CJ Sleez
From the Brink to a New Beginning
By: Adam Grant
"Blame Me" http://www.machineclothing.ca/CJSLEEZ/1.mp3

"Dirty Girl: http://www.machineclothing.ca/CJSLEEZ/5.mp3
"I'm totally honest to the point of brutality, which sometimes gets me in trouble," quips blond rock n' roll bombshell CJ Sleez from her Toronto apartment after arriving home via TTC following an early afternoon appointment.

Infamous throughout the Canadian punk rock scene as a girl with an edge and an uncontrollable hunger for on-stage success, CJ Sleez has seen the glorious and horrendous sides of the music world.  In response to her experiences, she has recently released a 6 song, heavy hitting EP called Back From The Brink, as well as a book, which is eloquently titled Poor Little Bitch Girl.

 With both projects being so overtly autobiographical, neither one of them came together without some serious time being taken.  The album itself took about 3 years to organize and complete, while the book, once finished, took about 6 months to shop around to publishers.

 In part, these delays were a result of Sleez leaving Toronto for awhile, and going back to university.  These events needed to take place so that she could at last get her "head straight."

"I was partying way too much, and I needed to straighten out my priorities," believes Sleez.  "Drugs and alcohol were taking over my life too much, and (everything) began to revolve around that.  Whereas it has to be my music and my art - that's the main driving force in my life.  So I needed to step back, and re-realize my purpose and what I really want to be doing."

 Now with a healthier perspective and body, Sleez is doing her best to share what she has gone through with anyone in the public who is willing to listen and/or read about it.  The book in particular has a lot to do with Sleez clearing up any pre-conceived notions about herself as a person and a performer.

 Saying that she feels as if she's "always been an object of gossip," Sleez felt that it was time to set the record straight.  Today she admits that after getting clean, she is accomplishing a lot more than ever, and is currently in the midst of putting together a full length LP for public consumption - it'll be her first since 2001's Rock Action.

 Until that point however, fans and curious bystanders can pick up Poor Little Bitch Girl, and learn about the ups and downs of not just the life of a tattooed, leather clad rocker, but of a person who knows that there is a beginning that can be found once at the brink.

"I definitely don't want to preach.  I'm not really one to give advice, I hate getting advice myself," laughs Sleez.  "I rarely take it - I'm the kind of person that needs to learn everything firsthand - I wanted to experience everything to the max, and I wanted to know for myself.

"If readers get anything from (the book), I hope that they realize if people are upset, or going through hard times in their life, then they're not alone, (because) everybody goes through that and you will get through it - you have to be strong and just keep pushing on," she continues.

"Things do change, and you can make things better for yourself."

For more information on CJ Sleez, please visit: www.cjsleez.com