Zeno of Grad Dai

Zeno is the vocalist/guitarist for Grad Dai.  They recently performed at Fish Head Cantina, the Artscape, and Club Reality.  This is part of a series introducing the group.  Please check out the prior article on Kato.

Shani:   Hi, Zeno. I have had the pleasure of talking with Kato and Smoky. I mentioned to Kato, that I had misjudged you when I first saw you. I was taken by surprise when Kato started rapping and I found out that you were the vocalist. You do a great job on playing up the shock value.

Zeno:   Yes, thanks.

Shani:   How long have you been performing?

Zeno:   I guess you can say thirteen then. When I met Kato, I got serious.

Shani:   How did you two meet?

Zeno:   We met through a mutual friend at my graduation cookout. I met them a couple houses up from my house and I was sitting on the back of the car. I got on the back of the car, and told him to drive down to the house, I would stay back here. I didn’t know that he would step on the gas so heavy! It was nothing to hold on to, I tried to stay on but I flew off and bust the back of my head.

Shani:   Oh, my goodness!

Zeno:   It wasn’t too bad; I was protected by my locs! Kato was like, look at this clown! He asked me if I was ok. We became best friends and started doing music.
 

Shani:   So, your locs saved your life! Wow! So, how long have you been playing guitar.
 

Zeno:   It’s been a year now.
 

Shani:   Do you play other instruments?
 

Zeno:   I started with the drums and piano, I’m learning violin now.
 

Shani:   You are fairly young as an artist, just performing for two years. What advice would you give to the children that are looking up to Grad Dai, who might want to become an artist?
 

Zeno:   I would tell them to be themselves, to be different and not to give into the music that is out there now. That is what we do, if you stay true to yourself, then people will love your music as much as you do.
 

Shani:   That’s awesome advice.
 

Zeno:   Thank you.
 

Shani:   Which two of your four completed, are your personal favorites?
 

Zeno:   I would have to say “Self-Mutilation” because that song is everything, it really touches you. When you break up with someone, you want to get back with them to feel the pain again. That’s the first song written by Kato. My second song would be “Smoke and Mirrors”. I can relate to that song closely because one of my ex-girlfriends was really had an ugly personality. I didn’t look at it until we broke up; you get stuck in the illusion. After you break up, you’re like, “Wow, she is a jerk!”
 

Shani:   I think a lot of people will be able to relate, because overall our society takes things at face value. You never know until you open up the box, what is inside.
 

Zeno:   That’s true, you should never judge a book by its cover! “Self-Mutilation” is our single that we are currently promoting.