Prozzäk

Prozzäk is a Canadian pop music group that consists of Jay Levine (Simon) and James Bryan McCollum (Milo). The name "Prozzäk" was inspired by the drug Prozac.^[1] Their recordings and animated music videos tell a tale of two friends, Simon and Milo, who are in search of their true love.

History

Levine and McCollum were both members of The Philosopher Kings. After a physical altercation between them, they they attempted to smooth things over by writing music together. While on a European tour with the Kings, the two created a comedic song titled "Europa" in which they sang in a British accent.^[1] The song did not fit in with the music produced by the Philosopher Kings, but the band's record company, Sony Canada, approved of it so the two set aside their differences and created Prozzäk in 1998.

Their first album, Hot Show, was released in late 1998. It featured the hit songs "Sucks to Be You" and "Strange Disease". The album was certified Triple Platinum in Canada.^[2] Their second album, Saturday People, was released in 2000 by Epic Records and included the singles "www.nevergetoveryou" and "Be As". Hot Show and Saturday People were both nominated for Best Album at the Juno Awards in 2000^[3] and 2002, respectively.

Prozzäk joined with Disney to increase promotion and released the album Ready Ready Set Go, also named Simon and Milo. It is a compilation of songs from their first two albums along with a new single, "Get a Clue" which was written for the TV movie Get a Clue starring Lindsay Lohan.

Prozzäk's next album, Cruel Cruel World was produced from MapleMusic in 2005. Simon and Milo appeared to have gotten older and more modern and their music has taken a more adult, subdued theme. Cruel Cruel World was released on an independent label and did not receive as much promotion as their first two albums, and did not achieve the same success. As well, two songs were released through the internet in 2006, "DJ-J-Vox" and "DJ (Calibe Remix)".

In 2008, the band released a song titled "Chloe the Chicken" on a kids' album titled Roll Play.

A Prozzäk reunion concert was performed at the Atomic Lollipop Festival in Toronto on July 18, 2015, where they debuted a new single.

On September 18, 2015, Prozzäk released their first single in over ten years entitled "Baby I Need Your Love (Pussy Cat Pussy Cat)" and announced that new music and a tour are both in the works for 2016.

This was followed by "Love Fools Anonymous" on June 15, 2016; in November that year they released "My Little Snowflake".

On February 3, 2017 Prozzäk released the single "Love Me Tinder" from an album in progress.

The story of Simon and Milo

Prozzak are two animated characters named Simon and Milo. The creation of Simon and Milo initially began with accents suggested by the other members of The Philosopher Kings during their road trips.^[4] The cartoon characters became a part of Prozzäk.

In the story, Simon and Milo are over 200 years old and were enemies in a previous life. Simon and Milo fought each other in a 20-year-old war called "Ochiyaki". During their battles with each other, a Great Unseen Voice projected down from the sky and told them they were to be best friends, sent through time to the 21st century, where they were given a mission. That mission was for the two to find true love through their music.

In their music videos, Simon, a skinny character with jet-black hair and no neck, is in constant search of his true love, believing that the perfect woman is out there. As a result, Simon ends up feeling depressed. Milo is a muscular blond character that accompanies Simon on his quest. Their introduction in the album Saturday People tells of their many visits to nightclubs and bars in hopes of finding true love, after which Simon gives up, and lies "face down in his own banana milkshake". Just then, the Great Unseen Voice from the heavens calls out, telling them that they have lost their way, and reminds them that only True Love holds the key to their destiny. Their music thus represents their social journey to find their true love.^[5]

Band members

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Levine is the lead singer of Prozzäk and the voice behind Simon. Through the music, Simon tells stories that represent Levine's actual life; for example, the song "Anna-Lisa" makes reference to his parents' divorce. Levine has founded a company, Lefthook Entertainment, that helps artists market their music. He is also currently an artist under the name Today Kid.

McCollum is a guitarist and the man who portrays Milo. ^[5] He is the founder of UMI Entertainment based in Toronto, Ontario. He is currently the guitarist for Canadian artist Nelly Furtado.

Discography

Studio albums

• Hot Show (November 2, 1998) recorded by Sony Canada
• Saturday People (November 7, 2000) recorded by Epic Records
• Cruel Cruel World (November 29, 2005) recorded by Lefthook Entertainment and released on MapleMusic Recordings in Canada
• Forever 1999 (March 31, 2017) recorded by Lefthook Entertaintment^[6]

Compilation albums

• Ready Ready Set Go (April 30, 2002) recorded by Hollywood Records

Singles

See also

• The Philosopher Kings

References

External links

• Prozzäk on Myspace
• Faze Articles -- Prozzak