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2. Credits
I would like to give a big thanks to CJ Draden, Shock to the System, DJ Rottin, and you, the
reader, for making this issue happen.
Right now, I, Francis Leonard, the person behind FML Art & Design, is putting this whole publi-
cation together by myself.
In the near future, I hope to have some more individuals adding in the assitance of bringing you
a fresh, new spin on local and national art, music, and things of the interweb.
Until then however, this page will merely be used to help order the following pages in a way
that makes sense as far as presentation is concerned.

3. Letter from the
(acting)Editor
Ihave always felt that artists can use life as a me-
dium to create their art. They are not limited to paint
or design software or graffitti.
This periodical is a homage to that phylosophy, and
will be using the interactions, experiences, and ran-
domness of life as content to fill it’s pages.
I am not going to take all of the credit, I will just try to
make sure I continue to be in the right place, at the
right time, and forever a student of the universe.
Enjoy this ‘pilot’ issue of Perception: Art & Culture
Magazine!
Francis M. Leonard
(Acting Editor-In-Chief)
Art by FML
Issue #1, May 2013

5. It used to be that social media served a purpose. Not
to sound old but I remember when Facebook just
started and the whole point was to meet people in
your school that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Of course, even older people would think that de-
fense is weak as weak can be, but in all honesty I
don’t think you CAN defend the onslaught of what is
known as a MEME.
Forget the annoying game invites that used to hap-
pen, or even the ancient art of poking, MEMEs are
both as redundant AND as annoying in most cases,
and here is why:
Aside from the fact that we all know how to take a
picture and add words over top of it because soft-
ware
has become so easily accessible, everyone now
thinks that almost any little stupid thing can be
funny, and even worse, has to post it and let ev-
eryone’s eyes see it. This pretty much makes sites
like Facebook seem like a labyrinth of photos and
re-posts that the average person DOESN’T want to
see.
I will admit, the gag of MEMEs has its potential, but
it is more like the potential of a firework rather than
the psuedo-movement it has become. Therefore,
everyone posting and sharing their favorite MEME
is doing the equivalent of running around with a
burnt out, smelly firework.
I mean really, how much good can we be doing in
the world and our communities if we weren’t sitting
around typing our own inside jokes on copywright-
ed material? Anyone?
-FML

7. KB Photography
Photo:

8. SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM has almost 2,000 fans on
Facebook. All of them were hand built by relentless
touring and for just being a beast when it comes to
live shows.
There is no one, other than himself and a few peo-
ple here and there that know he is destined for big
things, my self included, getting him to where he
needs to be.
More so, STTS gets remembered wherever he plays.
One time at some random place in Gainesville, FL,
this girl just shows up out of nowhere while we were
setting up and just goes on and on and on about
how she told everyone she knows about this DJ that
was jumping around and head banging to the tracks
and going pure ape-shit.
That’s him. Give her a prize, like a repeat prefor-
mance perhaps.
The machine that is becoming known as SHOCK TO
THE SYSTEM is not running across a third of the US
for the hipster status. This guy is a true fan of music,
and has the old band photos to prove it. Not just
school band either, like, rock band proof.
Mostly though, he is a good-hearted dude named
Jake Dubber who somehow became friends with
me on a random night in 2007 at a place in down-
town Sarasota that isn’t even open anymore.
From what I have witnessed in his steady rise to
fame is that this guy has more energy than anyone
I have ever met. He is all about what he does to the
fullest extent and can hold his piss from Florida to
Indiana if he had to.
I caught up with him-kind of-while he was out on the
road for his self-booked BLAZED & AMUSED tour.
One day soon I will be able to get a full interview in,
but this is his life now. Once he does make it I am
sure the ‘big time’ won’t be much of a transition.
I went on the road with you in 2011 and things
were pretty crazy with just a small following. How
insane is it out there on the road now?
Its pretty crazy. Starting to see a lot of familiar
faces in places I’ve played before. Its grown into a
huge family, which is amazing.
How do you keep yourself focused on the music
when touring?
We listen to a lot of random stuff on the drive,
which kinda keeps me on my toes. I try to work on
new stuff whenever I have enough down time to
set up my gear.
What do you do to stay current with songs? Or do
you just have a set batch of tunes and only play
those out?
I read a lot of Edm blogs and follow charts on beat-
port.
What awaits for you when you get back home?
What can we expect?
I’ve already started on some new material, and I’m
looking forward to finishing it next month.
soundcloud.com/Shock-to-the-system
Search: Shock To The System(Live!)
the-grease-trap.tumblr.com

10. I saw this skinny kid at a show
last year and talked some
bullshit with him before the
show started. Aside from the
fact that there was the funny
observation that his first name
and my first name combined
made ‘Dillon Francis’(his is
spelled Dylan), I had no idea
what the total surprise and
delight I was going to hear
when his set began.
I think a being a DJ is played
out. The whole idea of some-
one standing there making
one song go into another and
then getting credit for being
‘good’ is played out.
DJ Rottin, thankfully, makes
the effort to take chances in
his mixes. The song selection
and random mash-ups(the
Ludacris and Feed Me one
in particular) that I heard that
night kept me interested to
the point that when he posted
the mix on soundcloud, I
didn’t think twice about down-
loading it.
I acually didn’t even think
about it at all it just naturally
made sense to grab it be-
cause it was that good.
Come to find out, Rottin was
just getting warmed up. The
kid isn’t even old enough to
drink but definitely has the
age and refined skills to make
an event full of run of the mill
preformers and DJs take a
back seat in your memory
banks.
Also, he is the perfect speci-
men for the young and the
reckless.
I always felt that if you were going to try and do something you
should go all the way with it. Don’t get into anything unless you
are going to try and become something worthwile and memo-
rable.
Florida will be missing out on this guy soon, as he is going to be
taking his talents to the pacific time zone and really give Califor-
nia a run for it’s money. I know he will fit in well over there as it
seems he eyes the prize of being a disciple of his craft. And what
better way to take that leap than putting yourself in one of the
most recognized places and scream, “DJ Rottin is here!”
How did you get started DJing?
Well just like many musicians, it started with a friend. He was re-
ally into it and a very good DJ and one day, while practicing at a
park, he asked me to “take over”. I had no idea what I was doing. I
remember pressing random buttons just to see what they did with
the music. After that, I was instantly hooked. I managed so save
a little money, bought my first controller (which was a M-audio
xsession Pro, terrible), and spent many long nights and hours
perfecting my newest addiction.

11. When did DJ Rottin start?
It started in the Fall of 2010. After a few months
of practicing and learning the basics, I wanted
to make a name that could represent myself.
So I took my long-time love for horror movies
and incorporated it into making a name that was
unique, and could catch the eye of anyone that
might share my love for the... Grotesque? Yeah,
that works...
What is the thought process behind your
mixes?
Coming from a strong background of music the-
ory and an avid player of multiple instruments, I
try to make my mixes flow together. One minute
I could be playing something really heavy, and
bassy. Then the next I’ll throw in something
really melodic and sensual.
I never make a setlist before any show, and I try
to mix different genres together so I can get
everyone dancing and in the mood.
How wild and crazy are you?
Normally, not very.
However, on stage is a different story. When I’m
in front of a crowd I become my “DJ Rottin”
persona. Just come to one of my live shows and
you’ll be amazed.
I saw you live last year and you stood out
from the other DJs because of your song
selection. Talk about which tracks make
you excited.
Well I can’t talk about too many tracks without
giving away some secrets, but there will always
be artists out there that I will play because of my
love for them.
I listen to a very wide variety of music and I’m
constantly hunting for tracks, or keeping up with
music blogs to get my tunes.
It’s a job in and of itself.
Craziest moment?
I once watched a DJ set two broken keyboards
on fire and wave them around. My whole setup
almost got covered with molten plastic as did
some of the crowd.
Whats on the horizon?
Fame. Glory. And the Olsen twins.
MUSIC
soundcloud.com/djrottin

12. Justin Timberlake-Suit & Tie (Dillon Francis Remix)
Two out of these three songs I didn’t really get into the first few times
I heard them, I will be honest. Being that this song is pretty ‘simple’
for a Dillon Francis remix, the growth factor it bestows on you is no
simple task.
DFran has come a long way in a very short amount of time since his
Something, Something Awesome EP blew minds across the globe.
This official remix is a shining example that requires it’s own suit and
tie.
Rustie-Slasherr
The first track off of the Diplo and Friends March 16th mix has this track
starting from the beginning and playing pretty far into it. I have never
heard of Rustie, but this track captures old school sample hip-hop and
still has a very fresh trap take while not being so overbearingly trapped
out as most songs are right now.
This UK kid might be able to show Kanye West a thing or two(possibly)
in the studio, and this track makes me think of the 2003-05 period in rap
where the songs were actually kind of good.
Zedd feat. Foxes-Clarity(Brillz Remix)
Here is the second song that really did not do anything for me the first
few times I heard it. It was when Shock To The System pleaded that I
give it a real chance that I opened up a little and really tried to let it get
into my soul.
All I can say is once you do that, it will be there and it will stay there for
quite a long time. The use of the original track and the mix of chill trap
and that epic middle part with the chanting is just beautiful.
If you are like me, you will be singing it when no one is around.
You have to hear these...

15. To put it mildly, CJ Draden is the last of a dying breed.
I think even he would put it that way, and like it. In
fact, I think he would prefer it that way to add to the
immensley dark and twisted yet amazingly beautiful
and mysterious nature that surrounds everything he
creates.
You want credentials? How about a huge following
around the US, almost every ‘Con’ you can think of
under his belt, and oh yea, he has the god amung
men, aka, Stan Lee’s stamp of approval to boot.
But behind all of that is a guy who honestly re-
spects the artform he has sold his soul to be a part
of. It might scare away the average person but hang
around a while and you will learn that the creepy and
dim world Draden inhabits has many sources of light
within it. He just chooses to not pay the electric bill.
PAC: When did this twisted rise to stardom start to
take place?
CJ: I dont really view it as stardom. Im just very
open and honest with my passion and emotion
towards what I do and how I work and folks re-
spond well to that. Ive always been this way and it
has got me into trouble but i stayed the course of
being extremely open and honest with my self so
the the benefits of self discovery and purpose were
revealed to me. As an intellectual myself I know
that people what something truthful to believe in,
and in the entertainment industry there are so many
fake impressions of personality that people can see
right through. I never liked that. I wanted to inspire
people to be able to rise from any circumstance
and communicate to the world with their work the
same way I had risen from nothing and no one. Its
just takes honesty and the ability to face the soul
and know you are probably not going to like what
you see, but if you can endure, then there is literally
nothing you can achieve. Stardom is for amateurs,
truth is for the visionaries.
PAC: How do you fund your never-ending trip
across the country to these events?
CJ: Ive gained a large following through the work
I produced. I’m very grateful for the support folks
have shown me. My funding comes from the the
sales of my work and the support i get form the
folks that follow my vision. Hopefully when I begin
to release more of my personal work ill receive the
same content.
PAC: Most memorable event?
CJ: The Moment Stan Lee approached me about my
work. So surreal.
PAC: What is Stan Lee like in real life?
CJ: Stan’s a gentleman. There’s no other way to say
it. I don’t get star struck becasue I’m aware for the il-
lusions people put on to sell their bullshit. Stan hides
nothing. He is exactly the embodiment of an ideal
that I told myself back in college of the would remain
the course even when criticized for it, truthful. I be-
lieve this is why he approached me about endorsing
my graphic novel. He saw a piece of me in my work
that lies cant hide. I was never looking for an en-
dorsement or to be recognized by big shots, in fact i
try to stay away from popularity and industry beca-
sue of the false egos and nonsense that is covered
over art and soul making aspect of creation. Its sup-
posed to be about the art not the popularity and i just
wanted to connect with folks with my work and it just
so happens that emotion and truth speaks volumes
and can be heard to even the people standing at the
top that never really hear the screams of individuals
yelling for a hand out and its takes an honest person
to respond to. Thats stan real to the core.
PAC:Tell us about that Pinocchio thing everyone
keeps talking about.
CJ: Pinocchio is a project I put together to rationalize
with a lot of the problems I dealt with as a child grow-
ing up with out a father. It wasnt the easiest thing to
deal with. The fathers I did have were abusive and
alcoholics.

16. I dealt with this for years and it all kinda came out in
college and i suffered from alcoholism and depres-
sion becasue of it. Really i just needed a person to
stick by me and help me through it and i didnt get it,
it was actually quite the opposite. I felt a lot of myself
inside the gepetto character and wanted to write a
tragedy about a man enduring an event that would
change his life forever and eventually cause to build
his son. Its such a crazy thing to want to create life,
and only the darkest people on the planet believe
they are they can achieve this god like status and
create life, be it music, or a painting. As I grew i kept
writing this tragedy and it slowly became more of a
“non literal autobiographic esque” tale about what it
means to endure darkness and create from that can-
vas of blackness and pain. That’s the over all theme.
What it takes to find yourself and ultimately what it
can do to you in the process. Its an extremely sad
story and it one ive lived with since childhood
and writing it has help me move on from child-
hood abuses. Stan Lee has officially endorsed
this and after all the lack of support from loved
ones for my artistic endeavors that was the
beacon of light that has set me on the path of
feeling that i am on the correct one.
PAC: You actually have fans. What is that like?
CJ: I dont see them as fans. again i dont buy
into my own hype, thats for fools and celebri-
ties. I dont really care for that. I see them as
family. they support my passion the way a
blood family should. I love them for caring
about what i have sacrificed everything for.
PAC: What are you working on now?
CJ: My current projects are my pinocchio
book “Pain from the Scar on a Wooden Heart:
A Pinocchio story by CJ Draden” and another
book i just finished writing called “The Sublime
Nature of lifelessness: A Frankenstein story by
CJ Draden”, which is a dark romance about
personal vulnerabilities when we fall deeply in
love and the monster inside us when we feel
heartbreak.
PAC: Finally, what is your motivation?
CJ: Anything that enables me to feel connected
to people, and darkness, and love. I’m very
obsessed with melancholy and depression, its
a strange fetish but its always been comfortable
for me it holds equal power to me as love does.
the reason for this is it enable me to feel like i
need improvement and keeps my mind ques-
tioning its intent and purpose. I dont ever want
to feel complacent, becasue I don’t ever want to
stop probing the depths of how my mind body
and soul fits in this universe among so many
others. and love becasue its allows me to know
what to strive for if i ever fall to far inside my
own black chasm of chaos and mental instabil-
ity when diving inside myself to write a book.
when i write.. im so honest with myself and my
surrounding and this causes so much sadness.
so i strive to stay grounded for what I want to
exist in and what I want to achieve. the finality
of goals are illusions, the journey is the destina-
tion. I stay on the path of finding myself.
search: The Art of CJ Draden

18. Being that we live in an age where music can be ob-
tained and found so easily, I think that the idea of
making a website in which one stays current on such
music so alive and fresh as Dancing Astronaut is a
nice change of pace.
To post the info about a track and where to down-
load it is all well and good, but giving yourself an
identity graphically is just a huge step up from such
sites as say, ThisSongIsSick.com.
Sorry, TSIS but DA has you beat in presentation and
it actually has more news articles about artists as
well. Not to mention the awesome logo.
Check this site out, it is Perception approved.
Let’s face it, GMail has the email account provider
game on lock. However the new layout that has
been long overdue for what is also known as Hotmail
makes Outlook a new/old face making a huge splash
in the internet realm.
Emails feel cool and hip, they go into an almost pipe-
line animation when you click send kind of like at the
bank drive thru when you send the canister to the
clerk. The font is fun and big and the simple yet sleek
design of the page format is down right bad ass.
Yes, you read that right. I just described an email
website layout as ‘bad ass’.
If you don’t have a hotmail account or one that hasn’t
seen the light of day in the last few years, I would
recommend asking for a password reset and logging
in. This isn’t like MySpace trying to reinvent itself.
It is way better.

19. It’s a pilot issue, and with that comes a bit of an obligation to flex that opinion muscle and
let everyone know what time it is when it comes down to views on the world and other
things. The goal with this section is to get other people to chip in on something they feel
strongly about. But for right now, I, the ‘Acting Editor-In-Chief’, will assume the role(and
guinea pig status) of ‘that person who just HAD to say something’.
The world today is a very crazy place. I think being a child of the mid eighties, and more so
of the early nineties, gives me a slight advantage in credibility over these new kids who were
born in the mid nineties just now reaching adulthood. I know we always say we’d never be
like our elders, but the truth is that history does indeed repeat itself, whether you realize it
or not.
Thankfully this repetition isn’t something so obvious although there are a lot of dirty hippies
around who seem to think that they can smoke their weed and fight their ‘war’ despite the
fact that they have no war to fight but a whole lot of pot to ingest. With that being said I
guess I should clarify by saying that we as humans now feel so aware of the world that we
must take note and expose it on a minute to minute basis. Our struggles and our successes
are too important to wait for the day in which they write about it in the history books. We
need to tell our stories now.
A part of me really misses that mystique and allure when it came down to how someone got
so famous or amazingly successful. When they talked about Bill Gates back in the day it was
like a fable or a myth on how one person could be so rich and influential.
Now we have outfits such as Forbes who name someone like Tim Tebow the most influential
athlete and all I can do is groan because it isn’t like I haven’t heard about every little twitch
or spasm he has had over the last year and a half. Everything is way too out in the open.
News media thinks that everything needs to have a light on it and then they turn right back
around and give themselves a pat on the back for being ‘good’ when it comes down to re-
porting. I don’t think you can pry away at something that was otherwise private and none of
your business, and then come back and say you accomplished something major by telling
the world about it.
I believe we have all forgotten that old saying of ‘mind your own business’. Everyone is all
in each other’s shit but each person has no idea what THEY are doing about THEMSELVES.
It gets worse the younger the people that are in our current time are. Way worse. No social
skills, but can you blame them? Their parents didn’t want to put them into public schools
because the schools all get shot up.
Before this becomes reminiscent of an old Tupac song or anything, I would like to say that
there is a lot of great things happening right now and hopefully we hear more about them
some time soon. For whatever reason we give more emphasis on death and carnage over
humility and good natured people but you can’t get those rating from Nielson Group unless
you give a little shock value.
We-like it or not-are all a part of this sphere drifting through space on what may or may not
be a divine plan or blueprint. Should we choose to just pass the time with our own goals in
life or decide to leave a lasting impression, I think we all need to take a minute each day and
just stop trying to get noticed. Most of the time no one really cares anyway so save some
memory on your phone and stop taking pictures of yourself in that new outfit. Get some
exercise or something.