Crossing over with Chris Cayzer

MANILA, Philippines - After ordering two plates full of rice-viand-side dish combos, Chris Cayzer is systematically picking each viand apart, removing fat and devouring each morsel of meat with the hunger of a lion in a cage.

He’s devouring these viands with gusto, of course, because he has no plans of eating the rice. “I’m watching what I eat,” he says. “I go to the gym and the only rice I eat now is, like, brown rice.” Chris is watching what he eats to look fit on television, the infamous 10-pound adder, where he has a regular stint on GMA 7’s SOP.

He’s like a boxer prepping for a prize fight — watching what he eats, training, practicing, changing his game — and he is; he’s gearing up for a big marketing push for his second album, Loko. Promo efforts already count a cover for fashion rag Garage and a slew of features in other glossies. Not to mention his weekly stint on SOP as part of Vocalistas, the vocal group he’s in with other like-minded local singers like Miguel Escueta.

“The first album was more mainstream,” he says. “We had to get myself out in the market and you pretty much have to pay your dues.”

Loko is Chris Cayzer branching out and creating an album that’s closer to his aesthetic. A musician’s musician who grew up on a mix of folk, rock, and jazz, the goal for Loko was to have a variety of sounds. “That’s why with this album has a crooner song, a song to jam to, a song to bop your head to, a song you can be emotional to,” he says.

SUPREME caught up with Chris on a typically busy Saturday — where he juggled a business meeting, this interview, and then SOP rehearsals — and asked him about his music, his John Mayer man crush, and the perks of local fame.

SUPREME: You’re a musician’s musician, Chris. Commercial pressure aside, without the marketing and whatnot, what music do you like?

CHRIS CAYZER: If there was no market and it was just me in my room, I think I’d be playing blues because when you play it, you know, especially when you play the guitar, I’m not very technical when I play the guitar, I just feel it and then with blues, it’s kind of like your wrist shakes, you’re in control of that sound. It’s just a sense, you know?

Who are your influences?

Well, John Mayer for one. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix. And if I go into folk, I like James Taylor. If I go into jazz, I like Michael Frank. Then again, I also like R&B...

How did you get into music?

When I was about three years old, my dad would just play lots of jazz music and I’d always sing it and I’d always dance to it, especially Michael Frank. And then, for me, when I picked up the guitar, there’s a similarity between Michael Frank and John Mayer. These guys are poets and that’s kind of like how I write my songs, like I’m a poet.

When I started playing an instrument, that’s when it started to come together. The reason why I started was I was addicted to video games. At that age, you’re like 15, your grades are kind of declining and then once you have something like an instrument, it exercises your mind to be more focused, especially in the schoolwork. That was one of my parents’ decisions, to pick up a guitar, to play guitar. I started writing and that was it. I came here and then I submitted my songs to Star Records.

You grew up in Australia, right?

I grew up in Australia, born and raised and then I got here when I was eighteen; I’m 23 now. My dad wanted me to manage our business. We import and export manufactured guns so it’s kind of far from what I do. I like to make music, not war. (Laughs) But then again, my parents are so supportive.

What instruments do you play? When did you pick them up?

Guitar. Piano I started playing when I was like 10 and then bass... I’m not really good at piano though, I just know certain chords.

Did you have a high school band? What was your first band’s name and what did you guys play?

It’s been a long time, man, I don’t know. We were very dark. Not goth but we were like Death Cab For Cutie, something like that

Was it always music for you? Did you have like the typical kid dreams growing up like fireman or astronaut?

Policeman. It just didn’t work out. I started breaking the law. (Laughs)

Did you get into a lot of trouble growing up?

No, not really. I’m a good kid. Sometimes people think when they see me out, they have that take on me. I’m really just music, number one.

When did you start writing music?

Six months after I started playing guitar, I won a songwriting competition in Australia. I won myself an amp and that really encouraged me. I was competing with guys who were like 10 years older than me and I just picked up the guitar and I was like, “Okay.”

You John Mayer fan. Any song you wish you’d written?

All the Beatles songs, I’d be a millionaire. But I would say Strawberry Fields Forever. I don’t do drugs and I wish I could write like that even when I’m not on drugs. The Beatles were on LSD. (Laughs)

You’re a songwriter of course, but you sang some songs other people wrote on your new album. As a vocalist, do you attack the song differently when it’s something you didn’t write?

When I attack the song, of course I have to make it my own. And when I attack those songs, of course I have to make it different from the other cuts on the album. I can’t have a whole album of the same vibe. That’s why with this album for Warner, that was my goal, to have the crooner song, song to jam to, song to bop your head to... Just a lot of different kinds of music.

If you could open for any act, what would it be?

Who do you think, man? John Mayer. (Laughs)

Of course. Okay. Since you’re a John Mayer fan, let’s play Shag, Marry, Kill, John Mayer Edition. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift?

I had a dream the other day with Taylor Swift. I was shagging her. We were in a car. You know those California highways? And you know how they go up the mountains? So yeah, we were doing it in the car. I think it was like a blue Hyundai or something. (Laughs)

So shag Taylor Swift, kill Jennifer Aniston, marry Jennifer Love Hewitt.

You know those Internet memes where you can only answer with song titles? Answer the following through John Mayer songs:

a. Who is Chris Cayzer?

“Perfectly Lonely.” It’s an anthem for all us single people. Like, who cares man?

b. What is music to Chris Cayzer?

“New Deep,” like I’m always changing.

c. How is showbiz?

“Assasins,” like “I had a job to do,” you know

d. Where will Chris Cayzer be in 10 years or so?

“Crossroads.”

Craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?

Well, I wouldn’t say crazy but I think there’s one fan out there. He comments on everything. He keeps the forums alive and because of him, more people join. He became like my consultant like I talk to him and he’d inform them where I am or whatever. You know when they write letters, give me stuffed toys, I really appreciate it. It’s not crazy at all.

What won’t you do for fame?

I won’t sell my soul. I wouldn’t use people or be used. You know what I mean? I wouldn’t sell my soul. That’s who I am — my soul, my music.

Anything you regret in your career so far?

I don’t mind doing showbiz or whatever. I don’t mind acting. But I really want to get my music out there. I really want to be known as a musician first. I don’t want to be a talented musician and then a crappy actor. I don’t want people to be like his music’s good but he needs to improve his acting. That’s one of the mistakes I made. I wish I could’ve done a little more workshops first, prepared a little bit more before I did that (acting).

Best part of being Chris Cayzer the singer?

When people go to your gigs and they support you. That’s the best part. And I do it for them to. I don’t want to let them down, the people who support me. If I forget a lyric, I’ll sing that song five times in a row just to punish myself and really learn it.