the air about it. For some time now every body has been zombying something. I’m tired of seeing it. It’s like peanut butter and jelly’s. Boy do I love them, but when I and everyone around me is eating them every day, it almost makes you want to gag.

Everyone uses the same exact people. I get it they do great work. But it’s literally the same. It might not be a zombie or some kind of monster. But it’s the same people working for the same people.

I did a lot of the new stuff myself and used 3 people I have never used before and went back to some old friends. I am beyond excited just to see the first strike off of the designs. Doing some new things as well. I don’t want to give it all away just now, as I am looking to do this every Monday until the new line comes out, which is in 67 days.

I plan on showing some previews of some stuff as well, as it gets printed and try and get more video stuff going. This is all wishful thinking and I hope that I can actually live up to it.

Work has been calming down a little bit. Or maybe it’s the fact that I am gettiing it done faster or that I have a little more time to get some stuff done. Who knows. All I know is that October I won’t be doing too much. I have my dad flying out for a wrestling pay per view in jersey we got ringside seats to. So he’ll be down for a few days and then I am flying out to San Diego for the EZ shoot. and then getting ready for the Launch. I am hoping to get a book done for all my friends and family as well. Again, this is all wishful thinking and hoping.

I am also going to start answering peoples questions every week as well, in case I run out of things to talk about, HAHA… so if there’s any questions you like to know / ask feel free to email me kyleisez@gmail.com

that being said, let’s get crackin’

I’m just going to go for the first 3 questions that were asked….

What was the hardest part in your life as a designer?

I would say the hardest part was trying to make time for it. For a good 4 years I was working 3 jobs, always. I was either working at Pizza Hut, Or Chilis, or Hollywood Video, or Pac Sun, or Hot Topic, or Fueled By Ramen, or a Record Store, or Einsteins. Constantly working. So finding time was hard. I think in different parts of my life there’s the hard parts. Not really specifically 1 thing or 1 instance. There’s always the getting paid part. I would say right now the hardest part is getting ideas. I mean it’s getting really bad. I’m not sure if it’s me being burnt out or getting older or what. But I am finding it harder and harder to come up with ideas for designs anymore. I find it super annoying that bands can write music and songs but they have absolutely NO VISION for designs. They just say “Do your thing” and they’ll reject it. Getting direction is getting harder and harder. But I would have to say to actually answer your question is “TIME”. Having enough to complete a design, having it to experiment, to research. I take on so much work and do way too much that the time I do have, I just sleep and eat.

If you could do graphic work for a horror film, which would you choose?

I would have to say, that if it was a film that I was dying to do. It would be anything Freddy Kruger related. But if it was a film to fit the style that I do and can do. I think working on the Saw series would be pretty ideal/awesome.

Freddy is my all time favorite character. I’ve always had this attachment to him as a character. It’s like I grew up with him. Plus I lived on a house on Elm street for 5 years right when the movie came out.

I think with my textures and my style and my clean yet gritty style the SAW series would be awesome. I think that’s something I could nail.

I am dying to do some movie stuff. I feel like I have done almost all I can do with the band merch / music scene.

The TMNT line seemed to be a big success. Do you have plans to release another line based on another beloved toy/cartoon/T.V. show/movie from your childhood?

I’m not entirely sure. I feel like the whole, let’s spoof this and that is way over done. I feel like everyone at some point has done it. Even with band stuff it’s getting a little ridiculous. I feel like I did it once and did it well. I’d be fine not to do it. I haven’t figured out if me doing it again or continuing might be too predictable or out of style. It’s really hard to say. The new line comes out in November. I pretty much plan on doing 2 lines now instead of 4 so that I can put out better product and conserve ideas and my brain. It gets a little grueling when you’re just 1 person making sure everything works and happens. After November, I guess the next forecasted line wouldn’t come out until around April-June. But in all honesty, I might not even do another one after this one. I’m tired of lurking and babysitting people/companies. I’m tired of taking it to a point and then right when I get something that works,it gets duplicated. I know thats the nature of the beast, but I am too busy to deal with it. It hurts my head. So to answer your question, I can’t answer your question. The line in the fall could be it. I don’t see that happening, but it’s a possibility. If I had it my way, the stuff thats coming out in the fall would be the direction I’d like to go. I just hope people will be into like I am

Overdueeeee

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:55:00 -0400

I am the absolute worst at updating this blog, especially with Twitter now (www.twitter.com/kyleisez)

Been pretty busy, but now it’s slowing down quite a bit…
new line is out now and has been doing very well…

in case you’ve been living under a rock.

check it outttt
http://theelectriczombie.com/ezsummerLB09/
http://electriczombie.merchnow.com/

want to thank Phill M (www.phillm.com) for having me stay with him and doing such a great job with the photos. I couldn’t have done it without him and of course Derek Deal (www.derekdeal.com) for his awesome “Gross Overs”

as of now, I’m getting ready for the fall stuff now, preliminary ideas are hatching out now.

Went to warped tour yesterday to check out all the designs I provided. I’m getting old. Totally not into it anymore. The place was a cluster fuck. I was just turned off about the whole thing. I used to bug all the bands to get copies of my merch. I didn’t even bother.

Plus I missed innerpartysystem, the main band I wanted to see. BUMMER. (p.s fuck you new jersey parkway)

I have a couple deals coming out soon. Be on the lookout for an awesome MYSTERY! dun dun dun…

got some cool stuff coming up..

-new found glory stuff
-paramore
-attack attack tour art
-those who lie beneath cd artwork

and a massive pile of stuff to do at work.

I also plan on updating the portfolio again. LONNGGGGG OVERDUE…
I’m so far behind and now that I have some time I can finally catch up.

I have no idea what I’m gong to do with my time off. All I know is, I’m ready to join a GYM, excited on the FALL line and other HUGE things coming up.

Blink shows are coming up. I was told I couldn’t post my designs yet, but if you lurk on ap.net you’ll find them ;)

Looking forward to halloween and christmas. I’m getting antsy to wear warm clothes agan, eating candy and making cookies and watching the crap out of some scary movies
especially this amazing piece of awesomeness

http://d-9.com/

oh and if you had your eye on beardo and party animal, in a few days zumiez will be the only place you can get it! (in stores and online)

http://search.zumiez.com/index?D=electric+zombie&Nty=1&N=0&Dk=0&Ntt=electric+zombie

I took some pics from my recent trip in NJ (not the shitty warped one)

I’m sure I’m forgetting something. Blahhhh
don’t forget to add me on twitter and keep updated with me, ez and my awesome randomnessssss

fuck I think I really am forgetting something… FUCK IT!

Bambooozzlleeee

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:57:00 -0400

Setting up

constantly making faces behind the signings so kids had some weird dude who ruined their pics of the bands. I know, very awesome of me. Adam snuck a shot of me doing so.

plotting….

realizing Adam was taking pics and making the stupid typical Kyle face. I may or maynot be holding a little secret. Who knows?

Before Their Eyes Signing

Silverstein Signing

Line for the A Day To Remember Signing

A Day To Remember Signing

Pics from Wrestlemania/RAW

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:16:00 -0400

Raw the next night…

Ohhh Geez

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:15:00 -0400

So I guess I have some, somewhat eventful news to share.
It’s starting to get warm here in NY, so I am going to be starting a new feature in my blog soon. Probably after I get back from wrestlemania.

I am going to be wearing a new shirt a day, stating what kind of shirt, the kind of fit, brand, colors etc etc.

Should be pretty interesting.

I recently broke down and got a twitter. Lots of crap happened today so I figured why not.

http://twitter.com/kyleisez

Today I my car got its first car wash. I have never washed my scion in the 2 years I’ve had it. Smell like cherry goodness now.

I’ve started buying stuff for bamboozle. Buttons came today, I’ll be posting a weekly maybe even daily blog with updates and everything. Every time something new comes in or any cool little prizes or goodies, you’ll see it here first.

Speaking of getting clean, tuffy got a hair cut, YESSS!

I’ve started a new organization technique, ok maybe its not really a technique. Sticky notes of my projects will surround my screen until I finish and get it knocked out and approved. I had been using the Ical for my projects, but I’d forget to look at it every day, so hopefully this works.

My work load is slowly decreasing. Which is good, cuz like I said I’m getting ready for boozle. So many cool surprises in store!

I’ve also been figuring out colors and garments for the new summer line. I’ve got almost all of them finished. I have to finish 4 more designs and boom done. I can’t believe it goes to print in less than 2 months!

here’s some cool shirts that I bought or came in the mail recently.

bad ass madballs shirt I found making my monthly rounds at hot topic

I sold this design by humans halloweek design to my friend adam, came out awesome

My friend ben at fright rags and I trade tees occasionally. He did this awesome Friday the 13th collection that came in an awesome box and came with real water from crystal lake

I got these awesome prints from geek freeks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geekfreek/

of some wrestlers and robocop, I’m tempted to buy the TMNT ones he has up now. MUSTTTT RESIST!

as you can see by my office, i literally have no room

I guess to end this blog I’ll end it with some quick notes

-Buy “Not without a fight” NFG, shit grew on me, rules. I bought the camo vinyl
-Wrestlemania in less than 2 weeks!
-EZ on MTV? TWICE EVEN?!whattttt?!

toxic tee with a static lullaby and Santa Claws with a day to remember. WOW!
- Favorite shirt I’ve done lately!?!!!!!

until next time!

Chicago Bitch fest (and fuck fest while were at it)

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:19:00 -0500

So I took an un-needed vacation. I kind of wish I moved it, just because I have a butt-ton of work to do. I think for the rest of the month I have (in no apparent order, just from the top of my head)

-Blink 182
-Limp Bizkit
-Music as a weapon tour
-Silverstein Ad Matte / Tour Art
-Oceana CD art
-New Found Glory

like I said it’s off the top of my head, I can’t really recall as I am doing this on the airplane flying back home.

Here’s a quick day to day synapse of what my trip was like.

slept on the plane.
landed at o’hare, now let me just tell you. This place needs it’s own “I survived” shirt. It’s fucking hell. Quite possibly the most stressful and yet ignorant places I have ever been to in my life. No one was helpful at all. Ughhhh

so after probably 30 mins of walking around and getting our bags, we discover where to go to get our rental car.

so we go to pick up our car, although it’s not the car I ordered online, the man assured me that I had rented a chevy cobalt. Yea no thanks. He tried talking me into a hummer and some other car, I did take him up on his dodge nitro 10 bucks a day upgrade. The car was super nice. But I am spoiled with my XB’s Large windshield to which I could see the universe out of. It was like looking out of an airplanes window on the nitro.

I don’t know if any of you have ever driven through New York City and Chicago, but let me just say. Chicago’s drivers are fucking terrible, I have never been more stressed driving anywhere in my life. In NYC, it’s like ok, I have to drive like an asshole. But here, I have to think and act like a retard. Forget using your gps after getting out of a parking garage, it takes like 10 mins for it to come back on.

Traffic is also a bitch, it’s stop and go the entire time. We landed at 6:30 and we didn’t even make it to the hotel until 8:30. I don’t even think we ate dinner. The Hotel , is amazing. Easily the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. We walk in to soft music playing, an aquarium screen saver and our bed turned down. The view was amazing. We had a kitchen and everything. The bathroom had a shower with a tub right next to it. The mirror had a tv in it. Which I did use while taking a shower and taking my daily poo poos.

The Next day was a nightmare. We woke up and walked to the pier. Which was dead. Also, cold as hell. Even though it said it was 35 degrees, it felt like 11. It was way colder than new york. We ate breakfast at fox and obel which is like whole foods meets panera. The breakfast was all natural and really good, eggs benedict and garlic potatoes with one of the most natural tasting hot chocolates I had ever drank. Really good. Shitty thing is, there’s only one of these in existence.

We walked back to the hotel and put on more layers. Then headed out to the Photography museum, which was another let down. It was a small room with pictures of hotel furniture arranged all weird and upstairs exhibited pictures of contorted old men with their wangs out. AWESOME.

We left after maybe 5 mins. Headed over to the famous bean and hung out there for a few minutes and watched people ice skating. There was no way I was going to attempt it and fail miserably at life. I’m one of those people who gives up and goes ape shit when I cant get something done. There was this guy there who was weaving in and out of little kids and skid stopping like he was an NHL player. Way to spend your afternoons “BRO”…

We walked back to the hotel, warmed up and figured out where we were going to eat, We checked out big bowl, which was extremely good. Fast service and it was one of the best dishes I had had. I have no idea why my girlfriend or anyone for that matter likes PF changs. I’d rather have the cheap shit, tastes better and isn’t raping my wallet. This place was way better.

After dinner we went to MORE cupcakes. Which was super awesome. They just have a little space and has their cupcakes on clear shelves for the picking. Lots of options. Luckily the owner was there to help us choose. She even gave us mini cupcakes of red velvet and margarita, which ruled.

We went with the black and white and chocolate hazelnut. Super good.
afterwards we went to see the new friday film in the trashiest most ghetto theatres ever. I mean EVER. as far as the movie. Meh, i’ll go ahead and warn you of spoilers now. Hey guys, remember all those murders, but dude, they have some killer weed growing that apparently if cops had explored and investigated these murders they would have found this so called amazing pot.

The death scenes to follow were awesome, but I think the sleeping bag one was a little too smart for someone who is deformed and retarded. I guess while at camp he learned how to tie the perfect knot and shoot the perfect arrow. How the fuck did he get her on the tree? There is physically no way 1 man can do so, throw the rope over the branch and hold her in the bag with the other hand? there’s just no way, but it was an awesome scene none the less. Now back to this weed, the guy who was in charge of this operation had heard these stories, but still decides to continue the quest? 6 week later a new group of kids staying in a rich boy’s house. Now, let me ask you, tons of incidents, missing people and yet a snobby rich family is going to continue to keep this house, let alone let their son use it for the weekend? Are you kidding me? After all these incidences, why haven’t the authorities done something, blocked off the roads, warned people, signs, something? Especially that there’s an old lady who knows Clay’s sister is missing, sorry dead. Why fucking live there? Makes no sense!

Let’s get to another local who jason decides to kill for no reason and he’s just now getting to it? Oh and here’s the mask! forget that 30 minutes later in a tool shed that just so happens to have sporting equipment in which holds a death scene as the origin of the mask, I mean you’ve gone this long without making sense, let’s just keep going.

The movie had it’s moments, I’ll probably even buy it. But believe me, it’s not all that great. You can’t give me this well all the other movies were bad bullshit, it was the 70’s and 80’s. I don’t think they’re were any films that really had any thought put into it. This was a reinventing a rebirth, and it ended up being a joke and not scary at all.

The next day was vday, and we went and had breakfast at handlebar, a suggestion from my friend horsebites. The place had a great environment, and just as he suggested I ordered the biscuits and gravy, to which he said it would do something to my dick, I cant remember what he said, it might have been, murder my dick or something, ha. It did however murder my stomach. I’m a good ol’ fashioned southern white sausage gravy kind of guy, this looked more like an old biscuit covered up with baby’s peas and carrots vomit topped with scallions. I ate it, and it wasnt that bad. But the place rules for the atmosphere

We then headed to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which was surprisingly free.
Then walked to Clark st where we went to a puppy store, got coffee and checked out their Urban Outfitters, which was one of the nicest I had been to. Me being the cupcake fanatic we went to Molly’s Cupcakes which line was out the door.

For dinner we went to su casa, and it was amazing. No complaints.

Now there’s something I forgot to mention about the day before VDAY. As my girlfriend and I were watching tv, I heard weird ass noises. I was like, “Is that a fucking baby crying?” I muted the TV and it was a dude moaning. Now I was shocked and my GF felt sick. I went to listen by the door. To hear 2 if not more sets of dudes moaning. Followed by a chic who had a smoker’s voice cheering on ” yeaaaa fuck that ass” Why do I think they’re was 2 guys in that room? “I’m going to fuck his fucking ass and shoot in his mouth” were the next verifying words to come out of their mouths. I immediately got my camera and recorded the nastiness, not for my sick reasons, but who the hell was going to believe me?

I ran over and rang their doorbell and they still kept going. It was the loudest shit ever. I mean seriously.

The next morning we were woken up at 8am, so sounds of what sounded like a gorilla being furiously beaten by a wiffle bat.

That night we thought we were in the clear, and it was only some 1 time bang fest. WRONG. 2am rolls around and guess who back? Primate Pussy and His Gorilla cock.

then again at 6am, and again at 8am. It was awful. The next morning we were woken up again I was so pissed I recorded it again, cuz the man sounded like a fucking bitch. I swore I heard chains and leather. I was then proven right when I heard and yes recorded ” I FUCKING WORSHIP YOU MY MISTRESSSSSS, AHHHHH AHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

some disturbing ass shit. You would think for staying at the trump tower king suite they would have some decent walls. Mr. Trump You’re Fired. Good news is, if someone wanted to murder me, the neighbors could hear.

The next day was complete shit, We went to The original pancake house, which we visited when we were in buffalo. We waited 30 mins in the most jam packed cluster fuck known to man. I felt violated 90% of the time. We then went to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was complete garbage as well. It was if the city of Chicago cleaned out their attics and basements and threw together exhibits

I wanted to try out another place that Horsebites suggested, Kuma’s Corner which had burgers named after metal bands. Once we arrived, it was worse jam packed than the pancake house. Finally someone came and asked us how many, “2” ok it’s going to be an hour and 55 min wait, I was like “SERIOUSLY, what if we got it to go?” that will be an hour , I was like fuck this, fuck this city.

I then ordered a pizza to the room, gino’s 2 toppings, and 2 cans of soda, 40 fucking dollars. JESUS CHRIST.

as if the 92 bucks for 15 hours of parking at the hotel (200+ dollars over the span of the entire stay)

this place fucking SUCKS. I never wish going to that city for a vacation to anyone. If you really want to get back at your best friend for fucking your sister, send him to Chicago and teach that fucker a lesson, because it’s terrible.

The best thing about the passed week was the release of my new line. Which I am completely stoked on. It’s easily the strongest of all my lines. I worked with some new people and took some great shots with my friend Adam Elmakias. I am very proud of this line and I thought it was going to set me apart from a few lines out there, But in comes American Slasher. A new brand ready to emerge and guess what, it’s identical to what direction I was taking my company. Not to sound like a bitch or anything. But what now? What is someone like me going to do? It’s bad enough that a lot of lines use the same people. Doing the same things. I feel like now I have to constantly check up on brands and designers because I don’t want to be like anyone else. It’s a case of hey said designer can you show me what you’re doing for this brand? Well fuck I was going to ask you to do something like that but nevermind. The point of having a brand in my opinion is to do something different. Doing something someone else is already doing make’s you look like a wannabe or a rip off. When someone innovates a certain theme or style and someone is familiar with my stuff, you’re going to get associated with that kind of vibe, at least I think so.

Now I have to figure out what I’m going to do to stand out. I shouldn’t have to, but with clothing line’s being created by the minute I guess I have to, I even thought about stopping Electric Zombie and either starting something new, or just worry about work and freelance and say screw it.

It’s a pretty big let down, sure I sound like a cry baby, but I’ve worked so hard to get a certain look and theme going, just to be duplicated. These other brands have help and 90% of them don’t even design them themselves. They just browse who’s hot, who’s getting the attention and bam, you all of a sudden have a line. The future of my company is really going to depend on the next few months. So look out bands and brands! I might be bugging you for way more work soon!

Expect pics and video in the next few days!

The more things change...

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:24:00 -0500

I really suck at doing this whole blog thing. Greatly apologize. Not sure where to even begin. I had an amazing christmas. I got the google phone, footie pajamas, awesome hoodies, some blu rays and the list goes on. I am super excited for one of my gifts to my girlfriend, CHICAGOOO in 1 month. So much traveling going on. I’m flying out to wisconsin next week to take pics of the new ez stuff. I’m trying to be ahead of the game this time around. Especially seeing how when the new stuff comes out I won’t even be in town. So it’s important to get it done. I am going to be working with my friend derek deal of the black axe to make these bad boys look gloriouuuussss… speaking of the new line. heressss a few previewssss!

you might also notice a little difference in the blog. I messed with the layout a little. I know nothing about coding other than regular old HTML. So I made a lightning bolt background and revamped the logo a little bit. I’m stoked on the new look of the logo. thoughts?
I finally updated my portfolio. I cannot believeeeeee I had over 300 approved tee shirts last year. UNBELIEVEABLE. I feel so lucky and honored to have been able to work on every project last year. I got to work on some great cd packages. 2008 was a great year for me. I just hope I can do the same this year. I have my fingers crossed. I’ve got some cool projects coming up, but it looks like it’s all shirts again. Just when I was getting used to the whole cd design. Ohhhh well… Check out the new portfolio here

www.theelectriczombie.com

EZ is going to be so awesome this year. The future is looking incredible. Something I had planned for almost a year now is finally coming into play this summer! Everyone working with me on this is super stoked on it. I wish I could tell you, BUT I CANNTTTT AHHHHH! Be sure to tune into a new ez chat this sunday at 7:30 EST until 9! talk about the previews, whats coming up. see tuffy be scared for her life and my review of my bloody valentine 3d! Until next time!

It's the most wonderful timeeeee...

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:56:00 -0500

WOW, long time no talk…
anyway, heres whats been going on…
Finally finished my freelance for the year, did some senses fail and 2 new taste of chaos designs. Pretty awesome. I’ve been prepping a lot for the new line which was sent in today…

Lots of cool things in store.
15 brand new things coming out, maybe even 16, wowie!
I’ve also decided to get rid of a bunchhhh of old items

-ripsaw
-feast
-party animal tank
-ez stripes
-mcnasty
-mcnasty belt
-dome splitter tee (keeping the vneck)
-decay
-dead bolt
-roid rage
-stay tuff

will be gone once theyre gone. I currently have a christmas sale going on right now. which I am going to extend until december 31st because I know a lot of you get money or just completely awful presents like turtle necks and crap…

so I’m dragging it out until then, and keeping the stuff I’m getting rid of on sale until theyre gone…

get your gear here

http://new.merchnow.com/catalogs/electric-zombie

so what have I been doing?
Relaxing and vacationing of course!
I went to fairfield (where I was born) for a few days and watched 12 movies and almost a full season of the new spiderman cartoon.

I love my parents house, they did such a good job fixing it up.
This weekend I took a little vacation with my girlfriend and my pup tuffy. We went to niagra falls and canada and hung out in buffalo and went to a wrestling pay per view armageddon!

so awesome… heres some pics!

waiting for the loud noises to start.

right before they went live with the pyro.

armageddon is on the air! we had amazing seats, we were in row 9 and at the very end of the row and near the rampway, we were way close to the wrestlers and the loud booms….

batistas entrance, if you look at the lower right, he’s kneeling down…

edge’s pyro

edge walking out

triple H

john cena walking out

jericho’s entrance

after jeff hardy won the title…

I am so excited for wrestlemania, I bought my dad and I ringside seats to wrestlemania in houston and floor seats to raw the next night, it’s gonna be awesome!

heres more pics from the mini vaca…

canada! ( which is the worst friggin place to drive, slowest damn traffic ever!)

watching the roadddd

attempting to get her to poop in the snow, not happening

snowwwwww!!!!

while in buffalo, we ate at mighty taco, TWICE!
so damn good…

big burrito filled with 3 kinds of nacho cheese and queso, nacho chips, beef, salsa and sour cream! with chips and more nacho cheese. They had the best green tea ever, calorie free peach green tea…

yummmm

andddd we ate at the original pancake house ( 2 times as well)
we saw this couple have this amazing breakfast they were well known for, needless to say, we devoured the dutch baby the next morning, a baked pancake with strawberries!
booyahhh!

I’ve been sending out packages like crazy, at least 75, no lie! xmas presents, and sponsorship shirts and contest stuff, so much, I spent over 2 grand in shipping, ridiculous!

I’m just glad this weekend I’m making a shitload of cookies, watching xmas movies, drinking lots of hot cocoa, and not sharing my milk! and getting ready for christmas!

speaking of which, heres our awesome xmas tree… eyeball lights and awesome spacy led ornaments we got in florida.

I was way too late to make xmas cards, but heres what it was going to be!
see you after xmas, where I’ll post a buttload of pics and presents! and maybe an electric zombie surprise!

wowowwwwwww!

LAST DAY TOMORROWWWWWW

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:57:49 -0400

I have just been told that tomorrow will be the cut off date for the contest shirt because the contest winner is being drawn on halloween. Generally merch now’d orders over the weekend is so massive they usually don’t finish pulling them until tues/wed. That being said, you wouldnt get the shirt on time and I wouldnt have your ticket.

I would hate for someone to buy a ticket on wed and loose out on the contest…
the shirts will be put back up on monday after halloween! without the contest and any left over tees will still come in the coffin box. There’s mainly only smalls left. theres a few med and XS left…

so those of you who wanted to be part of it, better act fast!
thanks!

http://new.merchnow.com/products/93441

Lot’s of pooooopp has gone on since the last blog mess.. I finally got the halloween line up...

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:34:00 -0400

Lot’s of pooooopp has gone on since the last blog mess..
I finally got the halloween line up and running and so far so good. Some of my favorite shirts have come out this time around and I couldn’t be any happier.

I spent countless night packing everything. folding shirts and putting them in 100 coffin boxes with tissue paper. Putting together 500+ goodie bags filled with candy and cards and other goodies. Packing 50 poster packs, folding 300 custom boxes and tagging 300 shirts. Just a massive pile of craziness.

but finally all the hard work paid off.

So theres a couple of contests going on with Electric Zombie…

The First one is for those of you who ordered or plan to order new ez stuff. When you get your package, take a picture of the goods and then a picture of you wearing the goods, can be as retarded and as fun as you want…the top 3 pics will receive 2 ez shirts in the custom box! winners will be picked live during the video chat Halloween night 8pm EST!

please email me your pictures to kyleisez@gmail.com

Second contest is the massive halloween contest where you get 1 of 100 tickets, and on halloween I will be drawing the winner live in the video chat…

How do you get a ticket? Easy, order this shirt

right here

http://new.merchnow.com/products/93441

right now I’ve sold over half, so you still have your chance, or it betters the chances for the ones who have bought tickets…

I will be making a few special announcements during the video chat. should be fun.

so now that all the ez stuff is out of the way, I’ve been taking fewer freelance jobs. Trying to take it easy. I hate having to turn stuff down, but I have to, my head is going to pop!

I’ve been watching movies and eating handfuls of candy and preparing for another Electric Zombie line. Trying to get ahead of the game. New stuff looks amazing, seriously can’t wait for that.

I did a few interviews last week as well.. you can check them out here

http://www.cotygonzales.com/2008/10/01/indie-tee-spotlight-electric-zombie/
http://www.freshnesstoday.com/?p=80

It’s been getting a little bit colder here in NY which is amazing, I absolutely hate the florida weather, this is such a great change. Tuffy isn’t liking it too much since she just got her hair cut a few days ago, she runs back in and runs back out…

It’s going to be nice to have a cold holiday for once, even though I had one last year when i went to fairfield…

speaking of which, 69 days until xmas. So insane. I have 15 more days of buying myself things before I get cut off. I tend to buy things I ask for xmas and really pisses people off. So I stop at halloween.

This year I’m flying home to florida, not sure when yet, keep checking for the prices to go down. Then going to Fairfield for thanksgiving.

should be great, I can’t wait to see my brother and my dad and family and the house that they improved drastically.

I hope they’re ready for us!

The office tonight! yeaaaaa…

watch out for another update, sunday or monday suckas!

Somebody get me a tampon, I'm having a meltdown

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:04:00 -0400

I dunno I am having this massive fucking meltdown in my head basically, some to which I know you all wont care about, or probably even read this and truly understand.

I really am not a shitty, asshole fuckwad that a lot of you guys think or feel I am.

All I ever really want and have ever wanted is to be truly appreciated and admired. I just want recognition…

I just dont get it, theres so many things floating in my head and it confuses the friggin crap out of me.

theres so many things that bum me out about this whole thing, people tell me I should take a break, In a way I feel like I should.

I work so damn hard, like literally non stop. I wake up and go to work from 9-6 and do about 2-3 shirts a day, some of my worst work to be honest. I hate the work I do at equal vision, every once in a while I’ll do something awesome and then it just goes to shit ville.

then I go home and I freelance all night (usually) until 12, getting anywhere from another design or 2 done. Then theres EZ stuff thats been friggin mega stressing me. Deadlines and getting those little extras in… wondering if Im going to make it on time, and I have to show some sort of sneak peek, for people to get excited to motivate me to keep going…

and seeing all these other companies that kids are freaking out about, who charge ungodly amounts. I know how much a shirt costs, I know how it works and people still pay it. I just dont believe in it. There’s no way I could charge 30-40 bucks for a shirt, but guess what it comes with (insert random goodie)

It’s like going to chuck e. cheese for fucks sake. You spend all this money on tokens to win tickets to cash it in for a stupid boomerang, a foam airplane and a couple neon bracelets from 5th grade but in reality, you paid way more for it, but its okay it’s a goodie

I look at everything as how would I want to be treated. Ok heres a shirt for 18 bucks, I made more than my money back and someone got a cool shirt and some pins and stickers with their order. There was even a point where I was selling a shirt that cost me 7-8 bucks for 5 bucks because I wanted people to go, electric zombie is awesome.

I don’t get how companies charge what they do…

Thats one form of recognition I hope to achieve, and I hope that kids who buy my shirts feel and think what I do.

I know people must think that I walk around all high and mighty and think im this hot shot. But I really dont, seriously I dont. In an aspect of me working so hard and being able to pull off different styles and go this long (until now) of having some kind of creative and mental fizz.

It sucks to not have any friends. Its true I dont, maybe I deserve it. But the common every day things dont really make me happy, designing does. I feel like if I keep working hard,I’ll making some sort of difference or hoping to inspire someone, to work as hard or to try as hard or just to look at one of my pieces and go wow thats fucking great.

Theres just so many things that make me just want to give up. From people talking about charging or getting 300, 500, 600 bucks for designs. Seriously, I MEAN seriously?!

I’ll be straight up, I get anywhere from 150-400 on shirt designs, I take what I get, I either sell you the design or I dont, someone will buy it. But just knowing that if it were true that people are paying that. That makes me want to give up. The merch world is so fucked I feel like thats what I (or we designers) should be getting but in reality, we dont or at least I wont…

theres such a double edged sword with this. On one hand you can take the whatever amount, or you can work a shitty job and make at the lowest (for me) 150 in the span of 2 days if not more.

But on the other hand, these jobs I get paid 150 for, are flying off the fucking shelves at merch now. I mean outrageous. I look at the site at the best sellers and 90% of them are my designs. I go to hot topic and I see that 60% of the wall is my designs…
Sure its cool to see that, but no one knows I’m the person behind all of that. Every body banks, from the bands, to the managers, to hot topics and all of that, and then here’s my check (insert amount) that i’ll probably be emailing you about after 47 days of looking in my mail box to find nothing

Theres a difference between be appreciated and being taken advantage of… me being a machine, and working so hard and seeing all these designers saying they are getting that much. Always having to babysit bands for money, always wondering when im gonna get paid, or when theyre gonna get back to me with approval, changes, rejections, My heads gonna pop…

and when it really comes down to it all I really want is a good job or a thanks… and lately I feel like I’m not really getting anything from money, to a pat on the back, its just massive stress day in and day out and all this hard work really isnt worth it, and its seemingly not really paying off….

/endddd rannttt

it's the finallll countdownnnn

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:09:00 -0400

COUNT THE DAYS!

So it begins, 4 weeks of executing plans, and getting everything in order… for what you ask? Patience. Although I will be slipping some hints every now and again. So will others. You know how to find them. The question is do you know who they are?

soooo stoked for tuesday.
The new A Static Lullaby is sooooo good. I got a listen of this when the guys came to town in July. I was too busy trying to analyze it to fully enjoy it. I listened to it no lie, 8 times in a row today. Its so damn good, Its seriously the best thing they’ve put out. I’m super stoked to hold this cd in my hands tuesday. Those of you who bought the bundle with the EZ/ASL shirt, you will not be disappointed. It’s the most comfy shirt and the design rules. I couldn’t be more excited

heres how it turned out

im not sure if the offer is still available, best bet is to check merch now. I think the orders might have already gone out. The shirt was only available for the preorder.

This is going to be the most intense month ever. Next week I have a lot on my plate and I’ll tell you its not a plate of tacos (more on that later)

I have mega freelancing going on…
anberlin, the human abstract, underoath, saosin, and norma jean.
ughhhh

Also going to see reggie on friday in jersey, should be a blasty.

Plus any freetime I have I’ll have to slip in some EZ work.
My office is a mess. Utter destruction…

you might ask yourself, what is all that crap kyle?
more importantly, what are these?

whooo knows?
all I know is I’m going to go watch the hills (yepppp I’m gay) do some couch cuddlin and finish off the rest of this bad boy and my new best friend. I think I’m gonna eat a few of these over the next few weeks, so awesome!
until next week!

OH GOD YES!

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:48:54 -0400

dear chocotaco,

it’s been since the 6th grade since I’ve had you…
tonight I feast…
tonight…
you… die!