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Curse Icon started in early 2001 with 2 things in
mind: To take their music all the way to the top without
sacrificing their vision of what they wanted to do
musically. They started out with 3 friends who had
played music in the past and wanted to bring something
a little different to the table, using their influences,
to create something that, at the time, wasn't being
done: Create dark, industrial synth based alternative
rock, with captivating melodies, and an appealing,
solid song writing sensibility.
In the beginning they didn't really know what they had in mind for a vocalist,
but kept their minds and ears open for something that
grabbed their attention.
Then they ran across Kiana Prestol. At the time, nobody
was doing industrial type, alternative rock with a
female vocalist. When Kiana walked in for the
audition, they were blown away by her presence, and
powerful vocals.
"I haven't heard a singer with that
kind of power and ability to sing melodically since
the heyday of female rock singers in the early 80's,
with bands like Heart, Pat Benetar, and those type of
Strong, female fronted bands. I wasn't quite sure at
the time if it would work, but it really intrigued me
to try it and see if it would. There was no bands out
ther at that time, that were a road map to see if that
formula worked, no Evanesence, no Lacuna Coil - or any
of the other female fronted industrial type bands at
the time. So we tried it, to see if it worked, and it
worked BIG TIME!"
Kiana has been a strong part of their
sound, and her stage presence and vocal ability was
unrivaled in their home base South Florida market at the
time. People could not figure out where to label them,
or put a finger on who or what they sounded like, and
felt it was a fresh, new sound.
As we all know, bands have sprouted up all over the
place with female leads singers and with a lot of
synth based stuff going on in the music. So the idea
isn't as fresh and new as it was when they started, but
Kiana's approach to what she does best is. There is a
sound they have when working together that no one else
has, and Kiana's vocals are so powerful, seductive,
and full of emotion, that you can almost feel her
angst, pain, and raw emotions pouring through every
performance.
"The band pours every ounce of themselves
into every show, and the band leaves the stage with
nothing left, they give it all, and the passion,
aggression, emotion, and story of where they have been
gives the audience an emotional ride that you just do
not see in today's performances."
The band has had it's share of normal growing pains.
They have had a few line-up changes, constantly trying
to find the right people for both the sound, and the
work that is involved in being an independent band
trying to make it to the top. It's a lot of hard work,
a lot of sacrifice, and not everyone is prepared for
that. A lot of people want to take the easy road, and
do what's popular at the moment, but they have chosen to
do what is in our hearts, and what speaks to their fans,
not follow the trend of the day.
"You have to keep
relevant and with the times, but today's movement will
be gone before a band on the rise makes it to the
spotlight. If you choose that path, before you know
it, today's trend is gone, and your stuck scratching
your head trying to figure out what sound to give your
band next. We're not that kind of band, and we know
who we are an do what we do, with every ounce of who
we are, and share that with our audience in every
show, and that connection is undeniable. I feel our
music is never completed until we share it with our
audience. All the hours writing, and all the hours in
the studio, it just isn't done until you have that
interaction with the fans."
Coming from South Florida, the band has playing a lot
of gigs locally and around the state. They started
branching out and trying to build a regional audience.
They have a good following in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale,
Jacksonville, Tampa, Tallahasse, and starting to build
in Orlando. More and more, South Florida is becoming a
Latin and Club Scene market, and although there are
some great clubs including the Culture room in South
Florida, they just felt that the scene was dying. And it
was hard to establish a core fan base in the area,
because people in the are are so transient, that by
the time you built a decent fan base, you had to start
over almost, because the people who lived there and
the fan base had a turn around from people coming and
going. It took them 7 hours to get out of Florida to
play any shows out of state, and they could only go
North because of the geography of the state. This plus
a few deals on the table led them to start thinking of
some new avenues for the band.
Their latest "growing pains" and revamping of their
line-up was due to a touring deal that we had been
offered. The band was to go on an extensive east coast
tour, come back and analyze how they did. Depending on
the success of the east coast tour, they would either
hit the east coast and midwest again, or begin
preparations for a more extensive tour. The band
thought it was an interesting opportunity and met with
their management at the time to discuss it.
"Well, I
guess the thought of touring scared some folks in the
band, because we lost 2 members after that discussion.
And the surprising thing is, each member that joins
the band KNOWS explicitly, that this band is geared
towards national and international touring and
success."
So that was a real disappointment and
unfortunate situation because one thing that came of
the discussion was wether they decided to take that deal
or not, they WERE going to tour at some point and they HAD
to tour at some point. They had fans all over the
country that have not had an opportunity to see the
band live yet, and they were eager, and they, being of
the mindset that our fans absolutely 100% make them who
they are and allow them to make music and support
themselves, absolutely have to give the fans the LIVE
Curse Icon experience, because that is where they
connect with every one of them. So again,
unfortunately, the band was in a bad spot, had to
decline that deal, and cancel some great shows, and
make some tough decisions.
That's when they decided a relocation was in order, one
for a new pool of musicians, and 2 for a better
geographically located launching spot. Somewhere where
they could reach more fans, at an independent level,
until they could build again, and be able to support a
more lengthy tour. After much speculation, they decided
on Cleveland, OH.
"Kiana and I have some roots in the
area, and the cost of living is cheaper than New York
or LA. So we decided to rebuild here. Form this area,
in the same time it took to get out of the state of
Florida, we can hit Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati,
Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Lexington, Louisville,
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, DC, Baltimore, New York,
Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto, and many many more places
in-between in a weekend trip, to launch our touring
possibilities. We have auditioned extensively to keep
the core sound that our fans have grown to love, while
finding the next step in our evolutionary process. We
have looked hi and low for the people that will can
continue writing with Kiana and I and take our sound
to another level. "
Despite some of the set backs they've had, this band is
determined, and resolute. They have sacrificed so much,
been through so many thing, not to mention a band room
fire at the lowest spot they had. But the fans, and
their kind words and enjoyment of what the band deos, have
given them so much hope and faith, and have given them the
drive to keep pushing forward, and moving ahead. They
are about to enter the next chapter, the next tier if
you will, of the Curse Icon story and hopefully
legacy. It is a testament to striving and never giving
up. They are currently starting to book shows in the
Midwest and taking some good festivals and other
things as well.
"We have a big shindig in North Carolina coming up in
August, sharing the stage with National acts. I don't
have much information on it yet. The show is a benefit
sponsored by Krush Radio.com so you can check there
page for details as more imformation is made
avaialble."
As far as their CD discography is concerned, they have their
debut, self-produced, and self-released CD
"paradimsal" (always a small "p" in paradismal). One
review written states that "Kiana (Prestol) is without
a doubt one of the most powerful and incredible female
vocalists that I have ever had the pleasure of
hearing..." - Azra Medea/Movement Magazine. The CD is
available in Cleveland at the Exchange record Stores,
and in Fort Lauderdale and Miami at Uncle Sam's. It is
also available online at their website. For store
details online, and mail-in order, fans can visit
www.curseicon.com
Visit them at their Myspace profile for samples from their CD.
Contributed by Marco of Curse Icon
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