Shoutweb: How are you?

Markie: I am doing well. I just woke up from a little catnap. Just resting up. We've been traveling a lot so we get in a few Z's here and there when we can.

Shoutweb: I'm assuming this is really your first full-fledged cross-country tour?

Markie: Yes, ma'am.

Shoutweb: So, I'm sure you're partying it up too.

Markie: Uh... a little bit. I used to be really crazy but now I take what I do pretty seriously. I'll feel like shit if I'm fuckin' around every night so I've toned that down some. A couple beers here and there are cool.

Shoutweb: Vocally, I suppose it can be a drain on you.

Markie: Playing guitar is one thing but singing is a whole other ball of wax.

Shoutweb: So where are you guys?

Markie: We are in Clinton, Iowa right now.

Shoutweb: Sounds like a great little town.

Markie: We're playing a place called the Pig Pen tonight.

Shoutweb: So you're in the land of Slipknot.

Markie: Yeah, we played this place called Hairy Mary's. The locals told us that some members from Slipknot originally owned that joint. We played it. It was pretty cool and people are pretty nice to us out here. Across the country so far everyone has been pretty responsive. They take our street swag and we've been getting a response on the Internet, which is also a plus.

Shoutweb: That's my neck of the woods. How computer savvy are you guys?

Markie: My only problem with Shoutweb is that the script is tiny.

Shoutweb: Are you on a Macintosh? You're not the only band who has told us that. It's an issue with Power Macs and iBooks. We're fixing it. Don't get discouraged!

Markie: It sucks when you can't read anything. I love Shoutweb.

Shoutweb: And Shoutweb loves you. Adema was one of our "5 Most Anticipated Bands of 2001".

Markie: Not only with Shoutweb, but also with the Internet in general, it's important for a young band. Today, people are really into the Internet so it's good to get exposure. You don't even have to go out and pick up a magazine or a newspaper.

Shoutweb: It was very cool because after we ran you guys as one of our top "5", we started hearing "Giving In" on KROCK here in New York. It was on first late at night and then at rush hour.

Markie: That's cool. I really like the song. I think it's a good single.

Shoutweb: Tell me a little about "Giving In" being that it's the one song already out there catching on.

Markie: "Giving In" is actually one of the first songs that we wrote. We went to Shaver Lake, California for the pre-production of our record. We needed to go somewhere where we weren't going to be in the city life and involved in all the going out business and what not. We went to Shaver Lake, California and started writing songs for the record. We finally got all our gear set up and it just started hammering down snow. We were in this huge loft and you could just see the moon and the snow coming down. This song, this little riff starts going. Mike Ransom, our guitar player, starts playing this riff. We wrote the song. We put it together. Of course we write the music first. I come up with the melodies and I throw the lyrics down. During that time, I had just barely turned 22. I was going through a lot of different issues and problems. At the time, I was substituting other means of pleasure for that loss. I was dabbling in drugs and alcohol and other shit amongst that. "Giving In" has a chorus line that says that pretty much you're giving up and giving into all the things that you shouldn't be doing. That's basically what the song is about, giving in to personal demons and personal problems in life. The verse is about coming to terms with growing up and maturing in life and trying to stay on top of it instead of falling and dying. That was pretty much my song for trying to give up the bad habits, and eventually I did. Living with just the band in this little cabin for six or seven weeks was a pretty good change from living in Los Angeles. Just not being able to see my family every day is kind of a tough thing but I'm glad that we went there. When I listen to it, it helps me to remember that I came from a certain place. I was raised with certain kinds of ideals and there are things that I want to stay true to and not lose sight of. That's what that song reminds me of so I make sure I listen to it. It helps me stay on the straight and narrow instead of going down that path and screwing my life up over something that's really not that bad.

Shoutweb: It's a great record overall. There are a lot of songs out there that are just angry, pissed off noise. I feel that your songs are much more introspective and each one is not so much pissed off, as it is a lesson you've learned. Like "Close Friends", that is a song I can relate to.

Markie: You have the whole record?

Shoutweb: Yes, I got it two days ago.

Markie: Oh, cool. I hope you're enjoying it.

Shoutweb: I've been listening to it non-stop. I love it.

Markie: "Close Friends" is a really, really, really in depth personal song. I lost a couple of really huge relationships over pointless things, you know? Yeah, all my songs are pretty much about lessons I've learned. I think when you listen to it you get that it's not a preachy record at all. It's a story. That's all it is. It's special to me because it's like a personal diary.

Shoutweb: Those are the exact words I would have used - personal diary. "Close Friends" even starts out with "Today I made the worst mistake of my life". It's kind of looking in on your diary. What about "Trust"?

Markie: "Trust" was my apology to a very, very, very dear friend of mine that I will always love. I will always take care of them. There are parts in the record where I'm absolutely putting that person down and then it's like that last song, which is at the end of my record, is conceding to the fact that I'm human too and I've made mistakes. A relationship is a two way street and sharing as well as taking is important. I'm a 23 year old man so I haven't had too many in depth relationships but that particular one in my life has really, really taught me a lot about myself and about the way things work.

Shoutweb: With "Trust", I feel like it is the best selection of a last track on a record that I have heard in years. It really, really tells us a lot. "Is it you. Is it me. Or is it trust?" Wow. I am listening to the song but I'm not really listening to the song. I'm actually pondering that thought and it's just such a moving, poetic song.

Markie: I'm really glad that you're getting it. I was a little nervous that no one would get what it was about. After a while I was like, "you know what? I don't care if they get it." Obviously, from talking to you, you get it. It's not anything profound. It's life.

Shoutweb: But that is exactly what's so cool about it. It's not like you have to reach very far to find these emotions in yourself.

Markie: What I think about it is, I'm not asking anyone to go "look at me". I don't want to make a record that says "look at me, my life is so sad." I'm just so sick of that crap. I'm sick of every record having to be negative. Maybe it's turning a negative into a positive. I think talking about such negative things all the time only makes me feel more negative. I try to make my records soothing for me and I think there are a lot of people out there like myself that weren't abused at home. They didn't have all this bad stuff happen to them. I feel bad for people that have had that kind of stuff happen to them but I'm not going to go out there and make up some bullshit to get on the bandwagon and sell records. I'd say that there are a few songs where young kids could get into it. It kind of hits to the younger, younger crowd. I think most people set their target to people who are stepping into being an adult and that transformation of becoming an adult.

Shoutweb: "Trust" is cool because of how the song breaks down and each instrument is stripped away down to this acoustic strumming.

Markie: Yeah, it leaves some time for thought. It gives you time to kind of get in that groove. It gives you time to stop thinking about that actual singer and concentrate on what's going on in your own life. I think that's a great ending.

Shoutweb: Because you guys are a new band to most audiences out there, I have to ask you some of the more obvious questions. How did you come up with the name Adema?

Markie: We were in a studio out in Bakersfield and we were going on with names. One of our friends came to the studio and started telling us about a word "edema" so we actually had the band going with that spelling for six or seven months. That past line-up broke up and we weren't a band for six to eight months. When all of the new members came into the mix we just decided to go with that name. We liked the ring of it. The actual meaning of the word has no association with what we're about. Adema is whatever it means to you. Adema is just a way of life for us. To me, that's my family. It's my band. It's my job and my life.

Shoutweb: That's kind of like Shoutweb for me. We also run Kornweb.com.

Markie: Really?

Shoutweb: Yes, we liked what the guys in New Zealand were doing and so myself and Jess Redmon teamed up with Daniel Williams and Steve Hogg to start Shoutweb in February 2000. We're not corporately owned or run so we do whatever we want and so far we all love what we do.

Markie: As it should be!

Shoutweb: So with the Korn connection, I have to ask you because the fans are going to want to know. I know there was a frenzy of interest and a bit of backlash in terms of credibility due to the fact that Jonathan Davis is your brother. I would like to know, not from a critic's point of view or a journalist point of view but from a kid's point of view. I want to answer these things for the kid who is a huge Korn fan out there.

Markie: The more people talk, whether it's good or bad, it helps me. With me and Jonathan, it's all love. That's my family. I wish him luck. He wishes me luck. And that's pretty much the extent of it. His hand wasn't directly involved in us getting the record deal whatsoever. Now, yeah, the relationship is going to cause some heat. Of course it is. I'd be a fool to sit here and tell you that that didn't help me. Of course that helped me. Now... that didn't help me before anyone knew that. I had to pay my dues playing shitty shows. Playing for no money. Not having equipment. Not having anything. I'm glad it was that way. He didn't help me in that way because he knew it would build character for me. He knew I was talented. We got asked to sign with their label but again, I was very, very flattered that their band really enjoyed our music because that showed us that they really liked it. They just don't sign bullshit. Again, I needed to go my own path and do my own thing. Look at Arista Records, there are no rock bands over there. It's the farthest thing from whatever people want to put upon it. It doesn't bother me at all either. To me, all music is good. There's music that I like and I'm not expecting every Korn fan or every music lover to like what we do. There are going to be a certain amount of people who like our music and a certain amount who don't. I'm out there to get mine.

Shoutweb: So tell me how the band came together.

Markie: Juice fell apart right around the same time that the first "edema" fell apart. I was friends with Dave Deroo who plays bass and Tim Flucky who plays guitar, which were the members from Juice. I had been friends with those guys for years. It was almost like our bands competed. It was a friendly competition of course. I'd go out drinking with them after practice. They were really, really popular. The Juice thing was pretty cool. I had been after those two for a long time to try to start a band. Eventually, they got in the band and they liked what Michael Ransom was playing. They really liked his style. We were looking for a drummer and I had heard that Videodrone was having problems. So I called The Firm, who is their management company, and I asked for Kris Kohls' number. I was friends with him for years but I lost his number. We talked and he wanted me to come down to L.A. so he could listen to it. I took a ride down there. He listened to it and he flipped out. He loved it and he was in the band the next day.

Shoutweb: When was that?

Markie: That was July or August of 2000.

Shoutweb: Oh, wow!

Markie: Only a little while ago.

Shoutweb: That was a pretty quick turnaround then.

Markie: It was quick. Once Kris got in the band we wrote three more songs. We hooked up with this guy that worked at the old A&M Recording Studios in Los Angeles which is now Jim Henson Studios. He sprung a demo for us because we knew the owner. I showed the owner of A&M a demo and he was flipping out. He said, "Sure, use the room." He gave us four days worth of recording and we recorded a three song demo. Word leaked about the band and all of a sudden we got calls from every major label you could think of. Minor too but it took us a while. We thought we had it locked down to where we were going to sign and didn't think that we were going to need to go to New York. That ended up changing and we flew out to New York for a week and met with some of the heads of the labels out there. Once we came back here to Los Angeles, we made our decision and signed the record contracts on October 3rd. We had signed a letter of direction before that but then the short form on October 3rd and then the long form maybe four months ago. We were excited. We signed a three record deal, which is nice. I think we made a pretty smash debut.

Shoutweb: It's just called "Adema"?

Markie: "Adema" it is. I thought making a title would be a little too forward being that no one knew what Adema is.

Shoutweb: The logo is just this "A"? What is the cover art going to look like?

Markie: We took two women and placed them in front of these huge walls of ice. They were like 12 feet tall. We lit the ice on fire. We actually had cans of propane shooting fire behind the ice so it kind of gave it a real surreal look. They were actually tied together back to back. One was sort of a fiery looking woman and one was like an ice queen. Basically, it was a clashing of worlds. It's kind of like the beginning and end somewhat. Dean Carr put it on and I think he did a good job. He listened to the songs and he really got the gist of what's happening. It's pretty much a torn soul trying to find its way through reality and deciding the right moves to be happy. That little triangle thing is kind of a symbol of that. We have guitar picks with that on there. It's just a little insignia.

Shoutweb: That's going to be a collector's item!

Markie: Yeah? I'm actually going to get it tattooed on me.

Shoutweb: I was looking at the photos on the web site. You have some massive tattoos going there.

Markie: We have some work that's for sure. Both Kris and me. We all have Adema tattooed on our wrist.

Shoutweb: Really?

Markie: We're the only ones with these. We don't have to show laminates to get in. We just show our wrists. Actually, in Bakersfield we've had a big following of Adema fans who have been getting Adema tattooed on their wrist.

Shoutweb: On the topside or the under side?

Markie: Under side right where the hand connects with the wrist.

Shoutweb: Both wrists?

Markie: The guitar players have them on their left wrist so it kind of shows when they're playing. I have mine on my right wrist. We're sending out these little henna tattoos with the record, which is pretty cool. It's a little logo. Not the triangle, but it says Adema. Kris has three flames around his Adema tattoo. So they copied that and made henna tattoos out of it. So if the kid buys the record they can put the little henna tattoo on.

Shoutweb: Cool! It's in the packaging?

Markie: Yeah, it will be in the packaging. They might even give it out with the single releases. It's something a little different.

Shoutweb: That's a great idea. So tell me what that is on your left forearm in these pictures.

Markie: Kris has wings on his left forearm but I think those pictures were taken before he had the wings done. My left forearm is a picture of a dragon ripping apart a heart. It kind of signifies what I do to my relationships.

Shoutweb: And is that a Saturn?

Markie: Yes, that's my arm too. I have one arm that I call my chaos arm. It's what I think is happening in the world. It's getting all digital. The woman on my arm is like an android. I think we're getting nuts with being able to pick apart DNA. Stuff's getting crazy! These scientists better slow down just a little bit. They should study what they're doing before they come out with this stuff.

Shoutweb: So your right arm is your chaos arm?

Markie: Yes, my right arm is my chaos arm. I have the dragon, which symbolizes my chaos with love. Then on the back side of it I have another woman who is my girl.

Shoutweb: So I will see you guys in NJ when you're here.

Markie: I'm sure the label people will be out checking out their new signing. We are also playing that KROCK show.

Shoutweb: The KROCK Dysfunctional Family Picnic.

Markie: Yes, that. It's such a plus for us to have label support.

Shoutweb: From the photos, it looks like everyone is in good condition.

Markie: I'm training and trying to get into good shape. I weigh about 145 pounds but it's pretty much all muscle. I'm not going for mass here. I want to get cut up. I eat like shit but I work hard and I work out. The other guys in the band are all good-looking too. (laughter)

Shoutweb: There you go. Now you can start a boy band. (laughter)

Markie: Yeah, we'll have to do our little dance numbers on stage. (laughter)

Shoutweb: Rumor has it that you guys are going to be on the Family Values 2001 tour.

Markie: Personally, I am a huge Stone Temple Pilots fan. I am beyond belief a huge fan. That's one of my all time favorite rock bands of this century. If you talk to them, tell them Adema wants to tour with them. I'm really, really into their music. I love the way Scott Weiland talks about things. They've influenced not only my scene but also my song writing and the guitar players would all say that as well, Mike Ransom for sure.

Shoutweb: So is that a maybe for Family Values?

Markie: William Morris is our booking agent. Obviously, there are family ties there so I'm hoping we can get on there in some way. We'll see. There are no promises in this industry. I'm just taking it one day at a time. As long as I'm touring that's the main thing. As long as we're accessible to whoever wants to come see us, that is the main goal.

Shoutweb: It's cool that you guys have a computer on the road too.

Markie: Yeah, I'm on the Internet all the time. Through Streetwise I've gotten quite a lot of fans. Actually, we're out here in Clinton, Iowa. There was a Streetwise member who goes by Duff. He actually promoted this show. He got us a home cooked meal last night because a family invited us to their home. He's amazing. He's done a lot of work on his own and he gets paid nothing. He just loves the music. That, to me, is where the Internet has won. I'm really, really stoked about his efforts. It keeps me excited to be on the road to have support like that.

Shoutweb: You're headed to the East Coast and through the Mid-West.

Markie: Yeah, the damn humidity is the worst part. It sucks.

Shoutweb: Then you're going out with Staind?

Markie: I'm really excited about that. I'm a real fan of their music. I haven't met the guys yet but it's so exciting. I'm like a kid in a candy store. We've been waiting a long time to do this. There is almost an eight-year difference between me and my older brother and I've watched that as a kid growing up. It's just exciting to have a chance of my own to have some success, God willing.

Shoutweb: So you guys actually grew up together?

Markie: Yes, we actually share the same mother but have different fathers. That's our blood connection.

Shoutweb: I did an interview with Aaron from Downer and he was telling me about how he was there when Korn first got together and just watched it happen. He said the first time he heard Korn he knew his own band was in trouble.

Markie: They're a great band. You can't take anything from them. I still think that they're the nu-metal kings. They are the reigning champs. They've done it all. They've played shows that they never ever were supposed to be able to play and they did it well.

Shoutweb: They command a lot of respect.

Markie: Oh yeah. The reason I respect them so much is because they did all of that without any help from radio. Without any TV promotion. That's not supposed to happen. They're all down to earth people too.

Shoutweb: "The Way You Like It" is a song that I wrote down as "funky". It definitely has a different vibe to it.

Markie: That doesn't seem like the kind of music would come out of this band, huh?

Shoutweb: I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't like I said, "What the hell were they thinking?"

Markie: I grew up on break-dancing music and hip-hop and all that stuff. I like to fuse the feel but as far as rapping goes, I'm not a rapper. I'm a singer. On that song, I'm just feeling a different side to myself. It's kind of poppy, almost rhythmic. There are hooks there. That song is about people telling me that I couldn't do it. And people telling me that I went about things the wrong way. To me, that's like my anthem back to them "the way you like it". It's my laugh back to them. "You're never going to be nothing because you've done things this way. You like to drink and you like to party." That's where the chorus comes from, "Sometimes I only remember the days when I was young. Nowadays no one remembers when they were young and stupid."

Shoutweb: I like the line, "and then you'll realize that you were just as bad as me."

Markie: Yeah, exactly.

Shoutweb: It's all about appreciation.

Markie: Exactly. Enjoy yourself. Appreciate yourself and the fact that you're alive. Not everything has to be turned back around on yourself. I don't have to look in the mirror and say, "What's wrong with me today?" Just be yourself.

Shoutweb: Without any self-loathing going on.

Markie: One day of rain doesn't make a shitty summer.

Shoutweb: Exactly. Now, "Skin" I'm assuming is about this person that you were referring to earlier.

Markie: Yeah, that song is about a person who I really love. I just can't deal with the way they run their life. They say, "I want things to be this way." And I say, "I guess we're not getting anywhere with this then."

Shoutweb: Two of my other favorites are "Blown Away" and "Freaking Out". "Freaking Out" I just love! That is the song that I am singing in my head all the time.

Markie: To me, it's just a really simple hook. It gets it out. I went to private school when I was a kid. That whole song is about my anxiety. I went to a Catholic school but in this school everyone was rich. Everything's got to be this way. You have to drive this car and date this girl or else you're nothing. The whole song is pretty much about panic attacks.

Shoutweb: I think it would make a really good soundtrack.

Markie: "Freaking Out"? Yeah, we're thinking of that as a follow up. I also think that "Blown Away" and "Everyone" are very strong songs. "Everyone" has a good groove to it. I think what I'm trying to do is bring back the song to rock. Not so much the style. I think rock and roll got a little caught up in what was hip.

Shoutweb: In "Everyone", are you saying "all I know is that life is a struggle"?

Markie: "Everyone is the same. Quick to point the blame. All I know is that life is a struggle. Why I can't seem to escape all the games that they play. All I know is that life is a struggle." That's what that little tune means.

Shoutweb: "Blown Away" is a great song I love too. I love when you come right out and say "I want to kill you."

Markie: "Blown Away" is about another relationship with a friend that just drove me absolutely bat shit. One day it would be good and the next day no good. Actually the "blow it away" wasn't about killing someone. That was about drugs. I know I'm going to take a lot of shit for that song because lyrically it's kind of really blunt. Thank God I live in America and I can say what I want.

Shoutweb: The record comes out August 21st. What else should fans know about Adema?

Markie: They should come out and check out the little tours that we do. That's where you're going to get to meet us, hang out with us. We chill with anyone who wants to come out and have pizza with us. We're just normal people and we want to be close to people. I got into this business to meet people. Basically, we're just a hard working band and we're ready to throw down.