Back in NYC, a few days after her East Village performance, Nick wrote a long, adoring email to Tiombe about a new project he was starting with his former band mate, Todd. He asked to meet her and talk about a potential collaboration. Tiombe never opened the message.
A few days pass and a mutual friend brought her to a sake bar in the East Village where Nick was working that night, behind the bar. He also ran the playlist in the dim lit cubby with the door wide open. “He played DJ Quik and Easy-E and not even on some like ‘I’m trying to be ironic. I’m a white boy listening to this.‘ He loved it. He knew the words… I was like, ‘Fuck yeah! I’ll work with you guys.’”
Soon after their gangster rap bonding experience, they began working. The sake bar became the epicenter of this new project where they shared stories and came up with ideas for theatrical shows and conceptual music. It was also a place for friends, many of which happened to be DJ’s, label reps, producers, designers, photographers, promoters and a gang of creatives turned natives, who have supported the project from its infancy. Nick still works at the sake bar and still has those friends, “Diplo bought 32 sake bombs last week after Major Lazer and he didn’t pay for them… I want my money.” It’s just that kind of place.
Though they have written and recorded a large batch of material, they’ve only released one single. “We made this record called Fuck Work. We did a vinyl piece and an iTunes piece with about eight remixes. The record came out June 23rd, 2009.” The hypnotic electro funk dance single was garnished with eccentric remixes from artists like Dam Funk and Nacho Lovers. The video directed by Nancy Mitchell debuted on TheFADER.com the day of the release. It was clear at this point the record was working.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnxez9T8XH8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Nothing could prove that more true than the release party itself. On July 2nd, 2009, the celebration was held at Santos Party House in downtown Manhattan, with a lineup built by the band. “It was like my own Lollapalooza,” said Nick. Cubic Zirconia headlined the show with some added members, Jamire Williams on drums and Lisa E. Harris on backup vocals. In addition to their top billing status, they brought in live performances by DJ Assault, Dam Funk, Chico Mann (of Antibalas), Head Automatica and DJs Kool Hersh and Mike 2600. Trouble and Bass’ Drop the Lime proclaimed the night “a tropical majestic experience.”
They also brought nearly 1000 people that Thursday night, many of which were friends. “I didn’t expect that much support, but one of things I love about living in New York is that there’s enough room for everyone to succeed,” says Nick Hook.
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