Tag: Interview

Categories
Features Interviews

Interview: The Fat Jewish

Josh Ostrovsky aka The Fat Jew is known around the world as the Instagram superstar and plus-sized model that has provided human beings with endless laughs and absurd delight through his infamous Instagram page abounding with pop culture memes and more. The rowdy man who has created a career out of morphing an Instagram account into an online comedy planet of it’s own has made waves in the entertainment industry and sparked controversy with his unnerving humor around the globe. I touched base with the man behind the madness to discuss his online ascension, off the wall artistic projects and more.  

First and foremost, introduce yourself to the world. How was The Fat Jew brought to life?

You know, everyone had literal nicknames. You know, such as Hot Breath Omar. I am literally just a Fat Jew. I was being an idiot before there were places on the internet to share being an idiot. I am old enough to remember a time when you would do really stupid shit just for people to hear about, talk about and for people see live and if you weren’t there, you weren’t there. But, I am young enough to also now really put that idiotic mindset to work. And now I have a huge fucking following and giant network of people that I can share my stupidity with. 

Where were you brought up and how has that influenced your extensive knowledge of Pop Culture?

My mom is a Queen of memes. I was raised in a network of unbelievably peaceful, hip gay men. I had a male housekeeper and he was a gay Maliasian dude who like wore cut off shorts and all of my mom’s friends are beautiful, rich power gays. I was sorta raised by them. I had ten to fifteen uncles with sun-splashed brown thumbs and incredible shoes with hyper-judgemental attitudes. I think that that combined with Jewish summer camp and really getting to figure out how to get to third base with a girl named Rachel; that all together made me the man that I am today. I was raised by ten, peaceful gay dads, basically. 

Jessica (laughs)- And you know, it warms my heart that it’s lead you to the position that you’re in today. It really, really does.

Fat Jew (laughs) – I appreciate that. Every day, I never know where I am going to wake up. And that’s the best part. There’s wine marketing and the rose stuff that takes a part of my day, and then I just try to get out there. I’ll probably eat a panani at some point throughout the day. My office is in the back of a nail salon in Queens, I rent out their waxing room. So, I go to the nail salon.

Jessica – I’m sure that they take great care of you.

Fat Jew – Yeah, they really do. My pubic designs are top notch. It’s a wonderful benefit. I have interns and we’re working on everything. Instagram brings a lot of interesting opportunity; people asking me to take them to prom, or a bunch of people will ask me to go on their yacht in France. I actually wrote about it in the book, I went on a yacht with a bunch of Scandinavians and they took me down to the deck and said that they wanted to show me something. So, I went down, and I thought it was going to be grenades, gold or something ridiculous, but, they had a live ostrich chillin’ in a room as their pat. They were like, “You cannot touch him. He is very dangerous. Do not go near him.” It was an ostrich, just chillin’ in a room on a yacht, and they named him Bradley Cooper. And I’m like, how do I get into these situations? It’s not about money, it’s about the fucking memories.

Jessica – It is, man. And you are really putting yourself out there. These days, there are so many pigeons out there who are afraid to even cross the street, and the things that you’re doing are really standout and bold, which can serve to influence an alternative culture. You only live once. Make some bad decisions. You’ll tell a damn good story. And you never know where that’ll get you. I mean, look at you. 

Fat Jew – Exactly.

Tell us more about your plus size modeling career. 

You know, there’s the female sorta plus size movement really gaining a ton of momentum which is really amazing because there is nothing better than full-figured women. And it’s really inspiring to watch. And then I thought, why aren’t there any men doing this? I really embrace my Shrek body, it’s probably the one really positive thing that I’ve ever done. You know, people hit me up and say thank you for being so comfortable with being in your body and being willing to be naked. You know, because I’ll show off my penis, which is basically a fleshy champagne cork, and you know, you’d think that I should really keep that under wraps. But I’ve gotten messages from people thanking me for being so proud of my mediocre body. And it’s really unintentional. I wasn’t trying to do it at all.

Jessica – Right, and you know, it’s society’s perception of mediocre. To each their own. If that’s the body that you enjoy being in, then that’s beautiful. And you know what? There are a lot of insecure individuals, both men and women, who struggle with that. And being a key factor in that with your platform and sharing that people should just embrace themselves and who they truly are is a beautiful thing.

Fat Jew – I completely agree. I also think that having a sick body for a man where you’ve got abs up to your neck and those V lines that you get when you’re in killer shape that go toward your dick, I think having those are super lame. It means that you don’t have any friends. You’re at the gym all of the time. Why aren’t you out doing stupid shit with your friends?

Jessica – Dude, you do have to spend a significant amount of time at the gym for that unless you’re a genetic God.

Fat Jew – Right. Unless you’re a NFL player who eats a ton of Mcdonald’s and still gets stronger, it means you’re at the gym a lot. And I kind of think that you’re a loser. You should be out getting shitty tattoos with your friends while drunk. Not waking up and not going to the gym. I’m not advocating anyone to be so fat that they have to be in a rascal scooter, although that does sound chill, or you know those railings that go up the stairs where you have to sit on the chair and it takes you up the railing?

Jessica – Yeah. Like a chair lift on a ski hill but in a public setting?

Fat Jew – Yeah. Those are fucking chill as hell, but don’t be so fat that you need any of that. Take care of yourself enough to ensure that you’re healthy, and go do fucking stupid shit with your friends and not at the gym with an acai bowl.”

If you were an animated character, who would you be and why?

I would probably be one of the girls from Sailor Moon, because they seem really chill and they are Japanese. And being a Japanese woman basically means you’re from the future. Keeping people on their fucking toes, you never know what to expect from me. I wrote a chapter on erotica. I swear to God I am a really talented erotic writer. My next book is going to be completely erotic fiction. There’s a whole explicit chapter of the book about me having a three way with Kim and Kanye and her glistening, Persian areolas.

Jessica – Ultimately, you have your category that Instagram placed you in as a public figure, but I mean; you don’t have to define yourself. You’re a human being just doing whatever you want to do.

Fat Jew – Exactly. About a month ago, I just drove cross country and reviewed the food at fifty different strip clubs. Just the food. And it’s coming out in a magazine. We’re hitting a little bit of social media burnout. Too many pictures of babies, sunsets, 5ks and you know, fucking acai bowls. Eventually, real life is going to get hot again. And as much as I love the internet and Instagram, which has been so fun and taking me to some really fucking weird places, real life is where the fuck it’s at. I’m not sitting in a basement finding funny pictures for the internet. I am literally driving cross country and reviewing the risotto at a strip club in Tampa Bay.

Last but certainly not least, what’s your motto or advice that you live by?

You can’t ever get an STD if you don’t go to the doctor and know that you have it. It’s 2020, honestly, anything is fucking possible. They used to say that twenty-five years ago, but that wasn’t true. Thirty years ago, you could only have this one job where you’re one fucking word, you know, you’re a doctor, a garbage man, or you worked at a bakery. But now, the world is basically ending. The polaroid ice caps are melting, Donald Trump is President, everything is crazy. As scary as that is, it really means that you have to remember that anything is genuinely fucking possible. If you want to start a fucking company that makes scarves for dogs, that shit now works. Everybody wants a fucking scarf for their dog.

Jessica – You’d bank. That would blow up with all of the basic bitches around the world.

Fat Jew – I agree. Exactly. Thirty years ago, if you started a scarf dog company, how would people find out about you? How would you of even known where people were that want scarves for their dogs? People weren’t even open-minded enough to think that their dog needed a scarf. Absolutely anything is possible.

The Fat Jew Social Links:

Instagram • Facebook

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Niiko x SWAE

DJ Duo, Niiko x SWAE, have used their time being home during quarantine to create content and continue to plug away in the studio. I caught up with the guys for a great chat about recent collaborations, loving and having fun on social media, keeping friendships strong whole pursuing your goals and more.

You guys have collaborated with a ton of artists over the past few years including Alicia Madison, Olaf Blackwood and more. Tell us what projects that you’re currently working on. 

We’ve been lucky to have been able to work with tons of amazing artists throughout our career! Since last September we have been recreating and really finding our true sound and are finally ready to put out the next wave of Niiko x SWAE releases. We have some super exciting collabs lined up with artists we’ve looked up to from the beginning as well as tons of unique singles that we’ve been working insanely hard on.

I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.

Honestly, quarantine has given us a ton of time to focus on putting out new content. Social media is so important nowadays and being home for months has really allowed us to show our true selves online. We spend a ton of time creating videos or giving updates on our lives when we are not in the studio working on music. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily looks into our lives.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you had recently and were able to overcome over time? 

The biggest challenge was finally committing to pursuing the sound that we are currently going after. We are going back to our house roots and now that we are committed to a sound that we love to produce and play, our brand has really begun to come together. We launched a full scale rebrand in 2019 and the last step was bringing the real Niiko x SWAE sound to the world. We are excited to announce that our first release of this new era will be coming in July.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

Our perception is that, like it or not, social media is probably the most important aspect of what we do. The sad reality is you can have the worst music but the best social media and be much more successful than someone with the other way around. We love using social media to show our true selves, doing our absolute best to be as real and open with our fans as possible. We love engaging with new people and connecting with the people who support us. We also do every aspect of social media ourselves which is both fun for us but also helps us be as personable and reachable as possible. 

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

Beside music, we love spending time with family and friends. Friends are a massive part of our lives and we are always surrounding ourselves with creative and interesting people. We love being active but also we both will tell you we are introverts, so this quarantine stuff isn’t really all that bad. Don’t get us wrong though we miss being on the road and performing more than anything.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with someone who has guided you through your journey as an artist, who would you choose and why?

Gotta give a shoutout here to the guy who has been with us since the beginning and believed in us when a lot of people doubted. Our day 1 and SWAE’s twin brother Kevin is the brains and basically the third member of NxS if there were to be one. Everything that happens behind the scenes is thanks to Kevin the legend. Without his constant encouragement and leadership we would not be anywhere near where we are today. It’s important to keep your family close and we are doing our best to not only create a strong team but a strong family. Shoutout to prodigy artists too, the newest members of our family and we are so lucky to be a part of theirs!

If anyone has yet to hear of Niiko & Swae, what catchphrase can turn them on to who you are? 

Catchphrase: We like to have fun here

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you to everyone who has been patiently waiting for this next wave of Niiko x SWAE. We promise all the new music and everything coming with it is going to be well worth the wait. We have never been so excited and confident our music and we hope you all are as fired up as we are for the future of Niiko x SWAE. 

Niiko x SWAE Social Links:

Website • Instagram • TikTok

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Dillon Francis

From his home in LA to the global scene, Dillon Francis is a DJ and human being who is always in demand around the globe yet never loses his infectious groove and electronic soul. On the brink of releasing freshly mixed grooves and already making big waves with a steady stream of high quality tunes, Dillon is steadily radiating good vibes and raising the bar while searching for versatile pearls to rock listeners world. I caught up with Dillon to chat about his journey as a musician, his outlandish new music video and more. 

You ran wild with your imagination in your music video for “Go Off”. What lead you to bringing this concept to life?

I was just working with the director “Brother Willis” and I really really liked his treatment idea! It reminded me of a plot line like the old music videos I used to love watching on MTV, so we ran with it!

Tell us all about your experience of joining forces with Flosstradamus.

Floss and I have been touring together for ages and we finally made a song together after knowing each other for almost 9 or 10 years, so it just felt right to throw this party together. 

Explain how you were first introduced to Electronic music. Musically speaking, who has had the greatest influence on your musical soundscapes? 

I first heard it from my good friend Eamon, and he played me Bloody Beetroots’ remix to “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica. They called their remix “Ill to Destroy”…It blew my mind and it set off there, and then the person whose soundscape made me want to start making music was Rusko.

Photo Credit: Thomas Falcone

If you could sit under the table and listen to two human beings have a conversation to draw inspiration, who would you choose and why?

Hmmmmm. I’d kinda want to be in the conversation with whoever the two people were, but I also can’t think of two people right now. 

What have been the most important evolutions in your own music making over the years? Have there been specific ideas or techniques which opened up new creative possibilities for you? 

It’s just always trying to do something that isn’t already being done and trying to push boundaries to inspire other people 

Rumor has it that you are making new music at the moment. Give us the scoop.

Working on a new LP right now! That’s all I can say. I’m working my ass off though trying to get it done ASAP. 

Have you been to or played at Berghain? If so, what was your experience like?

I’ve been to the Berghain 1 time! It was awesome. They were playing amazing techno music and they kept opening the blackout shades to hype up the crowd. It was definitely a sight to see. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

I love you all even if you hate me. 

Dillon Francis Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Website

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Set It Off

Tampa Band, Set It Off, have maximized their creative synergy to bring to life their own Pop and Electronic infused niche that is idiosyncratic and abounding with heart. Gearing up for the upcoming release of ‘MIDNIGHT’, I caught up with Lead Vocalist, Cody Carson, to discuss the paradoxes of facing rejection, the power within realizing your worth, being proactive and aware of anxiety triggers stemming from social media, choosing not to sacrifice your moral compass for success and more. 

Congrats on the upcoming release of ‘MIDNIGHT’. Tell us about the creative and recording process so far and what you have learned along the way.

Thank you so much! It is been an absolutely amazing process filled with growth, vulnerability, and experimentation. Once we had our start date to begin the record, it wasn’t an endless grind every day to try to produce what we consider to be our best songs yet. We came in with around 60 ideas and wrote as many songs as we could to end up tasking ourselves with narrowing it down to just 15. This will be our longest release yet, and we’re happy to say that we feel this is the best we’ve been.

What new techniques or skills did you acquire during the process of record ‘MIDNIGHT’?

For me personally, three skills that I honed in on the most were learning when to subtract rather than add, fighting for the best possible metaphor (that I have never heard before) whether it be one line or the concept of the song itself, and how to come up with better titles for the songs overall.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

Rejection within my career. It is one of the most difficult things I’ve had to personally face because in all honesty, we are talking about our dreams. For someone to make you feel like your dream doesn’t count or that you’re not wanted is a hard pill to swallow. That’s how I felt in November of 2017, right before we started creating this album due to being dropped by people we were working with in the past. But we needed that feeling, it’s good to feel low sometimes, because if we never did, we would never know exactly what we have to fight for. It gives you time to realize your own worth and refuel that fire to succeed.

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

I think like anything in the world it has it’s pros and cons. It is incredibly convenient that we can access any song we want to whenever we want to because of the digital world. It is also incredibly hard for musicians to sell the albums they create now due to the format of digital streaming. But then you factor in that anyone can access your music with incredible ease and you can’t really complain. Another example is that we are simultaneously the most connected and disconnected we have ever been. Random phone calls or knocks at the door used to be an exciting thing with a positive connotation and now it triggers anxiety. But we also have the ability to talk to whoever we want to whenever we want to on a device just bigger than our hand. Just like anything in life there are positive sides and there are negative sides. For me personally, I think we’re extremely lucky to have the technology that we do.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.

I take pride in the fact that each member of this band will never sacrifice their integrity or their moral compass to gain success. I pride myself in the fact that I will always be real with all of you, If I’m happy you will know it, if I am sad you will know it, and you will know my flaws. I don’t want there to be a separation between who we are supports us. I want Set It Off to be a home where people can go to cope with everything that they are going through or have been through.

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

Funny enough, but by feeding it more stimulus. I am a big believer in positive distractions. I deal with my problems, but if they are too hard to face in that moment, then I will just turn to video games, music, or movies. It is okay to take your brain away from stressful situations sometimes. Personally, video games are my escape from the real world.

You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.

There is something that can be learned from every artist no matter if they’re outside of your genre or a spitting image of yourself. You can learn what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t be doing. You should constantly be evaluating how you can better yourself. I’m happy with the fact I will never feel secure in my level of success because that means I will always feel that I have room to grow. Playing shows alongside people who have the same passion as you is the perfect place to learn.

If any of our readers have never been to Tampa, what are three of your favorite restaurants that you recommend to visit?

This may not be a restaurant, but if you go to Florida in general and don’t go to Publix and get a Publix sub from their deli then you’ve wasted your trip! You can customize whatever you want and they will do it with a smile. I miss it so much! Also, my favorite date spot in Tampa is definitely Ciro’s Speakeasy & Supper Club, it’s a real intimate vibe with craft cocktails and amazing food. Right up my alley!

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

Yes! We are lucky to have you. We are also very lucky that you’re so kind to each other and also some of the funniest people we’ve ever seen online. Thank you for being a part of our lives and for letting us be a part of yours. Here’s to the new era of Set It Off!

Set It Off Social Links:

Facebook• Website• Spotify

PRE-ORDER your copy of ‘MIDNIGHT’ HERE. Out on February 1st, 2019 via Fearless Records

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Tisoki

UK Electronic Producer, Tisoki, is currently in the midst of making waves on tours in the states as his prominence in the Electronic world continues to garner attention and respect worldwide. In celebration of the recent release of “See You Again”, I caught up with Tisoki for a chat about working with David Kuncio, utilizing moments of doubt as means of inspiration, his perception of social media and more.

Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “See You Again”. Tell us about your experience working with David Kuncio on the track.

Thank you! Working with David was a bit out of the ordinary to be honest. A vocal Producer/Writer that I work with pretty often, Sam Hanson, sent me this super rough demo from David and I knew I could make something dope with it. I finished up the instrumental with MineSweepa and the rest is history! 

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

I constantly feel like I’m honestly not good enough, and not because I want attention or I want empathy from others, it’s more so the fact that I always see space for improvement in pretty much anything I do. Sometimes it gets me really down and I kinda spiral but then on the flip side, there’s times where I let it inspire me and it makes me strive to be a better person. 

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

It’s so messed up, it boggles my mind how we all just zone out and stare at essentially a piece of glass connected to some invisible network.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I like to think I’m pretty good at figuring people out, I can normally tell if someone is putting on a front or not. 

If you could trade existences with your favorite cartoon character growing up, who would you choose and why? 

Probably Timmy Turner from Fairly Oddparents, that kid was crazy! 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Thank you guys for the constant support and I got tons more new music coming soon! 

Tisoki Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Website

 

Categories
Interviews

Interview: YONAS

Hip Hop Artist, YONAS, is riding the high from his #GoodDayChallenge viral momentum which continues to attract millions of users on Instagram and TikTok. Though YONAS spearheaded livestream culture through maximizing the features on his YouTube Channel prior to the IG Live quarantine boom, YONAS continues to weave a fresh culture of fun into his artistry which is both refreshing and liberating. I caught up with YONAS for a great discussion about the inspiration behind “Good Day”, resilience, balancing the business side of music, being mindful of healthy eating while on the road and more.

Congrats on the success of your “Good Day” challenge so far. Tell us about the message and intention that you intended to portray throughout the track and challenge. 

Thanks! I wrote “Good Day” in a time where I needed to remind myself to remain positive. I wrote it from the standpoint of “look at all these things happening in our daily lives, how can we not be happy!?” We had been sitting on the song and given how strange the times are right now, the team and I thought that it needed to surface now. We launched the challenge around it to further the messaging of positivity. Seeing how many people have taken part is nuts, hopefully we can keep the good vibes spreading!

As we are all in quarantine, how have you been occupying your day-to-day to remain grounded and driven in the eye of COVID?

I’ve been spending a lot of time with my daughter which is something I haven’t taken for granted. My work has me on the road a lot but Covid has slowed all of that down so it’s been a blessing in disguise. I’ve also been working on a ton of new demos as well as working out daily again.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

The idea of retiring from being a performing artist. When you do something because you love the artform but then it becomes a business, it’s tough to maintain your passion at its purest form. I love the business side and I’ve been fortunate to have made great money from music, but as an artist I’m in it to compete at the highest level artistically. To have the music I create exposed to the masses based on its quality. That’s really hard when you have artists like 6IX9INE, Lil whoever, etc. getting praise for average lyrics and average music all because they have extraordinary marketing dollars and shock factor gimmicks. What is the music industry really if not about the art? The percentage of artists that make it based on talent is so minuscule, it just gets discouraging at times. I don’t want to sound naive… I knew this was the industry from day one and I’ve been fighting the good fight for nearly 10 years independently. But it’s just challenging to continue fighting a machine with endless amounts of cheat codes. At the end of the day though, I’m resilient, and I found a way to set up new goals, continue to raise my profile, get back into that fighter’s mentality, and I’m now seeing doors open that can be career and life changing. Love for the arts always conquers, and always wins in the end.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

I love how interconnected we are. I wouldn’t have the career I do if it wasn’t for the digital world and how it allows for discovery of music and art from anywhere in the world. The culture of social media is constantly changing which always feels like you’re fighting an uphill battle. One week we’re pushing all of our fans to like my Facebook page, the next week you can’t even reach them without spending tons of ad dollars. Just a rapidly evolving space.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Pham

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I just take pride in my resilience. Life isn’t easy for anyone, and the only thing we’re guaranteed is that things are bound to go wrong at some point in life. It’s how you deal with it and how you push through it that defines you.

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

I try to eat well while I’m on the road. A lot of tours just stick to the fast food/gas station world, but if I eat like that, I feel horrible, and that’s reflected in my mood, sleeping, and performances. I try to make sure I’m well caffeinated and eating healthy while on tour. It does wonders for my physical, mental, and emotional health.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with your younger self, what would you say to him? 

Your life is just a moment in time. Don’t overthink it. Contribute all that you can to the world, turn over every stone, and do everything with the intention of pushing human civilization forward. Think forward. Build forward. Create forward. And when the history books are reviewed, you’ll be among those that did life the right way.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Appreciate all of you. We’ve taken this movement from a kid in the South Bronx to an artist who has toured the world. Lets keep it going!

PHOTO CREDIT: Ken Pham

YONAS Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • YouTube

Categories
Interviews

Interview: The Soul Rebels

New Orleans Brass Ensemble, The Soul Rebels, have a musical synergy that takes listeners to a place of tranquility throughout their latest full-length release, ‘Poetry In Motion’. I caught up with the guys to discuss feeling limitless within their artistic endeavors, the power of discipline, how the digital world has awakened new territories for creation, equality for women, culture and more.

Congrats on the release of ‘Poetry In Motion’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the album. 

We intended for this album to portray limitlessness. As artists and based on our musical experiences, we truly feel limitless and freedom around our music. As a band, we’ve been through a lot of experiences, emotions and journeys throughout this musical life, and we feel our artistry is without boundary. This album represents a freedom of genre and style, a fusion of sounds, influences and cultures. We truly feel that this album transcends. We’re very proud of ‘Poetry In Motion’. 

Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working in the music industry.

Having discipline and teamwork are qualities you learn quickly, and over time for a band comprised of eight band members like ours, we’ve learned how to have patience and support each other. Respecting every one’s voice and having a collaborative mind set has been powerful. We’ve grown to become very adaptable as people and as artists.  We’ve learned that we’re most successful when we create music that’s true to our hearts and souls. 

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

Musicians and artists go through stages of self doubt and suffer from that. But it’s part of the process, looking in the mirror and asking questions.  It’s something you overcome and learn from. But it’s always something that lives with you. We’re always questioning, it can be challenging and trying. 

What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

The digital world has given us a lot of incredible and profound tools; to obtain information, access, knowledge and it has connected us all. It’s allowed us to connect with the world and have access to infinite information.   At the same time, it’s disabled some people’s ability to be self reliant and in some sense, be original. Some times the least talented are the ones that surface. For artists, it’s important that WE always respect the process of becoming an artist, and we always start by looking within. It’s important that we don’t allow a digital mindset from  overpowering and compromising our self pursuit of accessing our deepest artistic feelings and looking within. We hope the digital world doesn’t dilute and cloud our artistry. The digital world has provided a stage and opportunity for meritocracy. Anyone and everyone can become famous on Soundcloud, YouTube and Instagram. We hope these platforms and the infinite access don’t turn our society and culture into accepting and embracing meritocracy, and allowing it to be the standard. At the same time, the digital world has allowed us to share our message to the world, to everyone only a click away. Social media as been a primary driver for marketing the band and who we are, where we are and what we’re doing and when. 

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.

We take pride in being hard working, humble and honest people. We have self respect, and we work very hard and try to think creatively and as innovators. We realize that we’re role models and figures within our community and culture, people look up to us. We care greatly about issues that involve mental health, equality for women and freedom of expression for all people. Issues surrounding the extreme police brutality epidemic and the unnecessary and unjust killings of people of color are profoundly important to us. We’re all in this life together, and we should all try to love each other a bit more. Civil rights, the environment, access to health insurance for all, access to education for all children, music education, human rights and providing kids with better support in our school systems are important issues to all eight of us. 

As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?

This is a great question. We try to stay healthy on the road. We are a group of eight musicians, we’re all close and we’re all here for each other. It can be hard to be away from home and our families while on tour. We try to take care of ourselves and make smart decisions, and have fun. The music lifts our souls and spirits. Music and performing for our fans all over the world is so healing. Performing gives us energy. 

You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.

We’ve performed all over the world with a wide range of artists in a wide range of countries. We work with artists spanning Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson, Nas to Metallica and everyone in between. We’ve toured and traveled through the slums of Brazil, villages in Haiti and in rural China, South Korea, Indonesia and all over Europe. A few of the most important pieces of wisdom we’ve collected, is to always be a good person and show respect, and to always let the soul lead. Having soul, passion, love and channeling it through our music has been a blessing. It’s shown us that we’re all connected because we can all feel music and share in having a soul. Soul transcends genre. Soul is more of a philosophy, mindset and approach than just a musical style, it’s an attitude and feeling. Soul is our mantra. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!

We hope you enjoy our new album! 

The Soul Rebels Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Website

Categories
Interviews

Interview: AK

Being young and motivated keeps you ahead of the curve in the music industry and AK is an example of what it means to give your artistry your all. In celebration of “30 Blunts” and over 300K views on the music video so far, I caught up with AK for a great chat about substance and the distractions that he feels comes with the world of entertainment, staying positive during the pandemic, using FaceTime and Zoom to stay in touch with friends and family and more.

Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “30 Blunts”. Tell us about the message and intention behind the track. 

30 Blunts is all about the temptations that we’re faced with regularly. With this song specifically I geared it more towards the temptations I face personally as a young artist in hip hop. The drugs, alcohol and all the distractions that come from this lifestyle. The message is that although I may have caught myself feeding into the distractions or at least considering giving in more than I ever had before, I still remembered how important it is for me to keep focused on what I know is important. So staying clear of the negative things and being more on top of keeping in tune with my priorities is what this song is about. I did it in the most fun while also serious way possible. And I had a blast during the creative process of the song and video that goes along with it.

I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.

I’ve done my best to stay positive about this whole pandemic. It’s important to acknowledge how devastating it has been for so many people and it’s horrible how hard some people’s lives have been impacted by it. But I’ve done my best to stay safe and focused on tapping into my creative side and it’s important for us all to use this time to do the same. Try viewing this negative situation as an opportunity to try things that you’ve yet to do but have always wanted to. Making more music and brainstorming ideas for what is coming next for me is what I’ve been doing to keep busy, I’ll go on walks on paths around my house to get fresh air or go on drives to let loose. But I think tapping even deeper into my creative side has helped me the most throughout this time so far.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

How am I going to stay sane if I can’t leave my house or see any of my friends or outside family? I’ve used FaceTime and Zoom more than ever in the last few months to stay connected with the people I want to see but can’t in person yet. It’s a blessing that we have those sorts of apps to use during this time. So I try my best to take advantage of it.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

It’s scary because of how fake it can be. Some people based their worth off what their social media accounts are and that’s when I feel it becomes a negative thing for people to have. But in a lot of ways social media is amazing. The jokes, the entertainment, being able to use apps to get into shape that give you exercises and food portions for dieting, being able to video chat family and friends that you can’t see because of the circumstances. Showcasing your talents and building a following for people to all connect to. There’s a lot of positives but that also comes with a lot on the other side of it. I feel like social media is one of the biggest blessings and one of the biggest curses to my generation.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I learned how to do a flip the other day which is pretty fire! I can do magic with a deck of cards. I’ve played sports all throughout growing up into highschool. I didn’t go to college, I chose to chase a dream rather than go that route. And I have an awesome, hardworking and supportive family.

If you could smoke a few and soak up some wisdom with anyone in the world, who would you choose and why?

JCole. He’s one of my biggest inspirations and the way he’s able to talk about real life things and help people through their difficult experiences even if they aren’t experiences he’s had personally. That has always been something I admired about him and his craft and I’d love to one day be able to just chop it up with him.

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

I love you dearly. Thanks for rocking with me like you do <3

AK Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Nikki Jumper

Toronto Musician, Nikki Jumper, has channeled her glimpse into the quarantine darkness into an opportunity to express herself through her artistry in her most candid way yet. In celebration of the release of “Apocalypse Love”, I caught up with Nikki for a great chat about the meaning behind the track, holistic health, finding confidence in oneself again, dreams of video chatting with Grimes and more. 

Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “Apocalypse Love”. Tell us the message that you intended to portray throughout this release. 

Thank you so much! You know, we wrote this song last summer – before this “Apocalypse” started to happen with the virus and quarantine. We went down a spiral of “what if the Apocalypse happens?” and created a little bit of a dystopian fantasy about what it would feel like to be in the Apocalypse. Even though it’s pretty dark, and we sing about things like an A.I take-over…. it’s truly a love song. It’s about finding the love and strength in yourself and those around you, even in the chaos. It’s about us vs. them, and the capability we have to fight – together.

I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.

Quarantine has been really eye opening. I’ve been able to really dig deep into what I want to create both now and when this is all over. I’ve been feeling all of the emotions – restless, sad, angry, isolated, lonely, optimistic, happy, excited, creative, and burnt-out. Feeling all of these emotions and diving into the shadow has been really helpful for me to see the light of it all. I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions. Why do I feel this way? Why am I sad? What am I excited about? What do I really want? How can I make the most out of this time? How can I turn this turmoil into gold? What gifts will come out of this suffering? How can I make my life better when this is over? So, what I’ve been doing is using these emotions as fuel for new music, to write new songs, to dive deeper into how I feel and to be able to tap into the parts of myself I’ve been suppressing while being “busy” in normal life. It’s not easy – it’s definitely easier to numb out than to face these feelings. But I really have been enjoying this reflective time to both create new, more authentic music and to also make plans for the future that will be more exciting than before!

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time? 

I definitely had a lot of fear and anxiety around my music and my body image. I was super worried I wasn’t good enough, and wasn’t fit enough. I had lost my confidence in myself the moment I began to listen to the opinions of others. Producers telling me that I can’t sing, I’m too fat, too old (in my early twenties!), I won’t “make it”, etc. It was a really traumatizing experience to have my dreams stripped away by people who were supposed to be helping me. I stopped singing and writing and I became super depressed. I was listening to all of the outside voices telling me I would fail. It was honestly the worst feeling in the world, to lose my power like that. Francesco saw how upset I was, how hurt I was, and how badly I wanted to be creative again. So he built me a music studio in my house. I started writing and recording again and working with my vocal coaches. I started to love and accept myself a little more every day. I decided I wouldn’t listen to anyone’s opinions and I became a ruthless curator of my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I decided to simply do what I love, make music for the sake of it, and not let anyone tell me what I could or couldn’t do. I got my power back. And it’s a choice I make every day. I’m not a victim. Now, I’m feeling much more confident in myself.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

I absolutely love technology. However, it’s much like money…it’s not good or bad, it only makes you more of who you are. The digital world empowers creativity, connection, and a positive impact on the world. But it also empowers narcissism, depression, and anxiety. It all depends on your filter on the world, and how you want to use it. For example, the digital world has allowed you to create an amazing digital magazine, and that’s so exciting and amazing to live in a time where you can do that! I think if we use social media to empower our thoughts, ideas, and our joy – it’s a great thing.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in. 

I made the conscious choice to not make my entire life about being a singer. Yes, I love music, I love singing, and I find pleasure in it every day. But, when it’s my only focus – I tend to miss out on life itself and what fuels creativity. Yes, I want to share my music with the world – but I don’t make my social media numbers my #1 objective. This defeats the point of art. For me, the truest and most joyest form of art is life itself. My top priority is to live a magical life. So I make sure to have my morning and evening rituals that I love. To be in nature, move my body, meditate, spend time with my puppy and my family and friends. I love travelling and experiencing different cultures. I also have projects in the holistic health and beauty realm which I’ll be sharing more with my audience this year!

If you could video-chat right now with one of your favorite artists of all time, who would you choose and why?

Oh my gosh! I’d love to get on a video call with Grimes and Elon Musk right now. I have so many questions! Like why did you name your kid X Æ A-12? Are you planning to raise him on Mars? Will your family use Neuralink? Are you going to make an album with 100% A.I.?! Honestly, such a fascinating couple and I’d love to pick their brains!

Are there any fun or new recipes that you’ve tried cooking up during quarantine?!

For the first month, I made pasta 2-3x a day! Mostly because it’s my ultimate comfort food. Also, I actually made replicas of In-N-Out and Big Mac Sauce! It was so delicious. Tomorrow, I’ll be baking some new cakes. 

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

No matter what you want to do in life – follow your desire and joy! Don’t listen to anyone who tells you you can’t. I honestly wish I had known that sooner! Dream bigger. Believe in yourself. Do what you can to experience love, magic, and beauty in everything you do!

Nikki Jumper Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • Twitter

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Olivia Lunny

Canadian Singer, Olivia Lunny, is no stranger to the limelight and continues to embody her highest self through her bold, feminine expression of power throughout her artistry. In celebration of the breakup anthem of quarantine, I caught up with Olivia for a great chat about “Think Of Me”, spending time in the kitchen over quarantine, the importance of taking time to tune into yourself and meditate and more.

Congrats on the recent release of your new single, “Think Of Me”. It seems like you have gone through some soul-searching that has led you to some clarity. Tell us the message that you intended to portray throughout this release.

Thank you! and I have indeed. I’m really excited that through writing this song, and the ones that will follow, I have really gotten a sense of my sound and identity as an artist. I’m grateful for this and can’t wait to share my experiences and narrate my story as I begin sharing it with the world.  “Think of Me” is a great introduction to my new sound as it showcases bits and pieces of what’s to come!

I know that the Coronavirus has been really impactful on all, yet tell us the lowdown on how you have been utilizing all of your time in quarantine.

I’ve been spending lots of time in the kitchen, I recently rediscovered my love for listening to vinyl again, I’ve also taken up stretching and meditation frequently. As chaotic and scary this time has been in the world, I think it’s been a necessary reset for everyone. I’ve also written a few songs in quarantine. It’s a very strange time in the world but i’m grateful for my health and to music for helping me navigate my way through it.

Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?

Great question. Being a future oriented person I tend to think very far ahead and this can lead me to asking myself the uncertain question of “what’s next..?”. Being forced to slow down and take time at home has taught me to live more in the present and trust that being fully present will result in being more productive and content! The future is unknown but embracing that as something that is exciting is the best thing one can do.

What is your perception of the digital world that we live in and social media culture?

A blessing and a curse.  I think it’s incredible we all have the ability to reach such varied audiences and connect with others through social media.  I think it’s also negative however, that everyone is constantly (whether they’re aware of it or not) comparing their lives to others. Something I’ve found amazing is creating my feed on instagram a positive space to come and be inspired through. I follow lots of health and wellness pages now, daily quote accounts etc, social media can be as wonderful or as horrific as you create it to be… I think it’s so important we all chose to use social media in a healthy and smart way.

No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.

I love movement, whether that’s running, stretching, taking intense workout classes or doing yoga. For me Mental wellness is just as, if not more, important than physical health. Fitness gives me clarity and makes me feel balanced mentally and physically.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with someone who has guided you through your journey as an artist, who would you choose and why?

My brother (who is now also my manager). Along with helping me navigate this crazy industry of music, he has always been someone I look to for inspiration. He approaches life with the “nothing is impossible” mindset and seeing him apply that and have success in his own career has really motivated me to pursue the things I want in life. He has also taught me to have an abundance mentality and my perspective and outlook on the world has been much more positive since understanding that.

Are there any fun or new recipes that you’ve tried cooking up during quarantine?!

I’ve been really into trying 4-5 ingredient healthy baking recipes! I’ve made lots of cookies, pancakes and muffins so far!

Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?

Stay safe, stay healthy, the world isn’t on hold it’s happening as we speak! Do something that makes you happy today and everyday.

Olivia Lunny Social Links:

Facebook • Instagram • YouTube Channel