Band of the Week: Bizzart

Music is basically a collection of sounds. Whether it is the sound a guitar makes or the sound of a penny spinning on a string it is the sounds that we record that becomes music. To push it further any sound, in the right hands, can become music. No one understands this in the way that Arthur Arellanes III (aka Bizzart) does. On his latest album, Future Stars and Small Wonders, he essentially creates a series of sound collage or sound art and then opens his conscious and let the words spill all over his creations.

Over time the delivery of Bizzart has evolved from spoken word to a rapid rap delivery that rivals most. He is a complex personality which matches note for note with the beats he constructs. A pre-school teacher and self proclaimed "music therapist" by day, he was formally ordained as a deacon in the American Orthodox Catholic Church by age 17. He views his music as a spiritual lifeforce, ceremonially creating music which seems to explore his (other)worldly fascinations through sound art. This album is filled the thoughts of betrayal, by a love, by nature, and by the world in general.

Recently, Bizzart was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): What can you tell us about your new album?
Bizzart: It's my closer to a complicated roller coaster relationship that lasted nearly three years. A combination of family turmoil and my personal relationships. It is an autobiographical collage of expression dealing with anger, regret, betrayal and loss. Music therapy is the best way to describe the album for the simple fact that i was able to make something beautiful.

OA: Why do you feel it necessary to talk about the subjects that you do?
Bizzart: These are the issues that matter to me in my life as an artist.

OA: What has you experience been like with Joyful Noise?
Bizzart: I've been Friends with the Owner Karl for many years and Joyful noise and my other label Sounds are active have co-released an album or two. I've been very fortunate to have people interested in my work.

OA: Your bio says that you are also a preschool teacher. Do you have to worry more about your public image in a position like? Do you get questions or looks for the parents?
Bizzart: No I never have to worry about that since I've been lucky enough to work for a progressive school that's open to my unconventional methods. There are times were I may get the strange looks like when I'm bare foot and covered in paint.

OA: What's next for Bizzart?
Bizzart: I'm currently writing and doing research for a few next albums. Most of them have been in progress for 3-10 years. The next one is titled "Griffith park burnt down and so did our love" produced by Siamese Sisters. I'm also working on a compilation of my students recordings and sound experiments.

Listen to: Android Heart (mp3)

Bonus Questions:
OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
Bizzart: Instead of Coffee i'm going to ask for a beer and i'd like to have one with my father who passed away in 96.

OA: What was the last great book you have read?
Bizzart: Fernando Pessoa's "The Book of Disquiet"

For more information on Bizzart please visit his website.