VENTS Magazine 59th issue

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IIn nt te er rv viie ew ws s A Ad diin na a P Po or rt te er r,, A Av va a A Alllla an n,, H Ha alle ey y T Tjju u,, J Jo oe ey y B Br ra ag gg g,, T Th he e O Or rp ph ha an n T Th he e P Po oe et t,, A As sh hlle ey y Z Za am mo or ra a,, K Ke ev viin n L Ly ym ma an n,, B Be ew wa ar re e o of f D Da ar rk kn ne es ss s,, B Ba ak ke er r C Ch ha as se e P Po ow we ellll,, M Ma ar rc c C Ca ar rt tw wr riig gh ht t,, G Go or rg go on n C Ciit ty y,, G Gu uiid da a,, H HA AK KE EN N,, H Ho ollllo ow w B Bo on ne es s,, N Niim ma a F Fu uk kh ha ar r,, P Pa au ull J Ja am me es s,, M Miie es sa a,, M Miic ch ha ae ell G Gr ra ay y,, M Ma ar rc cu us s B Blla ac ck ke e,, T Th he e H Ho ow wlliin ng g T To on ng gu ue es s,, K Ka ae ella a S Siin nc clla aiir r,, N Niic ck k H Hiis ss so om m,, S Sk ky ylla ab b 3 3,, B Br ro oo ok ke e L Le ew wiis s,, N Na at ta alliia a R Ra am mo os s,, E Elle ec ct tr riic c C Ciit tiiz ze en n,, R Ro ob bb b S Sk ky ylle er r a an nd d m mo or re e!! Live! Filter America an n W Wo ollv ve es s Atreyu Social R Re ep po os se e E Es sc ca ap pe e T Th he e F Fa at te e

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E Ed diit to or r iin n C Ch hiie ef f Rafael Jovine D De es siig gn ne er rs s Lydia Bobo RJ Frometa Echo Ma W Wr riit te er rs s Song River RJ Frometa Erman M. Baradi Mark Dean L Liiv ve e P Ph ho ot to og gr ra ap ph he er rs s Song River C Co ov ve er r b by y Jonathan Weiner Pic byJonathan White

Gorgon City is an English garage duo, consisting of two North London producers Kye "Foamo" Gibbon and Matt "RackNRuin" Robson­Scott. They are well­ known for placing in the top UK Singles Charts in 2013 for the song "Real"and in 2014 for their single "Ready for Your Love", which reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Gorgon City has released the song, “All Four Walls” feat Vaults lead singer, Blythe, off their forthcoming album, Kingdom to be released later this year. A different song off this new project is to be released approximately every three weeks. An EP follow­up titled 'Money' on Crosstown Rebels was released on May 13th. Kye “Foamo” Gibbon producer spoke recently with Vents Magazine about their style of music, how he and Matt “RackNRuin” Robson came together to create and their up and coming music. Catch Gorgon City currently out on tour with Rudimental. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: H He ey y K Ky ye e!! H Ho ow w a ar re e t th hiin ng gs s o ov ve er r iin n t th he e U UK K? ? Kye “Foamo” Gibbon: It's all good. It is about 6 in the evening here. S SR R:: W We ellll,, h he er re e iin n t th he e s st ta at te es s w we e a ar re e s st tiillll o on n II n ne ee ed d a an no ot th he er r c cu up p o of f c co of ff fe ee e t tiim me e.. Looking over your history Kye and your work as a soloist, how did you and your musician partner, Matt "RackNRuin" Robson-Scott come together for Gorgon City? Foamo: About four years ago now, it was just kind of a random thing, one off, collaborative. We had met maybe once or twice before that doing DJ'ing and we liked each others sound. We made a track, one or two, and it felt good and by the third or fourth, we realized how well we worked together. It was like our strengths and weakness complimented each other. It felt easy so we did more and more. S SR R:: IIt t''s s iin nt te er re es st tiin ng g h ho ow w y yiin n a an nd d y ya an ng g t to og ge et th he er r.. IIs s t th ha at t r ra ar re e iin n t th he e m mu us siic c iin nd du us st tr ry y t to o h ha av ve e s so om me et th hiin ng g lliik ke e t th hiis s r re ea alllly y g ge ell t to og ge et th he er r? ? Foamo: Yes. I mean I have done collaborations before and it's really worked well for that one time. What makes this work, it just does, as it just naturally happened. S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u d do o c co om me e t to og ge et th he er r t to o c cr re ea at te e h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u m me es sh h y yo ou ur r d diif ff fe er re en nt t o or r s sa am me e s so ou un nd ds s? ? Foamo: I suppose we both have the same fundamentals is where we compliment each other. As he will come up with something that I never thought of and same with me. We both love the same vibe of the underground stuff... techno... and bring that influence into what we do. Matt is quite good at the songwriting side of things and I would say my time is spent more on the drums and bass so in that way we certainly compliment each other.

S SR R:: G Gr ro ow wiin ng g u up p w wh ha at t h ha av ve e b be ee en n s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r m ma ajjo or r iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s m mu us siic ca alllly y t th ha at t h ha av ve e h he ellp pe ed d c cr re ea at te e t th he e G Go or rg go on n C Ciit ty y s so ou un nd d? ? Foamo: I know we definitely had a music upbringing. It was when I was around 13 and discovering the underground music of the late 90's Jungle Rave tapes. When I was 14-16 I started producing Jungle and even a bit of Garage as well. It wasn’t until later that I discovered House Music, and liked it too. That kind of brought me into Electro and stuff that was going on maybe ten years ago. S SR R:: IIf f y yo ou u w we er re e t to o s siit t d do ow wn n w wiit th h s so om me e p pe er rs so on n iin n m miid dd dlle e A Am me er riic ca a w wh ho o lliis st te en ns s t to o B Bo on n J Jo ov vii,, o or r B Blla ac ck k V Ve eiill B Br riid de es s...... h ho ow w w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u e ex xp plla aiin n t to o t th he em m w wh ha at t t th he e d diif ff fe er re en nc ce es s a ar re e b be et tw we ee en n G Ga ar ra ag ge e,, E Elle ec ct tr ro o,, J Ju un ng glle e,, H Ho ou us se e,, p pllu us s h ho ow w t th he es se e s so ou un nd ds s h ha av ve e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d t th he e m mu us siic c b be eiin ng g p pr ro od du uc ce ed d iin n t th he e s st ta at te es s? ? Foamo: (laughed) Hmm, how Jungle influenced rock? S SR R:: Y Ye es s,, w wh he en n y yo ou u c co om me e t to o t th he e s st ta at te es s.. M Ma an ny y p pe eo op plle e iin n t th he e m miid dd dlle e p pa ar rt t o of f A Am me er riic ca a m ma ay y n no ot t g ge et t w wh ha at t t th he es se e v va ar riio ou us s e elle ec ct tr ro on niic c s st ty ylle es s a ar re e.. T Th he ey y d do o a allo on ng g t th he e c co oa as st ts s,, b bu ut t n no ot t s so o m mu uc ch h w wh he en n y yo ou u g gr ra av viit ta at te e t to ow wa ar rd ds s t th he e iin nn ne er r,, s sm ma alllle er r c ciit tiie es s o of f A Am me er riic ca a.. H Ho ow w w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u d de ef fiin ne e t th he es se e s st ty ylle es s a an nd d iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s? ? Foamo: Wow, that's a good question. I do suppose going back to the electronics goes back to the 60's-70's and bands were experimenting and bringing in synthesizers. Having something new that sounds out of this world like Pink Floyd did. I think that is when people got into new sounds, making a sound from scratch, what unusual sounds can be created. That got more and more popular in the 80's-90s with Wave, Hip-Hop. When the late 80's came about people brought back the more organic basics, but there were still those who didn't maybe have a set of

drums and brought in their electronics to create. The Jungle Music really brought in a lot of influences from the Reggae beat, it's an experiment. And things get passed back and forth, everyone is trying to find something new and make new sounds. S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u lliis st te en n t to o m mu us siic c t th he en n K Ky ye e,, d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell t th he er re e iis s a an n e en nd dlle es ss s r re ea allm m o of f p po os ss siib blle e s so ou un nd ds s t to o m ma ak ke e? ? Foamo: Yes, that is what I love about producing. The more comfortable I get with producing the more I am into creating new sounds, there is always more to be done. S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u g ge et t t to o p pr ro od du uc ce e a an nd d e ex xp pe er riim me en nt t w wiit th h m mu ullt tiip plle e s so ou un nd ds s a an nd d lla ay ye er rs s iit t s se ee em ms s y yo ou u a ar re e m mo or re e f fo or rt tu un na at te e t th ha an n a a lly yr riic ciis st t iis s.. W Wo or rd ds s a ar re e lliim miit te ed d,, b bu ut t s so ou un nd ds s a ar re e iin nf fiin niit te e,, w wo ou ulld d t th ha at t b be e t tr ru ue e? ? Foamo: Being able to make multiple sounds certainly is there. However, I have huge respect for songwriters. S SR R:: A Allll F Fo ou ur r W Wa alllls s f fe ea at tu ur riin ng g V Va au ullt ts s,, w wa as s r re elle ea as se ed d o of ff f t th he e n ne ew w a allb bu um m,, K Kiin ng gd do om m,, h ho ow w d diid d t th he e r re elle ea as siin ng g a as s y yo ou u''v ve e c ch ho os se en n t to o d do o iit t b by y a a n ne ew w t tr ra ac ck k a ap pp pr ro ox xiim ma at te elly y e ev ve er ry y t th hr re ee e w we ee ek ks s? ? Foamo: The music industry has changed so much over this past year or so, as everything is by streaming. We wanted to reflect how we were releasing our music to how we were feeling. Showing the different sides of who we are and what we do. We are very excited to see how people react to this style. This gives people a chance to take each one in. There are a couple of tracks that haven't any feature at all, more underground instrumental club scene. When we do featured we love to work with those outside of what we are. We found her voice to be really interesting and beautiful.

S So o t th he er re e''s s n no o d do ou ub bt t m mu us siic c h ha as s b be ee en n a a b biig g p pa ar rt t o of f y yo ou ur r lliif fe e - - w wh he en n d diid d y yo ou ur r llo ov ve e f fo or r a ac ct tiin ng g s st ta ar rt te ed d? ? -Yes music has always been my natural way of life, I was born into a very musical family, way back through great-grandparents on both sides. I sing, write and play classical piano. But acting was always what I wanted to devote my life to...as soon as I could speak I was pointing to the movie screen and saying "I want to do that" H Ha as s y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g c ca ar re ee er r b be ee en n iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d b by y m mu us siic c t to oo o o or r t th he ey y a ar re e t tw wo o d diif ff fe er re en nt t f fa ac ce et ts s o of f y yo ou u? ? -My music and acting definitely influence each other back and forth. They are each just different outlets of being a creative person I suppose. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f w wh hiic ch h,, d do o y yo ou u t te en nd d t to o t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e a ac ct tiin ng g t th ha an n w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e w wr riit tiin ng g a a s so on ng g o or r p plla ay yiin ng g m mu us siic c? ? How was the transition from one art to the other? -The work I do as an actor is very different from doing my music. It takes much more discipline to be an actor I think. For me it was a bit of a shock to transition into acting... because it's much more focused training than the life of a touring musician. I had to sacrifice life as I knew it... say no to tours where I knew I'd make great money and have fun, so that I could be in Los Angeles to train with my acting coach, get an agent and pay my dues auditioning. It was a big switch, but I've never looked back and it's paying off 1,000 percent. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f a ac ct tiin ng g,, lle et t''s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t M Mo ot th he er r''s s D Da ay y - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s lliik ke e? ? -The audition process for Mothers Day actually happened because Garry Marshall screen tested me after he saw me in the Shakespeare play "Comedy of Errors". I auditioned at his office with his casting directors, and I was a nervous wreck. I got it though! W Wh ha at t d dr ra aw w y yo ou u iin nt to o t th hiis s m mo ov viie e a an nd d t th hiis s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? -I loved the script immediately. I laughed and cried, back and forth. Garrys very good at telling the stories of very regular people, he understands that love in life isn't always grand and epic, but in the simplest of actions. I think that's why his films are so beloved, because they mirror real life in that intimate way. Everyone can see themselves in the characters. C Ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t J Jo od dy y - - w wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s s sh he e p plla ay y o on n t th he e f fiillm m? ? -My character "Jody" is a glass-half-full kind of woman, much like I am in real life. I'm so optimistic I annoy myself sometimes. I tried to bring that to this character, I just thought "oh screw trying to fight it, just use it." In the film She is caring for her dear friend (Jason Sudeikis) after his wife's passing, and her attitude is "let's go buddy, back in the saddle!" G Ga ar ry y M Ma ar rs sh ha allll h ha av ve e a allr re ea ad dy y d do on ne e a a m mo ov viie e b ba as se ed d o on n V Va alle en nt tiin ne e''s s D Da ay y a an nd d N Ne ew w Y Ye ea ar r''s s E Ev ve e - - w wo ou ulld d t th hiis s m mo ov viie e f fo ollllo ow w t th he e s sa am me e t to on ne e a as s t th he e p pr re ev viio ou us s iin ns st ta allllm me en nt ts s? ? -Garry has had great success with Valentine's Day and New Years Eve, and this is the same idea, yes. It's actually very full-circle for me, because I was on the set of Valentines Day, visiting a friend...and watching Garry from afar, wishing I could work with him. Now I have! Y Yo ou u a alls so o h ha av ve e a a s so on ng g f fe ea at tu ur re ed d o on n t th hiis s f fiillm m,, " "W Wiin nt te er r C Co oa at t" " - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? -Having a song in the film was a very exciting surprise. I wrote it at a time I was going through a very sad breakup, and I never imagined it would be In a Julia Roberts feature film, that I'm in no less! It's a lesson to never stop creating, even on your worst days, because you never know...and it's good that breakup paid off!! The song is available on iTunes. D Do oe es s t th he e s so on ng g m me ea an ns s y yo ou u a ar re e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n a a n ne ew w m ma at te er riia all - - h ho ow w''s s t th ha at t c co om miin ng g a allo on ng g? ? -I am working on new music! a new 5 song ep, (out later this summer) and also my first instrumental piano album. I have so much music In my head it's insane! I'm always coming up with Film scores, that's a goal of mine...compose for film. I'm obsessed with the classical film composers the way teens are obsessed with pop stars. Play 5 seconds of a score, I can name the movie! W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n L Lu uc cy y W Wa alls sh h''s s w wo or rlld d? ? -I'm currently in rehearsals with Director Gloria Gifford for "Much Ado About Nothing"...my third Shakespeare play. I'm doing as much theatre as There are hours in the day for. All the great actresses I aspire to be like have come from the theatre. I also have really exciting projects in both tv and film, but they're still top secret at this point...all I can say is ill be seeing you soon!

S So o t th he er re e´ ´s s n no o d do ou ub bt t y yo ou u h ha av ve e a a n na at tu ur ra all t ta alle en nt t f fo or r c co om me ed dy y,, m ma ak ke es s m me e w wo on nd de er r - - d diid d c co om me ed dy y d dr ra aw w y yo ou u iin nt to o a ac ct tiin ng g o or r w wa as s t th he e o ot th he er r w wa ay y a ar ro ou un nd d? ? Comedy drew me to acting. I was always a comedian. I started doing stand-up at the ripe old age of 13. Once I first performed there was no way that I was ever gonna stop. Acting kind of fell into place. I hope to continue doing a beautiful mix of the both. D Diid d a an ny y a ac ct to or r iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r d dr ra aw w y yo ou u iin nt to o t th hiis s g ge en nr re e iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? Comedy has always been the only genre I can see myself in. I can probably do drama but making people laugh is my forte. I love Ricky Gervais and I think he has created an amazing career that I would love to emulate. Y Yo ou u a ar re e k kn no ow wn n f fo or r v ve er ry y p ph hy ys siic ca all c co om me ed dy y - - w wh hy y f fr ro om m a allll t th he e s st ty ylle es s,, y yo ou u c ch ho oo os se e t th hiis s o on ne e? ? It comes with the territory. Disney Channel loves the slap stick. However, I don’t think I am known for physical comedy. I do love being physical but I love to have a perfect mix of all of it. If you do too much physical comedy you become a stooge and if you rely on just words you're Bill Maher. I love both of them but I think it works better if you try your hand at all the comedy styles. D Diif ff fe er re en nt t lla as st t n na am me es s b bu ut t s sa am me e n na am me e,, d do o y yo ou u p po ou ur r s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r o ow wn n p pe er rs so on na a iin nt to o J Jo oe ey y R R.. o or r t th he ey y a ar re e b bo ot th h d diif ff fe er re en nt t p pe er rs so on ns s? ? Joey Rooney and Joey Bragg are synonymous. I like to think that Joey Rooney is just me if the walls of reality were a little farther apart. I’ve never sat on a rocket and blasted through the school hallways but I would have if physics were on my side. T Th he e s se er riie es s iis s h he ea ad diin ng g t to o iit ts s f fo ou ur rt th h s se ea as so on n - - iin n a a t tiim me e w wh he er re e s sh ho ow ws s g ge et t c ca an nc ce ell s so o o of ft te en n,, w wh ha at t´ ´s s lliik ke e t to o b be e b ba ac ck k? ? We are genuinely very lucky. Not only do we have a fourth season, but we get to go back to such a positive and creative environment. Not every set can say that. O On n t th he e lla as st t s se ea as so on n J Jo oe ey y h ha av ve e m ma at tu ur re ed d iin n s so om me e w wa ay y a an nd d iin ns st te ea ad d o of f b be eiin ng g p pr re es se en nt te ed d a as s t th he e d do or rk ky y b br ro ot th he er r,, iin n e ep piis so od de es s lliik ke e t th he e o on ne es s a ab bo ou ut t C Co oa ac ch he elllla a y yo ou u h ha av ve e s sh ho ow wn n a a m mo or re e m ma at tu ur re ed d a an nd d c ca ar riin ng g s siid de e - - w wo ou ulld d t th ha at t r re em ma aiin n o on n t th he e f fo ollllo ow wiin ng g s se ea as so on n o or r t th ha at t w wa as s jju us st t a a o on ne et tiim me e e ev ve en nt t? ? Joey does get deep. (he he) I really enjoy that he has grown up to the point where he can have a heart to heart or do something for some one else. Don’t get me wrong Joey is still very selfish and a bimbo, but, he does have a real sweet side that we will see develop as the show goes on. A An no ot th he er r f fu un n f fa ac ct t,, o on n y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t f fiillm m y yo ou u p plla ay ye ed d a a b ba as se eb ba allll p plla ay ye er r,, s so o II a am m t ta ak kiin ng g iit t a as s y yo ou u a ar re e g go oo od d iin n s sp po or rt ts s? ? A An ny y c ch ha an nc ce e w we e w wo ou ulld d g ge et t t to o s se ee e t th ha at t f fa ac ce et t o of f y yo ou u o on n L Liiv v a an nd d M Ma ad dd diie e - - iif f s so o,, w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u b be e d do ow wn n? ? I have always been very active. I played a lot of sports growing up. Ice hockey was my sport of choice. I’ve played hockey since I was about 8. There is an episode of Liv and Maddie where we play sock hockey. I, after much persuading, got to show my skills a bit. There was a scene where Maddy was goalie doing a series of ridiculous flips and rolls making a bunch of saves. I was able to shoot the puck at her and make her look very athletic, which is very hard to do with Dove. I would love for that to be showcased more but I think it might be a little out of character to see Joey Rooney kick butt sport wise. W Wh ha at t e ells se e c ca an n w we e e ex xp pe ec ct t o on n t th hiis s n ne ew w s se ea as so on n? ? There is A LOT of new this season. New characters, new sets, and even some older characters coming back. We’ve had a blast this season. We know it’s our last so we are really soaking in every moment. One of my favorite things about this season is that Joey kind of takes on an alter ego at their new school. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n J Jo oe ey y B Br ra ag gg g''s s w wo or rlld d? ? Nothing. Nothing at all. I am trying to get back to my roots of being on the creative side of things so I am writing a lot and getting ready to make the rest of my career.

H Hii P Pa au ull,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Good. How’ve you been? Y Yo ou u’’r re e c cu ur rr re en nt tlly y p po or rt tr ra ay yiin ng g n no ov viic ce e S Se ea an n E Eg ga an n o on n H HU UL LU U’’s s n ne ew we es st t s se er riie es s “ “T Th he e P Pa at th h..” ” W Wh ha at t d dr re ew w y yo ou u t to o t th hiis s p pr ro ojje ec ct t o on n t th he e f fiir rs st t p plla ac ce e? ? The writing was just awesome. It really was one of the best pilot scripts I had ever read. I am also a huge fan of Jason Katims and his work, particularly Friday Night Lights. The intimacy of the performances on that show and the simplicity of it made me a huge fan. I went in for the first audition and got a real good vibe from Jessica, the creator, and from Mike Cahill, the director of episode 1&2. And by that I mean they seemed like good people, which is just as important as the material. I actually came home after the audition and called a buddy to retape a scene because I though I could do it better then what I left in the room. And then you throw in Aaron, Michelle and Hugh and I would have almost done it for free. Almost ;) T Th he e M Me ey ye er riis st t M Mo ov ve em me en nt t h ha as s b be ee en n c co om mp pa ar re ed d t to o o ot th he er r c cu ullt ts s a an nd d r re elliig giio on ns s lliik ke e S Sc ciie en nt to ollo og gy y – – w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u a ag gr re ee e w wiit th h t th hiis s c co om mp pa ar riis so on n o or r w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c co om mp pa ar re e iit t t to o s so om me et th hiin ng g e ells se e? ? Nah, Jessica made it up. I think she just borrowed aspects from a bunch of religions and movements. The Scientology thing is a great buzz word and I think maybe that attracted some eyeballs to the show, but those looking for an expose on the secrets of Scientology will probably not get much out of The Path. Those tuning in who want to see a wonderfully written story about what people do to find happiness in their lives will really enjoy it. E Ev ve er ry yo on ne e h ha as s t th he eiir r o ow wn n r re ea as so on n o on n w wh hy y t th he ey y a ar re e p pa ar rt t o of f t th hiis s m mo ov ve em me en nt t – – w wh ha at t` `s s S Se ea an n´ ´s s s st to or ry y? ? I don’t want to spoil anything for those who have yet to watch, but Sean has had some traumatic loss in his life and Meyerism was the only thing that made sense to him. I think he needed to be in a simple community surrounded by love and I think it was sort of regenerated him. As the show starts he really is devoid of his anger and pain and has found peace. T Te ellll u us s a a lliit tt tlle e a ab bo ou ut t S Se ea an n’’s s r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p t th hu us s f fa ar r w wiit th h E Em mm ma a G Gr re ee en nw we ellll´ ´s s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r.. This one really needs to be watched to see how it unfolds but I will say that Sean is very taken with her and who wouldn’t be, Emma is stunning. But beyond looks I think he senses a kindred spirit, someone who has dealt with a lot of pain in her life. Sean wants to be a rock in her life to show her what it means to be

really loved. T Th he e s sh ho ow w f fe ea at tu ur re es s s su uc ch h a a g gr re ea at t a an nd d t ta alle en nt te ed d c ca as st t – – h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm miin ng g e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? I feel like we’re getting close here so I will give you the true-true: It’s been really great. Right after my traveling to Vietnam but just ahead of that time I discovered strawberry fōnuts (they fucking melt in your mouth). The actors on this show are so generous and lovely and the crew has been awesome as well. The part of Sean has matched up well with what I was interested in exploring and I get to be in NYC, so I am just soaking it all in, pinching myself occasionally along the way. Y Yo ou u a alls so o c co o- -s st ta ar r o on n “ “T Th he e L La as st t S Sh hiip p..” ” H Ho ow w iis s iit t m ma ak kiin ng g t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m o on ne e s se et t t to o t th he e o ot th he er r? ? It’s a very different experience. The Last Ship is like action movie training. My good friend Tommy Savas (who played Cosetti in season one and who I did my very first pilot with 11 years ago) described it as every young boy’s wet dream and it’s true. My character O’Connor (I’m Black Irish, it’s a thing) is like the utility man on a baseball team, he shows up and pretty much does any job that’s needed and kicks a bit of ass. The producers of that show have been very good to me and I enjoy the family that I have on that set. Also, the interaction with the men and women in the Navy has been very special to me and really opened my mind. And not in a “let me post something about the troops on instagram for Memorial Day and get back to drinking and getting laid” sort of BS way. I now have faces and stories to put to the people who protect us and allow me to sit at home eat my fōnuts and watch baseball. The feeling I get when I am on a destroyer hanging with those guys is indescribable. Well, no I actually could describe it but this answer already seems longer than the rest. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n P Pa au ull J Ja am me es s´ ´ w wo or rlld d? ? I am planning to come out with a line of onesie’s called “PJ’s PJs” that I truly believe will revolutionize the way we sleep. Also I am working to put out an album under the name DJ PJ, its a mixture of southern rap, thrash metal and folk music. Great Dane and King Henry will produce it and Beyonce is looking to be involved but I’m concerned she might upstage me, so we’ll see. I also plan to watch as many Mets games as possible as they hopefully head to their second straight World Series breaking Cubs fan’s hearts everywhere. I’m long playing those first two plans so you might not hear about them again for awhile.

Hi Jordi, welcome toVents! How have you been? Hi guys! Thank you for chatting with me today. I’m great, thank you. How are you? Can you talk to us more about your latest single“Mam- bo”? “Mambo” is a song that I have been working on for a few months now — going backwards and forward, changing little bits to make sure that when it is released it’s one for all ages. I want the crowd to get off their feet and have fun with. Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song? It wasn’t an event in particular but when writing this song I imagined the events and arenas I have stood and played in, in the past and thought this is the song I want blasting around the speakers as I’m going crazy on stage. What led you to use a sample of “Mambo Italiano” for the song? I originally heard the sample from the Dean Martin track and it was always stuck in my head. So when working with the pro- ducers, we made it into a current, up-beat sound with my own edge to it.It is very exciting to get my sound out there but also with a legend like Dean Martin’s influence involved. Are there any plans to release a video for the single? I’m still yet to record the video for Mambo as I’m going abroad to a very exciting location to shoot the video; which I cannot wait for! But all will be released early summer. How was the recording and writing process? I was fortunate enough to work with two producers from LA and a brilliant female writer from here in London. We worked hard going back and forth, trying and testing different melodies, and at the end of it we were all very happy with the outcome. How has been the transition from being in a boy band to solo career? I’m still yet to perform as a soloist as I have been working hard behind the scenes getting everything ready because I want to make sure I come out with a bang. But I know it’s going to be an experience that I will never forget. What did you learn from your time with Overload and experiences like X-Factor that you are now putting into action with your solo career? I think being in a band can be difficult at times. In my case, I had to rely on four other boys for my very own career to go anywhere, whereas now I only have myself to depend on which I love because I see myself as a very driven person. If I want something, I will do it no matter what to get it and achieve my goals.The X-Factor was an eye opener for me in a lot of ways. One way being,you can’t take the show too seriously and what will be will be. The show was an all around great experience for me. The highlight was definitely Cheryl Cole calling me a Stud Muffin! You have a wide range of influences - does this means fans can expect a somewhat eclectic album? Of course! I am inspired by a wide range of artists and I would like to think I can take a string of each of them artists to make an album never seen before, I am really excited for the fans to hear what’s in store. How’s the record coming along? The EP is sounding great. I’m usually my toughest critic and don’t really compliment myself much but I do think what I have right now is really impressive so I’m looking forward to hearing some responses from the public. Is there any tentative release date or title in mind? I want my music to be heardASAP but also in a correct fashion so it’s gonna be out there early summer which is perfect as the songs definitely have summer vibes. Do you have any plans to hit the road? Of course! I mean I don’t think there’s a road just yet from London to the USA but I’m planning to come to The States to do some shows and events, starting with LA. What else is happening next in Jordi Whitworth’s world? I’ll be working on my music and dates for my own headlining tour over here in the UK but I’ll also be working on shoots for covers. I’m keeping healthy and active at the gym, and making sure I can last during the shows. Jordi Whitworth

Photo Matt Crockett

H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I've been doing great thank you, keeping plenty busy. A Af ft te er r s st ta ar rr riin ng g iin n A A C Co ou un nt tr ry y C Ch hr riis st tm ma as s S St to or ry y,, a an nd d t th he e C Co om me ed dy y " "C Ch he ev vy y" " f fo or r A AB BC C - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n t to o a a m mu uc ch h d da ar rk ke er r a an nd d c co om mp plle ex x s sc ce en na ar riio o? ? I've been moving people with tears my whole life. Most babies can’t form tears, but the same day I was born tears rolled down my face. The nurses at the hospital couldn't put me down because they weren’t use to the tears and couldn't handle seeing them. So, they kept me behind the front desk in their arms the whole time. So, I was born to do drama. When I see a role that requires tears, I get excited. Greenleaf has a lot of drama, so I love it. W Wh ha at t d dr re ew w y yo ou u iin nt to o G Gr re ee en nlle ea af f? ? This show is about the reality of a family living life with all of today's influences. It shows humanity's struggle with spirituality. In this show nobody is perfect. Greenleaf shows a community of people trying to support each other and give each other hope, while struggling with their own demons. This is what Greenleaf is about, real people with real problems trying to get better. Oprah is great with bringing issues to light and helping people find their own path through them. This show goes along with that theme. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Stressful and exciting. The process happened really fast because I had another screen test deal as well for a main lead part in a comedy. Having two offers is an actor's dream come true... but not at the same time because that's just mind boggling. It was truly a fork in the road, and a huge decision. So I was happy and crying with confusion. And then something I didn't think could happen, happened...Greenleaf offered me the job based off of just the three-minute video audition, no screen test, no further auditions, just a straight up offer. I enjoy comedy, and working with comedians, and I’ve grown to be really good at it - but drama is where I excel. So I took the offer. D Diid d a an ny y p pr re ev viio ou us s r ro olle e o or r c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r h he ellp p y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar re e f fo or r t th he e r ro olle e o of f S So op ph hiia a G Gr re ee en nlle ea af f? ? I estimate that by the time I booked Sophia I’ve gone through over 200 auditions. Each audition has been a learning piece that has prepared me for Sophia. But the main part that prepared me is being myself (and learning how to act like myself) has prepared me for Sophia. She is a mixed, middle class kid living between two cultures. I'm a mixed, middle class kid living between two cultures. Sophia is being introduced to a life among rich influential African Americans, and I'm working with Oprah, Keith David, and Lynn Whitfield. So, basically a lot of myself is already naturally built into this character. C Ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t S So op ph hiia a? ? Basically Sophia is just a kid trying to fit in and understand the new world around her. She is just meeting her whole family for the first time. Everything to her is new, and the audience gets to see her adjust. So if you watch, you’ll see that she is the one adjusting, changing, and growing. She is the one pure character, who does everything for the church without some kind of subliminal intent, unlike everyone else. A Af ft te er r f fa ac ciin ng g a an n A Alliie en n iin nv va as siio on n o on n F Fa alllliin ng g S Sk kiie es s,, d diid d y yo ou u e ev ve er r t th hiin nk k y yo ou u w wo ou ulld d b be e s st ta ar rr riin ng g iin n a a m mo or re e iin nt te en ns se e s se er riie es s? ? Well I had hoped so. You get so excited working on a project and when it's over you are left wondering what will happen next, if anything. That is what is so frustrating and fun about being an actor, things can change in a week. You are constantly fishing for your next job and you never know when you'll get a bite and what fish you'll reel in. So, I hoped there would be another project in my future and luckily there was. But I never imagined it would be such a huge project that is attached to so many big names. W Wh ha at t''s s iit t b be ee en n lliik ke e t to o s sh ha ar re e t th he e s se et t w wiit th h s so o m ma an ny y iin nc cr re ed diib blle e t ta alle en nt ts s a an nd d h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d a an ny yt th hiin ng g iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? When you work with such incredible actors, on such incredible sets, you get so caught up in the acting that you forget you are even pretending. You just get sucked up into the scene and everything just comes alive. Working with them has taught me how to improv better, pretend better, and be better on and off screen. All of them show me the importance of having a well balanced and grounded life. Basically you can't beat the job training I get. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n D De es siir re ee e R Ro os ss s'' w wo or rlld d? ? I'm heading to LA for the premiere in June. Since Greenleaf is already picked up for a second season, I'm going to enjoy my family and friends over the summer before filming resumes. I'm also still auditioning for projects, and I have a few projects in development. If anybody would like to keep up with me they can follow me at: IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4524361/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDesireeRoss/ Instagram: desireeross_ Twitter: thedesireeross Also remember that Greenleaf is premiering it’s first THREE episodes on June 21st and 22nd on OWN. So if you’re a Netflix-type binge watcher, our premiere will suite you.

W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u iin nt to o a ac ct tiin ng g? ? I have always been a character but I performed in my first play, a Christmas play in church, at the age of 10 and from there I was hooked. It was so exhilarating. From there I began performing through grade school and college all while being an athlete. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m t th he ea at te er r t to o f fiillm m a an nd d n no ow w T TV V? ? The transition wasn't difficult for me. I did quickly learn to bring it down a lot. but Theatre made a lot of things in Television and film a bit easier for me. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f w wh hiic ch h,, lle et t''s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t G Gr re ee en nlle ea af f - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The audition process was cool. I loved it. I never shy away from auditioning because it gives you the opportunity to prove yourself and it shows how well you can actually make adjustments and take direction. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h O Op pr ra ah h f fo or r s se ec co on nd d t tiim me e iin n a a r ro ow w? ? Oprah is a beautiful soul.She reminds me of someone in my family. So down to earth and humble. W Wa as s iit t a an ny y d diif ff fe er re en nt t t to o w wh he en n y yo ou u w wo or rk k w wiit th h h he er r o on n S Se ellm ma a? ? I didn't actually get to be around her this time. On the set of Selma she was down because of the recent passing of the great Maya Angelou and I was able to put a smile on her face. She may not remember that but it definitely made my entire year that year haha. H Ho ow w h ha as s C Ch hu ur rc ch h iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g c ca ar re ee er r? ? Church is where I was first able to express myself and my talent so it has been a huge positive influence on my career. I played the drums growing up in church, sang in the choir, and of course began acting in church. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s M Ma ar rllo on n C Co olllliin ns s p plla ay ys s iin n a allll t th hiis s d dr ra am ma a? ? Marlon Collins is a college kid battling with the death/murder of his younger brother. He seeks justice for the crime and takes it into his own hands. K Kn no ow wn n f fo or r b be eiin ng g a an n a ac ct tiiv viis st t a ag ga aiin ns st t p po olliic ce e b br ru ut ta alliit ty y - - d diid d y yo ou u p po ou ur r y yo ou ur rs se ellf f iin nt to o t th hiis s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r? ? I certainly did. I shed tears for this one. I won't say too much because the subject always gets me a little revved up and I can go on all day about it. W Wh ha at t w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y iis s t th he e d diif ff fe er re en nc ce e b be et tw we ee en n M Ma ar rllo on n a an nd d J JJ J? ? I wouldn't say that there is too much of a difference between the two. Just like Marlon, J.J. will do anything and everything for his brother. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n J JJ J G Gr re ee en n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? Next up is an Untitled Macon Blair project as well as a film entitled "Troubleman". I was cast in a film called Girls Guns and Gangs and I'm actually in the process of reading a script now and it is an amazing film written and to be directed by Jackson Young. I'm just taking opportunities and blessings as they continue to come my way. I have been so fortunate to have some amazing people in my life and on my team and with them I have no choice but to prosper.

H Hii A Ad diin na a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hi, Vents. I am very well, thanks. S So o w wh ha at t d dr re ew w y yo ou u iin nt to o a ac ct tiin ng g? ? I have wanted to be an actor ever since I was a little girl. I like trying to figure out why we humans make certain life choices, what motivates us and why individuals behave in different ways. Y Yo ou ur r c ca ar re ee er r h ha as s b be ee en n g go oiin ng g f fo or r a ab bo ou ut t 2 25 5- -y ye ea ar rs s o or r s so o,, y ye es s? ? W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d o ov ve er r t th hiis s t tiim me e t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e n no ow w iim mp plle em me en nt tiin ng g iin nt to o y yo ou ur r c ca ar re ee er r t th ha at t m ma ay yb be e y yo ou u d diid dn n’’t t k kn no ow w w wh he en n y yo ou u s st ta ar rt te ed d o ou ut t? ? I've learned not to sweat the small stuff. I've gotten a lot better at letting go. So much about this career, and life in general, can be out of your control. One can waste so much time worrying about outcomes. I don't waste as much time worrying as I once did. StoryPeople have a great poem that I have hanging on my wall that says: "Deciding everything is falling into place perfectly as long as you don't get too picky about what you mean by place. Or perfectly.” H Ho ow w h ha as s y yo ou ur r t th he ea at tr re e b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d y yo ou ur r c ca ar re ee er r,, iif f a at t a allll? ? I have a television and film career because of my theatre background. Being able to hit emotions in the moment and then repeating that eight times a week gives an artist a lot of confidence. S So o y yo ou u’’v ve e r re ec ce en nt tlly y h ha ad d t th hr re ee e d diif ff fe er re en nt t t te elle ev viis siio on n s se er riie es s iin n t th he e w wo or rk ks s ( (W WG GN N’’s s U Un nd de er rg gr ro ou un nd d,, T Th he e C CW W’’s s T Th he e 1 1 0 00 0 a an nd d t th he e A AB BC C p piillo ot t T Th he e J Ju ur ry y) ),, e ea ac ch h o on ne e t ta ak kiin ng g p plla ac ce e iin n a a c co om mp plle et te elly y d diif ff fe er re en nt t p pe er riio od d.. H Ha av ve e y yo ou u llo os st t y yo ou ur rs se ellf f iin n a allll o of f t th hiis s t tiim me e- -t tr ra av ve ell? ? H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u k ke ee ep p y yo ou ur r r ro olle es s s st tr ra aiig gh ht t? ? I've called myself the wrong name. I’ve skimmed The 100 scripts to see how much Grounder language I had, only to realize was I was searching for ‘Kendra,’ a character I played on HBO's The Newsroom, not ‘Indra.’ I have called myself ‘Lettie Mae’ when I meant ‘Pearly Mae.’ Luckily only the names are similar. These character’s behaviors and choices are so different -- makes it simple to keep everyone straight. L Le et t''s s b be eg giin n w wiit th h t th he e p pa as st t.. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s f fo or r U Un nd de er rg gr ro ou un nd d? ? W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o a au ud diit tiio on n f fo or r t th hiis s r ro olle e o of f ‘‘P Pe ea ar rlly y M Ma ae e’’ iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? There were some twists and turns while auditioning for Underground. I had the hardest time being seen. My agents were trying to get me in for the role of ‘Ernestine.’ The producers, Joe and Misha, really wanted to deal with the color issue; they wanted a light skinned African American actress to tell that story. Another Underground producer and the director, Anthony Hemingway, with whom I worked on The Newsroom and True Blood is a fan. He finally convinced them to see me for ‘Ernestine.’ They were impressed by my audition and asked me to come back to audition for ‘Pearly Mae’ -- and to sing. I did. Later, I learned that no one else was seen for ‘Pearly Mae.’ I am the one and only ‘Pearly Mae.’ B Ba as se ed d o on n h hiis st to or riic ca all e ev ve en nt ts s,, d diid d y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar re e f fo or r t th hiis s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r b by y r re ea ad diin ng g u up p a ab bo ou ut t t th hiis s t tiim me e iin n t th he e U U..S S..? ? Yes, I read slave narratives to prepare for ‘Pearly Mae,’ and I also watched Henry Louis Gates' documentary Many Rivers to Cross. Y Yo ou u a alls so o p plla ay y a a m mo ot th he er r o on n t th he e c co on nt te em mp po or ra ar ry y A AB BC C d dr ra am ma a T Th he e J Ju ur ry y.. C Ca an n o on ne e a as ss su um me e t th ha at t y yo ou u t to oo ok k a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h t to o b bo ot th h r ro olle es s? ? Absolutely, I approach most roles differently. ‘Angela’ has a wit about her. It’s one of the devices she uses to keep herself sane. ‘Angela’ is closer to me, which I believe made her more difficult to play well. We'll see. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s ‘‘A An ng ge ella a’’ p plla ay y o on n T Th he e J Ju ur ry y b be ey yo on nd d b be eiin ng g a a m mo ot th he er r o ou ut ts siid de e o of f t th he e c co ou ur rt tr ro oo om m? ? There is a saying regarding Capital Punishment, "If you don't have the capital you get punished.” I also believe there is a racial bias in our judicial system. ‘Angela’ doesn't see any reason why anyone should forgot these 'facts of life'. L La as st t b bu ut t n no ot t lle ea as st t,, T Th he e 1 1 0 00 0 h ha as s a allr re ea ad dy y b be ee en n p piic ck ke ed d u up p f fo or r a a f fo ou ur rt th h s se ea as so on n.. W Wh ha at t c ca an n w we e e ex xp pe ec ct t f fo or r ‘‘IIn nd dr ra a’’ m mo ov viin ng g f fo or rw wa ar rd d? ? What we can expect for ‘Indra’ moving forward into the fourth season is a question for the creator and writing staff. I simply interpret what they write for me. With the way Season three ends, there is no guarantee ‘Indra’ is alive in Season Four. Or perhaps she is even more injured than she already was in season three. We will just have to wait for the first script. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n A Ad diin na a P Po or rt te er r''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I had two great auditions last week for some independent films. Let's see if they move forward. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e b ba ac ck k t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Focused and calm, yet very excited. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "D Do op pe e" "? ? I wrote “Dope” w/ this terrific hip hop producer, and now very close friend, Trinity. We met in passing at a live session she was producing for Trevor Wesley. We both thought it’d be fun to just get together and write sometime. No expectation. As soon we got together the chemistry was just there. One of the coolest things about “Dope” is that it’s a true collaboration between us, it’s something I couldn’t have written alone, and because of her hip hop background she opened me up a lot lyrically. Honestly, I have such a deep love for hip hop, and was so excited at the idea of bridging genres. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Yes. Shortly after meeting Trinity, I went to her loft in DTLA. We walked to a coffee shop down the street, and just talked about music. I talked about how lame rock is now, how much we both love hip hop, and about if we could find a way to somehow merge the genres in a new light. We came up with this idea of, “What if we wrote a song that when played in the club, all the rock kids would love, but also hip hop kids would totally down for it.” A song that hipsters would like, and Odd Future would like too. A song that is above genres and universal. We got back to her loft, and within 20 minutes, the whole song was written. It was just pure magic, and really inspiring. That main keyboard riff came out, and it was just game on. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Yes. Keith Musil is directing. We’ve got the treatment all sorted, and are just getting everything together right now to make it happen. We’ve been talking daily, and just exploding with ideas. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m A Ar re e Y Yo ou u R Re ea al l? ? - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? There’s two origins to Are You Real?. When I was 20, I was living alone in Eagle Rock. I was pretty depressed, anxious, and as a whole just a miserable dude to be around. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and was just so socially paralyzed and fearful; totally in my head. One of the things that brought me joy, and a sense of awe was driving through Los Angeles. It’s such a massively gorgeous and spread out city that I just fell in love with every single neighborhood and block of it. I’d take the streets everywhere; explore, get lost, and somehow always find my way home. Sometimes I’d have no destination, I’d just get in my car and drive, and go wherever God wanted to take me. Now, oddly enough, I reminisce on that time so sweetly. One night it was pouring rain, and I spontaneously drove into Pasadena, passed an art gallery, and decided to go in. It turned out to be a show for Robert Heinekein, and Wallace Berman, and it just totally turned my world upside down. They’d take magazine pages and put a light underneath, so it’d make the image look like a negative, and the result is just stunningly present and haunting. Even though the pieces are like 50 years old, they’re still totally relevant and impactful. Heinekein has a piece called “Are You Real?,” and that phrase always stuck with me. We were originally going to call the LP Delirium, but then Ellie Goulding called her LP that, so we made a quick pivot and fell in love w/ calling ours Are You Real?. It’s reminiscent of Hendrix’s Are You Experienced?, yet feels modern. The second inspiration came from when Dan Curcio (BOD’s bassist) and I first met. We’d go out to parties in LA, and we’d meet people, and they’d be so unawake and so unaware and totally narcissistic. They love hearing themselves talk. It just became a joke. You’d ask someone their name and what they do, and it’d trigger something in them, they’d just go off on some self-indulgent tangent about their entire life and career. Totally unprovoked and uncalled for. I’ll never forget, one guy literally started to tell us his life story, beginning w/ his birth in Oregon, and how he got his first keyboard, and his family drama, and it was just ridiculous. All we did was ask if you

y r were in a band. Dan was a lot nicer than me, because after 5 minutes, I’d just look at them and think, jeez, are you even fucking real right now? And I’d walk away. It became kind of a running inside joke. Anytime I’m with someone, and they’re just in another world, I just look at them, and think, “Are You Real?”. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The recording process was the best time we’ve ever had in my life - recording music and working w/ people. I can honestly say, there wasn’t a stressful day, and we fully trusted the insanely wild process of creating art. The writing process however, was unbelievably unsexy, and everything came in bits and pieces. The divine would hand me Lego bricks, and it was my job to decide how to organize them. W Wh hy y e en nt te er riin ng g t th he e s st tu ud diio o w wiit th h t tw wo o d diif ff fe er re en nt t p pr ro od du uc ce er rs s? ? Because they both brought different strengths to the table without ego. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h C Ca at th he er riin ne e M Ma ar rk ks s a an nd d J Jiim m K Ka au uf fm ma an n? ? H Ho ow w d diid d t th ho os se e r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip ps s d de ev ve ello op p? ? It was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had in this life. Now, Jim is my best friend, and like a brother. Honestly, making Orthodox was the worst experience of my life. It was such a cold hearted shit show, and just tainted a lot of things. Because of that, we decided I wanted to make Are You Real? The best experience we’d ever had. I made sure to be surrounded by the right creative people, who weren’t just there to get paid. Jim, I met through my old manager, and we worked on a few songs together, which came out great. He had like 2-3 weeks open, and called me, asking if I had any songs to finish. We then demoed like 50 songs, and it was just so easy working with him. He’s got a studio in Culver City, and the vibe is just perfect. Catherine actually mixed a radio edit of “Sweet Girl” for us a couple years ago, but I totally didn’t put two and two together until we were mixing Are You Real? We skyped and talked about making an LP together, and then we actually made a record, and now I just love her like a sister. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d t th he ey y g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? It was collaboration in the realest sense. Everyone brought in different strengths, and I’d say they both influenced it a lot. In a nut shell, not doing justice to their roles at all, Jim brought things sonically and tonally that are just so original, creative and striking. Catherine brought in an aesthetic, and a sex appeal. They both helped arrange too. W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c ca allll t th hiis s a a f fo ollllo ow w u up p a allb bu um m o of f y yo ou ur r p pr re ev viio ou us s m ma at te er riia all? ? Not really. It more feels like a brand new phase, and a chance to do everything right.Looking back on the first LP, it just felt like a test run in a weird way. It was our first time having management, putting out a record, touring, etc. A lot of stuff went awry, just because we had no reference at all of what it should actually be like. Now we feel focused, and calm, and somewhat know how to handle ourselves and what to expect. Also, I always kind of knew that the second record we would make will be more focused and cohesive than the first. Because when I was writing the first, I not only had no idea that anyone would actually hear it, but I think I also lacked the focus and awareness to make an LP in one lane. Honestly, we’ve all learned so much from the first LP, from touring, and all the inner workings of being in a band, and having a team, that this LP actually feels like the first time we’re actually doing it right. It’s going to be the start of a long great run of releasing LPs and touring. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? We are playing Louisville's The Gathering and Chicago's Q101 Piqniq in June, and will tour after that. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n B Be ew wa ar re e o of f D Da ar rk kn ne es ss s'' w wo or rlld d? ? It’s our goal to have a new LP written and demoed by the time Are You Real? comes out. We’re already 15 demos in. More shows and videos to come.

H Hii N Niim ma a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I am good, thanks for having me! S So o p pr re et tt ty y c cu ur riio ou us s o on n h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u g ge et t s st ta ar rt te ed d iin n t th he e f fiillm m c co om mp po os siin ng g - - w wh ha at t d dr ra aw w y yo ou u iin nt to o t th hiis s w wo or rlld d? ? I have grew up playing and studying Persian classical music from the age of five. Once I moved to the US I was introduced to orchestral music as a percussionist and as a composer. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue music in music school as a performer, but however my path changed slightly. After listening to many soundtracks and their use of middle eastern percussions and rhythms I was introduced to the idea of working in films as a composer. W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o v viid de eo o g ga am me e c co om mp po os siin ng g? ? I have always been a gamer, my entire life. I owned pretty much every game counsel including Atari, Commodore 64 and Sega Genesis. Being involved in video game music was always a fun adventure that I wanted to be a part of. When the opportunity to work on such a franchise as Resident Evil came along I had to jump on it. I remember playing the first game on the the PC when it first came out and how amazing and scary it was. D Do o y yo ou u t te en nd d t to o t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h w wh he en n y yo ou u w wr riit te e m mu us siic c f fo or r a a v viid de eo o g ga am me e t th ha an n w wh he en n y yo ou u d do o f fo or r a a T TV V s sh ho ow w o or r f fiillm m? ? My process is different for every project. I try to tell a story with my music, and whatever the project requires I give it that. I usually like composing a long suite of 30-45 of music which consists of my explorations of musical ideas and experimental atmospheres. Then I adapt these ideas to the project and adjust the musical cues accordingly. H Ho ow w h ha as s y yo ou ur r h ho om me et to ow wn n,, IIr ra an n,, h ha av ve e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? I try to include the instruments of Iran in pretty much all of my projects. They are not used in their traditional way, but in a very modified fashion. I use their sound and textures to construct colors that can work in a non- eastern way. I like to create a color palette for every project, these explorations of colors includes the usage of Santour, Tar, Setar, Kamanche, and Tonbak to name a few instruments. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f w wh hiic ch h,, y yo ou u a ar re e d do oiin ng g t th he e m mu us siic c f fo or r a a p pr re et tt ty y c co on nt tr ro ov ve er rs siia all g ga am me e 1 1 9 97 79 9 R Re ev vo ollu ut tiio on n:: B Blla ac ck k F Fr riid da ay y - - h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u g ge et t iin nv vo ollv ve ed d? ? I approached Navid Khonsari, the creator of the game, about 3 years ago when I heard and found his interviews regarding the project. I always wanted to work on a historical project of my country, specially when I would be able to utilize my background of Persian classical music in a very unique way. A As s II m me en nt tiio on ne ed d t th he er re e h ha as s b be ee en n a a h hu ug ge e c co on nt tr ro ov ve er rs sy y iin n IIr ra an n,, a as s a a M Mu us slliim m y yo ou ur rs se ellf f - - d diid d y yo ou u p pe er rs so on na alllly y f fiin nd d iit t a an ny y o of ff fe en ns siiv ve e o or r iit t h hu ur rt t y yo ou u iin n a an ny y w wa ay y t th he e s st to or ry y a an nd d c co on nc ce ep pt t? ? I am not a Muslim myself and no I didn’t find this project to be offensive in any way. 1979 tells the actual story of the Revolution with different perspectives. You can choose the story you want to tell by the decisions you make as a player. Even though this game has been banned in Iran due to many reasons I don’t believe it should have been, its an actual depiction of those days. The accuracy of the game is such that the graffiti’s on the wall, speeches, even gathering and scenes are exact replicates of the time. S So o II r re ea alllly y lliik ke e t th he e w wa ay y p plla ay ye er rs s c ca an n p piic ck k t th he eiir r o ow wn n d de ec ciis siio on ns s a as s t th he e a allb bu um m m mo ov ve es s o on n - - a as s a a c co om mp po os se er r,, d diid d y yo ou u h ha ad d t to o w wr riit te e m mu us siic c f fo or r e ev ve er ry y s sc ce en na ar riio o t th he e p plla ay ye er rs s c ch ho oo os se e o or r t th he e m mu us siic c w wa as s t th he e s sa am me e n no o m ma at tt te er r w wh ha at t? ? H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Absolutely not. Every decision you make will change the music, The music is very interactive. As I mentioned before I am a story teller and specially with this project I had to tell a story in a very creative way. I started working off of the script for this project as I had to create timelines and graphs on what the choices will be. Then the music was adopted as the game engine developed further. Y Yo ou u a ar re e k kn no ow wn n f fo or r b bu uiilld diin ng g y yo ou ur r o ow wn n iin ns st tr ru um me en nt ts s - - h ho ow w d diid d t th he es se e g ge et t s st ta ar rt te ed d? ? I have always been interested and have done research on the idea of musical anthropology and the art of instrument making. I usually like to explore new sounds and textures without the use of technology. I like to create the sounds I hear in my head with organic elements and instruments that can be played physically. I first started modifying Iranian instruments to create a extension on the range of the instrument themselves. That lead me to creating new instruments to be able to create the sounds I needed. W Wh hiic ch h o on ne es s y yo ou u u us se ed d o on n t th hiis s g ga am me e iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? In 1979 I wanted to stay true to the era and the location, so instruments were not created but the actual instruments of Iran were used, however modified slightly to fit the story and the story telling approach. I explored the similarity of the family of instruments and the compared the sounds from the western music vs eastern music. I exchanged the instruments around as necessary to achieve my goal. For example, the Santour, which is a dulcimer type of instruments, and dulcimer being similar to inside of a Piano, I used the Santours, modified the sound slightly, replaced and or accentuated the sound of the piano. I did the same process on the guitar, which was exchaged at times with the Tar. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e m mu us siic c? ? I wanted to stay true to the era and locations. The authencity of the era was created by utilizing vintage analogue synths, recording techniques and equipments that were used during the time. And the Location was created by utilizing Iranian instruments and Iranian instruments alone. I didn’t use other countries instruments only instruments of Iran to have a complete truth to my country. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n N Niim ma a F Fa ak kh ha ar ra a''s s w wo or rlld d? I am finishing up some work on a very interesting project which I can’t talk about yet. But I am also opening my reach by getting involved in the app world and also in the fashion world!

H Hii L Liia am m,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I’m doing great, thanks for asking! I've been busy recording for my EP, released a new music video, “Number 1 Girl” and just got off tour with Fetty Wap - which was awesome! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "N Nu um mb be er r 1 1 G Giir rll" "? ? I co-wrote “Number 1 Girl” and my buddy played it for Fetty and his management RGF Productions. Fetty really liked it, so he hopped on the track and wrote and recorded it the same night he heard it at his studio in Clifton, NJ. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? I guess everyone is always searching for that one special person. I write off life in general and write stories I hear or see in movies. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e f fiillm miin ng g t th he e m mu us siic c v viid de eo o? ? We filmed a lot of the video the same night Fetty recorded his part. It’s cool that the viewer can see how the recording went as that was actually the real footage from the night. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? I co-wrote my part before Fetty heard the song. I left a verse open for Fetty to write to. He listened to the song a bunch of times with me and recorded his part. Fetty added cool ad libs throughout the song, which was dope. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e h ha ad d t th he e c ch ha an nc ce e t to o a alls so o c co olllla ab bo or ra at te e w wiit th h o ot th he er r iic co on niic c n na am me es s iin n m mu us siic c lliik ke e N Niille e R Ro od dg ge er rs s - - w wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m t th he es se e c co olllla ab bo or ra at tiio on ns s? ? Nile is such an amazing person! He is so genuine and so supportive. Fetty and Nile are both incredibly hard workers! Working with both of them was such an honor. They both were so real and even though they are superstars they treated everyone like a superstar. D Do oe es s t th hiis s n ne ew w s siin ng glle e m me ea an n w we e c ca an n e ex xp pe ec ct t a a n ne ew w a allb bu um m - - h ho ow w''s s t th ha at t c co om miin ng g a allo on ng g? ? Yes, I'm meeting with a lot of great writers and producers. I'm actually going to record to new songs this weekend. One is a duet with an incredibly talented girl and the other is an awesome song. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d a an nd d g go o o on n t to ou ur r? ? Yes definitely. I love touring, but I am in school full time so I them both. I'm really excited to open for Fifth Harmony on June 12th for the WKRZ Summer Smash concert in PA. I toured with them when I was 12 and was blown away by their talent! W Wh ha at t iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n L Liia am m L Liis s'' w wo or rlld d? ? My hope is to write great music that people will love so I will be working hard in the studio and releasing new music.

The combination of talent and work ethic have raised Pierce the Veil to be one of the rock industry's front­runners. Fans of PTV have waited since their last album, Collide with the Sky (2012), for what PTV has always said they wanted to create, and that is something different, something with meaning and quality recording. Working with the same producer from their last album, plus the time they have taken to go on their 'misadventures' has paid off. The band decided together that a four­year detour of adventures as they toured worldwide and would bring the inspiration needed to each and every song recorded on their album, Misadventures. Now with ten years, four albums and constant touring PTV can state they are rock and they have rolled right to where they belong. Continuing to keep that passion for life and music going come from the heart. Jaime Preciado shares how his approach to living by keeping a spirit of excitement, passion and the playfulness of never growing up is the grounding force really that the whole band embraces. Sure their latest album, Misadventures brings together a tight, well­balanced, full circle of deeply felt lyrics, along with a precision to its melodies and rhythm that makes PTV an artistic movement. Every single component of the artwork, to the lyrics, recording, touring is all a complete circle that brings the band members Vic Fuentes, Mike Fuentes, Tony Perry, and Jaime Preciado together with their fans. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: IIt t iis s s so o g go oo od d t to o t ta allk k t to o y yo ou u t to od da ay y J Ja aiim me e.. H Ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u d do oiin ng g? ? A Aw wa ak ke e e en no ou ug gh h y ye et t? ? Jaime Preciado: Oh, no,no,no. I have been up walking my dog around and yeah it's all good. S SR R:: W Wiit th h t th he e r re elle ea as se e o of f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m,, M Miis sa ad dv ve en nt tu ur re es s,, a an nd d y yo ou ur r f fa an ns s w wa aiit tiin ng g p pa at tiie en nt tlly y ( (s so om me et tiim me es s n no ot t s so o p pa at tiie en nt tlly y) ),, p pllu us s a allll y yo ou ur r t to ou ur riin ng g y yo ou u m mu us st t b be e o on n t th ha at t n ne ev ve er r- -e en nd diin ng g h ha am ms st te er r w wh he ee ell o of f iin nt te er rv viie ew ws s. JP: (laughed) Yeah, but that is what we love! So, it's all good! S SR R:: S So o,, w we ellc co om me e t to o n nu um mb be er r 1 1 ,,0 00 00 0,,0 03 33 3!! JP: (laughed) I am so excited! S SR R:: Y Ye ea ah h,, y ye ea ah h.. JP: No, seriously I am. Love doing this and how are you doing? Oh, by the way, I love your name, Song, wow. What a great name. S SR R:: W Wh hy y t th ha an nk k y yo ou u.. Y Ye ep p,, S So on ng g iit t iis s a an nd d II''m m d do oiin ng g g gr re ea at t.. II h ha av ve e m my y c co of ff fe ee e a an nd d b bo ot tt tlle e o of f w wa at te er r s so o w we e a ar re e g go oo od d t to o g go o!! JP: Perfect. S SR R:: W We ellll,, f fiir rs st t,, II w wa an nt te ed d t to o w wiis sh h y yo ou u a a H Ha ap pp py y B Biir rt th hd da ay y J Ja aiim me e ( (M Ma ay y 1 1 7 7t th h) ).. JP: It is tomorrow and you know what? I think you are the first one to wish me a Happy Birthday! Wow, it's scary. I am going to turn 30. S SR R:: H Ha as s iit t h hiit t y yo ou u t th ha at t t th he e ''y yo ou ut th h'' y ye ea ar rs s a ar re e n no ow w lle ea av viin ng g a an nd d t th he e ''a ad du ullt t'' y ye ea ar rs s a ar re e n no ow w h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g? ? JP: Well, I guess I've been the one kind of holding it in the 20's as our guitar player had just turned 30 recently, in March I think, so... sorry I am running around here and my dog keeps following... It is great, though, I am no longer in my 20's. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u r re em me em mb be er r b ba ac ck k w wh he en n y yo ou u w we er re e a a k kiid d,, 1 11 1 ,,1 1 2 2 y ye ea ar rs s o olld d a an nd d t th hiin nk kiin ng g,, “ “W Wo ow w,, 3 30 0 iis s s so o o olld d? ?” ” II k kn no ow w II d diid d.. JP: Yeah, I do remember thinking that, but now I am here and I don't feel old and hopefully don't look old. I am still trying to be as fit as possible especially as we keep these shows going. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u n no ot tiic ce e a a d diif ff fe er re en nc ce e J Ja aiim me e iin n h ho ow w y yo ou u f fe ee ell w wh he en n p pe er rf fo or rm miin ng g n no ow w iin n c co om mp pa ar riis so on n t to o h ho ow w y yo ou u f fe ellt t t te en n y ye ea ar rs s a ag go o? ? JP: If anything I feel a lot smoother because from playing so many shows you learn this rhythm and stuff. I play a whole hell a lot tighter than I did when I was young. You know when you’re young you’re not as focused. You know in the back of your head you're thinking, “I've got to look cool man!” (laughed) Now we have already gone through that phase and it's just like let's play a good rock show, you know? S SR R:: Y Ye es s,, a an nd d t th ha at t m ma ak ke es s s se en ns se e.. F Fo or r m ma an ny y o of f u us s o ou ut t h he er re e a as s f fa an ns s o of f P PT TV V a an nd d k kiin nd d o of f g gr ro ow wiin ng g u up p w wiit th h y yo ou u a allll m mu us siic ca alllly y t th hiis s a allb bu um m,, M Miis sa ad dv ve en nt tu ur re es s,, k kiin nd d o of f s se ee em ms s t to o b be e t th hiis s d diip pllo om ma a o of f g gr ra ad du ua at te ed d m ma at tu ur riit ty y,, iif f t th ha at t m ma ak ke es s s se en ns se e.. IIt t b br riin ng gs s a allll o of f y yo ou ur r t ta alle en nt ts s iin nt to o o on ne e p plla ac ce e t th ha at t s so ou un nd ds s c co om mp plle et te e f fr ro om m b be eg giin nn niin ng g t to o e en nd d.. Y Yo ou u g gu uy ys s s se ee em m r re ea alllly y c co om mf fo or rt ta ab blle e.. JP: Yeah, making this record was a long journey. It turned out to be this crazy, well, exactly what the record was called, 'misadventures.' It took us from having us experimenting with things from before and with this record we knew what we were going for. This new record really took us to places we never thought of. I think like you said, it's more of a mature sound, but still very fun and exciting. S SR R:: T Th hiis s a allb bu um m c ce er rt ta aiin nlly y iis s f fu un n a an nd d e ex xc ciit tiin ng g.. IIt t iis s a a w wh ho olle e p pa ac ck ka ag ge e o of f iin nc cr re ed diib blle e a ar rt t f fr ro om m t th he e m mu us siic c t to o t th he e e en ng giin ne ee er riin ng g,, p pr ro od du uc ct tiio on n,, a an nd d a ar rt tw wo or rk k.. IIt t s sh ho ow ws s y yo ou u g gu uy ys s g ge et t y yo ou ur rs se ellf f n no ow w.. P Pllu us s,, y yo ou u a ar re e w wo or rk kiin ng g w wiit th h t th he e s sa am me e p pr ro od du uc ce er r,, D Da an n K Ko or rn ne ef ff f,, a as s y yo ou u d diid d o on n y yo ou ur r lla as st t a allb bu um m,, C Co olllliid de e w wiit th h t th he e S Sk ky y.. H He e m mu us st t f fiit t r riig gh ht t w wiit th h y yo ou u.. JP: He is really the dream producer. He is the guy you want on your team. In that audio department and producing department is the guy that can go the full 100% on it. He is one of the big reasons why the record sounds the way it does. We have always kind of given him the open end to do whatever... go crazy on it. We aren’t a band that wants to tell our producer to make us go sound like this band or this band you know? For us, it was let's make a good sounding record and let's do a bunch of weird sounding stuff on it. There are songs on this record that we couldn’t have played on Collide, they are just so different. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k y yo ou ur r e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e J Ja aiim me e iin n r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d e en ng giin ne ee er riin ng g h ha as s h he ellp pe ed d b br riin ng g a ab bo ou ut t w wh he er re e y yo ou u a allll a ar re e n no ow w t to oo o? ? JP: Yeah, I think so. I mean obviously like having someone in the band that knows about that world is always going to benefit a band. Whether it's performing live, writing music, arranging or recording obviously that stuff helps. I think it's helpful when you have someone in a band when you're putting together even set-lists who understands this process, you know, kind of like a musical director would do for a big concert event. It is very similar to that. When the four of us are in a room and we get busy creating I start thinking of the logistics of what we are doing. How is that going to sound? What will go with that? So, it is a really cool process we have all come up with and I think it's been really great.

S SR R:: W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y t th ha at t t tr ru ue e a ar rt t iis s a allw wa ay ys s iin n m mo ot tiio on n? ? JP: (paused) Wow, that's some neat stuff. True art is always in motion... Yeah, I think that is pretty accurate. I mean, we are always creating and thinking of different ways to do something. I would definitely say that is true. S SR R:: L Lo oo ok kiin ng g a at t y yo ou ur r o ow wn n c cr re ea at tiiv ve e m mu us siic c jjo ou ur rn ne ey y J Ja aiim me e.. II m me ea an n y yo ou u g go o b ba ac ck k t to o m miid dd dlle e s sc ch ho oo oll a an nd d t th he er re e y yo ou u w we er re e o on n a a t tr ru um mp pe et t,, a an nd d n no ow w...... llo oo ok k a at t a allll y yo ou u''v ve e lle ea ar rn ne ed d a an nd d c cr re ea at te ed d.. F Fiir rs st t o of f a allll,, t th ho ou ug gh h II w wa an nt t t to o k kn no ow w m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th hiis s t tr ru um mp pe et t.. JP: (laughed) You know it is funny. I think it was about a week and a half ago I picked up an old trumpet that was sitting in a place we practice and hang out. It's actually like a side garage over at Mike and Vic's parents house. And they had an old trumpet lying around and I picked it up and I played it. Everyone was like, whoa, and I can't believe it I still have the chops for it. It's such a weird instrument. I played all kinds of music, it's funny because there was obviously that SKA style of music that was going around and I started playing a bit of that but when I was younger it never occurred to me that you could play multiple instruments and it was okay. I thought I had to learn one instrument and be really good at it and there was no way you could do that with multiple instruments. My Uncle gave me my first guitar and it all kind went from there. Thinking... you know I wouldn't mind having a trumpet lying around the house, you know, to scare the animals. (laughed). S SR R:: Y Yo ou u''v ve e h ha ad d t th he e t tr ru um mp pe et ts s iin n o olld de er r m ma ar riia ac ch hii s st ty ylle e t tr ra ac ck ks s w wa ay y b ba ac ck k w wh he en n,, b bu ut t w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er r p plla ay yiin ng g t th he e t tr ru um mp pe et t n no ow w a an nd d a ad dd diin ng g iit t iin n? ? JP: Yeah, of course, I would have to practice up a bit, though. (laughed). S SR R:: A An nd d II t th hiin nk k t to od da ay y t th he e t tr ru um mp pe et t iis s a a p pr re et tt ty y,, “ “H He ey y,, II a am m c co oo oll iin n a a b ba an nd d” ” t ty yp pe e o of f iin ns st tr ru um me en nt t.. IIt t''s s a an n iin ns st tr ru um me en nt t t th ha at t c ca an n g ge et t c ch hiic ck ks s t to od da ay y.. JP: That's funny. S SR R:: T Th he er re e w wa as s a a c ciin ne em ma at tiic c s st ty ylle e a as s y yo ou u o op pe en ne ed d u up p o on n t to ou ur r d do ow wn n iin n M Me ex xiic co o C Ciit ty y? ? JP: That was kind of an idea that we had. It's funny. I get inspired by show stuff, production, anything involving our show I get a lot of inspiration from going to Disneyland a lot. My girlfriend and I go a lot. We go so much I think because it reminds me of being a kid again. It is such a fun place to have a good time. So, I would go there and go on these little rides and see these shows that they would put on and the amount of production they did was so out of control cool. I couldn't believe it. I mean I know they have a budget to pretty much do whatever they want but they come up with really cool and creative ways of making you feel like you’re in another world. I take that thought process and apply it to our shows. I want kids to feel like they are not in this big room but feel like they are in this special kind of cool place. An event where they are very feeling like they are in a very exclusive place. The intimacy that has been put into place just for them. So, for this intro Vic and I kind of had this idea where we take them on a ride. Very “StarTours'isck” we take them on this journey and it is a difficult thing to do sometimes. But we thought let's bring the artwork we had to life, so it all came together with this crazy idea. We had the help of our super talented artist, Mike Cortada, who did all the artwork for the album, and then our incredible videographer, Dan Fusselman, he animated it all, then I did all the sound design work, but it was such a crazy project but it worked out. Everyone working on it got it. It was perfect. We got really lucky. We joke around that it seems everything we do, like this record, always takes plenty of time, but this just came together quickly and it turned out awesome. We are really excited to use it for future tours. S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u llo oo ok k a at t t th he e f fr ro on nt t c co ov ve er r o of f t th he e M Miis sa ad dv ve en nt tu ur re es s a allb bu um m a ar rt t y yo ou u t th hiin nk k o of f t th he e p pr ro ov ve er rb biia all “ “B Bo oy y S Sc co ou ut t k kn niif fe e” ” w wiit th h a allll t th he e g giiz zm mo os s.. T Th he en n w wiit th h t th he e t tiit tlle e a an nd d t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d iit t s se ee em me ed d lliik ke e a a t tu un nn ne ell r ru un nn niin ng g f fr ro om m A Alliic ce e iin n W Wo on nd de er rlla an nd d''s s w wo or rlld d.. P Pu ut t t th hiis s w wh ho olle e a allb bu um m iin n p pe er rs sp pe ec ct tiiv ve e iin n iit ts s c cr re ea at tiiv viit ty y.. A As s iit t f fe ee ells s lliik ke e a a w wh ha ac ck ky y,, f fu un n r riid de e.. JP: The inspiration going into this came from Vic during his days of growing up and going to punk bands and stuff. He was the one designing the flyers for these punk shows by hand, going to Kinko's and run off hundreds of these posters and when you make a copy of a copy of a copy it kind of distorts. It starts making these weird

things pop out and think that imperfect look is what we liked. The artwork is actually what you’re seeing on the front cover, isn’t actually a drawing but it is a photo of a drawing. S SR R:: O Oh h,, s so o t th ha at t m ma ak ke es s iit t m ma ak ke e s se en ns se e n no ow w b be ec ca au us se e w wh he en n y yo ou u llo oo ok k a at t iit t,, iit ts s s se ee em ms s a a b biit t d diis st to or rt te ed d.. JP: Yes, it gives it a sort of popping out look. How we achieved this was by cutting out each and every little piece then put them on this piece of paper and we took a photo of all that just to make it look like it had some depth. Then every piece of the knife represents something in a song or something in a lyric. It worked out really cool. It really was a nostalgic kick back to those days I think when we were going to those shows . It really I think is a perfect way to bring it back. S SR R:: IIt t r re ea alllly y iis s.. C Ca an n y yo ou u h he ellp p e ex xp plla aiin n w wh ha at t s so om me e o of f t th he e iin ns st tr ru um me en nt ts s c co om miin ng g o ou ut t o of f t th he e k kn niif fe e c co or rr re ella at te e t to o iin n y yo ou ur r s so on ng gs s o of ff f t th hiis s a allb bu um m? ? JP: Yeah, I can give you a couple, there are so many. The one we use a lot is, of course, the praying hands, the mechanical praying hands are for the song, “Circles” and you obviously know what that song is attached to, the Paris attacks and those who lost their lives, so we are saying a prayer for them. Then there is a little rocket and a hand with a gun shooting it off into space, and there's a little man in the rocket and sometimes you know how you want to say, f*ck it and get away from everyone. There's a bottle that is getting poured out by another hand that has to do with a loss of a friend, and you know how you raise a glass to them. That one is to our friend Tyson Stevens of Scary Kids Scaring Kids. You know it's like everything just kind of relates to our lives, it's personal. It isn't just for looks or whatever. It is all very personal. S SR R:: W We ellll,, iis sn n''t t t th ha at t w wh hy y y yo ou u a allll r re ea alllly y t to oo ok k y yo ou ur r t tiim me e w wiit th h t th hiis s c cr re ea at tiio on n? ? E Es sp pe ec ciia alllly y iin n a a w wo or rlld d o of f iin ns st ta an nt t g gr ra at tiif fiic ca at tiio on n,, " "g ge et t t th he e n ne ex xt t ( (f fiillll iin n t th he e b blla an nk k) ) o ou ut t q qu uiic ck k a an nd d f fa as st t n no o m ma at tt te er r w wh ha at t iit t s so ou un nd ds s o or r llo oo ok ks s lliik ke e.." " Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e t to o f fe ee ell w wiit th h M Miis sa ad dv ve en nt tu ur re es s t th ha at t t th hiis s a ab bo ou ut t g go oo od d t th hiin ng gs s c co om me e t to o t th ho os se e w wh ho o w wa aiit t.. JP: Definitely. We wanted this to be special. We want it to last. When we had pretty much everything done, but the lyrics weren’t hitting us like they should that's when we realized this isn’t our style. This isn’t what we like to do. We just can't put out this record because the management said so or the label wants it. We took a step back and said let's reevaluate all of this. As we did that, and the songs came together it felt right. And everything we do has to mean something to us. We want this record to be talked about for a while, not make something that fades and everyone's like what's next. We want longevity. S SR R:: M Ma ay yb be e e ev ve er ry yo on ne e o on n b bo ot th h s siid de es s c ca an n t ta ak ke e s so om me e c cu ue es s h he er re e f fr ro om m a a ''s se ea as so on ne ed d'' b ba an nd d.. D Do oiin ng g a an ny yt th hiin ng g r riig gh ht t iis s w wo or rt th h t ta ak kiin ng g t th he e t tiim me e t to o d do o.. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e h hiit t t th he e t te en n- -y ye ea ar r m ma ar rk k,, t th ha at t s sa ay ys s s so om me et th hiin ng g iin n t to od da ay y''s s m mu us siic c iin nd du us st tr ry y.. JP: (laughed) Seasoned. But yeah absolutely. I agree. When you hit the ten-year mark it does say something. It feels so crazy. It feels like with this album and the time we put into it that we have a brand new slate. Do I feel seasoned? No, we have a lot of time to create, put out great shows, do crazy stuff and make more music. We are now pretty much in the position where we can do what we want. I mean if we want to make paper flying pterodactyl and have them fly into the crowd we can. (laughed). I am pretty sure we could find somebody to make that now. I think its being in that place of where we now have full control over everything. And that's a good feeling. That's what we always wanted. We are very pumped and excited. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t m miig gh ht t b be e s so om me et th hiin ng g y yo ou ur r f fa an ns s w wo on n''t t e ex xp pe ec ct t o on n t th hiis s t to ou ur r? ? JP: Good question. I think what they are going to get is we are packing a lot of punch into these smaller venues. We are bringing the special feeling to our fans so they know just how much they mean to us. S SR R:: O Op pe en niin ng g u up p a an nd d b br riin ng giin ng g w wh ho o y yo ou u a ar re e.. JP: We have seen tons of bands do what they do, now we always try to do something out of the box. Us. And I think playing this album, Misadventures, from front to back is already a part of that. S SR R:: K Ke ee ep p D Diis sn ne ey ylla an nd d a allw wa ay ys s iin n y yo ou ur r h he ea ar rt t J Ja aiim me e.. P Pe et te er r P Pa an n r ro oc ck ks s.. JP: I love that. Always, always keep that in my heart. I will never grow up!

IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: H He ellllo o!! Nathalia Ramos: Hey Mark! IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: H Hii!! H Ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u? ? Nathalia Ramos: I am ready. I am here. How are you? IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: O Ok ka ay y,, II a am m f fiin ne e.. II jju us st t w wa an nt te ed d t to o t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r n ne ew w t th hr riilllle er r ‘‘W Wiilld df fllo ow we er r’’.. Nathalia Ramos: Yes. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: J Ju us st t w wa an nt te ed d t to o a as sk k y yo ou u,, f fiir rs st t o of f a allll,, w wh ha at t iin niit tiia alllly y a at tt tr ra ac ct te ed d y yo ou u t to o t th he e s sc cr riip pt t a an nd d t th he e p pllo ot t o of f t th he e m mo ov viie e? ? Nathalia Ramos: So initially, I was actually on vacation when I got the call to read for the part, and I was on vacation and I am like, I really didn’t want to work. So I read the script -- So anyway, so I was kind of on vacation mode and I was only going to read the script up until like where my scene ends for the audition, and then I couldn’t put it down. I think what initially drew me was this mystery wrapped up with the psychology behind it, and I really connected with it on a personal level, on kind of what this character is going through, and that was probably the really important story that I needed in the role, because it’s just not talked about enough, these issues of mental health and people who are struggling and kind of have to keep it to themselves, I just thought it was a really important thing to address. And then, on a personal note I was also really excited about challenging myself and doing something that I hadn’t done before as far as a really dramatic intense role. So those were kind of what initially drew me. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: O Ok ka ay y.. IIn n t te er rm ms s o of f s su ub bjje ec ct t m ma at tt te er r,, y yo ou u s sa aiid d t th ha at t iit t t to ou uc ch he ed d o on n iis ss su ue es s o of f m me en nt ta all h he ea allt th h,, iis s t th ha at t s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t p pe er rs so on na alllly y y yo ou u h ha av ve e e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e o of f o or r m ma ay yb be e a a s su ub bjje ec ct t t th ha at t iin nt te er re es st ts s y yo ou u? ? Nathalia Ramos: Yeah, it definitely interests me, because I realised how many people do suffer with these issues, either themselves personally or members of their family or their friends. I have seen like family members or people that I am close to go through these types of problems and they are kind of suffering in silence, and it’s something that you don’t really talk about. It’s embarrassing to say, oh, I suffered from depression. It’s something that people only talk about, and they are kind of ashamed, and I wanted this movie to show that this is nothing to be ashamed of, and the only way that we can start understanding these issues is by starting a conversation around them. So when you are sick, when you have a cold, or if you have cancer or something, that’s something physical that the doctor can see, can diagnose, and say this is what we need to do to treat it. With mental health and with depression and with all of these issues that we kind of label, because we don’t understand them, so we just put this label on them, they really need to be better understood and I think starting a conversation is going to be the best way to start to kind of approach it. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e a ac ct tiin ng g,, d do o y yo ou u a ac ct tu ua alllly y f fiin nd d iit t d diif ff fiic cu ullt t t to o b be ec co om me e a a c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r,, t to o p pu ut t y yo ou ur rs se ellf f iin nt to o a a r ro olle e? ? II m me ea an n,, p pe eo op plle e t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t d diif ff fe er re en nt t m me et th ho od ds s o of f a ac ct tiin ng g,, d do o y yo ou u h ha av ve e a an ny yt th hiin ng g t th ha at t y yo ou u p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar rlly y f fiin nd d b be en ne ef fiic ciia all t to o p pu ut t y yo ou ur rs se ellf f iin n,, o or r iit t’’s s e es ss se en nt tiia alllly y a a d diif ff fiic cu ullt t a ac ct tiin ng g r ro olle e f fo or r y yo ou ur rs se ellf f? ? Nathalia: Yeah. So for me, I think I kind of do a blend of things. I have studied lots of different methods and I have kind of taken a little bit from each of them and made my own. So with the role I did in this, it’s mentally exhausting because there are some days you wake up and you are like, I don’t really want to cry, I don’t feel like crying, I am happy today, and you have to go to that place everyday. So if you are full of yourself, I think you kind of go a bit crazy, but also if you are living as someone else, you would also go a little bit crazy. So it’s finding that balance, which I don’t know if there is an exact formula for it, but I kind of throw little pieces of my real life and of myself into Chloe, into the character, but then I also understand her in a way that’s not myself, if that makes sense? IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: Y Ye ea ah h.. D Do o y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he en n t th ha at t t th hiis s w wo ou ulld d b be e u up p t to o n no ow w t th he e h ha ar rd de es st t r ro olle e t th ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e e ev ve er r h ha ad d t to o p plla ay y? ? Nathalia: I think emotionally it definitely was. Physically, I have had other roles that were very physically demanding and difficult. I think this one was the first role where I really studied for the role. I sat down with psychologists and therapists and studied both the clinical and the emotional side of mental health issues, and that was really difficult. It was definitely the most intense role emotionally I think, so yeah, in a way I would say so. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: W Wh ha at t a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g t tr ra aiin niin ng g,, d do o y yo ou u h ha av ve e a an ny y f fo or rm ma alliis se ed d a ac ct tiin ng g t tr ra aiin niin ng g o or r iis s iit t s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t jju us st t c ca am me e c cr re ea at tiiv ve elly y a an nd d a a n na at tu ur ra all p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Nathalia: I think, again, it’s a combination of things. I definitely feel like I was born to be an actress, it’s what I wanted to do my whole life as long as I can remember, but I have been in acting school since I was maybe 6 years old. I drop in and out. There are times when if I am awake, I am not in class every week, but it’s something that I have kept consistent. I think the actors that I most look up to and admire for their work, they are always in acting school, it’s an ongoing process. So I think the passion is important but the formal training is also really important. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u c co om mb biin ne e t th he e t tw wo o r ro olle es s,, b be ec ca au us se e y yo ou u a ar re e s st tu ud dy yiin ng g f fo or r a a d de eg gr re ee e,, h ha as s t th ha at t f fiin niis sh he ed d n no ow w o or r iis s t th ha at t s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t’’s s o on ng go oiin ng g? ? Nathalia: It’s pretty ongoing, just because I keep taking time off. So I actually just left class right now. And it is hard sometimes, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s hard in the sense that like 20 minutes ago I was standing in front of 20 people, talking about doing a 20-minute lecture on the Vietnam War, and now I am sitting here talking to you about a movie that I did. So while I am passionate about both of them, it’s hard mentally to make that shift sometimes, but I love both of them, and I don’t think that I have to choose, and that’s kind of become my mission to show people and show myself that I don’t have to choose between the two, and encourage my young fans to stay in school and to study, and if you love acting and you love entertainment, pursue that, but don’t give up on your education.

IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: Y Ye ea ah h.. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e s so or rt t o of f a an ns sw we er re ed d m my y n ne ex xt t q qu ue es st tiio on n,, II w wa as s g go oiin ng g t to o a as sk k iif f,, o on nc ce e y yo ou u c co om mp plle et te ed d y yo ou ur r d de eg gr re ee e iif f t th he e a ac ct tiin ng g w wa as s g go oiin ng g t to o b be e a a s se ec co on nd da ar ry y t th hiin ng g,, b bu ut t o ob bv viio ou us slly y y yo ou u s sa aiid d t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e h ho op piin ng g t to o o op pe er ra at te e t th he e t tw wo o iin n t ta an nd de em m? ? Nathalia: I think so. That’s my mission in life, I guess. I can’t imagine ever not acting. It’s when I am happiest and I love it. It’s such an incredible job, and I am so blessed that I get to do it. But the politics and my studies, it’s also important for me to have that mental kind of space as well and get away from the craziness of Hollywood, I suppose. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: H Ha av ve e y yo ou u a an ny y o ot th he er r s so or rt t o of f a ac ct tiin ng g p pr ro ojje ec ct ts s c co om miin ng g u up p? ? II s se ee e t th he e ‘‘W Wiilld df fllo ow we er r’’ iis s g go oiin ng g t to o b be e r re elle ea as se ed d o on n D DV VD D.. IIt t h ha as s a allr re ea ad dy y p pr ro ob ba ab blly y b be ee en n r re elle ea as se ed d,, y ye ea ah h.. Nathalia: Yeah, it’s already out, yeah. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: S So o T TV V d de eb bu ut t,, iit t’’s s g go oiin ng g t to o b be e s sh ho ow wn n o on n T TV V t th he er re e iin n t th he e S St ta at te es s? ? Nathalia: Yeah. So it’s going to be on TV here and then we are going to have a theatrical release in different countries around the world; in South America, in Spain. We have a whole -- I have a whole list of international releases; I think the UK is going to be in June. So it’s exciting, the global attention to the film has actually been really exciting. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: O Ob bv viio ou us slly y II w wa as s g go oiin ng g t to o a as sk k y yo ou u,, s siin nc ce e y yo ou u p plla ay ye ed d t th he e p pa ar rt t o of f Y Ya as sm miin n iin n ‘‘B Br ra at tz z:: T Th he e M Mo ov viie e’’ a an nd d a alls so o t th he e llo on ng g- - r ru un nn niin ng g s se er riie es s ‘‘H Ho ou us se e o of f A An nu ub biis s’’,, d diid d iit t b br riin ng g a an ny y p pr ro ob blle em ms s iin n r re eg ga ar rd d t to o p pe er rs so on na all p pr riiv va ac cy y w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e o ou ut t a an nd d y yo ou ur r iin ns st ta an nt tlly y r re ec co og gn niis se ed d? ? Nathalia: It has never been too much of an issue for me. I come from a family where both my parents are in entertainment industry and it’s something that I came into fully aware of the implications of picking up a job in entertainment, and it comes with the territory. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: II s se ee e,, a as s w we ellll a as s t th he e a ac ct tiin ng g,, t th he e s st tu ud dy yiin ng g,, y yo ou u a ar re e a ac ct tu ua alllly y t te ea ac ch hiin ng g y yo ou ur rs se ellf f V Viie et tn na am me es se e a as s w we ellll? ? Nathalia: Yeah, I am, I am. It’s kind of random, but I love the randomness of it. People are like, why didn’t you learn Chinese? My studies are in Asia. I have a personal connection; my boyfriend of eight years is Vietnamese. So it started as a joke where I really wanted to understand him and his family. They are talking right in front of me, and then I felt it just caught on. And now I love the fact that I can surprise people. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: O Ob bv viio ou us slly y,, y yo ou u h ha av ve e t to ou uc ch he ed d o on n y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g,, y yo ou ur r s st tu ud diie es s,, a ar re e y yo ou u s so om me eb bo od dy y t th ha at t’’s s v ve er ry y m mo ot tiiv va at te ed d,, v ve er ry y h ha ar rd dw wo or rk kiin ng g? ? Nathalia: I would say so. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: V Ve er ry y d dr riiv ve en n iis s t th he e w wo or rd d II a am m llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or r.. Nathalia: You hear a lot of stories in the press about overnight success, and I don't believe that because behind every "overnight success" and every person that you have never heard of that kind of just blew up - there is years and years of hard work. I have been working since I was a kid and eight years old - but I wouldn't have it any other way. Yes it is a lot of work. I kind of enjoy it. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: J Ju us st t w wo on nd de er r iif f y yo ou u c co ou ulld d t te ellll m me e a a lliit tt tlle e a ab bo ou ut t t th he e o or rg ga an niis sa at tiio on n t th ha at t y yo ou u c co o- -f fo ou un nd de ed d T Te ee en ns s f fo or r T Te ee en ns s O Or rg ga an niis sa at tiio on n.. Nathalia: Yes,I started out when I was sixteen with my friends. I was visiting the children's hospital in LA quite a lot starting with Bratz. Just to go visit the kids and they wanted to meet me... It started out as "an actress going to hang out with the kids", then it became deeply personal as I was sixteen going through everything that a 16 year old is going through and planning prom. Then I saw other kids who were my age sitting in a hospital and I was like "that really sucks". My friend and I noticed that everything was really geared to the younger kids in the hospital. When you think of a children's hospitals you donate a stuffed animal or something. You don't really think of a sixteen year old who is super-bored sitting in a hospital room. We wanted to something that was directly geared to the teens.So that is where that came out of. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: F Fr ro om m w wh ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e a allr re ea ad dy y t to olld d m me e y yo ou u d do on n''t t c cu ur rr re en nt tlly y h ha av ve e t to oo o m mu uc ch h f fr re ee e t tiim me e..IIs s t th ha at t s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t y yo ou u s st tiillll h ha av ve e a a r ro olle e iin n? ? Nathalia: It grew into something much bigger that I am really proud of having launched it.It is an ongoing thing. I am not as involved in the day-day but my relationship with the hospital hasn't changed. I go and visit as often as I can. I now do a lot with Saint Judes-it has grown into a deeper connection. I love spending my time with kids because they are the future. I don't want to end that relationship. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: J Ju us st t a a c co ou up plle e o of f q qu ue es st tiio on ns s t th he en n t to o f fiin niis sh h.. IIf f y yo ou u w we er re e n no ot t a an n a ac ct tr re es ss s w wh ha at t a allt te er rn na at te e p pr ro of fe es ss siio on n w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u h ha av ve e c ch ho os se en n? ? O Or r h ha as s a ac ct tiin ng g a allw wa ay ys s b be ee en n s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e b be ee en n iin nt te er re es st te ed d iin n a as s a a c ca ar re ee er r? ? Nathalia: Always, its funny because when we were little my aunt used to ask us (my brother and I) every year to write down the top 10 things we would love to be when we grew up. Every year, actress was always number one. I have never imagined myself doing anything else. Whats funny is how college changed that.I am kind of the reverse acting was always the only option. Now I have found something to supplement that. I don't want to go into a career in politics, but I want to use my knowledge and education to get important messages out or to speak out on causes and pursue that. Acting was always the first thing. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: IIf f w we e c co ou ulld d r re et tu ur rn n t to o d diis sc cu us ss siin ng g " "W Wiilld df fllo ow we er r" ".. A Ap pa ar rt t f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r o ow wn n c co on nt tr riib bu ut tiio on n w wh hiic ch h a ac ct tr re es ss s/ /a ac ct to or r iis s g go oiin ng g t to o iim mp pr re es ss s t th he e a au ud diie en nc ce e? ? W Wh ho o d diid d y yo ou u p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar rlly y g ge et t o on n w wiit th h,, w wh ho o iim mp pr re es ss se ed d iin n t te er rm ms s o of f a ac ct tiin ng g a ab biilliit ty y......? ? Nathalia: Its just a really great cast.I really enjoyed working with everyone. I think everyone was really dedicated,passionate and talented more than anything. I would have to say Cody probably because we spent the most time together. He plays Josh,and from the moment that we met it was very much more of a collaborative effort. We would sit and he would really invest in the role. We would talk about it and hang out onset and offset. We formed a really tight knit bond. We even took a weekend trip right before we started filming. The production were not really happy that we went away together. We did it and it was a great bonding time. He was just supportive the entire time. It was really great to work with Cody. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: H Ha av ve e y yo ou u a an ny y a ad dv viic ce e f fo or r y yo ou un ng g p pe eo op plle e a as sp piir riin ng g t to o a ac ct t? ? Nathalia: Absolutely, what I always say and I try to lead by example is "follow your dream but don't feel that you have got to choose". If you want to be an actor go for it like take classes, study if that is what you really want to do. Audition, pursue that whole path but don't think that is all that you have to do. To give up things, stay in school. Education will only enhance your acting because actors need a breath of knowledge inspiration and opportunities.Stay in school, have as rich of a life as you can. It will only help you never hurt you. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: O On nc ce e W Wiilld df fllo ow we er r p pr ro om mo ot tiio on n h ha as s f fiin niis sh he ed d w wh ha at t iis s n ne ex xt t f fo or r y yo ou u a ac ct tiin ng g- -w wiis se e? ? Nathalia: In typical Nathalia fashion I wrapped up "Wildflower" and went back to school. For the last couple of months I have been back in school. Now I am in LA just studying and looking for the next project. I will get back into the game soon(laughs). IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: F Fiin na alllly y w wh ha at t a ar re ea a o of f y yo ou ur r o ow wn n a ac ct tiin ng g w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u lliik ke e t to o iim mp pr ro ov ve e? ? Nathalia: Oh my gosh, absolutely. Its going to be a constant process. I am definitely my harshest critic. I want to grow in every area. I would love to do more dramatic roles, this is only the beginning. I also want to do action though. I would love to learn a skill for a role. Train for something. I would really love to do my own stunts. Action movies in general.So specifically yeah that is something that I would love to do.Overall it is a just a constant learning process. IIn nt te er rv viie ew we er r:: S So o y yo ou u a ar re e s sa ay yiin ng g t th ha at t y yo ou u w wo on nt t w wa an nt t t to o b be e s st te er re eo ot ty yp pe ed d a an nd d w wiis sh h t to o d diiv ve er rs siif fy y iin n y yo ou ur r f fo or rt th hc co om miin ng g a ac ct tiin ng g r ro olle es s.. Nathalia: Yeah definitely,I want to do it all.That is what is so exciting about this job,to be a different person all the time.

And the beat goes on...music and people. A dance as old as time. As Kevin Lyman talks about his beginnings and his viewpoints of the world and the effects we can have for the positive on our young people one quickly realizes music is Lyman's vehicle to help allow the youth to change their own part of their world into a better place. What more can a philanthropist do than to create opportunities for our tomorrows to become better today? I think Kevin Lyman put it best, “Ah, if people would just give a crap.” S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: V Va an n''s s W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r h ha ad d t th he eiir r h hu ug ge e k kiic ck k- -o of ff f iin n F Fllo or riid da a o on n M Ma ar rc ch h 2 22 2n nd d t to o s sh ho ow wc ca as se e t th hiis s y ye ea ar rs s b ba an nd ds s.. IIt t w wa as s a a g gr re ea at t w wa ay y t to o o op pe en n t th he e e ex xc ciit te em me en nt t u up p f fo or r f fa an ns s a ac cr ro os ss s t th he e U Un niit te ed d S St ta at te es s f fo or r t th he e t to ou ur r.. Kevin Lyman: Yes, it was and I am very excited. It was a great success and I even got a little fishing in while I was down there. It was good to have a little RnR mixed in with the excitement of the Warped Tour at Full Sail University. S SR R:: L Lo oo ok kiin ng g a at t t th he e m mu us siic c iin nd du us st tr ry y t to od da ay y a an nd d iit ts s s st tr ru uc ct tu ur re e iin n t th hiis s ''N Ne ew w W Wo or rlld d O Or rd de er r'' t th hr ro ou ug gh h o ou ur r t te ec ch hn no ollo og gy y a an nd d e ed du uc ca at tiio on n p pllu us s h ho ow w w we e a ar re e c co on nn ne ec ct te ed d g gllo ob ba alllly y h ho ow w m mu uc ch h o of f t th hiis s f fa ac ct to or rs s iin nt to o y yo ou ur r d de ev ve ello op piin ng g v va ar riio ou us s f fe es st tiiv va alls s a an nd d y yo ou ur r m miin nd ds se et t? ? KL: The thing is (paused) I think in the 'New World Order' it can be overwhelming. Does that make sense? S SR R:: Y Ye es s.. KL: If you read today's headlines and try to understand them, it becomes overwhelming. So in the same sense it is how I think we've minimialized the issues on a world level in politics to their lowest common denominator. You can't understand global, it is really hard to understand on a global level what is going on. Now look at what we've done, it's really nasty, we have taken it to three things: guns, gays and abortion. These are very emotional things. And they became a “yeah or nay” on them. So people get really passionate about it and that comes from the influences of the churches in the South a lot. They were able to influence a lot of people and that even goes back to our public school system letting people down. (paused) I know I am getting deep into this. S SR R:: T Th ha at t iis s f fiin ne e K Ke ev viin n,, t th hiis s iis s w wh ha at t II w wa an nt te ed d f fr ro om m t th hiis s q qu ue es st tiio on n.. P Plle ea as se e c co on nt tiin nu ue e.. KL: It goes back to when Obama was first running for president. It's always unique the person that has the most social reasons to be there or really wants to do the best for people probably at the lower end of the economic scale never win. You notice that? They never have a chance because no one can really understand the 'macro' reasons of what is going on, so they go to the 'micro' reasons of “right to carry a gun,” “do you believe in gay marriage,” and “do you believe in abortion.” It doesn't take a lot of thought process to make your decision on that one. S SR R:: W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y t th he en n e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g h ha as s b be ec co om me e e ex xt tr re em me elly y p po olla ar riiz ze ed d? ? KL: Absolutely. That is why this election is going the way it is now. So, all I look at doing with the Warped Tour is to try to show kids on a local level how YOU can make a change. That is what we need to tackle first. So through our blood drives, we tackled a long time ago when they were having a hard time filling up the blood banks, we came up with how to help this on a local level at each city we came to. With over 1400 people signing up to help run the blood drives during the Warped Tour that has help solve a local problem. When we do the can food drive at Warped Tour we are able to restock a pantry at a local level for at least the short-term. Then I have kids emailing me that they on their own are running food drives at their own local school. They are understanding that we have to take care of each other locally and then maybe we can start pulling together those pieces on a national level. S SR R:: T Ta ak kiin ng g g gllo ob ba all iis ss su ue es s,, b br re ea ak kiin ng g t th he em m d do ow wn n t to o m ma an na ag ge ea ab blle e llo oc ca all lle ev ve ells s a an nd d g ge et tt tiin ng g t th he e y yo ou un ng g p pe eo op plle e iin nv vo ollv ve ed d.. KL: It is really trying to build a strong community. S SR R:: Y Yo ou ur r T Te ed d T Ta allk k t th ha at t y yo ou u d diid d b ba ac ck k iin n 2 20 01 1 5 5,, lliis st te en niin ng g t to o w wh ha at t y yo ou u h ha ad d t to o s sa ay y,, y yo ou u s se ee em m t to o h ha av ve e t th hiis s iin nn na at te e a ab biilliit ty y t to o ''f fo or re es se ee e'' t th hiin ng gs s.. Y Yo ou u a ar re e a a s so ollu ut tiio on n f fiin nd de er r.. IIs s t th hiis s s so om me et th hiin ng g y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r o ow wn n p pa ar re en nt ts s o or r iis s iit t s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t c ca am me e n na at tu ur ra alllly y t to o y yo ou u? ? KL: I don't know. I don't know who my biological parents were, I was adopted, so I cannot say genetically. However, I had great parents. We grew up in a nice home, but I have no idea how my father was able to raise four kids finacially. We didn't have a lot of money really. We were four kids who were adopted, but we never went hungry, we were all treated with respect and we were also taught to work. I think when I look forward right now, I see very frightening things. When I talk about bullying and I am trying to get the kids to be anti-bullying and then we have candidates running for office who are bullying each other how are we going to end bullying? We have parents who are supporting potentially the biggest bully in the world right now, how are we going to end it? S SR R:: K Kiid ds s f fo ollllo ow w t th he e e ex xa am mp plle es s,, d do on n''t t t th he ey y? ? KL: Yes, it all really comes down to basics. And I think that is why this year I decided to break everything down into three things: It is about the fans, the bands, and philanthropy. Of course, we understand what the first two are about, but philanthropy could be about something like looking out for each other. S SR R:: R Riig gh ht t.. S So om me et tiim me es s p pe eo op plle e t th hiin nk k y yo ou u m mu us st t h ha av ve e m mo on ne ey y t to o b be e a a p ph hiilla an nt th hr ro op piis st t,, b bu ut t y yo ou u d do on n''t t.. KL: Right. And in some ways even I am fighting the music world because in some ways it has become a train wreck. It is a train wreck unto oblivion and they can't even see it in front of them. S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u s sa ay y,, “ “t th he ey y c ca an n''t t” ” w wh ho o a ar re e y yo ou u r re ef fe er rr riin ng g t to o? ? KL: The agents. A lot of the managers don't see it. What is going to happen soon when Live Nation owns everything? Could the agents and managers who are trying to build for me, me, me right now going to become obsolete? You don't trust a lot of people in this business. It's weird. You just get used to working with them. Then you have the people who are closest to each other... I am watching those who are closest to each other eating each other right now. There is always going to be a music business, but I guess what I am trying to teach the younger people is there is softer, gentler way of doing this. That really comes down to the music. It is funny because so many times it doesn’t come down to the music in what I have to deal with, and sometimes I have to deal with people. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t d do oe es s a allll o of f t th hiis s r re ea alllly y c co om me e d do ow wn n t to o f fo or r y yo ou u K Ke ev viin n? ? KL: For me? Look I make a nice living, I have never said I don't. Have I taken advantage of the music business for my own personal gain? No. I work really hard, I have some money in the bank, I've put my kids through school but I have not taken advantage of the music scene. I think what we have going on right now is everyone is trying to get one foot up on each other. S SR R:: Y Yo ou u s se ee e iit t e ev ve er ry y d da ay y.. KL: You see it across businesses everywhere. The music business is just one thing, it is generally where we are at in the world right now. I have always said people can make a living in the music business. And to me making a living was having a house, maybe a vacation once in a while, some nice food on the table. That was the idea of Middle-Class America. Or what it was about. But the middle class of the music business is getting crushed right now. Sometimes to move forward, you have to quit hanging on to what you think your current lifestyle should be. You know what I mean? S SR R:: Y Ye es s,, s so om me et tiim me es s y yo ou u d do o n ne ee ed d t to o t ta ak ke e t th hr re ee e s st te ep ps s b ba ac ck k t to o m mo ov ve e f fo or rw wa ar rd d.. KL: Take three steps back to move a whole scene forward. S SR R:: W Wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u c ch ho oo os se e t th he e m mu us siic c iin nd du us st tr ry y a as s y yo ou ur r v ve eh hiic clle e? ? KL: I love live music. And really I just fell into it. I didn't go to school for it. I was running summer camps, that was what I was doing. Running youth programs (laughed). I run youth programs really in the music business if you think about it. So, really I just transferred what I was doing to a different platform. Warped has allowed me to use that platform for way longer than anyone imagined. It wasn't meant to be here 20 some years later (laughed). I was going to do it for a couple of years and move on with my life.

S SR R:: A An nd d h he er re e y yo ou u a ar re e.. IIn n m my y o ob bs se er rv va at tiio on ns s K Ke ev viin n,, t th he er re e s se ee em m t to o b be e c ce er rt ta aiin n t ty yp pe es s o of f p pe eo op plle e y yo ou u g gr ra av viit ta at te e t to ow wa ar rd ds s.. A An nd dy y B Biie er rs sa ac ck k s se ee em ms s t to o b be e o on ne e o of f t th ho os se e p pe eo op plle e y yo ou u h ha av ve e f fo or rg ge ed d a a s st tr ro on ng g b bo on nd d w wiit th h.. W Wh ha at t iis s iit t a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p w wiit th h A An nd dy y? ? KL: I think with Andy it is that he had a vision. He had a direction for himself. And he is such a compassionate person. He also realizes not everyone is going to like him. He has a view for who what he wants to do and who he wants to become. I think for a young person he is making that progress there. We hang out maybe a little different, you know they come to the house for dinner, we do a lot together, we don't vacation together, well one time he did go fishing with me. I see him as a person, a young person who is very passionate about what they are about. And he brings that passion to what he does. Will he continue to evolve? Yes, he will. I think he is a great person. Along the way, I have worked with so many people. I've seen people who have had a rough start to their lives. People in the crew on the road who are good people but for one reason or another they get off track. They are good people. Some comeback and some don't. You look at Andy or even look at Ronnie Radke. Ronnie at first he was his own worst enemy. I really think he has been through a lot. Some self-created, but much of the drama around him was created by others. As he becomes more comfortable can he now talk to kids about these things when he is out on the road? Talk about what he went through, how to avoid some of these pitfalls, yes he can. You know this day in age with social media anyone can put up anything about Ronnie and people would believe it. The only thing that can be substantiated about him is he went to jail and did some time. Everything else is a rumor. We live in a society where people get attention by lashing out at these people. Creating things that aren't true. S SR R:: B Bu ulllly yiin ng g b be eh hiin nd d a a c co om mp pu ut te er r s sc cr re ee en n.. KL: Yeah, even the those bashing me on the computer screen, I tell them to come on step out. That's why I invited them out to come and talk to me at 7:30 am in the morning. Two of those kids who actually had issues came out and after we spent some time together they now understand that isn’t the way to go into your community. They have to go out into their community and figure out how to make a change. S SR R:: A Ar re e y yo ou u s se ee eiin ng g h ho op pe e t th he en n a am mo on ng g t th he e y yo ou un ng g p pe eo op plle e? ? KL: Absolutely! But we need to start highlighting those youth. S SR R:: T Th he e m me ed diia a d do oe es sn n''t t w wa an nt t t to o h hiig gh hlliig gh ht t t th he e p po os siit tiiv ve e.. KL: No, they don't. Our media is about money. Good behavior doesn't make great stories. Good behavior is not rewarded in our society. Will there be a balance? We need to take our own small little part of the world and make it the best we can. There was a girl who created a show at her school to help raise awareness about the program called, To Write Love On Her Arms. She did a great thing, but is she going to get the highlights? Now, we are trying to promote those types of things when they happen. We have a kid who emailed me who wants to run a clothing drive for the homeless shelter on the last date stop in Portland. That is change, change for the better. And I think we are seeing a new generation of kids honestly on the internet who are trying to bring about the positive. I think they are sick of seeing that 'trolling' generation. I stay out those things, but I watch. And I am watching the kids just shut them down. And it's growing. They didn’t want to step out a year or two years ago because they were afraid, but now... now they aren't. We need to be empowered to shut down the negativity. S SR R:: IIn n a a s sh ho or rt t v ve er rs siio on n s su um m u up p c co om mm mu un niit ty y a an nd d llo oy ya allt ty y iin n w wh ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e c cr re ea at te ed d.. KL: Ah, if people would just give a crap. You know I go out on the road and see all these kids giving a crap about something that brings them together. You watch from the little tent set up and you see it. I was there in Florida and I had about thirty kids who want to be a part of doing something, you see that hunger in their eyes. Those kids need opportunity. S SR R:: W We e n ne ee ed d m mo or re e llo oc ca all o op pp po or rt tu un niit tiie es s f fo or r o ou ur r y yo ou un ng g p pe eo op plle e.. KL: We do, we really do. You look at our country overall the current situation and it is painful. S SR R:: B Bu ut t w we e s st tiillll h ha av ve e h ho op pe e b be ec ca au us se e y yo ou u jju us st t s sh ha ar re ed d h ho ow w t th he er re e a ar re e s st tiillll t th ho os se e o ou ut t t th he er re e w wh ho o w wa an nt t c ch ha an ng ge e f fo or r t th he e b be et tt te er r a an nd d t to o r re ea ac ch h o ou ut t a an nd d h he ellp p o ot th he er rs s.. KL: Absolutely. S SR R:: A An n e ef ff fe ec ct tiiv ve e lle ea ad de er r jju us st t d do oe es sn n''t t lle ea ad d t th he e p pe eo op plle e.. A As s II h ha av ve e w wa at tc ch he ed d y yo ou u,, K Ke ev viin n,, y yo ou u lle ea ad d b by y w wa allk kiin ng g a an nd d h he ellp piin ng g c ca ar rr ry y t th he e llo oa ad d a allo on ng g w wiit th h t th he e c clla an n.. R Re ea alllly y w wh he en n p pe eo op plle e c co om me e t to o W Wa ar rp pe ed d t th he ey y f fe ee ell a a s se en ns se e o of f b be ello on ng giin ng g.. A As s y yo ou u c co on nt tiin nu ue e t to o u us se e a an nd d iim mp plle em me en nt t t th he es se e lle ea ad de er rs sh hiip p t to oo olls s,, h ha av ve e y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er re ed d w wr riit tiin ng g a a b bo oo ok k o on n h ho ow w t to o b be e s su uc cc ce es ss sf fu ull iin n t th hiis s iin nd du us st tr ry y? ? KL: I have and I have started outlining it. Not this summer, but probably next summer. S SR R:: E Ev ve er ry y y ye ea ar r y yo ou u m ma ak ke e a ad djju us st tm me en nt ts s a an nd d t tw we ea ak ks s t to o t th he e t to ou ur r.. H Ha as s t th he er re e b be ee en n o on ne e a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h y yo ou u h ha av ve e t tr riie ed d a allo on ng g t th he e w wa ay y t th ha at t y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d a a v ve er ry y v va allu ua ab blle e lle es ss so on n f fr ro om m? ? KL: (paused) I think maybe I really want young kids to come to Warped Tours and really get turned onto this scene and the music and what this can mean. I think the kids who have felt different at school and such have always felt they belonged with us. I think at one point we tried to be too much for everyone and that is why we are back to the basics now. You look at our lineup and it is very basic. We are just going very simple this year. The kids respond to this. Also moving the sale of tickets later. Bomb them with the line-up first. The kids should control Warped Tour. The tour isn't for everyone, it's okay. The kids have taken control. S SR R:: Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e t ta ak ke en n W Wa ar rp pe ed d iin nt to o o ot th he er r c co ou un nt tr riie es s.. A Ar re e t th he er re e d diif ff fe er re en nc ce es s a am mo on ng g t th he e y yo ou un ng g p pe eo op plle e? ? KL: They all want the same thing. They all want something a little different from the norm. S SR R:: II k kn no ow w w we e h ha av ve e f fo oc cu us se ed d o on n W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r b bu ut t w wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f t th he e o ot th he er r f fe es st tiiv va alls s K Ke ev viin n y yo ou u p pu ut t o on n? ? KL: We just had, “Taste of Chaos” which I think will be in 36 cities. Then I had, “It's Not Dead Fest” a little punk rock show. “The Mayhem Festival” there are at least 20-30 fests I've worked. S SR R:: H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u g go o a ab bo ou ut t c ch ho oo os siin ng g y yo ou ur r d de em mo og gr ra ap ph hiic cs s? ? KL: You try to create these niches. “Niche Festivals” like that punk show it was set up for that 'old' Warped fan that only wants to see a certain type of music. They can't go for 11 hours on a Wednesday, so a lot of these parents brought their kids to see these punk bands that were so important in their lives. It was a huge family turn out of 20,000 people on a Saturday. I think that is what we need in America. These little niche festivals work really well. People want the experience but they can't always take two or three days off work, or school or afford to pay for more than one day. There will be those who can come out for certain festivals at certain times. With the Warped Tour, there will be those who can make it and will have a great time, it isn't for everyone and that is okay.

How do you combine your love for music with hard work and turn it into play? Well, it would seem the press manager for Vans Warped Tour, Danielle Mardahl may just have figured it out! When you first meet Danielle she immediately has a quality about her that resonates passion for people and the music industry. Everyone around and about her as she is multi­tasking press, tour managers, photographers, videographers, musicians, security, setting up tents, making sure there is plenty of water on hand, juggling any last­minute issues feels completely at ease. Danielle is what Van's Warped Tour is all about music, good times, and a sense of community. She has brought her years of being raised in a music­loving California family, and her continuing education in communications at CSU Fullerton, to her internship with Warped back in 2014 that grew into where she is today. With her busy packed schedule and her passion for music and organization Danielle took a few moments out of her day to chat with me a bit about her journey to Vans Warped Tour and some of her own personal insight and downtime favorite things to do. Catch Press Manager, Danielle Mardahl, this summer out on Vans Warped Tour and make sure you tell her thank you for all her hard work! S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: G Gr ro ow wiin ng g u up p w wh ha at t w we er re e s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r f fa av vo or riit te e b ba an nd ds s? ? Danielle Mardahl: I like to joke that the Grateful Dead were my first favorite band, my Father was a huge Dead Head and he used to play it for my siblings and I constantly growing up. When I grew older and was able to find bands for myself I was all over bands like Fall Out Boy, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon, Motion City Soundtrack, Taking Back Sunday, blink-182, Brand New, A Day To Remember and everything in that sort of realm. My list would go on and on if I tried to tell you since I feel like my favorite band changed weekly. S SR R:: H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h w wa as s m mu us siic c a a p pa ar rt t o of f y yo ou ur r ''t te ee en n'' y ye ea ar rs s? ? DM: It was a HUGE part of my teen years. It was something that really helped me get through some tough times. I think that’s true with a lot of people. I spent a lot of time searching for new bands that I could throw on my iPod. I also had a lot of older friends who I would look up to as sort of music influences. Also met a lot of friends through concerts with similar music taste. S SR R:: F Fiir rs st t c co on nc ce er rt t w wa as s w wh he en n a an nd d w wh ho o? ? DM: I discovered the beauty of concerts way later than I wish I had. My first real concert was in 2008 seeing The Academy IsZ at the House of Blues Anaheim. S SR R:: A As s f fo or r y yo ou ur r e ed du uc ca at tiio on n a af ft te er r h hiig gh h s sc ch ho oo oll w wh ha at t c co olllle eg ge e d diid d y yo ou u a at tt te en nd d a an nd d w wh ha at t w wa as s y yo ou ur r m ma ajjo or r? ? D Diid d y yo ou ur r m ma ajjo or r c ch ha an ng ge e a allo on ng g t th he e w wa ay y? ? DM: I am still working on my education! Currently, I am a student at California State University of Fullerton as a Communications major with an emphasis in Public Relations. My major hasn’t changed much, I considered Psychology for a while but stuck to Communications in the end! I think it’s a great major with a lot of room for different types of growth. S SR R:: W Wh he en n a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u b be ec co om me e iin nv vo ollv ve ed d w wiit th h V Va an ns s W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r? ? DM: I started out as a public relations intern for Warped Tour’s production company, 4Fini, in 2014. I was working on both office work and helping with press work. At the end of my internship I had the opportunity to hop on the 2014 VWT as the press assistant and I jumped on that chance. A year later the press manager position opened up and I was able to move up! S SR R::W Wh ha at t a allll iis s iin nv vo ollv ve ed d iin n w wh ha at t y yo ou u d do o w wo or rk kiin ng g w wiit th h W Wa ar rp pe ed d? ? IIs s t th he er re e m mo or re e t th ha an n jju us st t a an ns sw we er riin ng g e em ma aiills s t to o c co on nn ne ec ct t p pr re es ss s a an nd d g giiv ve e t th he em m e en nt tr ra an nc ce e? ? ( (W WE E k kn no ow w t th he er re e iis s!!) ) H He ellp p t th he e p pu ub blliic c t th ha at t c co om me es s t to o t th he e s sh ho ow ws s a allll o ov ve er r t th he e w wo or rlld d u un nd de er rs st ta an nd d a allll o of f w wh ha at t y yo ou u d do o a an nd d w wh ha at t iit t t ta ak ke es s.. DM: While there is a lot of emailing it isn’t the only thing that this job entails! Most of my pre-production work is handling the application process and working with publicists to prepare the artists’ interview schedule for the summer as best we can. I look through each application and do my best to make an educated decision if we want them to conduct press at Warped Tour. I also organize the press list for each city which can be up to 60 people and that’s for every show day. Once the tour starts it is a lot more managing and coordinating. Each morning I set up the press room, whether it be an actual room or set up a tent in a certain area. The bands’ tour managers come set up a time and review their interview schedule for the day. Once the photographers and media reps start to check in it is just helping them check in for interviews and make sure they have the band schedule! S SR R:: M Mo om me en nt ts s a allo on ng g t th he e w wa ay y a as s y yo ou u''v ve e w wo or rk ke ed d w wiit th h W Wa ar rp pe ed d t th ha at t h ha av ve e s st tr ru uc ck k y yo ou u? ? T Th ho os se e m mo om me en nt ts s w wh he en n y yo ou ur r ''f fa an n'' g giir rll m mu us st t h ha av ve e t ta ak ke en n o ov ve er r m mo om me en nt ta ar riilly y b by y a a b ba an nd d t th ha at t y yo ou u jju us st t m me et t a an nd d h he ea ar rd d.. DM: There has been a handful! The Maine is my favorite band and my first summer I

was secretly fangirling every time I interacted with them. It is always great to meet your favorite bands and learn that they really are great people. That’s happened with a handful of artists actually and I’m every time it does I just laugh to myself and think that my 16-year-old self wouldn’t believe this is where I am now. I still have funny fan girl moments, I don’t think I’ll ever lose that part of me. My favorite fangirl moment though is when I met Ice- T at the AP Awards in 2014 because Law and Order SVU is one my favorite shows (laughed). S SR R:: A As siid de e f fr ro om m w wo or rk kiin ng g t th he e p pr re es ss s c co ov ve er ra ag ge e e elle em me en nt ts s f fo or r V Va an ns s W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r w wh ha at t e ells se e a ar re e y yo ou u a as ss so oc ciia at te ed d w wiit th h? ? DM: At the moment, I only work for Vans Warped Tour. S SR R:: A As s y yo ou u s se ee e iit t,, D Da an niie elllle e,, w wh ha at t iis s iit t t th ha at t m ma ak ke es s V Va an ns s W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r s so o u un niiq qu ue e? ? DM: Vans Warped Tour is entering its 22nd year and more than half the people I’ve met working on the tour used to attend the tour themselves at one point and that is so great in my opinion. I think Warped Tour brings together this community that is all connected by music. Yet, there’s so much more than just music at these shows, there are also so many incredible non-profits out on the tour that is great to check out. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u s st tiillll a at tt te en nd d c co on nc ce er rt ts s a at t v va ar riio ou us s v ve en nu ue es s o ou ut ts siid de e o of f W Wa ar rp pe ed d? ? DM: Oh absolutely! I am still a concert junkie. I go to a lot of shows at my local venue, Chain Reaction in Anaheim. I just saw Man Overboard on their Farewell, for Now, tour there not too long ago and it’s still such a great venue. S SR R:: L Liis st t o of ff f y yo ou u t to op p 1 1 0 0 f fa av vo or riit te e s so on ng gs s o on n y yo ou ur r iiP Ph ho on ne e o or r p plla ay ye er r lliis st t.. DM: Let’s see, my current favorite are sort of all over the place but bear with me (this is in no certain order): Old Friends- Pinegrove, Forget You In LA- Poema, Bored To Death- blink-182, Past Lives- BORNS, Honey- Moose Blood, OctaHate- Ryn Weaver, Love Yourself- The Maine (and the Justin Bieber original), First- Cold War Kids, Constant Headache- Joyce Manor, With You – Drake S SR R:: W Wh ha at t iis s y yo ou ur r d do ow wn nt tiim me e g go o t to o? ? R Re ea ad diin ng g,, s sk kiiiin ng g,, h hiik kiin ng g,, e et tc c...... DM: I enjoy being outside, living in Southern California I naturally spend a lot of time at the beach, though I never did learn how to surf. On the flip side, I’m also a big Netflix junkie and am always watching a new show or movie. S SR R:: O Ov ve er r t th he e t to ou ur r t tiim me e,, a as s y yo ou u h hiit t e ea ac ch h c ciit ty y f fiir rs st t o of f a allll w wh ha at t iis s t th he e f fiir rs st t t th hiin ng g y yo ou u d do o w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar rr riiv ve e a at t t th he e n ne ex xt t d de es st tiin na at tiio on n? ? DM: I wake up and check my phone for the weather and to remind myself what city we are in (laughed). I wake up and set up my press room and print out the media list for the day and then I try to get a quick run through of the venue to make sure I have a bit of an idea where everything is before the work starts and so I can direct people a little better. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t iis s t th he e lla as st t t th hiin ng g y yo ou u d do o w wh he en n lle ea av viin ng g t th ha at t d de es st tiin na at tiio on n? ? DM: After I’m done working and cleaning up the press room I try to take walks after the show is over with some friends to just hang out and if there’s an after show BBQ it’s even better to just hang out with everyone. It helps wrap up that day and venue with a wind-down. S SR R:: H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u t ta ak ke e c ca ar re e o of f y yo ou ur rs se ellf f,, f fiin nd d y yo ou ur r m mo om me en nt ts s o of f ''p pe ea ac ce e'' t to o f fo oc cu us s a allo on ng g t th he e t to ou ur r r ro ou ut te e e ea ac ch h s su um mm me er r? ? DM: Aside from the walks that I previously mentioned, I try to stay connected to my home life while on the road. I try to call my sister and chat with her for a bit every couple of days. Other than that I live off Emergen-C and orange juice trying to avoid getting sick on the road. S SR R:: F Fiin na alllly y,, e ev ve er ry y V Va an ns s W Wa ar rp pe ed d T To ou ur r y yo ou un ng g p pe er rs so on n w wa an nt ts s t to o b be e a a p pa ar rt t o of f w wh ha at t h ha as s b be ee en n c cr re ea at te ed d,, a an nd d iin n m ma an ny y w wa ay ys s t th he ey y s sh ho ow w t th hiis s b by y t tw we ee et tiin ng g a an nd d s so oc ciia all m me ed diia a s sh ho ou ut t o ou ut ts s a ab bo ou ut t W Wa ar rp pe ed d.. P Pllu us s a at tt te en nd diin ng g,, s sp pe en nd diin ng g t th he eiir r s sa av ve ed d d do olllla ar rs s t to o b bu uy y t th he eiir r t tiic ck ke et ts s a an nd d m me er rc ch h.. B Bu ut t lle et t''s s s sa ay y a a y yo ou un ng g p pe er rs so on n w wa an nt ts s t to o g go o o on ne e s st te ep p f fu ur rt th he er r a an nd d a ac ct tu ua alllly y w wo or rk k f fo or r t th he e f fe es st tiiv va all w wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f t th he e o op pp po or rt tu un niit tiie es s o ou ut t t th he er re e f fo or r t th he em m,, a an nd d w wh ha at t w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u r re ec co om mm me en nd d a as s f fa ar r a as s s sc ch ho oo olliin ng g iif f t th he ey y w wa an nt t t to o p pu ur rs su ue e e em mp pllo oy ym me en nt t iin n t th he e f fiie elld d o of f p pr re es ss s,, p pu ub blliic ciit ty y,, m ma ar rk ke et tiin ng g? ? DM: As far as schooling, I want to tell everyone to pursue their education and get that degree. It will pay off so much in the long run. Study what you’re interested in and if you don’t know yet, it’s OK. Take the time and find out what it is. There is no rush, it took me some time to come to terms with that. From there look into internships and every volunteer opportunity you can find. The other thing I can’t stress enough is to get involved in your local scene and meet people and make connections. Being nice and hard-working goes a long way, people recognize that and are going to remember you for it. In the end, just be confident in who you are, stay humble but don’t forget to stand up for yourself.

Ten years brings together the heart of perseverance and a passion for making metal­core rage. As the band Atreyu now celebrates their 10 years as a band (with a four year hiatus so 14 on the technical side of things) their latest album, Long Live, shows their break was needed as it has brought forward their original drive into the space Atreyu deserves. Currently out on tour here in the states, spinning through Vans Warped Tour, then a jet over the pond to the UK and Europe and eventually landing down under to tour with Bullet for My Valentine in October... This year is looking like that hiatus might have been the best thing to have ever happened to Atreyu. Just prior to their stop in Phoenix, Arizona at Club Red lead guitarist of Atreyu Dan Jacobs took a few moments to talk with me. His energy and excitement for this year is quite evident and good to hear. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: T Te en n- -y ye ea ar r m ma ar rk ks s a ar re e s so om me et th hiin ng g r re ea alllly y s sp pe ec ciia all.. L Lo oo ok kiin ng g b ba ac ck k f fr ro om m w wh he er re e A At tr re ey yu u b be eg ga an n t to o t to od da ay y...... w wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u s se ee en n a as s t th he e o ov ve er ra allll g ga aiin n m ma ad de e b by y t th he e b ba an nd d? ? Dan Jacobs: We've been able to make a living traveling the world chasing our dreams. We've been very fortunate and look forward to continuing our quest to fulfill all our rock n roll dreams. S SR R:: A Ap pp plly y t th ha at t s sa am me e t th ho ou ug gh ht t t to o t th he e d de ev ve ello op pm me en nt t o of f y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c.. T Th hiis s c ca an n e en nc co om mp pa as ss s s so on ng gw wr riit tiin ng g,, m me ello od dy y,, r re ec co or rd diin ng g.. DJ: We've released 6 full-length albums in 14 years working with a different producer each time. The collective effort and experience from all that has taught us a lot about songwriting and recording as well as helped mold us into the band we are today. S SR R:: H Ho ow w a ab bo ou ut t p pe er rf fo or rm miin ng g lliiv ve e? ? W Wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f t th he e s sa am me e t th hiin ng gs s t th ha at t h ho olld d t tr ru ue e t to o t th he e b ba an nd d t to od da ay y a as s y yo ou u t to ou ur r? ? DJ: We have and always will bring a very big ,energetic, rock style show to our audiences. We pride ourselves on our live show and has been our biggest selling point since day one. Nobody leaves an Atreyu show feeling disappointed. We won't allow S SR R:: D Du ur riin ng g y yo ou ur r ''iin nd de ep pe en nd de en nt t'' y ye ea ar rs s y yo ou u w we en nt t b by y t th he e n na am me e R Re et tr riib bu ut tiio on n,, b bu ut t c ch ha an ng ge ed d t th he e b ba an nd d n na am me e t to o A At tr re ey yu u.. W Wh hy y t th he e c ch ha an ng ge e a an nd d w wh ha at t w wa as s iit t iin n t th he e b bo oo ok k/ /m mo ov viie e T Th he e N Ne ev ve er r E En nd diin ng g S St to or ry y t th ha at t y yo ou u iid de en nt tiif fiie ed d w wiit th h t to o m ma ak ke e t th hiis s t th he e b ba an nd d''s s n ne ew w n na am me e? ? DJ: We felt our sound was evolving in a new direction and wanted to start fresh with a new name. Retribution was a punk band and Atreyu was our heavier more metal outlet. At the time of this transition, a lot of our favorite bands had names of characters from sci-fi, fantasy, horror, type movies so we were intrigued by the name Atreyu and went with it. S SR R:: T Th he er re e w wa as s a a f fo ou ur r y ye ea ar r p pe er riio od d o of f t tiim me e w wh he en n y yo ou u a allll w we er re e n no ot t p plla ay yiin ng g t to og ge et th he er r.. W We er re e y yo ou u a as s a a b ba an nd d r re ea alllly y e ev ve er r o on n a a ''h hiia at tu us s'' o or r w wa as s t th ha at t jju us st t a a t te er rm m t th he e m me ed diia a t ta ag gg ge ed d o on n? ? DJ: We definitely were on hiatus. We were all burnt out and needed a break.

S SR R:: B Ba an nd ds s h ha av ve e s siid de e p pr ro ojje ec ct ts s,, iit t iis s p pa ar rt t o of f t ta ak kiin ng g c ca ar re e o of f t th he e c cr re ea at tiiv ve e s siid de es s.. W Wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f t th he e ''s siid de e'' p pr ro ojje ec ct ts s iin ns siid de e t th he e m mu us siic c a an nd d e ev ve en n o ou ut ts siid de e m mu us siic c t th ha at t t th he e m me em mb be er rs s t ta ak ke e p pa ar rt t iin n? ? DJ: Alex tattoos, Marc is photographer/artist, Travis and Brandon score music for TV/film as well as Brandon singing for his other band Hell or Highwater, and I own and operate a merchandise company called Rock World Merch and a company called Pluginz that makes "Jack Racks" which are wall mountable guitar amp style key chain holders. They rule! www.TheJackRack.com S SR R:: T Th he e a allb bu um m D De ea at th h- -G Gr riip p O On n Y Ye es st te er rd da ay y s se ee em ms s t to o c ca ar rr ry y s so om me e w we eiig gh ht t iin n iit ts s m me ea an niin ng g.. D De es sc cr riib be e t th hiis s a allb bu um m.. DJ: It's our 3rd studio full-length and the first album to debut in the Billboard Top 10 as well as a follow-up to our biggest album to date so there was a lot of pressure to deliver. The name reflects that and many other things in not being able to let go of the past. Every album is a form of growth and a transition to a newer version of ourselves so it's healthy to not hold onto the past so tightly. It's about learning to let go of the past so you can allow yourself to grow into the future. S SR R:: F Fr ro om m D De ea at th h- -G Gr riip p O On n Y Ye es st te er rd da ay y t to o y yo ou ur r c cu ur rr re en nt t a allb bu um m,, L Lo on ng g L Liiv ve e y yo ou u''v ve e h ha ad d a a f fe ew w lla ab be ell c ch ha an ng ge es s,, s so om me e lliif fe e e ev ve en nt ts s o oc cc cu ur r w wiit th hiin n t th he e b bo od dy y o of f t th hiis s c cu ur rr re en nt t t to ou ur r h ha av ve e y yo ou u n no ot tiic ce ed d a an ny yt th hiin ng g a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r f fa an ns s? ? DJ: We've learned how truly passionate and dedicated our fans are. Even after being a band for 17 years and taking almost 4 years off they still come out and support us as if we never left. We're nothing without that and it will fuel us to even greater success. S SR R:: W Wh he en n t th he e t to ou ur r w wiin nd ds s iit ts se ellf f d do ow wn n iin n V Ve eg ga as s.. N Ne ew w a allb bu um m o on n t th he e h ho or riiz zo on n? ? M Mo or re e t to ou ur riin ng g? ? T Ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t t th he e r re es st t o of f 2 20 01 1 6 6- -1 1 7 7.. DJ: We're heading to Europe/UK to play some festivals as well as Warped Tour in the summer and Australia with Bullet for My Valentine in October. Busy year! S SR R:: F Fr ro om m t th he e J Jr r.. H Hiig gh h y ye ea ar rs s a an nd d t th he e n ne ee ed d t to o c cr re ea at te e m mu us siic c t to o t to od da ay y.. W Wh he en n y yo ou u lliis st te en n t to o o ot th he er r b ba an nd ds s m mu us siic c o or r g go o s se ee e a a c co on nc ce er rt t d do o y yo ou u s st tiillll f fiin nd d y yo ou ur rs se ellf f g gr ra av viit ta at tiin ng g t to ow wa ar rd ds s t th he e s sa am me e m mu us siic ciia an ns s? ? IIf f s so o,, w wh ha at t iis s iit t a ab bo ou ut t t th ho os se e m mu us siic ciia an ns s y yo ou u c co on nn ne ec ct t w wiit th h? ? DJ: I've grown a lot in my taste for music. Mostly chasing that feeling you get when you discover a new band that just hits you in the right spot. I love that feeling so my journey has taken me across genres and greatly influenced my writing and playing. S SR R:: II u un nd de er rs st ta an nd d D Da an n t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e a a h hu ug ge e f fa an n o of f 8 80 0''s s r ro oc ck k.. W Wa as s iit t t th he e h ha aiir r,, t th he e b br re ea ak kd do ow wn ns s,, t th he e r riif ff fs s,, t th he e c cllo ot th hiin ng g,, t th he e p pe er rs so on na a...... w wh ha at t w wa as s iit t a ab bo ou ut t t th he e 8 80 0''s s t th ha at t k kiilllle ed d iit t w wiic ck ke ed dlly y f fo or r y yo ou u? ? DJ: All of it! Everything about the 80's was turned up to 11. The lifestyle, partying, the musicianship, songs, production, everything was over the top huge and I love all of that. That's what I bring to Atreyu. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t d do oe es s t th he e f fu ut tu ur re e o of f m me et ta all- -c co or re e llo oo ok k lliik ke e a as s m me et ta all iin n a allll iit ts s s su ub b- -g ge en nr re es s c co on nt tiin nu ue es s t to o e ev vo ollv ve e? ? R Ru uf ff f!! DJ: Unfortunately, it's getting pretty watered down. Too many unoriginal bands sounding and dressing all the same. It's hard to tell most of them apart. I try to stay out of it and not let it influence is in any way. I like being original!

A mystical creature one feared and revered both by old and young alike. Folklore of old pronounces a level of unity, courage, loyalty, strength and success. Tales have been told among the many nations and historical patterns through the ages and here they are, a pack, hungry, growling, and ready to bring your heart and soul into American Wolves rock n roll! American Wolves have certainly been crossing the boundaries of rock and pop as they leave their scent trail along the way. Fans are growing daily, and the numbers continue to escalate. Calling Philadelphia, Pa home their sound is fresh, their lyrics true, the band stands for a variety of colours collectively that run tight. They are a reverent bunch and as their pack grows in legions it seems to spur on this magical force that draws you into their sound and bites down hard so you don't ever want to let go. They are young, they've come a long ways and still have room to develop and feel their way among the worlds of rock n roll. Not accepting boundaries is probably the largest ordeal of truth for freedom to be what and who you are is American and the loyalty of a pack is the wolf... together these band of mates Rod Pires, Nikki Zell, Rob Lundy, and Tyler Blinn are American Wolves. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: W We e u us se e t th he e iin nt te er rn ne et t f fo or r e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g n no ow wa ad da ay ys s.. W We e c ca an n b bu uy y o ou ur r c cllo ot th he es s,, b bo oo ok ks s,, m mu us siic c,, o or rd de er r o ou ur r f fo oo od d,, h he ec ck k e ev ve en n s st tr re ea am m o ou ur r f fiillm m f fa av vo or riit te es s...... a an nd d ''s sh ho op p'' f fo or r o ou ur r b ba an nd d m ma at te es s.. T Te ellll m me e h ho ow w d do oe es s o on ne e g go o a ab bo ou ut t s sh ho op pp piin ng g b ba an nd d m ma at te es s? ? Rob - It was quite an extensive process between myself, Rod and our manager. We discovered Tyler through his YouTube covers, specifically his rendition of Eminem's "Rap God" (which recently broke 1 million views). As for Nikki, our manager found her through Facebook after seeing pictures of her performing solo at a music festival. S SR R:: A An ny y a ad dv viic ce e b bo ot th h s siid de es s c ca an n o of ff fe er r t to o m mu us siic ciia an ns s llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or r o ot th he er rs s a an nd d f fo or r m mu us siic ciia an ns s p pu ut tt tiin ng g t th he em ms se ellv ve es s o ou ut t t th he er re e t to o b be e c co on nn ne ec ct te ed d? ? Nikki - From personal experience, social media plays a huge part for connecting with other musicians. If it weren't for social media, I wouldn't be in American Wolves. Networking in person is also super important. I'm lucky enough to live in Philly which has a huge local and national thriving music scene. Playing lots of shows, supporting other artists by going to their shows, collaborating and songwriting with other artists, going to industry events, and much more is extremely vital to get connected with others. Rob - When you find the right people, you just know. It felt like four puzzle pieces coming together when I met and jammed with Nikki & Tyler for the first time. S SR R:: A Allll o of f y yo ou u h ha aiill f fr ro om m a a v va ar riie et ty y o of f d diif ff fe er re en nt t llo oc ca at tiio on ns s- - w wh he er re e iis s h ho om me e f fo or r e ea ac ch h o of f y yo ou u,, w wh he er re e y yo ou u g gr re ew w u up p m mo os st tlly y? ? Rob - Our singer Rod was born in São Paulo, Brazil and moved to Rhode Island with his mother & three brothers when he was 12. I met him when we were both 18 at a party and now we both live together in Providence, RI (where I'm from) and float back and forth in between there and Philly when necessary. Nikki - I was born and raised in a small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tyler grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and has recently relocated to the east coast so that the band can be together more often. He floats back and forth between RI and Philly. S SR R:: T Te ellll m me e h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou ur r h ho om me elliif fe e/ /u up pb br riin ng giin ng g lle ea ad d y yo ou u t to o c ch ho oo os se e y yo ou ur r d de es siir re e t to o p plla ay y iin n a a b ba an nd d? ? Nikki - I grew up in a musical family - my dad, aunts, and extended family playing in bands together and whatnot - so I never knew any different. My entire family has always been so supportive of me pursuing a career in music. My parents are both diligent, hard- working people who instilled the values of working hard and obtaining your dreams from a young age. Rob - My dad always took me to concerts at a young age - the first one ever was New Found Glory and Goldfinger playing an outdoor show in Providence probably sometime around 2001. I think those experiences shaped my young mind and left a lasting impression on me. That same year I ended up getting my first guitar for Christmas and the rest is history. S SR R:: H Ho om me e b ba as se e f fo or r t th he e b ba an nd d iis s P Ph hiilllly y? ? IIf f s so o,, w wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u c ch ho os se e P Ph hiilla ad de ellp ph hiia a t to o b be e h ho om me e b ba as se e f fo or r y yo ou u a as s t th he e r ro oc ck k b ba an nd d a an nd d d do o y yo ou u a allll a ac ct tu ua alllly y lliiv ve e t th he er re e p pe er rm ma an ne en nt tlly y n no ow w? ? Nikki - Philly is becoming one of the best music scene cities in the country. Most of us were living on the east coast when the band formed and I've lived here all of my life so it made sense to make Philadelphia our band base for now. We float back and forth between Providence, RI, and Philly. S SR R:: H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u f fo ou un nd d s st ta at tiio on niin ng g y yo ou ur rs se ellf f iin n P Ph hiilllly y t to o b be e a ad dv va an nt ta ag ge eo ou us s? ? Nikki - I'm very hooked into the local scene so the band has many fellow music friends, connections, etc. in this area. In terms of location, it's a great place to be positioned on the east coast. We're close to NYC which we frequent for press. We're also close to major cities for shows and touring opportunities. S SR R:: IIn n t th he e o op pe en niin ng g v vo oc ca alls s o of f y yo ou ur r f fiir rs st t s siin ng glle e/ /v viid de eo o r re elle ea as se e " "P Pa ar rt t o of f M Me e" " II c co ou ulld dn n''t t h he ellp p b bu ut t h he ea ar r a at t t th he e b be eg giin nn niin ng g a a t to ou uc ch h o of f E En nr riiq qu ue e IIg glle es siia as s c co om me e f fr ro om m R Ro od d''s s v vo oiic ce e.. Rob - (laughed) I haven't heard that one before! We certainly draw influence from all genres of music whether it be rock, pop, hip-hop and much more. S SR R:: H Ho ow we ev ve er r,, a as s t th he e s so on ng g q qu uiic ck klly y p pr ro og gr re es ss se ed d t th he e s so ou un nd d o of f A AW W a allll o of f t th he e s su ud dd de en n t to oo ok k iin n a allll o of f t th he e p pe er rs so on na alliit tiie es s o of f t th he e b ba an nd d a as s a a w wh ho olle e.. Y Yo ou u''v ve e r re ea alllly y c cr re ea at te ed d q qu uiit te e a a d diiv ve er rs se e lliin ne e- -u up p.. Rob and Nikki - Thank you! That has always and will continue to be our intention. S SR R:: C Clliim mb biin ng g o ou ut t a an nd d s st ta an nd diin ng g t tr ru ue e s se ee em ms s t to o b be e t th he e b bu uz zz z iin n t th he e r ro oc ck k iin nd du us st tr ry y n no ow w...... c clliim mb biin ng g o ou ut t o of f t th he e s sa ac cc ch ha ar riin n m ma as ss se es s.. Nikki - First off, I determine the word/term "saccharin" to mean fake or synthetic. However, I don't think it's possible to judge the authenticity of an artist or their music in such a black and white way. There's more to an artist or band than their genre - which is why we as a band try our best to be open minded and pursue growth wherever possible. S SR R:: C Co om mp pa ar re e s sa ac cc ch ha ar riin n t to o r ra aw w s su ug ga ar r.. ( (m me et ta ap ph ho or riic ca alllly y) ) Nikki - They're both sugar. They both taste sweet. The only difference is some people prefer one to the other. S SR R:: Y Yo ou ur r E EP P iis s s sp piin nn niin ng g...... w wh hiic ch h s so on ng g iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r a as s a a b ba an nd d d do o y yo ou u a allll llo ov ve e p pe er rf fo or rm miin ng g lliiv ve e o of ff f y yo ou ur r a allb bu um m? ? Rob - It's different for everyone, but our unreleased song "Out Of Our Minds" is a favorite among all of us. S SR R:: T Th hiis s q qu ue es st tiio on n iis s f fo or r N Niik kk kii.. N Niik kk kii h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u p pu ut t u up p w wiit th h a a b bu un nc ch h o of f g gu uy ys s a allll t th he e t tiim me e? ? L LO OL L!! S Se er riio ou us slly y,, y yo ou u k kn no ow w t th he e g giir rlls s iin n y yo ou ur r a au ud diie en nc ce es s a ar re e g go oiin ng g t to o b be e v ve er ry y c cu ur riio ou us s a as s t to o w wh ha at t iit t iis s lliik ke e t tr ra av ve elliin ng g,, p pr ra ac ct tiic ciin ng g,, p pe er rf fo or rm miin ng g w wiit th h a a b bu un nc ch h o of f g gu uy ys s.. W Wh ha at t iis s y yo ou ur r r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p lliik ke e w wiit th h t th he e g gu uy ys s iin n t th he e b ba an nd d? ? Nikki - Growing up, I tended to gravitate towards being one of the boys because I always understood and related to guys more than girls. So being in a band with dudes is fairly natural and easy for me. In general and on tour, I'm basically band mom since I'm the only female figure. Thick skin, a strong stomach, and an open mind is necessary. Rod, Rob, and Tyler are true gentlemen toward me. They always have my back. It's like having three older brothers. I believe a band can be more powerful when you add a woman into the mix - both male and female genders working side by side together as equals is a beautiful thing. S SR R:: F Fiin na alllly y w wh ha at t iis s iin n s st to or re e? ? Nikki - Our goal was to release our first single and follow that up with a sick tour - which ended up being Highway to HellYeah Tour with Escape the Fate and Get Scared. As far as the future, we have many upcoming plans which you will just have to wait to see.

Our rock n roll history is rich and the tell­tale genealogies never fall far from the tree. We are many times destined towards or predisposed to become something that runs deep in our blood. And so it was to be for drummer Chris Reeve as the gift from both sides of him lineage called to him and he answered with a beat. On a whirlwind possibility to become Filter's drummer, an emergency visa was given to Chris and he packed his things and headed from his home in Australia to the land of musical opportunists... California. It was the right calling to follow at the right time. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e a a r riic ch h h hiis st to or ry y o of f m mu us siic c,, a allm mo os st t g ge en ne et tiic ca alllly y e en nc co od de ed d iin n y yo ou ur r D DN NA A.. G Gr ro ow wiin ng g u up p w wiit th h y yo ou ur r d da ad d a as s a a r ra ad diio o D DJ J b ba ac ck k h ho om me e.. D Diid d iit t e ev ve er r s se ee em m lliik ke e “ “W Wo ow w,, II h ha av ve e t th hiis s r re ea alllly y c co oo oll d da ad d? ?” ” Chris Reeve: Absolutely! I think it may have even been my first steps into a music career. Dad is always on the forefront of entertainment news so I was introduced to great music from birth. Then when I started school I remember being semi schoolyard famous because I was the 4CC Radio DJ's son. You wouldn't believe how deep the musical DNA runs in my family. My Mum's Dad (technically stepdad) was a very successful singer/dancer/pianist/percussionist and toured the world a few times with his successful jazz singer sister, Jan Adele. He was definitely a HUGE influence on me. My first blues jams were with him when I was 10! Then when I was around 20, after already dedicating my life to music. I was informed that my Mum's biological Father (whom she had never met and we knew nothing about) was a very successful bass player. In the 60's he was in a group called 'Vince Taylor and the Playboys.' The band had many successful players namely a 16-year-old Jimmy Paige (Led Zeppelin), and the drummer Bobby Clarke went on to play with Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Steve Howe (Yes), and Roundabout (later known as Deep Purple). Vince Taylor himself was the inspiration for David Bowie's character, 'Ziggy Stardust.' S SR R:: D Du ur riin ng g y yo ou ur r e ea ar rlly y y ye ea ar rs s o of f g gr ra am mm ma ar r s sc ch ho oo oll d diid d y yo ou u e ev ve er r t th hiin nk k t to o b br riin ng g y yo ou ur r d da ad d iin n f fo or r s sh ho ow w a an nd d t te ellll? ? CR: (laughed) Definitely! In fact, when I was about 7, my whole class went to Dad's station for an excursion! S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u r re ec ca allll t th he e f fiir rs st t s so on ng g y yo ou ur r d da ad d iin nt tr ro od du uc ce ed d y yo ou u t to o? ? CR: That one I'm sure Dad would answer better as I would have been about .001 years old. I do remember being informed that Bruce Springsteen was the greatest of all time at a young age. I also remember a lot of Michael Jackson around the house. S SR R:: T Th he e g giif ft t o of f a ar rt t iis s a a h hu ug ge e p pr re es se en nt t f fo or r p pa ar re en nt ts s t to o s sh ha ar re e w wiit th h t th he eiir r c ch hiilld dr re en n.. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d t th he e c clla as ss siic c iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r iin nt te er re es st t a as s a a y yo ou un ng g p pe er rs so on n? ? A Ar re e y yo ou u c clla as ss siic ca alllly y t tr ra aiin ne ed d a as s w we ellll? ? CR: The closest I got to classical music when I was a kid was John Williams. A lot of his classic movie scores were a huge impact on my life. I remember I had the ' Star Wars: A New Hope' score on cassette and would love to listen and pretend I was Luke Skywalker going on adventures. Later in life I explored classical music a little more, starting with Bach and Mozart. I almost went to College for Jazz but decided at the last-minute I wanted to take a different path. S SR R:: Y Yo ou u s sa av ve ed d y yo ou ur r m mo on ne ey y a an nd d p pu ur rc ch ha as se ed d y yo ou ur r f fiir rs st t d dr ru um m k kiit t.. W Wh ha at t b br ra an nd d,, d do o y yo ou u r re em me em mb be er r w wh ha at t c co ollo ou ur r iit t w wa as s,, d do o y yo ou u s st tiillll o ow wn n iit t a an nd d d do o y yo ou u h ha av ve e a a p ph ho ot to o o of f y yo ou u p plla ay yiin ng g o on n iit t? ? CR: My first kit was a black 'PROcussion' 5 pieces with Mapex heads. I still have the original bass drum pedal back in Australia I think! S SR R:: IIt t s se ee em ms s s so om me et tiim me es s t th ha at t m mu us siic ciia an ns s g ge et t a a b ba ad d r ra ap p o of f p pe eo op plle e t th hiin nk kiin ng g t th he ey y r re ea alllly y a ar re en n''t t h hiig gh hlly y iin nt te elllliig ge en nt t o or r d dr riiv ve en n t to o c ca ar rr ry y o ou ut t m mu uc ch h o ou ut ts siid de e o of f m ma ak kiin ng g s so ou un nd ds s,, a an nd d g ge et tt tiin ng g g giir rlls s.. Y Ye et t,, t th he er re e iis s a a p pa at tt te er rn n a am mo on ng g m ma an ny y m mu us siic ciia an ns s t to o p pu ur rs su ue e c co olllle eg ge e a an nd d h hiig gh h a ac ca ad de em miic cs s.. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou ur r iin nt te er re es st t c co om me e f fr ro om m iin n t th he e s st tu ud diie es s o of f p ps sy yc ch ho ollo og gy y? ? CR: From a young age I just loved helping people. I have always been an emotional person and in my mid teens (during a particularly emo period) I started reading self-help and introductory psychology books. It showed me early on how answers can come from within. S SR R:: W Wh he en n iit t c co om me es s t to o y yo ou ur r k ke ee en n iin nt te er re es st t iin n p ps sy yc ch ho ollo og gy y w wa as s iit t m mo or re e o of f t th he e c co og gn niit tiiv ve e,, s so oc ciia all o or r c clliin niic ca all t th ha at t iin nt te er re es st te ed d y yo ou u? ? CR: I was definitely more interested in the cognitive/social approach of Psychology/Psychotherapy rather than the clinical areas of Psychiatry, medicine, and severe mental disorders. Using behavioral therapy techniques to deal with issues and better your life really resonated with me. S SR R:: S Su ur re elly y,, a at t a an ny y g giiv ve en n m mo om me en nt t m mo os st t p ps sy yc ch ho ollo og giis st ts s m ma ak ke e a ap pp pr ro ox xiim ma at te elly y 4 40 0 p pllu us s d do olllla ar rs s s st ta at te es siid de e a an n h ho ou ur r,, y ye et t...... t th he er re e w wa as s s so om me et th hiin ng g iin n y yo ou ur r o ow wn n h hu um ma an n d de ev ve ello op pm me en nt t t th ha at t k ke ep pt t t th he e d dr ru um ms s c ca alllliin ng g.. C Co ou ulld d y yo ou u r re ella ay y C Ch hr riis s p po os ss siib blly y w wh ha at t t th ha at t w wa as s a an nd d s st tiillll iis s t to od da ay y? ? CR: Honestly, it's never been about the money. When I was a kid and deciding on my career path I never even considered it. Being some kind of therapist was about helping people feel good. But the drums have always called me even from back when I was a toddler. It was always in the back of my mind, and the day I realized I could make a career out of drumming and enjoy my passion while influencing others positively through music I was sold. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u s st tiillll o of ff fe er r c clla as ss se es s o on nlliin ne e t to o t te ea ac ch h d dr ru um mm miin ng g? ? IIf f s so o,, w wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u h he ea ar riin ng g o ou ut t t th he er re e t to od da ay y t th ha at t s st tr riik ke es s y yo ou u m mo os st t a ab bo ou ut t t th ho os se e w wh ho o a ar re e lle ea ar rn niin ng g? ? CR: I do teach online and in LA (contact anzususa@gmail.com for details). I find it striking how many people get stuck in technique debates because they believe there is only one correct technique. From University lectures all the way to YouTube comments. It's hilarious. That said, I also find it striking how much awesome knowledge there is available now to the next generation of drummers courtesy of the Internet. For instance, guys like 180drums.com are paving the way with personalized lessons from real pros, anywhere, anytime on your cell phone. With dedication, people can get really good really fast with pro critique on demand. Different times to when I was a kid!! S SR R:: II r re ea ad d t th ha at t y yo ou u w we en nt t t th hr ro ou ug gh h a a p ph ha as se e a ac cc co or rd diin ng g t to o y yo ou u d da ad d t th ha at t y yo ou u w wo ou ulld dn n''t t a an ns sw we er r u un nlle es ss s y yo ou u w we er re e c ca alllle ed d b by y e eiit th he er r t th he e n na am me e M Miic ch ha ae ell J Ja ac ck ks so on n o of f J Jo oh hn n F Fa ar rn nh ha am m.. W Wh ha at t w we er re e t th he e iim mp pr re es ss siio on ns s o on n y yo ou u g gr ro ow wiin ng g u up p? ? A An nd d d do o y yo ou u a an ns sw we er r n no ow w t to o o on nlly y C Ch hr riis s R Re ee ev ve e? ? ::) ) CR: (Laughed) True story! I idolized those singers and just wanted to be them. I loved to entertain anyone in the room. I guess even if it was just dinner time. These days with the history of jokes and mispronunciation, I answer to; Chris Reeve, Chris Reeves, Chris Reid, Chris Reef, and Superman. I only answer to Christopher from Doctors, Customs Border Patrol Officers, and my Dad. S SR R:: C Ch hr riis s t th he er re e iis s a allw wa ay ys s a a p pr ro oc ce es ss s p pr re e,, d du ur riin ng g,, a an nd d a af ft te er r o of f e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g w we e d do o.. M Mo os st t o of f t th he e t tiim me e w we e jju us st t d do on n''t t t th hiin nk k a ab bo ou ut t iit t.. T Ta ak ke e u us s iin nt to o y yo ou ur r h he ea ad d s sp pa ac ce e...... w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e p pr re ep pa ar riin ng g f fo or r a a d dr ru um mm miin ng g s se es ss siio on n ( (p pr ra ac ct tiic ce e) ),, t th he en n d du ur riin ng g,, a an nd d a af ft te er r.. N No ow w t ta ak ke e t th ha at t s sa am me e s siit tu ua at tiio on n a an nd d a ap pp plly y iit t t to o w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e g go oiin ng g iin nt to o a a r re ec co or rd diin ng g s st tu ud diio o,, t th he en n t ta ak ke e iit t t to o a a p pe er rf fo or rm ma an nc ce e o ou ut t o on n t to ou ur r.. H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar re e? ? IIs s e ea ac ch h s siit tu ua at tiio on n d diif ff fe er re en nt t o or r t th he e s sa am me e? ? W Wh ha at t iis s t ta ak kiin ng g p plla ac ce e d du ur riin ng g? ? W Wh ha at t d do o y yo ou u h he ea ar r,, f fo oc cu us s o on n,, w wh ha at t iis s t tr ra an ns sp piir riin ng g? ? A Af ft te er rw wa ar rd d,, w wh ha at t iis s iit t y yo ou u d do o? ? W Wh ha at t iis s y yo ou ur r g go o t to o a af ft te er r e ea ac ch h o on ne e o of f t th he es se e s siit tu ua at tiio on ns s? ? P Ph hy ys siic ca alllly y,, m me en nt ta alllly y a an nd d e ev ve en n s sp piir riit tu ua alllly y? ? CR: In all areas, my process is essentially the same. Warm up and get calm and focused, stay calm and focused, then go to bed calm and clear. At all stages of my life there's no drinking, no smoking, no outside help other than deep breathing, laughing, and therapeutic tape. My mental space during practice is entirely dependent on what I want to practice. No matter what, beforehand I will stretch my muscles and play something fun and familiar to get warmed up and excited for a few minutes. Another given is that I always try to stay calm and relaxed. If I feel any frustration I push on for a bit then take a break. When I come back I can normally nail the issue. If I'm practicing songs for a show I'll make a chart and run the tracks on loop until I don't need the chart. If I'm practicing something like endurance/speed I like to put on a TV show or movie, then run exercises at length to a click. I'll keep an eye on my timing and technique but stay entertained by watching the screen I get so bored playing on a pad for an hour (laughed). If I'm practicing groove/patterns I like to keep my surroundings silent and normally play with my eyes closed to really focus on the time and space between the beats. I try to never end a practice session feeling bad. If I am not at a satisfactory level with something, I play it at a tempo where I can nail it for a while, then come back the next day to work further. I like to never take those frustrations home. In a recording session, my head space is quite different. Beforehand I always take deep breaths and make sure I have the tunes down. During, I try to remain relaxed as always but sometimes it calls for a different attitude. If I'm playing on a really angry track and the producer wants an aggressive feel I will try to harness that emotion. Same deal with a lazy/drowsy song I try to put myself there in the moment. Sometimes while I play, I'll try to play a scene in my head that matches the feeling of the song (I've done this live too). Afterward, I have been working on letting the session be what it was. I had a habit of judging myself harshly after listening back! Live it's a different game again. I start with stretching 60-30 minutes before show time. Occasionally I will play with sticks on a pad, or table, or wall whatever I can hit. But I'm doing a little less of that these days. I read a great article recently in a drum-head magazine about which muscles you're using most at your gigs and how to prioritize them in warm up. Focusing on the larger muscle groups is really working out for me on this tour.

Right before stage when my adrenaline is peaking I like to sit down alone and do deep breathing exercises. This lowers my heart rate and allows me to hit the first notes relaxed, calm, and in control. Through the show, I like to take in all the sights and sounds. The music and the crowd entertain me as much as we entertain them! I listen really closely to the bass and backing tracks to make sure my groove is sitting well. I'll also always pace myself physically, monitoring my technique and any signs of injury (especially on this tour with an almost 2 hour set list 6 nights a week). I also drink a LOT of water/Gatorade to stay hydrated. If there are intricate songs such as "Pride," I like to close out the outside distractions a little more, watch my hands, and just focus on one bar at a time. Occasionally, in songs like "You Walk Away," I will count during odd bars as a safety measure. After every song, I like to pull my in ears out and hear the crowd response, especially at festivals. Hearing the roar of 20,000 people is a special moment in a musicians life, and I like to soak it up every time. After the show, I always go out into the crowd or to the merch booth to say hi to people. I love nerding out about drums and getting to know the audience, and they certainly appreciate the extra connection to the band. Post show I ice my wrists and elbows to prevent future injuries, and continue with the hydration. I like to chill afterwards sometimes getting food, or sitting and chatting, or more recently I have gotten into doing jigsaw puzzles. It's hilarious! Ashley and I have a roll up puzzle mat that saves our progress for the next city it's amazingly relaxing. S SR R:: “ “Y Yo ou u n ne ev ve er r k kn no ow w w wh ho o iis s iin n t th he e a au ud diie en nc ce e..” ” W Wiit th h m mo od de er rn n t te ec ch hn no ollo og gy y,, w we e a ar re e a allll iin n t th he e s sp po ot tlliig gh ht t n no ow w.. S So oc ciia all m me ed diia a h ha as s g giiv ve en n n ne ew w m me ea an niin ng g t to o W Wa ar rh ho oll''s s f fiif ft te ee en n m miin nu ut te es s o of f f fa am me e.. D Do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell y yo ou u h ha av ve e t to o b be e a at t 1 1 0 00 0% % c co on ns siis st te en nt tlly y a an nd d w wh he en n o or r iif f y yo ou u c ca an n''t t m ma ak ke e t th ha at t lle ev ve ell o on n a an ny y g giiv ve en n d da ay y...... h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u d de ea all w wiit th h iit t? ? CR: I absolutely agree that it has to be all or nothing at any given time. These days, the show from last night is already on YouTube or Facebook including all the flubs and crazy moments. Luckily, the people on stage are the only ones that know where those moments were! But if anything noticeable did happen, it's out there for the world to see so you have to be on your game. I actually did have a show or two that I struggled with recently because of a nasty case of bronchitis. I felt horrible but mustered up every ounce of strength to nail the show. The guys in the support bands actually laughed because they witnessed the transition of being in total pain laying in the green room to being an animal on stage, then back to passed out in the green room. S SR R:: A As s a a d dr ru um mm me er r w wh ho o g giiv ve es s,, w wh ha at t d do o y yo ou u d do o t to o r re ef fiillll y yo ou ur r o ow wn n s se ellf f? ? CR: Honestly, giving is the most fulfilling thing I experience. If I must give to myself I like writing lists of jobs that need to be done in my life and doing them all. I love the sense of accomplishment and knowing I have a clear day ahead to relax. Sometimes I play guitar or drums just for fun maybe I'll even write a tune. I also love learning about anything. Instead of TV, I'll watch tutorials/lectures on video composing (my other passion), or nature and science, or maybe even how rubber bands are made. S SR R:: R Re ec ca allll a an ny y m mo om me en nt ts s r re ec ce en nt tlly y w wh he en n t th he er re e w wa as s s so om me eo on ne e iin n y yo ou ur r a au ud diie en nc ce e t th ha at t b blle ew w y yo ou ur r m miin nd d a an nd d s se ee em me ed d t to o m ma ak ke e y yo ou u s st to op p a an nd d g go o,, “ “W Wh ho oa a!!” ” CR: I think I've seen more amazing things happen in audiences than I've seen happen on stages in my life! A big one for me is circle pit etiquette. I once watched a guy lose his hat in one, then a small group of guys formed a barrier around him holding everyone else off so he could pick it up safely then they all went back to running around pounding each other...not once, but TWICE! Sweetest and craziest thing to watch ever. S SR R:: T Th he e g giif ft t o of f a ar rt t,, y yo ou u h ha av ve e f fo ou un nd d iin n m mu us siic c.. A As s y yo ou u f fe ee ell y yo ou ur r w wa ay y a allo on ng g a as s F Fiillt te er r''s s d dr ru um mm me er r a an nd d o on n t th hiis s t to ou ur r,, a an ny y t th ho ou ug gh ht ts s o on n y yo ou ur r o ow wn n d diir re ec ct tiio on ns s iin n t th he e n ne ea ar r f fu ut tu ur re e? ? CR: I have several plans for 2016 beyond Filter. We are touring for the next few months but in the gaps, I will be playing/touring with other groups. I am also going to embark on my first clinic tour. Most likely starting in California and branching out from there. The biggest one for this year, though going home to Australia to visit my friends and family. S SR R:: O On n a a p pe er rs so on na all lle ev ve ell.. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e a a llo on ng g- -s st ta an nd diin ng g r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p w wiit th h ( (b ba as ss siis st t) ) A As sh hlle ey y D Dz ze er riig giia an n.. H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u t tw wo o m me ee et t? ? W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou ur r c co om mm mo on n c co or re e e elle em me en nt ts s o of f s st tr re en ng gt th h? ? CR: Ashley and I met on the Filter gig and did everything we could to NOT form a romantic connection. We were both fresh out of relationships and not looking for anything, on top of the whole unspoken inter-band rules. But we had a connection that was undeniable. Everyone else in the band knew it before we really did and were really positive about it Richard even encouraged it. But we still waited until after the first tour finished to start dating. Aside from the obvious rhythm section connection, Ashley and I have the perfect balance of personality where our strengths compliment the others weakness, and our passions are harmonious. It's unlike any other relationship we've had. S SR R:: R Re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip ps s t ta ak ke e w wo or rk k,, b bu ut t t th he ey y a ar re e w wo or rt th h iit t.. H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u h he ellp p A As sh hlle ey y b be e a a b be et tt te er r p pe er rs so on n a an nd d iin n t tu ur rn n w wh ha at t d do oe es s s sh he e d do o t th ha at t h he ellp ps s y yo ou u? ? CR: As I said above we really complement each other. If one of us is down the other will pick them up. If we are both down we can connect and laugh about it, and if we are both up then everything is golden. Either way, the result is both of us being up. The insecurities in life that I have, Ashley is very confident with and talks me through different reasoning, and vice versa. We really talk all the time it's what brought us together and I think it's what keeps us together. S SR R:: P Plla an ns s iin n t th he e n ne ea ar r f fu ut tu ur re e a as s a a c co ou up plle e iin n d de ev ve ello op pm me en nt t? ? ( (Y Ye es s,, m ma ar rr riia ag ge e iis s w wh ha at t II a am m a as sk kiin ng g.. ( (S Sm miille ed d) ) CR: There are absolutely plans in development! ;) S SR R:: Y Yo ou ur r jjo ou ur rn ne ey y t to o s so om me e m ma ay y s se ee em m ''o ov ve er rn niig gh ht t'' o or r a a ''f fa aiir ry y t ta alle e'' c co om me e t tr ru ue e.. IIn n r re ea alliit ty y t th ho ou ug gh h b be ec co om miin ng g a an ny yt th hiin ng g t ta ak ke es s h ho ou ur rs s o of f h ha ar rd d w wo or rk k.. W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u a ag gr re ee e t th ha at t iit t iis s w wh he en n p pr re ep pa ar re ed dn ne es ss s m me ee et ts s o op pp po or rt tu un niit ty y t th ha at t t th he e m mo os st t a aw we es so om me e t th hiin ng gs s o oc cc cu ur r? ? CR: (Laughed) if by "overnight" they mean 15 years of effort and spending your life savings twice then yeah that's how it happened.. (Laughed) In other words, yes, when opportunity arises you need to be ready, qualified, and able to sacrifice which takes a lot of dedication. S SR R:: F Fiillt te er r h ha as s h ha ad d s so om me e o of f t th he e m mo os st t iin nc cr re ed diib blle e w wo or rk ks s o of f m mu us siic ca all a ar rt t c co om me e f fr ro om m d de ee ep p w wiit th hiin n o ov ve er r t th he e y ye ea ar rs s.. M Mo os st t o of f y yo ou u h ha av ve e c co om me e o on n b bo oa ar rd d v ve er ry y r re ec ce en nt tlly y,, 2 20 01 1 5 5,, h ho ow w h ha as s t th ha at t b be ee en n f fo or r y yo ou u p pe er rs so on na alllly y s st te ep pp piin ng g iin nt to o a a b ba an nd d t th ha at t h ha as s a a d diis st tiin nc ct t iin nd du us st tr riia all r ro oc ck k s so ou un nd d s siin nc ce e 1 1 9 99 93 3? ? CR: I was very lucky to join the band at the same time as Oumi and Ashley, so there was never a time when I was the "new guy" - we were all new! That said, I knew what was required for the drum chair before coming into it because of my buddy Jeff Friedl (Puscifer, EX-Filter). He said the parts are very solid and defined but Richard likes drummers to put their spin on it if they like. When I met Rich in rehearsals he confirmed this. So for me, it has been easy and welcoming. The bass, however (and some elements of Guitar)- really define the Filter sound, and swaying from them is sacrilegious! S SR R:: W Wa at tc ch hiin ng g a an nd d w wo or rk kiin ng g w wiit th h R Riic ch ha ar rd d P Pa at tr riic ck k,, t th he e o on nlly y s st ta at tiic c m me em mb be er r,, w wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d b by y lliis st te en niin ng g a an nd d o ob bs se er rv viin ng g h hiim m a as s a an n a ar rt tiis st t? ? A As s a a p pe er rs so on n? ? A As s a a p pr ro od du uc ce er r? ? CR: I've learned a lot about what I'm doing sonically from Rich. He has played some giant stages over the years and knows what cuts and translates instrument wise in those situations. For instance, he gave me great advice about my hi hats that I’d never considered because I was used to smaller venues. He gives us advice all the time about image, sound, attitude, and performance. Lots of it resonates too because he has been there and done that in literally every scenario. S SR R:: T Th he e n ne ew w a allb bu um m,, C Cr ra az zy y E Ey ye es s,, s se ee em ms s t to o e em mb br ra ac ce e s so om me et th hiin ng g b be ey yo on nd d f fo or rm me er r F Fiillt te er r a allb bu um ms s.. C Cr riit tiic cs s a ar re e s st ta at tiin ng g iit t iis s a a s st tr ro on ng gh ho olld d b ba ac ck k t to o S Sh ho or rt t B Bu us s.. M Me ed diia a a an nd d m mu us siic c a af fiic ciio on na ad do os s s se ee em m t to o llo ov ve e c co om mp pa ar riis so on ns s.. M Ma ay yb be e,, iit t iis s h ho ow w w we e c co om me e u up p w wiit th h ''n ne ew w'' w wo or rd ds s t to o u us se e...... II w wo ou ulld d lliik ke e t to o k kn no ow w t th ho ou ug gh h C Ch hr riis s a as s y yo ou u h ha av ve e a ac cq qu ua aiin nt te ed d,, d diig ge es st te ed d,, b br re ea at th he ed d iin n o olld d a an nd d n ne ew w F Fiillt te er r m mu us siic c w wh he er re e d do oe es s iit t a allll s siit t w wiit th hiin n y yo ou u? ? CR: I would agree that the new album is a lot more punk rock and raw like Short Bus for sure. I'm super proud to be on it and have my art out there for the world to hear forever. The older stuff I love too. Anything Josh Freese played on is golden especially. Lots of amalgamate is my kind of music that I listen to off the clock as well. I like what you said about comparisons too. I recently heard someone state "Comparison is the thief of joy." It really hit me hard. Let the old be old, enjoy what's happening now! S SR R:: W Wh he en n y yo ou u c ca allll h ho om me e a an nd d d da ad d a an ns sw we er rs s t th he e p ph ho on ne e,, w wh ha at t iis s t th he e f fiir rs st t m mu us siic c e ex xc ch ha an ng ge e m ma ad de e b be et tw we ee en n y yo ou u? ? A An nd d w wh ha at t m mu us siic c h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n t tu ur rn niin ng g y yo ou ur r d da ad d o on nt to o n no ow w iin n y yo ou ur r o ow wn n m mu us siic ca all jjo ou ur rn ne ey y? ? CR: Honestly, we don't talk too much music now outside of how the nights show was. With us being so far apart we tend to concentrate more on how we are doing personally! I like to think I was definitely responsible for getting my Dad into Marilyn Manson and Korn though in my youth. S SR R:: V Viis sa a iin n h ha an nd d...... P Pe er rt th h iis s a a f fe ew w t th ho ou us sa an nd d m miille es s a aw wa ay y...... o on n t th he e r ro oa ad d iin n t th he e A Am me er riic ca as s.. W Wh he er re e e ev ve er r y yo ou u g go o t th he er re e y yo ou u a ar re e C Ch hr riis s.. IIn n a a f fe ew w w wo or rd ds s w wh ho o a ar re e y yo ou u iin n y yo ou ur r c co or re e? ? CR: Honestly, I'm just someone who wants to do the right thing by myself and others. I firmly believe in chasing dreams no matter how wild they are, and I love my friends and family more than anything.

Handling the creative artistic side of the music industry and the entrepreneurial side of business in music all while wearing a full feather bonnet and Gothic style makeup, leather clothing, and black slate contacts the artist known as Social Repose shows a deeper side of his own imaginative mind when you speak with him one­on­one. Some might find him puzzling or even complex, but what Richie Giese (aka Social Repose) really encompasses true imaginative artistic risk taking. He sets his course to bring about masterfully composed sounds. Layering and developing them into a unique turn, while at times throwing in his own twisted crooks with covers from today's hottest musicians, like Taylor Swift, Twenty­One Pilots and Falling in Reverse. Richie has chosen his way and found his own source of identity. And that is okay, he is comfortable with himself, just the way he is. Today's youth even though at times may seem to be rather introverted are finding music and the arts may be the best way to describe how they perceive themselves within their own universe. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: F Fiir rs st t o of ff f R Riic ch hiie e,, iit t iis s s so o w wo on nd de er rf fu ull t to o f fiin na alllly y c ca at tc ch h u up p w wiit th h y yo ou u a an nd d g ge et tt tiin ng g t to o k kn no ow w a allll y yo ou ur r m ma ar rv ve ello ou us s a ad dv ve en nt tu ur re es s.. Richie Giese (Social Repose): Well thank you! S SR R:: II f fe ee ell lliik ke e y yo ou u o ou ug gh ht t t to o b be e a a c co om miic c b bo oo ok k c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r,, a a s su up pe er r h he er ro o.. RG: (Laughed) I mean, some people have talked to me about it before, but I don’t really know. (laughed) I don’t really draw much or anything. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t iif f y yo ou u d diid d t th he e s st to or ry ylliin ne e a an nd d g go ot t a ar rt tiis st ts s t to o c co olllla ab bo or ra at te e w wiit th h y yo ou u f fo or r t th he e a ar rt tw wo or rk k? ? RG: It really is a good idea, but I do have my hands on a lot of other projects I would like to focus more on for the time being. S SR R:: IIf f y yo ou u d do on n’’t t m miin nd d s sh ha ar riin ng g,, w wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f t th ho os se e o ot th he er r p pr ro ojje ec ct ts s y yo ou u a ar re e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n? ? RG: Well, definitely my new album and music videos. Then I try to stay on a daily upload schedule when I’m not on tour. That’s really time-consuming itself alone. S SR R:: H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u b ba alla an nc ce e b be eiin ng g o on n t to ou ur r a an nd d d do oiin ng g y yo ou ur r u up pllo oa ad ds s? ? Y Yo ou u a ar re e s so o u un nb be elliie ev va ab blly y b bu us sy y iit t s se ee em ms s w wiit th h y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c a an nd d Y Yo ou uT Tu ub be e.. RG: Uh, I don’t. (laughed) Honestly. The other day I was hanging out with BryanStars and Johnnie Guilbert doing some videos though and that was super great. Generally, what I find though, is that it’s extremely difficult especially out on the road. But on the other hand, it is super amazing to be out on the road, go across the nation, and collaborate and hang out with my internet friends. Plus, the fans absolutely love and enjoy it as well. I definitely try to stay productive. With touring it’s just me performing every night and not being as active on the internet as I would be at home. S SR R:: T To ot ta alllly y u un nd de er rs st ta an nd da ab blle e.. D Do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k y yo ou ur r f fa an ns s r re ella at te e e en no ou ug gh h t to o t th he e f fa ac ct t t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e b bu us sy y? ? RG: Oh, yeah. Honestly, most YouTubers don’t upload everyday or even every other day, so the fact that I’m doing as much as I do and can, I think that for them says a lot and they accept it. Whether I get overly busy or not. S SR R:: A Ar re e y yo ou u c cllo os se e w wiit th h y yo ou ur r t tw wiin n s siis st te er r? ? RG: Not really. (chuckled) S SR R:: N No o? ? ( (lla au ug gh he ed d) ) RG: I mean, despite being a twin sister and being an assumption there’s that automatic connection and everything, we actually don’t talk that much. We literally don’t have anything in common. And please don’t get me wrong; we’re very friendly and we do get along. We’re just opposites. I do crazy art things and she does business. S SR R:: S So o w wh he er re e d do o y yo ou u g ge et t y yo ou ur r a ar rt tiis st tiic c s siid de e f fr ro om m,, R Riic ch hiie e? ? RG: I don’t know. My dad is a business person as an entrepreneur, but that is probably where I get my ambition from. S SR R:: A Ah h,, II c ca an n d de ef fiin niit te elly y r re ec co og gn niiz ze e t th ha at t.. II m me ea an n,, llo oo ok k a at t e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g y yo ou u’’r re e d do oiin ng g.. RG: Well, I don’t do anything half-assed. If I do anything, it’s going to be insane or I’m not going to do it. But going back to the ‘family traits,” as my father is a business person, my mother is an accountant so I really don’t know where it came from. (laughed) My brother and my sister aren’t very artistic either. S SR R:: Y Yo ou u’’r re e t th he e o on ne e n no ot t w we ea ar riin ng g a a s su uiit t.. RG: Yeah! (laughed) It’s very random where I got all of this from so my family is just kinda like “What?” But it’s still pretty cool. S SR R:: H Ho ow w c co om mf fo or rt ta ab blle e a ar re e y yo ou u w wh he en n y yo ou u s st te ep p o ou ut t f fr ro om m b be eh hiin nd d y yo ou ur r m ma ak ke eu up p a an nd d y yo ou u g go o b be e o on ne e- -o on n- -o on ne e w wiit th h o ot th he er r p pe eo op plle e? ? RG: Even with the name “Social Repose,” I am very much an introvert. S SR R:: II h ha av ve e n no ot tiic ce ed d t th ha at t.. RG: I like keeping to myself: in my studio, in my houseZ Which is kinda why I don’t usually enjoy tour that much honestly. It’s a necessary though. It helps raise all the funds that help me make the next record. But you know, if it were all up to me, I would never leave my room and make YouTube videos and music all day long. I will say though, I used to be much more awkward and along the way, I’ve really learned a lot. Social skills can certainly be learned especially the more I’m out like with tour and meeting fans. Things are definitely getting more crazier, but like I said: you certainly can learn and adjust. It’s not exactly natural for me, but anything can be dealt with. S SR R:: S Siin nc ce e m mu us siic c iis s o ob bv viio ou us slly y s su uc ch h a a v viit ta all p po oiin nt t iin n y yo ou ur r s se ellf f- -e ex xp pr re es ss siio on n a an nd d r re ea alllly y w wh ho o y yo ou u a ar re e a at t t th he e c co or re e w wh he en n y yo ou u’’r re e h ha av viin ng g t th ho os se e q qu uiie et t m mo om me en nt ts s o of f r re ep po os se e - - n no o p pu un n iin nt te en nd de ed d - - RG: Hah! S SR R:: W Wh ho o a ar re e s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r f fa av vo or riit te e b ba an nd d''s s a ar rt tiis st ts s y yo ou u lliik ke e lliis st te en niin ng g t to o? ? RG: You know, it’s actually kinda interesting what I’m into since I’m in the Warped Tour/Alternative scene. I actually don’t listen to a lot of that type of music. Not that I don’t enjoy that music, but in my free time I do listen to a lot of sad music; indie like Death Cab For Cutie; my favorite artist of all time is a soul artist called Imogen Heap, a British producer. It’s a lot more of down-tempo stuff, which is mainly what my album, Yalta is as well.

S SR R:: W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er r y yo ou ur rs se ellf f t to o b be e a a c co om mp po os se er r? ? RG: Yeah, I pretty much produce all my stuff and I write all the lyrics. There’s a lot of sound beds. It is very texture related. I enjoy producing because you can have so much fun with it. It’s not just running into the studio for a week and making a record. By producing it myself, I’m able to spend ten months on it and make a legitimate ten song length album. S SR R:: H Ha av ve e y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er re ed d w wo or rk kiin ng g a an nd d p pr ro od du uc ciin ng g w wiit th h o ot th he er r a ar rt tiis st ts s a as s w we ellll? ? RG: Actually, I get asked by other people frequently who want to pay me to produce them. I generally turn it down though just because it takes me forever to do it. (laughed) As you know, being an artist, you have the perfectionist side of you that just takes even the simplest projects the longest time. Also, I don’t want to have that perfect spark of a creation and have to give it away to someone else. I like to keep it ‘in house’ mainly. For my YouTube videos, I typically don’t have a problem working and collaborating with other people because YouTube is like potato chips. You can keep going, or eat, at them one by one and put them out quickly. When it comes to my music, though, it usually takes me up to a year to do. S SR R:: W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u g go o t to o c co olllle eg ge e o ou ut t o of f c cu ur riio os siit ty y? ? RG: American University in Washington D.C. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t d diid d y yo ou u e en nd d u up p m ma ajjo or riin ng g iin n? ? RG: Film production and audio so that’s why I can produce so much of my own products. I know how to do the tech stuff. Deep down, I really am a nerd for the tech stuff. (laughed) I had my whole lighting rigged for my show and I did it all by myself. Not the assembling part, but the programming part. S SR R:: R Re ea alllly y? ? RG: Yeah, I really do enjoy the technical aspect of touring. S SR R:: A As s y yo ou u lle ea ar rn n m mo or re e a an nd d m mo or re e t to o d do o t th he e t te ec ch hn niic ca all a as sp pe ec ct t s siid de e o of f w wh ha at t y yo ou u’’r re e d do oiin ng g,, w wh he er re e d do o y yo ou u w wa an nt t t to o b be e s sa ay y o on ne e t to o f fiiv ve e y ye ea ar rs s d do ow wn n t th he e r ro oa ad d w wiit th h t to ou ur riin ng g? ? RG: Well, as I mentioned before, touring is really hard for me. The first couple tours I did, I had done everything by myself and IT. WAS. A. Nightmare. I had to set up all my lights, organize my look, etc. So, it’s definitely been really nice to have now worked up to having my own crew where I don’t even have to touch things like my lights. I still design them and everything, but they are the ones who set them up and I hate building them up. It is such a pain in the butt. (chuckles) Overall, I really am getting to enjoy being on stage more, but in a year from now? Obviously, I would like it to be bigger and definitely, absorb more of that comfortable feeling I have gained. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u w wa an nt t t to o h ha av ve e iit t w wh he er re e y yo ou u h ha av ve e a a b ba an nd d a ar ro ou un nd d y yo ou u w wh hiille e o on n s st ta ag ge e a an nd d t to ou ur r? ? RG: Honestly, no. I’ve never really wanted that. In the beginning, I couldn’t ever really find anybody that gelled with me so I just continued to run with it all on my own. Now it’s become where I’m a persona on the internet and I think it would be just too odd to add someone now into the picture like that. Maybe down the road when I play bigger venues, but I’m pretty comfortable staying as my own. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t a ar re e w we e llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or r o on n t th hiis s n ne ew w a allb bu um m o of f y yo ou ur rs s,, R Riic ch hiie e? ? RG: Gah, well, I’ve only written three songs on it. (laughs). I mean, I really have enjoyed doing Yalta. It was this huge change because I was kind of a EDM artist beforehand. I’m still going down the Yalta route. I’ve been able to do more and have more freedom in doing what I want to do and carry out through gaining a much bigger fan base and making a bigger profit. S SR R:: T Th he er re e’’s s d de ef fiin niit te elly y t th ha at t s se en ns se e o of f t tr ru ut th h w wiit th h m mo or re e m mo on ne ey y c co om me es s m mo or re e f fr re ee ed do om m.. RG: Oh, yeah. It’s like, even though I’m a film major, music videos still cost hundreds of dollars and it can get tricky. S SR R:: IIs s D D..C C.. s st tiillll h ho om me e b ba as se e f fo or r y yo ou u? ? RG: I actually like in Maryland, but I’m moving to Virginia right after this tour. S SR R:: IIs s t th ha at t a a g go oo od d t th hiin ng g? ? RG: Yeah! I live with a bunch of people right now they’re great people and all, please don’t get me wrong, but I’m planning towards getting a house on farmland preferably on at least ten acres of land where I can just create.. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u e ev ve er r f fe ee ell lliik ke e y yo ou u m miig gh ht t b be e t th he e r re eiin nc ca ar rn na at tiio on n o of f M Miic ch ha ae ell J Ja ac ck ks so on n? ? RG: (laughs) No, but I do get Trent Reznor a lot, though. That’s just because he’s dark and I like dark, plus he’s a great producer and he’s a good guy too. S SR R:: P Po olliit tiic ca alllly y iin n y yo ou ur r a ag ge e,, w wh he en n y yo ou u llo oo ok k a at t t th he e p po olliit tiic cs s o ov ve er ra allll a an nd d w wh he er re e t th hiin ng gs s h ha av ve e h he ea ad de ed d,, h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u s se ee e t th hiis s c co om miin ng g e elle ec ct tiio on n y ye ea ar r a an nd d w wh ha at t w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u lliik ke e t to o s se ee e c ch ha an ng ge e? ? RG: I think it’s one of the weakest ones in a long time. Normally, it’s pretty simple where you have two candidates and you know which one you want. This time around, I’m just really not sure who I want. Obviously, all the young people are going for Bernie. I don’t like Hilary and I don’t like Trump, so I guess Bernie. But I’m not even really happy with that, to be honest. He’s a socialist and his whole deal on taxes is not great. As an entrepreneur, I’m totally going to get driven into the ground if they raise that. It’s definitely a pretty weak run though overall. Last time, it was everybody running behind Obama. Regardless of how you think he did in office, it was still that clear distinction for whom the people were wanting on either side during that election. There was no competition because this is a very close race. I kind of think of the president as a talking head; they’re just the face. They have hundreds of people behind them telling them what do, though they can certainly go off on their [the President's] own tangent. I think people are putting a little too much emphasis on the race. I mean, we can vote for other things as well, y’know? S SR R:: T Th ha at t’’s s t tr ru ue e.. W We e a as s t th he e p pe eo op plle e c ca an n m ma ak ke e t th ha at t c ch ha an ng ge e a an nd d d diif ff fe er re en nc ce e a at t a an ny y p po oiin nt t.. RG: Exactly. Obviously, the U.S. just really likes drama and politics due to the media being really good at it. So, I don’t really like it. My college was super into politics and I was just kind of “I don’t do that. I do art.” Despite living in D.C., I just still separate off and do my thing. S SR R:: IIn n t tu ur rn n t th he en n,, II t th hiin nk k V Viir rg giin niia a w wiillll b be e a a v ve er ry y g go oo od d m mo ov ve e t th he en n.. RG: Certainly. It’s very desolate and I don’t really enjoy living in or next to big cities. I find it too loud and too expensive; it’s needless and I don’t need it. S SR R:: T Th he e c cr re ea at tiiv viit ty y w wiillll d de ef fiin niit te elly y b be e a ab blle e t to o f fllo ow w m mo or re e t th he er re e t to oo o.. RG: Oh, yeah. I remember there was this one point where I didn’t leave my house for about three or four months. I just isolated myself and wrote. It was extremely liberating for me. No strings were attached to me.

Catching up with these guys is like chasing a fast car down the freeway of rock n roll life. You need a high­speed skateboard in order to keep up. Divided Minds are totally focused on creating their sound, sharing it with their fans, and making new friends. Any night of the week you will find lead vocalist Sean Collins, bassist Ethan Cotter, lead guitarist Josh Peters, and drummer Deven Pile either at band practice or performing live. With their release, Perception, these four bandmates are tearing up the nu­post punk side of power. O OM M:: W Wh ha at t o op pp po or rt tu un niit tiie es s d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell t th he er re e a ar re e f fo or r y yo ou u a an nd d y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d a as s D Diiv viid de ed d M Miin nd ds s iin n t th hiis s w wo or rlld d o of f m mu us siic c? ? Sean: To play all shows that come our way and to make people feel good about themselves. We want our music to be inspirational to all. O OM M:: F Fo or r y yo ou u f fiir rs st t E EP P y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d c co om me es s a ac cr ro os ss s t tiig gh ht t.. S So om me et tiim me es s f fiir rs st t e ef ff fo or rt ts s c ca an n s so ou un nd d a a b biit t g gr riit tt ty y,, b bu ut t y yo ou ur r a allb bu um m,, P Pe er rc ce ep pt tiio on n,, f fo or r a a f fr ro os sh h a allb bu um m h ha as s t th he e s so ou un nd d o of f llo on ng ge ev viit ty y t to o iit t.. W Wh ho o d diid d y yo ou u w wo or rk k w wiit th h o on n p pr ro od du uc ct tiio on n? ? E En ng giin ne ee er riin ng g? ? A An nd d h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u a allll f fe ee ell o ov ve er ra allll o on n t th hiis s f fiir rs st t r re ec co or rd diin ng g? ? Sean: We worked with Mike Oliver of Tuff Tones Studios. He produced, engineered and mixed our EP. Mike is a great guy and knows our sound very well. We are happy how our EP turned out. It’s very solid. O OM M:: T Th hiis s E EP P s sh ho ow ws s d diiv ve er rs siit ty y iin n y yo ou ur r b ba an nd d.. F Fr ro om m P Po op p P Pu un nk k/ / t th hr ro ou ug gh h b br re ea ak kd do ow wn ns s/ / P Po os st t H Ha ar rd dc co or re e/ /e ev ve en n lliiv ve e b be eiin ng g a ab blle e t to o c ch ha an ng ge e u up p a a f fe ew w t th hiin ng gs s t to o f fiit t m mo or re e o of f a a m me et ta all s so ou un nd d...... d do o y yo ou u w wa an nt t t to o c co on nt tiin nu ue e t th hiis s d diiv ve er rs siit ty y o or r iis s t th hiis s m mo or re e o of f a an n e ex xp pe er riim me en nt ta at tiio on n iin n y yo ou ur r e ea ar rlly y y ye ea ar rs s? ? Sean: When we write songs it just comes out this way. We are not experimenting. Josh: We all have a lot of different influences. It happens that we like metal, rock and other genres. So it shows in our music. Who knows what we will sound in a few years. At this moment this is what is popping out of our brains. O OM M:: M Ma an ny y b ba an nd ds s f fr ro om m t th he e P Po os st t- -h ha ar rd dc co or re e a an nd d P Po op p P Pu un nk k s sc ce en ne e a ar re e h hiit tt tiin ng g t th he eiir r t te en n y ye ea ar r m ma ar rk k o on n 2 20 01 1 6 6.. W Wh ho o h ha av ve e b be ee en n s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r m ma ajjo or r iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s f fr ro om m t th ha at t t tiim me e p pe er riio od d a as s y yo ou u a ar re e n no ow w e en nt te er riin ng g y yo ou ur rs se ellf f...... a ab bo ou ut t t tw wo o y ye ea ar rs s n no ow w? ? All shout out: Silverstein, A Day to Remember, Sum 41, Green Day, All Time Low, Three Days Grace. O OM M:: P Plla ay yiin ng g a as s m mu uc ch h a as s p po os ss siib blle e a an nd d g ge et tt tiin ng g h ho om me e b ba as se e s su up pp po or rt t b bu uiillt t iis s a a g gr re ea at t c ch ha alllle en ng ge e.. H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u g go o a ab bo ou ut t m ma ar rk ke et tiin ng g y yo ou ur rs se ellv ve es s? ? A An ny y a ad dv viic ce e y yo ou u c ca an n p pa as ss s o on n t to o b be eg giin nn niin ng g b ba an nd ds s w wh ho o m ma ay y jju us st t b be e t th hiin nk kiin ng g...... " "H He ey y,, t th hiis s s su um mm me er r g gu uy ys s lle et t''s s s st ta ar rt t a a b ba an nd d!!" " Sean: At each show you play at, pretend that it’s the biggest show you have ever done. For example, you are performing at Madison Square Garden in front of 50,000 people. Josh: We market ourselves with social media and word of mouth. Connecting with other bands in the community helps out a lot. Engaging with your fans and talking to them is important. Make sure you act professional and treat it like a business, and then people will think you are legit. O OM M:: Y Yo ou u a ar re e a allll s st tiillll iin n h hiig gh h s sc ch ho oo oll.. H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u b ba alla an nc ce e y yo ou ur r s st tu ud diie es s,, b ba an nd d,, p pe er rf fo or rm miin ng g,, t te ee en na ag ge e f fu un n,, h ha an ng giin ng g o ou ut t t tiim me e w wiit th h t th hiis s m miin nd d s se et t a an nd d g go oa all y yo ou u h ha av ve e iin n f fr ro on nt t o of f y yo ou u? ? Josh: We are all really driven to make it as a band and we make it a priority to make sure everything works out. We schedule everything really well and make sure we have fun at the same time. It helps that we have a very supportive family and community. O OM M:: W Wh ho o iis s t th he e b ba an nd ds s t tiim me e m ma an na ag ge er r? ? T Th he e o on ne e w wh ho o s sa ay ys s...... " "G Gu uy ys s w we e n ne ee ed d t to o g ge et t t th hiis s d do on ne e!!" " Sean: Whoever is in the worst mood. O OM M:: W Wiit th h y yo ou ur r b ba an nd d n na am me e a an nd d m ma ar rk ke et tiin ng g t to o iit ts s ''p plla ay y'' o on n o ou ur r o ow wn n p ps sy yc ch he e y yo ou u a allll c cr re ea at te ed d w wiit th h y yo ou ur r f fiir rs st t a allb bu um m c co ov ve er r a an n iin nk k b bllo ot t...... d do o y yo ou u w wa an nt t t to o c co on nt tiin nu ue e w wiit th h t th hiis s iid de ea a o of f p ps sy yc ch ho ollo og gy y a an nd d t th he e m miin nd d? ? All: Yes, we love the concept and want to continue with it. O OM M:: S Su um mm me er r iis s h he er re e...... A An nd d y yo ou u a ar re e p pa ar rt t o of f t th he e s sp pe ec ciia all e ed diit tiio on n o of f " "S Su um mm me er r H Hiig gh hlliig gh ht ts s" "b be ec ca au us se e t th he e S Su um mm me er rs s b be ello on ng g t to o t th he e r ro oc ck k n n r ro ollll y yo ou ut th h.. W Wh ha at t iis s g go oiin ng g o on n iin n D Diiv viid de ed d M Miin nd ds s s su um mm me er r a an nd d o on n iin nt to o t th he e r re es st t o of f 2 20 01 1 7 7? ? Deven: Writing more music, and performing. Josh: We are going to Utah this summer to shoot another video for a song off our EP. We are not sure which one yet. We also have songs written and will be recording them within the next year. F Fu un n F Fa ac ct ts s: : ( (a al ll l b ba an nd d) ) F Fa av vo or riit te e f fo oo od ds s? ? Deven: Cheeseburgers. Ethan: Pizza. Josh: Hot wings. Sean: Philly Cheese Steaks. D Diis sn ne ey y o or r P Piix xa ar r? ? All: Pixar

h d r r d P PC C,, X Xb bo ox x,, P Plla ay ys st ta at tiio on n? ? Deven: Xbox & PC. Ethan: Xbox & PC. Josh: Xbox. Sean: Xbox & PC. S Sk ka at te eb bo oa ar rd d b br ra an nd d? ? Deven: Sector 9. Ethan : Sector 9. Josh: Mini Logo. Sean: Sector 9. L Lo on ng gb bo oa ar rd d o or r s sh ho or rt t? ? Deven: Long. Ethan: Long. Josh: Short. Sean: Short. F Fa av vo or riit te e a allll t tiim me e m mo ov viie e? ? Deven: Star Wars Episode V. Ethan: Breakfast Club. Josh: Forrest Gump. Sean: Fight Club. F Fa av vo or riit te e a allll t tiim me e b bo oo ok k? ? Deven: Great Gatsby. Ethan: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Josh: Macbeth. Sean: Dante’s Inferno. S St ta ay yiin ng g iin n f fo or r a a m mo ov viie e a at t h ho om me e w wiit th h f fr riie en nd ds s o or r g go oiin ng g o ou ut t t to o a a m mo ov viie e? ? Deven: Out. Ethan: In. Josh: In. Sean: Out. P Piiz zz za a t to op pp piin ng gs s? ?? ?? ?? ? Deven: Cheese. Ethan: Cheese. Josh: Bacon. Sean: Olives. S Sn na ap p b ba ac ck k o or r b be ea an niie e? ? Deven: Snap Back. Ethan: Beanie. Josh: Snap Back. Sean: Beanie. B Biig gg ge es st t t tu ur rn no of ff f? ? Deven: When she does not know who Dave Grohl is. Ethan: Girls who do not shave. Josh: Girls that can’t hang with the guys. Sean: Over using the word “literally”.

H Hii L Le eo on na ar rd d,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I've been good, thank you. At this exact moment I just spent the day hanging out and walking rescued dogs, so I'm in dire need of a shower. II w wa as s r re ea ad diin ng g t th hr ro ou ug gh h y yo ou ur r b biio o a an nd d s sa aw w y yo ou u a ac ct tu ua alllly y h ha av ve e a a B BA A d de eg gr re ee e iin n E En ng glliis sh h.. D Diid d y yo ou u iin nt te en nd de ed d t to o s st ta ar rt t a a c ca ar re ee er r a as s a a s sc cr re ee en nw wr riit te er r? ? I think there was a brief moment at UCLA where I had considered it. And when I say brief, I mean like two seconds. The main reason I ended up becoming an English major was because my parents thought that having a somewhat more pragmatic field of study (as opposed to say strictly theater) would be a safer bet for my future, and one of my good friends, who was in the MFA screenwriting program, recommended I consider studying English. So I started taking classes and fell in love with the material, and just became consumed with the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer, or stuff from the Romantic Period like Wordsworth and Blake. W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o b be ec co om me e a an n a ac ct to or r? ? Acting is actually something that I had always felt like I was meant to do since as far back as I can remember. But growing up in DC, it was just unheard of among my peers and so it wasn't something I really explored. When it was time to go to college, I decided to head out to Los Angeles, as it seemed like the obvious place to start. I think I kind of blindsided my parents with that, but they were supportive. When I wasn't busy studying literature, I was literally doing theater anywhere and everywhere I could all over campus. S Siin nc ce e y yo ou ur r iin nc ce ep pt tiio on n iin nt to o t th hiis s w wo or rlld d y yo ou u h ha av ve e h ha ad d t th he e c ch ha an nc ce e o of f w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n v ve er ry y a am mb biit tiio ou us s p pr ro ojje ec ct ts s s su uc ch h a as s t th he e M Ma ar rt tiin n S Sc co or rs se es se e p pr ro od du uc ce ed d f fe ea at tu ur re e " "R Re ev ve en ng ge e o of f t th he e G Gr re ee en n D Dr ra ag go on ns s.." " W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k o on n a a f fiillm m o of f t th hiis s m ma ag gn niit tu ud de e a an nd d w wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce es s lliik ke e t th hiis s? ? So as I understand it, Andrew Lau (the director of Green Dragons) was looking to make a movie in America. And since he directed the phenomenal Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs, upon which Martin Scorsese's Oscar winning The Departed was based, they had a working relationship, so Scorsese came onboard to help Lau produce. For me, this was kind of a dream situation. I grew up on a lot of Hong Kong films and I loved Lau's Infernal Affairs as well as his Young and Dangerous series. As for Scorsese, well, that's an opportunity to work with a living legend. You'd be a fool to turn it down. It's interesting because although Green Dragons had a lot of pedigree behind it, it was shot in a real raw, run- and-gun, indie sort of way, which you can feel in the movie. It's incredibly kinetic, and what I had learned from Lau is that he never lets his foot off the gas to go below 100 miles an hour. He brought that Hong Kong filmmaking sensibility to America, and I loved every minute of it. Often times on a show or movie, when you're doing a scene you have to hit certain marks, turn your head a certain way, move your hand that way. It can get very clinical, taking away all the fun and energy. Working on Green Dragons was the complete opposite of that. Everything was so quick and fluid, and our DP and his amazing team were just constantly moving around, that 90% of the time I didn't even know where the cameras were. It was like doing theater in the round. What this meant was that I never became self-conscious about where the cameras were, I could stay in the moment, let loose and do my thing. That certainly helped me get into the skin of the character I played, Ah Chung, who is incredibly mercurial and crazy violent.

N No ow w,, y yo ou u a ar re e p plla ay yiin ng g O Or ru us s o on n N Ne et tf flliix x''s s M Ma ar rc co o P Po ollo o.. H Ho ow w d do oe es s iit t f fe ee ell t to o jjo oiin n t th he e s sh ho ow w a as s a a n ne ew w c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r f fo or r iit ts s u up pc co om miin ng g s se ec co on nd d s se ea as so on n? ? W We er re e y yo ou u a allr re ea ad dy y a a f fa an n o of f t th he e s se er riie es s? ? Working on Marco Polo, I got to check off so many things on my bucket list, it was such an amazing and rewarding experience. I've always been a fan of sweeping historical epics, and the canvas upon which John Fusco, the creator of Marco Polo, painted the series was just beautiful. I remember reading his two episode pilot from season one and being absolutely floored. He is truly a modern day warrior poet. Anything and everything that John writes about, he immerses and lives it. He's a master horseman, an expert at martial arts, an accomplished musician. There wasn't one person on the production who wasn't inspired by him, and I felt so blessed to be able to work with him and an amazing team. F Fo or r t th hiis s s se ea as so on n,, y yo ou u g go ot t t to o f fiillm m iin n m ma an ny y e ex xo ot tiic c llo oc ca at tiio on ns s.. H Ho ow w d diid d t th he e s su ur rr ro ou un nd diin ng g e en nv viir ro on nm me en nt t iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou u a as s a an n a ac ct to or r a an nd d y yo ou ur r p pe er rf fo or rm ma an nc ce e? ? It was huge. I can't emphasize enough how helpful it was to be on location. First off, many of the locations we're at are in the middle of nowhere, so you bond with people from the production. I've formed some lifelong friendships with my cast-mates, the stunt team, people in the costume department, makeup department, etc. And it really is like being part of this team, this family where everyone has each other's backs running this grueling, but rewarding marathon together. I remember my first day of filming, we were in Hungary, out in the middle of nowhere far from civilization. To get to set, I had to walk through a clearing, and as I came out into the open, my jaw just hit the floor. They had built an entire ger village and there were giant statues, dozens of horses, dozens of camels, chickens, goats, hundreds of Mongolian extras (who came from Mongolia!) to play villagers. I mean, they had literally built a village. None of it was green screen. All of it was real and practical. As an actor, to be able to perform in such a fashion where everything is so tangible, so completely at your fingertips, it's such a gift. As John Fusco, the creator of Marc Polo would state, "We're not just making Marco Polo, we're living it." A An ny y f fu un n a an ne ec cd do ot te es s f fr ro om m f fiillm miin ng g M Ma ar rc co o P Po ollo o a ab br ro oa ad d? ? Oh, man, there are just too many countless, memorable stories when you're on a production of this magnitude for six months. And it certainly doesn't hurt when the cast and crew is like family to you, and you get to share so many moments together. There is one anecdote in particular that I remember vividly. So I spent a lot of time with Claudia Kim, who became like a sister to me. There was this one moment where we're having this intense conversation, walking through the forest with our horses. I turn to her and I'm about to say something deep and meaningful, and suddenly my horse, Felho, he breaks out into a loud neigh. The shot is a pretty complicated dolly, so I just hold my position, wait for Felho to stop, so I can continue. But he keeps going. And going. And going. I think he neighed for what felt like 10 seconds. And when he was finally done, everyone just broke out laughing and we had to start all over. That was a special moment, because it was towards the tail end of working in Hungary, and also the last time I worked with Felho who I just completely fell in love with. And that's kind of indicative of the nature of a production like this where there are so many logistics that the producers, directors, and ADs have to juggle. You're dealing with so many factors that go beyond purely acting, whether it's the weather, or the natural light, or in this instance an animal who is as integral to the scene as you are. S Se ee eiin ng g t th ha at t y yo ou u c co om me e f fr ro om m a a m ma ar rt tiia all a ar rt ts s b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d,, d do o y yo ou u e ev ve er r g ge et t t to o d do o y yo ou ur r o ow wn n s st tu un nt ts s? ? So basically on a show like Marco Polo, if you're playing one of the warriors and you're not filming, you're more than likely doing some sort of training, whether it be weightlifting, horseback riding, or fight choreography. What this meant was that I got to spend a lot of time working with the amazing stunt coordinator, Brett Chan, and his incomparable Hitz International Stunt Team. What this also means is that, yes, you do indeed do a lot of your own stunts. I had an amazing stunt double from China by the name of Hua Zhang (the stunt team members from China had nicknames and his was Six Pack...pretty self-explanatory), and we worked extensively together and became very good friends. A lot of the more complicated horseback riding, a lot of the heavy falls or flips, that was all him. The man is an amazing acrobat and I was more than happy to have him come in and do that stuff for me. At the same time, the producers and directors want the actors to be able to do as much as they can, so I would say that for any given fight, we were trained to be able to do about 85-90% of it ourselves. It certainly didn't hurt that I have a background in Kung Fu and boxing, so I can generally pick up choreography pretty quickly, but of all that would have been pointless if it wasn't for the fact that we had some of the best athletes from around the world on the stunt team teaching us day in and day out. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n L Le eo on na ar rd d W Wu u''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I've actually been involving myself with another passion of mine, doing non-profit work (thus the walking rescued dogs). And while that's not keeping me busy, I'm doing a little bit of writing, developing and producing my own projects.

H Hii R Re ez za a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Thank you, I've been great though I can’t believe we've lost Bowie, Prince and George Martin all in the same year! Even though it's so sad, it’s been a beautiful experience to go to tribute shows and parties where you are sharing in the joy of reflecting on these incredible artists' work with other fans. S So o w wh ha at t d dr ra aw w y yo ou u iin nt to o t th he e m mu us siic ca all w wo or rlld d? ? I understood music before I could speak English, so its something I have an economics degree and during a brief, soul crushing stint in the world of finance I realized that I needed to follow my passion instead. T Tw wo o o of f y yo ou ur r g gr re ea at te es st t iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s c co ou ulld dn n''t t b be e a an ny y m mo or re e d diif ff fe er re en nt t - - d do o y yo ou u t tr ry y t to o t ta ak ke e s so om me e o of f b bo ot th h B Be ee et th ho ov ve en n a an nd d N NIIN N o or r y yo ou u s so om me eh ho ow w a allw wa ay ys s t tr ry y t to o f fiin nd d t th he e w wa ay y o of f b blle en nd diin ng g b bo ot th h s st ty ylle es s t to og ge et th he er r? ? They are worlds apart sonically but actually not so far apart melodically. If Beethoven were alive today I could see him messing around with some dirty industrial sounds, interweaving them in his composition! Everything I've ever loved listening to is latently lodged in the back of my mind somewhere and depending on what I'm scoring, different combinations of influences will intuitively surface, and I'll just have fun with them! S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f s st ty ylle e,, y yo ou u a ar re e k kn no ow wn n f fo or r b blle en nd diin ng g d diif ff fe er re en nt t g ge en nr re es s t to og ge et th he er r - - w wh ha at t''s s u us su ua alllly y y yo ou ur r w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? D Do o y yo ou u b blle en nd d t tw wo o d diif ff fe er re en nt t s st ty ylle e t to og ge et th he er r d de ep pe en nd diin ng g o on n t th he e f fiillm m''s s t th he em me e? ? Yes, exactly, I take my lead from the movie, and the director...I try to write as fluidly as possible, just kind of following my gut. That may involve blending styles if it feels like the right thing to do! L Le et t''s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t T Th he e T Tr ru us st t - - h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u g ge et t iin nv vo ollv ve ed d iin n t th hiis s p pr ro ojje ec ct t? ? I saw the film, loved it and pitched my ideas. W Wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e g go oiin ng g t to o w wr riit te e d do ow wn n t th he e m mu us siic c f fo or r a a f fiillm m iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e f fiir rs st t y yo ou u a allw wa ay ys s d do o? ? D Do o y yo ou u r re ea ad d t th he e s sc cr riip pt t o or r a an na ally yz ze e e ev ve er ry y s sc ce en ne e? ? I usually see a nearly locked cut and write notes on everything that hits me as I watch it, that way I have a point of reference that always reminds me what my visceral feelings were before I thought too much about it. I try and get about 80% of the work done from there and finesse the last 20% by analyzing each scene. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e c ca alllle ed d t th hiis s f fiillm m a a m mu us siic ca all a ad dv ve en nt tu ur re e - - y yo ou u m me ea an n t th ha at t iin n a a g go oo od d o or r a a b ba ad d w wa ay y? ? In a great way. The movie is so unique in the way it sets you up for a comedy and then takes a very dark U-turn, that made for an adventure in scoring. W Wa as s iit t a an ny y d diif ff fe er re en nt t t to o w wh ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e d do on ne e iin n t th he e p pa as st t? ? Yes, the directors of this film had such a strong style and sense of what they wanted, that gave the film its awesome character which totally inspired me. W Wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u c ch ho oo os se e t to o w wr riit te e a allll t th he e m mu us siic c u us siin ng g s st tr riin ng g iin ns st tr ru um me en nt ts s iin ns st te ea ad d o of f E ED DM M o or r h hiip p h ho op p b be ea at ts s a as s y yo ou u u us su ua alllly y d do o? ? It just fit the vibe here, and the kind of strings I'm using are deliberately intimate. I found it was a good way of tapping into the humor and also the psychological complexity. I often use strings actually, more often than electronic scores, but I guess the electronic ones stood out cos they were pretty out there! D Diid d y yo ou u o on nlly y w wr riit te e m mu us siic c f fo or r t th he e s sc ce en ne es s o or r y yo ou u w wa an nt te ed d t to o g giiv ve e e ev ve er ry y c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r iit ts s o ow wn n t th he em me e? ? The characters have their own themes, that morph together to form a central idea which deconstructs and reconstructs depending on the morality and danger dynamics. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s? ? The vintage feel just seemed to work really well and again fit with the directors vibe, so we ran with it. H Ho ow w h ha as s y yo ou ur r p pr re ev viio ou us s w wo or rk k a as s a a f fiillm m p pr ro od du uc ce er r h ha av ve e h he ellp pe ed d y yo ou u b be eiin ng g a a b be et tt te er r c co om mp po os se er r? ? It helps understand what other people's expectations are, and what pressures they are facing and how you can help them. L Liiv viin ng g n no ow w iin n L LA A,, h ha as s iit ts s s sc ce en ne e a an nd d e en nv viir ro on nm me en nt t h ha av ve e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou u iin n a an ny y w wa ay y? ? Its a very creative environment, you're surrounded by artists, its nice to be constantly inspired by or learning from your peers. W Wh ha at t''s s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n R Re ez za a S Sa af fiin niia a''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I got a voodoo thriller coming up which I'm super excited about! I'll get to do some really wild stuff!

H Hii B Br ro oo ok ke e,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Well, like the title of my soon-to-be-released book Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess, I’ve been my hot mess self (LOL)! But, I got very excited when Katz Public Relations informed me of our interview. S So o h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou ur r llo ov ve e f fo or r a ac ct tiin ng g g ge et t s st ta ar rt te ed d? ? I was singing and dancing from a young age, which led me into musical theatre in Philadelphia, which led me into comedy in New York. I got my first “break” in the New York Off-Broadway Comedy Tony N' Tina's Wedding, then went on to do TV sitcoms like Quintuplets and Mafiosa, then acted in mobster dramas like Pride & Loyalty and Sinatra Club, then broke out in the horror genre with films like Kinky Killers, iMurders and Slime City Massacre earning the title of a "Scream Queen", then combined my experience in comedy, mobster movies and horror and created the role and brand, which I am best known...Ms. Vampy! See, we never know where each path leads us. A Ac ct to or rs s u us su ua alllly y h he ea ad d t to o L LA A t to o t tr ry y a an nd d f fiin nd d s so om me e llu uc ck k - - w wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u iin ns st te ea ad d g go o t to o N NY YC C f fiir rs st t? ? I was a total East Coast girl and a total “theatre” girl! My Mom had been taking me from Philly to New York to see Broadway shows, since childhood. I had always dreamed of moving to NYC to study theatre and acting. I had a few best friends from college who moved back to NYC after school. It seemed like the natural process for a sassy, ethnic girl like me (LOL)! Plus, I really am like a VampireZI hate the sun and I come alive at night! H Ho ow w h ha as s y yo ou ur r t th he ea at te er r b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d y yo ou ur r c ca ar re ee er r n no ow w a as s a a T TV V a an nd d m mo ov viie e a ac ct tr re es ss s? ? OMG! After YEARS of working as an actress in Equity professional theatre, I literally had to “relearn” acting and how to transition from theatre to film and TV! It was hilarious! I was young in NYC and started auditioning for film and TV and I would hear, “Too big! Bring it down.” I took a bunch of film and TV classes and workshops to learn each of the different mediums. But, I will say, there is nothing like doing live theatre. I think every actor should work in the theatre at some point. If an actor can handle the preparation, intensity and pressure of live theatre, they can handle just about anything. I believe my theatre career gave me the discipline and courage to transition to TV and film. Y Yo ou u s st ta ar rt te ed d d do oiin ng g c co om me ed dy y - - w wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o t th he e h ho or rr ro or r g ge en nr re e? ? I know, funny, right? And, “funnier” is that a lot of the horror films I have acted in have been horror/comedy in the horror genre. Also, I was obsessed with Vampires, as a young girl and was a huge fan of all the 80s horror films when I was a kid. I starred in, and was one of the executive producers on, Kinky Killers ten years ago, and suddenly, the media was calling me “one of the new “it” Scream Queens”. It was “horrific” and I embraced it! H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m o on ne e g ge en nr re e t to o t th he e o ot th he er r? ? Like I said, it was “horrific” and I embraced it! I have worked in many genres and many mediums throughout my acting career and I can honestly say there is no better community and fan base than that of horror! The fans are incredible and loyal through and through. My horror fans have supported me through the worst of my performances and praised me through the best of them. The horror community is like a big fraternity and family, and albeit, sometimes dysfunctional, we love each other! And, I am proud to have had the title of “Scream Queen” bestowed upon me years ago. My definition is “A sexy, powerful woman acting in the horror genre.” I love it! A At t t th hiis s p po oiin nt t y yo ou u f fe ee ell m mo or re e c co om mf fo or rt ta ab blle e o on n t th hiis s g ge en nr re e? ? A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o m ma ay yb be e o on ne e d da ay y jju um mp p iin nt to o y yo ou ur r " "f fiir rs st t llo ov ve e" "? ? I feel comfortable in any genre. I just love actingZthat is my soul and what I do. I still act in all genres and over the past few years have done the mobster movie Sinatra Club, Neil Johnson’s Sci-fi features Starship: Rising and its sequal Starship: Apocalypse, Marc Clebanoff’s drama/thriller The Mourning and have been working on the TV development deal for Ms. Vampy’s teen comedy/drama Vamp It Out. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f llo ov ve e,, w wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e n no ot t a ac ct tiin ng g y yo ou u a ar re e w wo or rk kiin ng g a as s a a L Liif fe e C Co oa ac ch h - - t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th ha at t? ? Empowerment is something I am committed to in my life and work. As an actress, I have empowered young women through my Ms. Vampy’s Teen Tawk show and book. My teen talk show inspired me to go back to school at The Life Purpose Institute to become a Board Certified Life Coach and Dating Coach, then launch my coaching company Be You And Be Fearless Life Coach. As a coach, I have supported people in following their dreams and have empowered them to “Be Fearless” in their dating and online dating lives. In January 2016, I earned the title Tempted Dating Expert & Spokesperson for the online dating site Tempted.com. I helped to revamp this site and empower members to make dating choices that serve whatever their individual needs are. I am a firm believer that people can have whatever they want and whatever brings them joy in life, without self-judgment! D Do o y yo ou u t te en nd d t to o t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h d de ep pe en nd diin ng g o on n p pe eo op plle e''s s g ge en nd de er r a an nd d/ /o or r p pe er rs so on na a? ? Excellent question! When I am coaching clients, I am using specific skills and processes from many years of training. However, I definitely tailor my approach to each individual person. It is not so much gender based, but personality, emotion and behavior based. I cherish my clients and have learned exactly how to handle, support and mentor each one of them. Some people grow and thrive with a more nurturing form of coaching, some with a need for constant accountability and others want a tougher approach. A good coach understands behavior and the differences. W Wh ha at t h ha as s b be ee en n t th he e c cr ra az ziie es st t,, P PG G- -1 1 3 3 t tiip p y yo ou u h ha av ve e g giiv ve en n t to o s so om me eo on ne e b be ef fo or re e? ? BE YOUZAND, BE FEARLESS! This is my tip in life and work! And, make no mistakeZit is not easy! Always be yourself and go after what you want. Life is short! Life is challenging! It is not the challenges, obstacles or problems that break us or bring us down, but how we choose to deal with them. Follow your heart, gut and intuition and don’t allow others to sway you or convince you what is best for you. Don’t take things too personally and don’t allow your ego to get in your way. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n B Br ro oo ok ke e L Le ew wiis s'' w wo or rlld d? ? Wow, is there time for more (LOL)? I feel like I am in a great place in my life and career. I have a few Reality TV development deals for shows with me as a Dating Expert. I have the most amazing team of writers and producers working with me on our TV series Vamp It Out. My coaching book Coaching From A Professed Hot Mess will be published this summer. And, last, but not least, I am attached to act in some awesome indie films with directors Marc Clebanoff, Thomas Churchill and Robbie Bryan. I am one lucky, but busy lady! Thank you to VENTS Magazine and all your sexy readers. Remember, BE FEARLESS! XO Brooke Lewis http://brookelewis.com/ http://beyouandbefearlesslifecoach.com/ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506989/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-OFFICIAL-BROOKE-LEWIS-FAN- PAGE/337389067701 https://twitter.com/BrookeLewisLA https://www.instagram.com/brookelewisla/ Photographer: Birdie Thompson Glam: Arax (Glamourax)

H Hii f fo ollk ks s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Julia: Thanks for having us! Noel: We’re great! Excited to talk with you. Y Yo ou u a at tt te en nd de ed d E Em me er rs so on n C Co olllle eg ge e t to og ge et th he er r.. IIs s t th hiis s w wh he er re e t th he e iid de ea a f fo or r B Br ro oo ok klly yn n S So ou un nd d f fiir rs st t d de ev ve ello op pe ed d? ? Julia: We met our freshman year and became fast friends, but the idea for Brooklyn Sound didn’t actually come up until about two years ago. I do think a lot of the ideas and songs we made up together in college helped to shape our style of humor, and definitely started us on a path where we knew we’d be finding a way to make up songs and play characters. Noel: Julia and I took a songwriting class together, and as soon as we paired up one week I think we both kind of said to ourselves, “Okay, this has to be a thing now.” We never stopped writing songs and whenever we would hang out and joke around in New York we’d divert into weird characters. So we put ‘em together and SPLAT. Here we are. F Fo or r t th ho os se e w wh ho o h ha av ve en n’’t t s se ee en n B Br ro oo ok klly yn n S So ou un nd d,, t te ellll u us s w wh hy y p pe eo op plle e s sh ho ou ulld d c ch he ec ck k iit t o ou ut t? ? Julia: This show is a total labor of love that we made for fellow music and comedy fans, and I think people who like underdog stories and original music will enjoy it. Hopefully people who dislike underdog stories will enjoy it too. Plus there are only six short episodes and the whole series is under an hour, so what’ve you got to lose! Noel: Brooklyn Sound is a fake recording studio with the realest love for the music industry it mirrors. It’s a world of artists and characters and bands that probably don’t exist, but we kind of wish they did (okay, we really wish they did). Y Yo ou u w wr ro ot te e,, a ac ct te ed d iin n,, a an nd d c cr re ea at te ed d/ /s sc co or re ed d a allll t th he e o or riig giin na all m mu us siic c h he ea ar rd d iin n B Br ro oo ok klly yn n S So ou un nd d.. H Ho ow w h ha ar rd d w wa as s iit t t to o w we ea ar r a allll t th ho os se e d diif ff fe er re en nt t h ha at ts s? ? Julia: Noel and I sometimes talk about how we both grew up trying a little bit of everything creatively, and how that’s stayed with us as adults. We both thrive on a bit of creative ADD, so it’s exciting to make up a character one day, then write some songs another day, then put it on camera, etc. It’s fun to wear as many hats as possible, because 1) you might get a fun nickname like “Many Hat McGoo”, and 2) you get to be more deeply involved in bringing your idea to life. Noel actually illustrated a couple of the album covers that you see in the show too, so there were even layers like that where we got to enjoy playing with the smaller details. Noel: Many Hat McGoo is right. We have a lot of fun jumping between the different disciplines. As a songwriter, it’s incredibly fun to write a song for a character and then get to play the character that sings that song; it’s a real trip. O On n t th he e f flliip p s siid de e,, iit t m mu us st t a alls so o b be e g gr ra at tiif fy yiin ng g t to o h ha av ve e c cr re ea at tiiv ve e c co on nt tr ro oll? ? Julia: Definitely gratifying. We saw the world of this show so vividly when we made it up, that it felt important to be a part of all of the big decisions creatively. That said, it was also really gratifying to relinquish a lot of the control to our director Drew Van Steenbergen and DP Matt Figler once we were filming, because they completely understood the idea and style of the show, and brought in a million new ideas about how to present the show aesthetically. It was a really fun experience to create this story, and then just go into actor mode and be guided through it. Noel: I think if we outsourced the songs or the scriptwriting or anything it wouldn’t have been as pure of a project for us. We knew what we wanted to do and Drew and Matt had a very clear picture of what it would look like. When it came time to put the show in their hands, it was a huge relief. We could finally relax into character and have fun. W We e g ge et t t th he e s se en ns se e t th ha at t N Ne ew w Y Yo or rk k h ha as s p plla ay ye ed d a a m ma ajjo or r r ro olle e o on n b bo ot th h o of f y yo ou u a as s a ar rt tiis st ts s.. W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y t th hiis s iis s a ac cc cu ur ra at te e? ? W Wh hy y c ch ho oo os se e B Br ro oo ok klly yn n a as s t th he e b ba ac ck kd dr ro op p o of f t th he e s se er riie es s? ? Julia: I think that’s totally accurate. We both moved to New York right after college, and I think just the experience of living in New York for five years has had a major impact on us creatively. I think anyone who spends at least a few years living in New York will agree that being here starts to shape you and test you in really significant ways. We’ve been here long enough now to experience getting knocked down a few (hundred) times, and to get back up, and I’m constantly inspired by creative people who are doing the same every day. Brooklyn became the backdrop for the series, mostly because I was inspired by watching my boyfriend Rocky Gallo build his recording studio, ‘Virtue and Vice Studios’ in South Williamsburg. I was learning about all of this incredible vintage equipment, and listening to the amazing range of indie artists that he works with, and the studio became this really vivid and interesting environment that I couldn’t help but be inspired by. When we paired that with the different bands Noel and I were coming up with, it just made sense. ‘Virtue and Vice’ is also where we filmed the show. B Br ro oo ok klly yn n S So ou un nd d h ha as s b be ee en n d de es sc cr riib be ed d a as s “ “P Po or rt tlla an nd diia a” ” m me ee et ts s “ “P Pa ar rk ks s a an nd d R Re ec cr re ea at tiio on n” ” m me ee et ts s “ “A A M Miig gh ht ty y W Wiin nd d..” ” W Wh he en n d de ev ve ello op piin ng g t th he e s se er riie es s,, h ho ow w m mu uc ch h o of f a an n iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e ( (iif f a an ny y) ) d diid d t th he es se e s sh ho ow ws s/ /m mo ov viie es s p plla ay y iin n y yo ou ur r c cr re ea at tiiv ve e p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Noel: To us, these shows were proof that something like Brooklyn Sound could happen; that maybe we could whip up a new recipe that used some of those familiar flavors. Personally, when I found out that Christopher Guest and Michael McKean wrote all their songs for “A Mighty Wind” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” I just about lost my mind. It brings all those fictional bands one step closer to reality for me. W Wh ha at t’’s s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n y yo ou ur r w wo or rlld d? ? Julia: I’m currently working on a pilot and a new standup/music comedy show, and Noel and I are getting ready to do another one of our live shows, Ruby Manger Live! at 54 Below on May 22nd. We’re also excited to keep spreading the word about Brooklyn Sound and see what happens next! Noel: I’m finally returning from a six-month stint on a national tour, so I’m more than excited to be back in New York working with Julia again.

H Hii R Ru ud dy y,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I’ve been very well, thanks for having me! S So o w wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o b be ec co om me e a an n a ac ct to or r? ? It’s been such an interesting journey. I started when I was a kid by dragging my parents to these big talent searches. Basically they were these big conventions that you’d attend to get “discovered” but you’d just end up getting scammed out of a bunch of money which isn’t fun. In high school I gave it another try and I discovered some amazing playwrights. Then in college I had some great teachers who were mentors to me and they encouraged me to keep working. They taught me to keep at it whether it’s doing plays or taking classes, everything will help you in the long run. That’s what got me into acting. W Wh ha at t d diid d y yo ou u lle ea ar rn n f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r d da ay ys s iin n d dr ra am ma a s sc ch ho oo oll t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e u us siin ng g iin n y yo ou ur r c cu ur rr re en nt t a ac ct tiin ng g r ro olle es s? ? We did some improvisation and clowning in drama school that still helps me today. I tend to go out for comedic parts and having a good sense of timing and rhythm in a scene always helps to keep the energy up and sell the funny moments. Having training in comedy actually helps when you’re doing something more serious because the first thing you’ll learn in comedy is that there’s always something deeper going on underneath a smile. II u un nd de er rs st ta an nd d iin n y yo ou ur r e ea ar rlly y c ca ar re ee er r,, y yo ou u u us se ed d t to o a a p pu up pp pe et te ee er r - - t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th ha at t? ? Sure! In college I received an undergraduate research grant to study various forms of puppetry. When I tell people I studied puppetry, I think they get this idea of me playing with sock puppets or something. In reality there’s so much more to it! I was really inspired by Bunraku style puppets from Japan which is one of the most intricate forms of puppetry. It takes three people to operate one puppet and years of training. I’m fortunate to have worked with Rogue Artists Ensemble here in L.A. where I got to perform with a puppet like that. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m t th ha at t t to o a ac ct tiin ng g o on n t th he e s sm ma allll s sc cr re ee en n? ? That’s a good question! I don’t necessarily think of it as a transition. I have friends who are musicians, or comedians who still make it a point to do shows when they’re not working on a tv project. I still do stage plays and I hope to do a lot more theater in the future. But in terms of a transition, I would say there are things you learn in TV that you don’t know until you walk on set. I learned so much over the years, not just by watching other actors but by observing the director, the crew, the DP, the producers, the writers, and everyone. The last thing you want to be is that actor who has no idea how shows get made, or how much hard work is happening all around you. S So o h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s lliik ke e f fo or r H He ea ar rt tb be ea at t? ? It was a whirlwind! My character wasn’t cast until a week before filming began. I remember getting the initial read, then a callback, and finally a test for producers all within a few days. Within a week I was on a plane to Vancouver where we shot the pilot. At the final callback, producers Brad Silberling and Amy Brenneman were in the room and they are just the coolest people ever so I was very much at ease. My character follows Dr. Alex Panettiere around and takes orders from her so Brad took me through this exercise where he barked a bunch of orders at me and I had to frantically react and listen at the same time. It was so much fun. W Wiit th h a allll t th he e m me ed diic ca all d dr ra am ma as s o on n T TV V n no ow w - - w wh ha at t w wa as s iit t a ab bo ou ut t t th hiis s o on ne e iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r t th ha at t c ca au ug gh ht t y yo ou ur r a at tt te en nt tiio on n t th he e m mo os st t? ? Well for starters it’s inspired by real life. Dr. Kathy Magliato wrote the book “Heart Matters” which was the inspiration for the show so all the characters and all the medical procedures you see have a good deal of authenticity to them. In Heartbeat, Dr. Panttiere is known as somewhat of a maverick. She’s very charismatic and a risk taker, and when you meet Dr. Kathy, you’ll see exactly where that came from! Heartbeat is really not just a procedural because you get way more character development. It’s also really funny! It’s such a well layered show. A Ar re e t th he er re e a an ny y d diif ff fe er re en nc ce es s b be et tw we ee en n R Ru ud dy y M Ma ar rt tiin ne ez z a an nd d M Ma ar rt ty y? ? The major difference is that Marty went to medical school and Rudy played with puppets in college. Other than that I think there are a lot of similarities between me and my character on Heartbeat. I think Marty tries in earnest to do his very best and make a good impression, and I’m a lot like that. H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar re e f fo or r t th hiis s r ro olle e? ? I did a lot of research about intern life. Interns are in their first year out of med school and it can be a fairly competitive lifestyle. They don’t get much sleep and are often overworked but they’re becoming doctors. They are there every day helping to save lives. I’ve found that interns have an incredible amount of compassion for people so I tried to put that quality in Marty when I played the role. W Wh ha at t e ells se e c ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t M Ma ar rt ty y? ? He’s kind of the runt of the litter. He’s not the most likely candidate to be taken under Alex’s wing, but she likes an underdog and she knows there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s super smart so I wouldn’t underestimate him, because he’ll definitely surprise you. S Sllo ow wlly y b bu ut t f fiir rm mlly y M Ma ar rt ty y iis s b be ec co om miin ng g A Alle ex x''s s s siid de ek kiic ck k - - h ho ow w w wiillll t th hiis s r re ella at tiio on n e ev vo ollv ve e t th hr ro ou ug gh ho ou ut t t th he e s se ea as so on n? ? I can’t say too much but there is a moment near the end of the season when the baby bird has to fly the nest so to speak. Marty is pretty loyal to Alex so he follows all her orders, but a situation happens when Alex isn’t there and Marty has to think quick. He’s finally able to apply his knowledge to a real life situation and I think that shows how the teacher and student relationship between Marty and Alex pays off. N No ow w,, o on n t th he e o ot th he er r s siid de e o of f t th he e s sp pe ec ct tr ru um m,, II r re ea ad d y yo ou u lliik ke e t to o p plla ay y a an nd d w wr riit te e m mu us siic c - - a an ny y c ch ha an nc ce e w we e c co ou ulld d s se ee e y yo ou u r re elle ea as siin ng g s so om me e o or riig giin na all m mu us siic c a an nd d m ma ay yb be e a an n a allb bu um m? ? Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be releasing an album any time soon! It’s really a hobby. I like to play little tunes on my ukulele and sing, and I occasionally write songs but I have very talented friends who are the real musicians! But who knows, I’d love to play a show one day. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n R Ru ud dy y M Ma ar rt tiin ne ez z''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I think it’s vacation time for me! It’s been such a good season with Heartbeat being on the air, and now I’m looking forward to a Euro trip I’m planning. I’m also helping to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research and patient support through the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Dr. Nick Nissen got me involved and he’s the real life inspiration for Dr. Pierce on Heartbeat, so I’m pretty excited about that!

H Hii B Ba ak ke er r,, w we ellc co om me e b ba ac ck k t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Thanks! I’ve been well – glad to be back. S So o b ba ac ck k w wh he en n w we e t ta allk ke ed d y yo ou u w we er re e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n t th hiis s c co om me ed dy y s se er riie es s,, n no ow w II n no ot tiic ce ed d t th hiis s y ye ea ar r,, f fo or r e ex xa am mp plle e,, y yo ou u h ha av ve e b be ee en n iin nv vo ollv ve ed d iin n a a w wiid de e r ra an ng ge e o of f g ge en nr re es s e ev ve er ry y y ye ea ar r - - d do o y yo ou u e en njjo oy y d do oiin ng g a a lliit tt tlle e o of f e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g e ev ve er ry y y ye ea ar r? ? I do! As an actor, you don’t always get to pick and choose the roles that you get, so it’s exciting when I’m given the opportunity to work on such vastly different projects. IIt t s se ee em ms s lliik ke e C Co om me ed dy y a an nd d H Ho or rr ro or r a ar re e t tw wo o o of f y yo ou ur r f fa av vo or riit te e g ge en nr re es s - - a ar re e t th he ey y a an nd d iif f s so o,, w wh hy y? ? Definitely. My favorite film genre to watch is horror, and second is dry wit comedies. At an early age I was introduced to the horror/slasher films of the 1980s, (à la Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, etc.) and fell in love with the genre ever since. As I got a bit older, I found that I loved satirical comedies as well, for example: EVERYTHING by Christopher Guest. I love his films and any film that tends to mock society/pop culture with satire. A Horror-Comedy film is my ultimate guilty pleasure! L Le et t''s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t S Sllo ov ve en n - - w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s a at t a allll o od dd d lliik ke e t th he e s sh ho or rt t? ? You’d think that it was, but it was actually quite the contrary. Underneath the creepiness of the film, the character of Steve is really just the normal guy-next- door trying to do his best. D Diid d y yo ou u w wa at tc ch h a an ny y f fiillm ms s t to o g ge et t iin ns sp piir re ed d a an nd d p pr re ep pa ar re e f fo or r t th hiis s r ro olle e? ? N No ot t t tr ry yiin ng g t to o g ge et t iin nt to o c co om mp pa ar riis so on n b bu ut t t th he e lla as st t s sc ce en ne e k kiin nd da a r re em miin nd de ed d m me e t to o IIn ns siid diio ou us s f fo or r s so om me e r re ea as so on n.. James Wan is such a leader in the horror industry today, it’s hard not to be inspired by one of his films. The approach to Sloven was definitely a simplistic one; we wanted to instill fear without having to do any crazy special effects or gore and have it be less about what you see and more about what you don’t see. D Do o y yo ou u t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h f fo or r e ev ve er ry y p pr ro ojje ec ct t y yo ou u a ar re e iin nv vo ollv ve ed d w wiit th h t th ha at t a ar re e w wiit th hiin n t th he e s sa am me e g ge en nr re e? ? No matter the genre, I study the character and figure out who he is first. I then put myself into the character and make it my own. W Wh ha at t iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n B Ba ak ke er r C Ch ha as se e P Po ow we ellll''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I just wrapped shooting another horror short titled, Vexed, with Glass Cabin Films, which I wrote as well as starred in with Nosheen Phoenix.

H Hii M Ma ar rc c,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I have been great! A lot has changed since we last spoke. New opportunities and challenges. I’m loving this new journey filmmaking is taking me on. K Kn no ow wn n f fo or r y yo ou ur r p ph ho ot to og gr ra ap ph hy y w wo or rk k - - d diid d y yo ou u a allw wa ay ys s w wa an nt t t to o b be e a a p ph ho ot to og gr ra ap ph he er r o or r d diid d y yo ou u iin niit tiia alllly y h ha av ve e a a s so of ft te er r s sp po ot t f fo or r f fiillm mm ma ak kiin ng g? ? The film industry was always my first love. When I was 10, I begged my grandparents for a video camera, which I finally received when I was 10. I would make music videos and horror films in their basement. My love for image making included photography, which I ended up pursuing while studying at NYU. It wasn’t until my career in photography blossomed in Los Angeles, that I began to revisit my love for filmmaking. W Wh ha at t d dr re ew w y yo ou u iin nt to o f fiillm mm ma ak kiin ng g? ? A producer who was a fan of my photography approached me to be the cinematographer on a short film. Though I am well experienced as a photographer, it was my first time shooting a film. It was while working on this project, I realized how much I enjoyed being behind the scenes of making a movie. The whole process of seeing my ideas come to life was fascinating. I wanted to do more. I began working on sets with my filmmaker friends so that I could learn the tricks of the trade. W Wh he en n d diid d y yo ou u lla au un nc ch h G Glla as ss s C Ca ab biin n F Fiillm ms s? ? Glass Cabin Films was launched in May of 2015. I would have thought you were crazy if, two years ago, you had told me I’d be producing my own content. After years of producing photo-shoots, this has been a nice natural progression. I enjoy putting the films together and promoting the talented people I get to work with. D Do o y yo ou u a aiim m t to o p pr ro od du uc ce e a an ny y g ge en nr re e iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r o or r y yo ou u lliik ke e t to o e ex xp pe er riim me en nt t w wiit th h d diif ff fe er re en nt t s st ty ylle es s? ? I enjoy watching horror the most. I enjoy a great twist. I like films that make you think or question reality a bit and then end with throwing the audience for a loop. My focus will be horror but I am open to other genres if the story grabs my attention. H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u c co om me e u up p w wiit th h t th he e iid de ea a f fo or r S Sllo ov ve en n? ? It was around Halloween and I had a cheap mask and cape that I bought for a party that weekend. I set it up on a hanger in my photo studio. I kept forgetting that it was there and freaked myself out every time I opened the door and saw this mask staring back at me. That’s when I began thinking, “What if someone is in the costume watching me?!...” N No ot t t tr ry yiin ng g t to o g ge et t iin nt to o c co om mp pa ar riis so on ns s b bu ut t t th he e f fiin na all s sc ce en ne e r re em miin nd de ed d m me e o of f IIn ns siid diio ou us s - - d diid d t th ha at t f fiillm m p plla ay y a a r ro olle e o on n t th hiis s s sh ho or rt t? ? W Wh ha at t f fiillm ms s g ge et t t to o iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u? ? For SLOVEN, we were looking at some of the scares of 90s horror films. I think my inspirations for this project were Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven. I do love Insidious though and welcome the comparison. James Wan is a brilliant horror film director. The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock have always inspired me. I really enjoy twist endings. Especially films that comment on perception of reality, society and how people relate to each other. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e w wr riit tiin ng g a an nd d f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? Filmmaking introduces a whole new set of challenges to me and I love it for that. There are so many moving parts that have to come together at the right time. It truly is like putting a very large puzzle together. D Do o y yo ou u t te en nd d t to o t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h w wh he en n y yo ou u s sh ho oo ot t a a f fiillm m t th ha an n w wh he en n y yo ou u s sh ho oo ot t a a p piic ct tu ur re e? ? There is a lot more preparation in shooting a film. With photography, I tend to light by what feels good in the moment. When making a film, I plan, diagram and test various elements, numerous times beforehand. There is more to consider. While doing still photos, I like working alone with my subject as much as possible. When making a film, I enjoy and am more dependent on the crew around me. It is a much more communal experience for me. As far as technique, there is some cross over. You’re introducing movement and other spatial elements into the equation when filming, which create different challenges. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n M Ma ar rc c C Ca ar rt tw wr riig gh ht t''s s w wo or rlld d? ? Glass Cabin Films’ next horror short VEXED is in post-production and is slated to begin festival submissions this June. Very excited about the talent that worked on this film. SLOVEN is currently making the film festival rounds and is doing well. We are looking forward to upcoming festival dates and starting our next film!

Hi Madison, welcome toVents! How have you been? Hello! I’ve been doing great! So I understand your love for filmmaking actually start- ed with photo and videography, is that correct? How was the transition from being behind the camera to being in the front? Yes! When I was younger I was always behind the camera, taking pictures and filming my friends and pets. I was often in front of the camera as well! My friends and I used to make silly horror films when we were in middle school. My favorite part used to be sitting down and editing, that’s when the magic happens! The transition happened pretty naturally. I always loved being in front of the camera. I started doing photo shoots with local photogra- phers in South Carolina and did some smaller local jobs.There, I pretty much fell in love with the whole thing. Before moving to LA you actually started playing some music at church - how did these early days help you want more to become an actress? My church definitely played a huge part in my love for entertain- ing. Music had always been a passion of mine, but I was always too scared to pursue it. My youth pastor was the one who really pushed me to get up and sing, and over time I gained so much confidence. It was such an awesome feeling being able to lead in worship.We took a trip to Kenya in the summer of 2012, a year before I moved to LA. It was such an awesome experience, and I was the head of our music team that went out there.That was really the thing that inspired me to go after what I’ve always dreamed of. Your first role was in a PSA alongside a former cast member of Hannah Montana - did that somehow open the doors for you on the new show,“StillThe King”? It actually had nothing to do with booking “Still The King” what so ever! It’s so crazy.To be honest,I’m not sure if they even know about the PSA/music video! It was the very first project I had ever booked in LA and still one of my favorites.This industry still continues to blow my mind over how small it really is. You’ve had the chance to play from sweet girls to basical- ly (funny) criminals - so it’s fair to say you enjoy playing a wide range of roles? Do you have a soft spot for any genre in particular? Acting is so fun, it’s basically play pretend for grown ups. I love to play different characters, especially more challenging roles. I defi- nitely have a soft spot for darker dramas with messed up charac- ters.They require a lot of work and dedication; which makes the final product so rewarding. What was like to play the lost daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus? It was so awesome. The whole shooting process couldn’t have been easier or any more fun.The main thing I loved about Billy Ray is how dedicated he was to his work. It made shooting very easy! Him, the entire cast and everyone behind the scenes is great. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about a project in my life. The plot is different and so is the cast but can fans of his early show,“Hannah Montana” expect any of that on this new series? “Still The King” is a lot different from “Hannah Montana”! I grew up watching “Hannah Montana”. I want to say I was ten or nine when it first came out? Even though it’s a totally different feel, I think its something the fans will still enjoy and have a good laugh over. How was the film experience? The film experience was so much fun. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a crew that got along so well. It was the quickest four months of my life. Nashville was super awesome too. It’s such a beautiful city, and there’s so much to do. I think its fair to say I miss it! Following my musical question, did you get to play any music during the series? My character Charlotte is a music junkie pursuing her dream of music journalism. She doesn’t get into any playing this season, but she’s definitely got an ear and a heart for it so there’s no telling for future seasons. Do you have any plans to release new music - how’s that coming along? As of right now,my life has been so busy in the acting world it hasn’t been a priori- ty for me.I still have a love for it,and I always will. What else is happening next in Madison Ise- man’s world? I’m just getting set- tled back into LA and getting ready to film some new things! Madison Iseman

- -H Hii R Ro ob bb b,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? How have I been? I recently got married, to the love of my life. Her name is Lisa. WE got married in a Gazebo, overlooking Laguna Beach at sunset. - -S So o b ba ac ck k w wh he en n y yo ou u e en nt te er re ed d t to o c co olllle eg ge e y yo ou u w we er re e s st tu ud dy yiin ng g p ps sy yc ch ho ollo og gy y - - h ho ow w w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y t th he e k kn no ow wlle ed dg ge e y yo ou u e ea ar rn ne ed d iin n t th ha at t s st tu ud dy y h ha av ve e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g? ? I was always drawn to psychology. The workings of the mind, and the behavior of human beings, is what intrigues me. When I break down the character that I am about to play, I try to deploy my psychology background, and figure out, what motivates the character. Usually if you can figure out what motivates the person, you can find the inner life of the character. My old film acting teacher Adam Rourke used to say; never play mood. Mood spelled backwards is doom. You have to tap into the attitude, which will then lead you to the motivation. - -A Af ft te er rw wa ar rd ds s y yo ou u m mo ov ve e o on n t to o c co om me ed dy y - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m o on ne e t th hiin ng g t to o t th he e o ot th he er r? ? I started in stand up comedy before I ventured out into T.V. and film acting. I toured as a stand up comic for 10 years. But I always had designs on transitioning into acting. Stand up comedy was great training for film and T.V., because it was analogous, to working in the circus as a high wire act, without a net below. No safety net per say. In stand up you have only yourself to rely on. You are the director, writer, performer, producer, and you either sink or swim. Well there are many variables on a film or T.V. location or studio shoot, that can come up unexpectedly. Stand up comedy prepares you for all of those possibilities. - -W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o lle ea av ve e y yo ou ur r 1 1 0 0 y ye ea ar rs s a as s a a c co om me ed diia an n t to o d do o f fiillm m o or r d diid d y yo ou u s so om me eh ho ow w b blle en nd d b bo ot th h o of f y yo ou ur r p pa as ss siio on ns s t to og ge et th he er r? ? After 10 years of stand up comedy, half way through that segment of my career, I started to do small independent films. Having a sense of humor, is always applicable, even when doing dramatic roles. Even in the most serious moments of life, there is room to see the humor in a situation. I have always possessed a strong, unique sense of humor. My approach with humor, is that of shooting pool. There is always a shot on the table, but the stronger player, will be able to see it, where the lesser player won’t. So when playing roles in film and T.V., you have to find the humor lurking under the surface. - -F Fr ro om m C Co om me ed dy y t to o D Dr ra am ma a,, a allll f fr ro om m s sm ma allll f fiillm ms s t to o iic co on niic c f fiillm ms s lliik ke e F Fo or rr re es st t G Gu um mp p - - w wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u p pe er rs so on na alllly y lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m t th he es se e e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce es s? ? I have done vastly different roles, in a varied genre of film and T.V. I have played a slick, edgy recording promoter on NYPD BLUE, to an nerdy, nebbish accountant on DIAGNOSIS MURDER. I have played a district Attorney in the sophomoric comedy DEUCE BIGALOW, MALE GIGOLO, and a mentally challenged busboy, in the dramatic FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY. What I learned from all of my acting experiences, is that as an actor, one needs to know and have a sense of the “ big picture”. What I mean is that, you need to know what the story is all about. You have to find out how you fit into the overall story line. - -H Ho ow w h ha av ve e t th he ey y s sh ha ap pe ed d y yo ou u a as s a an n a ac ct to or r? ? All of these roles, have helped shape me as an actor. My philosophy in life, is the same as it is in acting. We are all a product of every experience we have ever had, up to that point. Which means, that every role preceding the next, helps create a greater and more solid foundation, for the following one. - -S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f iic co on niic c,, y yo ou ur r n ne ex xt t r ro olle e iis s a a lle eg ge en nd d o on n iit ts s o ow wn n b bu ut t f fiir rs st t - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s f fo or r “ “H Ha an nd ds s O Of f S St to on ne e” ”? ? The auditioning process for HOS was the epitome of "persistence pays off". Even though I knew I was born to play Howard Cosell, there are no guarantees. I had the proverbial “doors slammed” in my face repeatedly. Initially I was told that I didn’t look anything like Howard. That if I could send a picture over that looked like him, maybe, not for certain, but maybe, the casting director would bring me in to read. So I had my beard removed, and the next day, I went to my photographer, and quickly shot some pictures of myself clean shaven wearing a bad toupee. I sent it off, and then was invited to read for the role. I had a lot of dialogue to memorize, so I hunkered down, and never left my apt. for the entire weekend. I went in totally prepared and confident. The director Jonathan then requested a Skype meeting, as he was already on location in Panama. We spoke for about 15 minutes, and then basically offered me the role, having already decided, to cast me off of my audition tape. He said that he had auditioned over 200 actors in New York but felt that if he couldn’t cast Howard Cosell precisely, the movie would suffer. - -A As s a a m ma ajjo or r s sp po or rt t f fa an n,, w wa as s t th ha at t o on ne e o of f t th he e m ma aiin n r re ea as so on ns s y yo ou u w we er re e s se ee ek kiin ng g t to o g ge et t a a r ro olle e iin n t th he e f fiillm m? ? I am a major sports fan. And I have had a love of boxing, since I was 8 years old. I grew up watching and listening to Howard, and also remember watching Roberto Duran, with his tenacious, ferocious focus, climbing to the top of his profession. Certainly subject matter, plays a “role”, in determining, if an actor wants to go after or accept a role. - -H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar re e f fo or r t th hiis s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r? ? I prepared for the character, as I always do. Knowing how they fit into the over all storyline. Howard was the “voice” of boxing, and I conveyed that in my interpretation. - -W Wh he en n y yo ou u a ar re e p plla ay yiin ng g a a c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r b ba as se ed d o on n a a r re ea all p pe er rs so on n - - d do o y yo ou u s st ta ay y t tr ru ue e t to o t th he eiir r p pe er rs so on na a o or r a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h t th he e c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r a as s t th he eiir r o ow wn n? ? When playing a famous iconic person, it is very important, as to not create a caricature, or do an impression. You have to find the nuances, that reflect the character’s essence, and enough of a flavor, to have the audience know that person, for which they are already familiar. Subtlety, or "less is more" applies. - -H Ho ow wa ar rd d C Co os se ellll iis s k kn no ow wn n f fo or r m ma an ny y t th hiin ng gs s,, f fr ro om m a an nn no ou un nc ciin ng g t th he e d de ea at th h o of f a a lle eg ge en nd d t to o a an nn no ou un nc ciin ng g a allll t th he e m ma ajjo or r b bo ox xiin ng g m ma at tc ch he es s f fr ro om m t th he e 6 60 0s s t to o t th he e 8 80 0s s - - w wh ha at t r ro olle e d diid d h he e p plla ay y iin n t th hiis s f fiillm m? ? Howard Cosell’s role in the film, was what he essentially did for all of his boxing commentary. He sets the stage, by painting a broad linguistic picture. He basically tells the audience, what they are about to see. What they are about to witness. He also brings to it the atmosphere and showmanship, that one must not blink, sneeze, or leave the room, for as to do so, one would be missing an historical event. But once the fight begins, Howard becomes as much of a fan as the fan at home. His voice becomes fervently higher pitched, his speech accelerates, and his pure passion and poignant commentary, become one instant flurry of commotion and emotion. - -W We er re e t th he er re e a an ny y c ch ha alllle en ng ge es s t th ha at t y yo ou u p pe er rs so on na alllly y h ha ad d t to o g go o t th hr ro ou ug gh h o on n t th hiis s f fiillm m? ? My challenges on the film, were probably no different than any one of the excellent cast & crew. For weeks, we worked tirelessly at night, sleeping during the day. These were very hot & humid nights in Panama. The entire crew, never once complained, put out any negative vibes, or dropped the ball. They deserve to be praised. - -W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n R Ro ob bb b S Sk ky ylle er r''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I am in the developmental stage for a film biography of the legendary comedian Phil Silvers. His life is a most remarkable one, and I relish the opportunity to play him, and bring his story to life.

H Hii A Av va a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hey! I am great thank you so much! Super happy to being doing this interview. :) S St ta ar rt tiin ng g a as s a a y yo ou un ng g m mo od de ell f fo or r D Diis sn ne ey y - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m p po os siin ng g t to o a ac ct tiin ng g? ? I actually started modeling and acting at the same time, but I booked a modeling job first! So the transition wasn’t hard, but I did have to transition from being a commercial actress to a film/television actress at the age of 10. That basically happened by getting a theatrical agent. Y Yo ou u w we er re e t tr ra aiin ne ed d iin n t th he e c co om me ed diic c a an nd d d dr ra am ma at tiic c t te ec ch hn niiq qu ue es s - - a ar re e t th ho os se e t th ha at t y yo ou u f fe ee ell m mo or re e c co om mf fo or rt ta ab blle e a as s a an n a ac ct tr re es ss s? ? S So o a an ny y c ch ha an nc ce e w we e c co ou ulld d s se ee e y yo ou u b be ec co om miin ng g a a s sc cr re ea am m q qu ue ee en n? ? I love both so much! I think drama just comes a lot easier to me because comedy is super technical. I do feel though, that if I have time to really work with the script I can really develop the character and that’s for both drama or comedy roles. As far as Scream Queens, well you never know! That would be really awesome to work on a project that is created by Ryan Murphy because I am a huge fan of his projects including American Horror Story. C Co om me ed dy y a an nd d d dr ra am ma a jju us st t lliik ke e R Ro oc ck k m mu us siic c iis s f fu ullll o of f m ma an ny y s su ub bg ge en nr re es s - - a an ny y s st ty ylle e iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r y yo ou u e en njjo oy y t th he e m mo os st t? ? Like I said I love Drama the most and I am a big fan of coming of age films. Those stories are always so authentic and real. I also love thrillers. For comedy I really like the “ping-pong” type of comedy that has constant short banter back and forth between two people. Sarcastic comedy is always fun as well! L Le et t''s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t f fiillm m L Lo ov ve e IIs s A Allll Y Yo ou u N Ne ee ed d? ? - - b ba as se ed d o on n a a s sh ho or rt t f fiillm m,, d diid d y yo ou u g ge et t t to o w wa at tc ch h iit t p pr re ev viio ou us slly y t to o a au ud diit tiio on n? ? Its funny actually because when I got the audition the project name already sounded familiar and when I started to read the script I realized that it was based off the short film that came out in 2011 which I already saw when it came out! I immediately when online to watch the short film again before the audition. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Super quick actually! I auditioned for the role at Mary Vernieu Casting and it was on tape. About two, three weeks went by and I thought I didn’t get the part because I never got a callback, chemistry read etcZ Then my manager David called and told me I booked the role of Paula Santilli and I freaked! It was so exciting and honestly shocking because I already thought that I didn't get itZ K Kn no ow wn n f fo or r s su up pp po or rt tiin ng g c ca am mp pa aiig gn ns s a ag ga aiin ns st t B Bu ulllly y,, e et tc c.. - - w wh hy y a au ud diit tiio on niin ng g f fo or r t th he e " "m ma aiin n v viilllla aiin n" ",, s so o t to o s sp pe ea ak k? ? Well, you don't get to choose which role you get to audition for, but I was really happy that I got the role of the teen villain. I love roles that are a challenge to play, which is definitely Paula. I also think this role is very pivotal in the film and it’s incredibly important for people to know that bullies are exactly like Paula Santilli and unfortunately, many bullies are even worse than her. W Wa as s iit t h ha ar rd d t to o s st te ep p iin nt to o t th ho os se e s sh ho oe es s o or r w wa as s iit t s su ur rp pr riis siin ng glly y e ea as siie er r t th ha an n w wh ha at t y yo ou u t th ho ou ug gh ht t iit t w wo ou ulld d b be e? ? It wasn’t as hard as you would imagine because of course nothing is actually happening to the victim. We’re just actors and as soon as they yelled, “Cut!” We would walk off set together and go eat snacks or something haha. I think the hardest part was knowing that this film was based off of true events and that everything I did in the film happened to people in real life. When I wasn't filming I just always made sure to keep it fun on set with my co-star Kyla because whenever we did a scene together it was always super intense. H Ha av ve e y yo ou u p pe er rs so on na alllly y h ha av ve e b be ee en n e eiit th he er r a a v viic ct tiim miiz ze er r o or r a a v viic ct tiim m? ? I have never been bullied and I have never been a bully either of course! I have definitely witnessed bullying before and that’s tough, but I am happy to say that I have always been the type of person to be on the victim’s side and help stop what was going on. Something I learned actually while filming that if a peer steps in 57% of the time the bullying stops. So it’s really important to not be a bystander! W Wa as s iit t a an ny y o od dd d b bu ulllly yiin ng g s so om me eb bo od dy y b be ec ca au us se e t th he ey y w we er re e s st tr ra aiig gh ht t? ? Well if this situation was happening in real life, I guess my character would be bullying someone because they were gay, so yes its definitely odd and disappointing because I could never imagine myself bullying someone just because of who they love. I have been raised to never have that point of view that same-sex love is wrong. So really I don’t understand when people bully and harm someone because they love someone of the same gender. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t P Pa au ulla a? ? For anyone who doesn’t know what “ Love Is All You Need?” is about, it takes place in a world where being gay is normal and being straight is the minority, so it’s opposite to how the world is today. My character Paula is the lead teen bully in the film and is very religious. She has been taught in the church that being a heterosexual is a sin and therefore she bullies a girl in her school for possibly being a heterosexual. T Th he e s st to or ry y h ha as s a a m mo or ra alle e - - f fo or r y yo ou u,, w wh ha at t iis s iit t? ? The morale of the film is that love is love and no one should be treated differently based on who they love. Also this film shows that any type of intolerance is not only hurtful to an individual, but to the society as a whole. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n A Av va a A Alllla an n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I always share whats happening in my world across my social media because I love having a connection with my fans and talking to them daily! To see what’s happening in my life everyday you can always follow me on Instagram (@AvaAllan), Twitter (@AvaAvaAllan) or Snapchat (AvaAllanSnaps) !

H Hii E Es st th he er r,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I’ve been great! With everything thats been happening, its a very fun time in my life. S So o n no ot t o on nlly y y yo ou u a ar re e a an n a ac ct tr re es ss s b bu ut t a a m mu us siic ciia an n a as s w we ellll - - d diid d o on ne e lle ea ad d y yo ou u t to o t th he e o ot th he er r? ? Neither one came first. I have always been drawn to acting and music. It was something I knew I loved to do from an early age. D Do oe es s m mu us siic c p plla ay ys s a a r ro olle e iin n y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiin ng g c ca ar re ee er r a an nd d v viic ce ev ve er rs sa a? ? Totally! People always ask me if I had to choose between music and acting which one I would pick. Not only could I not choose but I don't think I should. Music plays a huge role in my acting. I’m always listening to music before auditions or in between filming scenes. Its such an amazing tool as an actress. Moreover, music and soundtracks play a huge role in films. On the music side, being an actress helps me be a better performer. As a songwriter I’m always thinking about the storytelling aspect of a song, or how I might feel in a certain situation that I’m writing a song about. Also just being in tune with yourself as a person (which I find very helpful as an actress) helps me with my music and in knowing how I want to express myself as an artist. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m b be eiin ng g a a c clla as ss siic ca all v viio olliin niis st t t to o a an n a ac ct tr re es ss s? ? My dad is a classical violinist and an amazing violin teacher. I love the instrument and I’ve grown up listening to it. That being said, growing up I sort of took it for granted, since I grew up super exposed to violin. Now that I’m older though I love playing violin as a hobby. I definitely want to implement violin into my music. Maybe eventually (if I get good enough) I would love to play live at my shows in the future. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f w wh hiic ch h,, y yo ou u a ar re e c cu ur rr re en nt tlly y s st ta ar rr riin ng g a as s A As st tr ra all o on n t th he e s se er riie es s - - h ho ow w w wa as s t th he e a au ud diit tiio on n p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? I had three auditions before I found out I got the part of Astral on The Other Kingdom. The first was a taped audition I did in NY, the second was a Skype audition with the creator of the show, Tom Lynch, and the third was a screen test in Toronto (which I had to fly out for). II llo ov ve e t th he e p pr re em miis se e s st to or ry y,, u us su ua alllly y s so om me e g giir rlls s d dr re ea am m a ab bo ou ut t f fa aiir ry y p pr riin nc ce es ss s b bu ut t h he er re e w we e f fiin nd d a a f fa aiir ry y p pr riin nc ce es ss s w wh ho o w wa an nt ts s t to o b be e h hu um ma an n - - w wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o s st te ep p iin nt to o t th hiis s r ra ar re e s sh ho oe es s? ? It was very cool. It was really interesting to be able to play the two versions of Astral, as a fairy (in Athenia) and human (when Astral goes on her Otherwalk). I also really enjoyed seeing Astral evolve and grow throughout the season. She learns so much about herself and grows up a lot throughout the season. O On ne e o of f t th he e b biig gg ge es st t iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s f fo or r T Th ho om ma as s L Liin nc ch h w wa as s S Sa ab br riin na a,, T Th he e T Te ee en na ag ge e W Wiit tc ch h - - p plla ay yiin ng g t th he e t tiit tu ulla ar r r ro olle e,, d do o y yo ou u g ge et t s so om me e o of f t th ha at t v viib be e o on n t th hiis s c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r? ? To be honest I actually didn't know that until this question. I actually love Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and now that you mention it I definitely see some parallels. Astral comes to the human world as a fish out of water so when preparing for the role I got some inspiration from stories with characters who share similar experiences. That being said, The Other Kingdom has its own unique storyline and characters that I believe distinguishes it from any other shows that have been around. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? It was fun, overwhelming, exhausting, and exhilarating. I had the time of my life filming The Other Kingdom. I got so close with my cast and we really became a family, which was great because I had to move to Toronto for filming and was away from actual family during that time. I got to experience Toronto, which I love, it's such a cool city! Filming itself was an incredible learning experience. This was the biggest project I have worked on so far, so I left with a richer and understanding of myself as an actress. I also learned about many of the technical aspects that go into making a TV show, which I found very interesting. W Wh ha at t h ha as s b be ee en n t th he e c cr ra az ziie es st t t th hiin ng g t th ha at t h ha as s h ha ap pp pe en ne ed d o on n t th he e s se et t o or r w wh hiille e s sh ho oo ot tiin ng g? ? During lunch the boys would make these short films. They were hysterical and made absolutely no sense. It would basically be them running around the set (the Quince home, Snug’s, Astral’s bedroom) being super silly. Then they would edit them to music and effects. The boys would then play the short films for everyone in the cast and crew, the films were very funny to watch. T Th he e t th he em me e s so ou un nd ds s p pr re et tt ty y g giir rlliie e iif f w we e w we er re e m me ea an nt t t to o b be e h ho on ne es st t,, iis s t th he er re e s so om me e r ro oo om m f fo or r b bo oy ys s e en nt te er rt ta aiin nm me en nt t o or r s sh ho ou ulld d t th he ey y llo oo ok k f fo or r o ot th he er r s se er riie es s? ? I definitely recommend this for boys. It could be kind of misleading because it is a show about a fairy princess, which at face value could sound pretty girlie. That being said there are a bunch of awesome boy characters on the show. There are actually just as many boy characters on the show as girl characters. There are so many storylines happening in each episode, there’s something everyone can enjoy! N No ow w,, r ru um mo or r h ha as s iit t y yo ou u a ar re e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n n ne ew w m mu us siic c - - h ho ow w´ ´s s t th ha at t c co om miin ng g a allo on ng g? ? YES! I’m releasing a single VERY soon and having been traveling back and forth between NY and LA writing my debut EP. I’ve been writing songs and singing since I was 11 years old, so its very exciting that it's all finally coming together. A An ny y t te en nt ta at tiiv ve e r re elle ea as se e d da at te e o or r t tiit tlle e iin n m miin nd d? ? The single will be released very soon. Definitely in within next month. I don't have the exact date but I will announce it on my social media accounts as soon as I can. And the titleZ well I guess you’ll have to wait and see ;) W Wo ou ulld d iit t b be e s so om me et th hiin ng g a a lla a L Liin nd ds se ey y S St te er rlliin ng g o or r p po op pp py y a as s S Se elle en na a G Go om me ez z a an nd d A Ar riia an na a G Gr ra an nd de e? ? It's pop but not what I think people would expect. My music is very “viby”. I like to describe it as un-sugar-coated pop music. On the show people get a sense for my character, but my music will let fans to get a sense of who I am (outside of my character). I’m very excited for people to hear it, I think fans will be surprised. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n E Es st th he er r Z Zy yn nn n´ ´s s w wo or rlld d? ? Just enjoying watching The Other Kingdom and working on my music for now! Hopefully I’ll get the chance to travel this summer, last year I went to Europe so I’m hoping to do that again. Also looking forward to getting involved in some charity work this summer.

H Hii F Fa allllo on n,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? I’ve been really great. Thanks so much for having me. S So o h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou ur r llo ov ve e f fo or r a ac ct tiin ng g g ge et t s st ta ar rt te ed d? ? When I was 13 years old, a friend introduced me to an improve class to help me with my comedy skills and how to think quickly on my feet. After my first class, I was hooked and fell in love with the craft. W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r v vo oiic ce e o ov ve er r d da ay ys s t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e p pu ut tt tiin ng g iin nt to o a ac ct tiio on n n no ow w? ? I learned how to bring a script to life with just my voice. As a voice over artist, I’m never seen on camera so I have to create an experience for the listener with only my voice. So my words have to have more intention behind them for the feeling to be felt. For example, I may have to sound like I’m on a roller coaster having the time of my life. Even though roller coasters sometimes make me a little nauseous. H Ho ow w d diid d t th hiis s e ev ve en nt tu ua alllly y lle ea ad d y yo ou u t to o a ac ct tiin ng g? ? I love doing voiceovers and I quickly learned that as a voice over artist, I’m really an actor. I had a good understanding of how to connect with the character of a script. H Ho ow w h ha as s t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n b be ee en n f fr ro om m b be eiin ng g b be eh hiin nd d t th he e c ca am me er ra a t to o b be eiin ng g iin n f fr ro on nt t o of f iit t? ? The transition has been really fun for me. I love being able to wear sweat pants and put my hair in a ponytail when I’m recording voiceovers. With acting in front of the camera, I’m able to connect even more personally with the audience. I also had to learn on camera techniques and how to pull back a bit with my voice being in front of the camera. S So o y yo ou u w wiillll n ne ex xt t b be e s se ee en n iin n N Niic ck ke ello od de eo on n’’s s L Lo os st t IIn n T Th he e W We es st t w wh hiic ch h p pr re em miie er re es s M Me em mo or riia all D Da ay y w we ee ek ke en nd d - - w wh ha at t a at tt tr ra ac ct te ed d y yo ou u t to o t th hiis s T TV V m mo ov viie e a an nd d c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? I fell in love with this 3-part movie because the script was so exciting and adventurous and there was always something going on which is always fun to film. What really drew me to my character was the strength she had. One of my favorite things about these films is the strong sense of girl power they all hold. It really will empower the female audience, which is something I’m always excited about. ) N Niic ck ke ello od de eo on n iis s k kn no ow wn n f fo or r iit ts s v ve er ry y u un niiq qu ue e a an nd d p ph hy ys siic ca all h hu um mo or r – – w we er re e y yo ou u a allr re ea ad dy y a a f fa an n o of f t th hiis s g ge en nr re e o or r d diid d y yo ou u b be ec ca am me e a a f fa an n w wh hiille e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n t th he e f fiillm m? ? I grew up watching some of my favorite shows on Nickelodeon like Drake & Josh, iCarly and Zoey 101. So, being able to do a nickelodeon movie was really incredible! I play two characters in the movies, and although they are similar they are both very different. I became an even bigger fan of the genre working with an incredible cast and watching them made me laugh everyday. W Wh hiille e t th he e f fiillm m iit ts se ellf f iis s a a p pa ar ro od dy y,, d diid d y yo ou u d do o a an ny y r re es se ea ar rc ch h y yo ou ur rs se ellf f o on n t th he e c cu ullt tu ur re e t to o m ma ak ke e y yo ou ur r c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r a a b biit t m mo or re e b be elliie ev va ab blle e a an nd d a au ut th he en nt tiic c? ? H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e p pr re ep pa ar ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e r ro olle e? ? I’m a pretty big history buff so I did tons of research on the culture, and the towns in Spain where we would be filming. I love learning about the architecture and history of places, so it was such a cool opportunity to actually be able to live it. We had a wonderful dialect coach on set, Veronica Polo, who helped me and the rest of the cast in perfecting our accents and making them as authentic as possible. D Diid d y yo ou u g go o t th hr ro ou ug gh h a an ny y c ch ha alllle en ng ge es s w wh hiille e w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n t th he e f fiillm m o or r d diid d e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g g go o p pr re et tt ty y s sm mo oo ot th hlly y? ? My biggest challenge was the change in seasons while we were in Spain filming. We began the shoot in 110 degree weather and when we switched locations to a different part of Spain, the weather went from summer to winter in a second. Thankfully, there were lots blankets and warm clothes available on set that I bundled up in. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o s sh ho oo ot t iin n S Sp pa aiin n? ? H Ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n t th he er re e b be ef fo or re e? ? I had never traveled out of the country before; so being able to do something I love in a gorgeous country was the experience of a lifetime. Spain was stunning. The architecture dated back to the early 1400’s and I visited castles and monuments that I had only read about in books and magazines. We filmed in a castle that was built in the early 1500’s and we filmed where all the Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns were filmed. It was definitely something I’ll never forget. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n F Fa allllo on n S Sm my yt th he e''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I’m always excited for the next project, but education has always been so important to me. Right now my focus is keeping my grades up and graduating high school this year. I want to be able to encourage all kids to study hard in school and to believe with hard work anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e " "A An nd d S So o? ?" " It is a ballad, probably one of the simplest songs I have ever written, recorded live in one take... D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? It was one of 6 songs that I wrote in a 2 hour burst of creativity inspired by Kelvin Corcoran's poem "A Thesis on the Ballad". This song was influenced by Mahler's " Leider eines Fahren und Gesellen" unconsciously... I hear a connection anyway! A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th hiis s o or r a an ny y o of f t th he e s siin ng glle es s? ? No, not interested in videos. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w m ma at te er riia all A A T Th he es siis s O On n T Th he e B Ba alllla ad d - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? It is the collective title of the poems by Kelvin which I then set to music. He wrote the poems independently and I wrote the music. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The writing process was very fast. All 6 songs in 2 hours! The recording was done in 3 sessions at my house. Pretty much live, but the vocals are overdubbed apart from "And So" which is one take, completely live no overdubs. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s P Po oe et tr ry y p plla ay ys s o on n t th hiis s a allb bu um m t th he en n? ? Fundamental. Without the poems this

A A y y y e e g g 6 e h t , m m s would not exist. Over the years I have set poetry to music. I like the process of writing music to a set text. But this is the first time I consider it worthy of a proper album release. B Be es siid de es s C Co or rc co or ra an n,, a an ny y o ot th he er r p po oe et t o or r w wr riit te er r g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? No, it's all Kelvin. I'm sure he has his influences. A As s t th he ey y a ar re e c ca at ta allo og ge ed d iin n v vo ollu um me es s,, w wo ou ulld d e ea ac ch h f fo ollllo ow w a a t th he em me e a as s a a w wh ho olle e o or r w wo ou ulld d t th he ey y b be e a a s st ta an nd da allo on ne e r re ec co or rd ds s? ? Not sure. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? We are doing some gigs on May 3, 4, 5 in Canterbury, Brighton and London respectively. See our website www.jackhuesandthequartet.com for details. Certainly more gigs in the summer. Check the website regularly!! W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n J Ja ac ck k H Hu ue es s A An nd d T Th he e Q Qu ua ar rt te et t''s s w wo or rlld d? ? The Thesis is Volume 3 of a series of Collaborations with other artists. Volume 1 is a reworking of Beck's "Nobody's Fault but my Own" with Canterbury Rock Band Syd Arthur and Volume 2 is called "ROTE- through" with poets David Herd and Simon Smith. It is pretty out there but very exciting. We will release these in the Fall.

H Hii V Ve er ro on niic ca a,, w we ellc co om me e b ba ac ck k t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? - Good thanks! S So o t th he e f fiir rs st t t tiim me e w we e t ta allk ke ed d y yo ou u w we er re e p pr ro om mo ot tiin ng g t th he e f fiir rs st t s se ea as so on n o of f K K.. C C.. U Un nd de er rc co ov ve er r - - h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell a ab bo ou ut t c co om miin ng g b ba ac ck k f fo or r a a s se ec co on nd d r ro ow w iin n a a t tiim me e w wh he er re e s sh ho ow ws s s se ee en n t to o b be e c co om miin ng g t to o a an n e en nd d a af ft te er r a a v ve er ry y s sh ho or rt t s st tiin nt t o on n T Te elle ev viis siio on n? ? - It feels great, love working on this show. W We er re e y yo ou u a an ny y w wo or rr riie ed d a af ft te er r t th he e f fiir rs st t s se ea as so on n c ca am me e t to o a an n e en nd d a ab bo ou ut t t th he e f fa at te e o of f t th he e s sh ho ow w? ? - It's never really "calm" when your best friend is a spy, but you will just have to wait and see what happens! It's a really exciting and action packed season! S So o b ba ac ck k o on n s se ea as so on n 1 1 b bo ot th h y yo ou u a an nd d K KC C w we en nt t t th hr ro ou ug gh h s so om me e h ha ar rs sh h t tiim me es s lliik ke e a a p po ot te en nt tiia all b br re ea ak ku up p iin n y yo ou ur r f fr riie en nd ds sh hiip p t to o k kiid dn na ap p - - w wo ou ulld d t th hiis s b be e a a m mu uc ch h c ca allm m d do ow wn n s se ea as so on n f fo or r M Ma ar riis ss sa a o or r w wo ou ulld d o on nc ce e a ag ga aiin n g ge et t b be eh hiin nd d t th he e e en ne em my y lliin ne e? ? - You have to watch and find out :) W Wh hiille e t th he e w wh ho olle e c ca as st t iis s f fu un nn ny y o on n iit ts s o ow wn n w wa ay y,, t th he er re e''s s n no o d do ou ub bt t y yo ou u a an nd d E Er rn niie e a ar re e t th he e o on ne es s t th ha at t b br riin ng g m mo os st t o of f t th he e c co om miic c r re elliie ef f w wiit th h y yo ou ur r s sw we ee et t,, d do or rk ky y p pe er rs so on na as s - - b ba ac ck k iin n o ou ur r f fiir rs st t iin nt te er rv viie ew w y yo ou u m me en nt tiio on ne ed d y yo ou u t te en nd d t to o d do o llo ot t o of f iim mp pr ro ov viin ng g,, iis s t th ha at t s st tiillll c ca as se e o or r y yo ou u h ha av ve e r re ea ac ch he ed d t th he e p po oiin nt t w wh he er re e M Ma ar riis ss sa a''s s p pe er rs so on na a c co om me es s o ou ut t n na at tu ur ra alllly y? ? - Yeah! I still improv and I defiantly feel I have embodied the character and her persona comes out naturally. But the writers really do a fantastic job of capturing Marisa's essence. N No ow w,, w we e k kn no ow w y yo ou u c co om me e f fr ro om m a a m mu us siic ca all t th he ea at tr re e b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d a an nd d II h ha av ve e b be ee en n w wo on nd de er riin ng g - - c ca an n w we e e ex xp pe ec ct t a an ny y e ep piis so od de e o of f y yo ou u s siin ng giin ng g o or r p pu ut tt tiin ng g y yo ou ur r s sk kiilllls s iin n a ac ct tiio on n? ? -There is no singing as of yet but you never know! W Wh ha at t e ells se e c ca an n e ex xp pe ec ct t o on n t th hiis s n ne ew w s se ea as so on n? ? - Lots of twists and turns, so much excitement and action! And of course lots of laughs! W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n V Ve er ro on niic ca a D Du un nn ne e''s s w wo or rlld d? ? - Filming right now and reading new projects for my hiatus.

V Ve er ro on niic ca a D Du un nn ne e Disney star talks about K. C. Undercover's new season and more! Pic by Sam Zachrich

H Hii N Niic ck k,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Great, thank you! It's been a busy month! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "W Wh he er re e Y Yo ou u A Ar re e" "? ? It's about missing someone, but also about feeling connected no matter where you are, of being inspired by your own journey and sharing it with people in any place at all times. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? I wrote the song when I was on the road recording the EP and found myself missing my friends and family back home. Particularly my little brother, who I wasn't seeing much of at the time because I was working so hard on the music. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w E EP P L Lo ov ve e E En ne er rg gy y - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? It's all about connecting with others through music. I want the music to inspire, and create happiness in others - like it does for me, and for people to take away the message of love and good vibes towards all people. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? I wrote and recorded most of the EP in Miami, with some additional recording in Atlanta and Vegas. My executive producer Steve Morales (Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion) and I spent weeks recording from his home studio in Miami, where 24-7 his whole family and I lived only in the music. It was incredible. I can't wait to be back recording again! W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s t th he e U UK K p plla ay y iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? I was born and raised my whole life in London until I went to America for college at 18. The UK is still my home and I love many British artists. British pop acts specifically have a knack for making songs that are incredibly catchy, but that also stay authentically cool. H Ho ow w h ha as s b be ee en n t th he e t tr ra an ns siit tiio on n f fr ro om m m mo od de elliin ng g t to o m mu us siic c? ? Honestly, it was pretty tough! People assume that just because you were a model that you can't be a musician or that you have no musical talent - as that's not what models are known for. I've had to work twice as hard to get half the credit, but as more people hear and like the music I'm being more and more accepted as an artist - which is exciting for me! IIn n w wh ha at t w wa ay y d diid d llo ov ve e a an nd d e en ne er rg gy y g ge et t t to o iin ns sp piir re e t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s m ma at te er riia all? ? In every way really. All of my love and energy went into it, the overarching theme of the EP is all about connection with others, respect and both internal and external love. We are all 'One' 'Love Energy', no matter 'Where You Are', I'm 'Crazy Like You' H Ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar riin ng g f fo or r y yo ou ur r u up pc co om miin ng g t to ou ur r? ? I'm not sure. It's half panic half preparing right now. I've been doing so many shows recently in so many different settings that often every show has to be tailored to each situation and venue - so it's a combination of maintaining a core performance base, but being flexible about it. W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or rw wa ar rd d t to o t th he e m mo os st t? ? The moments on stage with the fans. I can't imagine anything more unbelievable than getting to sing a power ballad like 'Crazy Like You' with a stadium full of people. I've had a lot of fun at my shows so far - spraying champagne on everyone during 'Falling', pulling girls on stage while singing 'One', it's always a party! W Wh ha at t c ca an n f fa an ns s e ex xp pe ec ct t? ? They can expect to feel something very real, something that speaks to them. I want the fans to experience the show, and feel a part of it, and a part of me by extension. If I can create that magic moment where everyone is connected by music, passion, and performance, that'd be amazing. W Wh ha at t iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n N Niic ck k H Hiis ss so om m''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I'm driving back to LA from the Billboard Awards in Vegas right now actually. I have the week "off" so I'll be in the studio in Miami, then up to New York for rehearsals (I'm performing on a big show in Atlantic City in June), and will then be on radio tour and rehearsing for the fall tour. I may also release another music video or two in the meantime! We'll see where it goes! Thanks for having me on Vents, I'll keep you posted!

Hi guys, welcome toVents! How have you been? We’ve been great, thanks! Can you talk to us more about your latest single “San Quentin”? It’s something I’m really proud of. A good intro to the more polished sound and of course to a story very important to me. It’s a heavy story that we were able to paint gently through the visuals and music. Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song? Yes. In 2013 I went to the prison to forgive the man who killed my biological father in 1994. I didn’t know if I was going to even get in that day, but I did and it was a powerful experience. How was the film experience? Great! Max was a treat to work with and the boys all really do well on camera. The single comes off your new album “HOKA” - what’s the story behind the title? “HOKA” is a Lakota word meaning ‘let’s go’ - so it’s a call to action. Being able to preserve indigenous language in this way is important to me and a topic of education for many who don’t know much about how many indigenous languages have been lost and how many are still being used by their traditional people. Preservation of culture and language through my music is some- thing I’ve always been focused on integrating. How was the recording and writing process? The recording process was a mind fuck and a beautiful one, at that! I was totally obsessed over the whole thing for months!The record is a collection of songs from the past decade.Some are as old as 7 or 8 years and some are new as last summer. What was it like to work withTed Hutt and how did that relationship develop? Working with ted was a pleasure. He really pulled out of us our best. We became really close to ted, we all look up to him as an uncle and someone we really admire for his journey. He really saw us for where we are at and took a chance on us. We couldn’t have done it without him! How much did he get to influence the album? A lot.He really helped puzzle piece some of the tracks that need- ed a bit of reorganizing. His knowledge of guitars, keys, drums was hugely instrumental [ no pun intended ] to how we recorded. How has your childhood and family background have in- fluence the lyrics and music on this record? It’s half the story here! Well not really but kind of. My family story is often the foundation many tracks. It’s great to finally get some of these older stories recorded. It’s about my journey to self-realization and returning to a sense of family with my blood and my global tribe. Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyr- ics? I found the inspiration through life experience. I write what is relevant to me. I find inspiration in nature, on the road, in cer- emony, and in relationships that deepen my appreciation for life and this planet. Do you have any plans to hit the road? I’m on the road as I type!The “Make a Change” tour just started last week. What else is happening next in Nahko and Medicine For The People’s world? There’s a record release in June, big summer festivals, red rocks with the Avett Brothers in July, European tour in August, a week- long horse tour in Montana and Shasta in September.I’m going to be super busy and that’s just how I like it! Nahko and Medicine For The People

H Hii M Miie es sa a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Great, thanks for asking. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "T To oo o B Ba ad d T To o Y Yo ou u" "? ? I'm so proud of this song and the support it's received. I’m happy my fans can relate to the pain and emotion of the song. Whether they have experienced the pain and heartbreak on that level or not, it’s a song that everyone can relate to, even on the surface. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? “Too Bad For You” was written by JacksonCroft, but it was definitely inspired by some personal events in my life. Stepping out of a painful relationship and looking back on it as a growing experience played out in real time and that's reflective in the lyrics. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? It was liberating. You can't hold on to hurt and pain from a bad relationship forever because if you do, then you miss out on the amazing joy that a new relationship can bring. I wanted to make sure that I was emotionally connected when I recorded and was able to release any raw emotions I felt in the moment. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h t th he e lliik ke es s o of f J Ja ac ck ks so on nC Cr ro of ft t a an nd d T Th he e R Ra as sc ca alls s a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ho os se e r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip ps s d de ev ve ello op p? ? JacksonCroft just get me. They are incredibly easy to open up to my ideas and they just seem to always tell my story the way that I want it told. The Rascals is a relationship that I built through the head of the label, Chauncy, who is always looking to bring the very best to my album. I am grateful to work with such creative people who bring my visions to life through the music. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d t th he ey y g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? I'm so lucky that this album, which is my first album, is really about me as well as my musical family coming together to make great music. We all have ideas and suggestions that we throw into the mix and then we just see where the music takes us. I can't say enough about my Team. I feel so blessed to work with them. K Kiin nd da a c cu ur riio ou us s o on n w wh hy y e en nt te er riin ng g w wiit th h s so o m ma an ny y p pr ro od du uc ce er rs s - - w we er re e y yo ou u llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or r s so om me et th hiin ng g iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? We're just looking for what feels right but we honestly don't have many producers on the album. We are conscious about not chasing the trends. H Ho ow w h ha as s y yo ou ur r e et th hn niic ca all b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? It's just who I am. Being of both Filipino and Haitian descent, I am the product of two amazing, musically rich cultures and I draw upon inspiration from them both in my music and in my performances. W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r t tiim me e w wo or rk kiin ng g w wiit th h s so om me e o of f t th he e g gr re ea at te es st t a ac ct ts s iin n m mu us siic c? ? I've learned to always be myself. That's something that never goes out of style. I’ve also learned to hone in on my craft and above all, to stay focused. H Ho ow w''s s y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m c co om miin ng g a allo on ng g? ? To be honest, I'm just focused on selecting and recording the right songs. Once we feel like we have musically said everything we want to say, we'll just listen. But trust me, we're recording a lot of music because I have a lot to say, as we all do haha. We all have a story to tell and to be able to express all of that in a debut album is truly incredible. A An ny y t te en nt ta at tiiv ve e r re elle ea as se e d da at te e o or r t tiit tlle e iin n m miin nd d? ? The release date is looking like late this year or early next year. I think when it's all said and done, the title will speak for itself. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? I've been on Kimpton Suite Tour with various Kimpton Hotel properties, so that will continue throughout the year. There also might be a few tour surprises coming up, but you'll just have to stay tuned haha. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n M Miie es sa a''s s w wo or rlld d? ?​​ We don't have enough time to go into all of that (haha), but let's just say I'm excited about what’s in store for my fans. I’m truly blessed and extremely grateful.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Diego Tejeida (dTej): Thanks! Very well thank you. Currently very busy preparing our upcoming “Affinitour” ! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e “ “T Th he e E En nd dlle es ss s K Kn no ot t" "? ? dTej: Personally, TEK is one of my favourite tracks of Affinity. I had the chance to incorporate loads of massive synth sounds from other genres such as Trance, Dubstep, Psychedelic and EDM in general. As a synth player/programmer I love what these genres can offer, because most of the expressiveness comes from the actual sounds, leaving the musical part as a secondary focus. In the Prog world playing around with these kind of sounds is not something you have the chance to do very often. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? dTej: WellZ in the current tense global situation we’re experiencing, there has been plenty of tragic events recently; natural disasters, wars, genocide, etc etc. These events have influenced directly the lyrics for The Endless Knot. It seems sometimes it takes a tragic, painful event such as these for us to be able to unite, be conscious and empathetic and take action. We’re capable of achieving so much collectively, at the same time, we’re capable of collectively destroying so much too . What makes us take one direction or the other? A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e o or r a an ny y o ot th he er r t tr ra ac ck k o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? dTej: Yes, we’ve been fine tuning the very last details with Miles from Crystal Spotlight for the upcoming video. Not long now before it comes out. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w m ma at te er riia all A Af ff fiin niit ty y - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? dTej ‘Affinity’ Talks about human behaviour and human interaction. Why we bond either individually or collectively and also, why we create animosity between individuals and groups. This is all part of a very tribal and primitive hardwired chip we have in our brains. We tend to like what resemble us, we create bonds with things we can identify ourselves with. At the same time; we reject things that are of an unfamiliar nature to us. The word affinity sums the first concept up. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? dTej: The writing process was in fact quite long. It took us over a year to write and arrange the album. Whether we shared ideas one came up with over the internet, at the rehearsal room or even rocking the laptops via bluetooth on the tourvan’s sound system. Being now an international band (Conner lives in Indiana and I’ve been based in Mexico City for the last three years) the writing process was a mixture of sharing ideas online and making the most of the time we were all in the same room, The recording process was intenseZ very intense, to say the least. We had to push the dead line 4 weeks. That put a lot of extra pressure in the process, so yeah it was an intense period of time, On the other hand though, this is the 4th (5th if you count our EP) time we’ve recorded an album and it always is a very intense period, we grow a lot each time and inevitably you end up pushing your boundaries, so it always is a very intense process. Sometimes you need that big push to squeeze out the best of you. Y Yo ou u''v ve e c ca alllle ed d t th hiis s y yo ou ur r m mo os st t c co olllla ab bo or ra at tiiv ve e a allb bu um m t to o d da at te e - - h ho ow w h ha as s t th hiis s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e s so ou un nd d? ? dTej: I guess everyone was much more involved in the actual

process so we ended up being absolutely aware of everyone’s parts, we all gave feedback of absolutely everything, being a bass line, keyboard sound, guitar riff, vocal melodies, drum groove etc etc. So, I think this made the whole album and interaction/arrangements between instruments more cohesive. We truly did the whole thing together and I like to think that reflects on the album’s sound. D Diid d t th ha at t h ha ad d a an ny yt th hiin ng g t to o d do o w wiit th h t th he e n ne ew w d diir re ec ct tiio on n y yo ou u w we en nt t w wiit th h t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? dTej: Probably - probably not. When we first discussed the ideas of the “new album” back in 2014 we had a different initial idea. As we started working the initial sketches, was as if the whole thing started to become alive and started to have a clearer form/direction so we took it from there. In reality, the direction of the music is always dictated by the music itself . W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h J Je en ns s B Bo og gr re en n a an nd d w wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u d de ec ciid de e t to o e en nt te er r t th he e s st tu ud diio o w wiit th h h hiim m a ag ga aiin n? ? dTej: WellZ we’ve never been “in the studio” with him, strictly speaking! We’ve mainly communicated over the emails and that’s how we’ve done the other 2 releases as well. He’s a truly incredible mixing engineer/producer. We love his sound, very pristine yet massive. Our music has lots of layers, you need someone with a fresh pair of ears that can give all of these layers their own space and put them in perspective and he’s an absolute genius on this department. On top of that, Jens is a perfectionist , very professional, very creative and hardworking, whats not to like? I just can’t imagine anyone else mixing our music right now. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? dTej: Well, as I just mentioned, he put things into perspective, and squeeze out the best of our performances. He’s in control of the spotlight and background scenography. Almost like an orchestral conductor would do. W Wh ha at t " "t te er rr riib blle e t th hiin ng gs s" " g ge et t t to o iin ns sp piir re e t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? dTej; Interesting question. Lyrically speaking I wouldn’t say there’s one single “terrible thing” that inspired the lyrics or concept, this is more our current world view. Our “Weltanschauung” of human behaviour, interaction and technology. Our psychological and emotional status as species. S So o h ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u f fo ollk ks s b be ee en n p pr re ep pa ar riin ng g f fo or r y yo ou ur r u up pc co om miin ng g t to ou ur r? ? dTej: We’ve been pretty busy overseeing all the aspects of the tour: production, crew, support acts, logistics, etc. As well as preparing the show, practising, programming sounds, gear, etc etc. W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or rw wa ar rd d t th he e m mo os st t? ? dTej: Being on the road and play Affinity live. It really is the process we love the most. C Ca an n w we e e ex xp pe ec ct t a an ny y n ne ew w e elle em me en nt ts s o on n y yo ou ur r p pe er rf fo or rm ma an nc ce es s? ? dTej: YesZ there’s gonna be new surprises for this tour so make sure you get a ticket to come to see us. Last time we did a European headliner tour was 2 years ago! It gonna be a real occasion. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n H Ha ak ke en n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? dTej: We’re gonna be doing Prog Power USA and we’re setting up some shows around that as well, last year we did our first USA tour and it was such a blast, we’re looking forward to do it again.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e b ba ac ck k t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hi, thanks for having us again! We’ve been working hard on touring, writing, and recording BOO HISS since we last spoke. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th he e lle ea ad d t tr ra ac ck k " "R Ra aw w P Po ow we er r IIn n A A D Dr re es ss s" "? ? That’s one of our favorite songs that we’ve written. It came together really quickly because it just felt so right. It has that grungy garage rock attitude and we just added our own thing to it and had some fun with it. This track is sonically a lot grittier than our last LP, so we thought it’d be a great lead off track on BOO HISS. We tend to start a lot of shows with it too. It lets everyone know that we’re a loud rock’n’roll band right out of the gate. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Well I (Nick) recorded the guitar part for it on my phone and showed it to the band members, they were digging on it. I think the lyrics were inspired by a sexy actress on TV who was wearing a red dress. And just like that, you have a song! A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r iit t? ? Yeah I think we have some ideas for it. Every time we get together it’s the one song we throw around video ideas for. We hope to eventually get one out for it and some of the other songs. “ “B Be elllla ad do on nn na a” ” iis s a an n e ep piic c jja am m.. W Wh ha at t’’s s t th he e s so on ng g a ab bo ou ut t a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d iit t c co om me e t to og ge et th he er r? ? That song is one that probably means something different to each person that hears it. It’s dark and intense and has spiritual overtones. The title of the song has a lot to do with some of the meaning. That’s one that we jammed together after Thomas showed what he had written on piano. I remember the first time we played it and Davey sang that chorus melody, I felt my stomach drop. The album version, we actually recorded at 2AM in one take in the dark with only candles and incense burning. We really wanted to capture the vibe of that song. I think we only did one take of that song and it’s the one that made it to the album. Y Yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m iis s c ca alllle ed d B Bo oo o H Hiis ss s - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? It’s an expression that’s not widely used anymore, but we’ve heard it and we just loved the way it soundedZ simple and memorable. Plus people might Boo and Hiss at us at shows, which we thought could be funny. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? It was a lot different compared to the last LP. We demo’d every song at our studio before we went and tracked everything at The Quarry. I sent everything to TJ Elias and he listened and

d d o l e s e y e e e e e d y t gathered some ideas for sounds and obviously we had our ideas too. It was great to come together and experiment. We slept at the studio and we’d work in the studio from 10am until 1am. The last LP we stopped recording at 7pm. With that time restriction came a lot of pressure to get takes and not a lot of time to experiment or try different signal chains or sounds. I’m an engineer myself, I like to try some crazier stuff and the guys in the band are all about that too. So this experience was a lot of fun and I think that translates out on the entire album. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h T TJ J E Elliia as s a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? Our drummer knew TJ and had spoken to him a few times about the idea of working together. He showed him some of our demos and we talked about it as a band and we felt it was a good move to work with him. He’s a great engineer. The studio he works out of is one of the better ones in our area too. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? When he had a thought about a sound or an idea about a certain tone, he would definitely let you knowZ and that’s extremely valuable. You don’t want to walk into a studio with a stubborn or arrogant attitude, cause you might miss something that fits the song better. You want to destroy that perception right away. Thinking that way is toxic for making a fun record. The band and TJ worked really well together. We had our ideas and he had his, and that combination makes a dynamic album. Y Yo ou u’’r re e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d b by y 7 70 0s s R Ro oc ck k m mu us siic c - - w wh ha at t b ba an nd ds s a ar re e y yo ou u iin ns sp piir re ed d b by y a an nd d d diid d t th he ey y iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e w wr riit tiin ng g f fo or r t th he e n ne ew w a allb bu um m? ? For me personally, I was listening to a lot of Stooges, New York Dolls, Big Star, Beatles, The Replacements, and so much more. All the guys in the band listen to all sorts of different stuff. It definitely influences, maybe not entirely in writing style or sonically, but definitely in attitude and prowess. H Ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u p pr re ep pa ar riin ng g f fo or r y yo ou ur r u up pc co om miin ng g t to ou ur r? ? We typically write and rehearse two times a week. We’ve been brainstorming about set lists and really working on some of the new songs from BOO HISS and incorporating them into our live set. W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u llo oo ok kiin ng g f fo or rw wa ar rd d t to o t th he e m mo os st t? ? We’re looking forward to touring the entire U.S. and the rest of the world. We’re hungry to keep getting out there and putting on our best shows and continuing to put out rock’n’roll records. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n T Th he e H Ho ow wlliin ng g T To on ng gu ue es s'' w wo or rlld d? ? We’re working on setting up more extensive tour plans and hopefully going to get back into the creative process, make some videos, and work on new music.

H Hii T Tr ra av viis s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? - I've been so good! Just finished my cover this week so I'm stoked that I was able to get ahead on some work. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "E Ex xc ciit te ed d" "? ? - Absolutely! EXCITED is my debut single that just released on April 1st of this year. The song was written and produced by AFTRHOURS and Daniel Kier. The song is about the moment two people start to show interest in each other, and that magic moment the sparks fly. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? - I can only speak for myself, but when I met with AFTRHOURS and Daniel Kier we were exploring my sound. I've been exploring it for a long time. Because I've doing covers for a while, my voice has sung many different genres. I've always been a pop/r&b fan, especially with the latest releases from Zayn and The Weeknd, so we wanted to see what my voice was capable in that space. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? - Yes, we are planning on releasing a music video for EXCITED sometime later this year when I release my EP. I'll be doing a Kickstarter this summer to help fund the music video and the rest of the EP. My good friend Colton Haynes and my girlfriend Ally Maki have both expressed interest in the music video. Hopefully they're both available to be in it, that'd be amazing! H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? - It was one of the easiest processes I had ever encountered thus far in my career. I typically am very involved in the creative process, but in this case I was very hands off. AFTRHOURS and Daniel both wanted to write me a song and it ended up being my debut single! The recording process was so fluid because it felt like my voice was right at home with the melody, lyrics, and feel of the song. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h A AF FT TR RH HO OU UR RS S a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? - AFTRHOURS and I met through our mutual friend Daniel Kier. Daniel emailed me one day and wanted to grab coffee because he had seen some of my covers. The meeting was only supposed to be 30-45mins but ended up being almost 3 hours. We just connected really well. He ended up showing me some of the songs that him and AFTRHOURS had worked on and I was super interested in them as songwriters. We scheduled a day for all of us to meet and immediately hit it off. They suggested they write a song for me to see what I thought and now we're here today! AFTRHOURS has to be one of the most talented young producers I've ever worked with. It's pretty amazing how his brain works with crafting songs. Some of the sounds that he puts together are sounds I've never heard of before. It's super inspiring working with him. I've been producing records for a long time and he blows my mind every time. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? - He really set the tone for the EP. I know that I needed to commit to a sound and that song was the confirmation of my style. I've been writing music for a while and I've produced different artists from pop,

rock, rappers, country, etc. Switching hats from a producer who works on other artists's music to working on my own was a hard thing to come to - definitely a journey. AFTRHOURS helped me solidify a creative direction. His influence has been paramount not just for this EP but for the direction of my career. H Ho ow w h ha as s L LA A iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? - I moved here from Seattle almost 4 years ago. I think living in LA has given me a really good sense of direction when it comes to the trajectory of my career. If I hadn't have moved I wouldn't have met people like AFTRHOURS and Daniel who have now helped define my sound and brand. It definitely wouldn't have happened elsewhere. I owe that to LA. K Kn no ow wn n f fo or r c co ov ve er riin ng g o ot th he er r a ar rt tiis st ts s'' s so on ng gs s - - d do o y yo ou u t ta ak ke e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h w wh he en n y yo ou u d do o a a c co ov ve er r t th ha an n w wh he en n y yo ou u w wr riit te e f fo or r y yo ou ur r o ow wn n m mu us siic c p pr ro ojje ec ct t? ? - For me, I always try and think, "how would this particular artist arrange this song if they got asked to do an unplugged version?", and I roll with that. I try not to drift too far from the integrity of the original arrangement, but I hope that from using my voice people appreciate the slight difference in sound. Also, since I do covers weekly, I typically need to do them as fast as possible, which doesn't allow me to put as much effort into it as I would like to. For me a simple piano and vocal has always been something I appreciated as a listener, and I hope that those watching my videos appreciate that too. When it comes to my own music it's a very different approach. When writing my own music I typically hear the melody first, then the arrangement, then the lyrics. From then on it's like a puzzle piecing all the different parts together. S Sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f w wh hiic ch h,, h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell a ab bo ou ut t t th he e r re ec ce ep pt tiio on ns s y yo ou ur r w wo or rk k h ha as s r re ec ce eiiv ve ed d? ? - I feel so honored and amazed. Typically it's just me creating covers and content in my home studio and then putting it out. Seeing people from all over the world loving the song and excited about me releasing original music just makes me want to keep going and grow even more. There's been so many amazing people that have followed my career and my channel thus far, and I'm so happy and excited to give back to them with my own original music. H Ho ow w''s s y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m c co om miin ng g a allo on ng g? ? - It's coming along great. I've been writing this EP for years now and it's been a trip going into my iphone recorder app and listening to ideas back from 2010 to now. Crazy to hear how my ideas have developed since then. I'm also constantly writing with the most talented I've gotten to know over the years through various projects. A An ny y t te en nt ta at tiiv ve e r re elle ea as se e d da at te e o or r t tiit tlle e iin n m miin nd d? ? - At the moment I'm aiming for Fall, but that's a big maybe, haha. I always feel the need to put a projected date on things so that I stay on track. I need to give myself goals to keep focused. As for a title, I'm constantly thinking of one. Stay tuned.

H Hii B Bo o,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Very well thank you, basking in a mini heatwave over here. And about to move house so living in chaos! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "H Ho olld d M My y G Ga az ze e" "? ? Hold My Gaze is about going back to a moment in your head where you didn’t say the things you wanted to say and rewriting it. It’s fantasising about what you would’ve said had you had the courage. It’s me venting really, excuse the pun... D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? When I think about it now I’m sure I had a couple of different events and people in mind. I don’t think I could ever tell those people that it’s about them so it’s a release that didn’t involve me actually facing them. In hindsight I’m fairly sure it’s partially directed at myself also. Kind of double edged. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Yes! It’s coming together as we speak... H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? I had the chords swimming around in my head for a while and then the rest was written in a few minutes after one particularly difficult conversation. I write at home alone in my studio and the song just crept up on me, as they have a habit of doing. Then I took it to my good friend Loxe and we produced it up together which was a lot of fun. There’s a line I ad libbed in the last chorus – I sing ‘what you saying’ – but it’s sort of

muffed and every time he heard it he’d turn around and ask in all seriousness ‘what you saying?’ It was a never-ending cycle of us saying ‘what you saying’. Silly. H Ho ow w h ha as s L Lo on nd do on n iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? The London scene is a really diverse and creative one. There’s an experimentalism to it that I love. But also a classicism, there’s always been a strong jazz and soul scene here which is cool. I think I’m a bit of a loner writer though. I more absorb from the sides. Does the new single mean we can expect a new album - how's that coming along? Yeah I’m writing a lot, I’ve been inspired lately so fingers crossed that continues and you enjoy what comes nextZ I’m enjoying thinking about the album, I love them as a format. Any tentative release date or title in mind? No not yet... A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? That’s what I‘m most looking forward to next, but that’s probably because I’ve been in the studio for a while. When you write you want to be performing and vice versa. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n B Bo o R Ro oc ch ha a''s s w wo or rlld d? ? More music, shows.. I’m hungry for it all. And moving house x

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? We’ve been terrific! As of late, we’re spending a ton of time in the studio writing new music while promoting the upcoming release of our EP. It’s an exciting time to be in a band! C Ca an n y yo ou u b br riin ng g u us s u up p t to o s sp pe ee ed d o on n y yo ou ur r a ac ct tiiv viit ty y,, s siin nc ce e w we e lla as st t h he ea ar rd d f fr ro om m y yo ou u? ? In the last year since we spoke we’ve changed the makeup of MOSAICS and written a new record. Y Yo ou u’’v ve e c ch ha an ng ge ed d s siin ng ge er rs s s siin nc ce e y yo ou ur r lla as st t r re ec co or rd d.. H Ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t c co om me e a ab bo ou ut t? ? Although we enjoyed working with our prior vocalist, we decided to go in a different direction for this album. We felt Maryam could bring something different to the table than Grady and decided to pursue that in the creation “Year of Valor”. “Of Colors”, our prior album, was one chapter and this is the next. MOSAICS may end up as a project constantly featuring new collaborators. Y Yo ou ur r n ne ew w s siin ng glle e “ “Y Ye ea ar r o of f V Va allo or r” ” c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w E EP P o of f t th he e s sa am me e n na am me e - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? This record represents the expression of our new musical chemistry. As three individual musicians from different musical, cultural and idealogical backgrounds we took a gamble in assuming that together we could elevate the quality of our sound thus the courage or “valor”.This process took place over a year and had many difficult creative challenges. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ?

f e d w r r y y r l d n e r d With “Year of Valor” we simplified our approach to songwriting, arrangement and production. Our intent was to make the music “easier on the ears” hoping listeners would walk away humming melodies. We took what we thought worked best from our prior record and sought to improve upon it. Our recording process was identical to our prior record. It’s still bedroom style recording and production as we're limited by our circumstances and equipment. H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u e en nd d u up p w wiit th h s su uc ch h r ra an nd do om m iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s? ? Y Yo ou u d do on n’’t t h he ea ar r M Miic ch ha ae ell H He ed dg ge es s’’ n na am me e Producer Tyler Hill and guitarist Devon Kelts started the project in 2013 with the idea of combining the type of acoustic guitar playing associated with artists like Michael Hedges and Kaki King with the world of digitally-driven production to create unique musical textures. The resulting musical aesthetic has served as a defining characteristic of MOSAICS’ sound. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o p pe er rf fo or rm m t th he es se e s so on ng gs s lliiv ve e t th hiis s s su um mm me er r? ? It’s possible we will perform late in the summer. With the current momentum in the studio we may just keep our heads down and finish another full-length record of unique material. W Wh ha at t’’s s n ne ex xt t f fo or r M MO OS SA AIIC CS S? ? We are in the process of writing an LP of all new material. We would like to start playing live later in the year with the possibility of touring depending on the reception of “Year of Valor”. om

INT. MAGNET SCHOOL, CAFETERIA – DAWN A sea of SMART KIDS decorate the dreary cafeteria of this middle school. A tedium fills the air. In the corner are MATH GEEKS indicated byZwell, you can just tell. And there’s always that Jovial Jane who doesn’t quite get the fact that it’s only 7 freakin’ AM. Sun is breaking and so is someone’s confidence. Enter ERMAN, 11, Asian American, clearly too chill for school. At least, this school. Judging by the lack of poster boards in his hands he’s likely forgotten his summer assignment. This is DAY ONE. ERMAN Oh crap. ------------------------------------------------- I was never the mainstream’s definition of desirable. I don’t look like anybody in this room. Hell, I never felt smarter than anybody in the room. This thought defined my education years. This led to my shyness from anything social. Why won’t anyone say hi to me? Maybe they don’t get me? Why does that dude get all the girls? 18,000 followers later I’m not much different than who I was in middle school. Though smarter (debatable), my look at life has somewhat stayed constant: there are more opportunities in the world than what you see before you, no one is any more or less important than you are, and the pot holes in the road shouldn’t faze you from the fact that there is more stretches of road ahead. Years later, judging by who you’re asking, I am on the brink of breaking into Hollywood. You won’t find me in Variety or in most blogs, but I’m content with the current route. I am a celebrity interviewer, screenwriter (aspiring for now), and accomplished entertainment events producer (inspiring for now) who enjoys the occasional red carpet and interview. I’ve booked some of the biggest creatives in the industry to tell their stories in front of audiences, such as Lauren Shuler Donner (producer, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse), James Foley (director, House of Cards), Gohar Gazazyan (casting director, The Walking Dead), Alan Wenkus (Academy Award- nominated writer and producer, Straight Outta Compton), and over 60 other creatives making Holly-world go ‘round. I get to do so from the comfort of my home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, before my itinerary-less trip to Los Angeles and New York City three or four times a year (each). The accomplishments seemed as unattainable as a unicorn during my childhood. I’ve always had a passion for enabling other people’s passions. Sure, producing events was my way of connecting to Hollywood execs myself, but over time it’s allowed others to connect, be it meetings or continued communications with guest speakers. It was my avenue of getting to know the insiders without screaming “Hey, I’m a desperate writer!” from the gate. While this has helped my Twitter and Instagram followers and all – which are oh so important in business – the path has seen its dark days of loneliness, fear, and indecision. I’m not like a lot of other guys. Among tall, dark, and handsome I fit 1.5 of the description. My six pack is more like a keg and I was never that muscular. Going to schools that were dominantly white and black I was kind of justZin the crowd. So, there I was in a smart kids’ middle school choosing my electives. Growing up, I was a constant liar and was told I had a knack for storytelling, so English was the only subject I excelled at. Or, should it read “the only subject in which I excelled”? Regardless, all other subjects didn’t matter to me at this point. It came down to Orchestra – which I played in the 5th grade and secretly hated – and Acting. At the time, I really wanted to be an actor. I was ready to sign up and break out from my shell. Maybe this could help me talk to girls more. Then, reality hit. No one looks like me on TV. Yet, orchestra is filled with Asians, even the ones on the waiting list. So, I made my decision. I had to play my part in society. I was last chair for most of my three years in middle school. At that time, I let the world dictate my decisions. I think it’s so easy for people to hit their default button when the fear of the unknown makes itself present. I didn’t quite fit in anywhere. I didn’t score the grades my fellow Asians did nor did I listen to the emo bands the white kids did. I never attended social gatherings or dances and wasn’t really invited to any birthday parties. I was simply floating by. I spent middle school being a class clown and hiding in the shadows at the same time. While everyone excelled at academics, I doodled stories and quotes in my binders because, truth be told, I could never solve for x. Still, I didn’t quite have a true passion yet, just hobbies. The universe was more susceptible to my creativity in high school. While attending a Health and Sciences Academy in high school to pursue a medical career (of course), a group of teachers called me up for a meeting. Hey wanted me in Honors English. Yes, my imagination was that good. Sophomore year I demolished all writing assignments. Grammar I could care less about. For me, it was all about the story. In the final week of class, it was time for the final skit of the year. Everyone loved my skits so it was my duty to go balls to the wall with this presentation. Lo and behold, these presentations were based on folklore. I wrote myself as the lead in this becauseZwhy not. At the end of the laughter, Mrs. Schwartz stopped the class and said, “Kids, mark my words. You’ll be seeing Erman hosting SNL one day.” It’s been ten years since that statement but I’m holding her to it. Come college, I would ace my screenwriting class, garnering a rare 100 in the final and being paid to ghostwrite others’ scripts which also scored 100. I took it as some sort of sign. I went to a Christian college so it must have been. Faith can be questioned when navigating the roads of entertainment. I’ve experienced crazy times and I’m not even fully “broken in” yet. Some nights in LA I’d have to choose between a cheap motel and a warm meal. I’d walk the city just thinking with no destination or plans that day. Then, one day, it all made sense. Asian Americans started hitting the mainstream harder than before. ABC announced Fresh Off the Boat and Dr. Ken. John Cho would be a leading romantic interest. Aziz Ansari would find Netflix success with Master of None. A Filipino male would be the object of affection in CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. While there’s clearly more progress to be made especially in a time of “whitewashing” characters in Hollywood, there are signs of a shift in the industry’s openness to more Asian Americans in the lead role. Be it acting or writing, there isn’t an excuse to go full fledge to pursue my dreams. Long gone are the days where Asian men are just the nerdy stereotypes or the comedic sidekick. They’re actually becoming more and more sought after. So why the events? If I want to be a writer or break into more acting then why spend the time to produce events? What it all came down to was networking, the key proponent in ensuring the actually talented side of you doesn’t go unnoticed. Just like dating, the first step to get anywhere is making people know you exist in the first place. As some Asian guy from some city in Virginia, I guess I’m on the right path. SNL may not come in the next five years but I’m doing a whole lot better than the kid standing in the cafeteria feeling lesser than anybody else.

H Hii B Be en n,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Thanks! I’m very well and I hope you all are too. Thanks for taking the time to speak to me about this release, much appreciated. In preparation for the album release I’ve been busy working on some remixes and planning my next music video, so I’m very excited to see that start to come together and share it with everyone soon. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e " "A A V Viie ew w F Fr ro om m A Ab bo ov ve e" "? ? When I decided to try and come up with a whole album, the track ‘A View From Above’ was the first track I started writing, and subsequently remained as the opening track of the album. I didn’t really specifically set out to make a song with a particular sound or title - I just spent hours and hours messing about on my laptop, experimenting with different chord progressions, software instruments and ideas until the track began to take shape. In fact, I hit a bit of a dead end and postponed working on this track for quite some time whilst I started and finished some of the other tracks on the album (I’m sure a lot of artists agree that it’s easy to lose perspective on a piece of music when you’re constantly working on it, so it’s good to have a break!). I chose this track as the first single because it marks the inception of the album, gives a good representation of the overall sound and mood of the album and because it’s one of my favourite songs I’ve created so far. I named the song ‘A View From Above’ because to me it feels uplifting, slightly nostalgic and very ‘spacey’. However, I like the idea of leaving the meaning of the title open to the listener’s interpretation – everyone has different thoughts and experiences that music can remind them of, so I’d like people to be able to come to their own conclusions and hopefully enjoy the record along the way! D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? There wasn’t a particular event that inspired me to write this song, however I believe that the circumstances I was in at the time certainly helped to shape what sort of music I came up with. Babygrande Records had just signed me and to be backed by a New York-based label with such an impressive roster gave me confidence in my own music to continue composing and start putting an album together. The track ‘A View From Above’ started off as an experiment, a blend of the electronic styles of music I’ve always listened to mixed with my newly established link to the hip-hop world. I began to really like the sound of the track as it started to form and then the rest of the album followed. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? I approached director Nick Richards with the idea of shooting a music video because I knew he’d do a great job of it like he did, so huge credit to him! We’ve known each other for quite some time and I’ve always been impressed with the quality of his work, particularly with skateboarding videos. I felt that this sort of production was fairly new to both of us, so it was interesting to see how it all panned out. Although I don’t consider myself to have any acting abilities whatsoever, Nick and I decided that I would feature in the video in order to establish some form of identity to pair with the music. We spent a few weeks planning the video, discussing ideas and constructing a narrative to give the whole thing a storyline, which resulted in the idea of a character having a near-death experience and sudden moment of realization. The video was quite tricky to shoot at times, mainly because of the weather, traffic and other variables, but overall it was very enjoyable. All of the scenes in the video were shot in locations fairly close to where I live in Cardiff, so there wasn’t too much traveling involved, therefore Nick and I had plenty of time to retreat back to my flat, have a beer and edit the footage! Also, I’m very thankful for the support I received by my friends and family who helped and featured as extras in the video. W Wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u c ch ho oo os se e t to o n na am me e t th he e a allb bu um m a af ft te er r t th hiis s t tr ra ac ck k iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? I found that the track ‘A View From Above’ captures the sound of the album very well and really sets the theme and feel to it. Both the title and the track make me think of panoramic landscapes, the world, space, a sense of happiness and more, which the rest of the album also reflect but this title just seemed to fit best. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Most of the album was recorded in Sheffield, England, in a spare room where I set up my laptop and studio monitors, before finishing the rest of the album in Cardiff, Wales. I spent a long time experimenting with different drum beats, patterns, software synths etc and it would usually take a while to come up with something worth keeping and continuing with instead of just deleting it and starting again. I also found that minor sleep deprivation played a role in the creative process, which may be why some of the tracks on the album have that particular atmosphere to them. On numerous occasions I’d be drifting off to sleep and then suddenly come up with an idea for a sound, so I’d put my headphones on and just start writing. Before making this album I’ve always just made tracks here and there and uploaded them to the Internet straight away for people to hear, however with ‘A View From Above’ only a select few people have been able to listen to it so I’m extremely excited for it to be released. II a am m g ge et tt tiin ng g t th hiis s s st tr ro on ng g 9 90 0s s v viib be e r re em miin niis sc ce en nt t o of f M Ma as ss siiv ve e A At tt ta ac ck k,, D DJ J S Sh ha ad do ow w a an nd d e ev ve en n G Gr ro oo ov ve e A Ar rm ma ad da a - - d diid d t th he e d de ec ca ad de e o or r a an ny y o of f t th he es se e a ac ct ts s p plla ay ye ed d a a r ro olle e iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? Yes, I believe that decade was very important - I was born in 1991 and distinctly remember being exposed to music from artists like Fatboy Slim, Fluke and The Future Sound Of London from a very young age, which I definitely think has had an influence on the sort of stuff I create and still listen to at the moment. My parents’ taste in music is extremely diverse so I think that the stuff I heard as a child has played a crucial role and shaped my taste now. Again, it may just be the element of nostalgia but anything with a 90’s feel to it usually appeals to me. I’m really into Massive Attack, and DJ Shadow and Groove Armada’s use of sampling is something that I love hearing both from a production point of view and when generally listening to the music. H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou ur r lliif fe e iin ns sp piir re e t th he e s so on ng gs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? I’m very open-minded and generally not dismissive of others, so the music on the record is really just me coming up with sounds that I enjoy and not necessarily being restricted by genres and boundaries (although it turned out to be fairly consistently electronic-sounding with hip-hop style beats). I’m fascinated by space and always have been, which is one of my main inspirations when making music and influenced the types of soundscapes I tend to come up with. Although I appreciate many forms of popular music, I really enjoy listening to film scores and soundtracks, which has resulted in many of the songs on the record having almost a cinematic feel to them. Overall, I’m quite a chilled out person and I get good satisfaction from listening to and making music that interests me, which I hope is portrayed in the album. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Yes! Over the past few weeks I’ve been gathering equipment and preparing a live set, which I hope to take on the road as soon as possible. Playing elements of the album live on bigger sound systems (compared to my speakers at home) will bring a whole new dimension to the music, which is something I’m very excited to try out. W Wh ha at t iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n S Sk ky ylla ab b 3 3''s s w wo or rlld d? ? The album ‘A View from Above’ is out on 10th June, I’ve got some additional singles, remixes and another music video in the pipeline and live shows are hopefully on the way very soon. I’m very much looking forward to hearing what people think of the album, working on new material in the future and working alongside the amazing team of people I’m with at the moment who are making this all happen!

T Th ha an nk ks s f fo or r h ha an ng giin ng g o ou ut t w wiit th h V VE EN NT TS S!! G Go o a ah he ea ad d iin nt tr ro od du uc ce e y yo ou ur rs se ellf f a an nd d y yo ou ur r b ba an nd d.. I am Josh, and I play bass in Hazing. I’m Brennan, and I play guitar. W Wh he er re e a ar re e y yo ou u g gu uy ys s f fr ro om m a an nd d h ho ow w llo on ng g h ha av ve e b be ee en n a a b ba an nd d? ? Josh: We are from Kansas City, this band has b together for about two and a half years. Brennan I have been playing together for about 4 years. T Th he er re e’’s s a a llo ot t o of f a aw we es so om me e b ba an nd ds s h he er re e t th hiis s w we ee ek k w wh ho o a ar re e s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on ns s t th ha at t a ar re e p plla ay yiin n S So o W Wh ha at t? ?!! Josh: Hmmm. Brennan: I’ve always liked Underoath, all throug high school. I really like Dance Gavin Dance a lo well. Hail the Sun is playing, that’s another ne band that I really like. Dang, I mean, Saosin Anthony Green? Like, woah, WOAH. That’s go be intense. It’s kind of mind blowing, there’s so m good bands today and there were a lot of good o yesterday too. S So o y y’’a allll jju us st t p pu ut t o ou ut t a a r re ec co or rd d lliik ke e a a f fe ew w d da ay ys s r riig gh ht t? ? Josh: Yes! Two days ago, Friday the 18th. S So o h ho ow w h ha as s t th he e r re ec ce ep pt tiio on n t to o t th ha at t b be ee en n? ? Josh: It’s been well received so far, I mean, w gotten rid of most of the CD’s already! W actually been worried that we wouldn’t have eno to make it through the rest of the day. W We ellll t th ha at t’’s s a a g go oo od d t th hiin ng g!! Josh: Oh yeah, that’s a good problem to have, ha S So o y y’’a allll p plla ay ye ed d t to od da ay y? ? H Ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t g go o,, w wh ha at t w wa as s c cr ro ow wd d r re ea ac ct tiio on n lliik ke e? ? Josh: It went really well I think, the hardest part gettin’ warmed up! It was windy and cold, it was 45 degrees I thinkZ And that’s being kind, haha. Brennan: We’re so much more accustomed to s venues, house shows, and things like that. So b on an outdoor stage in a ballpark is VERY new to Josh: Outdoors is definitely a new experience. Brennan: We’re out of our element and we’re r glad we got to experience this. The crowd awesome as we expected, there were a handf friends there from Kansas City, too, which is alw cool. Josh: We had a few people come down and w us, but we got a lot of people to stop and listen t H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? We are doing great! Lots of exciting stuff happening for us at the moment. Thank you for asking, how are you? C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "T Th he e N No ov ve em mb be er r D Diia ar riie es s" "? ? “The November Diaries” is a really aggressive song. We drew a lot of influences from bands like The Ghost Inside, Stick to Your Guns, and Gideon at the time we wrote the song. It hits hard and doesn’t really let up until the end. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? I don’t think there was any one particular event that was the inspiration for this song, lyrically. The song is about peeling back your blinders, and looking at yourself for what you truly are, and being disgusted by what you see. While it is very personal, I think that it is also very relatable. It is a tragedy to not be able to love yourself, and I think the frustration that causes comes through in the song musically, as well as lyrically. Musically, it was written during a time that, I think, everyone was feeling very isolated and lonely in the band, due to a variety of reasons (Connor was away at school, Sharon, Andrew and Pat were not really seeing each other often, etc.), so that definitely comes through as well. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? At first it was pretty stressful, ha – trying to get all the cameras together to make a DIY live video, to get people to actually film for us, then editing and producing it the way that we envisioned it to be. The easiest part of the whole thing was actually performing the song live. Brooklyn, NY was so good to us that night. The crowd never stopped moving and participating. That’s all that any band can ask for, especially when you’re filming a live video. W Wh hy y r re elle ea as siin ng g a a lliiv ve e v viid de eo o f fo or r t th hiis s t tr ra ac ck k iin ns st te ea ad d o of f a a m mu us siic c v viid de eo o? ? Well first of all, we released a music video for our first single “DRYTOOTH” back in December 2014, which will also be on our debut album Lionheart. So we decided that we wanted to show what we can do in a live setting, and we thought this song was a good fit given how aggressive it is. This will definitely not be the last video that we release off of Lionheart, so definitely keep your eyes out for another actual music video in the near future. We won’t say for which song just yet =) T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m L Liio on nh he ea ar rt t - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? This record has a lot of different meanings to us, but overall it encompasses the motifs of loss, self-loathing, depression, coping, and humanity as a whole. We wanted to show that through all of the misery that life brings you, there is also a way to make that pain something positive and beautiful. No matter what you are going through, if you stay strong and stay true to your beliefs, as well as help your fellow man in need, humanity will rise above. You have to have the courage to keep moving, and we thought the term lionhearted fully depicted that message. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ?

a an nd d y yo ou u been n and k ke en nd d,, n ng g a at t ghout ot as ewer with onna many ones a ag go o,, we’ve We’ve ough aha. s s t th he e was s like small being o us. really was ful of ways watch to us so that’s good! T Th ha at t’’s s g gr re ea at tt t!! S So o s sp pe ea ak kiin ng g o of f v ve en nu ue es s a an nd d h ho ou us se e s sh ho ow ws s,, w wh ha at t a ar re e s so om me e o of f y yo ou ur r f fa av vo or riit te e c ciit tiie es s t to o p plla ay y iin n o or r w wh hy y a ar re e t th ho os se e v ve en nu ue es s s so o c co oo oll t to o y yo ou u g gu uy ys s? ? Brennan: Well, I really like a venue in Omaha, Nebraska called Sokol Underground. There’s an upstairs area which is more of a big venue, and then there’s a downstairs area which is more like a club. We played the downstairs of that and had a really, really good time and a lot of kids showed up to that show. That was a lot of fun. Josh: I’d say as far as venues goZ Shoot. I don’t really remember a whole lot of the venues that we’ve played out of state. Brennan: The one called The Seventh Circle in Denver, Colorado was spooky. Josh: Yeah, that was a really awesome set up. They had this big garage warehouse type thing, and then inside was kinda like a vinyl shop-esque I guess? Because you know, the place was fairly run-down, or it seemed that way. Brennan: Very run-down, there were like no windows in some places. Josh: It was primarily a venue but they had some kind of record store inside, and then they had a skate park out back with like a little grind rail and a lot of room to rip it up out there. Just some real sweet artwork onstage, that was a real fun space to play at. Y Ye ea ah h,, t to ot ta alllly y!! H Ha av ve e y y’’a allll e ev ve er r b be ee en n iin n t th he e C Clle ev ve ella an nd d a ar re ea a? ? Josh: We have not, I’ve never been to Ohio in my life. Brennan: We’ll be in Kent, Ohio April 17th! O Oh h,, c co oo oll,, II’’m m o or riig giin na alllly y f fr ro om m C Clle ev ve ella an nd d a an nd d t th ha at t s sc ce en ne e u up p t th he er re e iis s a aw we es so om me e!! H Ha av ve e f fu un n w wiit th h iit t.. S So o d diid d y yo ou u g gu uy ys s h ha av ve e a an ny yt th hiin ng g y yo ou u w wo ou ulld d lliik ke e t to o t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t b be ef fo or re e w we e f fiin niis sh h u up p? ? Brennan: There might be a music video coming out at some point, we’ll leave the song a surprise for that! Josh: Yeah, we haven’t decided on a song for it yet, but definitely by mid-summer we’ll have a new video in the works if not already coming out. A Aw we es so om me e!! W We ellll,, V VE EN NT TS S w wo ou ulld d lliik ke e t to o t th ha an nk k y yo ou u f fo or r y yo ou ur r t tiim me e a an nd d w wiis sh h y yo ou u t th he e b be es st t!! H Ho op pe e t to o t ta allk k t to o y yo ou u iin n t th he e f fu ut tu ur re e!! The writing process was grueling and difficult at times. As I mentioned earlier, we were distributed for quite some time. So there would be times where we would be passing around recordings of our parts to each other and tweaking things as we go. Then once we were able to get together as a group and jam all of the ideas, they came out pretty naturally. We luckily have very good chemistry, and we all draw from different influences, so the album definitely will show off some of that. As for recording, we have never had a bad experience with Randy. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h R Ra an nd dy y P Pa as sq qu ua ar re elllla a a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? He is an amazing producer – so talented. He is able to translate what we want into engineering best practice with ease. His studio is very welcoming and he’s always been a pleasure to work with. He helps us develop our ideas even further than we may have taken them ourselves. He works quickly and efficiently. That’s all we could ask for. We ended up meeting through the grapevine, actually. A number of our friends from other local bands had been going to Randy since he started up his business, so we checked out his work and decided to give it a shot. From there, we’ve developed a very friendly and professional relationship. We always have fun in the studio, but we also get work done. That’s the best balance we could ask for. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? Randy has a very good ear for post-production quality, so anything that may have been post-oriented was a combination of Randy’s ideas and our own. He helped us a lot with vocals as well. He and Sharon always work out melodies and harmonies together, and he also assists with vocal placement in some cases. So Randy definitely had significant input in the final product, and we are glad to give that credit where it is due. IIt t s se ee em ms s a allll t th he e s so on ng gs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d w wo ou ulld d d de ea all w wiit th h a an ng ge er r a an nd d a an nx xiie et ty y - - w wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? Most of the lyrics do indeed deal with anger and anxiety. As it is for many other people, music is my outlet, so writing down my thoughts and turning them into lyrics that work is very cathartic for me. Mostly they come from my observation of the world around me. The more personal lyrics are just commentary on my own life, and my own feelings, and trying to find a way to connect with other people who may be feeling the same way. I am a naturally anxious person, and that in itself can cause a lot of anger. Talking about it in a constructive way really helps. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? We are hoping so! We don’t have anything officially booked right now, but we are talking with some other bands about going out on some runs in the near future. So we will have to get back to you on dates, but it’s in the works. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n H Ho ollllo ow w B Bo on ne es s'' w wo or rlld d? ? We are already beginning the next writing process, slowly but surely. We don’t want to sit on this album for too long. We want to continuously put out new and engaging content. So expect more music videos, lots of shows, merch, and other content to come!

New York composer, Andrew Shapiro talks about his passion for all types of music and on his journey how the idea came together to create a song with a well­known author of a variety of literary and story telling books. A person of vision in note, lyrics, and melody Shapiro is a mix of classical and popular music. “Often in life, you are confronted by many possibilities. The best thing you can do is just go for one with a quick decision, then make that choice work for you. It takes you to interesting places with surprising results.”­ Brian Eno S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: H He ey y A An nd dr re ew w h ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u? ? H Ho ow w h ha as s t th he e N Ne ew w Y Yo or rk k s sp pr riin ng gt tiim me e b be ee en n t tr re ea at tiin ng g y yo ou u? ? Andrew Shapiro: Doing absolutely great, thanks for the call. Weather here is good and looking at where you are and all that you are involved in with music publications you must be doing good too! S SR R:: W We e a ar re e b bo ot th h a allll o ov ve er r,, t th ha at t iis s w wiit th ho ou ut t a a d do ou ub bt t,, A An nd dr re ew w!! L Lo oo ok kiin ng g a at t y yo ou ur r b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d y yo ou u c ce er rt ta aiin nlly y h ha av ve e a a w wiid de e v va ar riie et ty y o of f t ty yp pe es s o of f m mu us siic ca all t ta as st te es s,, s st ty ylle es s,, a an nd d lle ea ar rn niin ng g e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce es s.. AS: Yeah, I guess you could say that I have been and am. I mean classically trained, but then again in modern times so much influence of pop too. I remember a friend of mine once saying to me, “Man I saw you everywhere, you were everywhere.” I mean I was involved with friends in the conservatory, arts so yeah I guess I was kind of doing everything. S SR R:: IIt t s su ur rp pr riis se es s s so om me e p pe eo op plle e w wh he en n w we e a ar re en n''t t s siin ng gu ulla ar r iin n t th ho ou ug gh ht t o or r d diir re ec ct tiio on n.. AS: Yes definitely. As I have this pop record coming out, Pink Jean Mint Green, and then this piano one, Piano III, at the same time and its kind of like well which piece do I talk about? Do I send both to people, just one or the other? I sort of have a lot of stuff, but one just can't send a million pieces, it's just too much. S SR R:: H Ho ow w d do o y yo ou u f fiig gu ur re e o ou ut t w wh ha at t y yo ou u g go oiin ng g t to o s se en nd d o ou ut t t to o d diif ff fe er re en nt t r ra ad diio o s st ta at tiio on ns s o or r m me ed diia a? ? AS: That's a good question. There are so many kinds of radio stations. I think if you do your homework you figure out what to send where. You figure out where to send your synth music, pop, sonatas. S SR R:: A Ar re e y yo ou u iin ns sp piir re ed d b by y e ev ve er ry yt th hiin ng g? ? AS: I think I always have been inspired by many types of music. I am just doing it by the way it feels. You have to put your music out into the world the way it makes sense to you. S SR R:: G Go oiin ng g b ba ac ck k t to o 1 1 9 99 90 0 a an nd d t th he e s su um mm me er r y yo ou u w we er re e s st tu ud dy yiin ng g iin n F Fr ra an nc ce e.. W Wa as s t th ha at t a a p piiv vo ot ta all p po oiin nt t f fo or r y yo ou u? ? AS: Actually I am working on a song called, “Childhood Changes,” which is exactly about that time. Our age and where we live certainly have different effects on us. Europe is a lot more permissible than it is in the states. So, you learn a whole new way of looking at things. S SR R:: W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u s sa ay y t th ha at t d du ur riin ng g t th ha at t t tiim me e y yo ou u c ca am me e t to o a ag ge e w wiit th h w wh he er re e y yo ou u w wa an nt te ed d t to o b be e m mu us siic ca alllly y a as s w we ellll a as s p ph hy ys siic ca alllly y? ? AS: I think so, in a way. From a classical perspective though it really changed around 16. I know pop music at that time I wasn't even thinking of at all. But then here I am now singing, you know the reluctant singer, but you adapt and you try things on. They work. S SR R:: A As s y yo ou u t th hiin nk k a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r n ne ex xt t p pr ro ojje ec ct t...... AS: Oh, it will be really different from this album coming out. I do that from one album to the next. I’m not exactly sure what I will do, but I think it may involve much more experimental music and tracks. Maybe a sound more towards Bjork. Maybe where every track is just vocals.

S SR R:: W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er r g go oiin ng g o ou ut t o on n t to ou ur r? ? II m me ea an n o ou ut ts siid de e o of f w wh ha at t y yo ou u h ha av ve e d do on ne e w wiit th h M Mc cD Do on na alld d’’s s,, w wh hiic ch h w wa as s r re ea alllly y c co oo oll y yo ou ur r lliit tt tlle e s se et t u up ps s iin n M Mc cD Do on na alld d’’s s a an nd d p plla ay yiin ng g y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c.. AS: I am actually working on putting my group together now. I am slowly bringing it together. I definitely want to play in L.A. Well actually everywhere! Be that in Germany, Europe. I got an invitation for a musical festival next year in Sweden. S SR R:: A An nd dr re ew w y yo ou u s se ee em m t to o h ha av ve e t th hiis s n na at tu ur ra all a ab biilliit ty y t to o m me ee et t o ot th he er r a ar rt tiis st ts s a an nd d c cr re ea at tiiv ve es s.. AS: I guess I think in terms of I am making friends with people. Certainly friends with everybody I meet can't happen. But they can come about in the neatest way. I remember traveling over for a festival it was after a show and I thought I'd go and meet-up with a professor I knew over 10 years ago. So I contacted them and went to see them. It didn't work out. So, I ended up on the Island of Brac in Croatia and ended talking to these guys and I didn’t have a place to stay so a few moments later this guy who had heard what I was saying and he drove off on his motor bike and came back and said these people up the hill said I could stay with them. It turned out to be fantastic. Later that day I ended up playing piano down at a bar and I met this couple from Belgium, we hit it off and they had me come play a concert where they live and they ended up at my wedding then a few years ago. We became friends. For me this is normal. Where ever you go, put forth your best foot, share your music and eventually like-minded people come. I don't really think of it as making 'contacts' I think more of it like making friends. That is what they are, friends. S SR R:: W Wh he et th he er r iin ns siid de e o or r o ou ut ts siid de e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c b be eiin ng g a at t e ea as se e w wiit th h o ot th he er rs s iis s jju us st t a a n na at tu ur ra all p pa ar rt t o of f w wh ho o y yo ou u a ar re e.. AS: I remember my mom saying if she had to sit next to someone like me on a plane Id be her worst nightmare. All she wants to do is sit and be quiet or read book, not chat with someone the whole time (laughed). S SR R:: T Ta allk k t to o m me e a a b biit t a ab bo ou ut t t th hiis s a allb bu um m,, P Piin nk k J Je ea an n M Miin nt t G Gr re ee en n a an nd d t th hiis s c co olllla ab bo or ra at tiio on n w wiit th h N Ne eiill G Ga aiim ma an n o on n t th he e s siin ng glle e,, “ “B Ba as sh h S St tr re ee et t W Wo or rlld d''s s..” ” AS: Part of this album is getting it mixed. There is a certain sound, quality in the drums that says this album is pop. It is very clear. I knew for years this project was going to go this way, it just took me a long time to get it done. I finally hired a pop music producer to do this. He really helped me on where to enter things along the bars at the proper time which makes

it pop. S SR R:: IIf f y yo ou u h ha ad dn n''t t h hiir re ed d t th hiis s p pr ro od du uc ce er r t to o h he ellp p y yo ou u k ke ee ep p t th hiis s a a p po op p a allb bu um m w wo ou ulld d iit t h ha av ve e h ha ap pp pe en ne ed d? ? AS: I knew I needed help doing this. Otherwise, it wouldn't have come together. In a way metaphorically he was like a closet organizer. All the songs were written by me, of course except the one written by Neil Gaiman. The producer really helped me organize everything that I had done, to meet those certain expectations. He helped me putting a straightening rod and get it done. S SR R:: IIt t r re ea alllly y iis s a a p po op p a allb bu um m t th ha at t y yo ou u c ca an n lliis st te en n t to o w wh hiille e y yo ou u''r re e a at t h ho om me e,, w wo or rk kiin ng g,, lliis st te en n t to o w wh hiille e d dr riiv viin ng g o or r llo oa ad d iit t u up p o on n y yo ou ur r iiP Po od d a an nd d t ta ak ke e a a w wa allk k a allo on ng g t th he e b be ea ac ch h.. IIt t iis s d diiv ve er rs siif fiie ed d a an nd d v ve er rs sa at tiille e iin n s so ou un nd d.. AS: That's really good, can I quote you on that? Music can be so many different things. S SR R:: IIn n y yo ou ur r m me ee et tiin ng g a an nd d m ma ak kiin ng g f fr riie en nd ds s a allo on ng g t th he e w wa ay y y yo ou u h ha ad d m ma ad de e f fr riie en nd ds s w wiit th h N Ne eiill G Ga aiim ma an n a an nd d h hiis s w wiif fe e A Am ma an nd da a P Pa allm me er r.. F Fr ro om m t th ha at t c ca am me e N Ne eiill w wr riit tiin ng g t th he e lly yr riic cs s t to o o on ne e o of f y yo ou ur r s so on ng gs s o of ff f t th hiis s a allb bu um m,, P Piin nk k J Je ea an n M Miin nt t G Gr re ee en n.. AS: Yeah. I mean I sent Neil some of my tracks and he liked them. And he got involved after I asked him if he wanted to write lyrics and he said yes, he had just finished all these lyrics for another project. It took a long time to get it together. He has so much in the hopper and the advice that he brought forth was to be 'persistently polite.' Really all of these songs all have something to do with what ever I was going with. They are autobiographical stories. Its interesting in doing my songs the problem or situation would be over and worked out as each song concluded. I think that is what music can do.

rob kolar

It’s always a good sign for a series to be renewed for another season, but it’s a bigger feat to pull in top ratings on a cable network. TBS’ The Detour,created by Jason Jones and Samantha Bee and starring Jones and Natalie Zea, centering on a family’s road trip from New York to Florida that often goes awry, did just that, becoming the network’s top comedy series in 2016. Breathing more life into the writing’s comedy gold is musician and composer Rob Kolar, providing an eclectic atmosphere to the show’s already established outrageousness. Kolar, a gifted music artist with rock bands “He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister” and “The Kolars,” the latter with his wife, adds more to the resume that includes “Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding,” starring Jane Fonda and Diane Hudson, and “Evelyn,” starring Pierce Brosnan. I had the opportunity to interview Kolar via Skype, which was quite the discussion due to the musician’s warmth and charm and evident love of music. C Co on ng gr ra at ts s o on n T Th he e D De et to ou ur r g ge et tt tiin ng g p piic ck ke ed d u up p b by y s se ea as so on n t tw wo o b by y T TB BS S.. A Allw wa ay ys s a a g go oo od d t th hiin ng g.. A An ny y iid de ea as s a as s t to o w wh he er re e t th he ey y c ca an n t ta ak ke e iit t f fo or r t th he e s se ec co on nd d y ye ea ar r? ? Yes! Picked up for season two. Means I get to keep a job. Can’t talk too much about it, but word on the street is that it’ll be set up in the five boroughs of New York. Jason wants to explore something new so that’d be exploring the different cultures in New York City. We’ll see. That’s as much as I know. W Wh he en n II a as sk k c co om mp po os se er rs s t th hiis s t th he ey y a allw wa ay ys s h ha av ve e a a d diif ff fe er re en nt t a av ve en nu ue e w wh he en n iit t c co om me es s t to o g ge et tt tiin ng g iin nt to o m mu us siic c.. W Wh ha at t w wa as s y yo ou ur r s st ta ar rt t? ? H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u e es ss se en nt tiia alllly y b br re ea ak k iin nt to o c co om mp po os siit tiio on n? ? I started off as a songwriter being in bands since 16, and setting up shows in community centers. I have this band recently, “He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister.” I got this email from Steve Pink, who directed the first few episodes of The Detour. He did Hot Tub Time Machine. He wrote that he is a big fan of the band and loved the songwriting and asked if we’d compose for the show. I looked at my wife and we’re big fans of his work. She thought it was spam email. I questioned it, too! No mutual contacts, he just found my email online. I’ve always liked Danny Elfman who also made that transition. I’ve never done a full TV show like this. IIs s y yo ou ur r a ap pp pr ro oa ac ch h t to o s sc co or riin ng g c co om me ed dy y d diif ff fe er re en nt t f fr ro om m a an ny yt th hiin ng g e ells se e y yo ou u’’v ve e d do on ne e iin n t th he e p pa as st t? ? Scoring in general is different from songwriting because you have to facilitate someone’s vision. Jason is a brilliant actor, comedian, and writer. He gives me a lot of flexibility, though, and I support his vision. AS a songwriter the song must exist on its own so it’s a contained creation. It has to have the chorus and structure and such. Composing is more about support the vision of the show. II s se ee e g gu uiit ta ar rs s h ha an ng giin ng g o on n y yo ou ur r w wa allll.. H Ha av ve e t th he ey y b be ee en n u us se ed d o on n t th he e s sh ho ow w? ? They’ve all been used on The Detour! N Niic ce e!! S So on niic ca alllly y,, w wh ha at t d diid d y yo ou u d de ec ciid de e t to o p pu ullll o of ff f w wh he en n g giiv viin ng g T Th he e D De et to ou ur r iit ts s t to on ne e? ? One thing that has given the show its signature is the rhythm. My wife is a tap dancer and drums and taps in our band, The Kolars. She taps a lot of rhythms you hear on the score, in case you hear a lot of clacks underneath the percussion. That happens throughout. It gives it this playful zaniness. You’ll hear nylon string acoustic guitar and psychedelic nuances with experimenting with things like sliding up and down the guitar’s neck to give it atmosphere. The tap and that percussive rhythm is unique to the show. O Ou ut ts siid de e o of f t te elle ev viis siio on n,, w wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u w wo or rk kiin ng g o on n n no ow w? ? The Kolars have a new animated video out for “Beyond the World of Man.” We’ll be touring throughout the fall and putting out a new album in February of next year. I‘m producing for an LA singer named Joy Downer. So, producing for other artists and then Kolars. A As s a a m mu us siic ciia an n II t ta ak ke e iit t y yo ou u’’r re e a a m mu us siic c f fa an n.. W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u h he ea ar rd d iin n t th he e lla as st t y ye ea ar r,, b be e iit t o on n t th he e r ra ad diio o o or r s so om me eo on ne e’’s s s sc co or re e,, w wh he er re e y yo ou u’’v ve e t to olld d y yo ou ur rs se ellf f y yo ou u w wh hiic ch h y yo ou u m ma ad de e t th ha at t? ? Absolutely. As a far as score I love the work that’s been done for Fargo. The composer was in the band Tonic. O Oh h,, J Je ef ff f R Ru us ss so o!! II’’v ve e iin nt te er rv viie ew we ed d h hiim m b be ef fo or re e.. Yeah! I love what he’s doing. And the score on Mr. Robot with Mac Quayle. There’s a psychedelic surf band called The Growlers out of Southern California who I share a booking agent with. There’s a band Spindrift who’s been influential because they incorporate this spaghetti western sound. I feel like some scoring on The Detour is a common version of that. There these guitar riffs that give it a spaghetti western feel. W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou u w wa at tc ch hiin ng g n no ow wa ad da ay ys s? ? The Detour! My wife hasn’t seen it yet but heard of the scores. So, this would be the first time she can hear the work while seeing it on the screen. We love Full Frontal and Game of Thrones. A Ar re e y yo ou u h ho ow w a ac ct to or rs s w wh he en n w wa at tc ch hiin ng g t th he em ms se ellv ve es s o on n s sc cr re ee en n? ? A Ar re e y yo ou u lliik ke e t th ha at t w wiit th h y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? I am especially with sound! Like, if they don’t mix something loud enough. It’s all fun critiques, though! There are changes in the music and edits that I hadn’t seen. It’s fun because you don’t see these things until last minute. It’s a fun experience. O On nc ce e a ag ga aiin n,, c co on ng gr ra at ts s o on n s se ea as so on n 2 2.. D Do o y yo ou u h ha av ve e s so oc ciia all m me ed diia a p pa ag ge es s t to o s sh ha ar re e w wiit th h r re ea ad de er rs s? ? Twitter is @KolarCooCoo and Instagram is @RobKolar. You can check out RobKolar.com for more on my music!

B Br ra an nd do on n S St ta ac cy y

Brandon Stacy keeps himself busy in the spotlight with the highly anticipated, groundbreaking mini­series Roots. The revolutionary remake boosts an all­star crew in the likes of Mario Van Peebles, LeVar Burton, and William Packer, with an equally stellar cast in Laurence Fishburne, James Purefoy, Forest Whitaker, and Anna Paquin to name a few. We were fortunate to have a conversation with Stacy before the well­received series kicks off on Memorial Day. L Le et t’’s s jju um mp p r riig gh ht t iin nt to o iit t.. W Wh he en n II h he ea ar rd d R Ro oo ot ts s w wa as s g go oiin ng g t to o b be e r re em ma ad de e iin nt to o a a m miin nii- -s se er riie es s,, II llo oo ok ke ed d a at t t th he e c ca as st t.. T Th he en n II g ge et t a a c ch ha an nc ce e t to o iin nt te er rv viie ew w y yo ou u.. II’’d d llo ov ve e t to o k kn no ow w a a b biit t a ab bo ou ut t h ho ow w y yo ou u b br ro ok ke e iin nt to o a ac ct tiin ng g.. Well, I started watching movies at an early age and was mesmerized by it. I always knew that I wanted to work in that field and make magic. I never had a Plan B so I was on a one-way street to where I am now. As a child I worked plays and had a camera I could film things on my own. T Th he ey y s sa ay y y yo ou u s sh ho ou ulld dn n’’t t h ha av ve e a a P Plla an n B B iif f y yo ou u h ha av ve e a a t tr ru ue e p pa as ss siio on n.. It’s easier that way. I never had to go back and forth like most people do. W Wiit th h t th ha at t,, h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u e en nd d u up p lla an nd diin ng g R Ro oo ot ts s? ? Just the normal process with my agent submitting to the casting director. It’s about having the rapport with the casting director so they have that trust in you to see you for something like this. Once you’re in the room make sure you’re called back so you can meet the producers and directors. E Ev ve er ry yo on ne e h ha as s h he ea ar rd d o of f R Ro oo ot ts s b be ef fo or re e w wiit th h t th he e o or riig giin na all.. W We e h ha av ve e o ou ur r p pr re e- -c co on nc ce eiiv ve ed d n no ot tiio on ns s o on nc ce e w we e h he ea ar r t th he e t tiit tlle e.. H Ho ow w d do oe es s t th hiis s s se et t iit ts se ellf f a ap pa ar rt t f fr ro om m t th he e o or riig giin na all? ? The original is so historic. It is a lot to live up to, but a lot of people don’t know it like they think they do. I saw it as a kid but not when it aired because I wasn’t alive yet. Parts of it I saw in school. I don’t know if they do that anymore. It’s a whole new generation. People need to know about this story and about the past. The remake covers new ground while maintaining what the original had. There’ll be new characters and storylines. W Wa as s t th he er re e a a s se en ns se e o of f iim mp po or rt ta an nc ce e e es sp pe ec ciia alllly y w wiit th h w wh ha at t’’s s g go oiin ng g o on n iin n t th he e w wo or rlld d? ? I think it’s timely especially in this year. He showcases fantastic black actors – African American actors and Euro-African actors. It’s a great time with everything that happened at the Oscars. There’s so much talent. W Wh hy y d do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k A A& &E E w wa as s t th he e p pe er rf fe ec ct t c co om mp pa an ny y f fo or r t th he e u un nd de er rt ta ak kiin ng g? ? There known for history and it’s tied into The History Channel itself. Anything to do with history this network is the best for it. L Le et t’’s s t ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r c ch ha ar ra ac ct te er r.. We get to Climan once we follow the lineage of KuntaKinte. He lived in the 1800’s and counseled one of the key players. This is a time where everything around him shapes who he is and is a product of his environment – his traditions and a brewing Civil War. He’s disillusioned about how things work and about humanity, which is sad because I think he could’ve been a good man. He was on the wrong side of right and wrong. O Ou ut ts siid de e o of f R Ro oo ot ts s w wh ha at t lliie es s a ah he ea ad d f fo or r B Br ra an nd do on n S St ta ac cy y.. There’s something I’m working now called Blade of Honor that’s a sci-fi movie like BattlestarGalactica with moral principles that Star Trek would address. I try to cover as much ground as possible with new characters and themes. I did have the pleasure of working on Mina directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise. Follow actor Brandon Stacy on Twitter @BrandonStacy and visit BrandonStacy.com.

H Hii E Ev va an n,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hello- I’ve been wonderful, thanks for asking!! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "S Sa av ve e T Tiim me e" "? ? SureZSave Time is a track that had been kicking around for awhile in various stages of production. It was inspired by the opening keyboard “riff”, which is looped throughout the entire tune and acted as the framework for the arrangement. It is possibly the most layered song on the record, as I was going for an impressionistic /orchestral kind of a feel in the vein of “insert Beach Boys reference here”, and some of the Scott Walker records I used to listen to that I still adore. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? The first line is what acted as the springboard for the rest, ads they often do. As in the case with most songs, the inspiration was drawn from a variety of feelings, desires, needs, and memories, some hazier than others. C Ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th he e v viid de eo o? ? The video was a blast to make. It was shot on my phone, surely a detail that no longer bears any significance other than it is fun to say. It was done very quickly without much fuss, and I was happy that we were able to incorporate aspects of the album artwork as well. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m II''m m M My y O Ow wn n R Ra aiin nb bo ow w - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? The title, as well as the artwork, is taken from a mural created by J Michael Walker, a talented lifelong Artist based in Los Angeles. His works have contributed significantly to the community of downtown, east LA and beyond, and inhabit and reflect the spirit and multi cultural beauty of the city. It is located on a building directly across from our studio in DTLA. In addition to it adorning a beautiful work of art, I found the title to be quite inspiring itself. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The writing, as well as the recording process for this was staggered quite a bit over a number of years. But as I’m akways writing and recording in

some form or fashion regardless of a specific project, it felt seamless in a way. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h J Jo oe ey y W Wa ar ro on nk ke er r a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? It is always a pleasure and an honor to work with Joey, an inspiring musician and titan on drums, a great producer, and a magnificent human being. Y Yo ou u a alls so o b br ro ou ug gh ht t f fe ew w o ot th he er r m mu us siic ciia an ns s - - d diid d y yo ou u h ha an nd dp piic ck k t th he em m o or r h ho ow w d diid d t th he ey y c co om me e o on n b bo oa ar rd d? ? Most of the players on the record were either former members of the band who contributed to earlier sessions, or friends whom I’ve gotten to know over the years in one way or another, musically and otherwise. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d t th he ey y a allll g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? They all were an influence to varying degrees, most basically through their generosity with their time and contributions, and also through their styles and approaches to recording. W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c ca allll t th hiis s a a f fo ollllo ow w u up p o or r a a d de ep pa ar rt tu ur re e f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r p pr re ev viio ou us s m ma at te er riia all? ? It started as a pure follow up, but as time went on and songs got shuffled around, elements of slight departure started to filter in, and they were welcomed. A Ar re e a allll s so on ng gs s iin ns sp piir re ed d b by y d dr re ea am ms s a an nd d c co on nc ce ep pt ts s - - w wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? Dreams surely play a part, as do mystical visions, moods and feelingsZWhatever it takes to get the gears moving, I’ll take it A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? There are plans to hit the road, though they are not set in stone. We are hoping to find ourselves performing more and more as the year goes on. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n M Ma ar rjjo or riie e F Fa aiir r''s s w wo or rlld d? ? A short trip up to San Francisco and some west coast shows throughout the summer are planned or being planned. More videos are being developed as well as another record.

This is the vibe that is shaking. An earthquake of rattle, rolling and baking. The scene has been set, the guitar slide met. Linking yesterday's rocking blues to today's glory days of flowers, music, grit, rock, and hues... comes The Roomsounds. A tale of history from the younger days of punk to finding one's way back to where rock all began­ taking that knowledge and melding its power into what it is you really feel in the gut... that is what singer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Ryan Michael of The Roomsounds did­ truth isn't all that hard to find­ you just have to listen to your own tune. S So on ng g R Riiv ve er r:: H Ho ow w o olld d w we er re e y yo ou u,, R Ry ya an n w wh he en n y yo ou u e en nt te er re ed d t th he e m mu us siic c s sc ce en ne e a an nd d b be eg ga an n p plla ay yiin ng g? ? Ryan Michael: I was 14 when I formed my first band that actually played shows. We played punk rock in a bunch of VFW Halls and skate parks around CT and Western Mass. We put out an EP when I was 15. S SR R:: N No ot th hiin ng g w wr ro on ng g w wiit th h b be eiin ng g a a p pa ar rt t o of f t th he e W Wa ar rp pe ed d c ciir rc cu uiit t o of f s so ou un nd d ( (a as s t th he eiir r m mu us siic ciia an n lla ay yo ou ut t c ch ha an ng ge es s y ye ea ar rlly y w wh hiic ch h m ma ak ke e t th he em m v ve er ry y u un niiq qu ue e) )- - y ye et t t th he er re e w wa as s s so om me et th hiin ng g t th ha at t m mu us st t n no ot t a ag gr re ee e w wiit th h y yo ou u M Miic ch ha ae ell a an nd d t th he e m mu us siic c s su ur rr ro ou un nd diin ng g y yo ou u a at t t th ha at t t tiim me e.. T Ta allk k a ab bo ou ut t t th ha at t p pe er riio od d iin n y yo ou ur r lliif fe e.. RM: Because I had come from a punk background we got absorbed into that warped tour scene. It was fun at first but by the time I was 21-22 I felt like I was at a bad Hot Topic party. Most of the bands were gimmicks, popular for a year or two and then they'd lose relevance. I realized that I wanted to make timeless music and distance myself from that scene. S SR R:: W Wh ha at t g ge en nr re e o or r s st ty ylle e w wh he er re e y yo ou u p plla ay yiin ng g a at t t th ha at t t tiim me e a an nd d h ho ow w m mu uc ch h o of f iit t w wa as s c co om miin ng g f fr ro om m y yo ou u t to o t th he e b ba an nd d o ov ve er ra allll? ? RM: Some sort of alt-rock I would say. We thought we were like Foo Fighters or something. I was writing all the songs but I didn't have anything to really say yet, lyrically. I hadn't developed any real taste yet. S SR R:: W We e c ch ha an ng ge e,, w we e g gr ro ow w,, o or r w we e f fiin na alllly y f fiin nd d o ou ur rs se ellv ve es s.. W Wh hiic ch h w wa as s iit t f fo or r y yo ou u a an nd d d do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k y yo ou u m miig gh ht t t tr ry y o on n a an no ot th he er r d diir re ec ct tiio on n iin n m mu us siic c p pr ro od du uc ct tiio on n iin n y yo ou ur r f fu ut tu ur re e? ? RM: Well the beauty of the Roomsounds and the promise I made to myself is to never let the expectation stifle the creative process. We call ourselves a rock band but we have blues, country, folk, soul and pop elements... even the punk ethos that Sam and I came upon. Our only rule is that the songs have to be great. So I feel quite content moving forward and doing whatever I feel like musically. S SR R:: C Co on nn ne ec ct tiic cu ut t t to o T Te ex xa as s,, c co or rr re ec ct t? ? W Wo ou ulld d iit t s se ee em m y yo ou u h ha av ve e a a p pe en nc ch ha an nt t f fo or r m ma ak kiin ng g h hu ug ge e c ch ha an ng ge es s? ? H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou ur r u up pb br riin ng giin ng g d diir re ec ct t y yo ou u t to ow wa ar rd ds s f fiir rs st t o of f a allll lliiv viin ng g iin n t th he e b biig g s st ta at te e o of f T Te ex xa as s? ? RM: My parents were living there already for a year or so and we would stop by and stay for a few days when we were on tour. Eventually, we became disillusioned with what the north east had to offer. I wanted to start over somewhere new with no expectations and Texas seemed like a good place. Cheap to live, sunny weather, beautiful women, not to mention we wanted to surround ourselves with the best blues, country, and folk pickers out there to make us better. The south has honesty and integrity to the music. All my best friends here grew up playing in the church. It's a lot of roots music. As you can imagine it's made all of us way better players to be in such a big pool of talent where only the best survive. We also considered that Texas was a good touring hub between NYC and LA. Another wonderful thing about Texas is that people go out constantly and support live entertainment! S SR R:: S Se ec co on nd d,, h ho ow w d diid d iit t d diir re ec ct t y yo ou u iin nt to o t th he e lliif fe es st ty ylle e y yo ou u''v ve e c cr re ea at te ed d f fr ro om m d da ay y t to o d da ay y? ? RM: Well we're able to survive playing music, which is great. We all live together so it makes the creative process easy. S SR R:: M Mu us siic c...... s se ee em ms s t th he er re e w we er re e s so om me e iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r p pa ar re en nt t''s s v viin ny yll t ta as st te es s? ? RM: My dad is a total rock historian so I grew up with Zeppelin and Beatles records. But then he was always going through phases of soul records, Bob Marley, Dylan, etc. S SR R:: D Do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell y yo ou u''r re e llo oo ok kiin ng g t to o r re ec cr re ea at te e a a t tiim me e/ /s so ou un nd d/ /p plla ac ce e o or r iis s t th hiis s a a t th hr ro ow wb ba ac ck k t to o p pu ullll f fo or rw wa ar rd d iin nt to o t th he e 2 21 1 c ce en nt tu ur ry y? ? ( (M Mu us siic ca alllly y/ /L Ly yr riic ca alllly y) ).. RM: I'm definitely not trying to be a revivalist. To me, it's just roots rock. I don't like production gimmicks, programmed drums, anything not real turns me off. I don't think about it too much honestly. My feeling is great songs will stand the test of time regardless of trends.

S SR R:: F FA AM ME E s st tu ud diio os s h ha ad d t to o b bllo ow w y yo ou ur r m miin nd d.. T Te ellll m me e h ho ow w d diid d t th he e m me ee et tiin ng g w wiit th h R Ro od dn ne ey y H Ha allll c co om me e a ab bo ou ut t? ? RM: A fan of the band posted our music video for "Couldn't Break My Spirit" on her Facebook page and she happened to have known Rodney in college. Apparently he saw it and loved it so much he called me and asked for a copy of the record. A week later he called and asked what he could do help us out. So I said, "we're ready to make a new record!" S SR R:: R Ro od dn ne ey y h ha as s a an n iin nc cr re ed diib blle e s st to or ry y.. IIf f y yo ou u h ha av ve en n''t t c ch ha at tt te ed d w wiit th h h hiim m a ab bo ou ut t,, II s st tr ro on ng glly y s su ug gg ge es st t iit t.. H Hiis s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s b be ec ca au us se e o of f h hiis s o ow wn n b ba ac ck kg gr ro ou un nd d h ha av ve e c cr re ea at te ed d w wh ha at t b blle ee ed ds s A Am me er riic ca a.. W Wh he en n y yo ou u a allll w we er re e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a at t F FA AM ME E d de es sc cr riib be e t th ha at t f fiir rs st t s se es ss siio on n a as s y yo ou u s se et tt tlle ed d iin n t to o r re ec co or rd d E Ellm m S St t.. RM: We got the tour which was a blast seeing so many gold records on the wall. Pictures of Etta James, Otis Redding, members of the Swampers everywhere. We were definitely running around like little kids. Then we felt out the room, talked about getting the "muscle shoals" drum sound. Had a lot of great talks with John our engineer about the history of the room and tricks to pull the best from it. It was all very effortless and fun. S SR R:: T Th he e r ro oc ck k/ /b bllu ue es s/ /r ro olllle er rs s h ha av ve e a a llo on ng g lliin ne ea ag ge e c co om miin ng g o ou ut t o of f M Mu us sc clle e S Sh ho oa alls s...... h ho ow w llo on ng g d diid d t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s t ta ak ke e? ? RM: We tracked the whole album in 8 days. We spent a lot of time back in Dallas doing pre-production with Beau so we had the arrangements all down by time got to FAME. We tracked the band live and then I laid down vocals on top. S SR R:: W Wh he en n t th he e t tiim me e c co om me es s,, w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c co on ns siid de er r h he ea ad diin ng g b ba ac ck k t th he er re e? ? RM: For sure! It was a great experience and very comfortable. The vibe was right up our alley. S SR R:: T Th he e s so on ng g " "L Le et tt te er rs s" " h ha as s a a b be ea au ut ty y o of f a a s slliid de e t to o iit t.. W Wh ha at t e elle em me en nt ts s d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell m mu us st t b be e iin nc co or rp po or ra at te ed d iin nt to o T Th he e R Ro oo om ms so ou un nd ds s t to o m ma ak ke e t th he em m f fe ee ell r riig gh ht t? ? RM: Whatever we think serves the song best. Everyone's approach is to play for the song. Sam and I could riff all over the place but it's the discipline that separates the boys from the men. We take a lot from guys like George Harrison and Mike Campbell in that regard. They play very economically. S SR R:: II iim mm me ed diia at te elly y t th ho ou ug gh ht t o of f T Th he e B Blla ac ck k C Cr ro ow we es s w wh he en n " "B Ba ad d S Siit tu ua at tiio on n" " o op pe en ne ed d u up p.. Y Yo ou u h ha av ve e a a g gr re ea at t m miix x w wiit th hiin n t th hiis s a allb bu um m t th ha at t t to ou uc ch he es s t th he e h he ea ar rt t a an nd d s so ou ull o of f n no ot t jju us st t c clla as ss siic c r ro oc ck k,, b bu ut t t th he e g gr riit tt ty y d diir rt t o of f r ro oc ck k.. RM: Yeah for sure. "Bad Situation" is the first song I've ever played slide on so it was new for me in the studio. I kept telling myself to channel Duane Allman! That song was the last one written for the album and it has a very CCR meets Skynyrd vibe to me. S SR R:: A As s t th he e b ba an nd d w wo or rk ks s t to og ge et th he er r- - t th ha at t s se ee em ms s t to o b be e k ke ey y- - t to og ge et th he er r.. E Ea ac ch h b bu uiilld diin ng g o on n t to op p o of f t th he e o ot th he er r...... d do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k c ce er rt ta aiin n s st ty ylle es s o of f m mu us siic c lle en nd d t th he em ms se ellv ve es s t to o w wo or rk kiin ng g iin n u un niis so on n e ea as siie er r t th ha an n o ot th he er r s st ty ylle es s? ? RM: Since we all live together and listen to records together constantly there's usually an immediate understanding of how to approach each song. The hardest ones are probably the slower songs because they lend themselves to more nuance in the playing. It's a good challenge and I'm a sucker for ballads. S SR R:: L Lo oo ok kiin ng g a at t y yo ou ur r t to ou ur r s sc ch he ed du ulle e iit t llo oo ok ks s lliik ke e t th he e f fu ur rt th he es st t w we es st t y yo ou u w wiillll b be e c co om miin ng g iis s C Co ollo or ra ad do o.. A An ny y c ch ha an nc ce e A Ar riiz zo on na a,, C Ca alliif fo or rn niia a,, O Or re eg go on n m miig gh ht t g ge et t p pu ut t o on n t th he e lliis st t a an ny yt tiim me e s so oo on n? ? RM: We're looking into launching west after Colorado but we shall see! We're going to Europe for a month in October so the year is filling up quickly. S SR R:: A An no ot th he er r t tr ra ac ck k,, " "L La ay y M My y H He ea ad d D Do ow wn n" " t th he e s sp piir riit t o of f L Ly yn ny yr rd d S Sk ky yn ny yr rd d f flle ew w iin n.. G Go oiin ng g f fo or rw wa ar rd d M Miic ch ha ae ell...... w wh ha at t o olld d g gh ho os st ts s f fr ro om m t th he e p pa as st t o of f r ro oc ck k c co on nt tiin nu ue e t to o s sp pe ea ak k t th hr ro ou ug gh h y yo ou u? ? A An nd d a as s y yo ou u''v ve e c cr re ea at te ed d a a 2 21 1 s st t- -c ce en nt tu ur ry y h he ea ar rt t a an nd d s so ou ull o of f r ro oc ck k II g ge et t t th he e d diis st tiin nc ct t f fe ee elliin ng g t th ha at t e ea ac ch h d da ay y h ha as s t th he eiir r o ow wn n m mo om me en nt ts s a an nd d y yo ou u a ar re e p pe er rf fe ec ct tlly y f fiin ne e lliiv viin ng g iin n t th hiis s o on ne e r riig gh ht t n no ow w.. RM: I am constantly looking to be inspired. It just so happens I look to the past more so than to my contemporaries for inspiration. I don't listen to the Black Keys cus I'd rather go listen to John Lee Hooker. I wouldn't say I'm a purist, maybe just a brat. Ha! Most modern music lacks sincerity to me. A lot of "indie" bands are into being weird for the sake of being weird. I think most of it won't be around in 10 years anyway. By then we'll all be replaced with MacBooks on stage. Hah! But seriously, times have changed and I get that, the old stuff just still resonates with me more.

C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s so on ng g " "R Ro ollll T Th he e B Ba alllls s" "? ? It was conceived to be Giuda’s biggest, most powerful song. We immediately knew it would be the album’s opening track. “Roll The Balls” was the first single off Speaks Evil, maybe it’s no our most radio-friendly track, but it’s so strong that we felt it was the obvious choice. We made the right decision because it’s the song that fans sing along to most. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th he e s so on ng g? ? The lyrics poke fun at rock clichés. Many people are just bothered about appearances but we’re definitely more interested in the substance, and that seems to please our fans. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? We had a lot of fun even if we risked breaking our ankles because of the platform boots. Part of the video was shot on the roof of my apartment on the 8th floor of a building in Torpignattara, a working class neighbourhood on the outskirts of Rome. After a few hours filming, most of the neighbours complained about the drumming! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m S Sp pe ea ak ks s E Ev viill - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? In my opinion, the final result proves that the title is very apropriate. Speaks Evil is much rawer and rougher than our previous releases. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? We wanted a rougher, more stripped-down sound. As far as the production goes, it’s braver than our previous releases. Instead of using tons of overdubs and wall-to-wall guitars, we aimed for a sparser soundscape. This gives the record a more primitive vibe. The songwriting is definitely more mature, and even though we’ve retained the pop structure we used in the past, the results are more fluid and compact. W Wh ha at t lle ed d y yo ou u t to o y yo ou u h he ea av viilly y 7 70 0s s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e s so ou un nd d? ? We’re a modern band with influences that range from ‘60s acts like The Equals and The Move, glam rock like Slade, lesser known groups like The Gorillas and Hector, to the Aussie rock of bands like Marcus Hook Roll Band and Coloured Balls. And let’s not forget the immediate sound of some punk bands Slaughter And The Dogs and Wasps. H Ho ow w iis s IIt ta ally y’’s s m mu us siic c s sc ce en ne e? ?

Just lately it seems like there isn’t much room for culture in our country. In the the last few days we’ve seen the unjustified closure of several venues that were crucial for our many undergound bands, who are certainly not lacking when it comes to talent and creativity. C Ca an n y yo ou u s sh ha ar re e w wiit th h u us s h ho ow w t th he e b ba an nd d c ca am me e t to og ge et th he er r? ? Tenda (vocals), Danilo (bass) and I played together for many years in a band called Taxi, but we broke up in 2007 after releasing our second album, following the sudden passing of our drummer Francesco. Later that year we reformed as Giuda, and went through a couple of lineup changes after that, which is when Michele (guitar) and Daniele (drums) joined our ranks. Our first album, "Racey Roller" was recorded in 2009 and it came out one year later. W Wh he er re e d do o y yo ou u u us su ua alllly y f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s,, d do o y yo ou u w wr riit te e a as s a a c co olllle ec ct tiiv ve e u un niit t? ? I jot down the basic idea and then we develop itall together in the studio. We’re very selective and the majority of the songs we write are discarded after a few rehearsals. We’ve written songs about football, our life on the road and thornier subjects like the problems and contradictions in our society. A Ar re e y yo ou u e ex xc ciit te ed d a ab bo ou ut t t th he e u up pc co om miin ng g U US S t to ou ur r d da at te es s/ /W Wiillll t th hiis s b be e y yo ou ur r f fiir rs st t r ru un n iin n t th he e U US S? ? We know that lots of tickets have been sold and the tour’s been extended because our agent has had a lot of offers. It means that loads of people are waiting for us and we can’t wait to start the tour. C Ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t t th he e b ba an nd d n na am me e/ /m me ea an niin ng g? ? Giuda means Judas, which is the name of one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. Anyway, I have to say that we didn’t choose the name for religious or political reasons but just because it sounds greatZ doesn’t it?! W Wh ha at t’’s s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n G Giiu ud da a''s s w wo or rlld d/ /w wh ha at t s sh ho ou ulld d w we e b be e o on n t th he e llo oo ok ko ou ut t f fo or r? ? We haven’t had a moment’s break since the release of Speaks Evil. We’ve played in Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal, England and Scotland. Now we’re going to the States for a month and this will definitely be source of inspiration for the new ideas we’re already working on.

H Hii M Ma ar rc cu us s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? A: Hey thanks for having me! I love this time of year in Brisbane, so I have been good. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e " "M Ma as st te er r o of f E Ed de en n" "? ? A: Not much to tell. It was really a quick song that just fell onto the paper. It kind of write itself. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? A: Nothing in particular. It just came from life in general. It is pieces of the world we live in. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? A. Possibly. I’ve got some clips underway at the moment. It is a wait and see. I’m not sure yet. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w s se ellf f- -t tiit tlle ed d a allb bu um m - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? A. I didn’t put too much thought into it. Like the song, the title kind of just fell out of me. It was a super organic process. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? A: It was very enjoyable. I love getting to paint with words. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h M Ma allc co ollm m B Bu ur rn n? ? A: It was one of the hardest things I have done. The first time I met him I was very nervous. I just couldn’t help but be so. I had to play a couple of songs for him and my hands were shaking and I had butterflies in my stomach and dry mouth. It felt like I was playing for an audience for the very first time. However, the first day of recording was totally different. It was strange because suddenly it was all happening so effortlessly.

Getting to watch Malcolm work was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s B Bo ob b D Dy ylla an n a an nd d E Elllliio ot tt t S Sm miit th h p plla ay ys s iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? A: I remember the first time I hear “Masters of War”. It was the song I had been searching for my entire life. XO was a monumental album for me. It broke all the rules of pop music. It also made me not feel as alone in the world, which was a nice added bonus for me. I guess it gave me the courage I needed to perform and write songs. IIn n a a t tiim me e w wh he er re e iis s s so o e ea as sy y,, y ye et t s so o h ha ar rd d t to o s st ta an nd d o ou ut t - - h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell a ab bo ou ut t t th he e r re ec ce ep pt tiio on n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c h ha as s r re ec ce eiiv ve ed d? ? A: If my songs are enjoyed and they mean something to someone, that’s really all I can ask. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? A: The cover from life and my observations. Sometimes I just write free of rules, like poetry and readings. W Wh ha at t d dr riiv ve es s y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s d da ar rk k lly yr riic cs s o of f y yo ou ur rs s? ? A: I don’t really think they’re dark. I just think they’re real. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? A: Yeah. I’ll be starting my first American tour in June at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n M Ma ar rc cu us s B Blla ac ck ke e'' w wo or rlld d? ? A: Well, now that I’ve finished this interview, I’m going to have a stovetop coffee!

H Hii K Ka ae ella a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hey there! I've been great, thanks. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e " "G Go olld de en n" "? ? D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Golden is about someone in my life who was being written off and unappreciated by others and it affected his confidence. I was trying to express the value and beauty I saw in him. I guess it's kind of about the underdog. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th hiis s o or r a an ny y o of f t th he e s siin ng glle es s? ? Yes, we worked with Cold Fox Films on a music video for Golden. It's really fun and mysterious. I don't want to give too much away, but it's somewhat of a modern detective story. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w m ma at te er riia all S Se ec co on nd d S Sk kiin n - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? Second Skin is a song on the album about my feelings of internal conflict that come from taking on many different roles - in my career and art, and in my personal life. I don't think I'm the only one who feels like they have to put on a lot of different hats. On any given day I need to be a writer, performer and business person. Sometimes I'm outgoing and sometimes I feel very withdrawn. Modern life asks a lot of us. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? It's always a long process for me. The writing is the easy part. Getting in the studio and making the vision come to life takes the most time. My process starts with writing the songs, then I make demos of them in my little home studio, and then we work on them in the real studio. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h M Mc cK Ke en nz ziie e S Sm miit th h a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? Great! McKenzie is a really talented musician and he has a great ear. I knew about him because of his band Midlake, which I've always been a fan of, and I asked him if he wanted to work together and he said yes! And that's how it began. It's been great working with him. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? It's hard to tell where one person's ideas stop and another's start. We worked together towards a vision we both shared. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? I generally write about my own life, but I find a lot of inspiration in literature, art, and music. Classical composers like Debussy and Chopin have been extremely influential on me as a pianist and as a songwriter. W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u lle ea ar rn ne ed d f fr ro om m y yo ou ur r t tiim me e s sh ha ar riin ng g t th he e s st ta ag ge e w wiit th h M M8 83 3 t th ha at t y yo ou u a ar re e p pu ut tt tiin ng g iin n a ac ct tiio on n o on n y yo ou ur r c ca ar re ee er r n no ow w? ? To dream big! Anything can happen, you just need to be prepared when your moment arrives. It's amazing playing in front of huge crowds every night. It really gives you a sense of what's possible. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Absolutely, plans are in the works. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n K Ka ae ella a S Siin nc clla aiir r''s s w wo or rlld d? ? Seeing the world, putting out my own music, and performing with M83 is my whole life right now! I'm very happy to be doing what I'm doing.

H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Great! Rock-n-rollin'. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r u up pc co om miin ng g r re elle ea as se e " "P Po olly ye es st te er r" " a an nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e t tr ra ac ck k? ? This collection of songs dance between genres but all are grounded in roots music. The title track, Polyester, seemed to sum up the blend of genres like a polyester hodge-podge of fabrics in a vintage leisure suit. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t,, iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r,, iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s se et t o of f s so on ng gs s? ? Moving to Austin, after being a part of the Houston music scene for so long, was its inspiration. My daughter Abigail and I made the decision to move and it started a great adventure for the two of us. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? This week is the starting point for the Polyester video. We just hired our director. Hopefully we'll have it ready to go in early summer. W Wh hy y d do o y yo ou u t th hiin nk k iit t t to oo ok k y yo ou u s siix x y ye ea ar rs s t to o r re elle ea as se e t th hiis s a allb bu um m? ? I promoted my last album for almost two years with shows across the US and Canada. I became busy with production projects (Corb Lund, Emily Bell, Jason James...) and then suffered the loss of my daughter in 2013. It took me a while to pull my emotions together and prepare myself for the entire social and promotional side of putting an album campaign together. I feel now is the time for this record to be released. W Wh hy y d diid d y yo ou u n na am me e t th he e a allb bu um m a af ft te er r t th hiis s t tr ra ac ck k iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? I worked at a polyurethane foam fabrication company back in the 90's. We dealt with a lot of ester based foams and I understood that they were all man made products based in ester. Put them together and they would form different foams for multiple purposes with different densities. My album is very much the same. Many different styles of music combined together that are all based in roots music. Polyester was the obvious decision. H Ho ow w w we er re e t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss se es s? ? I hired Steve Christensen to move his studio into my living room and record this album with me. I also decided to hire the core group of Austin musicians I had been using on my other production projects. We approached all of the songs as individual projects with no holds barred. It's the most comfortable recording process to date for me. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s A Au us st tiin n p plla ay y iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? H Ho ou us st to on n? ? I like having Austin as a home base. I live in a little house in a town just south of weird called Buda. There are lots of musicians and a great sense of community. It's a great place for writing and breaking in players and new songs. Houston is where I cut my teeth and will forever be the reason I'm a full time musician. W Wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c ca allll t th hiis s a a d de ep pa ar rt tu ur re e o or r f fo ollllo ow w u up p o of f y yo ou ur r p pr re ev viio ou us s m ma at te er riia alls s? ? I feel it's a natural progression. As long as I keep finding art in the music I'll record it. If the time comes when when my music feels stagnant to me, I'll stop. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? I'm going to hit Texas really hard through the summer and take it out of state in August. There are a lot of venues to cover here before we take on the US and Canada. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n J Jo oh hn n E Ev va an ns s'' w wo or rlld d? ? I produced Jesse Dayton's new album due out this fall, an acoustic album recorded with Steve Christensen behind the knobs, a Live From Blanco's album to honor the closing of my favorite honky tonk in Houston, and, a new EP from my girlfriend, Emily Bell. Fun stuff happening.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Thanks for having us! Great thanks, we are super excited about releasing music from our debut album 'Planet Lovestarr' C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "G Ge et t Y Yo ou ur r S Se ex xy y O On n" "? ? It's released on June 3rd on our amazing label DEFDISCO! D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t,, iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r,, iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Get Your Sexy On is about plucking up the courage to make a move on someone. It's inspired by situations I have found myself in but also situations that my friends have been in too. It's often hard to take that step to tell someone who you really feel about them, whether that be telling someone you like them, or maybe you want to kiss them, or tell them you love them, but you get tongue tied! Get Your Sexy On has a positive outcome, as in the end you find the courage and you get your sexy on! A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? We really wanted to represent plucking up courage to make the first move on someone in the video for Get Your Sexy On. We did this by having 3 ‘couples’ who are all being too awkward to make the first move. I am a ‘cupid’ character; when I blow a kiss towards the couples, they get enough confidence to kiss! Every time I help a couple out, a lipstick kiss mark appears on my face! But although I am cupid, I am lonely myself, until I find my love near the end of the video, where lots of kisses appear on my face in a ‘kiss explosion’! It culminates with everyone getting their sexy on at a house party and having a great time dancing and kissing the night away. W Wh hy y n na am miin ng g t th he e a allb bu um m a af ft te er r t th hiis s t tr ra ac ck k iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r? ? Our album is called ‘Planet Lovestarr’. H Ho ow w w we er re e t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss se es s? ? I've written our debut album in Stockholm and LA with some amazing producers and co-writers including Kristofer Ostergren and Olle Blomstrom.

H Ha av viin ng g c ch ha an ng ge ed d y yo ou ur r b ba an nd d''s s n na am me e - - w wh ha at t o ot th he er r c ch ha an ng ge es s c ca am me e w wiit th h iit t? ? Lovestarrs stands for following your heart and shooting for the stars, aiming high and following your dreams. We wanted to reflect this with our image being bright, colourful and quirky. H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou ur r p pr re ev viio ou us s s st tr ru ug gg glle es s a as s a a b ba an nd d iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? Our experiences in the music industry have made us stronger and inspired songs such as 'Life Is A Bitch'. I really drew a lot of inspiration from ‘Annie’ and ‘It’s A Hard Knock Life’ for Life Is A Bitch. It’s about how things can go wrong in life, and how it can be a bit of a bitch at times. But it’s a lighthearted song! Over the last few years I have learnt to laugh at things more and see the funny side in situations when I can. This song is about having a giggle when things go a bit pear shaped and saying 'come on life, give me some more'! W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? Hamish and I grew up listening to our parents record collection, which was mostly vinyl from the 80's, for example Prince, Lionel Richie, Wham and The Human League. Sonically, 'Planet Lovestarr' touches on all our favourite records from that era, combining it with our love of modern pop music and hooks. We really want people to hear this album and to be able to sing songs back within a few times of hearing them. For us, that is the sign of a good pop album. Lyrically, 'Planet Lovestarr' is diverse. I didn't want to just write about one topic. The album explores love, heartbreak, friendship, drinking, sex, places and dreams. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Yes in August and September we will be touring the UK and we can't wait. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n L Lo ov ve es st ta ar rr rs s'' w wo or rlld d? ? The release of Get Your Sexy On on June 3rd! And writing new music as I can't resist getting started!

Q Q:: H Hii J Ja as so on n,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? A: Hi VENTS readers! I’ve been great. It’s an exciting time. I’ve been very lucky to have had songs on the radio for over 10 years now and having the most played song of 2015 with “Country Side” has turned into a summer of amazing tour dates! I’m really looking forward to hitting the road again soon to play the new music for the fans. Q Q:: C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "D Da an nc ce e W Wiit th h M My y D Da au ug gh ht te er r" "? ? A: This song was actually one of the last songs recorded for this record. It ended up being one of two bonus tracks that I decided to include since it meant so much to my girls to see “their song” on my new album. Q Q:: D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? A: Yes, about a year ago my wife had signed my daughter and I up for a father-daughter dance. It was the first time I had ever gone to something like that and I was really moved by the whole experience. All the dads were dressed in their best suites and ties and all the little girls looked like princesses out with their first prince charming. It occurred to me that this was a special moment in time that wouldn’t last forever. That night after I tucked my daughter into bed, I got my guitar out and started writing this song. Not gonna lie, even just writing it got me right in the ol’ feels. Q Q:: H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e f fiillm miin ng g t th he e m mu us siic c v viid de eo o? ? A: Magical. The way this video all came together was very organic and authentic. Our director David Pichette of MainStage Multimedia has three young daughters of his own so he completely got the vision for the whole thing right from the start. We shot it about 20 minutes away from my home in Hendersonville so we were able to solicit the help of many of our friends and their daughters to be in the video. For me, it’s a real treasure to have captured my own daughters on film in this special moment in time. Q Q:: T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m C Co ou un nt tr ry y S Siid de e - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? A: I wrote this song with my pal Deric Ruttan, we’ve had a lot of success together. It started from a conversation about the girls that show up at all the summer festival shows. The ones who don’t just listen to country music, they live it! We wanted to write a fun anthem for anyone who is proud of their rural roots, and not afraid to show off their “Country Side.” Q Q:: H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? A: It’s kind of funny actually, as a songwriter here in Nashville, I also write songs for Word Music Publishing to pitch songs for other people like Blake Shelton or Kenny Chesney or whoever. “Country Side” was originally recorded on a demo session, but when we got into the studio and heard how great it turned out, we knew it had some mojo. I knew it had to be my song. Q Q:: D Do oe es s N Na as sh hv viilllle e h ha av ve e a an n iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e o on n y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d iin n a an ny y w wa ay y? ? A: Definitely. I love the vibe here. It’s music city USA and it’s a song-driven town. There are so many amazing writers, musicians, singers and producers here and you get to be immersed in all of it. I think knowing how steep the competition is helps me to raise the bar and push myself to keep getting better and better with every recording. Q Q:: H Ho ow w a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r h ho om me et to ow wn n,, P Pe em mb br ro ok ke e,, O On nt ta ar riio o,, d do oe es s iit t p plla ay y a a r ro olle e iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c t to oo o? ? A: I believe so. I think a small town is a small town no matter where it is. Country music has always done a great job of telling real stories and being the soundtrack for the lives of down to earth, small town people, like me. Q Q:: A Allll t th he e s so on ng gs s o on n t th hiis s a allb bu um m d de ea all w wiit th h p pe er rs so on na all t to op piic cs s lliik ke e f fa am miilly y - - w wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? A: True. A lot of them are personal, but not all of them. That’s the fun thing about creating songs. They don’t all have to be 100% true to me as long as I can connect to them in some way. They could be true for someone else. For example, “Sugar Ridge,” “Heaven Comin’ Down,” and “Cover Band” are all made up stories, and “Night Falls” is a total heartbreak song but we’ve all been there. I’m happily married but somewhere out there someone’s heart is breaking and this one might just be for them. Q Q:: S So o y yo ou u h ha av ve e b be ee en n r re ec ce en nt tlly y n no om miin na at te ed d f fo or r m mu ullt tiip plle e C CM MA AO O A Aw wa ar rd ds s - - h ho ow w d do o y yo ou u f fe ee ell a ab bo ou ut t lle ea ad diin ng g t th he e a aw wa ar rd d n no om miin na at tiio on ns s? ? A: It’s always an honour to be nominated, but to have so many this year is extra cool. Plus, it gives me a reason to get dressed up and go hang out at a fancy awards show. Besides hearing one of your own songs on the radio or hearing the fans sing back to you at a concert, the award nominations are always a welcome reminder of the fruits of one’s labours. Q Q:: D Diid d t th he es se e n no om miin na at tiio on ns s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou u a as s a an n a ar rt tiis st t - - d diid d t th he ey y p pu us sh h y yo ou u t to o b be e b be et tt te er r? ? A: It’s hard to say. Maybe on some subconscious level they do but nobody ever really creates music for the nominations. I’m just always pushing to be better with every song or record or video out of pure self-gratification. Everyone wants to be proud of their work. There’s nothing like the feeling of a job well done. Q Q:: A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? A: Absolutely! We’ve got a great bunch of shows lined up this summer with Tim McGraw (Boots & Hearts), Lee Brice (Lucknow, Music In The Fields), Rascal Flatts (Halifax), Dean Brody and a bunch of headlining shows of our own as well. All the dates are up on my website at www.jasonblaine.ca, but I’ll also be posting more about them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Q Q:: W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n J Ja as so on n B Blla aiin ne e''s s w wo or rlld d? ? A: Well, this June 14th & 15th I’ll be hosting my 3rd Annual Celebrity Charity Golf & Concert event in my hometown of Pembroke, ON. We’ve raised $125,000 over the past two years for local charities and this year we’ve got another amazing line up of special guests including Jason McCoy, Dallas Smith and The Western Swing Authority. It’s going to be another great year! Folks can visit www.jasonblaine.ca/golf to find out how to participate or become a sponsor. Oh, and my wife and I are expecting our 4th child this July! Yup, it’s a pretty crazy busy time.

1 1 ) ) H Hii T Tr riis st ta an n,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hey there! Life’s going great! I’m pretty busy these days and am super excited about the release of my new album "Love You Can Believe In"! 2 2) ) C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e,, " "M Ma an n O Of f Y Yo ou ur r D Dr re ea am ms s" "? ? I co-wrote "Man Of Your Dreams" with my writing partner, Tylor Johnson. Tylor & I wanted to create the kind of song that would resonate with my fans. Our goal was to encourage them to stay true to who they are and refuse to settle for the kind of relationships that will only end up hurting them in the long run. 3 3) ) D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? I think we’ve all seen too many unhealthy relationships. Writing this song was our attempt to promote self-respect. When you respect yourself, it’s a lot easier to avoid the kind of people who are incapable of treating you the way you deserve to be treated. 4 4) ) W Wh ha at t w wa as s t th he e f fiillm miin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s lliik ke e iin n p pr ro od du uc ciin ng g t th he e m mu us siic c v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Filming the video for "Man Of Your Dreams" was great! Performing live is a passion of mine so we definitely wanted to give my audience a taste of what they’d see if they were at one of my shows. The cast & crew were amazing and I really hope my fans are enjoying this video! 5 5) ) W Wh ha at t iin ns sp piir re ed d t th he e t tiit tlle e o of f t th he e a allb bu um m,, " "L Lo ov ve e Y Yo ou u C Ca an n B Be elliie ev ve e IIn n" "? ? One of the tracks on the album is called "Love You Can Believe In" and we decided that this was also a fitting name for the album itself. This name speaks to an underlying theme of this project which is finding the kind of life- changing love that we all long for. If you’re fortunate enough to find this kind of love, you’ll know it deep inside and won’t ever have to question whether or not it’s real. 6 6) ) H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The writing & recording process was super fun, but it was definitely a lot of work as well. From start to finish, the whole process took a full year. Once all the songs were written, I ended up at a studio in Toronto where my vocals were recorded. Getting the vocal tracks recorded was actually one of the easiest aspects of this project. Recording lead & background vocals for all 12 tracks only took four and a half days! 7 7) ) II c ca an n h he ea ar r a a s st tr ro on ng g iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e b by y 9 90 0s s P Po op p m mu us siic c - - w wa as s t th ha at t iin nt te en nt tiio on na alllly y d do on ne e? ? W Wh ha at t iis s iit t a ab bo ou ut t t th hiis s d de ec ca ad de e t th ha at t y yo ou u llo ov ve e s so o m mu uc ch h? ? There’s no question that music from the 80's & 90's definitely inspires me. The music of Michael Jackson & Prince had a huge influence on me as I was growing up. There’s something so contagious about the hooky Pop melodies and synth-driven tracks of those decades. We tried to capture a retro feel on a number of the tracks while still maintaining the kind of relevant sound that my fans appreciate. 8 8) ) H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d llo ov ve e g ge et t t to o iin ns sp piir re e t th he e lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? We’re totally unapologetic about the fact that this album is all about love! Each & every track delivers a positive message about love. While most of the songs deal with the kind of romantic love that’s shared with someone special, there are other tracks that promote the love and acceptance that everyone should have for themselves. 9 9) ) A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Now that the album has been released, I definitely want to focus on playing as many shows as possible! For the past two years, I’ve been playing various dates with TeenFestCanada which caters to a young audience. For booking inquiries, people can connect with us through my websitewww.tristanthompsononline.com. 1 1 0 0) ) W Wh ha at t iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n T Tr riis st ta an n T Th ho om mp ps so on n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? I just finished filming the music video for my next Single and I had a total blast doing that! Other than getting out there to meet my fans at my live events, I’m planning to spend some time this summer writing new material. I’ll also be graduating high school in June so I’m totally stoked about that as well! With high school behind me, I'll definitely be looking forward to more opportunities to further immerse myself in the music industry!

British house producer Michael Gray solo projects have received support from the likes of Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Roger Sanchez, David Morales and Erick Morillo and his ever­growing fan base is testament to his enduring appeal and ability to stay innovative in a notoriously tough industry. Michael Gray strolls into the summer with his new single ‘Walk Into The Sun’ on Electrik Funk. M Miic ch ha ae ellZ Z.. W We ellc co om me e.. W Wh he er re e a ar re e y yo ou u r riig gh ht t n no ow w? ? In my studio just outside London. W Wh ha at t iis s t th he e b be es st t s so on ng g y yo ou u h ha av ve e h he ea ar rd d s siin nc ce e w wa ak kiin ng g u up p t to od da ay y? ? Phantogram – Fall in love – Can’t believe I missed it first time round ! C Ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e ‘‘W Wa allk k IIn nt to o T Th he e S Su un n’’? I made it back in 2007 it was then shelved and has only recently seen the light of day. I wanted a record that made you feel good and uplifting without being sweet. I remixed it with my Full Intention partner Jon Pearn for 2016. Y Yo ou u’’v ve e b be ee en n iin nv vo ollv ve ed d iin n h ho ou us se e m mu us siic c f fo or r a a w wh hiille e,, h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u g ge et t iin nt to o D Djjiin ng g/ /p pr ro od du uc ciin ng g a an nd d h ho ow w o olld d w we er re e y yo ou u? ? I started DJing when I was 12 playing once a month at our local Church Hall, I then moved into Clubs at 18 and producing records around 25. W Wh ha at t a ar re e y yo ou ur r 5 5 b biig g t tu un ne es s iin n y yo ou ur r b bo ox x ( (o or r s sh ho ou ulld d II s sa ay y o on n y yo ou ur r U US SB B) )? ? Walk into the Sun – Michael Gray (Electrik Funk) Clap yo hands – Joeski (Defected) The Beating Drum – Full Intention (DFTD) So Good – Richy Ahmed (Hot Creations) On the corner – Moonbootica (Snatch!) W Wh ha at t a ac cc co om mp plliis sh hm me en nt t iin n y yo ou ur r lliif fe e a ar re e y yo ou u m mo os st t p pr ro ou ud d o of f s so o f fa ar r? ? Having and bringing up my 3 boys. W Wh ha at t’’s s t th he e b biig gg ge es st t r riis sk k y yo ou u’’v ve e e ev ve er r t ta ak ke en n? ? Going self employed at age 18. C Ca an n y yo ou u r re em me em mb be er r t th he e f fiir rs st t A AM MA AZ ZIIN NG G c cllu ub b y yo ou u w we en nt t t to o? ? I think Pacha – Ibiza. A An nd d f fiin na alllly y,, w wh ha at t iis s c co om miin ng g n ne ex xt t f fr ro om m y yo ou u s st tu ud diio o w wiis se e? ? The Beating Drum EP – Full Intention on DFTD. Day in the life – Todd Terry – Full Intention Remix on Phoenix Records Dancin’ – Full intention (Re work) on Full Intention records A third EP on Simma Black ‘WALK INTO THE SUN’ is officially release on May 20th 2016 Buy Link: http://bit.ly/1V7gnIZ F Fo ollllo ow w:: www.michaelgrayofficial.com www.facebook.com/michaelgrayof ficial www.twitter.com/michael_gray_uk http://www.instagram/michaelgray uk

One listen to Scarlet Baxter is all you need to know that you're hearing something special.The London based singer has a voice that stops you in your tracks; rich, deep and full ofsoul, calling to mind Adele at her most powerfully emotional, but with an edge that is100% her own. Sonically, her music harks back to the now classic millennial RnB sound, updating itsintricate and groove aden production to create a very contemporary feel that stands out amile amongst all the identikit electronic pop currently cluttering up the charts. The voice, the stage presence and the songwriting are all already there; it's only a matterof time before Scarlet Baxter is the household name she's always been destined to be. H Hii S Sc ca ar rlle et tt t,, T Th ha an nk ks s f fo or r t ta ak kiin ng g t tiim me e t to o s sp pe ea ak k t to o u us s!! Hello!! No, thank you for wanting to have a chat. W Wh ho o iis s S Sc ca ar rlle et tt t B Ba ax xt te er r? ? Someone who absolutely loves to sing & perform and could not live without music or tea! H Ho ow w w wo ou ulld d d de es sc cr riib be e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c a an nd d s so ou un nd d? ? My favourite word that I always use because I love it so much! Nostalgic, that it was I want to try and create, my favourite music was when I was in my teens, all the naughties R&B. I love the nostalgic feeling so much so I always want to re create that feeling. T Te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r n ne ew w s siin ng glle e ‘‘D Da an nc ciin ng g A Allll N Niig gh ht t’’? ? 'Dancing All Night' is a chilled out R&B & pop song, it is very different to what I have done before, this song for me about exploring different ways I could create a current pop sound H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e w wr riit tiin ng g & & r re ec co or rd diin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? It was a challenge but that is what I love, I love exploring different ways I can use my voice and this song was the one I got to experiment with. W Wh ho o h ha as s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d p pa as st t a an nd d p pr re es se en nt t? ? So many artists inspire and have influenced me in so many different ways, I love Lauryn Hill, I grew up listening to Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, Shania Twain, I could literally go on and on, some who I love now is Rihanna, I mean she is literally just the coolest!! I am obsessed W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o s su up pp po or rt t C Ch hiic c? ? Incredible!!! They have so many hits, Nile Rogers is a genius, so to say I have even been on the same stage as him is a dream. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d w wiit th h y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c s so oo on n? ? Of course! I cannot wait till I can hit the road with my music, I want to travel all around the country, we are in talks of getting support slots so definitely something towards the end of this year. W Wh ha at t iis s n ne ex xt t f fo or r S Sc ca ar rlle et tt t B Ba ax xt te er r? ? To keep writing and recording new material and to gig as much as I can whether that is with my band all acoustically W Wh ha at t w wa as s t th he e f fiir rs st t r re ec co or rd d y yo ou u b bo ou ug gh ht t? ? Oh wow! Now that is really digging deep, I think it was a Celine Dion tape from Boots!! The new single by Scarlet Baxter ‘Dancing All Night’ is released 20th May 2016.

Italian DJ & producer Lorenzo Spano grew up listening to home grown dance royalty in Alex Neri& Gianni Bini… Taking in influences & experiences in and around clubs from Ibiza to New York he has developed a dance sound with cross over potential. ‘Special’ is his new single and it has a familiar MK organ line that introduces the catchy vocal hooks from Liz Hill on top of a piano filled house groove. Special indeed! W We ellc co om me e L Lo or re en nz zo o!! T Te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r n ne ew w s siin ng glle e ‘‘S Sp pe ec ciia all? ? Special is a track created to sing and dance. I took inspiration from the sounds of the early '90s, inspired by two of my favorite songs, "Show Me Love" and "Finally" that I play during djsets. I mixed the musical concept than now with the concept of when I was a child. I added the piano, the instrument that I love most. the details of this track that I think are house groove piano, the chorus "oh ohohohoh - oh ohohohoh" and the voice. I tried to render this track "Special" because we as a people we are all special, we have to think reflect and do something for us, more love and peace. I produced this track to stimulate many good things in a person! H Ho ow w d diid d L Liiz z c co om me e t to o f fe ea at tu ur re e o on n y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e? ? Lyric idea we had from this period of history, the present we are living, too much inequality in the world, from here we started... Liz featured the track also with the pronunciation of the US west coast, with her house music experience, and smile. From the idea and the concept Liz has managed to write something simple and profound, and together we came to create the catchy melody, very attractive. we have always been inspired by the references. My "Jolly" is always the chorus "oh ohohohoh"... W Wh ho o h ha as s iin nf fllu ue en nc ce ed d y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d p pa as st t a an nd d p pr re es se en nt t? ? My style my sound was influenced by house music, pop and soul mostly. LISTEN MUSIC BY CecePeniston, Robin S., Tracy Chapman, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Fugees, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Gianni Bini, Joe T. Vannelli, AlexNeri, Sandy Rivera, Barbara Tucker, CandiStaton and others. Now they are attracted by the sounds and styles Sonny Fodera, DISCLOSURE, Sia, Beyonce, Charlie xcx, COLDPLAY, Jess Glynne, ToughLove, Gorgon City, MK and others.All these are artists that I admire from which I took something good! W Wh ha at t''s s y yo ou ur r f fa av vo ou ur riit te e p piie ec ce e o of f s st tu ud diio o e eq qu uiip pm me en nt t a an nd d w wh hy y? ? My favorite is the equipment Maschine Studio NI, because it is intuitive, it stimulates the creativity of the producer at the most, has a music library and sounds excellent because then "Special" was created almost entirely with that! W Wh ha at t w wa as s t th he e f fiir rs st t r re ec co or rd d y yo ou u b bo ou ug gh ht t? ? CHAB - CLOSER TO ME. W Wh hiic ch h D DJ J’’s s d do o y yo ou u a ad dm miir re e? ? David Morales, Tony Humphries, Gianni Bini, Joe T. Vannelli, AlexNeri, Sandy Rivera, SONNY FODERA, DAVID PENN, TOUGH LOVE, MK, GORGON CITY, SECONDCITY, SETH THROXLER, CARL CRAIG, PETE TONG, PURPLE DISCO MACHINE, LOUIE VEGA, CARL COX, DISCEPLES, PROK & FITCH. W Wh ha at t’’s s t th he e IIt ta alliia an n h ho ou us se e m mu us siic c s sc ce en ne e lliik ke e iin n 2 20 01 1 6 6? ? SCENE HOUSE ITALIAN is ALWAYS ATTENDED BY VETERANS, there is NOT THE CHANGE GENERATION and the handover instead for commercial music and techno lot. Many DJs have turned to other genres to work. I love play the house music and deep house, I think the kind of music the DJ should not change it but to develop it! Then in the techno and EDM are interesting and talented young people, In the House music we are few to have passion. W Wh ho o a ar re e y yo ou u f fa av vo ou ur riit te e lla ab be ells s r riig gh ht t n no ow w? ? My favorite labels are: PIAS and TooPop! :), Defected, OceanTrax, Soul Heaven, Nervous, EGO, 3Beat, Deep VisionZ, Strictly Rhythm, D-Vision. W Wh ha at t iis s n ne ex xt t f fo or r L Lo or re en nz zo o S Sp pa an no o? ? Continue to produce music, expand my networks, djing, entertain people to sing and dance.Maybe you saw work for a record label as a producer.To try to do well what I do.One day open my own record label. Lorenzo Spanoft Liz Hill –‘Special’is out now.

Californian based duo REDUX SAINTS debut release on the EJ Underground imprint comes complete with a superb remixes from DOORLY& Soultrak they take time out from the studio to speak to us and tell us a little about themselves. Q Q - - H Hii G Gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S– – h ho ow w a ar re e y yo ou u? ? A: Doing very well – Extremely excited about Redux Saint’s debut EP release coming out May 10th, 2016 under Krafted/EJ Underground. We worked hard for several months to bring Redux Saints to life. Q Q – – T Te ellll u us s,, w wh he er re e a ar re e y yo ou u f fr ro om m? ? A: I am originally from Chicago, and Jourdan Bordes who collaborated on the Rebirth EP is from Mississippi. I moved out to Los Angeles about six years ago and currently reside DTLA. Q Q - - H Ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u s st ta ar rt t m ma ak kiin ng g m mu us siic c? ? A: I was creating a mix for soundcloud a few years back. I always loved the Hans Zimmer song “Time” from the movie Inception. Working with DJ software I was able to use the stems for the remix decks add drums against the track. And there you have it; first remix was born. Since then I have enrolled into Icon Collective Music Production School in Burbank, CA. I am continued to be impressed with the talent that comes out Icon. Q Q - - H Ho ow w w wo ou ulld d d de es sc cr riib be e y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d? ? Tough to pinpoint with ever-changing genre categories. This EP sits betweenbetween melodic Deep House and Tech House. Having a major influence of trance being the first electronic music I fell in love tends to show elements of melodic chord progressions with heavy house kick drums. Q Q - - W Wh ho o a ar re e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic ca all iin nf fllu ue en nc ce es s? ? Was a regular at Crobar in Chicago back in the day and saw some amazing performances by Carl Cox, Mistress Barbara, and others. House influences we always would run to check out Frankie Knuckles and Derrick Carter. Today’s influences are Doorly, Olivier Giacomotto, Maceo Plex, Anjunadeep’s music, and Paul Sawyer is playing a major rule in helping Redux Saints develop it’s sound. Q Q - - T Te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r n ne ew w r re elle ea as se e? ? Rebirth EP is about starting of a new journey for creative fulfilment through music. All three tracks intend to engulf

you into its melodic progressions while having strong kick to entice you to dance. Doorly remix of Rebirth really brings the EP some club street cred and really happy with. Q Q - - W Wh ho o w wo ou ulld d b be e y yo ou ur r d dr re ea am m c co olllla ab bo or ra at tiio on n iin n m ma ak kiin ng g m mu us siic c? ? Maceo Plex Yotto Q Q - - Y Yo ou u g ge et t a a d da ay y o of ff f,, w wh ha at t k kiin nd d o of f m mo ov viie es s d do o y yo ou u lliik ke e t to o k kiic ck k b ba ac ck k a an nd d w wa at tc ch h? ? Rebirth was originally a song I created for Icon class. The track was originally called Glue, which was a sample I pulled from Airplane movie where Steve McCroskey: says “Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue”. Airplane, Better off Dead, SpaceBalls, are hilarious movies that they just don’t make anymore. I am slightly addicted to popcorn so even if the movie is weak, I can still entertain myself with a bucket of it. Q Q - - W Wh ha at t h ha av ve e y yo ou u g go ot t p plla an nn ne ed d f fo or r t th he e f fu ut tu ur re e? ? Currently in Amsterdam DJing a boat party for King’s Day. Our release party coming up in May 12th at Union in Los Angeles with Mr C and May 14th at Airpusher’s Steampunk Masquerade in San Francisco. You should be seeing a remix for Soultrak’s “If your Scared” soon. Starting a monthly radio show for Krafted Radio. Our second EP will be out in July which will have a little more of Tech House feel and we’re currently organising who will be remixing this. Looking forward to the summer and bringing some beats to the dance floor. Monthly Redux Radio - http://www.kraftedmusic.com/krafted-radio-station/ May 12th Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/513296592187874/ May 14th Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/757249971072121/ ‘Rebirth’ complete with remixes from Doorly and Soultrak will be out May 10thexclusively on Beatport and all stores May 24. Redux Saints: https://www.facebook.com/reduxsaintsmusic/ Krafted: https://www.facebook.com/EJUnderground/

Family Force 5 H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? We’re great! It’s been an exciting year! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "J Jo oc ck k- -A A- -M Mo o" "? ? “Jock-A-Mo” (also known as “Iko Iko”) is the original Mardi Gras Indian song that became a big hit. The singers on our version, Big Chief Irving “Honey” Banister and Davell Crawford, both have special connections to the song. Davell is the grandson of the writer and original singer of the song, and Honey's father played guitar on the original studio hit - and also plays guitar on this version ! Cha Wa’s cover of “Jock-A-Mo” represents several generations collaborating on a classic, yet sonically taking the song into the future. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Anything is possible! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m F Fu un nk k N N'' F Fe ea at th he er rs s - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? We came up with Funk N’ Feathers by combining the two elements of Cha Wa – the street level funk with the tradition of Mardi Gras Indians. Pioneered first by the Wild Magnolias in the 70s, we felt like we wanted to tell the story of what our sound really is. It is funk and the feathers are emblematic of the Mardi Gras Indian suits which they sew all year along and premiere on Mardi Gras Day. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? We had been developing our show on the road for about a year before we went into the studio. We took all of the energy and organic elements from the live show and put them into the songs. We came up with arrangements for the record that were a little bit more organized but didn’t take the grease out of the sound. Ben Ellman, our producer, really facilitated that and did a great job steering the ship in that direction. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h C Co ou un nt t a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? We met the Count through Ben Ellman. He’s worked on most of Ben’s production work. That mixing style is something I’m familiar with and gravitate towards. I thought having a modern production style would really benefit the music. The music is so vibe orientated that I felt like the product should be a compliment to that. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? I think that he was able to take the energy and nuances of our live show come across in a studio setting. Every single song that came back I was happy with. W Wh ha at t r ro olle e d do oe es s M Ma ar rd dii G Gr ra as s p plla ay ys s iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c? ? Traditionally black men were not allowed to parade with the white Mardi Gras crews during Carnival season. They have a tradition of making suits to pay homage to their ancestors who were escaped slaves and harbored by Native Americans in the bayous and swamps surrounding New Orleans. The suits are time consuming and take about a year to make, stitched by hand. They premiere them on Mardi Gras Day. All the revelry and rhythms comes from that sort of spiritual space of coming out and representing Mardi Gras Day. T Th hiis s b ba an nd d iis s iin n s so om me e w wa ay y lliik ke e t th he e t th hiir rd d o or r f fo ou ur rt th h r re eiin nc ca ar rn na at tiio on n o of f t th hr re ee e o or r f fo ou ur r m mo or re e b ba an nd ds s f fr ro om m t th he e p pa as st t - - w wo ou ulld d y yo ou u c ca allll t th hiis s n ne ew w a ac ct t a a d de ep pa ar rt tu ur re e o or r a a f fo ollllo ow w u up p? ? I think that it’s a natural progression of having people that are direct descendants of the tradition. We are the next generation of that tradition and wanted to pay homage to the work that the Wild magnolias started. We dedicated the album to the pioneers of this music. We didn’t want it to be derivative but wanted to pay homage to the traditions that have been established already. W Wh he er re e e ells se e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? The lyrics are the blueprint for the music. The stores that are told are individual for the singers. They improvise the lyrics and tell a story, similar to the way a soloist would play a solo. They might borrow from the original but won’t duplicate it. They take their own experience and create their own dialogue. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? You bet! We’ll be on the road, touring the country, this spring through the end of the year. You can find our dates here: chawaband.com W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n C Ch ha a W Wa a''s s w wo or rlld d? ? We’re looking forward to performing at our hometown favorite, Jazzfest, this month. We take a lot of pride in being able to represent our Mardi Gras culture, both at home and out in the word!

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hey :) We’re fantastic thanks. Extremely busy because of all the big announcements recently, but at the same time loving the work! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "L Le ef ft t B Be eh hiin nd d" "? ? Yeah, musically we feel that Left Behind is one of the most dynamically ranged songs off the album and packages the sound of The Machine very well with lots of heavy epicness, synth driven ambience and a catchy dance vibe which makes you want bounce and sing along while breaking the speed limit. Being from a concept record, Left Behind also contains a whole chapter of its own in a storyline, expressing sentiments of fear, loss, endurance and determination that many listeners could relate to their own lives. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? This was the last song to be composed on the record and because of that I think it is one the truest forms of music we have created and a good indication of the direction we are constantly working toward. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e f fiillm m e ex xp pe er riie en nc ce e? ? It was pretty insane. We were on a super tight budget and time constraint, which meant using all our resources to the fullest. This lead to a 36-hour straight shooting session with no sleep! The amount of disasters and fixes we had to make were unimaginable but it in the end we worked incredibly well as a team and crew lead by the tremendously talented film director Brett Rayner. We will be releasing a “behind the scenes” video soon in which you will get a glimpse of what we went through! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m T Th he e M Ma ac ch hiin ne e - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? The Machine is a metaphor for the monsters that everyone has to face, whether its nightmares, relationships, drugs, etc. Everyone has issues. On the story side of the record The Machine is a vast empire, masquerading under the pretense of prosperity and progress while in actuality it is a scourge to the earth, rotting on the inside and destroying human creativity and individuality. S So o iin n s so om me e w wa ay y t th hiis s a allb bu um m b be e c co on ns siid de er re ed d a a c co on nc ce ep pt t r re ec co or rd d? ? Fully. The elements with which we want to relate on a personal level with the listener as well as party your face off are all there, but at the same time there is also an

imaginative narration written into the lyrics portraying scenes or following characters in the world of The Machine. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Being 100% independent we had freedom to do what we wanted but this also meant learning how to do things on the fly. We are also perfectionists to a fault, which lead to frustrations, but eventually that gave us the product we wanted. The writing process we enjoyed tremendously as we have been doing this for quite a while so writing for us is more fun than an effort. Generally, when we come up with new songs we all sit down and do it together as we have learnt to work very well by bouncing our individual creative ideas off each other. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? We gain inspiration from a multitude of resources. Anything from personal experiences or friends passing away to the less serious side of simply wanting to write a song that we’ll love and want to party to. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? We are about to do a national tour of South Africa starting at the end of this month and we have plans for Europe and the UK next year. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n S Se et t F Fo or r T Th he e S Sk ky y''s s w wo or rlld d? ? We have landed a supporting spot for Eskimo Callboy’s SA tour in October and are constantly working on new material and live production quality. Getting a record deal is something we are also starting to look into (up to now we’ve turned down some smaller companies) as we regard our product to definitely be worth the attention of some of the bigger labels around the world.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? BG: 2016 has been our best year ever and we are just in the Spring of things! We continue to play top nightclubs, concerts and festivals from San Diego to San Francisco.The year began when we were asked to play the 2nd stage at NAMM which is the biggest music convention in the world. It takes place every year at the Anaheim Convention Center. We have been asked to perform the last three of four years and it is an honor. Musicians’ musicians play the show. Last Sunday, we were at The Coach House Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano, the Monday before, at the Mint in Los Angeles, a well-know industry haunt. We return to the Canyon Club and the Whiskey in May and are thrilled to play the newest concert hall in southern California, The Rose in Pasadena, this June. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r s siin ng glle e " "S So ou ulls s O On n F Fiir re e” ”? ? CC: It’s a song about uncontrollable temptation and payback. A conscious act to do the worst imaginable in the name of selfishness, martyrdom. However, the payback might not be what you expected. Sound familiar? D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? BG: It is completely fictional. But we all have our struggles and we all strive. My baby loves me. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o t to o g go o a allo on ng g w wiit th h t th he e s so on ng g? ? CC: We have just released a series of teaser videos from our drummer Roger’s studio. They are meant to be fun and we had a great time making them. Yes, Souls on Fire was the first one we made. It’s on YouTube, our Facebook page and our dot com. T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m “ “T To o H He elllle en nd da alle e a an nd d B Ba ac ck k” ” - - h ho ow w d diid d y yo ou u c co om me e u up p w wiit th h t th he e iid de ea a f fo or r t th he e c co on nc ce ep pt t a allb bu um m? ? W Wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? BG: We came to know and perform in a little town which has two names – Silver Lakes and Helendale. We changed the name to protect the guilty. Those experiences impacted our thought life. Not only the band, but also the CD’s graphic designer spent time (exile?) in this little oasis so the name suggested itself. An early suggestion was “Exile in Mojave” as a “tip of the hat” to another British band of seminal influence which began their journey in the blues. H Ho ow w d diid d t th hiis s a allb bu um m e en nd d u up p w wr riit tiin ng g iit ts se ellf f? ? CC: Our albums are a reflection of where we are at, at any given time. We try not to have one song dictate the next. So as each song develops form the music and feel to the lyrics and story. So each element helps write the next; suggests the next. The songs form the bones or spokes of the album. H Ho ow w d diid d t th he e d de es se er rt t g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e m mu us siic c a an nd d lly yr riic cs s o of f t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? CC: We live in Southern California which is a semi-arid desert. So desert themes are always running in the background of our minds and lives. We check out, but never leaveZ. BG: Since our last CD, we spent even more time driving through the high desert of California, climbing up through the El Cajon pass where the two mountain ranges rub tectonic plates daily – think San Andreas fault –into the high Mojave Desert. For the last two years, we were exposed to the unique physical beauty, subtleties and extremes of the Mojave Desert and the overal surrealistic life of the high desert – a study in paradoxes. We spent a lot of time traveling the same roads as Erin Brokovich,

? ? o o . e y r e n h o s s s . r h n – e y, l e , saw the PG&E factory in Hinkley, California, talked to the people, visited anomalies small and large including the former George Airbase, a wasteland with a lot of ghosts. Yet there is also life, recovery and hope. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? CC: We have recorded our last two albums using Logic at Ziggy’s Pad. Chap usually writes and records a rough draft of the music first. We discuss the “feel” of the music which inspires a melody, story and then lyrics. Bill works his magic while I engineer and finish the mix. Then it’s off to mastering. We try to let the music lead the way. However, we are always open to new processes. BG: Lyrically, the songs continue to progress in both the great themes of love and loss, but continue to explore the American experience, new, fresh - with its downs and ups which are exciting, and exhilarating. There is a circular element to the songs\songbook. When we last spoke we mentioned that our process is “infinitely variable.” We have each contributed whole songs, riffs, and musical progressions. The primary division of labor is Bill writes the lyrics and melodies, Chap composes the music. We both hash it out - we work really well together. Our new work continues with the exploration we have been doing with both the original tunes from Revolution #9 as we perform them live and the new material we have been writing on the road. Sonically, we have continued to embrace the lower tones of the baritone guitar which figures prominently in some of the songs on our new EP, “To Hellendale and Back”. We have more than one arrow in our quiver; sonically we are all over the map. You would laugh if you knew the number of artists to which our music is compared. There are so many elements we incorporate. People hear so many things. It’s only natural, as we have been influenced by so many. AM radio figured prominently initially in our upbringing and then FM and album orientation. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? BG: Same game plan as after our last CD when we talked in 2013, “Barnstorming live performances across the southland “Zwe hope to return to the Midwest and Europe. Both Bob and Bill played Europe in the Fall and we hope to take the full band over this September. We are playing more festivals, concerts and top nightclubs than ever before. Relentless touring and high-energy performances. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n N Ne ew w B Bllu ue es s R Re ev vo ollu ut tiio on n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? BG: More videos will be released from the two CD’s which are already shot! Hard to believe, but we are planning the fourth New Blues Festival which has been so rewarding artistically and spiritually. We’ve had the opportunity to work with 60 other bands so far. We can’t wait to develop this year’s roster – there are some great possibilities! There is a Guarantee: it will be a great show Labor Day weekend at the regional El Dorado Park in Long Beach! Five thousand (5,000) people came last year and we hope to double it again. You can stay tune to that on the web too – both the dot com and the Facebook sites for the New Blues Festival. Do you think Brazil would like it? We know they love the New Blues! As the genre is described in Wikipedia, it is a “contemporized form of the deep bluesZ. akin to the British blues boom of the mid 1960s”. Chap and Bill will continue to write as they explore the themes which confront their daily existence. More inspiration always comes from the roadZlong and winding, ever on!

H Hii D Diia an na a,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Great thank you! Just overwhelmed with a great response for the single “Down Down Down” from my new album Long Road which is being released May 18th. I am working really hard day in and day out for everything to go smoothly and somehow still finding time to practice guitar and find my little slice of heaven when I get to play music. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "W Wh hiille e W We e C Cr ry y" "? ? Well, I did do a cover called While We Cry. It’s a song by Kenny Wayne Shepherd and I loved it so much that I wanted to do my own version. But it’s not on my new album. I give it to people for free when they sign up for my newsletter on my website dianarein.com. My first single “Down Down Down” from my new album is a no holds barred guitar driven anthem song that will get you rockin’ out of your chair. It starts with a blues introduction with just me on guitar and vocals which gives an homage to my Blues roots and then it tears into a strong lyrical message that came to me when I was dealing with some health issues a year ago. I wanted the lead guitars and the melody to reflect the strength that was building up inside of me to not let anything get me Down. It’s a very inspirational song for me. Keeps me grounded and in the present moment. And I love to revel in being a tough chick!!! D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re ed d y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? I was just dealing with more visits to the Doctor than I would like and not getting any conclusive answers. It was getting me depressed because I was in the middle of writing and recording my album and I had this dark cloud over me. So writing this song and another song on the album called “Come Back Home” was very therapeutic for me during this time. I can’t think of a better way to give fear or worry a kick in the butt than to write a song about it and have it transform you. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Right now, I am working on shooting a teaser video for the album. I do everything myself. I don’t know if that makes me controlling or what but I definitely have clear visions for what I want and sometimes it is just easier to not argue about something and just do it yourself. I can be pretty stubborn too which I suppose comes from me being a Taurus. But my personality has been advantageous because I have learned how to record on my own and play all the instruments or in the case of the drums I programmed them. I also edit all of my videos. So it’s made me a more educated and artistic person. I do have an idea for the video for “Down Down Down” and once the album is released I feel like I will have more time to get a set date to shoot the video. I certainly feel it is a necessity to have a video in this day and age. We are all very visual people and I get that. I spend hours on youtube sometimes!! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w m ma at te er riia all L Lo on ng g R Ro oa ad d w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? I wrote the song Long Road when my son turned one years old and I had decided that my hiatus from music was over and I would never subject myself to the depression that not having music in my life gave me. I sat down after not writing for over a year and I just let it all out. I didn’t even know how to play lead guitar yet when I wrote it. But I wrote it and kept it and embellished it two and a half years later after I had worked my butt off to play lead guitar and was at a place where I was ready to add to the song. So it all started with “Long Road”. It is a ballad and it takes the first playing spot on the album because it just made sense to place it first. Then I come at you with an electric fire after that with most of the other songs on the album. There’s a lot of fire in me just ready to come out. I’ve kept it inside too long! H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Other than the song “Long Road”, I sat down on January 1st, 2015 and started writing. I wrote 12 songs in 11 days. One of the songs will be on my next album that I have waiting in the wings. After writing them, I taught myself how to record and laid down the drums, rhythm guitars and bass guitar. I did this any spare chance I had when either my family was watching my son or mostly when he was sleeping at night. When that was done, I recorded the vocals. Then my dog Zoe passed away in May of 2015 and I was just devastated. So that spun me in a hole of just writing more and I came out with 12 more songs that I programmed drums for and recorded bass and rhythm guitar and vocals for. When I finished that process I was ready to record leads but I had to wait for an amp to get made for me. So that pushed me back a few months. But during this off time I was teaching myself how to mix and master. I was finally able to finish the lead guitar recordings and instead of mixing and mastering it myself, I found someone who retained my vision and had more tools to deliver the final product than I did. So it was a good match up. H Ho ow w h ha as s M My yt th ho ollo og gy y iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c,, e es sp pe ec ciia alllly y t th he e lly yr riic cs s o on n t th hiis s r re ec co or rd d? ? Mythology wasn’t at the forefront of my mind in making the album although I have always had a penchant for learning about the Roman Goddess Diana, always trying to find some clues about myself through descriptions of her. I love to think that I am an animal whisperer since animals tend to gravitate towards me and I sure do love the mystical nature of the moon and the metaphysical world. But back the to the album, the lyrics on the album came from a place of liberation and confidence that came as I was getting better and better at playing guitar. I feel like I have the strength of a hundred men when I am playing guitar. There’s no better feeling. And to be able to tell it like it is with my lyrics and stand strong in what it is to be a women is just a gift from this whole experience. I can’t believe all that I have accomplished in such a short span of time but that’s more evidence to me that I am fulfilling my purpose and I am exactly where I am supposed to be. D Do oe es s C Ch hiic ca ag go o p plla ay ys s a a r ro olle e iin n y yo ou ur r m mu us siic c a as s w we ellll? ? I was raised in Chicago and it influenced my ear for music while growing up. Chicago is such adverse music town, everywhere you turn in the summertime there are music festivals happening. One of the biggest Blues Festivals around is held in Chicago every year. So I am thankful that I had the Blues in my awareness from a very young age because of the fact that I lived there. And living in the snow and cold weather 9 months out of the year can definitely get you in touch with the Blues, that’s for sure. But seriously, I learned the ropes there and played my first solo and band gigs in the city. It’s obviously a part of me. With the making of this album though and what plays a bigger part in my musical influences while making this album is just listening to all of the great Blues Rock players and then developing my own sound. I like to watch videos of great players like Hendrix, SRV, and Clapton. I get annoyed learning anything note for note though. But I study them and then I get an overrall impression of what they are doing and then I make it my own. I feel that if I learned licks note for note it would limit my expression. And whenever I have tried learning guitar licks note for note, they never stick with me anyway. I just need to be free when playing. But I will never stop watching them and learning. I will never be done learning. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Rig ht now I am assembling a band and looking for the right fit of people. Once that is in place, performing live is definitely going to happen. It’s definitely an exciting and fresh time! W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n D Diia an na a R Re eiin n''s s w wo or rlld d? ? My life is basically split into two clear sections. The Mom/Wife and the Musician. So I am constantly working at that balance. My family keeps me grounded and my music gives my life an extra bit of magic. You’ll find me constantly working and learning to be a better version of myself everyday. My son being born focused me more than ever on how I wanted to live out my purpose in life. And being a musician allows me to be a great example for my son. Even though I say there are two different sections of my World, maybe I’m wrong. They might just be a perfect and complete fit for each other. I am going to keep working as hard as I can and just be grateful for all of the opportunities and blessings that come my way. Thank you so much for this opportunity Vents magazine!

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hey, thanks for having us! We’re doing pretty well! C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "E Ev viid de en nt t" "? ? Sal: Sure! We released “Evident” on April 22nd in anticipation of our new self-titled EP that’s due out on June 3rd! “Evident” was actually the first song we wrote as Table Talk and it was just a culmination of like three or four ideas that happened to be in the same key and all the ideas just pieced together perfectly. The song was finished about a year before we released it so we’ve had a long time to really perfect it and demo it; really just make it could be, because it’s a song that’s really dear to our hearts and we definitely wanted to reflect that sonically. We decided a while back that “Evident” was the first song we were going to release off the new record, that’s really the reason why we put so much thought into every part of this song when we recorded. No idea went untried and I’m truly thankful we were able to work in an environment that was conducive for generating new sounds and ideas. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Ryan: I wouldn't say that a particular event made me write this song. Ever since I can remember my older brother has had a problem with drugs. I could sit here for hours and tell you about things that have enticed me to write “Evident”, but I'm not going to do that. My family and I have tried to help him year after year, it's just a shame that everything has gotten so bad. This is something that has devastated my family and I for over a decade now. So overall, this song is about how addiction affects many more people than just the user. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? Sal: Yes we do have plans to release a video within the coming months for “Evident” and another track off the new record! We’ve got a few directors/videographers lined up already and we’re just waiting for when we aren’t all so busy with school and work! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w a allb bu um m - - w wh hy y n na am miin ng g t th he e a allb bu um m a af ft te er r t th he e b ba an nd d? ? Sal: It really comes down to why we even named ourselves Table Talk in the first place. We get a lot of questions about our name and whether or not it was inspired by Table Talk Pies in the grocery store and despite being a really funny coincidence that Ryan and I work in grocery stores, it’s not the reason for the name. The name comes from the fact that we as a group of people function in a really colloquial and cooperative way and approach every problem we encounter

t p s y s e e w p y e e s t k y t t d r individually as a group. I know that I can call any one of my bandmates and talk with them about whatever is stressing me out that day or week or month. We’re really just four brothers who are able to come together and talk about absolutely anything without any judgement or hesitation. Everything is table talk for us and Table Talk is family. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Sal: Clint at Soundbox Recording is one of the most genuine, passionate musicians/humans we’ve ever met and he really let us take the reigns with this recording process and was willing to try every idea that wasn’t too hare-brained. D Do oe es s L Lo on ng g IIs slla an nd d p plla ay y a a r ro olle e iin n y yo ou ur r s so ou un nd d? ? Jon: We are very proud to be able to say that we are from Long Island. I wouldn't say that being from Long Island plays a role in our sound but it definitely is the best place to come home to. This little island is packed with talent and we are very honored to a part of this scene. Sal: There’s definitely a local influence that we all connected with in different ways when we were younger. I think it definitely played some kind of role in our early days of playing before we even formed as Table Talk and there's influence from a lot of great local acts that we’ve been playing with for years. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? Ryan: most of the songs that I wrote for this EP are about my brother and how his addiction is affecting my family and I. Like I said before, he’s had problems for over a decade now so it's really all I know. These songs are something that I am very proud of. I just hope that one day I get the opportunity to write a happy song about him. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? Jon: Kale yeah! We are headed out on tour from June 9th to the 18th with our good friends in Breaking Tradition. We first ran into them when Sal, Rob and I played in New Jersey for the first time with our last band (Last Great Hero) ever since then every show we've played in New Jersey they also played and we've been great friends since. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n T Ta ab blle e T Ta allk k''s s w wo or rlld d? ? Jon: Hopefully nothing bad, that wouldn't be good. Sal: Definitely some more writing and gigging throughout the year but for now be sure to check out our self-titled EP “Table Talk” when it comes out on June 3rd!

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Pretty good! Thanks for having us. C Ca an n y yo ou u t ta allk k t to o u us s m mo or re e a ab bo ou ut t y yo ou ur r lla at te es st t s siin ng glle e " "B Blla ac ck k R Riid dg ge e D Dr riiv ve e" "? ? Blackridge Drive was the first song we wrote as a band. It started as an acoustic song that we had been working since we were high school. It was really great finally getting the chance to record it for our EP this year. So far it has received a pretty good response, and we’re all extremely happy with the way it sounds. D Diid d a an ny y e ev ve en nt t iin n p pa ar rt tiic cu ulla ar r iin ns sp piir re e y yo ou u t to o w wr riit te e t th hiis s s so on ng g? ? Not a particular event, but the song talks about how much our lives have changed going through high school and transitioning to early adulthood so it’s kind of a series of events that shaped us as individuals. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o r re elle ea as se e a a v viid de eo o f fo or r t th he e s siin ng glle e? ? We’re not sure about which song yet, but maybe! T Th he e s siin ng glle e c co om me es s o of ff f y yo ou ur r n ne ew w E EP P O On n T Th he e B Br riig gh ht te er r S Siid de e o of f T Th hiin ng gs s - - w wh ha at t''s s t th he e s st to or ry y b be eh hiin nd d t th he e t tiit tlle e? ? There’s no really cool story behind the title, as much as we wish there was. But we chose On The Brighter Side of Things because each song is about growing up. When you’re growing up and changing, it helps to be able to look on the bright side. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? They were separate; we wrote songs over

the course of the half year leading up to recording, but both were good. Most of us hadn’t actually recorded before, so it was a good learning experience. W Wh ha at t w wa as s iit t lliik ke e t to o w wo or rk k w wiit th h J Jo on na at th ha an n M Me eiis s a an nd d h ho ow w d diid d t th ha at t r re ella at tiio on ns sh hiip p d de ev ve ello op p? ? Jon is one of our good friends, so the relationship was already pretty well established, but we did have fun joking and creating with him. H Ho ow w m mu uc ch h d diid d h he e g ge et t t to o iin nf fllu ue en nc ce e t th he e a allb bu um m? ? Most of his influence was with arrangement and some added dynamics within our songs, and of course, how he reflected our tone. D Diid d h ho op pe e a an nd d jjo oy y g ge et t t to o iin ns sp piir re e t th he e s so on ng gs s a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? We all find joy and hope when we are writing and playing our songs live, so I would definitely say that those two things influenced us a lot during the writing process. A An ny y p plla an ns s t to o h hiit t t th he e r ro oa ad d? ? We’re currently working on our (Corner of the) World Tour, and we’ll go up through Colorado and Utah, to Oregon, and down the coast back home with our buddies and co-label artist Five Mile Float. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n R Riig gh ht t O On n,, K Kiid d''s s w wo or rlld d? ? We’re focusing on writing more and planning more tours, and getting ourselves out there.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Band: What’s up Vent’s!? Thanks for having us! We’ve been keeping busy since just dropped our new EP which im pretty happy about and I”m super pumped for our release show in our home town at Raw Ink in Gaithersburg, Maryland! W Wh ha at t c ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t t th he e t tiit tlle e a an nd d m me ea an niin ng g b be eh hiin nd d y yo ou ur r m mo os st t r re ec ce en nt t r re elle ea as se e? ? Ben: Well I like majestic things like Lord of the Ring, Game of Thrones, sword fighting, and dragons and wizards so yeahZ”M” Colin: M stands for mangoes. I fucking love mangoes Kevin: Our new EP "M" came out May 17th. Ryan: M...magical, mysterious, meaningless. Nah it's really just about how much we have grown in my opinion, the pain we've endured but happiness we know now. Shields:The "M" EP is mostly a story of us coming into to our own and experiences as a band. The M is a secret :) H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Band: Well the writing process is usually Colin or Ryan come up with a layout or a “rough draft” for a song and then sends it to kevin who then writes some rough drums to it. Then we usually send it back and forth till it’s pretty much a song and that’s when Ben sits down with either Ryan or Colin to figure out the bass parts. Then Ben writes most of the lyrics and leaves it to Shields to make it sound like some super hot fire! Once the tux guitar file is polished into a pretty much finished song we start to jam it out together till we feel like we can play it live. New music is always exciting to play live! Ben: Recording at Spider Studios was great! Tony did a real good job of making me understand the role of the bass more and really opened my eyes up to a lot of things Colin: For recording we used the Axe Fx 2 XL. Dialing in tones on that is a piece of cake especially for Ryan haha. Kevin: We recorded with Tony Gammalo at Spider Studios in Cleveland, Ohio. We had an amazing time! stayed up there for about a week and a half. The studio used to be a barn that was transformed into the studio, and its beautiful! They were kind enough to let us stay at the studio for our time there, so we were all set with a little kitchen area, toilet, shower and some couches. We had a lot of fun staying there and I'd love to go back and work with Tony again. Ryan: Recording was really cool, shout out to Tony Gammalo at Spider studios for making our first legit recording experience fun as hell. Being in cleveland for the first time was awesome and we would definitely go back to work with Tony again, he's a great guy. Shields:The recording was the best part we went into spider studios in ohio and worked with tony gammalo hes a cool dude so we worked well with him. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u g gu uy ys s f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng g a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? Ben: This EP’s lyrics are some of the most personal that I’ve ever written, but I tried to write them in a way so that anybody who reads them could apply it to themselves some how. The last time we released music was 2 ½ years ago and it’s certainly been a roller coaster since then. If you listen to the “M” EP from front to back it shows the transformation of our mind sets since the last time we put out music for sure. We had our band struggles as well as our individual problems that you all might get to hear about some time down the road if you’re lucky. We’ve grown a lot as a band and even more as people. I really want anybody who hears or reads our lyrics to always feel free to talk to me either in person at a show or online about how you were able to relate to our songs or how they made you feel! The EDP family is open to anybody that wants to be a part of it! Shields: All of our lyrics are based out off of all 5 of our experiences as friends and as a band. Ben and i work together to tell a story in every song Ryan: I'm inspired by a lot of great music and fantastic musicians but at the end of the day it's really just something about the day to day grind that gets me going creatively. My mind looks elsewhere for entertainment, usually finding none so it creates it's own music that I later try and transpose to guitar. Kevin: A lot of past experiences and relationships, or just general advice or messages we want to get to the world. we like to have meaning to our music, and i think the lyrics and songwriting reflect how we've changed/grown up over the years W Wiillll y yo ou u b be e h hiit tt tiin ng g t th he e r ro oa ad d t th hiis s y ye ea ar r? ? Band: Once we finish jimmi rigging the new short bus that is certainly the plan! Hopefully we can by septermber!!! Maybe even earlier! W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n t th he e w wo or rlld d o of f E Ea as st tD De ea ar r P Pa ar rk k? ? Band: We have our official release show for the “M” Ep with our good friends Paper trails, Hydra Kyll, Phantoms, and In Dying Arms at Raw Ink Tattoo Parlor on May 28th in our hometown of Gaithersburg, Maryland!! It’s gonna be an insane show for sure! We also have a lot of EDP videos coming your way off our Youtube channel EastDearParkOfficial which everybody should go subscribe to immediately! Other than that the plan is to to to push this EP and hit the road as soon as possible! We’re willing to play anywhere for basically anything! We just want shows!! Check us out on facebook at facebook.com/EDPMD or twitter/instagram @eastdear_park!

H Hii N Ne ee ell,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Neel Parmar: "Sexy as always". W Wh ha at t c ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t t th he e t tiit tlle e a an nd d m me ea an niin ng g b be eh hiin nd d y yo ou ur r m mo os st t r re ec ce en nt t r re elle ea as se e? ? Neel Parmar: "The most recent release is a song which I absolutely love, the 'Down on me' music video from our debut album 'They Live'. This track is a balls out dirty, heavy track which I believe symbolizes me personally, that is that I am a sleazy kinky romantic... and so is this song. The inspiration speaks for itself...." H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Neel Parmar: "WEAK13 have the most unorthodox writing process, every time nick writes lyrics and a riff then shows it to me and Wesley, then Wesley adds his funky ass baselines and I basically am free to do what I want, that is what I love about this band it's that we technically shouldn't work as we are completely different when it comes to our playing styles, but somehow it just works. A lot of times I tell nick how I want to play the song and he looks a little worried but then when he hears it he gets the biggest smile on his face. WEAK13 pushes boundaries; for example I am now devising a kit made out of buckets after being inspired by an american stage show where they play rock covers on recycled items such as buckets and bins. It's awesome...in no other band would I have the musical freedom to try out new ideas such as this.... and this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our ideas. When it comes to recording we had a very patient and amazing producer... Mr. John Stewart who is not only a friend but a visionary genius who just gets WEAK13's style". W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u g gu uy ys s f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng g a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? Neel Parmar: "Easy... a girl with her mouth open... and a big fat throbbing penis... not saying whose". W Wiillll y yo ou u b be e h hiit tt tiin ng g t th he e r ro oa ad d t th hiis s y ye ea ar r? ? Neel Parmar: "WEAK13 will be coming to a stage near you very soon. After taking some time out to learn new musical styles and techniques we are finally back to a full line up where people will once again be slapped in the face by the balls out funky ear sex that is WEAK13". W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n t th he e w wo or rlld d o of f W WE EA AK K1 1 3 3? ? Neel Parmar: "As I said we are trying out new things...I don't wanna say too much as a lot of WEAK13's ideas have been stolen by bands in the past... including a famous musicians sons band.. .not saying much but I once got stung by a bee... I wont let it happen again. Let's just say WEAK13 are pushing boundaries once again and I bet that once we have done our next idea that other bands will start doing it soon. If you want to see it first and done properly though look out for a WEAK13 gig near you very soon".

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Roger: We’re all well, thank you for asking! W Wh ha at t c ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t t th he e t tiit tlle e a an nd d m me ea an niin ng g b be eh hiin nd d y yo ou ur r m mo os st t r re ec ce en nt t r re elle ea as se e? ? Vortex: The Hate Plane – well, I know it’s a level on Everquest – although I’ve never played it – someone told me. But I don’t think it’s what our esteemed singer, Twister, had in mind when he named the album. Apparently, it’s one of the levels of existence according to Buddha, or something – he reads a lot! Twister: You know what, I’m not even sure that’s what I had in mind – I just think that the basic component of the universe is hate – so in that sense this existence is the hate plane – human beings if they get it right, do the love stuff. All the songs, in one way or another, are a meditation on hate. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? Jay: Pretty seamless really. We’ve got a kind of conveyor belt of ideas – everyone in the band is a writer – so we present ideas at rehearsal and jam them, or the guys in the band who programme – me and Vortex – will come up with something more or less fully formed and then we’ll work on it till we’re all happy. Recording the album was pretty straightforward – drums recorded with a click, then bass, then guitars and keyboards – the usual drill – before sticking down the vocals. For our next album though, we’re going to experiment with recording the stuff live in real time – really looking forward to that. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u g gu uy ys s f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r t th he e s so on ng g a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? A’Zedd: We’re all instinctive composers – what emerges emerges – and if we like it we nail it and use it. If we started thinking about the music right, we’d kill the idea before it exited the womb – it would be stillborn. Twister: Lyrics – I start with noises, and end up with words – that simple! W Wiillll y yo ou u b be e h hiit tt tiin ng g t th he e r ro oa ad d t th hiis s y ye ea ar r? ? Roger: Yes – we have gigs lined up, both here and abroad, and it’s shaping up to be one of our busiest years for a while. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n t th he e w wo or rlld d o of f M Ma ax xd dm my yz z? ? Vortex: A new EP later this year, and an album early next – Friday 20 May, we’re playing with Spreading the Disease at T Chances in London, 2 July we’re playing Kettfest in Kettering, and 3 July a Jaegermeister metal all-dayer, again, in London. Check our website at www.maxdmyz.uk for details.

H Hii g gu uy ys s,, w we ellc co om me e t to o V VE EN NT TS S!! H Ho ow w h ha av ve e y yo ou u b be ee en n? ? Hi everyone! I'm Balzael, drummer from Rising Dark, fine thanks and thank you for this interview! W Wh ha at t c ca an n y yo ou u t te ellll u us s a ab bo ou ut t t th he e t tiit tlle e a an nd d m me ea an niin ng g b be eh hiin nd d y yo ou ur r m mo os st t r re ec ce en nt t r re elle ea as se e? ? Well, we wanted to tell stories, stories about war, politcs and religion in our personal way, we are not the kind of band that clarify straightly the meaning of our tracks, we just tell stories and let everyone interpretate them in function of the emotions felt. In a Rising Dark release you will find stories from our current society but also fantasy stories that come directly out from Lovecraft's tales or a dystopian post-apocalyptic world where nuclear explosions have left few survivors. The title "A World In Ruin" has been chosen because in our latest release we talk about some of the things that are ruining our world today. H Ho ow w w wa as s t th he e r re ec co or rd diin ng g a an nd d w wr riit tiin ng g p pr ro oc ce es ss s? ? The writing process usually start with Michael Crimson who propose some riffs or a structured track, we work together on that base trying to define a structure for the song. Once it has been done we take time to study the arrangements and the lyrics. Now that we have our track completed I personally take care of production and of the "final touch". Usually we record pre- production and then go straight into the studio and record the track. W Wh he er re e d diid d y yo ou u g gu uy ys s f fiin nd d t th he e iin ns sp piir ra at tiio on n f fo or r

t th he e s so on ng g a an nd d lly yr riic cs s? ? As I said before, we find our thematics in the world that surround us, war, religion and the stuff that you may hear about every day. In addition we collect ideas from films, books and sometimes even videogames (like for a song of our first album, Apocalyptic, called The Bofoid, inspired to a monster in an old PSX horror title called "Nightmare Creatures 2", which used to give nightmares to Michael Crimson when he was a kid). W Wiillll y yo ou u b be e h hiit tt tiin ng g t th he e r ro oa ad d t th hiis s y ye ea ar r? ? Yeah, we are planning some gigs all over Europe so stay tuned. W Wh ha at t e ells se e iis s h ha ap pp pe en niin ng g n ne ex xt t iin n t th he e w wo or rlld d o of f R Riis siin ng g D Da ar rk k? ? Well we just want to continue do what we are doing: kickin'ass, expecially live.. so we are looking forward to hit as much festivals and stuff as we can. Stay ready and stay Metal, Rising Dark are coming.