FarzyLoko is the alias for FarzamKazemi, a buff 32-year-old New Jersey native who looks like he can kick your ass. Seriously. But the only ass-kicking Farzy is doing these days is on the internet, and there’s really no competition: Farzy is arguably the hottest new player on the comedy video circuit. With close to a million collective hits across Youtube, Facebook and Instagram, the versatile son of Iranian-American immigrants is proving that his nickname — derived from the Spanish word “loco,” which means crazy — has nothing to do with his temperament and more to do with how much passion he exhibits in singing and dancing to Persian songs while playing a multitude of characters.
Upon graduating from NJ’s Rampano College, Farzy parlayed a degree in Digital Filmmaking into a career as a cameraman and editor in the television news sector. In fact, it was his co-workers at his current gig with major Spanish TV network Telemundo who came up with his stage name. While growing up, Farzy’s father Hossein, always had Persian music playing in the house. Hossein used to produce and host some of the biggest Persian concerts in NJ and New York back in the day and was always sure to bring along his handy boombox whenever the family had a party or gathering to attend. Farzy literally grew up around some of the biggest names in Persian pop music, such as Andy, Ebi, ShahrumKashani and Vigen. It was this environment that allowed him to develop an uncanny ability to mimic some of these singers in his videos.
In addition to their comedic genius, Farzy’s videos tackle some of the most sensitive cultural issues that affect Persian families in their assimilation to Western culture, including interracial dating and homosexuality. One of his most memorable gigs features Farzy not only introducing his family to his boyfriend – a coming-out party of sorts – but his onscreen sister also revealing to the family that she is dating a black doctor.
And for the record, Farzy is proudly straight. Just ask his fianceé. Or his mom, who captioned a recent Instagram post of the aforementioned clip, “Farz made a skit… he is not gay. It just an act.” L.O.L.
In addition to his 9-to-5 in the TV news industry, his tasks as co-founder of 1st Class DJs (a full-service sound, lighting and entertainment company he owns with good friend Harry) and his frequent gigs emceeing and DJing events on the weekend — in addition to working out with his good friend (and sometimes skit actor) Vlad five times a week in the gym — Farzy still finds time to make masterpieces on a schedule of virtually one a month.
“I personally enjoy and love making [these clips],” Farzy explains. “I’ve filmed at 2 a.m. sometimes and find any time during the week to film. There’s always time as long as you have the drive. I come up with these ideas at the most random times, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night and randomly coming up with skit ideas that go straight into my phone’s notes.”
Most of his family gets in on the action when Farzy is behind the camera. Although he writes, directs, films and edits every video himself – and sometimes plays multiple characters like the interviewer and the grandmother in the skit below – Farzy isn’t shy to ask his family for fill in as extras or even leads. His mother Fay is ubiquitous in his catalogue of short comedy explosions, as are his fiancée Rakhil and sister-in-law Cepi.
“My biggest supporter has to be my fiancée,” Farzy proudly proclaims. “She was my girlfriend at the time when I started to make these skits and she encouraged me from day one to go full force with these videos and do what I love to do.
“It wasn’t easy dating someone who works literally around the clock, but she fully supports me and understand this is my passion,” Farzy adds. “She motivates me every day!”
As for Farzy’s inspiration, one only has to take a glance across the spectrum of video skits on social media and see that there seems to be a movement. And in his own way, Farzy is on the forefront.
“I started to see actors such as Lele Pons, Lejaun James and Amanda Cerny and how they’ve gotten so big, all through making comedy videos on social media,” Farzy explains. “I decided to give it a try and made some general skits, but later started to fine-tune my focus and represent my culture, eventually producing my first Persian-related video, ‘How To Get a Persian Girl.’
“It seemed to be a big hit among the small amounts of followers we had,” Farzy remembers. “I finally found my niche and continued to make more Persian stereotype videos, and I started to get more positive comments and many more followers,” Farzy recalls.“Overall, I will continue to make these skits,” Farzy adds, “and hopefully, I will make it to Hollywood one day.”
Farzy is fluent in Farsi and Spanish, and despite being born outside of Iran, him and his older brother Mase can read and write in their native tongue proficiently, thanks to his parents relegating them to Farsi classes once a week while growing up in the NJ suburb of Elmwood Park, just outside of Manhattan.
Farzy has been exposed to the Persian culture for as long as he can remember, all thanks to his father, who also hosted and produced a weekly Persian television show out of NY for L.A.-based satellite network Tapesh several years during the early 2000’s. Farzy did most of the editing for his father’s variety show.
“I have to say my biggest influence doing what I do today has to be my father,” Farzy explains.
Farzy also harbors a decent singing voice, as evidenced by his interpretation of Ebi’s “Khalijeh Fars,” which was co-produced by his cousin Amir and was sung by Farzy to honor his grandfather’s passing a couple of years back. This and the rest of Farzy’s videos can be seen by searching his name on social media and on YouTube.
As for his goal, Farzy is noble in his intentions. Yes, he wouldn’t mind being on a major television show one day, maybe even NBC’s sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. There is precedent: Iranian American actress and comedian NasimPedrad just wrapped a successful 6-year run on the show.
But for now, purveying his heritage is enough.
“I want to promote and represent the Persian culture on a global scale,” Farzy says.
Bravo, Farzy.
