Photographer: Connor Fornes March 22, 2023 | Charlotte, NC

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | March 25, 2023 Lily Williams chats with Hazze Media on her journey in music, moving from the UK to the US, getting signed to Overall/Atlantic Records, and in depth process about her debut project "How the Story Ends". How would you introduce yourself in one sentence? I'm Lily. I feel very British in who I am. I think my British roots despite living in California plays a huge part in who I am. My heart feels like it's in England. I read that you grew up outside London and came to study here. What was it like transitioning from England to America? Do you think the industry is different between the two places or even the type of audience? I came straight from the UK to come to Berkeley in Boston to go to college. That was definitely a big transition. Also, I hadn't done a lot of music. I did classical music in school, so I'd played a lot of orchestras, but I really wasn't in the songwriting artist world very much. Going to Boston was really my first exposure to the industry. It was definitely scary and big but also it was just very exciting. That's where I discovered my passion, and my desire to really pursue music as a career. Just growing up, I had no idea whether it was possible and whether I would do it or not. I just loved music in every form. I was really exposed to the industry once I moved to the US and then even more moving to LA. Do you like music culture in the US or would you rather later on in life go back to the UK to pursue music? I honestly love living here. California is just such a beautiful place to live, except for the rain, which we've been having for three months straight now. It reminds me too much of England. I feel very grateful to live here. I do love London as a city. It just trumps LA every time. Maybe in the future I could see myself moving back to London. No plans to move back yet, but in the future it's definitely something that could be on my mind. Who is your biggest inspiration? Are there any artists you would love to collaborate with? My dad loved The Beach Boys growing up, so I loved their songwriting. Then, I loved writers like Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, and Randy Newman. Honestly, Randy Newman is one of my biggest inspirations in terms of the way that I write. Right now, I'm listening to Layvey all the time. I'm just obsessed with everything she does. Collaborating with her would be so fun. Her artistry is beautiful, and I love what she creates. She's definitely someone that I look up to and inspired by. You were recently signed to Overall/Atlantic Records. How has that journey been? Did you expect that? Has it changed the way you create your music? Honestly, it really came out of the blue. I'd been out in LA for about a year and 10 months when that happened. Pursuing music is such an up and down journey. I have had meetings with labels and different A&Rs and publishers before. I learned you can't really expect anything. You just gotta go see what happens. When we had our first meetings, I really had no expectations. As things just kept moving forward, it just felt like the door opened at the perfect time. I'm just really grateful that I got that opportunity. I really couldn't have imagined that would've happened. I don't think it's changed the way I create. They're really great in giving me a lot of creative freedom. I pretty much had this whole project, “How the Story Ends”. When we signed, it was almost done. Moving into what's coming next, I'm excited to see how the relationship develops and figure out what project is coming next. Recently, I’ve been searching for new music to listen to. I listened to the whole project, How the Story Ends. I love all of it. It’s totally what I listen to. What was the creative process for this project? It was a really crazy process because when I began, I was still living in England. I had moved back to England because of COVID. I began really just writing songs and having no idea that some of those would end up on like this 10 song project. I think I kind of just wanted to release a small EP. As time went on, I hit a lot of obstacles. I moved out to LA, and things were moving really slowly with the EP. I was frustrated. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because in 2022, at the beginning of the year, one of my songs, “I Hope You Think of Me”, kind of had a moment on TikTok. That's what really brought my audience to me. That's what spiraled us into our first release. The project to me feels like it is one story. It's really cohesive but the process was not really well planned out. It was very like changing and moving. Honestly, I just felt like I had to really go with the flow. When we wrote “How the Story Ends”, the title track is really telling the whole project. It's just a kind of serendipity. It just came together perfectly. A lot of your music contains visual imagery. Is that something you think about consciously or does it come naturally? It comes very naturally to me. I know some artists write kind of metaphorically and very cryptically. I love that cause I love lyrics, so I'll just like listening and trying to decipher what they say or what the song could mean to me. I write very literally. It's almost like you're reading what I would've written down, literally describing my day in a journal or whatever. I really try to picture where I was and what was happening and just write it down exactly as it wasn't. That's just my style of writing. Speaking of visuals, I love the music video for “How the Story Ends”. What was your vision for the video or did you kind of have the director kind of come up with the concept? It was so fun. I always envisioned the video being back on the East coast because I started writing this project in London and then had so many feelings from living in Boston. I just wanted to go back to Boston to shoot it. One of the songs when “All the Love is Gone” has this line about the Orange Line, which is one of the trains in Boston...the line is “when all the loves gone, where does it go? Is it stuck on the orange line, staring blankly out the window?” This idea of me being on the orange line, staring out the window and writing in my journal and all these thoughts and moments kind of flashing by was kind of my idea for the video. We wanted there to be just this sense of you don't really know the timeline, you don't know when these scenes are happening and you don't really know how the story ends. At the last scene, we put in a plot twist where it kind of reveals that we don't know how the story ends. As the audience, you could decide how the story ends. We got to work with really great friends that we had from when we were living in Boston, Jamon and Gracie Burdick, and they brought in one of their friends. It was so fun. We were like going to all our favorite old spots and it just felt nostalgic. The songs feel like out of the movie…if you could be a part of any soundtrack, what kind of movie/tv show would you like to be a part of? I love cinematic music and films. Even in my own social media, I like to create little reels that show kind of like outline the song as like a little movie almost. I love that question. The first thing that popped to mind randomly was Little Women. I just love that movie so much. It's the British in me that love the period type of drama of old movies. I loved that movie. Like the TV shows, we've been watching “The Crown” recently. Very British of me, but I've been loving the cinematic type of music in that, so that would definitely wouldn't be like a song. I would have to write an orchestral piece. You share a lot of your music on social media, specifically TikTok. What are your thoughts on TikTok and the music industry? Did you hear about it being potentially banned? Do you think artists and creatives are going to find other platforms to share their work? It's kind of a love-hate relationship in some ways because it levels the playing field, which is so beautiful and everyone gets a chance to share their music with everyone. Everyone has equal opportunity to share. I could start posting my music with no following and no one really supporting me. Then months later, I have things going for me and really be able to progress my career. I think it's a beautiful place for the opportunity to really engage with those who listen to your music. The negative side is that it can be very pressurizing as an artist to feel like you constantly have to be creating content…especially when you're trying to create a beautiful piece of art or something that you're really proud of. It's kind of like you can get into this hamster wheel where you don't have time to really think and process. Fighting that anxiety is the negative side of TikTok, but I didn't know that it might be banned.I have been sensing that there's something new for the music industry probably coming at some point. I just feel like something new is coming. Do you have any goals you want to accomplish this year? Are you planning on performing live? I'm really trying to start performing more live. That's the big goal of mine. Initially when I moved out to LA, I was really focusing on songwriting for other people. I've really enjoyed the journey. I'm really just starting to play more shows, like local shows in LA. I had a release show down here in Orange County, which was really fun. Yeah, that would be a big goal maybe to open for someone this year. I'm really excited about what's coming next. I definitely have a few songs that I think I wanna release. Just excited to plan something new.

holly arend // March 21st 2023 Portland Maine - STATE THEATER

Interview by: Maegan Grendell | March 22, 2023 | Photos by: Matt Adam MG: Do you want to introduce yourself and the kind of music you do? ALLY: My name is Ally. I'm originally from New Jersey, and I came out here when I got signed about a year ago to Geffen and Interscope. I do, I'd say pop, R&B music. The producer I work with is extremely talented at taking old songs, chopping them up and sampling them, and then we make a whole new song out of it. You'll hear a lot of that on my upcoming EP, so that's cool. That's how I describe my sound. MG: How did you get into music? How'd you get into doing all of that to begin with? ALLY: I started on YouTube just posting covers. I got reached out to by my producer. And from there we started making music. I would fly out to LA every holiday that I got, because I was still in school. Somewhere along the way my manager found my YouTube videos as well, and then I connected with him and then we connected with a label and that's where I am now. MG: That's cool how YouTube can do so much. Is that kind of what you've always seen yourself doing or did you not really expect yourself to go into music? ALLY: I've always wanted to do this. There was never anything else for me. If I were to go to college, I have no idea what I would study. I just love music so much. MG: How old are you right now? ALLY: I'm 19. MG: That's crazy. I'm 20, and I've definitely seen the pros and cons of being so young in my field of work. Do you think that being 19 has kind of given you an advantage or a disadvantage where you are? ALLY: I think both. Because in this industry, I feel like a lot of artists, they start very young and like around my age. I feel like that's the norm. But also there are many times where there are a lot of people that I work with that are a lot older than me, like songwriters, producers, people on my team. So there are times where I do feel like, “oh, shoot, I don't really know what I'm talking about. Maybe I should shut up…”. But yeah, I think there are pros and cons. MG: What song do you think you're most proud of? ALLY: A lot of stuff that hasn't been released. But also I think my debut single Stranger Things is forever one of my proudest songs, just because I remember when we first made it. I had never felt that way about a song before and it just felt so ‘me’. For years I was trying to find a song that really captured what I was trying to do. And that just did… lyrically, conceptually, melody, beat, everything. I just, I love that song a lot. MG: What is your dream collab? ALLY: I really would love to work with SZA. That would be cool. For many reasons. Obviously, because she's so talented and I love her writing. I think she's so unique, nobody does it like her. She grew up in my town and she went to my school and I remember she came back when I was in freshman year. And she gave a speech and I was just so inspired by her speech. And so that would be like a full circle moment for sure. MG: Yeah, definitely. And I feel like your styles match well together. I think you guys would be really good on the song together. ALLY: Yeah, that would be so amazing. MG: Who's inspired you musically, and how do you think that's affected your style of music? ALLY: I did like a band when I was really young. I was the lead singer of a band and we sang a lot of Beatles songs, Carol King, Amy Winehouse. So a bunch of classic artists, I'd say. But then on the other hand I watched Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. I loveD Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. So a mix of both. MG: Where do you see music taking you in five years? What are some of your goals? ALLY: Hopefully just to steadily grow and be able to go on tour and meet people that like my music and just perform as much as I can around the world. MG: How long have you been signed now? ALLY: About a year. MG: Have you been able to do many live performances? ALLY: Yeah, I've done three showcases so far. And I have one coming up. We are trying to do them every other month. MG: What's your favorite thing about performing? ALLY: I don't want to sound cheesy, but it's like an escape. I get to go away… even though there's an audience right in front of my face, it feels like they're not really there. And I get to be a more confident version of myself and just feel the music. MG: Can you talk a little bit about your EP, what it’s about, and kind of just that whole process? ALLY: So it's gonna have the songs that I've already released so far. Stranger Things and Nostalgic. They were made like two years ago. I've been working with my producer on and off for years and years at this point. So, we're just now starting to release the music that we've built up. So there's songs from two years ago and songs from last week. Which I think is really cool because it captures the last two, three years of my life in a way. There's been a huge transition in those years with me graduating high school and like moving to LA and pursuing this career. Like it's been a journey. So I think it, you can see my growth on this ep. MG: That’s so cool, especially as your first EP. I feel like that's like just a good starting point for your music, it just basically encapsulates what you've been doing for the last couple years and how you got to the point you’re at now. When you go on tour in the future, where are some places you really hope to travel to? ALLY: France. I've been to Paris. It was amazing. New York, because that's where I basically grew up. I grew up in New Jersey, but I went to New York all the time. I think it'd be so cool to perform there. And honestly, just like a really nice venue in LA would be cool. MG: What's your favorite outfit that you've gotten to wear, in a video or on stage? ALLY: I did a performance type music video for one of my songs called You'll Never Notice, and the outfit was this oversized long men's blouse with a tie. But then I had these tie boots on and this long matrix jacket. I just felt really cool and powerful.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | March 15, 2023 | Photos by: Aravind Shanavaz Liz Lin chats with Hazze Media on her journey in acting, her first acting role, feature film Lonesome, current goals, and representation in film--specifically touching on feminism and diversity. To anyone who may not know you, how would you introduce yourself? How did you begin your journey in acting? Hi I’m Liz and I’m a dog lover and I switch hobbies more than I switch my outfits. My journey in acting began when I was a wee child and my parents pointed a camcorder at me and I just loved performing for it. Officially, my journey in acting began after I completed a completely unrelated uni degree in commerce and information systems. Outside of acting, what are some things you like to do? I love going to dance class - the styles I love are hip hop, choreography and Chinese jazz. I also love watching long YouTube videos - vlogs and people doing mundane things as well as video essays about social and political issues. What is one of your favorite projects while working in the film industry? One of my favourite projects is my most recent one - a short film called ‘Mansplaining’ which is currently in post production. I play a character called Jen who is this frustrated retail worker who struggles to find her own voice. I was able to speak in both English and Mandarin, which was super fun. And I worked with an adorable 7 year old who was a mini me. You were in an Australian queer feature film Lonesome that has been critically acclaimed internationally and nominated for a AACTA award in 2022. What was your role in the film? What is your favorite memory on set? Do you think this film accurately represented the queer community? Without giving too much away, I play a girl called Monica who is this hip, young Sydney-sider. She runs into Casey on his first day in Sydney and it’s pretty awkward. My favourite memory on set was literally just being able to be on set with people after being in the Covid lockdowns for so long. It was just so nice to be around people again and collaborate and be creative. The queer community is large and diverse and I don’t think any one film can represent the queer community as a whole. That being said, this film does an incredible job of representing queer hook up culture in Sydney and doesn’t shy away from some of the grittier realities, trauma, and unresolved feelings that queer people experience. Your first acting role was in a short film Fruity which was qualified for the Oscars and BAFTAs in 2022. What led you to the role? What was the storyline and your role in the film? How is acting for shorts different from feature films? Which one do you prefer? I read the script for the film and really gravitated towards it. I loved the fun and fresh nature of the storytelling of a queer coming of age story and the all female cast and female director behind it. The story is about a high school girl coming out of her shell and trying to get a girlfriend, but it gets a bit complicated after a house party. My role is called Emily and she is the target girlfriend, but there’s a mystery around her sexuality. Shorts are not much different than feature films other than it takes less time to shoot. I definitely don’t have a preference, I love both longer form features and short films. Being an Asian-Australian actress, what is your view on representation in the film industry? Do you think the industry is moving towards a more inclusive environment? Is there anything you want to change about the industry? At the time of this interview, Everything Everywhere All At Once just swept 7 Oscars yesterday. Michelle Yeoh is the first Asian actress in history to win Best Actress at the academy awards. This was a big win for the Asian community and a very emotional time. I dearly hope that with these wins the industry will move towards a more inclusive environment - it’s about time. I would love to see the industry include more asians in their storytelling - more than one Asian in a friend group or a workplace. More diverse Asian stories than just the immigrant family - queer asian stories, coming of age Asian stories and so on. Our screens need to reflect the demographics of our society. You are passionate about feminism and diversity on and off screens. In what ways do you advocate/represent off screens? I advocate hugely for intersectional feminism. Talking about issues that affect women of all different backgrounds and bringing awareness to that, whether that’s reading up about the experiences of women of colour and other marginalized women or supporting businesses that make ethical choices. As a woman of colour, I’m particularly interested in the intersectionality of race and gender and one of my favourite books that I recommend to everyone is by an Australian writer Ruby Hamad called ‘White Tears/Brown Scars’. Making sure that these conversations stay in the social discourse and aren’t only brought up once in a blue moon can lead to more awareness and representation. Tell us about working in “Tough Titties” show. In what ways did it explore the theme of feminism? This show was a collection of skits that were written to explore the absurdity of gender inequality. We had skits that explored the difficulty of getting a hysterectomy to skits that tapped into the gender roles of the 1950s housewife. The goal was to use satire and parody to engage audiences and explore issues that women face in society. What are your goals you would like to accomplish this year? Any upcoming projects you are excited about? This year, I’d really like to write a feature film. A big goal, but I’ve always loved writing and if I want to see more stories that represent me being told, I figured I should be the one to write it. I have an upcoming short film that I’m shooting soon, working with Josh Lavery and director Craig Boreham again that I’m excited about. For aspiring creatives wanting to work in the entertainment industry, what is one advice you would give? Do it. Just do it. Everything is worth exploring so if this is something you want, go for it.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | March 9, 2023 | Photos by: Robbie Wheeler and Brenton Giesey Thomas Day chats with Hazze Media on his journey in music, being a part of America's Got Talent, and navigating post relationship which led to his latest single "Vicious". He touches on the vision for the music video, advantages of using social media to share your music, and also advice for aspiring songwriters. How would you introduce yourself in one sentence? Hi, my name is Thomas Day and I'm an artist from Nashville, Tennessee that writes songs about what I go through every single day. How did you get started in music and who is your biggest inspiration? I started in music at a really young age, probably around three years old. I started playing piano when I was about four years old. I self-taught myself till now. Growing up, my parents had a huge influence on me too. They were always playing music around the house. My parents are musically talented, and it was always around me. It was just the thing I loved the most. A big inspiration for me from an early age is the Beatles. They were huge for me. I know that football was a big part of your life. How did you balance both aspects growing up? Football was really fun. I played a lot of sports growing up. It was always a really crazy experience because after soccer or hockey practice, I would go home and play piano. Then, I'd have school too. Naturally as a human being, I always want to have things to do. So honestly, even at a young age, I was really content doing those things…just the things I love most. You were talented in a lot of different areas. What made you make the decision to pursue just music full-time? What was one thing that kind of helped choose to stick to music full-time? I would say that I had made that decision already. It could seem like it was hard for me, but it really wasn't. At the end of the day, I love sports and football especially. I was getting recruited for that too. At the end of the day, I was just doing what I loved most. Music is what I've always been more naturally inclined to. I feel like I just loved sports in general…but music I always knew, if that was a possibility, then I would end up doing it. What led you to your journey on America's Got Talent and do you think your life would've been different if you didn't have that experience? I remember getting reached out to cause I was posting videos of me singing originals and covers on Instagram and TikTok. I got reached out to by somebody and you should audition for this show. I didn't really want to at the time. I actually was more focused on football, and my mom actually forced me to go to the audition. Originally, I didn't think I would get in to be honest. I went to the audition and actually sang “Break My Heart Again” by Finneas and “All of Me” by John Legend. Later on I got a call that I was gonna be on it. I don't think things would be that much different. That show boosted a good amount of people to support me and stuff. I feel like that also just pushed me. I loved performing that show and in front of people. It was very like a crazy experience. It's crazy that it was like two years ago now. No, I think nothing would've changed though. I would've kept going with music. Like you said, you share a lot of your music on social media, specifically TikTok. What are your thoughts on TikTok and the music industry? How do you maintain the balance of creating music and creating content to post? Just like your wellbeing and work? I actually think it's crazy because the music industry has changed in the past five years. The fact that I started posting videos of me singing in my room, and now I'm signed to a major label is the craziest thing. I guarantee you if I told an artist that 10 years ago, they'd be so confused. I think that TikTok is really cool. It's really good, but you have to have fun with it. I still don't view it as work. I don't want it to become a task, and it's not a task at all. I literally love making videos. I also love seeing people react to them, especially with my original songs. It's amazing for artists right now cause I could scroll on TikTok for like 20 minutes and like 20 new artists. I mean it's like infinite. For sure, I feel like it unlocks the door of where you're kind of located. I guess before you would have to be in some major city to connect with all these people, right? No, a hundred percent. That's a good point. You can connect to so many different parts of the world. It's completely global. Moving on to your latest release “Vicious”. What was your creative process when writing this song? Funny story. I was actually talking to my ex the night I started writing “Vicious”. I was in my room, and for some reason I made the horrible decision to talk to my ex-girlfriend who I was still secretly a little bit in love with at the time…but we hadn't talked in forever. Before I knew it, we had been talking for four hours. She was like, “oh, I love you and I miss you.” Then by the end she told me that she was talking to somebody. That threw me off. So I quickly hung up and started writing like the beginning of “Vicious”. It was the first verse, and then later on I finished it with my good buddy Steve. It was just a really good session. I just loved it so much. It came naturally. It's probably not my favorite song. I saw the music video, it was really good. I love the lighting and the editing was really good. Honestly like the part, the couch kinda breaks and the beat drops or whatever. Yeah, it's like the room is breaking down. What was your vision for the video or did you kind of have the director kind of come up with the concept? We kind of talked about it both. My buddy Brenton directed a bunch of the creative stuff. He's done my other music videos besides one. We talked about it. I feel like I just wanted to be aggressive cause naturally the song feels very energetic. We talked about the walls falling down. I'm in a perfect room and then it starts breaking and then by the end of it I'm like breaking stuff. I've always wanted to do one of those breaking rooms. It was a fun experience. What advice do you give to new songwriters? How would you recommend them getting their art heard? With the songwriting process, I feel like my biggest thing for me is you just have to trust yourself with what you're doing. When I'm writing alone, I feel like as humans, as individuals, we are like the biggest critics. When I'm sitting there I'm like, “Is this good?” Then, sometimes I'll get uninspired. I'll just stop writing. Then, I'll go back to things that I have one day and I'll be like, “Oh my gosh, it's so good.” With writing songs, the best you will write will always come from a personal experience. You just have to really dig deep to what you're feeling because if you're not, it's really not gonna really hit you as hard. That's what I believe. I'm obsessed with songwriting now, and it's like I get more obsessed with it every day. I’ve also gotten into photography more. I have ADHD, that's why I'm bouncing off. With releasing stuff you just post on TikTok as much as you can…honestly, other apps now are creating their platforms that have more exposure now. It's easier to get exposed to more viewers now because TikTok is such a crazy platform. A lot of other people are trying to boost it so everybody can see it. It's very helpful. Just posting and making sure that it's authentic for who you are and what you wanna say, I feel. The one thing that defines all artists from other ones, “If you don't have something to say, you have nothing to write. But if you say it differently, that's the best. If you have something to say, I guarantee you it's gonna be good.” What is one thing you hope your listeners or your fans take away from your music? One thing that my fans take away from my music is I want them to interpret the song for themselves in the best way. That's very healing. It depends on the song. With “Vicious”, I like it when I'm just screaming in the car and going crazy with my friends. There's a lot of ways to find the best way to heal when listening. That's all I'm trying to do with my music is to heal other people. Music can change lives. Listen when you're ready. When can fans expect new music? Are you possibly thinking of a tour? I don't know if I'm allowed to say anything about tours. I will say that new music is coming soon. I have a crazy song that's coming out even crazier than “Vicious”. Lots of high energy, lots of emotions. I actually am doing a show in LA on March 14th. Dates for that will be posted soon. A lot of new music is gonna be coming this year. There's stuff about tour, but I won't say anything. Awesome, I'm so excited. Those are all the questions! If you ever do a show in Nashville, my sister and I will be there, front row! Oh yeah, you are coming! We can get photos. I will look into your eyes and sing to you! Haha, yes! Thank you so much for giving your time! Let's go. Thank you so much for having me! I love talking about all that stuff. See ya!

HOLLY AREND 03/06/23

Photographer: Stephanie Siau February 24, 2023 | The Basement East in Nashville, TN The second night of the Drowning Tour made its pit stop in Nashville, TN with a sold-out attendance. Fans lined up way before doors even opened, excited for what the night was going to hold. Charlieonafriday first took the stage, getting fans excited for Jessie’s set. He sang a variety of his popular TikTok songs to a few unreleased ones; intimate ones and ones that got that crowd wild. As soon as he finished his set, “Jessie” chants erupted the room. Eager fans so ready for the 18- year old star to take the stage. Jessie began her set with “I Would’ve”, starting the night off with some fan favorites from her most recent mixtape “Drowning”. The entire night consisted of fans screaming every lyric back to her. At times, the TikTok sensation would let fans against the barricade sing some lyrics in the mic, specifically at the beginning of her song “While You’re At It”. Fans could tell it meant the entire world to Jessie that her music resonated with so many young adults. Before she sang “What Happened to Ryan”, she made sure to tell her fans that her whole heart behind her show was to create community. She also reminded her fans to check in with their friends, and the importance of kindness in the crazy world we live in today. She shared about watching loved ones struggle with mental health and addiction. She created a welcoming space for everyone, making sure her fans were seen and heard, and loved. In addition to singing released music, she shared a handful of unreleased ones like “Hollow”, “Wildfire”, “Mean It”, “Blame Love” and more. Jessie is on the road till April 7th, closing out her tour in her hometown. If you are lucky enough to have snagged a ticket to one of her show dates, get ready to witness incredible raw and genuine talent like none other. To say this is just the beginning is an understatement.

Holly Arend // February 24th 2023 With Huddy's new era and single "Slowly Healing" being released today, I asked fans what about Huddy and what he has done for them. In honor of slowly healing, this is the fan's thank you to Huddy. Special thanks to all the fans who made this possible! Tell us a bit about how you got into Huddy? I’ve known about Chase for a while but didn’t start to truly stan until he started releasing music / being more open about fashion & his style. I’m a huge lover of everything fashion & music, so him being involved in both truly made me love him. his music is insane. I love his voice & his lyrics etc. his style is super influential in my personal style as well. - @N0Vanity on twitter I had discovered Huddy around the year 2020 on tiktok. I had followed his journey in the hype house. - @girlfriendera on twitter I first got into Huddy after seeing him in Downfalls High. He instantly caught my eye and I thought his acting was phenomenal. I then watched his 21st Century Vampire music video when it came out and fell in love. His voice, his talent…I was hooked and wanted to follow his journey and learn more about him - @artbyleigh on tik tok What’s your favorite thing about the fandom? What I like most about the fandom is how united they are and the projects they do for encourage Chase. - @LIvshossler on twitter My favorite thing is how we're like detectives when he teases a new song or album and we're all putting the pieces together like a puzzle to figure out when its gonna be released and it's fun because alot of us make jokes along the way at the same time. - @feverdreamhuddy on twitter My favorite thing about the fandom is the diversity. When I met Huddy in September at an Oliver Tree show, there were people from all ages and walks of life. - @tayturn11 on twitter What do you think the new era of Huddy is bringing to fans? Definitely I think the new era of Huddy is going to bring a lot of new fans, I'm pretty excited about that! I love texting with other Huddy's fans. - @sadoldladysong on twitter Chase is definitely on a new path. He’s had a challenging year but I think he will be shedding his tiktok image for good and be known as an artist. He’s expanding his music into a soft sound this era and I know he’s gonna kill it too. - @Kkook_Nochu on twitter For sure, his new era will teach the fans how to move on with your life after some sad events, and he will teach how to apply the “you can do it in whatever way you want” concept. - @itshvddy on twitter What has kept you in the fandom? I love the whole vibe of the fandom; supporting chase, being excited for new releases, trying to figure out clues, it’s always so fun! I’ll be supporting Huddy forever that’s for sure! - @lyla19xx on twitter What has kept me in the fandom is knowing that Chase is there for me in a spiritual way, the advice he gives us keeps me going, the way he shares news with us. He makes us feel special to him and important, he's always been kind and never let's us down. He always brings a good surprise to us. I've also connected with many of his fans and make good friends out of them. - @Huddysgirl2022 on instagram What keeps me here is the way I feel within the fandom, each one has really earned a little piece of me, they are like my second home and I really love our "brotherhood" - @smileforchase on twitter What is your favorite thing about Huddy? My favourite thing about huddy is that everything he does is for passion and that he's always so kind to his fans, mainly him being himself and him being happy is my favourite bit and also seeing him grow his music career and become the start that he is - @huddyer on tik tok My fav thing about huddy is his passion for music and his love for his fans - @tvdhossler on twitter I really like that he has shown that he is growing both personally and professionally, I like that he shows the desire to improve himself and above all I love that no matter how famous he is, he does not lose his essence, he is always that kind boy and tender. -@smileforchase on twitter What does Huddy mean to you? To me, Huddy means connection. I’ve had the amazing opportunities to connect with him, his music, his fans, and even his family at times. He does a really good job of making his fans feel like they’re never alone.- @tayturn11 on twitter To me huddy means being a 'hug for each other' because when 1 or more of us are struggling I always see others in the fandom checking on them and trying to make them feel better about whatevers bothering them.- @feverdreamhuddy on twitter Huddy means to me literally everything. His music and social media content save me in every existing way - @sadoldladysong on twitter He is me. I feel like we’re almost the same person as I see myself in him. It’s crazy to feel like u have such a strong connection to someone even if u don’t meet in person.- @Kkook_Nochu on twitter Chase means so much to me, I’m happy to support him as a person and as an artist. i hope he’s going to achieve all of his goals. - @itshvddy on twitter Huddy means so much to me! He’s an amazing inspiration and role model for me and for millions! He’s such a sweetheart and the love he has for his fans is so special. I’m so grateful for him and the impact he’s had on my life. <3 - @lyla19xx on twitter God I don't know how to explain it... i think huddy came to me through networks and since that day he has somehow saved me from many situations, maybe it reads like something crazy or cliché but i'm really very happy to starting to be part of the huddygang because his music for me is like a refuge, he is really special and admirable. -@smileforchase on twitter Huddy has always been an escape to me. Seeing someone chasing their dreams has inspired me to do more with my own life as well. His music has also helped me through some very hard times, and I know whenever I’m not feeling the best his music will always put me in a better mood. - @girlfriendera on twitter Huddy means so much to me. he’s been there when times got dark and helped me find light again - @tvdhossler on twitter HUDDY means more to me then anything he has helped me through hard times like depression and other stuff he is my angel HUDDY is like my personal therapy I listen to his music to help me - @huddyfanaccount on instagram Huddy means to me someone very special in my life someone who helped me love life and learn to love myself and work on it. He means the world to me and without him I would be going through depression and id be not here without him. He showed me that you can be committed to something for a really long time. Huddy means to me someone who helped me and didn't even know. I hope i get to meet him oneday and tell him myself. - @Huddysgirl2022 on Instagram Chase means a lot to me, he is a very important person to me and he is the person who saved me in every possible way -@LIvshossler on twitter Huddy means so much to me. He has brought me so much happiness and joy in the 2 years I have supported him. Him and his music inspires me and puts a smile on my face everyday. There’s not a day that goes by that he hasn’t brought me some sort of happiness. I’m so beyond grateful for him. -@artbyleigh on twitter Thank you to all the Huddy fans who participated in this! Stream "Slowly Healing" by Huddy now on all streaming services.

Holly Arend // February 23rd Eva is best known for her acclaimed role on ABC's award-winning medical drama "Grey's Anatomy” where her performance as “Sofia Sloane-Torres” continues to garner praise from fans all over the world. She is now starring in Apple TV+’s new show, Dear Edward, which helms from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood creator, Jason Katims. I sat down with Eva to discuss the show and her history with acting. Hi! Thanks for your time; tell us a bit about who you are! Hi my name is Eva Ariel Binder! I am a native Californian born in Glendale CA. I’ve been acting since I was seven, but actually, you could say I’ve been acting professionally since I was born. My parents own a post production facility and my dad brought one of his mics and gear into the delivery room and recorded my birth. He then proceeded to create demon voices with my first sounds and placed them into some of the biggest horror genre films and tv shows that are on TV today. In addition to acting, I also have been playing piano since I was 5 and dancing since I could walk. As much as I love acting, I also would love to direct, produce, and write, I’ve actually already written multiple screen plays. I also love doing stunts and I did all of my own stunts in Dear Edward! The stunts we set up for the Derby tryout were my favorite. One more thing: I love crystals! I love everything about crystals. My favorite crystal is the flower amethyst Agate. How has acting since a young age shaped the way you act in movies and Television now? Acting from a young age has definitely shaped the way I act in film and television. When I was little and doing scenes from Grey’s Anatomy, there was this one scene where I had to be sad because I missed my friends and my mom that was in New York. I realized that when I would rehearse my scenes at home it was really really easy for me to access any deep emotions, but then when I got to set it was so much harder to get to those deep dark places because someone is doing your makeup or touching your hair or pulling you around, and telling you where to go. I did get to the emotional place I wanted but it wasn’t as easy to do on set as it was in the privacy of my own home. So I began exploring different techniques to ensure that the emotions I want to experience truthfully I could whenever and wherever I wanted. I realized I needed to have tools in my actor's toolbox so that if the scene wasn’t working for me on its own for whatever reason I could use emotional preparation, substitution, or I could could use experiences from my own life, music, and I even went and researched videos all over the internet for ones that provoke the emotions that I desired. I remember I did this film called “You are My Home” on Netflix, and I had to cry multiple times a day every single day for like a month. So I had to make sure I came really prepared with so many options that could help me achieve the real emotions that I wanted to experience in the scenes. Photo: Ben Cope What's the best piece of advice you have been given by a fellow actor or director? Some of the best advice I ever received from someone was to always come to set prepared. Do your homework and then let it all go and just connect with the other actor or actors in the scene with you. TRUST yourself and your prep work so you can be organic and spontaneous in the moment. Go on the ride and let whatever happens in that moment happen. I find the unknown exciting. I can’t wait to see what the other actors bring because it's always different from what I imagined in my head. What are three words you would use to describe you new series "Dear Edward" ? From my Character Shay’s journey in Dear Edward the three words I would use to describe the show are friendship, loyalty, and adventure. Best piece of advice you can give to aspiring actors? Some advice that was given to me and I will always pass on is that “Not always the best actor gets the job.” There are so many reasons that we will never know as to why you do or you don’t book a job. If you love what you do you must believe in yourself, be authentic to yourself, and never give up. Photo: Ben Cope How has it been working with Friday Night Lights and Parenthood creator, Jason Katims. ? Jason is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. He has been one of my favorite people to ever work with. I am a huge fan!!!! Working with Jason was so incredible. Everyday on set he had this calm and grounded vibe that made me feel very free and comfortable for every scene. I wasn’t afraid to take a risk and just go for it. I was so nervous the first day. I arrived on set for Dear Edward, but Jason approached me with such a calm and nurturing presence that I felt so confident and safe to just create Shay. I will never forget the day we filmed in Time Square and Colin and I finished our first scene together as Shay and Edward and Jason and Jeni Mulien came up to Colin and I and said, “That’s it! That’s our show! We have finally seen Shay and Edward!”: They were beaming and that opened up my heart and gave me the ability to feel safe and excited for the rest of filming season one. Describe your journey in acting so far and your goals. So far in my career I have done a lot of dramas which I love love love. Drama is my wheelhouse. It’s like my comfort zone, but I have also done quite a bit of animation. I’m currently the voice of Baby Alex in Super Giant Robot Brothers on Netflix, which has been so much fun to record. Baby Alex is such a crazy little genius, and this role was a full transformation for me. I can’t explain it, you'll just have to check it out!! I am also in another animation series called “Stillwater” that is currently streaming on Apple TV plus, where I play the role of Addy. It’s such a beautiful show and I think all kids and even adults can learn a lot about loving kindness and dealing with emotions from the show. The funny thing is that when I was little I always wanted to do horror movies. Now that I have expanded into doing more drama I really really want to do drama/action movies. I am DYING to be in a Russo Brothers action film. I wanna be like Ana de Armas. A fierce dramatic actress that can kick some serious booty. She slays. Also Marvel. I wanna be a superhero. “Silk” is on my list!!! How did your time working on Grey's anatomy help you in learning your acting style? Working with such incredible actresses like Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Capshaw, and Sara Ramirez was… well it was a long time ago lol, but still I remember having conversation with them at the cast chairs, then going to set and doing scenes with them, and they would be so natural and grounded and literally the same person. I was so inspired by that and I remember wanting to be like them. I also remember I was sitting in a holding area in Meredith Grey's house waiting for my next scene and on the other side of the wall Sara was filming the scene where she finds out that she lost custody of me ( Sofia) and breaks down and totally loses it, and I literally started to shake, and I got tears in my eyes because hearing her and feeling her affected me so much. She really went through it and it was just so deep, and so real. So basically my acting style now is grounded, truthful, and seamless from me into my character.(At least that is what I strive for.) Which was initially inspired by working with those incredible actors on Grey's Anatomy. Thank you Eva for sitting down with us! Make sure to check out her Apple TV+’s new show, Dear Edward!

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | February 22, 2023 | Photos by: Andrew Raszevski Lin Yin chats with Hazze Media on her journey in acting, representation in the film industry, being apart of her new upcoming film THE PORTABLE DOOR, goals for this year, and advice for aspiring creatives. To anyone who may not know you, how would you introduce yourself? How did you begin your journey in acting? Hi, I’m Lin Yin. I’d love nothing more than to throw away all my devices and go live in a forest. I can’t though because I’m an actor, which happened by complete accident. I didn’t even know growing up that acting was a job (available to me at least) so it was never an option. What I did know however, was I needed to live a life that felt like my own, so after rage quitting my very secure, very comfortable job in the Australian government I embarked on a wild journey that eventually led me into the mountains of rural China pretending I knew how to build drones for the most expensive film to ever be shot in the country. To my dismay, I discovered I was most interested in what the actors were doing. Once I realised I had no chance of shaking that off I answered the call and here I am. Outside of acting, what are some things you like to do? Anything that involves nature. I love swimming in rivers and oceans, and I picked up surfing during lockdown which completely changed the game. I’m still very bad at it though, and I’ve had a couple crazy injuries that even people who have surfed for decades can’t believe. One involved me falling from a small wave onto my foam board, and now I have a dent (yes an actual DENT) in my thigh. FYI foam boards are for beginners and are supposed to be hard to get injured on. I also am obsessed with food, but I don’t know any Asian girls that aren't. You boast a long list of accomplishments as an actor - any that you’re particularly proud of ? I’m very proud that in only a few short years I’m appearing in lead roles in projects that stream internationally, a dream of any actor but one that unfortunately only 1% of actors really ever achieve. I’m on TV and in movie theaters in so many countries including the US, Australia, UK, China, Singapore, and Belgium. This is thanks to the success and wide range of projects I’ve been involved with , particularly with FLUNK, which resonated so much with young people that it’s now in its fifth season and airing in the US and Europe. Another accomplishment is that, also In FLUNK I pioneered the character, a queer Asian girl, the first of her kind in an Australian-backed international streaming show, which was humbling and moving to me. There’s nothing better than bringing the stories of previously silenced communities to the forefront. You’re considered the #1 Chinese-Australian actress working today – to what do you attribute that achievement?” My work ethic and unrelenting belief (or delusion) that I will work in this industry. Speaking fluent Mandarin also helps! You have worked on the same project as screen icon Sam Neil and multi-Oscar winning Christoph Waltz, that’s quite an accomplishment that a very small number of Australian actors can claim. How does that feel?” Incredible! Being part of the PORTABLE DOOR was insane, as Christoph Waltz has been one of my favourite actors since he scared the shit out of me as the predator in INGLORIOUS BASTARDS and when I heard we were going to be in the same movie I nearly lost my mind. Sam Neil has been around forever and has worked across so many different genres, his career is super inspiring to a fellow Australian/New Zealander like myself (I’ll just lump those two countries into the one for now). Tell us about your role in the upcoming film The Portable Door. What has been your favorite memory about this project? Without revealing too much, I play Delia Bryson, a woman who is subject to the magic of ‘coincidences,’ orchestrated by two interns, Sophie and Paul and their instructors. Their actions change the fate of the innocent bystanders who they perform their magic on (me)! In one scene my co-star falls into a fountain. They wanted to get this shot multiple times from a hundred angles (of course), so he had to fall in, get completely wet, get his outfit fixed by a team of assistants, and repeat, for every single shot. I just had to stand and pull him out, so it was very fun for me. I saw him bring a huge duffel bag to set and he told me it was filled with spare underwear. Haha! You have played the lead role “Freya” in the web series Flunk. How is the acting different for a web series versus a film? Definitely the speed at which it moves. Big-budget film crews are enormous, and everyone has a very specific job. We’re all under the pump but it can take ages to set up each shot, and then shoot from so many angles. I don’t know how anyone organises such a huge undertaking, it’s a miracle films get made at all. With a web-series you’re flying through the scenes, especially if its a hand-held camera. The teams are usually smaller so everyone does everything, and you can get a crazy amount done quickly. Ric and Mel, the director and producer of Flunk have done such an amazing job its so exciting to see their project and team grow to the huge success it is today. Being an Asian-Australian actress, what is your view on representation in the film industry? Do you think the industry is moving towards a more inclusive environment? Is there anything you want to change about the industry? I’ll speak specifically about Asian representation: How many shows can you name with more than one Asian character, who aren’t related? How many Asian characters on TV and film can you name with depth and an important story arc? It is slowly getting better. For years, even when Asians were on screen they were either the butt of the joke (usually the men) or highly sexualised (the women). This sadly results in real-world implications of how Asian people are treated. But like everyone else, we can be many things - the dropout, the gangster, the jock, the diva, the superhero, the nerd - we are everything, everywhere all at once. It’s essential we get to be shown that way, otherwise the world will continue to stereotype us, and even worse - we start to limit how we see ourselves. The industry still has a long way to go. I see efforts for inclusivity but the fact is most lead actors are still white, while supporting characters are POC. This is resulting in a weird outcome where POC actors who are ready for lead roles aren’t getting them, and white actors who are trying to break in with supporting roles can’t get those. I would love to see true colourblind casting, and for more people of different races, gender identifications, and physical abilities to be in the creative and executive rooms - they will drive the change in casting. What are your goals you would like to accomplish this year? Continuing to do good work in film and TV, spend time with my family, and maintain top physical and mental health. I’m gaining crazy momentum in an industry that just a few years ago I didn’t even know I could be part of, and nothing is more exciting than discovering your dream and chasing it with everything you’ve got. So many people in this world don’t have this opportunity due to where they’re born, their economic circumstances, or accessibility to the arts. My dad was a man of many talents but was unable to manifest those talents in his lifetime due to civil unrest in his country, trauma, displacement and economic hardship. Everything I do now is for him. For aspiring creatives who are POC wanting to work in the entertainment industry, what is one advice you would give? Trust me, I understand the sacrifices and economic hardships artists suffer in this industry for no promise of security or ‘success,’ particularly if you come from a working-class or POC background. If it’s costing you your sanity and wellbeing, please stop and make yourself the priority. There is nothing more important than your health and happiness, not any job, career, or industry. But if you have the means to continue, please don’t give up!! The industry needs you, young people need you to look up to, your voice and stories and point of view need to be heard. If you quit, that’s one less of us in the industry. We can all win if we stick together and help one another.

Recorded & Interviewed: 10/25 Interviewed By: Ezzah Rafique Article By: Camila Camacho Nayah Damasen- Actor, Singer, and Dancer- uncovers how to balance the buzzing entertainment industry life and teen life alike. PHOTO CREDIT: DEIDHRA FAHEY PHOTOGRAPHY Being an interdisciplinary and multifaceted artist, Nayah Damasen is dedicated to singing, acting, and dancing. She sat down with Hazze Media to reveal how she remains successful in all of these areas of performance in a high-pressure industry, while handling all the struggles of the average seventeen-year-old. Juggling performance art and youth life isn’t something Nayah is new to. She has been in the arts since she was only three years old, and performing in general since she was five. In addition to having variety within the types of entertainment she does, she also is constantly working to remain well rounded and breaking boundaries even in the roles she plays, such as by playing Kimmie Park in Grey’s Anatomy and Draculara in Monster High The Movie. Being a singer first, acting was simply for fun in the beginning, but then she jumped into the world of musical theater and that changed everything. This is what got her into the mindset of expanding her horizons through different characters. Her managers further pushed this passion when she was ten by guiding her in the direction of acting classes, programs, and auditions. “Let me tell you, it’s not something that came easily at first”, Nayah explains as she tells us about her road to success in the entertainment industry. “I eventually just kept going and going, kept going to auditions and kept going to classes, and now I’m here!”. This triple threat and rising star hasn’t just had to work through challenges in learning new fields in performance as previously mentioned, but also simply balancing life as a teenager and grounding skills. “Sometimes I need to remind myself what keeps me balanced, because this industry is very very hard, especially since I’m only seventeen, and you know, going through teen problems”. Nayah really finds significance beyond her career growth, and ensures she never gets lost in this buzzing industry and continues to nourish aspects of her life that are required for interpersonal growth and personal growth alike. It can be really easy to get lost in one’s career and in one's ambitions, yet Nayah actively takes steps even throughout her busiest projects to prevent burn-out, which many young and working people are fighting today due to growing societal pressures. “I think what really keeps me balanced is my loved ones, my friends, and family. Before and after every project, I always go visit my family in the Bay Area, because I feel like every time I visit them, I always come back a different person, and more grounded, and just reminding myself where I came from, and why I really love singing to begin with. So, I think they definitely can take that reward, because they are the ones that keep me balanced.” In addition to managing her personal life and acting life, Nayah Damasen is also flourishing as a singer as a member of Good NEWZ Girls. Even through Covid-19 related challenges, such as being unable to properly meet in person shortly after forming as a group throughout times of crises in the pandemic. Despite these roadblocks, the group formed a connection instantaneously, even virtually, as Nayah says as soon as she met the rest of the members on zoom she knew these were “her girls”. Their first time meeting in person was actually to perform at the Kids’ Choice Awards! From holiday tunes perfect for every winter season, to music featured in film such as “Spark” and “We are Monster High”, Nayah Damasen’s intricate and multi-layered passions shine through in her music.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | February 18, 2022 To anyone who may not know you, can please tell me a little bit about yourself? What is your role in the Hangout Festival? R: My name is Reeves Price. I'm the Vice President of AEG Presents Festivals. I am the lead producer for the show. I oversee everything a little bit from initial planning on budgeting to what we want the fan experience to be like, and those sorts of things…oversee the project as a whole. There's quite a few other people that do many important things like booking, marketing, production, operations, etc. What makes Hangout more special than other festivals, do you think? R: Certainly, the fact that it's on a beach makes it special. There aren't many festivals that take place in the sand like that. I think the beach really provides unique opportunities, whether it's the kind of beach clubs along the waterline and the access to the water…assuming the weather is cooperating. All of the palm trees, the aesthetic and decor around the festival site that makes you feel like you're at a beach, but also at a music festival. That's the first thing that comes to mind in terms of what makes it unique. Before and after the festival, all of your friends kind of get together, either staying in a condo or staying in a hotel room. It really feels like a beach trip and a festival combined. Gulf Shores is a beautiful town. It's beautiful white sand and clean water. What is your favorite memory of the festival? R: Ooh, my favorite memory of the festival. I met my wife at Hangout Festival. How about that? That's awesome! How long have you been a part of Hangout? R: I went as a fan to the very first one, which was in 2010, I believe. Since then, I've been to pretty much every single one…but I didn't start working directly until 2019. How many months of preparation comes before the festival each year? R: It's a year round project. It never really stops. Immediately after the festival, there's a lot of work to do. Reviewing how things were done, settling the show, and taking surveys of what people thought…what we need to improve or do differently…those types of things. How do we put on a better show for the fans, our artists, crew, and staff? Also, just making sure of all the tools that they needed to be successful at their job. It really is a year round project. These scale of productions take a lot of work. It's important to start early, get ahead of things, and give yourself an ample amount of time for planning. I believe you all have an internship program that helps with the preparation and the festival. How did the program come to be? Why do you recommend college students to apply and participate? R: It came to be by wanting to provide opportunities for people to get some experience in the festival world. If you're a college student, you can go to the website. There's a form you can fill and reach out. You get to work on different fun projects and support different departments within the festival. This year's lineup is insane with some of the headliners being SZA, Lil Nas, The Kid Laroi, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. How is the lineup determined usually? R: There's a lot of different factors. We see who all comes to Hangout. Then, we try to deliver something that we think really fits the core community around the festival. At the same time, we also bring in something different and give some sort of surprise moments. It comes down to artist availability and timeliness, in terms of making them offers and trying to confirm them on the show. Sometimes you talk to an artist, and they're like, “Oh, we're not available that timeframe.” You go in a different direction and then all of a sudden they become available later. It’s an ongoing negotiation to put together something everybody feels excited about! If an artist can’t make it and they were supposed to come, what do you do in that situation? Do you all have backup artists? R: We don't typically have backup artists set up. If we know far enough out that somebody's not gonna be able to make it, then we'll typically try to book somebody in their place. Sometimes something happens on the day of, that's too close to fill the gap. What is one aspect of the festival that is new or different this year? R: Right next to the festival site, we've rented out a whole hotel and calling it the Hangout House. It's gonna be like an all-inclusive package where people can get their hotel room, ticket, and all-in-one stay at the festival. You have your own entrance into the festival from the hotel. I think that's gonna be a pretty cool experience for folks that do that. That's something new that we're excited about! What is the future of this festival? R: The future is continuing to book a diverse, fun lineup. We like having The Chili Peppers next to somebody like SZA. It's different, but it's all great music. Continuing to try to book an interesting lineup that gets people excited, creating some new experiences on the beach, and some more of the destination all-inclusive packages, like the Hangout House. What are your top three essentials you would consider having in your Hangout packing list? R: The obvious ones are sunglasses, flip flops, and a hat cause you're on the beach and it's sunny. Maybe some other ideas could be a couple super soaker water guns. You couldn't bring them into the festival, but you could have a water gun battle with your friends on the beach before you go to the festival or after you get home. No water balloons though because that's bad for the environment. One of those UV sun shirts that keep you cool and from getting burned. Great, thank you so much for sitting down to chat with me! I’m super hyped and hope everyone gets more excited for the festival! Learn More the Hangout Experience Purchase Tickets & Packages Here Other General Info

Photographer: Jackilyn Cooper February 7, 2023 | Cleveland, Ohio

Photographer: Stephanie Siau February 11, 2023 | Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, TN Stephen Sanchez, a singer-songwriter originally from Northern California, took over the Brooklyn Bowl, adding another show to his “sold out” list. As a current resident of Nashville, you could tell this meant the entire world to him. Stephen shared how he remembered he would attend shows here and to sell it out was mind-blowing to him. He began his set with “Hey Girl”, having everyone in the room in awe and singing along with him. His electric energy on stage excited the crowd and created an atmosphere like none other. As he played his 15-song set, he included songs that had not been released yet, engaged with the crowd, and showcased his quirky personality. At one point, Stephen used different voice impersonations to communicate with his fans/tell a story, and even then, an audience member said “That kid belongs on that stage. His talent is extraordinary”. As the night came to a close, he did a few acoustic songs creating an intimate moment between him and the fans. He opened up about how he had received vocal surgery this past fall, halting his opportunity to go on tour with Noah Kahn. Stephen expressed how he was scared and didn’t know if this tour would even sell. To his surprise not only is this tour close to selling out, but his fall tour is also rapidly doing the same. The night ended with everyone screaming to “Until I Found You”, a now popular TikTok song! Nashville Setlist: Hey girl Hold her while you can Kayla Lady by the sea Please don’t go home yet Mountain peaks See the light I want you The pool Evangeline Only girl Stay Wait for you Until I found you Amy and Mary