Cazwell
| Cazwell | |
|---|---|
 Performing in Denver in 2011. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Luke Cazwell |
| Origin | Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Genres | Rap, dance, electronica, house, homo hop |
| Occupations | Songwriter, producer, DJ |
| Instruments | Vocals, synthesizer, percussion |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | West End Records, Peace Bisquit |
| Associated acts | Amanda Lepore, Avenue D, Jonny Makeup, Colton Ford, Ladyfag |
| Website | www.Cazwell.com |
Luke Caswell, better known as Cazwell, is an American rapper and songwriter.[1] His work focuses on gay and bisexual urban themes and content, and his music and videos are frequently played on Logo, a US cable channel geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. He has released two studio albums—Get Into It in 2006 and Watch My Mouth in 2009—and a number of EPs, music videos and popular singles. He is currently working on his third album Hard 2 B Fresh and preparing to release a new single and music video for "Hellen Keller" featuring Drag Race superstar Manila Luzon and Roxy (known for underground House classics "Get Huh" and "Accident").
Career
Starting in the late 1990s, under the name Caswell, he was part of the hip-hop duo Morplay, which also included female MC Crasta Yo. Morplay started in Boston and moved to New York in 1999.[2]
In 2006 Cazwell released Get Into It, featuring lead single "All Over Your Face." Cazwell is known for hosting and DJing at parties, including BoysRoom in New York City, with guests such as Ladyfag, Amanda Lepore, Dj Adam, Raquel Reed and her brother Stephen Reed. He has also been known to have an affair with Matthew Holt, after he wrote the song "Ice Cream Truck"
In September 2008 Cazwell released a single titled "I Seen Beyoncé..." featuring Jonny Makeup. The video was directed by Francis Legge and Bec Stupak. In 2009, he released "Tonight," a new single which sampled "Give Me Tonight" by Shannon. His second album, Watch My Mouth was released on September 1, 2009, containing all of his previous singles as well as a few songs from his debut album.
In 2010, Cazwell released a new single, "Ice Cream Truck." The video directed by Marco Ovando premiered on YouTube on July 30, 2010, and received over 1 million views in its first week.
Cazwell collaborated with Peaches on the new single "Unzip Me," released November 8, 2011. On June 19, 2012 "Rice and Beans" was released.
In 2012, Cazwell appeared on the variety show She's Living for This, hosted by the drag queen Sherry Vine. On the show, he performed his single "Get My Money Back."[3]
He is expected to release a new album called Hard 2B Fresh in 2013.
In popular culture
- His debut single "All Over Your Face" was banned from Logo due to explicit lyrics and sexual imagery portrayed in the music video, directed by Francis Legge and edited by Cayle Ryan Pietras.
- During the summer of 2007, Cazwell was a part of the multi-artist True Colors Tour which traveled through 15 cities in North America.[citation needed] The tour, sponsored by Logo, was hosted by comedian Margaret Cho and headlined by Cyndi Lauper and included Deborah Harry, Rufus Wainwright, The Dresden Dolls, Rosie O'Donnell, Indigo Girls, Stephen Reed and other special guests. Profits from the tour helped to benefit LGBT organizations Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and The Matthew Shepard Foundation.
- In 2009, he appeared in the final episode of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Discography
Albums
- Get Into It (2006)
- Watch My Mouth (Peace Bisquit) (2009)
- Hard 2B Fresh (2013)
EPS
- All Over Your Face (2 tracks - May 2006) [4]
- All Over Your Face (4 tracks - 2006) [5]
- All Over Your Face (12 tracks - October 2006) [6]
- That's Me (8 tracks - March 2008) [7]
- I Seen Beyonce... (3 tracks - July 2008) [8]
- Watch My Mouth (13 tracks - November 2007) [9]
- Tonight (16 tracks - 2009) [10]
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [11] | |||
| 2006 | "All Over Your Face" | 31 | Get Into It |
| 2007 | "Watch My Mouth" | — | |
| 2008 | "I Seen Beyoncé..." | 23 | Watch My Mouth |
| 2009 | "Tonight" | 40 | |
| 2010 | "Ice Cream Truck" | — | Non-album singles |
| 2011 | "Get My Money Back" | 31 | |
| 2011 | "Unzip Me" (with Peaches) | 31 | |
| 2012 | "Rice and Beans" | — | Hard 2B Fresh |
| 2013 | "Guess What?" (Cazwell & Luciana) | 14 | Non-album single [12] |
Featured singles
- Avenue D & Cazwell – "The Sex That I Need" (2003 - also found on Avenue D album Bootleg) [13][14]
- Colton Ford – "That's Me" (featuring Cazwell and Stephen Reed) (2006)
- Peppermint – "Servin' it Up!" (featuring Cazwell) (2006)
- DAB* & Get Far vs Jonathan Mendelsohn & Cazwell – "Something For Everybody" (2012) [15]
References
- ↑ Ochalla, Bryan (December 26, 2006). "Ten Minutes with Cazwell". GayWired.com. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
- ↑ Kiritsy, Laura (2001-06-07). "White and gay -- and trying to make it in the highly homophobic world of rap". Bay Windows (Boston).
- ↑ ""She's Living for This" The Cazwell Episode (TV Episode 2012)". IMDb. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ↑ "crocmusic.com". crocmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "Cazwell - All Over Your Face (CDr) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ "crocmusic.com". crocmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "crocmusic.com". crocmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "crocmusic.com". crocmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "crocmusic.com". crocmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "Cazwell - Tonight at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ Cazwell - Chart history: Dance/Club Play Songs. Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Accessed on August 5, 2013.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Guess What? - EP by Cazwell & Luciana". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
- ↑ "Avenue D And Cazwell / Kid America - Sex That I Need / Dancin' (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ "Avenue D - Bootleg (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-03-07.
- ↑ "DAB* & Get Far Vs Jonathan Mendelsohn & Cazwell - Something For Everybody (File, MP3) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2013-03-07.