We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines. And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere. It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, “Getting Sassy with…”, wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that’s both painless and informative. Ha! Beat that, FOX News!

This time: Cubic Zirconia.

Leading up to the fourth annual Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEMF) here in Brooklyn, NYC (happening this weekend all up and down North 6th Street and beyond), we’ve teamed up with the gang at Mean Read, who are putting together the event, to bring you a series of interviews with some of the biggest names in electronic music in 2011, who are each appearing at the festival.

We asked Nick Hook of Cubic Zirconia (above, second from left) to help us out and spread some “respek” for the Getting Sassy column in honor of BEMF coming back this weekend, and the multi-instrumentalist was more than happy to oblige, talking about snitches, house fires, ad agencies that suck and more.

Name?
Nick Hook.

Hometown?
St. Louis.

I now live in:
New York City (East Village).

Number of States visited?
49.

My favorite place in my hometown is:
East St. Louis.

Most recent phone bill total?
No idea. Haven’t ever seen it.

Items found in my day-to-day bag (if applicable)?
Camera, notebook, book I’m reading, pen.

First album bought on your own?
Guns ‘n’ Roses Appetite For Destruction.

Favorite song memorized as a child?
Hmmmm. When does childhood technically end? “Real Muthafuggin G’s” I guess.

When I sing in the shower, it’s usually:
Real bad.

Last book read?
Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway.

Favorite book ever?
Breakfast Of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut.

Favorite thing you bought this year?
Plane ticket to Copenhagen.

Instruments played (chronologically)?
Recorder, violin, cello, guitar, bass, cymbal, MPC, synthesizer.

Least favorite day job before getting this gig?
Advertising agency, had to call 200 funeral homes around the country.

Favorite record this year?
Rustie, “Glass Swords”.

Favorite record ever?
Tie between all Led Zeppelin and Dr. Dre, The Chronic.

The one record I’d save from a house fire is:
None, nothing’s sacred anymore, I’d be out that hoe so I could live.

Guilty pleasure record you don’t want us to know about?
“Toxic”, Britney Spears.

My favorite place to play on tour is:
Paris.

If I weren’t doing music I would be:
Dead.

Last illegally downloaded song/album (be honest)?
NEVER SNITCH.

Latest TV addictions?
Nothing really, have been told to watch some stuff, but I haven’t turned the TV on in years. Food Network goes right on generally when I turn it on.

Favorite music video this year?
All the Cubic Zirconia videos.

Who is in your dream band (must be living musicians)?
Justin Tyson, Tiombe Lockhart and Daud Sturdivant. I think we would call it Cubic Zirconia.

The best concert I went to this year was:
Azari and III at YoYo, Rustie in Scotland, Dam-Funk and Master Blazter, Juicy J. at Fools Gold party and every time I saw Araabmuzik.

Recent song you can’t get out of your head?
Rustie, “Globes”.

Press play on your iPod/iPhone/media player and list the first three songs that come up.
Daft Punk, “Essential Mix”; Queens of the Stone Age, “God Is On The Radio”; Rustie, “Globes”.

Cubic Zirconia’s latest effort, Follow Your Heart, is out on Fool’s Gold Records now, and you should buy it on iTunes right this second.

Godspeed!