ZERI: The Boy Wonder

Festiva's Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009 profiles the frontman of Spanish pop trio Zeri. To read other profiles in the series, click here.

Zeri Ramirez Marichalar should be a household name by now. But that's a mouthful, so people might know him simply as Zeri.

The Mexican pop artist has been involved in music for the past seven years, but hasn't signed with a major label yet. Not that there hasn't been interest.

Zeri didn't grow up singing in church or playing night clubs at the tender age of nine. He attended school, got straight As and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class.

"Music was never an option for me," he said.

One day, while hanging out with some friends, it came to him as sort of a vision, he said. He saw himself on stage, singing.

So he started writing and developing as a songwriter.

When he was 17, he submitted a video to a Puerto Rican boy band and was accepted as their lead singer almost immediately. He learned a lot about the music business, but decided that wasn't for him.

Then Zeri's short-lived solo career grabbed the attention of record labels EMI and Sony BMG, but the contracts didn't offer Zeri what he wanted at the time.

Music has become Zeri's life. As a producer and songwriter for several other artists, he is often traveling to Atlanta, L.A. San Diego and Mexico City to work with those artists. And he has his own band.

Zeri's band is slowly growing a rabid fan base. They have the look, the sound and some would say are highly marketable. But there's no plan to force or rush anything.

"I see longevity ... internationally showcasing our material and fortifying what we already have as a fan base," said Zeri.

All About ZERI 
Full name Zeri Ramirez Marichalar
Age: 24
Born in: Mission
Role: Lead singer of Zeri
Song stuck in his head right now: "Since You've Been Gone" by The Outfield
Graduate of: PSJA Memorial in Alamo, Class of 2002
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Online: http://www.myspace.com/zerimusik

If a guy girl had these three albums, I would fall in love with them immediately: "Any Coheed and Cambria, The Outfield and ... Zeri, of course."

Who is your rock star crush? "If I had to choose, actually what I would do in my magical world, I'd put Taylor Swift in a cage match with Hayley Williams from Paramour. And whoever wins gets to keep me."

What are five products you use to look hot (get brand names)? "Got2B hair gel, like spiking glue, I like Diesel shoes and I like Allure Sport by Chanel."

What did you look like a little kid? "I was short and kinda, I don't want to say chubby, but short and weird ...I grew very awkwardly. One arm grew faster than the other one. Like, the typical psychotic growth spurts where you don't know what's going on. I was a weird little kid."

What's the best rumor you've heard about yourself? "Probably that I'm a great kisser. I'll keep it PG-13."

Which Valley restaurant would you take a first date to? "I'm a big sushi eater. I like sushi. So any sushi restaurant like, Kumori."

What makes people jealous about you? "I don't know, I guess, I don't ... like, I ... jealous? I wouldn't know. I get playful remarks like, ‘I'm jealous of your hair ... or height'. But I wouldn't know anything about true jealousy."

Describe your sexiest pair of shoes. "Well, I have some 5-inch stilettos, but I don't want to talk about it. Makes my calves look glorious. You're not ready for that, Amy. (laughs) I'm kidding."

What physical feature are you most insecure about? "I'm pretty comfortable with myself. I had broken my nose, so my nose ... or my hands. My hands are really rough."

When you want to pig out, what do you eat? "Anything that's gummy. I love gummy worms and raspas. I love mango with chamoyada."

What's one bad habit you wish you could kick? "Any habit is a good habit, if you know what I mean. No, I have this one thing when I'm talking to people on the phone, I hang up. I don't say good-bye. If I feel like the conversation is over, I just hang up."

When did you realize you were hot? "I was in a restaurant. I was really young, I was 5. And I don't know what happened, there was this woman with a purse that had a giant buckle on it. I turned and saw my reflection. I thought it was a beautiful angel, then realized it was myself. (laughs) No, I never thought of myself as being hot."

Who is your celebrity crush? "Right now, at this moment, the only person I can think of is Megan Fox. I have this thing with eyes. Eyes, lips, bodies and mouths. Pretty much everything."

Would you or have you ever dated an older woman/younger man? "Yes, like double my age. I've dated younger women also. Age is not about how old or young someone is. A lady can be 40 and not seem that age at all."

How are you vain? "I know of my ability to do what I do, so at times I can be a bit oversecure about my music and my abilities as a writer or a musician."

What's the worst date you ever had? "It was with one of those girls who just won't shut up. And I like smart girls, but this girl wasn't. Before she left home, her parents gave her some wine or something. She just wouldn't shut up. And she was talking about the most random things. I would try to talk, but she would ignore me."

Have a fan that's in love with you? "I had a couple. People who know more about myself than I know about me, like where my parents live. Or when I was in Atlanta producing a record. They knew where I was."

• THAT'S HOT

>> British or Spanish accent - British

>> Brown or blue eyes - Blue

>> Good body or pretty face? - Pretty face.

>> bubble bath together or night of dancing? - Bubble bath

>> Skinny or muscular or curvy - Curvy

>> Beer or cocktails? - Neither

>> 80's or 90's - ‘80s

>> Convertible or pickup truck? - Convertible

>> London or Tokyo - London

>> Sunlight or moonlight - Moonlight

>> Adam Lambert or Kris Allen? - Adam Lambert

• SPILL IN THE BLANK

The reason I broke up with my last boy/girlfriend is _______________. "Cheating, on her part."

If would have plastic surgery done on my ____________________. "I've never really thought about it, but my nose, since it's broken."

I would do a spread in Playgirl if they paid me $______________. "How much are they offering? I mean, whatever's fair. Whatever people wanted to pay to see my naked, luscious body. Hmm. Playgirl? Nah, I probably wouldn't do it. My pee pee is for my wife, know what I'm saying?"

I got my first kiss when I was _____  years old. "I was in pre-K when I kissed the first girl. We were in one of those little playhouses. That's why I won't buy playhouses for my children. Kids start playing like they're mommy and daddy and then things happen. I remember the girl's name. It was Christina. I was 4 years old."

The biggest lie I ever told a boy/girl is ________________________. "I told her that I didn't love her, when I really did."

My secret turn-on is _________________________. "I'm very turned on secretly by ... there's this thing that girls can do with their lips when they're talking ... girls with really nice lips tend to bite their lips a little."

Read about the other nine Hottest Guys of Valley Rock 2009, or check out 2009's Hottest Women of Valley Rock. How does this group measure up against 2008's Hottest Men & Women of Valley Rock? Click here to decide for yourself