REDLIGHT KING
Mark “Kaz” Kasprzyk started Redlight King as a vehicle for his songwriting a decade ago, after moving down from Hamilton, ON, Canada to Los Angeles, and soon recorded 2011’s Something for the Pain, which included the Rock/Alternative hits “Old Man,” (a tribute to his dad featuring a vocal sample granted by Neil Young himself), and “Bullet in My Hand” and 2013’s Irons in the Fire, highlighted by “Born to Rise,” a song that played over the end credits of the 2014 Kevin Costner film, Draft Day. He later release an EP featuring the popularity streamed song “Boneshaker”, which he wrote and produced independantly. Mark worked on new material for three years and unveiled the third full-length Redlight King album, with Parts + Labor Records, teaming up with its co-founder and house producer Jimmy Messer (AWOLNATION, Kygo, Kelly Clarkson). On songs like the first single, “Lift the Curse,” which channels ‘70s era Aerosmith and AC/DC, and “Nobody Wins,” borrowing a Motown bass line and “Sympathy for the Devil” percussion, Mark’s new direction doubles down on his blues roots and moves away from the hip-hop/rock hybrid he’d become known for.
“Where I’m from, You had to come with the goods,” said Kaz. “You didn’t show up until you knew how to do it.”
Mark’s childhood interests ranged from judo – he was an alternative for the Canadian Olympic team for the Summer 2000 games — to auto racing, which he picked up from his dad, and continues to be involved in as a TV personality and supporter.
In 2022, Redlight King is set to release their 4th studio album “The Wheelhouse” with AFM records. With longtime member and guitar player Julian Tomarin, Randy Cooke on drums, it is a straight ahead rock record that’s exciting and powerful to listen to. Redlight King isn’t about smoke and mirrors, it honest, and it hits hard.
