PREVIEW New Millennium Men (w/ Alex Kazemi)

System of Systems

Writer Alex Kazemi wrote his first novel, Your Truly, Brad Sela, back in 2013 when he was only 19-years-old. In a true time capsule of the 2010s, Alex published an excerpt of that manuscript on his Tumblr page, and it exploded. He got 132,000 views and signed a book deal with MTV Books. For whatever reason or another, the book didn't come out when it was planned for. Instead, Alex embarked on several interesting projects in the media: contributing to magazines such as The Observer, Dazed and Autre, working as managing editor at Prim Magazine, releasing a series of video ads for Marilyn Manson, and founding the Advisor which collected letters contemporary male icons to young men, with contributions from heroes like Richard Kern, Bruce LaBruce, and Moby.
The initial novel, however, NEVER DIED. And it now LIVES. Alex's debut novel is New Millennium Boyz and it is published by none other than Permuted Press, a sub-division of Simon & Schuster. It is a fast, frenetic and hilarious read, and finds its protagonist Brad Sela as a senior in high school. Brad is a popular good looking kid who feels alienated and bored by his stereotypical and normie friends. His life forever changes when he strikes a friendship up with the Hot Topic'd, gothified new kids Lu and Shane and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and self-destruction.
Adam immediately identified with the novel because it takes place in the year, 1999, when he came into his full pop cultural awareness: Manson, Eminem, Columbine, Y2K fear, Corgan, consumerism aglore! Here, Adam and Alex discuss their peculiar shared work histories, millennials, masculinity, '90s pop culture, Gen X, Gen Z, sociopathy, New Millennium Boyz and much more...
FULL EPISODE HERE
SOUNDTRACK: Marilyn Manson "Kiddie Grinder" The Prodigy "Serial Thrilla" Blink 182 "Emo" Tool "46 and 2" Eminem "Role Model" Fiona Apple "Limp" Limp Bizkit "Nookie"
LINKS:
Buy NEW MILLENNIUM BOYZ
Alex interviewed by Vanity Fair