Speaker Junkies

VITALS

MEMBERS:

Summer Daniels: Vocals
Rezn Tokes: Synths and Vocals
Tekno Tom: Keytar and Vocals
Tempo: Drums

GENRE:

Electro House/Electronica/Trance/Techno

FOR FANS OF:

LMFAO, Hyper Crush, Black Eyed Peas, Shiny Toy Guns, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani

BIO

Summer Daniels’ sun-tanned 5’6” frame rests in an airline seat, her blue eyes gazing out the window as she tries to ignore the kid kicking the back of her seat and a stewardess who won’t give her any free peanuts, and silently wishes she was still in Hawaii, her mind wandering back to sipping cocktails and swimming with dolphins. Her daydream could unequivocally be the fantasy of many of her male fans. The 24-year-old model and actress has, however, been attracting a far different fan base lately. Daniels has recently transitioned from the studio and screen to take her rightful place on stage, microphone in hand, as the sexy front-woman of Southern California’s premier electronic act: Speaker Junkies. “I love being in front of a crowd and getting people pumped up! Every time I’m on stage I feel as though it’s what I was born to do,” she admits.

Speaker Junkies, founded in 1999 by Tekno Tom (keytar) and Rezn Tokes (synths), have evolved from a revolutionary underground live duo into a complete band with the addition of Summer Daniels’ vocals and Tempo on drums, pushing and blurring the lines of live and electronic music and are set to storm the mainstream. “We have transformed into a band that many describe as Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Fergie, DJ Tiesto and electro/pop/techno in a blender,” explains Tom. Rezn elaborates on their musical evolution: “I would describe Speaker Junkies today as futuristic, fun, upbeat, melodic, edgy, spacey, dreamy, hard and energetic. If you were able to fly a U.F.O. through space or take a journey through your veins and the various lobes of your cerebral cortex you would find that early Speaker Junkies would be the perfect complement to that journey.” “Makes you wanna’ dance all night long!” says Tempo. “We’re an electro-pop band that knows how to get ‘ish started!” says Daniels, summing it up. “Happy Music!”

Their most recent self-titled album, a culmination of their talent and experience, can be equally attributed to a tireless work ethic and devotion to a single, driving passion: music. It’s midnight and Tom is still hard at work in the studio, surrounded by posters of his favorite bands and Speaker Junkies album plaques. The music bumps as he monitors the levels, remixing tracks. “The CD also features our friends from Ultraviolet Sound as well as label-mates DJ ei8ht and Bitter Persona. We are definitely excited and proud of this last CD. This album truly defines what we are today.”

With the members of this now complete live electronic outfit carrying a variety of influences in their arsenal (from Depeche Mode to No Doubt and Madonna), an already impressive list of accomplishments (extensive live performances including opening for chart-toppers LMFAO, music featured in iPod commercials and spun by the likes of Tommy Lee and DJ Aero), a live performance unique to their genre and a new self-titled full length with the infectious single “Hollywood” featuring Somaya Reece already in heavy rotation, there’s nowhere to go but up. “Everything we’ve been working toward all these years is in the hands of the future. Our dreams can be crushed or they can be granted,” says Rezn. “But the only way to find out is to work hard.” One thing seems certain: Speaker Junkies are here to stay.[/expand]

Q&A

WHO PROVIDED THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR CORRUPTION AS A YOUTH?
Summer: I grew up around rock and roll and love Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. I also loved house music ‘cause that’s what we listened to all the time at gymnastic practices. My favorite song was “Sweet dreams.” I always would sing and play the piano but everything I played was by ear. I never had any professional help. I wanted to become a singer because I’ve danced my whole life and I love being in front of a crowd and getting people pumped up! Every time I’m on stage I feel as though it’s what I was born to do.
Rezn Tokes: My brother used to drive me around with his boom-box blasting sounds of MC Hammer, BBD, Ice-T, Tony! Toni! Toné! and others. I listened to his music all throughout my early years. I developed my own musical interest when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I mainly listened to metal throughout high school. Throughout my college years I mainly listened to KROQ and underground music. Robert Miles is what really got me into the underground scene. The song “Children” is just so beautiful. It really inspired me. I wanted to create that kind of music after listening to his stuff. Prodigy, Orbital, Daft Punk, Diesel Boy and Aphex Twin all had to do with my musical inspirations. I never knew how that music was created until one of my friends introduced me to his friend over at USC. He had a little studio (Mac connected to a keyboard). He basically showed me how a keyboard connected to a computer can be used to create music. I laid down my first track there and instantly fell in love with the whole home studio thing. I began talking to people at Guitar Center and Sam Ash for tips and advice on how to create a home studio environment. This was the time where I became a musician.
Tom: I liked all sorts of music at a young age. I loved Nirvana, Depeche Mode, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Beethoven, Chopin, Duran Duran just to name a few. I guess I turned into a musician when I was given a piano when I was 9 years old. My parents were told by my piano teacher, that starting at such a late age I wasn’t going to excel like the other kids. I proved to everyone three years later doing recitals and playing the most difficult compositions. I quit piano lessons at 15 and began teaching myself and learning the songs I wanted to play.
Tempo: My first influences were the drummer that played at my father’s club when I was 10, my father playing acoustic guitar and my mother singing since I was a child. I grew up listening to from everything in the ‘70s that my parents listened to everything we listen to now. ABBA, Beatles, Blondie, Queen, Metallica, G N’ R, Poison, Led Zeppelin Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Madonna, the Smiths and so much more! The transition from fan to musician was the time I played my first written song to a crowd at my first show in Westminster for a graduation party.

WE KNOW YOUR BEATS ARE ADDICTING, BUT WHY ELSE DO YOU CALL YOURSELVES “SPEAKER JUNKIES”?
Rezn Tokes: I was at a rave that was held at the Alexandria, a hotel in Los Angeles back in 1999. Once we got to the event, we went straight to where all the speaker junkies hung out. We both danced and meditated in front of a wall of speakers in the trance room for about five hours. I kept saying, “We are speaker junkies!” while pounding the back of a total stranger with my fists to the beat. I had a revelation. I told myself I wanted to be that DJ up there, spinning these sick tracks and making all these people feel what I was feeling. That leads up to how we got the name Speaker Junkies. After Tom and I decided we were going to venture into this musical journey together we asked each other what we should call our band. We brainstormed for a while until this one morning. I woke up one morning reminiscing about that rave I went to at the Alexandria hotel. I started to think about all the speaker junkies and said to myself, “Ah ha, I’ve got it!” So I called Tom and told him, “I think I found our band name!” He goes, “What?” I said, “Speaker Junkies!” We both agreed on it and that’s all she wrote.

LET’S PRETEND FOR A MOMENT THIS IS KIND OF LIKE AN A.A. MEETING. WHAT TALES WOULD A SPEAKER JUNKIE HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP?
Summer: We’ve performed with the likes of Far East Movement, Snoop Dogg, DJ Icy Ice, Felguk, Hyper Crush, LMFAO, Sublime, The Millionaires and a bunch more! We’ve graced the stages of venues like the Roxy, House of Blues, Incahoots, Shark Club, Avalon, the Mayan, the Hudson, Florentine Gardens, V20 and so many that I forget!
Tekno Tom: We performed on MTV in Romania, featured on Apple’s iPod commercial and ESPN college football commercial. We’ve been given props in an interview by Tommy Lee as a “influential band,” performed with top names such as DJ Dan, Christopher Lawrence, Coolio, DJ AM, Paul Oakenfold, The Crystal Method, Darude, Ferry Corsten, Powerman 5000, Sugar Ray, Hyper Crush, Berlin and many more we can’t remember. Some of our tracks have been played on KIIS FM as well on a Wango Tango commercial. Our music sometimes pops up in the least expected places!

WHAT ARE SOME RANDOM THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE MUSICAL REALM FANS MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
Summer: I’m the most accident-prone girl you’ll ever meet. If you’ve seen “Good Luck Chuck,” yup, that’s me. I’ve also played a zombie in a horror movie and I’ve been on “MANswers!”
Rezn Tokes: I’m an I.T. at a tree company. I like playing “Modern Warfare” and “Street Fighter IV.”
Tekno Tom: Besides being a classically trained pianist, I was also training at a young age to become a professional tennis player. I was very accomplished in that sport, being ranked in the top 20 in Southern California when I was 16 and under. My favorite show is “Friends.”
Tempo: I wipe my butt from the front!

ANY FAMOUS LAST WORDS?
Summer: “It is what it is!”
Rezn Tokes: “Life has just three rules and you already know them. They are paradox, humor and change. Paradox: life is a mystery. Don’t waste time trying to figure it out. Humor: keep a sense of humor, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure. Change: ‘Know that nothing stays the same.’ -Peaceful Warrior.”
Tekno Tom: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Tempo: “Have fun at our shows and hope you like our stuff or else I’ll Kung Fu punch you in your eye, guy!”

by Don Stefanovich