Photographer: Caitlin Woods January 31, 2023 | Atlanta, GA

Photographer: Creighton Stevenson February 10, 2023 | New York City, NY

written by Holly Arend // Feb 9th, 2023 photos via Dylan Gue Hi! Thanks for your time; tell us a bit about who you are! I'm Zoe. I'm 19. I am a nepo baby pop star, which is my thing. I feel like right now, even though I know nepotism isn't really valid for my case, I feel like it's funny, and I would love to be a pop star. I guess I'm working on music right now. Not I guess, but I am working on music. I'm probably the most creative person that I've met in my whole life. I think I was destined to be in the industry just because my brain processes things, and yeah, I don't think anyone else's brain really functions the way that mine does, whether it's musically or like marketing-wise. I just think that the industry needs someone young. You just teased a new single, DTF. What is the backstory behind the song? So this is a little of a crazy thing, but DTF kind of just came to me when I worked with my amazing producer. His name is Kerim. He is fantastic. We were in the studio, and this was my first time working in an actual studio. I'd worked with friends who'd been producers, but anyone can say they produce. And I was so nervous. And he got in there, and instead of making me sing, he got in there and turned up the autotune because he can't sing. He just produces. And he starts singing these random words and putting in a random melody to this crazy beat that we had just spent 2 hours making. And he starts going, like, better. And then I went, I wish he'd turn me on, but his best friend gets me wetter, and the whole room starts laughing. And I'm like, wait, that's a solid line. And DTF was kind of just like, if you know me, you know that I am pretty much down for anything toxic. I don't really care for commitment, but obviously, when it comes with, like, no strings attached, straight-up sex, and it's relatable, it's like, oh shit. Like, what rhymes with better and forever? And I was like, DTF. It's like, does it rhyme? Not really. Are we going to make it work? Absolutely. So the back story was just kind of like it wasn't intentional for it to be that. But, like, when I started writing about it, it just like all made so much sense, you know. It was like, what can I? What can I make this about? And how can I fit the word, the phrase DTF into making sense about a song about this girl who is down for anything because she wants the attention or doesn't want the complications of being in a relationship but wants the toxic side? What did the creative process look like for this single? Yeah. So I met with my producer again and was like, this is my first time meeting him. Actually, the studio I work at, or where I have been doing my work at, is owned by my cousin, which is such a blessing for me because studios in New York City are not cheap. Like, people actually charge, like, 500 an hour in some places. And for a studio with this nice of a setup, I'm very lucky that I have this outlet again. I was working with a lot of producers who weren't legit and were just like, yeah, I produce. Yeah, I can make music for you. Okay. But I definitely have found who I work well with and who makes me creative. And I've only made one song with Kerim, but I can see myself, like, writing lyrics in my free time and coming up with things and texting him, like, things for a verse. Because right now, our second verse isn't done. Because I haven't really had time to sit down with him and be like, yo, what should we put here? And actually, after the first four sessions of the song, he just would throw me in the booth, and I would just sing. And I want to listen to something and produce something and make something that makes me feel like this. So I would say creative process-wise, literally threw me in there and was like, do your thing. Keep this in the back of your mind. Know how they did this and know what came out of that. And don't be afraid to fuck up. Because every take was not perfect. There were probably 50 takes of almost every word or every phrase that I redid because I didn't like the vowel I sing it on or whatever. So, yeah, the creative process is different for, I think, every project. But for this one specifically, it was just like a tried and hope for the best because that's really what it was. What would you want fans to take away from DTF? I think it's more like women should feel able to please their sexual desires without having to feel like they're easy for doing so, is what I mean. There's nothing wrong with wanting to please yourself and doing that with someone else, especially if they're bad for you, if you're in it for your own benefit. And it's like, I know he did me wrong, but I'm DTF forever. It's like, well, you know you shouldn't be there, but you're there anyways. And it's kind of like, it's okay to slip up, girl, yeah, you know you shouldn't be there, but sometimes it's too good, and it happens. And I think obviously, as much as it is like nonsense, kind of like, girl, fuck it. Okay. I was making sure it has a deeper meaning. It's kind of like, well, yeah, he's done me wrong, and I've cried multiple days in a row for him, but I don't care. I'm going to go back to him, and I'm going to enjoy myself. That's really what it is. And it's also kind of like knowing you deserve better, but who cares? It's kind of like it's a late-night call. It's a booty call. And it's like, you're the one doing the booty call. It's like, Boy, don't hit my line. Just pull up on me. It's like; I don't care. Pull up on me whenever. It doesn't matter. I kind of think it's like, take it as you will it's. Take it however you want to take it and apply it to yourself. Because listen, it could have ten different meanings. If you listen to it six different times, you'd be like, Shit. It could kind of mean this. But it's also like a nonsense horny song. So it could mean ten different things. And I kind of wanted that. I kind of wanted the lyric. Q. If you were to describe DTF to someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe it? Horny Mess. I think this song is like the song is like I said, it's a nonsensey, sexy, late-night text song. And, like, if you've never heard DTF before, you should listen because it's relatable. It's relatable, and it's real and apparent. And something women struggle with, I would say, is like having a sex drive. Like, you are allowed to have a sex drive. You are allowed to want to have sex. It's normal, and nobody talks about it. And when a girl makes like a 34, 35, they're like, Ariana Grande thinks she's a sex icon. She is. She is and should be. And let's put that into music. Women should be able to listen to a feel-good sex song and be able to be like, shit. I feel this. This is okay. That I feel this. I wanted it to be like a sexy, nonsense song about sex. And that's what it is. Q. You stated you yourself are a fan and want to give back to that community as an artist; how are you going to achieve this? I think the number one thing that I have experienced is my favorite artists and celebrities just like being like; they just don't care. They just don't care. I have met so many of my favorite people, and they give nothing. How could you, as an artist, not want to speak to the people that pay your bills and that are buying your tour tickets? I think my number one thing; if I had a following that actually would like because I have a following if I had a following of people that would actually want to come see me live, I would make sure to take every picture full body selfie with flash, without flash, with every single person. I don't care what time my flight is. Book another one. I don't care. It bothers me so much as a fan myself, I was at a concert on Monday night, and these people walked past us going to their car. We were outside, it was like 20 degrees in New York City, and they went straight to their car. And I was like, dude, we've been here since ten in the morning outside of the venue to see you, and you're just going to get in your car? Are you kidding? Like, that kills me. I think giving back to the community is like the easiest part of being an artist. And I get it. There are mental health issues and anxiety that come with it. And if you need to prioritize yourself as an artist, you do so. But to me, that just doesn't correlate. I don't understand. I see artists say, like, for my mental health, there's going to be no VIP. Meeting somebody in the past few weeks of sending my music to my friends and having them tell me, like, dude, this is dope. If I could hear that from someone who I've never met before, and not just like my friend who's saying it because they're my friend, that would genuinely be one of the best feelings in the world. So I cannot imagine how an artist can get tired of that to the point where they don't want to meet every person standing outside a venue after the show. That is just mind-blowing to me. I think the question is, how are you going to achieve this? By making sure that every person is happy. And as much as that's obviously impossible, do your best. I don't think they've realized because a lot of these things are people who were never fans. They're fans of people, but they were never camping outside venues, and they never had to pay for meat and greet. They don't know what it's like. So why do we expect them to give that back to us? But I think the industry needs someone who understands what it's like to wait in the cold and not eat for 10 hours or not drink because you can't pee in a venue. Whereas they're backstage eating their favorite food and having a list of needs that they send to the venue. And it's like, dude; your fans are out here not eating because they're afraid to go to the bathroom and lose their spot in line. And you're going to make them wait 40 minutes after the show just to get in your car. They didn't eat for 12 hours. Send them food. Send them food while they're waiting in line. Or go get them Starbucks. You can afford it. It's just like putting the fans first before the way you feel. I think as an artist is one of the most important things. It's just so mind-blowing to me that artists will take away VIP when they know that's something that fans look forward to. And I wouldn't even charge for that. I think that's ridiculous. And if I did, it would be so close to the original price because I just think, like, paid meet-and-greets are so bizarre. I don't know. I just would love to give back by prioritizing the people that are there for me over myself. I just think as I said, mental health is completely different. But give back to those people that got you where you are in order to say that all the time. You pay my bills. They literally pay your bills. They pay your bills. You have water. Think about it. And it's very frustrating to me. It's very frustrating to me. So I would love to give back to the community who has actually camped outside, and as myself, who has, I would give back by just making sure that everyone is meeting whoever they want to meet and getting out of it whatever they want. And I just think concerts are different for everyone. But even as an artist, making sure you're interacting with fans makes someone's day. Like getting a like on Twitter, it takes 2 seconds. You can like three tweets at once. You can go like this and like three tweets. It takes 2 seconds. Go on Twitter for ten minutes a day and go talk to your fans. It's the bare minimum. Q. Speaking about fans, how has it been interacting with them on social media? Okay, I have had a following for literally as long as I can remember. I don't know what it is that I was so fantastic at keeping up the numbers since I was like eleven. I've literally had a fan account since I was like ten, whether it be for, like, I actually had an account when I was nine on Instagram, which is probably illegal. I was running a little less pet shop Instagram account that to this day has 10,000 followers. I was eleven. So I had fans. I had people who were on standby for a post. So then, when I kind of navigated to Twitter and I became friends with all of these famous people, and I had people interact with me because of who I associated with, I had people making fan accounts for me. So I've had fans for as long as I can remember. I've had literal accounts with usernames with my name in them. So interacting with fans, I would say, hasn't been something that I've done recently. But also, like, everywhere I go to a concert because people know me for being at these concerts and for being close to these artists, people are like, are you Zoe? Everywhere I go, it's like, are you Zoe? I follow you on Twitter. It's like literally everywhere I go, it's like, yo, I know who you are. But I think as far as music, when I posted the snippet on Instagram, and the engagement went crazy. And I'm talking crazy. For me, I don't think 1200 likes is a lot. It's a lot of people that are like a venue full in New York. But I don't think that's like that many people compared to a lot of other engagement that artists are getting. But I think as someone who averages like 600, having 1000 people be so excited about my music is so heartwarming to me. And the past two weeks have made me feel better about my work and actually confident, and I don't need the validation. But seeing people so excited has just been so amazing for me. So I think as far as the term fan, I don't know that I have many, but I know that there are people who are dying to listen. And I think that when it gets released, people will come in and go from there. But that is just as far as that goes. The engagement that I've gotten the past two weeks about the song is so phenomenal, and I'm very excited to see how people react to it when it's out. Q. Describe your journey in music so far and your goals. So my journey in music literally started when I was like four. My parents were throwing me in some random theater company stuff. I was going to day camp and I would always want to watch the music stuff and always singing along to the Disney princess stuff, just like, I loved Ariel when I was younger, and my dad and I are very close and love ocean things. So I love The Little Mermaid, and that was just like my favorite thing. And I would. Since I lived in New York, I was seeing Broadway shows every other week. When I was younger, it was like, oh, like, you want to go see The Lion King? Let's go. So I was always seeing Broadway shows. I saw The Little Mermaid. I saw every Disney show that could possibly have been on Broadway I have seen. So I was very conditioned to musical theater. And then when I got to elementary school, I did Annie; I did The Aristocrats, I was in that. And then middle school, I was in musical theater throughout all of middle school and all of high school, always getting a lead. I was just very conditioned to be in the spotlight in music, so I was definitely trained. . And I wouldn't say I'm so much in love with doing musical theater. I think when there's a show that I really like, my favorite show I've ever done is A Chorus Line. I played Sheila. She is like the most me character ever. I really resonate with pop music, but not so much with musical theater. It's definitely something I do for fun, something that I learned a lot from. But I definitely don't see myself, like, goal-wise, in musical theater. I see myself more of, like, in the pop area, the R and B area, kind of just like around that. In the future, I would hope. Goal-wise, obviously, I didn't know that I was even going to make a song up until three months ago, so that kind of just happened for me, which is a whole story to get him to another time. But, yeah, it just kind of, like, happened. So I don't know that my goals are crazy. I think I would love to put out another song and hope that this one does well. The marketing major in me wants this to perform well on TikTok to hopefully grasp that audience. Who's going to hear this and be like, oh, this is a great transition moment, or like, back camera, flash video, this is going to be perfect for this moment. So, goal-wise, I would love for it to perform well on TikTok. I have a lot of networking experience, and I have a lot of great friends with platforms, so I do foresee the song performing well there at least grabbing new listeners. The goal for this song is definitely to get a feel for what people like, and if they like this, I'll work on something that's a little bit similar. If not, maybe people are like, yo, we want to hear something like this. And I just want to hear what they want, and I'll cook it up with Kerim in the studio and go from there. Q. What is this new era of Zoe bringing to fans? That's a good question. The new era? I wouldn't say it's a new era. I would say, I mean, I guess the song is a new era. Maybe it's just the pop star era. It's like, I know I've always had a following, and now I'm finally doing something with it and about it. So maybe it's like yeah, this is the pop star era, but I think the song won't like surprise anyone lyrically. Maybe the melody will because people know that I can sing. So music is not new for my followers, but it's like, oh shit, she's really she's really doing something with this, is definitely a little bit new. I think, era-wise, it's just like a mature era. It's like different than like, oh, like she's not like waiting to hear a song live, like in a venue, she's the one singing the song this time. And I feel like that hopefully will inspire a lot of people to want to do the same thing as me, because I know there's a ton of fans who would love to put out music who sing, who just like don't do it, Because they just like don't know where to start, they don't know who to work with. They just like are very unsure of what direction to go in, and also, studios are expensive. So it's a lot deeper than like that, but hopefully, the new pop star quote unquote era, you know, brings a lot of inspiration to people. I think I'm very lucky that I was handed this space to have a music outlet with my cousin and with the studio because again, that's not something every new artist can afford. A lot of people start with garage band type of music because they have no funds and no outlet. And I'm very lucky that I was literally handed that. That's not something that everyone gets. I'm trying to take it with a grain of salt and be very thankful and taking it and running with it because nobody gets this opportunity for no reason. Q. Is there anything you can tell us about the upcoming music you're working on? Yes. I, the other day, had like a musical... What's the word? I just had a moment where I was like, yo, I thought of this word, this phrase if you will, and I was like, let's write a song called Emotional Bender. And that is definitely an idea I want to build off, maybe not so much of a title, but more of like the emotions behind that. I think that's like something I would love to put out is, kind of like just talking more about something like emotional, but also like maybe it could be anger as an emotion. Like, just definitely getting into more emotions rather than just sex. And I feel like having a song about sex is great when you're talking about sex, but nobody really takes into like the feeling that comes from that. And I feel like I can't even say that I'm not working on Emotional Bender because I'm writing it. You know, that's what's happening. Yeah, that's hopefully what's coming next. And more to follow depending on how people react to that song and to DTF and people like the ideas that I have and who I work with, and we'll see from there because honestly, I don't really know what I'm doing after that. Maybe I'll run out of ideas, or maybe I'll come up with 10 different new songs, so we will see. Love that.

Interview + Photos by: Jenny Salazar | Styled by: Sage Edgerson | January 30, 2023 J: How long have you been creating music? Kr3wcial: I originally started writing raps in middle school, and by 11th grade, I was recording myself and a lot of my friends. By senior year I began recording, producing, and engineering myself. So I’d say about 18+ years. J: What's been your favorite event to perform at? Kr3wcial: It was actually this year, in the middle of my first tour, when I was able to perform original songs at BUKU festival in New Orleans with my GlblWrmng family. Being the first performer on stage that day and having the chance to rock the same stage that Tyler the Creator and Baby Keem would later perform on is a moment I’ll cherish forever. J: What have you gained the most from your experience with GlblWrmng (New Orleans-based Music Business Collective)? Kr3wcial: Working with GlblWrmng has allowed me the opportunity to not only grow and network for myself, but alongside a group of like-minded creators who I can learn and exchange ideas with. At times we as artists tend to isolate ourselves to focus and make sure we are staying on course in our individual journeys, so it’s nice to have what feels more like a family around to help motivate and inspire each other as we progress in our careers. J: How are you trying to impact the industry with your voice? Kr3wcial: Music can at times, be a conversation between the artist that creates the work and the listeners who receive it. I tend to enjoy intellectually driven conversations that allow my mind to travel to new lanes of thought. I feel that as artists, we have [a] responsibility that includes sharing the truths that may be felt more often than heard in this human living experience. I want my voice and overall association to the industry to help fight for the spread of truth, love, and light. J: What’s your favorite type of fashion style you like to perform in? Kr3wcial: I’d say my favorite fashion style is wherever the lanes of being comfortable and having functionality meet. Then I usually try to add my own personality to what I’m wearing. I really enjoy my dickie overalls! They are easy to stay active on stage in, and I always feel like it’s time to go to work when I have them on. At the moment I have 5 pairs and 4 of them are customized with either pant leg tailoring or hand painting. J: What inspires you to create music? Kr3wcial: Life. Living and being present in moments is how we expand who we are. Whether it’s the sound of the world waking up when I go to the park in the morning, or the feeling of the bass pulsating through the floor when one of my friends is DJing during a night out. It could be the feeling of loss when a loved one transitions to the other side, or the first time you contemplate telling someone you love them. This life is a journey of lows and highs, and in it, I find [it] important to use music to preserve the moments we are gifted with. J: If you could collaborate with any musician who has passed away, who would it be and why? Kr3wcial: Probably Bob Marley. Around 2011 I started listening to his music religiously, and it happened to be the same time that I was moving into my first apartment. The space to myself gave me the room to grow and find peace. The messages in his music definitely inspired me to create in the pursuit of love and freedom. Could You Be Loved?, No Woman No Cry, and Three Little Birds are my favorites. J: What was your first memorable interaction with music? Kr3wcial: My first memorable interaction with music was watching my dad, Tony Gullage. [He'd] create and rehearse in our house with his bandmates and other historic New Orleans Jazz Musicians, including Irma Thomas, Davell Crawford, and Henry Butler. It was always cool [to watch] from the side and help if I could (which usually included packing up his bass guitar and speaker cords). J: Do you play any instruments? If so, what? If not, what are some you’d love to learn? Kr3wcial: I was raised around live music and musicians, so growing up, I was never far from an instrument. I picked up a guitar and attempted to learn, but it never stuck. I had piano class in middle school, but I never gave it much attention. My favorite thing to do was always write and perform my raps. Now that I’ve had the ability to do so, I’ve been working on improving my artistry in every way I can. That being said I’ve been teaching myself piano for the past few months, and I love it. Honestly, this is some of the most fun I’ve had learning in a long time. I know about two songs right now, and I plan on playing during one of my own sets in the future! J: What are three top qualities/characteristics that you believe helped you get where you are in your career? Kr3wcial: I often believe that my big three, as far as top qualities and characteristics, that helped me to progress and navigate my way through the music and entertainment industry are my perspective, self discipline and my creativity. [Seeing] alternative viewpoints of the world around me has allowed my music to paint a different picture for people than what may be considered the social norm. Although [the] perspective is extremely important the amount of self-discipline required to maintain consistency in business is also vital to growth and expansion. Being on time for meetings, shows, sessions, etc., can provide more opportunities to present [themselves]. So much can be attributed to simply showing up and being present. Lastly, my creativity is one of my most favorable tools that help construct what I consider a healthy model for success. Finding places to create doors where there used to be walls is how we, as artist can become limitless in our creative experience. Often I’ve realized the only thing holding us back is ourselves, but once we remove the blocks in our creative pathways, energy flows non-stop, and we get to the destination for us.

Interview by: Ezzah Rafique Article by: Camila Camacho Taking a sibling bond to another level, actresses and stars in film and media such as The Baby-Sitters Club and The Upshaws, Anais and Mirabelle Lee go beyond sharing similar features; they even share the same passions and aspirations. The sisters sat down with Hazze to unravel how this came to be. To simplify their adventure into the acting industry, it was all really just a happy accident! Despite their initial goals being primarily dance related, the sisters started off as models after being approached by a photographer, opening doors to opportunities that were unimaginable for them at the time. After moving through the hesitation of entering the modeling industry due to fears of scams, everything else fell into place. They quickly adapted to the commercial scene following working with agencies. Anais shares another crucial adaptation is supporting each other emotionally, even in a competitive field where at times they may even compete directly against each other. Anias says, “If Mirabelle books something that I auditioned for, I’m always going to be happy for her”. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t dedicated to landing their desired roles. Anais explains, “for auditions we don’t help each other, because we copy each other a lot”. This prevents their unintentional similarities from intervening with their success when it comes time for potential bookings. The sisters really have the perfect balance and a really respectful and understanding system. Mirabelle explains, “Honestly, for the most part, we don’t even tell each other when we have a call back or anything, and we literally find out through a family dinner.” Everything happens naturally, and there is not any envious tension between them. In fact, rather than experiencing maliciousness or jealousy, they lightheartedly illuminate what roles the other wished they could have had if given the opportunity to swap, and how Anais would love to get involved with the horror genre how Mirabelle has, while Mirabelle contrasts this and would adore having the opportunity to play Steph Green from The Upshaws, which has a comedic approach. Unmistakably, the actresses don’t just feel connected to their sister’s roles. “I have a lot of similarities between me and Jessi because obviously we are both ballet dancers, that’s the baseline. But I feel personality-wise too, she is very hard-working and cares a lot about her friends and family and her dreams and her aspirations. I care a lot about that stuff, too” says Anais Lee, who feels very drawn to her role in The Baby-Sitter’s Club due to their shared ambitions and motivations in life.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | January 6, 2023 | Photos by: Cyris Filoteo @cyrisjohne Hi, introduce yourself. Tell us who you are and what you do. My name is Highway. I'm a Seattle based artist. I pretty much make music. I'm a producer as well. Music was something I grew up very close to. My parents brought me close to music. Your recent released EP "Livin Like That" dropped in November. What was the creative process behind making the EP? It was the time for me to express a different side of myself musically. It was based on new styles of rap that I've developed into or practiced over time..and showcasing that. What song off the EP would you recommend to someone who is listening to the EP for the first time? A good song for someone to hear would be the first track on the EP. It's a song where I came from before music and just kind of get a little personal. Musically, it is a more upbeat tone. It's easy to listen to, but it's also a good way to get to know me as a person and as an artist. I believe personally that my music is unique. There are similarities between me and a lot of artists today, I'm very much set apart from a lot of artists stylistically just as much as I am similar. I believe that we all kind of fit in in different ways, but I would say stylistically I'm very unique. Who are some artists that you're influenced by or inspired by? My biggest influences I would say is like Young Thug and people who came up under his umbrella for the most part. They've been very influential to me...the era of 2016 kind of new SoundCloud artists were very influential to me as well. Around the time that I started getting serious about recording music and making music and being an artist. Do you write lyrics first and then beat like later? I go in just with nothing...with no plan, no idea. Whatever it is, I may feel and try and express that through the music and beat. If I'm not making the beat, I'll just go off of whatever I have and then come up with the lyrics as I record. What are you looking to explore in the new coming gear and do you have any projects or goals for 2023? I do have a project coming, It's called "Monochrome". I wanna kinda establish a fan base that is pretty much my people...my family. We're all together as one, as a group. Just having togetherness for me and my fans.

Photographer: Caitlin Woods November 21, 2022 | Atlanta, GA

December 2, 2022 (NEW YORK, NY) — New York indie juggernauts WE ARE SCIENTISTS have teased more new material from their forthcoming record LOBES (release date: January 20, 2023 via Masterswan Recordings) with their dazzling single "Lucky Just To Be Here." Reducing the tempo but ratcheting the intensity, the new track simmers before it boils, offering a contrast to the two breakneck tunes already released from the pair's recently announced eighth studio album. You can stream the track here. Starting off with a quiet bed of synth and a pulsing, heartbeat-like kick drum, "Lucky To Just Be Here" leaves room for vocalist Keith Murray to indulge in nostalgic rumination. Propulsively building to a musical crescendo, the song is catharsis in audio form, matching Murray's devastating lyrics before dissolving into a lonely and isolating denouement.. It's vintage We Are Scientists and showcases their musicality, penchants for hooks, and creativity. In addition to the new music, We Are Scientists have two special U.S. shows planned leading up to the release: One in Vegas and one in their hometown NYC. On December 3rd, the band will be playing a free rooftop show at the launch of BrewDog’s Largest Bar in the World in Las Vegas, to be followed by a record release show for Lobes on January 20th at Brooklyn Madein Brooklyn More US dates to be announced in the coming months. The upcoming new album follows on from their acclaimed 2021 record HUFFY, and while the origins of songs written for Lobes began around the same time, the impression so far suggests they grew into an entirely different musical universe. The album's lead single "Operator Error" and follow-up "Less From You" are an exciting taste of the fresh direction expected on Lobes. “We consider Huffy our daytime record – it’s an upbeat rock album designed to soundtrack jetski rides to the Bahamas and piña colada in aquamarine-tiled jacuzzis," says Murray. "Our new album, Lobes, however, is our nighttime album. Overall, it’s more electronic, dancier, more ominous, and way sexier than Huffy." "Lucky To Just Be Here" is out today, December 2, 2022. The band's new album Lobes is due out January 20, 2023via Masterswan Recordings. Pre-order the album here.

Interview by Joanne Haner | December 23, 2022 | Photos by Lilly K Photography This interview has been edited for brevity & clarity. 17-year-old Orli Gottesman currently plays Halie on Paramount+’s “Yellowstone.” She took the time to chat with HAZZE Media about path to the hit show and career so far. So you’re 17, but started getting into acting when you were 5. You’ve been doing this for over 10 years already, but what got you into acting in the first place? Orli: It was actually my mom's idea, but I started through modeling, then I went to open calls and started booking. I started working for a bunch of European companies and Macy's and Carters and stuff, and then I got a manager. I went to an open call when I was living in Florida; I drove up to Miami with my mom and she's like, “Let's try this out.” So we did and then I was like, “okay, this is cool.” But I don't think I actually knew that I was acting at first. I was so young where I was thinking “Oh, this is like a play date” and then it started just setting in with time. What was your first acting role? Orli: I started through commercials. I think the first commercial I booked was a Burger King commercial. At what point did your career pivot from commercials to longer mediums like short films and TV shows? Orli: My whole family moved from Florida to LA, and we lived in the Valencia area, and I went to this acting camp where a pretty well-known acting coach would write short films, and, if you were enrolled in it, he would cast you as a character, and he would kind of write your storyline around you. So my name is Orli, but my character’s name was Ophelia. That was the first time I’d seen myself in a short film and something longer than a commercial, so that was super cool. And after that, we started getting approached by some directors, and that’s when I did Beast. You currently play Halie on Yellowstone. What do you enjoy about playing this character? Orli: She’s very similar to me in a way, and maybe that’s just my interpretation of a girl like her. I have a tendency to do that a lot with my auditions and put a lot of myself in the character. Playing with her, it was super easy to figure out her intention with everything that she was doing. But she’s a ranch girl, and she’s a cowgirl – and that’s probably one of the fun parts, is doing something so different than other things I’ve done in the past. So you take a lot from your life, but Halie’s also different from you in a few ways, like being a ranch girl. What are some things that you take from your life and insert into the character to make it more you? Orli: Well Halie is super bold and really confident in the way she walks, the way she talks, the way she approaches people. I’m a relatively confident person; I get it from my mom. So I’m super extroverted, and I’m always willing to try new things. Like the first time before I was working on set, I actually took some horse-riding lessons to just get an idea of what I was doing and how to act around a horse. So I learned how to saddle a horse, and that was something I could bring with me to have a sense of familiarity with the surroundings. You’re so young, but you’ve already played quite a few roles. What’s been your favorite and why? Orli: That’s tricky. I mean, I’ve loved everything I’ve done in the past. Every character is really different. Although a lot of them, I’m putting myself into the characters, the age gap from when I look back on each production I was doing, even though felt like consistent work, looking back I was at a different age and a different maturity and my perception of the way that it was is completely different from how it is now. Now I can really appreciate every moment. So obviously now I’m going to say Halie from Yellowstone because that’s my current state of mind. Who is one person that inspires you? Orli: I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, but definitely my mom. And I mean that, like 100%. Everything I do growing up, she gave me lots of freedom, but I never really took that freedom, and she would jokingly get mad because she has that trust in me, and that’s something I can take with me. I know that whenever I’m older, whatever decisions I’m going to make, my mom is going to be there.

Interview by Joanne Haner | December 23, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Sizzy Rocket This interview has been edited for brevity & clarity. Pop-rock singer-writer Sizzy Rocket sat down with HAZZE Media to talk about her fourth studio album, “Live Laugh Love,” which hit streaming platforms November 11. How did you first find yourself getting into music? Sizzy: When I was little, like three or four years old, I had such a bad stutter that I couldn't speak, and my parents took me to every specialist in the city and no one could figure it out. Then one day we had a piano in our house, and I just sort of went over to the piano and started playing and singing. And so my parents were like, “Wow, I think she needs voice lessons. Let's go,” and started from there. I grew up in Las Vegas, and there was a little kids performance group workshop there called “Putting on the Kids.” Every Saturday we would learn cover songs like Brittany [Spears], NSYNC, Jessica Simpson – then every Sunday we'd go to the outlet malls and do our show and so that's kind of how I learned how to perform as a kid and just sort of fell in love with it. What kind of artists first threw you into creating music, and who would you say has influenced you? Sizzy: I discovered The White Stripes when I was in middle school, and that absolutely changed my life because at the time [the music scene] was very pop heavy. This is the early 2000s, and all my friends were listening to pop, and I love Brittany [Spears] and Christina [Aguilera] and I definitely grew up on that, but when I found The White Stripes, my world sort of changed. That was the first time that I heard rock guitars, and his lyrics are so poetic, and I didn't even know you could do that. From there that opened the door to sort of this garage indie that was happening – like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, all of these like Indie bands that were sort of happening at the time. That was my first introduction to rock. When did you first start releasing music? Sizzy: My first official album came out in 2016. It was called “Thrills,” but I was releasing music before that underground. I had a mixtape called “Thirty Thousand Feet” that I released on MediaFire. This is, like, pre-streaming the Internet era where you would find these weird websites and you could download music. So, yeah I started releasing music in 2011, but my first officially released album came out in 2016. Can I ask how old you were when that came out in 2011? Sizzy: I think I was 19? A baby. So you’ve been releasing music for over 10 years now. How do you think your style has changed over those 10 years? Sizzy: Oh my gosh, it's completely changed. I feel like when I put out my first record, I didn't really have a lot of creative say over that album. I was signed to an indie label, and they sort of wanted me to be the next Katy Perry. So everything was very pop-structured, big production, and I am punk at heart. I feel like after I got out of that deal, I really wanted to explore that side. You'll hear now on this new record there's like Punk moments, there's like sparkly soft pop moments, there's like a folky moment, and I feel like just having that room to explore has defined who I am as an artist. Why is it important to you to have so much range? Sizzy: I think the most important thing with this album was just showing up in the studio and making exactly what I felt making that day and not limiting myself to like one genre or one style. So for example “Live Laugh Love” – that's one of the singles that's out – it's probably one of the hardest tracks I've ever done. It starts with this screeching guitar solo and this double kick on the drums and it's very like, early 2000s pop-punk kind of style. When I showed up that day, I was feeling super angsty and I just wanted to make something really punk. And then the next day I showed up, and we wrote “Lasso the Moon” which is this really soft, sweet, the most sparkly song, if you will, on the album. So not boxing myself in creatively was the most important part to making this album. If you could have a dream collaboration or dream feature, who would it be? Sizzy: Definitely Peaches. There would be no Sizzy without Peaches. She put out her first album, I want to say, 20 years ago. But as far as being a sexually charged, queer women singing about explicit things, she was sort of the first artist to do that. How do you find ways to incorporate yourself and your identity in your music? Sizzy: I can’t separate them. When I make music, it comes from my soul, and my fans can feel that, and I feel like you can hear that in the music. As far as “Sizzy Rocket” and this rockstar persona I’ve developed, that has taken some time. I feel like being a rockstar has big shoes to fill. For me, it’s about taking all my influences and idols and blending them all into a new rockstar. If you could make a Pinterest mood board for your aesthetic, what would be on it? Sizzy: The movie Spring Breakers, the performance artist Marina Abramović, and craft store glitter. What can fans expect from you in the future? Sizzy: Music isn’t the only creativity I have to offer. There’s going to be a book; I’ve been directing my own videos; I really am loving video and photography. Music is not the only art you’re going to get out of me. Check out Sizzy on Instagram and Spotify.

Photographer: Chirag Bachani December 8, 2022 | South Side Ballroom in Dallas, TX Opener: bbno$

Interview by Joanne Haner | December 15, 2022 | Photo by Glenn Nutley (@thecontentcreative) After getting his bachelor’s degree in computer science, Kian Talan never expected his New York tech job to lead to a career in acting. A few acting classes and a two-year conservatory later, he found himself moving to Hawai’i for his largest acting job yet. Talan currently plays Alex Tennant on NCIS: Hawai’i, a teenage boy navigating life with his little sister and newly single mom, who also happens to be the Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor. Acting was never in the cards for Talan growing up, but after opening himself up to the art, he was able to learn about himself and the world around him. “I definitely needed [to learn about myself] at the time. I was trying to figure out who I was,” Talan said. “Once you start exploring that part of yourself, it’s hard to stop.” Although he had found a new passion for acting, Talan wasn’t set on pursuing it as a career just yet. Talan said that after taking a break from acting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was able to come back to the audition scene with a “new purpose.” He realized that he was doing this work for himself first and foremost. Part of the reason his character on NCIS: Hawai’i is so important to Talan is because of his background. Alex Tennant, like Talan, is Filipino-American, which Talan is proud to represent on-screen. In recent years, there has been an increased visibility of Asian-American stories in the media, and Talan has been able to be a part of that progress through sharing a Filipino-American story on NCIS: Hawai’i. Talan is able to pull from his personal experiences and family for his character. Like Alex, Talan also grew up with a single mother. After immigrating to the United States from the Philippines, Talan’s mother worked to provide for her family. He credits her for his work ethic and perseverance. “Watching her go through life and find success in the industry that she’s in while being an Asian woman was super inspiring to me,” Talan said. Furthermore, Talan has a younger brother who is roughly Alex’s age. He said his brother is a major inspiration when playing his character. “There’s surprisingly a lot of correlation to my life and to who Alex is,” Talan said. “It made me think a lot about how I felt during the time of my parents being divorced that I probably didn’t think of at the time.” With his breakout role in NCIS: Hawai’i, Talan looks forward to what the rest of his career may hold. Whether that involves exploring other genres or getting into the film scene, he said he is excited to grow up and learn about different characters in his acting journey. Check out Kian on Instagram

Photographer: Chirag Bachani November 30, 2022 | Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL

Photographer: Maegan Grendell November 7, 2022 | Salt Lake City, Utah Opener: Aidan Bissett

Photographer: Maegan Grendell November 13, 2022 | Salt Lake City, Utah