Photos & Interview by: Creighton Stevenson September 20, 2022 | Brooklyn, New York Los Angeles based rock'n' roll band STARCRAWLER chats with HAZZE MEDIA before the Brooklyn show to talk about the new album She Said and touring so far. Go listen to their new album below! How does your new album compare to your previous projects?: It feels like the most mature version of our music. It’s our first album on a major label, so it’s most exciting. Favorite songs off the new album?: Collectively our favorite songs are She Said, Broken Angels, and Thursday. What was the most memorable show you’ve played?: Melbourne really blew our minds. It was packed and everyone was singing. You could hear everyone literally singing over us. Advice to up-and-coming artists/bands?: You have to love and want what you’re doing truly. Stop striving to be someone else and find who you want to be. Treat your dream as a full-time job and prioritize it over everything.

Photos by: Stephanie Siau (@stephaniesiau) & Orchee Sorker (@orchees_photos) Interview by: Orchee Sorker September 20, 2022 | Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, Tennessee With only about a week on the (Un)Commentary Fall Tour 2022, singer/songwriter Alec Benjamin chats and answers rapid-fire questions with HAZZE MEDIA before the Nashville show at the Ryman Auditorium. Check out behind-the-scenes soundcheck photos & his Nashville set photos below. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve done on tour so far? We had a great dinner last night with the crew. We went to a barcade, and had a great time. It was something that we planned just like the day before, but I took like 20 people to dinner. It was awesome, and it made me happy. We had great food, and it was really spontaneous and fun. Earlier this year, you did an editorial feature with Hazze Media. Thank you so much for giving your time & being patient with the whole project! I am super grateful for you, Moya, Nathan & the entire team helping set it up. Was it your first editorial shoot or have you done more? What was your experience like? It was awesome and amazing! It was really great! They were super professional, and I had a lot of fun. It was very enjoyable. (Un)Commentary was released in April of this year. Since then, how has the audience reaction been so far? It's been pretty good! I think like now it takes like a long time for people to actually listen through a full record because there's so much music, content, and options people are presenting themselves every single day. I think the only way to gauge the reaction is over like a longer period of time. So, it's hard for me to say. Only now, I really can look back on like my first mixtape and be like, "oh, this is how I feel about the way it was received." So, I think it's hard for me to answer that question right now...but so far so good I suppose. You know, it's like a weird time now, especially coming out of the pandemic. Congrats on 50M streams on “Devil Doesn’t Bargain”! I know you have been promoting it on TikTok. How was it like watching fans’ videos and just the overall experience? The whims of TikTok, it's not necessarily my favorite part about what I do, but it is what it is. It's cool to see awesome people use my music for videos...but I prefer playing it in person. That's something that I enjoy more, but it's nice to see that people are finding like utility using the song, and finding it relevant to their lives...but my preference is always to see people in person. Since over half of this year is over, what is something you are grateful for that happened this year? I'm grateful that I'm still out here making music. I'm like still able to do my job, you know? That's nice. Yeah. I like that. Rapid Fire Q&A with Alec If you were in charge of a festival, who would headline it? The only thing that is coming in mind is Ratatouille. Coffee or Tea? Tea Early bird or night owl? Night Owl Go to fast food order? Milkshakes from In & Out Cats or Dogs? Dogs Songs you’ve had on repeat lately? I’ve been listening to Blue by Eiffel 65. TikTok or Instagram? Neither Have you ever forgotten lyrics on stage? Yes Who's your biggest role model? My parents Favorite TV show? Friends What’s your favorite city to perform in? Nashville Least favorite interview question? I’m going to say, I don’t have one. If you could collaborate with any artist? I think this collab we have going between us is pretty cool right now. You know what I mean? If there was a movie about your life what would it be called? I'm not sure...That's a good question…. Nathan: “It's All about the Benjamin” Or like "Have you seen my keys?" "Yeah, where's my phone." What is your favorite meme? I don't think I have one. Oh yeah…the one I sent you [Nathan], but I can't tell people about that. What is something you tell yourself everyday? Sometimes, I look at myself in the mirror and something I tell myself everyday... I love that Kanye West lyric, "Everything I'm not, makes me everything I am." That's such a good lyric. Yeah, I don't tell myself it every day, but when I feel bad, I think about that. BTS during Soundcheck Nashville Set A Small Fan Project by Orchee, Stephanie, & Tanishi

Photographer: Caitlin Woods September 18, 2022 | Ameris Bank Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia

Interview by: Ezzah Rafique Blair Walnuts talks to HAZZE MEDIA about how she utilizes TikTok and Youtube for fashion and comedic content, being transparent with fans, and how losing her hair made her launch her own business, Loveorie. Full interview on Youtube & Spotify Blair Walnuts rose to social media with her fashion, lifestyle, and comedic content. Using Youtube before TikTok, Blair was known for videos like 'got a job at CHUCK E CHEESE to see if SHANE DAWSON was right.' Some of her content includes "trying Kylie Jenner's sticky old used clothes from her closet... and see[ing] if [she] could get a deal" to "buying things off the Instagram shopping tab" that would be considered unconventional. By breaking the norms of most influencer content, Blair keeps her audience engaged while simultaneously addressing topics like mental health, body positivity, politics, and more. Moreover, Blair is outwardly one of the most transparent creators on social media as she always tells her audiences what she is editing and how so that they do not compare themselves. "Don't compare yourself to people that have professional trainers or chefs... remember to treat your body well" - Blair Walnuts While balancing social media, Blair is focusing on collaborations and businesses. One of her collaborations is with En Route to bring affordable - and uniquely named - jewelry that is also sustainable! Her die hard audience, the “Walnutters”, are always involved in her work. With the help of fans who helped picked the names, Blair Walnuts X En Route released a collection called "Trophy Wife" that includes pieces like "Sneaky Link" & "Trust Fund Baby." Focusing in on jewelry and hair products, Blair also launched her own hair care line, Loveorie. "Literally all my hair fell out, it looked like my hair went through a paper shredder machine [because] I bleached it too much," She recalled. Taking a disaster, she turned it into a company that launched a hair growing oil. The Hair Growth Oil fortifies damaged hair by strengthening, moisturizing, and promoting faster hair growth. "It's something that helps people, it gets [their] hair back... it's made me a more empathetic and kinder person by helping other people" Listen to the full podcast episode to hear Blair's full story

Photographer: Seth Brown @capturesbyseth

By: Camila C. Back with yet another summery alternative-pop hit, JAWNY’s new single and music video, “adios”, is out now! Don’t let the seemingly sweet and playful tune and cinematic, fast pace music video deceive you; this song holds immense sentiments of heartbreak, loss, and longing. Vulnerability with his audience is not something new to JAWNY. He previously shared with HAZZE MEDIA how he deliberately uses authenticity to allow his audience to experience his emotional journeys in “live time” with him. “adios” definitely highlights that. JAWNY’s intuitive nature when it comes to songwriting really shines through, as he turns his heartache into something tangibly beautiful in this bright music video and summer single, illuminating his optimistic, “go with the flow” nature. “I could sit here and give a really smart sounding press quote where I make up a story to make this song sound really serious and pretentious”. “But the truth of the matter is I wrote a song that I believe in. I made the best music video of all time for it and now it’s out in the world and it’s yours. go nuts with that.” Watch the official music video HERE. “adios” (Interscope Records) by JAWNY is available at all digital retailers HERE.

Interview by: Camila C. From sweet summer indie pop to fiery alternative, singer and songwriter, JAWNY has something for everyone. His authenticity and freeform nature radiates in all his songs despite how versatile they are, and this rings especially true for his new single “Strawberry Chainsaw”. This summer, JAWNY gave us a peak at what led him to this light- hearted and whimsical song, how he stays true to his sound, advice for aspiring artists, and more! Thank you so much for talking with me; so go ahead and introduce yourself. "My name is Jawny. I am an artist from Los Angeles, California." You’ve definitely had a super busy year so far. What was the process of working on your single "Take It Back" with your idol, Beck. "Oh man! The process was in November of last year, 2021. We were supposed to get in the studio and work at the end of November, but he was on a tour. And then I was on a tour, and I don't think our teams could line up or make anything work, and then usually from like december to like January 15th the music industry and everyone in it including, creators, all kind of go off of the map and that's when Mariah Carey kind of takes over and “All I want for Christmas” just becomes the biggest song in the world. And then when February came back around everyone was getting back to work and getting back in the studio and doing things, we were trying to link up again, but then again he got booked for some shows, and I got booked to do the French Music Awards, so it became this thing where every time our teams were gonna try to get us to work neither one of us was around, once I got off stage at the French music awards I think I was just riding the little high, having a good runner’s high from it all because that was kind of crazy. I just shot him a text from Paris. I was just like ‘hey, I know we keep trying to get in the studio and make something new, but I actually have this song that I have been touring around the world for the last year; it’s got a crazy reception, and it’s almost to the point where I feel like I need to kind of give it another little push and another little extra love, and re-inject it into the world one more time. And I feel like it might have slipped through the cracks.’ And by the time I woke up in the morning he was already texting me back, being like, ‘let's do it. I like this song, send me all the stuff’, and I mean, from there the rest is history. I got to work with my idol; we made a song that I really dig. I love all the stuff he added to it, and he got to sing on the chorus and sing on the pre-chorus. We added new guitars, new production elements, and it was just a really cool thing. And I even ended up getting to go on tour with him after that across Europe, and it was a wild, crazy, full circle life moment. And like you said it's been a whirlwind of a year so far, it's been a little crazy, but I'm holding on, and I'm ready to see where this rollercoaster goes." How was going on tour with Beck and how has any of your previous experiences prepared you for your upcoming tour with Oliver Tree. What are you anticipating to be different, and what are you wanting to change from your last experience for this tour? “Oh totally. The tour with Beck was awesome. Shows are amazing. There isn't much to say other than that… I was on stage opening up for someone I really look up to, and that just feels amazing and awesome. As far as what's going to be different about this next tour, I don’t really know. I feel like I have kind of given my all at the shows.” “I feel like if you would’ve maybe asked me that question a year and a half or two years ago, I’d have a lot more of not critiques, but a lot more adventurous thoughts of where I’d get my set, and how I’d like to get it to sound. As of right now, I’m feeling pretty good. I think I’m gonna go on the Olivet tree tour doing the same thing I’ve been doing and just kind of keep this train chugging along, and Oliver is a good buddy of mine so it's gonna be a good time. We’re gonna go play some shows across the United States and it’ll be a swell grand old time!” How does your new single "Strawberry Chainsaw" differ from anything you’ve ever released in the past? “I think it falls into the same guidelines as every song I release, which is that every song is pretty much different than anything I’ve ever done haha. It’s kind of like a weird habit of mine that I keep accidentally doing where like ‘Honey-Pie’ doesn't even sound like it could even be made by the same person that made 'Take It Back’, “Take It Back’ doesn’t sound the same as ‘Best Thing’ and so on so forth. I keep accidentally doing that, but I guess in the direction this one goes in, I feel like I’m finally making (with this song particularly) music that I wish I could’ve made when I was 16 and 17, but I didn’t have the capabilities or the resources… or even the skill at the time. I didn’t know how to produce or write that good; it took me years to figure out how to write a song. “Now with Strawberry Chainsaw, I feel like I’m making a song that I really wish that I had when I was like 17, because it's kind of like right in the vibe, that little indie pocket thing that I was into with influences of people that I used to relate with to when I was younger, and I’m feeling really good about it.” I heard you base a lot of your art strictly on intuition without looking too deep into how it might play out. You pretty much just go by the first thought you have; that’s how you go into it. How has that given you more liberty in your passion? “You are correct. I mean, it doesn’t become pretentious, you know what I mean? Like I don’t think too hard, not in like a simpleton way, it's just like…it’s music… you know, this isn’t ‘The 9 Inch Nail’ or a ‘Grave’. I’m not writing this deep freaking song. Like, when I’m writing a fun pop song I’m just having fun; I’m just getting on the mic and I'm singing whatever feels good off my chest. I can get to those darker moments, you know what I mean, but you know, ‘Hurt By The 9 Inch Nail’ is one of the best emotional written songs of all time. Like if I'm feeling really emotional then I might really start thinking about what I’m gonna say and how I’m going to say it, and what I’m trying to portray in this song. But for the most part, if I’m just trying to write like a fun upbeat song, then I just tend to really not think too hard about it . Same things that flow off of my mouth really easily and feel nice, and I don’t try to think too smart on if I sound smart or this line sounds like genius or something, because I don’t think people need that or really care about that. And I don’t think I really care about that. I think I just want to make something that feels really good to me that I like to listen to and that’s all I really care about it, like I don’t think anything else past that. If it feels good, and it gets me excited, that’s all I give a f*** about, and it’s helped me out throughout my passion for art. It helps you not feel like you have to pull teeth to write music. Sometimes, you know, like I said, if you want to channel something serious, there’s a time and a place to do that.” “Man, sometimes you just want to get in the room and just make something freeform that’s fun, and that’s what art is about sometimes. Sometimes it can be very serious, but in this case, this is a fun, uplifting, indie, summer song, and I love it. I had a good time. I didn’t think about it too hard. I wrote it really fast, and I hope that you and anyone else reading this likes it as well.” Let’s kind of jump back in time a little bit; what gave you the courage to leave nursing school and to continue pursuing music? What advice do you want to give your fans who may be struggling with starting fresh again in regards to a passion? ”Okay, so before I answer that, I need to be clear, so I’m not a fibber. Did I drop out of nursing school technically on paper? Did I ever even make it to the nursing program or take a single nursing class? No. I dropped out during the remedial classes. I dropped out during the math, and the science, and the credits you need to get before you even get to the nursing program.” “I didn’t make it 6 months into my first semester at all. I just kept making beats in the parking lot, pretending like I was going to class. But any advice I'd give anyone, whether it's college or life or anything, is just do what you love while you can, you know? It’s kind of what I told myself, even when I was working a day job or really struggling to make everything work. Me and my dad would butt heads a lot when we’d be on the phone. It's like, I don’t want to be 50 or 65 years old, just never say that I did try at least, you know what I mean? I’d rather try then fail and than go do something I don’t love to pay the bills, than be one of those old guys that is just bitter that he never at least tried to do the thing that he loved, and this doesn’t even just apply to music. This is like ‘go be a f******* astronaut’ or for whatever reason your dream is to be an accountant, which I think is the most boring job in the world, but if for some reason that’s your dream, like go f****** do it or try to do it, or else you’re going to be one of those people that’s just miserable and didn’t ever do anything that you really wanted to do and just lived life for other people, and do everything you can to make it work . You know I try to do music but my god there’s times where I had to work all these crazy odd end jobs where I would wake up at 5 in the morning and then work a whole shift, and then go into my studio and make music and then do it all again the next day for like six days straight, every week for months on end like…it’s not fun sometimes. It’s not always going to feel like your living the freaking dream, but man one day you’re going to look back on those years though, like even how I do now, and I’m like man those are some of the best times of my life. Even when my back was up against the wall and everything was crazy and stressful…I kind of love it weirdly. I don’t know. I'm not a good ‘Ted Talk’ guy. Just follow whatever you want to do; do it to the fullest, live life with no regrets. God bless; there you go. “ Your upcoming music is said to be much more emotionally provoking; what inspired you to become more vulnerable with your listeners? How has this approach changed your writing process? “I don’t think anything necessarily inspired it. As far as the genre, right, I don’t think I was like, ‘oh man, I am inspired to make mad music now’. Like I said with that last question, you know, from a couple of questions ago, sometimes you write and are like, ‘yeah I want to make up beat fire little bops, that’s really carefree and freeform; you don’t have to think super hard, but I'm a human, right? And life is a crazy, vicious cycle of love and heartbreak and disappointment, and there’s highs and there’s lows and there’s peaks and there’s valleys. And I’m a human at the end of the day that makes music and art as pretentious as it sounds, and I think there were times in my life like the human experience for the last couple years where things got really not super summery and bright outside. Like it didn’t feel that way to me with my perception of what was going on with my life and certain events. And because I’m an artist, and because I make music and that’s the thing I do everyday, I think some go those situations some of those memories or some of those things that were bothering me or something probably went into the art and the songs that came out happened to make that project; I liked it and that’s kind of the explanation why there’s some really serious songs and why there’s some emotional orchestral songs and moments . But yeah, in short, the human experience can be pretty wild sometimes. It's awesome. Sometimes it can be sad. I think my music reflects that and however I’m feeling. My music is like a mood ring that I have on my finger, and you kind of hear how I go through emotions in live time.” Your music is so multifaceted in regards to genre , so how do you stay true to your sound while working with such a variety of music types? “I think my true sound is shaping whatever gets me excited in my studio or in that room that day. It’s not so much as how I can fit my personality per se into a genre or song; if I’m already chasing that idea or writing that idea to begin with, no matter what the genre is, it's gonna sound like me because I only work on s*** that gets me excited and gets my gears going. I talk to my friends and say its like digging for dinosaur bones when you first start a song, no matter what the genre is, or the beat, or the melody, or the core progression, or the guitar, or the piano core progression you are starting with. I look at it as you’re just scraping through dirt, right. Or at least for me, I have that little brush, and I’m at the little site with all the other archeologists, and I’m just scraping the brush, and then when there’s like a core progression, or a beat, or something in a new genre that I write or do in the studio that gets me excited, it's like that’s where I see a little piece of a bone, and then I just keep digging and brushing and then I add this over there, and I keep digging and brushing and then I add these drums over here, and then I keep digging and brushing. And now I’m really excited because I’m about to uncover this thing, and then I start writing and I keep on uncovering this thing, and then eventually I take 10 steps back and it’s a whole f******* dinosaur or like a dinosaur leg, you know what I mean? And then that’s kind of what it's like for every song. Like, if it's released on my Spotify and made it past my crazy brain and made it onto my managers, and made it from managers to the label to be this song that I got super juiced about and finished.” “Like I got hyper obsessive almost until I finished it…so it’s less about how to spit me onto a track and more about if I’m already juiced about something and I’m going in that direction it’s gonna have all of my little personality to it already because I couldn’t even be making the song unless I was extremely inspired and juiced about whatever was going on in the room that day, which is probably why they are all super different and one song never sounds like the other one which some can say could be a fault, but I don’t think it’s a fault. I think it makes it fun and ever changing and never gets stale for me, and it makes me shows f****** awesome for me, because I get to do all these different dynamics and different and different moments and different emotions. And it’s a cool time. It makes it so when I go on stage at a show it’s almost like a therapy session, like I have all these peaks and valleys and I have all these happy moments and sad moments and they are all lyrics that I wrote and things that I’ve related to, and I get to kind of go through it in live time at the show every single time I play it. It's pretty sick.” A huge characteristic that makes you stand out as a musician is the whimsical nature of your sound. How have you connected to your inner child with your music? “I love that question…” “For the most part, when you’re a child, an infant, a baby, you don’t really know about the pain in the world yet, and you don’t really know how cruel life can be and how wild it can be sometimes. And I feel like, at least in my experience, if you ask about me and how I do as my inner child, I feel like if I look back at me being a kid, I just took on life as it was.” “I think when I’m in a studio it’s the closest form I can get back to that, as far as the thought process.” “I can just take on everything as it comes to me. “ Looking back at who you were writing your hit, "Honey Pie", what advice would you give that version of yourself? (The version of yourself writing that song before you knew anything that would happen or come of it) “There's one time in my whole life, or my whole career, or my whole anything that I didn’t do any of the stuff that I said…” “I chase what gets me excited; I’ve been harping on that, right? ‘Honey Pie’, I wrote in 20 minutes. I didn’t think too hard. I got excited. I made the song…wrote the song. I made it, didn’t think about it. Put it out, but I’m a human like I also said a couple questions ago and humans are complicated and wild individuals, and clearly I tried to be an artist for years and years and years and years and years and years with different aliases and different names and busted it out and tried for so long and I would get some success: a couple hundred thousand streams here, a couple hundreds thousand streams there. But when you put out a song and it gets viral, you have that thought of like, ‘well, clearly if I did X, Y, Z, this is the result, and when I do that, this is the result, so I just need to do this every time. That was where my brain went. I was like, ‘clearly this works so I have to do this again’, and I wrote and made the song ‘Anything You Want’, which it’s not like it’s not me or that I didn’t put myself into it, but it’s the only song I ever made or wrote that I can say that I think I made it for the wrong reasons, or that I was just trying to replicate a version of myself that was natural and connected with people, and I thought I had to do it twice, and this is all a long winded answer to say that I feel like if I could back in time to the moment right after I wrote that song, I would have this conversation with myself to say, ‘hey, this song you made is about to come out, and it’s gonna so wonderful, crazy, beautiful things for the next 3-4 years. And every time you think that moment is over, it’s gonna come back again and do something crazier than the first time. And then in 2021 when you really think it’s over, it’s going to do something even bigger than it ever did the first two times, and then this year in 2022 whenever you think it’s over, it’s gonna do something even crazier…” “Don't let that get in your head, this all happened, and this is all the end result of you just being excited in the room that day and chasing what gets you excited.” “Don’t overthink it; don’t make ‘Anything You Want’. Okay, goodbye. That’s what I would say.“ Talk to me about what else we should expect. Is there anything else you have coming up that you’d like to share with us? “I have a song called ‘Strawberry Chainsaw’, that’s at the time that we are talking, coming out in a week, I believe.” “I’m really stoked about it, and I’ve been sitting here kind of harping on how I kind of make things that I like and that people should just do what they wanna do, and what they like, and it’s a song that I just really love and I made it really fast, and it feels really good to me and I loved it for a lot of months before I submitted it for release and I’m really stoked that it’s about to come into the world and I hope that people enjoy it and can have a good time to it, and bop their little head around, and blast it in their cars or wherever they listen to music. And hopefully they like it, and if they don’t, that’s okay. I hope I have something else in my catalog that you might like, because like I said earlier, everything is a little different than the other one. And that’s all I got to say.”

Interview by: Ezzah Rafique Photographer: Dylan Lujano @dylanlujano Hair: Kyle Hennessy @kylehennessyhair Makeup: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup Stylist: Mariposa @mariposabih Thanks for doing this with us. Let’s start a bit on the basic side: introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do? My name is Bailey Spinn and I’m a content creator as well as a musician! I grew up in Virginia with my family, and I was born on August 5th, 2002. I started making content in quarantine out of boredom, but soon it became my full-time job. I’ve always been in love with music, I played many instruments. I now play the electric guitar, and I love everything to do with music! Do you remember the moment when your first few videos started going viral? Yes! I remember one time specifically, I was hanging out with friends, and I said, “I don’t think these views are stopping.” I had seen large numbers before, but never so many in a row, and it was hard to believe. At that point, I was gaining 70k+ followers overnight, and I was blowing past my milestones. The growth didn’t stop, and I still find it hard to believe it really happened. It’s really nice to see creators using their platform to advocate against anti-bullying. What would you say has been the best part of creating a safe space online? I want to make people feel comfortable and confident in their own skin because it’s something I’ve always struggled with. I love that people tell me I’m their comfort creator, and they watch my videos when they need a little boost. I’ve impacted so many people just through a screen, which makes me so happy. I love when I meet fans and they tell me how much I mean to them. I’ve had people break down in tears from excitement, which makes me want to cry too. I adore making a positive impact on my fans! What about the challenges, what have you dealt on your platform that has been the hardest? I had a period of time where I felt stuck, I was out of ideas but hadn’t thought about trying to expand my content more. There have been points where I just wanted to give up because I couldn’t handle the pressure of getting a video out every single day. It’s hard to come up with new ideas every day, but I’ve learned to be more forgiving with myself. It’s okay to have off days; everyone does! I don’t usually get hate comments, but I have on specific videos, and those set me back too. I've been body-shamed online a lot, and it’s hard to deal with it when I’m not feeling the most confidence. Who are some creators on TikTok that inspire you? I am really inspired by Mikayla Nogueira and Kirsten Titus. I love how authentic they are to themselves, and they’re not afraid to be totally open with the audience. Showing your everyday life is so impressive to me; it’s not easy to vlog everything you’re doing. I’ve always admired how to open Mikayla has been with her fans about what’s happening in her life. Knowing that other creators struggle with mental health reassures me that I’m not alone. I love Kirsten's content because she’s hilarious and makes anything seem like a great time! What advice do you have for anyone who has a hard time opening up to people about struggles that they are going through? I would say to find small things you enjoy about your day and write them down. As simple as it sounds, looking forward to a few small things a day can make the bigger tasks less daunting. It could be something as small as having a cookie, but it really does help. Don’t try to force a conversation you aren’t comfortable with. If you aren’t ready to get help, it will be okay! You can also reach out to people who aren’t in your family, like mental health hotlines, because they are always there for you. Opening up can be difficult, but each day you work on yourself, it gets a little easier. How was this past Vidcon for you and what was your experience there like? VidCon this year was extremely fun! It was my first time going, so I didn’t know what to expect, but it was amazing. I got to meet so many amazing people and see other content creators I’ve always wanted to meet. It felt like a loving community of supporters, and everyone was so positive. There were so many activities and things for everyone to do, like a squishmallow claw machine! Lastly, what advice would you give your younger self? I would tell her to stop worrying so much about what other people think. I was always scared of being judged or disliked, but it’s really inevitable. Me not caring about judgment or hate has gotten me to the point where I am today! If I had given up when I started getting hate comments, I would not have the opportunities I have now. I would say to stay true to yourself and what you like because the right people will find it!

September 7 2022 | Bridgestone Arean, Nashville, TN | Photos by: Stephanie Siau Opening Act: Peter McPoland

Interview by: Ezzah Rafique | Photos by: Hunter Lyon 1. Thanks for doing this with us. Let’s start a bit on the basic side: introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do? Thank you for having me, I'm honored! Hello, my name is Hailey Haus. I am a Pop artist, songwriter, and producer based in Dallas, Texas but from Oakland, California! I can describe my music as a melting pot of inspirations as well as a world of unique concepts and storytelling. 2. Congrats on the release of "Flavor of the Month"! What is the backstory to the song? I think this song has a meaning that tends to surprise people. At one point in my life I was getting to know multiple guys in the span of a year. In my case, I was just searching for that one guy who I would give my heart to and would be the perfect match. This one girl who I consider being an outsider formed the opinion that I had a “Flavor of The Month.” She went around telling people that about me, without considering that my intention was never to lead anyone on, but that I was just trying to find my husband. I remembered that she said this about me after years had passed and thought it would be the funniest song title! Later I wrote this song over Zoom with Natania Lalwani and Miranda Glory. We formed the concept into each month of the year being a theoretical guy. For me this is a song about taking the power back and also a reminder that sometimes it takes putting yourself out there and meeting different people in order to find the right one. You don’t have to settle – eventually you will find that special guy who checks off the most important boxes. 3. For "Flavor of the Month," what was the process like for you when it came to writing and creating the song? It was one of the easiest and most fun writing sessions ever! We wrote the song in about 10 minutes, there was just this “meant to be” feeling about it. I feel as if it’s one of those concepts that should have been written before, but somehow we caught it before anyone else. That makes it feel even more special. We did try to rewrite the chorus later on just to see if we could beat it but we ended up reverting back to the original, sometimes you can never beat the special magic from the first session. 5. You've worked with a lot of talented people, Gregg Wattenberg being one of them. Who are some artists, dead or alive, that inspire you? Or someone you dream to work with? Katy Perry has been a huge inspiration to me since I was a kid, I remember the first moment I ever saw her on tv and was so intrigued by her colorful hair and fashion sense. I just love her creativity and how she is unapologetically herself. I am always drawn to artists who create an immersive experience for their fans – that is something that I plan on doing. 6. How would you describe your music to someone who is listening to it for the first time or has never heard it before? I would say that my music is multidimensional. I got a little something for everyone. I have some bubblegum pop, rock, funk, hip-hop, jazz, intimate ballads, cinematic/theater… I love to lead with whatever is inspiring me, but the glue that keeps it cohesive is this “pop” umbrella. I think if you are a Disney lover, a pop music lover, one love the contrast of beautiful yet haunting things, then you will be a fan of my music. 7. Aside from music, what hobbies or interests do you have that keep your free time occupied? I grew up with my grandma, mom, and aunts being cosmetologists, so I also adopted a love for it! More specifically I love all things makeup! I love doing full glam looks and I’m not afraid of color. It’s definitely a passion I have on the side – I think if I didn’t do music I would have been a MUA / YouTube beauty guru! 8. Going back to music, you're very talented with writing your lyrics. What does your creative process look like? Everything for me begins with a concept or title. I need that clarity and structure, there is nothing more satisfying than having an out-of-the box concept. My concepts are usually birthed from my real life experiences, imagination, or even viewing real life through an imaginative lens. From there I start word vomiting everything I possibly can about this said topic into a Doc. I then record and create any melody or production ideas into Logic to start carving out the mood for the song. After that I bring that idea into a session and we flesh the song out together! I like going into each session with a plan and knowing what I want to say- I think it makes everyone's job a little easier and is a set up for a stronger outcome. 9. "Flavor of the Month" was the first song of yours to be on the radio, correct? Your reaction to listening to it was precious and so was your sister's! Did you preview the song to your family before the release and what was their reaction like? Yes! ‘Flavor’ was the first song to play on the radio! That was one of the best moments of my life. The first time I heard it playing I immediately felt the memories of all the years, hours of work, tears, and passion I put into my career to get to that point. It was extremely validating and encouraging, I’m so glad I didn’t give up! And yes, I did show my family the song before it was released. They are very, very supportive of my career and also get all of the demos. They are my other A&Rs, haha! Upon first listen they thought this song was super funny and they knew people were going to resonate with it. 10. Lastly, do you have any plans for releasing music later in the year? Is there anything you could tell us about possible collaborations or releases?" I can’t say much at the moment, but we have a lot of big future plans. I am very excited to show the world, my world! It’s going to be larger than life. For now stay tuned on social media as I will be teasing new music very soon!

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Interview by: Lauren Sanchez | August 20,2022 L: What inspired you to get into music and songwriting? Olivia: So, growing up music was always in my house and my dad would always have like concert DVDs playing back when that was a thing, and CDs playing when we were making brunch, driving me to school. So, I was really immersed in music and he also played guitar. So when I was about 12 years old, I asked him to teach me some chords on guitar. And I basically just wrote so many songs with those same three chords. And as I got into high school, I started, you know, playing talent shows and then playing at some coffee shops. And I just fell in love with music beyond listening to it. I thought the creation of it was really cool. And as I went to more and more concerts, I was just really inspired. And, you know, seeing that it can be a career path was really cool to me. So I just kept playing shows and slowly started to put music on SoundCloud and just released kind of some demos, that weren't very good, out into the world. And eventually, by the time I was about 18, some songs that I put out were noticed by a Canadian TV show called "The Launch" and they reached out and scouted me for the show. So, that kind of took my life in a cool direction. And I went on the show and actually won the show, which was crazy and incredible and amazing. And, through that, I got a song on Canadian radio, Top 40, and I got to open for Lionel Richie and just do some really incredible career things. Then, last year I put out my debut album and now we're here! So, you know, it's been a journey, but it's been really fun and cool so far. L: That's really cool. You mentioned a few of your inspirations as you were saying that, so who do you think are your biggest inspirations when it comes to this sort of artistry? Like you can even talk about like just musicians in general or even songwriters. Olivia: So growing up, I definitely listened to lots of Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac, Norah Jones. And that was my kind of first inspiration when it came to writing. And as I got older, I definitely just started to listen to so many different kinds of music, whether that's EDM or hip hop or country or classical. And I think just listening to so many different types of music and listening to different writers write different genres of music, definitely inspires an eclectic inspiration for me when I sit down to write. L: Yeah, exactly. Because like, as you said, it's important to be well-rounded in like different styles. And especially because you can take so many like different parts [of them] and mash it all together into like some really cool songs, you know? So, how would you describe your sound to people who may not be familiar with your music? Olivia: Because I did start writing when I was really young and, you know, my roots are kind of more folk singer-songwriter that still is a throughline in my music, but now it has more of a modern pop flare. So if you take kind of the singer-songwriter of Ed Sheeran, but then you can add some more Ariana Grande production. A fusion of those two. L: That's a good combination though. Because they're both like really talented singer-songwriters, you know, and speaking of your writing, in your artistry, bio, it talks a lot about your love and passion for writing. Is there a specific lyric or lyrics that you have written that have been your absolute favorite? Olivia: Oh, good question. So there's actually this one song that I wrote, it's quite a sad song, but those are always the best. And the opening line is, "Cigarette inside your hand. Wish you would hold me like that,” And I'm really proud of that lyric because it felt so natural. Like I kind of just sat down with the guitar and I played it and it came out and I was like, 'I really like this.' And I thought it just perfectly embodied what I was feeling in that moment because I couldn't describe it, but then the lyric came out and described it. So, it was a really cool kind of thing that happened. L: No, that's a really good lyric. That's like, ugh, that hurts. Where do you find a lot of your inspiration to write songs? Cause from that lyric alone, it's a lot to do with heartbreak, you know? Olivia: So it's been interesting. I feel like historically I've drawn from lots of heartbreak and relationships or situation shifts but as I matured and over the past few years I've been happily single and, you know, going in on this self-love journey. And I don't have tons of chaos in my life in regards to relationships. So it's been interesting to navigate because at first I had writer's block and I was like, ‘What can I write if I'm happy?’ you know? But I think the beauty of music is I'm learning you don't have to be sad to write a sad song. You don't have to be happy to write a happy song. You can put yourself in any headspace and write from any perspective. So yeah, definitely things in my life inspire me, but also just the environment I'm in, you know, in LA and it's daytime and we're writing in natural light, then maybe a happy song will come out. Or a huge studio and it's really dark, maybe like a moody kind of like song will come out. But that's I think the beauty of my writing process is it's ever-changing. It's not always positive or negative. It's kind of just, the art comes as it comes. L: That's a good answer, especially because like this whole interview is all about your song with Bhad Bhabie, "VIBE CHECK", and from listening to it, it's very summery. It's giving like windows down, but at night, roaming through the streets of LA. And so speaking about the single "VIBE CHECK," how did the collab come to be and what was the creative process like? Olivia: So I wrote "VIBE CHECK" with my longtime collaborator and producer AJ Healey and we, as we usually do, we sat down to write in a session and we had a beat loop that was really interesting and I started voice memoing some really cool memos. And then we actually took a break and got totally sidetracked and started googling Gen Z slang. So we were googling it and the term "VIBE CHECK" popped up and we kind of looked at each other and we're like, " This is cool. This is a very interesting concept and theme and word, let's use it in our song." So when we came back to the song, it kind of naturally fit into the chorus and that's how that song was written. Very quickly, very effortlessly. And then after we had written it, so I've never actually collaborated on one of my own songs with another artist. And we felt that this song could really benefit from a feature because of the really kind of fun, energetic vibe. So we wanted a female on it too, because it gives off a really strong kind of feminine energy, and confidence. And I was scrolling a TikTok and I've always been familiar with Bhad Bhabie and love her music. And she popped up and I was kind of reintroduced to her and we reached out and she hopped on the song. So that's how that happened. L: That's crazy. So what was it like to work with her? Did you gain anything new in terms of like learning how to write songs or find your own sound or just collab with people in general? Olivia: Yeah, I think the beauty of collaboration is you really just get to see people do their own thing. And sometimes it's really similar to yours or other times, I'm not a rapper and I don't like that kind of thing, but to see their take on your song is really cool to see and to see what lyrics they write. It was just really cool to see what she came up with and the lyrics fit perfectly song. So I was really happy that she was able to be on it. L: No, I definitely agree. So, how has “VIBE CHECK” been different from other songs you have worked on? Olivia: I think sonically definitely, probably sounds a little different than other stuff I've been working on. And that's just because AJ and I have really been experimenting with different things and I've been listening to a bit more R&B lately. So, I think subconsciously maybe there's a bit of that kind of zest or flare in that song and lyrically, I think it's definitely just fun and upbeat and positive. And as I mentioned before in the past, I've written lots of heartbreak songs. So this song, it's just a bit of a new era for, I guess, Olivia Lenny, and it's about being confident and knowing what you want and getting it and just having fun. So hopefully people, you know, can have fun and make memories to the song. L: I love hearing confident and female empowering songs, you know, in the media. Because a lot of the time, you don't hear that and that's totally great. I really like that! So how do you think you have grown as an artist from your debut album that came out last year to who you are as an artist right now? Olivia: Yeah, I think, you know, it's crazy to think that was already a year ago. I feel time was truly going by so quickly. It's actually like freaking me out a bit, but I just think me growing personally has really affected me on my artist journey. You know, when I've been really prioritizing myself, and my health and my wellness and my mental health. And I'm just in a really good state right now. You know, the confidence that I've gained just within myself has really been amplified in my artist journey and it's been really cool to see that come out, even in the music that I've been making. So hopefully, you know, I can just keep blossoming, and make more music. L: Yeah especially, I know you just released a single and I can't imagine how excited you are that it's finally out and you collaborated with such a big well-known artist, you know, but are there any new and upcoming projects that you are excited for or things you are in the works of creating as of right now? Olivia: Yes, of course. So I'm definitely always writing, but AJ and I in January and February of this year, 2022, we got together for probably nine days and just wrote so many songs and we've still been having sessions and writing songs. So, now it's just a matter of narrowing down which ones we wanna release, and hopefully, in the fall, we'll be a bit of an EP. L: Yay! Oh my God. Congratulations. That's so cool! Olivia: Yeah. I'm excited to share this kind of new, the new vibe. No pun intended. L: Oh yeah. That's what I was going to say. Like, what do you think the vibes are for the new EP are gonna sound like, feel like, what do you want your listeners to get out of it? Olivia: Yeah for sure. Lots of, you know, upbeat, really fun songs with some really cool production, but there will still be, you know, a few of those ballads for people who have liked those in the past. And those are always, you know when you strip it all back, that's kind of me in my truest form and then all the extra production and the pop songs are just that elevated version, I guess, of me as an artist. L: Well, that's so exciting. I can't wait to listen to it in the fall. My final question, this one's just for fun, What is your favorite song to sing in the shower? Like you’re giving like a concert. You have the opener, the main act, and your encore. What songs are you gonna choose? Olivia: That is so hard. I do find myself singing dreams by Fleetwood math way too often. But also...I think, Someone You Loved By Lewis Capaldi. That's a good, you know, belting song in the shower if no one's home and it's just me and myself and I L: Those are two really good ones because I've been definitely like on the Fleetwood Mac vibe, this whole summer. So like, yeah I totally understand. I get it. Olivia: Can't go wrong with “Rumors”. I feel like that album doesn't age, you know, it's always relevant. It's always just so good. So, that's the goal to just make music that can live on forever.

Interview by: Jenny Salazar | August 22, 2022 J: When did you discover your love for singing? Jiah: I first discovered my love for singing as a child. I was always around the house learning Beyoncé songs and dances to perform or just trying to learn how to play another song on the piano. My sister was a producer and piano player, so I got a lot of inspiration from her growing up; she even let me record my first song when I was 9. J: What was the first concert you attended? Jiah: The first concert that I attended was The Cheetah Girls. I remember it like it was yesterday, and of course, my mom had me in front row seats because she knew how much I loved The Cheetah Girls at the time. J: How do you balance college and your singing career? And what are you majoring in college? Jiah: Balancing music in college is definitely not easy, but I'm [currently maintaining] my major in the college music industry so everything goes hand-in-hand with what I'm doing in my music career. I'm thankful to be in college and able to major in something I'm passionate about, and I feel like I'm perfecting my craft every day. J: What advice would you give other college students pursuing their dreams? Jiah: I say don't waste your time doing things that you don't love and waste more time doing things that you do love. I wish I had the balls to major in what I wanted earlier in my college career instead of listening to other voices. [Still], we only get one life, so do what you want; nothing is impossible, and consistency is a big W. J: What's your favorite track off your newest album, Wait, Let Me Be Honest? And why is it your favorite track? Jiah: My favorite track off of "Wait, Let Me Be Honest" is probably "Outsider". Only because I freestyled that one by myself while at college, so It really means a lot to me, and it's also my most streamed song in such little time, so it feels like I have really accomplished something when it comes to my sound with that song, the world seems to love it. J: What's Cloud 9 (your latest single) about, and is it about a specific person? If it is about a particular person, do you think they've listened to it and know it's about them? Jiah: I never like to say my music is about specific people but more [about] self-specific experiences that I go through in life, and yes, it does have to do with an experience that I just recently went through. I think they do know the song is about them, but I also think that they support me enough on the level so that it doesn't bother them, which are my favorite type of people. J: If you could have a feature on any artist's track, who would it be? Jiah: Drake hands-down or Lil Wayne. J: Where do you go to find inspiration? Jiah: Being in college makes it really easy to find inspiration, especially when you're at the best HBCU in the nation; shout out to FAMU. But I think also getting out and doing [fun things] gives good inspiration and being around people [who] make you happy. J: What do you enjoy doing when you're not performing or studying? Jiah: I like listening [to] and making music, of course. But when I'm not doing that, I like to go to Pinterest and make mood boards getting inspiration for my brand. J: How is your hair brand Dream Curls doing, and what inspired you to create it? Jiah: My brand is doing great. I just started it, so slowly but surely will get it to where I want it to be. I fell in love with my natural hair and just recently dyed it about a year ago, so I really wanted something that I could show for with my hair growth. I didn't think reaching my dream curl pattern was possible, but I'm currently doing it, so I want everyone else to be able to do the same!