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Tee Addicts!
I’m proud to announce Our latest interview with Kyle Crawford from Electric Zombie.
1) Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started.
My name is Kyle and I am a graphic artist from upstate New York. I got my start doing flyers for a local venue in town. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I had no clue how to design it properly, I even designed them in 72 dpi, YIKES! I had run into Jimmy Heartcore at a Mest / Fall Out Boy show. I didn’t know who he was, he was just being loud and obnoxious and I took one of his self printer stickers he had been throwing around the whole night. I had worked for him for a while, then Entrust Clothing, then Rockett. Clothing. I had always wanted to do Band merch, it was always a passion of mine. I used to buy shit tons of shirts at warped tour, yea I was one of those kids, haha. It wasn’t until I started working with Rockett that I really started doing band merch. First it was Yesterday’s Rising, then Versus The Mirror, then From First To Last (the piece I did is where I got my graphic alias, which later become the clothing line name), and the list goes on and on. It really just took off. I’m amazed at how many shirts I’ve designed, and how many of them are pretty awful.
2) What inspired you to get into the T-shirt business? Did you always want
to do it?
In all honesty, it came from spite. I had so many ideas for Rockett. I was really passionate about that brand. The monster shirts they put out in 06/07 were an idea I had been pushing on them for a while. I had done a few wolfman, frankenstein and zombie chicks and I really pushed them to doing a whole collection. It wasn’t until Bamboozle 2007 that they finally unleashed my brain child. It really took off, to me it was one of their most memorable lines. This collection I speak of, was something I wanted to do, that I charged little to nothing for the designs. It took them 10 months to pay me the small amount. Money I know they had. Vacations to hawaii, paying other designers, even putting out another line at the time. I saw that my hard work and drive was going unseen. The second they paid me, I wrote them off forever. I don’t want it to seem like I am the victim here. Rob (owner) always had me talk to Travis (Business Handler), whom which I was pretty good friends with, which made it easier for me to freak the fuck out on them. The relationship just soured and I took my money and ran so to speak. I always thought about doing a line. Then I got a job with Warner Bros Records, which paid me quite well when I was paying 350 a month in rent. I figured I had nothing to lose. I thought strike now while the iron was hot, and people would make the connection that hey, this is the guy that did the rockett designs. I guess it was more or a less a, anything you can do I can do better situation. It’s paid off for me though, because it’s something I’m really passionate about.
3) Can you talk about your own creative process, from the idea to completion?
It really just depends. With band merch, unless a band has a gimmick, it can be kind of hard to design for. Bands now adays, really rely on merch. So they tend to ask for an entire new line every time they get on a new tour. It can really be quite grueling. It takes a toll on my brain sometimes. Band’s also don’t have ideas all the time or they find you because you did “so and so’s” designs. I try and get to know the band as much as I can, (or tolerate their music). To be honest 99% of the time when I have no idea, or direction, I just make whatever and it works. When working for designs to be going into Hot Topic, the only thing you need to know is, monsters, animals, cartoons, bright, neon. That’s it. It can be pretty hard sometimes, unless your Matt Gondek. He could draw a cat eating it’s own turd and it would sell in Hot Topic. Actually come to think of it, I think that was his last BrokenCyde design. Hmmmm…
But as far as Electric Zombie is concerned. I just write tons and tons of ideas down in my book and I rummage through that book about 3 months before I want to launch a new line. (Sometimes even sooner). I figure out who I want to hire, who’s perfect for my idea, and check out their most up to date work and a lot of the time I get ideas off of that. It really just comes out, I wish I could explain where the ideas come from. I can’t really explain how it is I make the magic happen. It’s super weird. I’m self taught and I actually have no idea what I’m doing. I learned by experimenting and actually testing things. I don’t even know the names of tools, or how to do anything. People say “mask layers” I really have no idea what the hell they’re talking about. I just sit down and do my thing. It’s really weird. I guess my talent really is just a gift and I would be the worst person to ask “How do you do such and such” Because i would literally have to sit down and do it for them. I’m pretty stupid, and lucky.
4) Career wise, If you could do anything else art related, what would you
like to do?
I would love to movie posters or dvd packaging. Anything in the movie industry would be amazing. I’ve also always wanted to work for WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). I’ve always watched and I feel like I really know the product and wrestlers and programs to really nail what they’d be looking for. Maybe one day.
5) Who is your biggest influence and/or inspiration on your designs?
I would have to say, Jim Phillips, James Groman, the Troublemaker Studio team (or whomever worked on all the grindhouse posters). Graphically I’m not sure. Texturing I’ve always been a huge fan of Jacob Bannon. I think he has a lot of influence on my really gritty designs.
6) Any advice you have for aspiring designers and Tee-addicts members?
Don’t think that any of this is easy. It really isn’t. For me it’s a struggle to keep up with bands constantly needing merch, never giving ideas. It’s tough and as far as the clothing line stuff is concerned. I am just very fortunate that I have no life. I really can’t have employees ever. I am too pushy, too anal, organized and I’m a my way or the highway kind of guy. I have to do everything myself. I don’t feel right doing it any other way. I would say, really think about what you’re doing, what you’re shooting for. Don’t just do it because you think it’s the cool thing to do. Or because you think you can make money. Have a reason or an emotion behind it. I wanted to show everyone, (Mainly all my former clothing line employers) That I have great ideas and you massively fucked up for not going with them. The main reason why I do all of this, The day job, the freelance and the clothing line, is to be one of the best. To be known, for people to look up to and state me when they’re asked who their inspiration is. If I was doing this for money, I would be doing a whole lot less and wouldn’t be selling shirts for 5 bucks. Think about if it were you as the customer, if you bought a shirt, what would make you feel happy, or a like a kid again, to constantly look at the mailbox waiting for that package to come. To rip the bag (or box if you’re a mega fan) and try on every shirt the second you get it. Really put your mind and heart into it. Don’t try and be like anyone else, or follow a trend, make trends, break trends. Be yourself, and no matter what anyone says, do your thing. If it fails, it fails, but at least you stood your ground and gave it your best there’s no one to blame but yourself.
Thank you to Kyle for taking the time to do the interview.
1st time i hear about him was at Emptees taking about ” the money shit needs to stop” which was about how he hates when designers or want to be designer bitch about not getting enough money from clients for their t-shirt designs, once i read it ( which its must read for everyone ) just thought instantly we need to interview him right away. he tells it like it’s, no bull shit and no ego.
Guys/Girls check out his whole line of tees at great prices from $18 to $1o bucks! amazing!
Shop: buyelectriczombie.com
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Thank you for reading,
-Andres
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