PUSH PLAY! Go ahead push play and dance away... Watch out Hollywood, there is a hot band from Long Island, New York named Push Play! Push Play is a upbeat, rock, pop, and electronic music group. These four boys: CJ (18), Steve (18), Nick (18), and Derek (19), have been close friends and hope to pursue their Hollywood dream. These boys plan to make a difference through their music. Though, they've been around for many years, they've recently became huge with the help of fans and Jonas Brothers close friend, Mandy! Push Play has recently debut their first album, Deserted, which you can buy at their official website store or on iTunes. To listen to the bands music go to myspace.com/pushplayrox!
-Bio written by Svital

Push Play

First of all introduce yourself and tell us more. Your name, your age, where your from, and about the band.
Alright well, I'm CJ Baran.. I am 17, my birthday is February 13 and I'll be legal (laughs). The band is Push Play, and we're all from Long Island, which is part of New York. And everyone else in the band is 17, except for Derek, who is already 18 and he is in college.

Anyways, what got you started into the music business?
Started, alright well.. I actually started with Nick DeTurris, we actually made our first band at 10 years old. The name of that band was Kaucion. And we started the band and made our first CD, and I sound like a chipmunk because my voice was so high (laughs). At 16, we were recording at a studio in Long Island and we met up with Derek Ries, who can play the keys and play guitar, and Derek plays the drums. So we played together and was like don't we make a band. And we were like why don't we start writing some songs. So we started writing a bunch of songs and we ended up finding two producers.

So, how did you come up with the name, "Push Play"?
Push Play.. Alright, that is like our number one asked question. Uhm, I was in the car with Derek and like the whole band. And we were just cruising around in the car, we gonna go get some lunch. And I can't remember what kind of CD we were listening to, but it was like one of those crazy hard core bands. And he was like, "Stop, stop!" I was like, "No man, push play, push play!" And like we thought we were gonna name it "Press Play" and that was our name for awhile, "Press Play." And then, P.Diddy came out with an album called, "Press Play" so we changed it to "Push Play."

Who plays what in the band?
Ok, I sing and I play rhythm guitar. Steve Scarola plays lead guitar and background vocals. Nick DeTurris plays bass. And Derek Ries plays drums.

Why should people be encouraged to listen to your music?
Because it makes people happy, that's what we've been getting a lot lately. And whenever someone's sad, we're like.. you know the perfect remedy is to listen to so Push Play.

Do you plan to tour soon?
Yes, we are planning a U.S. tour and possibly some other countries, like Europe. And we wanna tour in Japan, that's like the main countries we wanna tour around. We are playing a United Stats tour this summer.

What is the recording process like?
Recording process is extremely, extremely boring. Basically, it's only fun when your recording your own parts.

So, what do you hope to achieve by the end of this year?
Well, the CD is one, to be out nation wide. That's the main thing.

What's your process of song writing? Do you write the songs or does somebody else?
Usually, we do the music first.. We sit down as a band and we'll sorta help each other out in the music end. Lyrically, I usually write all the lyrics, but lately I've been doing a lot with Derek.

How long have you been singing for?
I have been singing, since I was 10.

So, where do you see yourself in ten years?
Well, hopefully Push Play with has group success! And I wanna be in the music business. And I was hoping to go to NYU. Like attend NYU in the fall. Maybe be producer.

If you could work with any band, who would it be?
Definitely, Panic! At the Disco! They are amazing. One of our songs was inspired from them, "There She Goes Again." And that's there full plat on inspiration of the song. And we took a lot of inspiration on that song from them.

What makes it all worth it?
The fans, they're coming up show by show. And they're here to support you.

Do you think that once you get fame and success, you'll still be the same person?
Of course, yes. I mean I go to a Catholic High School and they taught me so many values.

What are your favorite songs on your upcoming album?
I'm actually here with Nick right now, (asks Nick what is favorite song on album is). Nick's favorite is "Starlight Addiction." And my favorite is, "There She Goes Again."

How do you and the rest of the guys get along?
We're like best friends, like brothers.

What's your biggest fear?
Biggest fear, "Well... I'm afraid of the dark." Nah, I'm just kidding. No, I guess huge, purple fire breathing dragons.

Tell us a completely random fact no one knows.
Whenever I get excited, I rub my hands together. So if you see me rubbing my hands together, Almost like how you warm your hand up when your cold. So whenever I do that I'm happy and excited.

You’re getting really well known. You might as well call it famous. How does that feel?
It feels unbelieveable and we are so very fortunate to have really unbelieveable fans!

What has been the best concert you’ve played so far?
It was definitely the CD Release at Irving Plaza. What an experience! The place was oversold and the fans were so in to it!

What are your hopes for 2008?
We hope to open for Jonas Brothers or Fall Out Boy or Good Charlotte or Simple Plan. AND WE REALLY WANT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN NEXT DECEMBER!

You’re planning to do a summer tour as a non-signed band or are there hints of getting signed towards the summer?
We're signed now to an Indie Label: MA Entertainment, Inc. but we're looking for an imprint from a major.

As you get bigger, you’ll get busier. How do you intend to keep contact with your fans and let them know you’re still there and fame hasn’t affected you?
We are very down to earth and we won't ever forget our fans now because they are really family to us now!

You recently released a CD and had a huge release party to go with it. How was that?
The release was a huge success for us. We sold over 2500 CDs at Irving Plaza(even though there were 1300 people there) and the after party was off the cuff unbelievable. We had it catered and everything. I think all the fans were so appreciative that we made it so special for them as well. Not many bands give a packed house food and drink for free!

How is your album selling?
Considering we do not have major distribution on it we have to say it is selling VERY WELL! It's all online, not in one store but we continue to sell over 40 a day which isn't bad for a band that was virtually unknown 4 months ago!

You seem to have cultivated a lot of interest abroad. Any signs of going on tour world wide?
Absolutely! We are looking at 2009 for that!

You have hundreds of street teams and fan sites. Do you check up on them?
Always and the label has hired a full marketing group to help get the street teams into action!

Mandy has played a key part in your promotion. Ever thought of doing a “Jonas” and writing a song for her?
CJ already wrote a song for her and it is on the "Deserted" CD. It is called "Here Without You".

Do people recognize you on the street now?
Yep, can't shop at the malls now!

How are you coping with the stress of high school and your band getting bigger and more demanded?
It is extremely difficult especially when we're in advanced placement courses. And Derek is on a full scholarship in college so he REALLY needs to keep his grades up! But we're all above 90 students and are all aiming at very good colleges.

There are some people who have stuck with you since the beginning. How doyou feel towards them?
They are very special people and special friends. We love them and they will always be friends to us, not fans. We exchange texts, hang out at shows, go out to eat sometimes. It's pretty cool!