Photographer: Maegan Grendell November 9, 2022 | Salt Lake City, Utah

Photographer: Chirag Bachani November 5, 2022 | Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL

Photographer: Chirag Bachani November 4, 2022 | The Riviera Theatre in Chicago, IL

Photographer: Caitlin Woods November 19, 2022 | The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA

Interview by: Lauren Sanchez | December 3, 2022 | Photos by: Julianna McGuirl Theater actress and full-time content creator, JessVal Ortiz, chatted with HAZZE Media Journalist Lauren Sanchez, to talk about her love for the stage, her overwhelming success on TikTok and the importance of making people laugh. L: For those who might not be familiar with you and your work, do you mind giving us a short introduction to who you are? J: Hi! My name is JessVal Ortiz, I’m an actress and content creator on TikTok and Instagram! I started creating back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to pass the time, but then suddenly became a full-time profession for me! L: How did you get into theater in the first place? Who are your biggest theater inspirations? J: I started performing in musicals when I was five years old. It instantly became my greatest passion, and I’ve been so fortunate to make it a career. I spent my high school years training professionally in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and then went to college at Penn State University and got my BFA in Musical Theatre. I would say that I have many inspirations, including many of my incredible friends and classmates that I went to college with. So many of them are on Broadway and national tours, which is so thrilling for me to witness and it truly motivates me to chase after my dreams! L: If you could play any dream role on stage, who would you choose and why? J: My dream role has always been Christine in Phantom of the Opera! I saw the show for the very first time when I was six years old and instantly fell in love. As I got older, my voice started to get a little more mature and I was trained to sing a lot deeper. Christine is a high soprano role, so unfortunately I don’t think I will be able to get the chance to play that role… but hey, never say never! L: Has the success of TikTok surprised you in any way? I can’t imagine how cool, but also very overwhelming it would be to have over 8.3 million followers! J: Thank you so very much! It was a bit alarming when my very first video blew up, I tried to go viral for almost three months and I had no luck. It was very hard to stay motivated because I truly wasn’t getting anywhere. I think being consistent and trying new things was the key to my success. I always want to branch out and evolve when it comes to my content, so I’m really excited to see where my videos will lead me next! L: How do you decide on what content you are creating? I’ve been following you for such a long time on TikTok and your TikToks never fail to make me laugh. How do you get your ideas? J: I get a lot of ideas from my family! We love to collaborate and think of fun, new, relatable ideas that we think the average person would go through in a day, and then I would base my skit on that! It’s always so fun when I get my family members involved in a video, the people especially love my dad–I think I get my sense of humor from him! L: How did you manage to find a balance between being a full-time content creator and your on-stage career? J: This summer was very challenging because I was performing in three shows back to back, for three months, while I was content creating at the same time. I felt like my content took a back seat for most of the summer since I would be working 10 hours out of the day. It was super fun, but certainly a challenge! I tried to stay active online as much as possible and would find inspiration from my friends who are very interested in my content creation, so it was nice to have a little help! L: How has your love for theater and the arts influenced the way you view yourself as an actress and comedian? What has been the best lesson you have learned because of it? J: Theater has always been my biggest outlet when it came to expressing myself. I truly found my comedic side when I was cast as Paulette in the Musical Legally Blonde. After that experience, I knew that I wanted to be involved in comedy. Making people laugh is truly the most fulfilling thing for me, and I’m so beyond lucky to get to do that as a full time job-whether it’s onstage or on my phone! L: What was it like to do the “Drowsy Chaperone”, “Kinky Boots”, AND “Sister Act” this summer? Is the life of a performer always this chaotic? How did you manage to not let yourself feel burnt out? J: It was one of the best summers of my life! It was always a dream of mine to perform at one of the most famous regional theaters in the country, the Benedum Center at Pittsburgh CLO, and I finally was able to hit this big accomplishment of mine! There were days when I was extremely tired and worn out, however being able to sing and dance on that stage filled my soul with so much love and joy. L: Out of the three shows you did this summer, which was your favorite one to perform the most and why? J: I think it’s a tie between Kinky Boots and The Drowsy Chaperone! They are so different from each other, but I absolutely love singing and dancing to those scores! Also, the people I was able to work within those productions were absolutely incredible. I learned so much and made such incredible friends as well. L: I know that you teach voice lessons to aspiring singers and actors and that you contribute to the Actors Fund, an organization that provides aid and help to those who are in the performing arts– which is absolutely incredible! How has giving back to the arts community impacted your life for the better? J: COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on the arts, so being able to help raise money, and use my platform to do so means the world to not only me but to the thousands of people involved in the arts that work their butts off every single day! Broadway is home to so many incredible people, and we need to keep that light shining! L: What is something that you are looking forward to in the future, whether that’d be on TikTok and social media or in the theater? J: I think being involved in any type of film would be an amazing experience. I could see myself in television, modeling, and commercial work, so hopefully 2023 will have some very exciting things in store for me when it comes to those opportunities, we’ll see! Social Media:TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

Photographer: Chirag Bachani October 25, 2022 | Schubas Tavern in Chicago, IL

Photographer: Chirag Bachani October 26, 2022 | The Beat Kitchen in Chicago, IL

By: Ezzah Rafique Nov 2022 Kelly Hughes- mom, model, and entrepreneur- sits with HAZZE MEDIA to talk about running her business, being the first model to highlight her cesarean section scar in Sports-Illustrated, & the #scarlovechallenge with World of Children. Photo by: Andre Gabb Q. Hi! Thanks for your time, tell us a bit about who you are! I was blessed to be born and raised in sunny Miami, FL and even though I travel a lot and lived part-time in many cities, Miami is still my home. I started modeling over 20 years ago with Next Models. There was something about the energy and adrenaline on set that made me embrace this industry and never look back. In 2009, with work slowing down due to many uncertainties in the economy, I began working part-time in a restaurant. I noticed my manager had a stack of bracelets on his wrist and I had the thought one day to see if he wanted to add one more. I went home that night and out of a determined spirit and a God given talent I didn’t even know I had I made my first bracelet. With word of mouth, I sold over 200 bracelets until my first store Base on Lincoln Road saw someone wearing it and invited me for a meeting to sell my jewelry there which was the catalyst to my now successful unisex jewelry line HÜES that is sold in high end boutiques and hotels. In 2018 my resume expanded from model and jewelry designer to the most rewarding job yet - Mom. When I found out I was pregnant I immediately started researching birthing plans. With so many options to choose from, my holistic DNA leaned me toward hypnobirthing. After weekly birthing classes and countless doctor visits the most important day of my life had come, and I was ready to give birth. Unfortunately, things did not go as I had planned, and I ended up 36 hours later in a c-section. Thankfully my son was healthy, however, I ended up having a serious infection from the c-section that led to having to go back to the hospital for another 8 days and having a second surgery to remove the infection. It was definitely not the birth experience I had imaged nor dreamed of, and I never understood why things were so difficult for me until earlier this year when I was blessed to have an opportunity to show my c-section scar in one of the most influential magazines in the world, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. I was the first model in the magazine’s history to show a c-section scar. This was so much more than any other photoshoot I had ever done because not only did it impact women around the world, but it also did so much for me personally. It opened my eyes to the fact that I was not alone and that so many women were struggling on their journeys, yet there was no one talking about it. Q. This year you were the first model for a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue to highlight your cesarean section scar, do you remember the moment you found out you were going to be in the issue and how did you feel? When I found out I was confirmed to shoot for a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit I was shocked and so excited. This is every model’s dream job and really is an opportunity of a lifetime, so to find out at 42 years old that I was going to be in the magazine after modeling for over 20 years was beyond incredible and I don’t know if words can explain the feeling. However, I then realized I was going to show my c-section scar for the very first time because I had never shown my scar before, and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it or how it would be received. I have been very open about the difficult labor I went through and the insecurities I struggled with, but it was truly incredible how MJ Day, the magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, made me feel like my scar was the most beautiful thing in the world. She even referred to it as a smiling face with the 2 drain scars I have above it (from my infection surgery afterward). Photo By: Kata Boos Q. How did you balance work life with mom life? This is always a challenge. My son is in preschool which is great for us but being a single mom with no additional help definitely has its difficult moments where you feel like it’s all falling apart and then other days where you feel like superwoman, and you have it all under control. I think it’s all about time management and priorities which is something I’m still working on, and I don’t know if it can ever be perfected but so important to strive for. We all have busy lives these days so it’s just important to be diligent in what you do with your time having a schedule helps and leaves you a lot of wiggle room because things always change. Q. You empower a lot of women around the world by taking the initiative to change the stigma around scares and recently started #ScarLoveChallenge, tell us a little bit about that! ESTAS Beauty sent me one of their scar kits after seeing my photos in Sports Illustrated. I loved their branding to love on your scars instead of trying to get rid of them. So, I sent them a thank you for the products and told them I wanted to do something with them to give back. I suggested the challenge because after seeing the amount of dm’s I received from women from all over the world saying how much this empowered them or encouraged them I thought to myself how much more would it empower people if they could come to a place to see 100’s or 1000’s of people loving on their scars. I didn’t want to limit it to just c-section scars, so all scars are welcome. After some research we came up with the #scarlovechallenge hashtag and we connected with World of Children to donate $1 for every post that uses the hashtag. So many people in the world are hurting because most of the scars we have come with the more obvious physical pain that might now be healed but we also experienced mental pain that sometimes takes a lot longer to heal. I think there needed to be a safe place for people to go to no matter where they were at on the journey in their life. If you feel ready to join in on the challenge and do a post or if you don't feel ready to share yet, you can go there to feel encouraged and reminded that you are not alone and maybe even connect with some of the other people there. I just wanted to help as much as I could because I didn’t find any help or an outlet when I was going through a long recovery not only physically but also mentally and that needed to change. Q. Not only are you a mom and model but also an incredible entrepreneur. What's the story behind launching your jewelry line, HÜES? It was 2009 and there was a pullback in the economy, so I got a second job at a restaurant part time. It was there that I was inspired to make a bracelet for my manager. I thought it was just for fun but right after he started wearing it, I started selling 100’s of bracelets just by word of mouth. Soon after I got into my first retail store called BASE on Lincoln Road in Miami, FL which was the catalyst of my now successful jewelry line today. HÜES is a genderless jewelry brand that consists mostly of bracelets, necklaces, and rings. I wanted the brand to be for everyone without limitations so HÜES being it’s a take-off my last name Hughes was perfect by definition. We specialize in our link bracelets, and we are known for our waxed-cotton cord throughout the line with mixed metals. We also make custom orders and have recently added a section on our site called made for you. This is one of the core values of the brand since it started via word of mouth most of the orders were customized and this was what made it more unique than most other jewelry brands. I still have some of the first bracelets I made, and I have come a long way from those first bracelets but it’s a great reminder of where I started. So, I always encourage people to try new things because you never know what could come of it. Q. HÜES has been worn by JBalvin, Young Thug, Alicia Keys, & more. Do you remember the first time you saw another celebrity wearing your jewelry? I will never forget the first time I saw a celebrity wearing my jewelry. It was Ricky Martin in his music video “The Best Thing About Me Is You” in 2010 and I freaked out. Not only did the entire video look like a HÜES campaign because he was only wearing a t-shirt and the background was plain in white and black, but the focal point was the bracelet. The even funnier thing is I know his team personally and they didn’t ask me for a bracelet to use for the video instead the stylist bought it at BASE a retail store in Miami and Ricky himself chose to wear it which meant SOOO much more to me. Q. You took a small project and launched into a massive success, what advice do you have for those looking to start their own company? You only have what is in your hands so don’t be afraid to just start and use that until you can build on it. I will be the first person to say I never imagined owning my own business I thought just getting a company registered and a bank account set up was too difficult because that is what I had been told. Thankfully, I had a God given talent I didn’t know I had but I was willing to use it and explore any door that was open to me. Today with so many outlets and social media most of the time you can start a business without any initial investment which is a huge advantage compared to how it used to be in the past. One last tip, don’t always listen to what other people say or try to copy anyone else’s story. You are unique and the way you find your way to success is different than someone else. I was told over and over that there was no way I could do it and with the help of people that believed in me and were placed in my life for a purpose I did it at a moment in my life where I was almost broke and had no resources. Image: ICON PR Q. What does your day-to-day schedule look like? Does it vary or do you try to plan around a schedule? I tend to plan my schedule around my son’s schedule so it’s very structured however my work schedule is forever changing. I wake up at 7am daily and take my son to school at 9am and he’s there until 3pm so those are my most productive hours. I typically work after he goes to sleep to make up for cutting the day short and catch up on emails and production for HÜES then because it’s the quietest time of the day for me and I feel I can be more creative at night. If I have a photoshoot that day, I extend his school schedule till 6pm and sometimes have my mom come help me. However, I try to plan out my week on Mondays so I’m accountable to finish certain things by the end of the week but it’s very rare I stick to the schedule without any adjustments. Q. Do you have any upcoming projects you are excited about? I have so many things in the works I’m excited about however still working on all the details so you will have to follow me to stay up with all that is to come @kellyhues!

Photos by: Leila Saidane Austin, TX: The Ballroom Folk rock outfit Ivan & Alyosha first sparked attention with their 2013 debut album All The Times We Had, followed by 2015’s It’s All Just Pretend that earned them critical acclaim from NPR Music, Paste, Rolling Stone, and more. Ivan & Alyosha have toured alongside Brandi Carlile, The Head & The Heart, Delta Spirit, among others. instagram / twitter

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | November 23, 2022 | Photos by: Jacob Webster Jacob Webster chats with Hazze Media on how he became one of Hollywood's favorite photographer and creative director. He has worked with celebrities like Lori Harvey, Kim Kardashian, Drake, Doja Cat, etc. He shares his journey to becoming a full-time photographer, his go-to equipment, getting hired to work with Doja Cat, and photographing Paris Fashion Week. Additionally, he closes off with goals for his brand and advice for aspiring creatives. How did you get started in the industry? How did you find your niche in the industry? How did you transition to becoming a full-time photographer? I have been a fashion photographer for nine years now. I started in 2013. I focus on beauty, portraits, lifestyle, editorial, etc. I try to stay on the editorial side of fashion, but I also do lifestyle. I just don't prefer to do it. I was actually a lifeguard for seven years before I started doing photography full time. I was also a full-time student at Towson University. I was studying business at Towson for four years. My sophomore year, my schedule was demanding and I was making like $250 a week doing lifeguarding. I could do a photoshoot and make double that in 30 minutes, you know? I was like, “You know what? I think I can just go ahead and do this on my own without having work on the side.” My sophomore year of college I started doing photography full time. That's when I started doing my business full time.I was able to control my schedule and just focus. How did you start breaking ground and branding yourself? How did you set yourself apart from other photographers? How did you create your brand/identity/online presence? I always show up as myself…my authentic self. People really like that and admire that. It's kind of different in the industry…especially in Los Angeles specifically where everyone's superficial. I allow my clients and my talent to be themselves. I don't pressure them to do anything. They're able to share and control their own narratives. I think I started breaking ground by being really consistent and wanting to learn. I don't feel I'm ever satisfied with just one project. Once I'm done with the project, I wanna keep rolling on to the next one. I want to make sure that I'm creating to my best ability. Even today, I feel I don't create the images that are like my goals yet. As I continue doing bigger projects with bigger budgets and a bigger team, I can start getting closer to getting that image that I desire. So, I found my niche one by one. What kinds of equipment/tools do you usually have on set? Literally, everything like down to backdrops is in my car. I keep three lights, a backdrop stand, reflectors, diffusers, softbox, and umbrella. That's what got me hired for a lot of stuff. Last Halloween, Doja Cat was looking for a photographer and someone wasn't unavailable When I showed up, I literally came with like an entire studio setup and everything. They weren't expecting that. They were probably just thinking I was just gonna bring like a flash or something. That's what I do for any client I have. I bring everything so I'm prepared. I'm just going above and beyond to make sure my client is satisfied or just impressed. I did that, they were like, ”Oh my gosh, we have to keep you on our team.” Ever since then, I've been with her. Anytime I get a new client, I still bring all my stuff, and it catches them off guard every time. If they want me doing lifestyle, I wanna do the best lifestyle pictures I can do. If anyone had me mopping the floor, I'm mopping the floor just to show up and just to take the opportunity and get myself in the door and I'm listening to make the best out of it. That's how I kind of did that. Right now equipment wise, I have the Canon 5D Mark IV. I'm not sure if I wanna switch over to Sony soon. I usually shoot on my 24-70 mm or 70-200 which I use for portraits. What was the inspiration behind Doja Cat's imagery of her wardrobe looks in Paris? So with her, I have no creative say…that's more so Brett Alan Nelson is her creative director. I just show up and shoot. That’s why I like doing myself on the side of my creative project cause I can be creative. Recently I did the photoshoot, it was a firefighter type of concept. When I went to set the other day, someone was like, “Oh my gosh, I had no idea if you are that good” I just never really had the opportunity to really create the way that I want to. Doing stuff on the side helps me show people what I'm capable of. Doja and Brett are really creative. They have no limits with their creativity. What was your experience like in Paris Fashion Week as a photographer? Paris was literally life changing. It was everything I've ever imagined. I was living on cloud nine the entire time. I was just so blessed to be there and so honored. I was so grateful for the opportunity just to be in Paris and just seeing all different designers and creative directors of the brand. I saw a few photographers that were walking the show as well. There's literally no limit to your creativity. There's no limit to where you can and where you can go. Paris really inspired me to go all out with everything. From your previous work so far, which one is your favorite? Anything in 2020 before I moved to LA. I was really creative and created with no budgets. My work went the most viral, and I was building community the most. I just felt the most creative, authentic self when I was creating in 2020 because COVID and nothing was really going on. I would pop up the studio in my garage and get a model. We would social distance and makeup would be in the garage and I'd be upstairs. When they were done, I’d come shoot. What's next for the brand JPW Photo? The next steps for my brand would definitely be speaking engagements. I want to start doing podcasts, YouTube videos, and sharing experiences, and sharing wisdom. I pray to God everyday for more wisdom and creativity. Being more intentional and being more present. The imposter syndrome and constantly comparing yourself with others is a big aspect creatives deal with. How do you overcome that feeling and keep going? I used to have a really big issue with imposter syndrome and dealing with that. I think I just grew out of it recently because the more I would become more spiritually grounded, I started realizing that. I fully and 100% believe that anything that's for me is going to be for me. Anything that's not, is not for me. If something falls through, that was not meant to be. If anything comes to fruition, I'm just so grateful. Living in a constant state of gratitude and being intentional about who I'm surrounding myself with and what opportunities I show up for helps me with imposter syndrome. I always tell myself anytime I get an opportunity and I don't think I'm qualified for this. I always say, “God would never, would've put an opportunity on my plate if I couldn't handle it.” That's exactly why I just feel like you have to just fight any outside voices and you can't compare yourself to anyone's journey. I used to do that too. That's just helped me really just focus on staying in my own lane, and having my own vision and focusing on just being myself. What is your advice in building relationships/networking? Social media is your number one resource, so I always say that you are a walking billboard for yourself. Anything that you share is gonna be an advertisement for yourself. In person, I would just say to always work the room. When I came to LA one time in 2019, um, I was there to go to a Greek party when I was still in college. I happened to bring my camera with me. Someone asked me to do Diddys 50th birthday party. I told myself, “You cannot leave this room without making a connection…whether it was getting somebody's number/contact. If you don't, there's no point in being here.” If we hit off, we hit it off. If we don't, you leave it. I think that's the best way to network. In Paris, I will go up to people, and I'll be like, “I wanna give you flowers. Love to work with you someday.” Are there resources you think I or any aspiring photographers should check out? YouTube University, that's where I learned everything. I'm fully self-taught. I've never taken a class. I think that's where I'm really behind on my photography and imposter syndrome comes in. Sometimes, I'll go on sets. People have been there for 15 years in the game and like they know so much and I really don't know anything technical about photography. Recently, I've just started accepting the fact that wasn't my path. I can't be ashamed of that. I literally just ask and I pull 'em aside. I say to them, I say, “Hey, I'm literally fully self-taught and I don't know what this is. Can you, can you gimme some advice or can you just help me navigate this new space for me? Or can you help me out?” They'll be like, “Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for asking.” That's all you gotta do is just ask. You can put your pride aside and just ask for that help. One advice you wish someone had told you when starting out? Any advice to young POC creatives starting out in the industry? Literally there are no rules to this and you create your own rules. Time literally stops for no one. You have to keep going and keep being consistent and just keep pushing out content and pushing out stuff for yourself. That’s all the questions I had! Thank you for sharing your story and advice with me! It was so nice to meet you! Check out Jacob's portfolio and Instagram.

Interview by: Jenny Salazar/ November 4, 2022 J: What made you want to become a makeup artist, and how long have you been doing it? Snoww: I’ve always really been into art with painting and fashion, even when I was younger, and I got to [the] age where I was allowed to start wearing makeup; I quickly came to realize it was a mix of the two things I already loved and became obsessed with it. J: Where do you find your makeup inspiration? Snoww: I find inspiration from the most random things, but when I’m looking for inspiration, I turn to other artists, fashion designers & drag. J: What is your favorite kind of makeup look to do? Snoww: I love doing bright, bold looks. They give me more creative room, and I love the look of bright colors contrasting with skin tones. J: What are your top 3 favorite makeup brands and why? Snoww: My top 3 brands are The Crayon Case, Alamar Cosmetics, and Bella & Co. They’re WOC owned, very consistent with their products, and the love they have for their customers isn’t really something you get from big corporation companies, and I really like that. J: What's your favorite dupe of a high-end makeup product? Snoww: Elf cosmetics has come through with so many dupes of different high-end brands. The Halo glow liquid filter, being a dupe for the charlotte tilbury Hollywood flawless filter, and the power grip primer being a dupe for the Milk hydro grip primer, have to be my favorites, though. J: What other opportunities have being a makeup artist led you to? Snoww: Being a makeup artist has led to being able to work with other brands, work behind the scene of photography shoots, teach classes to young aspiring artists and help broaden the spectrum in the beauty industry. J: If you could do anyone's makeup, who would it be, and for what event? Snoww: Doja Cat for MET gala. I feel like with her vibe and aesthetic, I would be able to create some complete magic with my style of artistry. J: Are there any new projects you have in the making? Snoww: I have [a] project/collaboration in the works right now. It’s still in the early workings, so I can’t really share too much at the moment, but [I] know it’s going to be green & glamourous.

by Holly Arend Born in Dallas as Jaden Hossler, jxdn (pronounced jay-den) initially gained prominence on TikTok, parlaying his massive following into a breakout music career. In January 2020, he independently released “Comatose”, which landed on more than 40 global charts. His explosive success quickly garnered the attention of Travis Barker, who signed him as the first artist on his imprint, DTA Records, a worldwide joint venture with Elektra Music Group. Jxdn has gone on to tour with Machine Gun Kelly and release his debut album Tell Me About Tomorrow. Since then Jxdn had amassed fame, praise, and a loyal fan base. Today he released Sober a new single to his upcoming era and album. I've had the pleasure to sit down with him and talk about the song and process. 1. You just released a new single, “Sober,” – what is the backstory behind the song? Travis accidentally double booked me and Mike Posner for a session. I had gone in with a melody I could not get out of my head. Mike’s energy gave me such inspiration to take the music in a different direction. We had fun in the session, and it shows. This song is for everyone to let loose a little bit, and get ready for a whole new era for myself. This is the first of a bunch of different sounds I am working on. 2. What did the creative process look like for this single? I had the absolute blessing of Joe Perez joining my team as creative director. He took this upcoming single and my project as a whole to a entire different level. I’d much rather just tell you to watch how this rolls out. I’ve never been more excited! 3. What do you want fans to take away from “Sober”? Music is music. Sometimes you just need to let go and sing a song. I wanted to create something EVERYONE could enjoy, no matter who or where. 4. If you had to describe “Sober” to someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe it? Completely different from me before, but completely accurate to who I am now. I am still so early in my career and I never want to sit inside a box. I’m just glad I have a label that believes in ME not just the songs I make. But this one is for the books. 5. You recently got off your solo headlining TELL ME ABOUT TOMORROW tour – what was one of the best memories you made on tour? Seeing how my music changes people’s lives is something I’ll never understand, but never let go of. Music saved me personally in such a fantastic way and all I ever wanted was to do the same for others. It’s unreal. I will never stop. I can’t. Photo by Jenna Marsh 6. You’ve gone from opening for major artists like Machine Gun Kelly to being on lists like Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood and Billboard’s 21 Under 21. Can you describe your journey in music so far and your goals? Grateful. And grateful again. People don’t know how much the work, pain, heartache, joy and inspiration mean to me. I love people so much because I always felt so unloved. Music is the only answer. I want the world to know me, so the world knows I know them. I don’t want to be like anyone else. I believe in things I don’t think anyone has. I want to go to the very top so I can reach my hand down and bring everyone up with me. Love is the answer and the world needs love. That’s my goal. 7. Speaking about fans – how has it been interacting with them on tour and live shows you’ve done so far, both intimate and bigger ones like festivals? I think my fans see something in themselves after joining into my journey. Everything I do is for them. What I wear, how I talk, what I sing is all for them. I feel like they know that – or at least I hope they do. Imagine a song that didn’t have a heart to call home. They are the reason I am what I am. I can’t wait to see how many people we can get on this train; there’s room for all. 8. What is this next era of jxdn bringing to fans? Hope. Whatever hope means for you. I am going to every corner of sounds and every road of melodies so no human is left behind. All will be heard. I think life is gonna change, and not just mine. And I want to have so much fun it pisses people off. 9. Is there anything you can tell us about the upcoming album that you’re working on? I am making the best music I have ever made. Never heard MYSELF like this. Something has changed in me. I’m fearless. And I’m so grateful. This album is gonna change everything for me :) Thank you Jxdn for the amazing interview and go check out SOBER now!

Photos by: Leila Saidane @leila.film Austin, TX

Interview by: Hunter Dood | November 2, 2022 | Photo by: Sydney Jackson NOT A TOY’s latest single, “Gutter Kid” is nothing like the Denver-based band has ever released, and will be a major influence for their future work. Lead singer Branson Hoog said the song was fully produced by the band, a major change from their past work. “We would record in a studio and it would be a very structured thing,” Hood said. “And our first EP didn’t go in the direction we thought it would, so we brought it home and remade it ourselves. When we would record with other guys, they would try to fit us into a certain mold that other bands would be, and that’s not us.” For “Gutter Kid,” Hoog took influence and inspiration from the show “Arcane League of Legends.” He says the song is written from the perspective of one of the characters form the show that “went against the grain and wreaked havoc.” “Gutter Kid was spun because we were craving this aggressive energy that we haven’t had in five years,” Hoog said. Drummer Benji Spoliansky says the song has received both love and hate. He says the song received love from the label (Fearless Records), the band and fans that have seen lot performed live. The aforementioned hate came from YouTube comments. “Ultimately, I took it as a positive response that we were getting hate,” Spoliansky said. “I just don’t think the people that hated it fully understood it, the song is different and people tend to reject different at first.” “I love Gutter Kid,” Spoliansky said. I think it is one of the best songs we have put out.” Hoog says the band enjoys fully producing and controlling what they make. The quartet of Hoog (lead singer), Spoliansky (drummer), Jeremy Marmor (guitar) and TJ Wessel (violin, Keyes) all work together on producing their new music. “I feel like now all rules are gone and we make what we want to make,” he said. Spoliansky says them fully producing allows there are no parameters for the band. “I think there are so many untapped sounds and vibes that we will find by doing this,” he said. Hoog says the band will continue to explore all types of sounds moving forward. “We are trying to master all edges that NOT A TOY can be, I don’t want to be just a rock band or a rap artist or popstar. Every time we get into the studio something different happens because different people write different parts of the songs.” NOT A TOY has a new single titled “Dementor” coming out November 17. “It is so sick,” Hoog said. “We wrote it with Morgothbeatz who has done stuff with MGK, Lil Xan, Maggie Lindemann and Sueco. He is one of the guys really trying to pull rock and trap into one thing and he’s doing it so well.” He added that this song will be another new sound for the band. The band is looking forward to 2023. Hoog says they are stoked to hit the road and tour in the upcoming year as well as continuing their “Painful Interviews” series where they tattoo musicians while and interview them. Spoliansky says momentum is gaining for the band as 2023 approaches. “Internally, looking at the growth over the last ten months, it has been incredible and we are gaining that momentum,” he said. Hoog added that Next year is looking bright for the band and that they are excited to continue putting out new music. “We are going to ride that momentum in 2023.” Find the band @notatoy on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter and @notatoyofficial on TikTok.

Photographer: Sarah Sturgis October 11, 2022 | The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina Openers: SnailMail & JPEGMAFIA