CA: I've always been a writer, songwriting and poetry was my only real outlet for expression. When I was younger I would rap with my friends, I would flip rap songs around and make them funny. Just like Weird Al Yankovic. I never considered a career as a rapper until my first audition. I was interested in death metal and I had recorded some vocals with a grindcore band. I went to the Mom and Pop record stores to post flyers looking for bandmates, and I inadvertently came across a flyer for a rap group looking for members. I always knew I could flow, so I called them and auditioned and the next day I was in the group. While we had some successful practices it wasn't enough for me. I was ready to go big, and they where talking big but making no big moves. I was contacted by M. O. N. T. of Oddville, a rap group in East Palo Alto, and he said they where looking for another member. This was exiting because I know East Palo Alto doesn't fuck around when it comes to hiphop. He told me what songs needed verses so I wrote to those and auditioned with those verses. Oddville became M. O. N. T., Russell, and Myself. We wrote songs, practiced, and performed at open mic nights. Russell left the group shortly before our first recording session, so it was just M. O. N. T.
and myself. A few months later I left Oddville to pursue my
solo career. I still want to work with Oddville on collaboration tracks in the future. M. O. N. T. is very driven and I can see
big things happening for him.

Q: Do you think being a female has hindered or helped you in your career up to this point?

CA: I think it's helped me. I think writing from a female viewpoint keeps my lyrics interesting. And my feminine voice gives me distinction.

Q: What can we expect from Cyco Eva in 2005?

CA: I'm hoping to drop my solo album before the end of this year. Then I'll be promoting it by doing shows. You can also expect me to be workin' with established artists, but not too many. Right now I'm working on a song with Ya Boy. People are going to buy my album because they want to hear me, so I'm not going to flood it with features. I'm looking to get signed by the best. I'm not into doing anything on a small level.

Q: Where do you see yourself in say five (5) years from now?

CA: Five years from now I'm still going to be making albums. I'm also going to be guiding new rappers in their careers. Maybe I'll have a husband or a boyfriend, probably both. I'll also be working on a movie, production or acting, it will probably a documentary of some sort. I know I'll be the owner of a business or two, I'm a natural hustler so I'll be building my empire. I want to give opportunities to poverty stricken people, because they suffer the same struggles that I did. So I'll start up a charity, or at least donate money to one.

Q: Who were some of your early influences?

CA: If I go way back my childhood my rap influences where Neneh Cherry, Salt N Pepa, Cool C, and Slick Rick. Growing up I also listened to Santana, The Rolling Stones, and The Moody Blues, mostly because that's what my parents where into. As a teenager my rap influences varied. Celly Cel, Mac Mall, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Dru Down is what we usually bumped. I've always listened to a large variety of music. I'm especially interested in death metal and old school R&B/slow jams.

Q: What's the title of your latest album?

CA: Right now I'm working on my debut solo album, its called
"Snow Bunny on Yay". Loosely translated it means
"White Girl on Somthing." That's usually how people react to me, like I'm on somethin.'

Q: Where can readers go to sample your music then purchase it?

CA: They can download my demos for free, I'm all over the Internet. They can find me at myspace.com/cyco or clearchannelnewmusicnetwork.com/artist/cycoeva
or or on about a dozen other websites. When my album drops, it will be just like me, not hard to find.

Q: You've been a victim of handgun violence. With the tragic killing of Dimebag Darrell of Damage Plan, do you think guns should be outlawed?

CA. I never think of Dimebag as being from Damage Plan. I guess I still associate him with Pantera. I don't think guns should be outlawed. I don't want to live in a society where the only gun owners are law enforcement, criminals, and the military. If you need to protect yourself, then do what you gotta do. The particular gun you're referencing to in my victimization wasn't registered, so if guns where outlawed it wouldn't have made any difference. He still would have had the gun. Most criminals don't carry registered firearms, thus making gun control pointless.

Q: Do you think fans should have to do thru extra security measures before they entire a venue?

CA: That depends. At most hiphop shows around here fans usually get a pretty thorough pat down and bag search. Of course installing a metal detector might help. If you see or hear gun talk, never be afraid to tell security.

Q: What are your thoughts on censorship?

CA: While censorship maybe necessary in some forms of media, I don't believe in lyrical censorship. C-bo actually did time for his lyrics, and that ain't constitutional. If someone wants to blame their actions on the music they like, then they are just looking for an easy scapegoat.

Q: What's been your most memorable moment in your career up to this point?

CA: One show that stands out is when M. O. N. T. and I where to perform downtown San Jose, and we met up with his friend Donald and his brother who where scheduled to perform also. About 3 minutes before their set we decided to do our set with them. So we ended up just freestyling over their beats and passing the mic around. It was 4 of us total and we just winged it. The venue was full and the girls where going nuts. I thought it was cool that we looked like we had our shit together. We looked like a group, and I had never even met those cats before. On a different note I've danced on stage with Rick Rock and Federation, I've been to E-40's afterparty at the Hilton, I've ran the lot with Dru Down, how many names did I just drop on the floor? Haha, I've seen good and bad things happen. And all of it's memorable.

Q: How helpful do you think online publications such as Florida Entertainment Scene are in helping to get their word out about artists such as yourself?

CA: I think these publications are very helpful and Florida Entertainment Scene is great. I read the Chingy and Darkest Hour interviews on here and I was like okay Y'all ain't no joke. Keep on doin' you're thing.

Q: Do you have anything to say to your fans who read this Interview?

CA: I just want to say thank you for all your support and you're not my fans, I consider all of you my friends. I'm still gonna be the same person I started as. I'm not gonna be shook and hiding in a bulletproof ride. I have handshakes, hugs, and blunts for everyone. If you've got my back then I've got yours. Y'all ain't gonna see none of that spoiled shook celebrity shit comin' from me.

Cyco Eva is an Indie artist from San Jose, CA. She performs locally and should have an album drop later in 2005.

Interview by Michael Montes - © 2005 Florida Entertainment Scene - All Rights Reserved.