Interview by: Jewel Fiorillo from HAZZE MEDIA Photography: Storm Santos How and when exactly did you realize you had the passion for acting? A: It’s really hard these days to find a time to actually live in the moment. To not worry about the phantom buzzing of your phone in your pocket or what’s next on your to do list. When I’m on set, or stepping back inside the booth, there is not a single part of me that’s worried about anything other than that single moment. And it’s a moment I don’t ever want to end. Ten to fourteen hours can go by on set, and I haven’t looked at my phone once. I’ve had no need. There’s nothing to worry about when you’re doing what you love. When I realized that, there was really no going back. Congratulations on your role of Kendall in Metal Lords. How did you get the role? Do you see any similarities between yourself and Kendall? What Was one of your favorite scenes to film? A: Thank you so much! Kendall was an interesting journey for me because the moment I got the audition for her my first thought was: “I am SO wrong for this role.” Sometimes I think when we completely take the pressure of something with a world ending thought like that, it allows for us to play a little easier. I remember reading the sides over about a hundred times searching desperately for a parallel to make between her and I… and I realized, it was kinda staring me blankly in the face the whole time. I grew up in a world that wasn’t really built for me. Being 17 and having no idea who you are outside of what high school has made you become. Following clothing trends, mimicking the popular kids just to try and fit in, hiding from your secret passions like D&D and Metal music. She was no different than Kevin in their journey to find themselves – she just had a little harder time breaking free from that pressure. After that it just kind of clicked. My favorite scene of hers to film was definitely the party scene. Kendall’s introduction to the movie is a MASSIVE slap in the face to the “manic pixie dream girl” trope because while Kendall might be shy, she takes absolutely no shit. Aside from your acting career, what inspired you to become a writer/novelist? A: I used to do slam poetry when I was younger, as one does, and eventually that translated into wanting to write movies, television shows, books, and the list goes on. Somewhere along the way, I realized that no matter how much rejection we must get used to dealing with as actos, no one can take your writing away from you. It doesn’t matter if it takes 10, 20, 30 years for it to publish or hit the big screen, it’s yours the second you write it. No one can take that away from you. Do you have any goals for your career in writing? What inspired you to write a three-part YA book series titled “The Only Series"? A: I wanted “The Only Series” to be a place for high school girls to turn to, not only as an escape from the real world, but a hidden guidebook on how to ask for help. Each of the teenage girls throughout the 3-part series is dealing with a specific form of trauma. But rather than leave it on the last page with a death or a life-ending cliff-hanger, I really tried to see them through to the other side. To show that healing is possible with time and the right tools. Since I started writing screenplays, it was really hard not to write the books and already see them as movies, so my biggest goal for them is to be turned into a cool live-action anthology series like “Fear Street” or others like it. The only Oscar I desperately want to walk away with one day is the one for best screenplay. But we’ll see where life takes us! The entertainment industry is said to be full of stress and pressure; what do you do to tackle the pressure that comes with your work? A: For someone who runs their life based on routine and structure, you have to learn to plan breaks. Planning Disney days or throwing a weird royal tea party with your friends is sometimes the exact thing you need to get your mind off the pressure that comes with this job. Right now, for example, I have “Bad Movie Night” once a week with my two best friends. It rotates every week who gets to pick the movie, but we’ve found they’re often so weird, it’s not only impossible to look away from, but it’s impossible to talk about anything OTHER than the terrible movie we’re currently watching. So, for 2 hours we don’t talk about the industry or what’s stressing us out, we just worry about whether or not that corn on the cob scene in Troll 2 is at all accurate. What is your goal when acting in a role? What kind of message do you want to spread with your platform? A: My biggest goals as a non-binary actor are to show that we are more than just androgyny. So much of Hollywood pushes this idea that if you’re non-binary you’re pretty much stuck inside the box that is ONLY playing non-binary roles. When in reality, the very definition of non-binary is that we don’t fit on any particular spectrum of masculine or feminine. It’s very much a spectrum that can change from day to day. And because of that I actually think non-binary actors have a really, really good stronghold on different kinds of characters. We know what it means to step inside those different roles and how that affects a person. If it’s an AFAB character who’s more masculine in presence, that’s a different person than someone who’s AFAB and embracing their full femininity. I’m so grateful to D.B. Weiss and Peter Sollett (producer and director of Metal Lords , respectively) for letting me take on Kendall as a non-binary actor and seeing me for more than just my pronouns.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | Photos by: Evaan Kheraj Photography | May 26, 2022 Vanessa Yao talks with HAZZE MEDIA about her role as Mia in the CW network TV series Kung Fu season 2 , representation in Hollywood, and dream roles. To anyone who might not know you. Tell me a little about yourself. What aspects of your life contributed to your love for the arts. Why did you decide to become an actress? Was it something you’ve always wanted to do? V: My name is Vanessa Yao and I was born in Montreal, Canada. I've always loved performing arts and public speaking. I love making everyone laugh. I love engaging everyone in a story. When I was about to choose where I wanted to go to university, I decided to go back to Beijing where my parents were from. I wanted to find out more what it meant to be Chinese. I ended up going there and got a Bachelor's degree in Film. Here I am today back in Canada. It's been a full circle. I'm a very efficient person and I wanted to get more opportunities to show the world what I can offer. Speaking of my parents…at first, my mom was not supportive. She was worried and wanted me to do the traditional route and have a normal 9-5 stable life. My dad was like, “go for it.” I never felt like I fit in that traditional box. Now after some accomplishments, they're definitely much more supportive. Growing up, did you have any Asian characters in fiction or role models in tv/film that you related to the most? Did representation on screen affect how you felt about your Asian identity? V: I feel like, while growing up, there were basically almost no characters. They were either portrayed as comedic relief or it was never something serious. However, once I got to China, it was nice having more of an opportunity to play any kind of role. It was really eye-opening and I felt like there were more of a range of characters. Kung Fu is the first network drama featuring a predominantly AAPI cast. What has been the most rewarding part about bringing that level of representation on screen? V: I was coming in as a new fish. It was really nice to see that the cast were so bonded. You could sense the community. In Kung Fu, the way the storyline is portrayed, it's different from just having diversity in the cast. They don't overplay it too much, and it’s still relatable to people who might not be Asian as well. You play Mia who is Nicky’s runaway cousin in Season 2. How did you get the role of Mia? What is your favorite scene you played as Mia? Do you see similarities with yourself and Mia? V: I actually auditioned from Beijing through Zoom. After sending in my self tape, I got a callback and booked it. It was only a few days' process and before I could even believe it, I was flown to Vancouver to start shooting season 2. My favorite scene I played was probably in episode 7 where I got to see my mom get shot. I could speak to her, but she couldn't speak to me. If I ran away from home, had so much guilt, and I got to see my mom again, but she couldn't hear me…it would be so damaging. She would never be able to accept my apology. That hurt so much. Hopefully everyone could feel how vulnerable, raw, and very honest I was about that whole scene. I feel like Mia’s strength and her vulnerability comes from myself. I have a pretty hard shell. I don't let people in very easily. I am quite sensitive as well and I feel a lot. Obviously, Mia is definitely way more unstable…but I do feel like there are definite parallels to me. What is one dream role that you’ve always envisioned yourself in that you’d love to do in the future? V: Mia is already quite a dream character. I never thought that I would ever get to play someone with so much depth, layers, and baggage. I've always loved characters like that. I wouldn’t be opposed to getting more evil characters. Bad guys are never bad just because they're bad. Things happened to them that made them change. I’m open to any role, but those are some that do peak my interest. It’s not just about representing diversity but also the type of roles we as Asians are given. What are some ways we can hold the media accountable to represent diversity accurately? V: I think not focusing too much on cultural differences. We as humans are all very similar. I think not putting an emphasis on our differences will help with equal representation.

Interview by: Orchee Sorker | Photos by: Diana Ragland | May 26, 2022 Tzi Ma talks with HAZZE MEDIA about his story, role as Zhou in the Disney live-action Mulan, AAPI representation in Hollywood, and wisdom for aspiring POC creatives in this industry. How did you begin your career in Hollywood? Why did you decide to become an actor? T: I started really young. I had really good teachers in junior high school. I came from NYC. New York has a really strong theater tradition. My art teacher (Ms. Hopper) and math teacher (Mr. Goodman) were both Broadway enthusiasts, and they would find time to do field trips to Broadway. The first musical I saw was Annie Get Your Gun. The school play is the event of the year, right? They created a drama club and I was invited. The first play I did was also Annie Get Your Gun where I played Buffalo Bill. It gave me an opportunity to kind of circumvent a lot of the racism that was happening at the time because I was kind of a minor celebrity in school, so that really helped. That kind of planted the seed for my love in acting. I started doing a lot of theater in New York for the first, probably first 25 years of my career, mainly. I had an opportunity to do a play in 1988 called In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe by Eric Overmeyer. That play was written for me and I did the four characters in that play. In 1988, that was the first writers’ strike in town. There was no, no work and they all came to see the play in Orange County. They were like, “Nice to meet you and saw your play. We like what you did and you are a New York actor.” Back in the day, New York was seen as having better actors. Anyways, the writers went back to work the following Monday, and I was working on Wednesday. The first TV show I did in Los Angeles was LA Law. I had the intention of going back to New York. Then, I realized that film and television is such an incredible medium, it has such a bigger, wider reach than the theater. I was going to at least give an opportunity to change perception of who we are. You know, in Hollywood, because there's already a lot of damage done in terms of who we are, how we have been portrayed. Since then, all the projects I was involved in hopefully made an impact. You have many years of experience in the industry. How has representation on screen and in the industry changed over the years? T: In the last 10 years, there has been significant change in the industry – I believe because there are more people of color involved behind the camera. Diverse people who are involved in writing, producing, etc. I think that's really important. We produced some really wonderful things. As actors, everything comes from that page. Right? And if the page is already challenging, that means we have to work many, many times harder to try to flush out the character, trying to lift them off the page. Lately, all the stories have been able to give us multiple levels. A lot of times negative portrayal, to me, is anything we do too much of. So if all of us are doctors, then it’s not so good. I think diversity is really important. In diversity, meaning not only our make up as a cast but also the roles. It’s important that the world sees us in all of these different shapes. You played Mulan’s father ‘Zhou’ in the live-action Mulan which was released back in March 2020. It was considered a success. Even though, the release was during the start of the pandemic where most theaters were closed and streaming brought in a lot of revenue, increased subscribers, and downloads for Disney Plus. All to say, what was your favorite scene when shooting? How do you think the release of Mulan during that time affected its audience? Do you think it would have been different if it was released now? T: Well, if it was released now, it would be seen in theaters. Mulan is a really epic cinematic experience. These are some things that need to be enjoyed in the theater. It was our misfortune that it premiered the day before everything shut down…at least people got to see it. We spent a lot of effort and time and money making it. I hope maybe Disney will think about re-releasing it in theaters. I think it's really important that the story is told. It's a love of family and a young lady who took huge steps. The love really is between father and daughter. I think that's important to show the audience. In our culture, we tend to favor boys. This image of a father daughter relationship is compelling. My favorite scene is the reunion scene when Mulan gets to come back home. The scene embraced the fact that she is the most important thing in Zhou’s life. Not all his glory and being a hero, but that he gets his daughter back home. You also star in CW’s “Kung Fu”. Kung Fu was originally a show released in the 1970s. How was filming the new adaptation of “Kung Fu”? What aspects from the original show do you think has changed? T: It's very different from the original show. The original show stars a supposedly half Asian monk in the Wild West. Our vision was a young woman who is in present day San Francisco. Our hero is a heroine, as opposed to a hero. We promote the love of a family that encourages their children to pursue their endeavors as opposed to dictating what they should be. Our delivery device obviously is the martial arts because the martial arts is really exciting and it's something that I believe crosses all ethnic lines. Something that is easily absolved. It shows how we relate to one another and all the trials and tribulations of any family. If you won, we would be able to see the universality of the family dynamic. This has been a dream project for me. I feel that the character of the Asian dad is a very positive portrayal. Our dads, you know, a lot of times they're so wrapped up in providing and maybe a little lacking in terms of emotional support to our children. In this portrayal of the father, they can see that providing needs and love are both important. For aspiring creatives who are POC wanting to work in the entertainment industry, what is one advice you would like to give to be successful? What do you hope we as the younger generation can accomplish? How can we help bring equal representation in Hollywood? T: Do not be afraid to tell your story, and don't let other people dictate what your story should be. Tell your story and the audience will find you. Don't compromise. Really stick to your guns and eventually you will succeed. The more you compromise, the more you'll be unhappy about it. Success is not about having it right; success is about having it done.

By: Ezzah Rafique David Lim , known for his role as Victor Tan on CBS’s hit show S.W.A.T. , may seem like a natural-born actor today, but his journey to stardom was far from the typical Hollywood story. Before gracing television screens, David graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from UC San Diego, a field seemingly worlds away from the bright lights of acting and modeling. In an exclusive interview, David opened up about his nontraditional path to success, the challenges and triumphs along the way, and his latest venture—co-founding the jewelry brand Maya David  with his wife, Marketa Lim. "Acting has always been my dream, but starting Maya David gave me a new way to express creativity and connect with people on a more personal level," Lim shares. From Engineering to Acting: A Leap of Faith David’s journey began in the halls of UC San Diego, where he diligently pursued a degree in electrical engineering, a decision motivated by passion and practicality. However, after graduation, he quickly realized that the career path he had set for himself wasn’t as fulfilling as he had hoped. “I was super proud of myself for getting my degree, and my parents were proud, too. But pretty soon after starting my career, I realized I wasn’t cut out for it,” David recalled, reflecting on his early years post-college. He found himself working as a loan officer in the mortgage industry for about three years, a job that eventually left him feeling unchallenged. Yet, during this time, he discovered his passion for acting. “I’d sit at my desk, pretending to look up leads, but in reality, I was Googling ‘how to become an actor,’” he shared with a laugh. “I had no clue what I was doing. I learned I needed headshots, an agent… it was a steep learning curve.” That curiosity and determination led to his first break: a modeling contract with Ford Models. It wasn’t acting yet, but it was a step in the right direction. David moved from San Diego to Los Angeles, diving into modeling castings and commercials while studying acting on the side. His persistence eventually paid off in 2016 when he landed his first significant television role on Quantico , starring alongside Priyanka Chopra. “That was a huge moment for me,” he said. “It validated all the hard work I had put in.” The Role of a Lifetime: Victor Tan on S.W.A.T. While Quantico  was a pivotal moment in David’s career, his role as Officer Victor Tan on S.W.A.T.  truly solidified his place in the industry. Yet, even this wasn’t a straightforward path. In a twist of fate, David initially didn’t land the part. “My manager called me after my final audition and said, ‘It’s not going to happen,’” David recalled, explaining how disheartened he was after hearing that he didn’t get the role. The buzz surrounding S.W.A.T. —with powerhouse names like Shemar Moore, director Justin Lin, and creator Shawn Ryan attached—made it a coveted project, and missing out felt like a significant setback. But just a week later, David received a call that would change everything. “They wanted me to play Victor Tan, a character they created for me after the pilot,” he said. Originally intended to appear in only six episodes, David’s portrayal of Tan has now spanned eight seasons and over 150 episodes. “Victor Tan has grown so much,” David said, reflecting on his character’s evolution over the years. “He started out as a young, ambitious officer trying to find his footing, and now he’s one of the senior members on the team, even running S.W.A.T. Academy.” For David, it’s been a rewarding experience to grow alongside the character, bringing elements of his own personality into the role. “Tan is loyal, has integrity, and is determined—qualities I like to think I share with him. Though, I have to admit, he’s a lot tougher than I am!” Memorable Moments from Eight Years of S.W.A.T. Eight seasons on a show is a monumental achievement, and David has a treasure trove of memories from his time on S.W.A.T. . “It’s been an incredible journey. I’ll remember this time in my life forever,” he said. Some standout experiences for him include filming on location internationally, particularly in Tokyo during Season 3 and Thailand in Season 6. “Getting to travel and work in these amazing locations was a dream come true. We were filming in the streets of Shibuya, in Bangkok, and even in the jungles of Chiang Mai. It’s something I’ll always remember.” The camaraderie on set is another aspect David treasures. “We’re like a family,” he shared. “The original cast—Shemar, Jay, Patrick, and I—are all super close. We hang out outside of work, and that chemistry shows on screen.” As for the upcoming Season 8, David teased that it will be bigger and more action-packed than ever, with new cast members bringing fresh energy to the show. “I’ve never sprinted as much as I have in these episodes,” he laughed. “The scope feels larger, and we’ve been shooting on location more, which adds to the excitement.” From Actor to Entrepreneur: The Birth of Maya David "Playing Officer Victor Tan on S.W.A.T. has been an incredible experience. The discipline I’ve learned on set is something I apply to running my business too." In addition to his acting career, David has taken on a new challenge: entrepreneurship. He and his wife, Marketa, co-founded the jewelry brand, Maya David , after a life-changing event—a burglary at their home. The thieves took many of their most cherished pieces of jewelry, which held deep sentimental value for the couple. Rather than letting the experience bring them down, they used it as inspiration to create something new. “It was devastating at first, but we wanted to turn that negative into something positive,” David said. “We decided not to replace the stolen items but instead learn how to make our own jewelry.” The couple took their time mastering the craft, creating pieces for themselves and close friends, who were so impressed by the thoughtful designs that they encouraged David and Marketa to start selling them. In just a couple of months, Maya David has grown into a successful business, with customers around the world resonating with the brand’s story of resilience and personal connection. “We use high-quality materials like sterling silver, 14-karat gold, and semi-precious gemstones and pearls.. Every piece tells a story—our story. We wanted our jewelry to reflect the idea that beauty can come from challenging times,” David explained. The brand’s unique blend of artistry and sentimentality has clearly struck a chord with consumers. A Balancing Act: Juggling Acting, Business, and Personal Life With S.W.A.T. filming schedules and the demands of running a small business, balancing work and personal life is no small feat for David and Marketa. “It’s tough,” David admitted. “Marketa is a full-time model, and I’m on set 24/7. But we love working on Maya David together. It’s something we’re both passionate about.” "It’s a challenge to balance my work on S.W.A.T. and leading Maya David, but it’s a passion project that fuels me in a different way. Both bring out different sides of who I am." Evenings and weekends are often spent developing new designs and managing the logistics of running a business. David credits their teamwork for making it all possible. “She has such an eye for design, and I’ve always been good at sketching, so we complement each other really well. We never make something we wouldn’t wear ourselves, and that personal touch is what makes the brand special.” One of David’s favorite pieces is a tiger’s eye necklace he made himself. “I wear it every day,” he said. Another standout is a bracelet his wife designed and gifted him for their anniversary, which they’ve since turned into one of their signature designs. “She calls it our Love Bracelet,” David shared. “It’s just a reminder of everything we’ve been through together.” Embrace the Unknown and Take Risks Reflecting on his leap from engineering to acting, David emphasizes the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. “The scariest and most important decisions in my life have been the ones that forced me to take risks. Leaving a stable job in the mortgage industry to pursue acting was a huge gamble, but I knew I’d always regret it if I didn’t at least try. That’s the advice I always give—don’t be afraid to take that first step, even if you don’t know what comes next.” David stresses that no journey is ever linear. He points out that the discomfort of the unknown is often where the biggest personal and professional growth happens. “It’s easy to stay in a job that’s comfortable, even if you’re not happy. But you’ve got to trust your instincts and be willing to fail. Failure teaches you so much more than success.” Persistence is Key David’s story is one of perseverance, from his struggles to break into acting to building a brand from the ground up. He advises aspiring actors and entrepreneurs to stay patient and consistent, especially when the path seems tough. “When I first started auditioning, I heard a lot of ‘no’s.’ And that’s something you have to get used to in this industry. Success didn’t happen overnight—it took years of[studying the craft, auditioning, and at times doubting myself]. But every ‘no’ is one step closer to a ‘yes.’ Persistence is everything.” This persistence also extended to launching Maya David. Starting a business meant dealing with challenges they didn’t foresee, but for David, it’s all about keeping the bigger picture in mind. “There will be setbacks, but that’s part of the process. You can’t let one bad day define your journey. You have to keep moving forward.” Find a Balance Between Passion and Practicality While David advocates for following your passion, he also highlights the importance of practicality. When transitioning from mortgages to acting, he made sure to have a plan in place, gradually easing into the entertainment world by balancing a day job with acting classes and auditions. “Passion will get you far, but you’ve got to be realistic about your goals. For me, that meant saving up money from my day job and making sure I was taking small, manageable steps toward acting rather than diving in with no safety net,” he explained. Similarly, in his entrepreneurial venture, David has found that balancing creativity with a solid business strategy has been key. “My wife and I love designing jewelry, but we also had to learn about the business side of things—like managing finances, shipping logistics, and marketing. It’s a balance of passion and practicality.” Stay Humble and Keep Learning One of David’s core beliefs is the value of staying humble and continually learning. He credits much of his success to his willingness to absorb knowledge from others—whether it's on set or in business. “When I started acting, I knew I had a lot to learn. I took every opportunity to watch and learn from the people around me, whether it was fellow actors, directors, or even crew members. There’s always something new to learn, no matter what stage you’re at.” This openness to growth has been a cornerstone of his entrepreneurial journey as well. David notes how much he and his wife have learned since starting Maya David—from jewelry-making techniques to the intricacies of running a business. “We’re still learning every day, and that’s something I hope to never lose. Humility and curiosity will take you far, no matter what industry you’re in.” Build a Support System Finally, David highlights the importance of having a strong support system, both professionally and personally. He credits his wife Marketa, his family, and his close circle of friends for keeping him grounded through all the highs and lows of his career. “Having people who believe in you and support you, even when you’re doubting yourself, is so important,” David said. “Marketa has been my [rock], and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her encouragement and [support]. Find your tribe—people who lift you up and remind you of your worth, especially when things get tough.” As David continues to take on new challenges in acting and business, his advice to others is simple but powerful: Take risks, stay persistent, remain humble, and always surround yourself with people who believe in you. It’s this blend of courage, dedication, and support that has allowed David to navigate an uncharted path to success, and he hopes his journey can inspire others to do the same. Final Thoughts: Keep the Faith For David, the most important piece of advice boils down to one thing: faith. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to have faith—in yourself, in your journey, and in the universe. There will be days when you question everything, but if you keep believing in what you’re working toward, things have a way of falling into place. Just keep going.” Looking Ahead As David continues to balance his thriving acting career with his burgeoning business, he remains grounded in his approach to both. Whether it’s portraying Victor Tan on S.W.A.T. or crafting a new jewelry design, David’s passion and drive shine through. “I’m just excited to see where the journey takes us,” he said. “Both with S.W.A.T. and Maya David, it’s all about the adventure. We’re just getting started.” From engineering to acting, from personal loss to entrepreneurial success, David Lim’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and relentless pursuit of passion. As S.W.A.T. enters its eighth season and Maya David continues to grow, one thing is clear: David Lim is just getting started, and the best is yet to come. To learn more about Maya David, visit: www.shopmayadavid.com  or follow on social media (@ shopmayadavid)

Ezzah Rafique | September 11, 2021 Photo by: Paris Mumpower Jake Herring, better known by his stage name BabyJake, artistically blends rock and roll with indie, folk, and other genres into one creative masterpiece. With his debut album- 'The Sun Wakes Up Earlier Now'- out now, HAZZE MEDIA sits with BabyJake to dive into the creative process behind the new release, his single 'My Anxiety,' and rock and roll. E: Thank you so much for taking the time out to sit and do this! J: Yeah, of course, I'm excited. E: So how's your day been? ​ J: Um, that's a great question, actually, that's one of the best interview questions I've ever heard. I'm being totally serious. Nobody ever asked that question. My day's been great. I went to the gym at seven 7:30 and I got home and I had to take care of my dog. I have a puppy that's six months old, so I'm kind of she's still like, you know, growing up and stuff. But but yeah, I went to the gym, I got home, took care of my dog, made a little bit food, showered, relaxed, still haven't had my coffee cup of coffee, but that's OK. And now I'm here. ​ E: How was the process like creating your debut album, you're about to release? It comes out in September. ​ J: It was lengthy. I was pulling records from like two years ago and some of the records I was pulling from like we were doing records down to. You know, two months ago, like really, I have records that are two and a half years old and I have records that we made two months ago. You know what I mean? So it's like it was just like it was a little bit all over the place. I decided kind of last-minute that I wanted to do an album. It wasn't last minute. I always had it like in my hopes to do an album. But, you know, I kind of just threw a whole bunch of stuff that I really liked together because I had a whole bunch of records. I have way more records than that that I actually didn't throw on the album because I didn't feel like they fit. But it was kind of like going through the pandemic and all that. I was like, Man, when I come out of this, I got to like, drop a project. I just feel like it's time, you know, I want to start shifting the sound into alt-rock direction and more into the rock and roll space. So I just feel like it was kind of like. A long process, but also a quick process, if that makes sense. At the same time, it was easy, it wasn't like hard, it didn't feel like work. It just felt like we were just making music and also had music that was already made that we just threw together on a project. ​ E: What is your average day look like when you're working compared to like when you have it off? ​ J: I work, I try to work every day, so I don't really like it's not work for me. It's like it is work and some of it sucks, but. Most of it, I enjoy. So I try to work every day when I can, maybe like two days a week, I take off for one day and I couldn't tell you what that day looks like. It changes, you know? I recently got in a relationship, so a lot of my free time I've been spending with my girlfriend...I mean, I'm kind of a boring guy when it comes outside of music, you know,. ​ E: Did COVID affect your process in creating the album like when it came to adding new songs? ​ J: What affected me in COVID is I got really sick, I actually got COVID and then. After I got I wasn't sick from COVID, I was sick for like two days and three days, but it sparked an autoimmune disorder in me that I didn't know I had at the time. So I got really, really sick for like three or four months, and that shifted my entire change in music to like. I started thinking about why I'm doing this, why I got into music in the first place and why I'm doing it. So it wasn't like COVID, really. The pandemic and the isolation stuff didn't really make that big of an impact on me. It was more like being sick and being like it was the first time in a while that I felt like life is not abundant. It's not like you're not going to live forever because you get on this like you get signed as an artist. I was working so hard to get signed as an artist, and then I have like a little bit of success and I'm like on a high horse. And you think you kind of forget you're living in a world that does have a due date eventually. So that's really what made me kind of dive in and be like, OK, what do I want to do? F*ck what everybody else wants to do. F*ck every manager, label, whatever else is telling me to do, what do I want to do? Thankfully, I have a pretty supportive label and management situation, so there hasn't been too many bumps in the road, maybe a couple. ​ E: That's nice. Was there any time in the process of creating the album where you felt like maybe you not couldn't get through it, but like what helped you get through any tough time you had while creating this?​ ​ J: I never felt like I had a tough time creating it. I think I just if I did, I mean, I'm the type of person that's like if if something bothered me about a record and I couldn't get it right, I would just cut the record. I would just say, All right, fuck it. Let's move on to the next record. That's it. You know, that's writing and. Yeah. I mean, like I've written so much music in my life, there's you have no idea there's probably 50 songs that are in my Dropbox right now that are fully like mixed out records that just probably will never come out. So like for me, it's I've been doing it so long and writing so many records that I'm like, OK, this isn't working out perfectly cool. We cut it. Go to the next one. Maybe the next one works out perfectly and maybe even better for this particular project, you know? So I was never really like stressed. The only time that I was stressed is whenever we were mixing and mastering it and the label's like, OK, we have a due date. We need it done by here needs to be done like that's when it gets a little stressed. Ok, we need the photoshoot done right. It's all the other shit. Making the music is the easy part. The photoshoots, the videos, the due dates, the social media, like all that stuff, is that's where the work is. And being an artist, it's not really making the music-making. Well, at least for me, making the music is the joyful part, you know? ​ E: Is there a specific song on the album that you have like a really strong connection to? Or maybe that like you have a memory that's really close to you? ​ J: Well, there's two when you talk about a memory that's really close to me, a numbers game, which is a record on the album is all about me being sick and me being like, I don't even want to look at myself because I'm disgusted and like, who I am. So that's a deep, definitely a deep, meaningful song. I mean, the lyrics are just totally about that. And then as far as a song that's like my favorite and that I really enjoyed writing and that I enjoy [the] performance. 'Daddy's Coming Home' is probably... my favorite to perform and my most favorite record. But I think the most meaningful one and the one that has the most meaning is numbers.​ E: Do you have a favorite song on the album? ​ J: Yeah, I'd say it's 'Daddy's Coming Home'. Um, I like 'Numbers Game', I mean, I like them all. There's like, I really enjoy them all. But I think 'Daddy's Coming Home' to my favorite just because, like, I'm a rock and roll head, and that's the one that is closest to where I want the sound to go. So, yeah. E: Your upcoming single, 'My Anxiety', comes on September 3rd. Do you have like, in your words, how would you describe the song to somebody who's like listening to it for the first time? ​ ​ J: I would describe it as upbeat, but kind of sad if you listen to lyrics, I think most people don't really listen like maybe not most people, but there's definitely a percentage of people that don't listen to lyrics. They just listen to like the movement of the actual song and the instrumental. It might even be listening to lyrics, but they're not understanding what they mean like of those people. Yeah, if you're one of those people, you're going to be like, Oh great, this song is sick. It's like, it's like a mid-tempo, upbeat, like dance like kind of alt-rock dance record. But if you listen to the lyrics, it's really a sad song. It's me talking about my anxiety and like addiction problems I've had in the past and stuff like that. So there's kind of two sides to it. It's like, I think for the first time listening to it, some people might feel really amazing and feel like it's, Oh, wow, this is a great song, has a really good feeling to it. But then like on second, listen, if you listen to the lyrics, you're like, Man, he's kind of sad. You know, it's almost like the song itself and the way it sounds doesn't really present this sad. But when you listen to lyrics, it's a little bit more intense and emotional.​ ​ E: Would you say that song's also like when you're really looking forward to perform live?​ ​ J: Oh, yeah, totally. I mean, I've already performed it live to like a small crowd in Venice, California, for like this weekend thing and when I hit that one. It's just people feel it immediately because I'm like at the top of my register, I'm pushing my voice as much as I can. The band feels that it's very like it's kind of a little bit of a sloppy record when you take the pieces apart, but it just feels really good, you know?​ ​ E: For some of the people who maybe haven't listened to your songs before, you had a pretty big song 'Cigarettes on Patios' that came out in 2019. I want to touch on that really, really fast. What was your reaction like seeing it climb viral on charts?​ ​ J: It was great, it was amazing at the time, it was the best feeling in the world my whole life. All I wanted to do was be on my whole life. But like a majority of my life, all I wanted to do was get to the point where, like, I had a hit song, you know, and now I look at it and like, it's always like at the moment you really, really respect it and you're like, Oh my god, this is going, holy shit. This is like, you know, a hit record. But now I'm like, Now I look at it and I'm like, Man, I wish it was that. I wish I had a record that was doing five hundred million streams versus a million a hundred million streams, you know, so it's like there's always in the moment it feels great, but then you keep focusing on the future, you know, it's important to I've kind of learned. I don't think that I appreciated the present enough in that kind of like I wasn't really in the state of mind to appreciate it enough. I just wanted to keep going and going and going. I feel like now if I had that record, I appreciate it more than I did, but I still it was still an amazing feeling. You know, it was still like one of the greatest feelings in the world to have family members and friends call you and be like songs. I mean, it still happens. You know, it's like the record has been out for, what, three years, two and a half years now. And like, it still happens all the time. When friends call me, they're like, Oh, it's playing in the bar or whatever, you know, friends from Florida and stuff. So it's a pretty cool feeling. I mean, I never thought I would be here in a million years, so I cannot complain now.​ ​ E: And lastly, I want to ask, is there an artist who this could be an artist who is dead or alive, who would you most want to collaborate with? ​ ​ J: Uh, the Rolling Stones back when they could actually like, I don't know how those dudes sound anymore, you know and rest in peace, Charlie Watts just died yesterday. The drummer, that guy was a legend, so rest in peace. But the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin would have been really cool to collaborate with. Also, rest in peace. Bob Marley. Sister Nancy, like I'm into a lot of old school reggae stuff, even like some salsa artists like, I want to start when I start doing like rock and roll and also introducing different languages and different styles of music like salsa or merengue or things like that into my albums. I think that's really cool. But yeah, I think the biggest one would be Rolling Stones. I really look up to those guys, and I really appreciated what they did for four rock and roll.​

Interviewer: Hannah Vaccaro Q: How have you been so far this year? Tell us about yourself. So far, my year has been great. I recently opened our studio in Houston where you can come in and paint your own doormats. It’s growing and I am excited about it! It’s awesome, and so far the year has been great. Q: Tell us about your journey developing Kicky Mats. Meaning behind the brand? So the backstory is: I created a doormat because I just couldn’t find one I liked on the market that I could really relate to. So I created it for myself! And that turned into others asking me to create them one which was like my side hustle. And then it turned into a full-blown career because the demand was so high to where I was able to quit my full-time job. And here we are today! Q: What were/are some of your biggest inspirations when creating such unique designs? My biggest inspirations are really the culture and just like whenever I feel a thought or something comes across my mind of how I am feeling or how I want to set the mood for at home, I literally put it on a mat. I use song lyrics, all types of things that people can relate to and that you would want to put at your door. Q: What was your original vision for the business versus what may have become reality? My original vision was just like I would be making door mats, having fun, being creative. And then, I realized that there is a whole business side to this! So, I had to learn a lot of business things. It’s still fun, I still get to be creative, of course. But, there is a business side that I kind of know nothing about…that I am learning every day, and growing every day! I was not thinking about it as something that would quit my job. I wasn’t thinking about business at all. It was just fun to me, and I think that is why it grew so organically. Q: What stands out the most to me about your mats are the positive and humorous messages that I would assume makes every guest smile when they see it outside a home. What has been your favorite design to create and why? That’s a hard question to answer because I am a very “my mood switches” type of person, so I always encourage people to get multiple mats to switch it up depending on your mood. I create them all, so it is really hard to choose one, it’s like choosing your favorite child! Right now, I guess I would choose the one that says “You grow girl” because, of course, it’s Women’s History Month and I just want to inspire myself and others with positive affirmations to help you keep going. I sometimes need a reminder to “keep going” and “keep growing.” Q: How has the amount of visibility your designs and business received affected you? It has affected me greatly in a positive way. Whether it is online or pop up shops in person, the reactions are always the same, and always gives me the same feeling. Even in my parties where people come in and paint the designs, they are so excited and make me feel so good inside! It really affects me in a good way and shows me that I am doing something right. Q: Tell me a little bit more about people coming in and painting. I do weekly “paint and sits.” I host the events and I also do private parties, so some people do private parties for their birthdays or friends gathering. And then, I also just host theme parties weekly. I do R&B nights, this Friday I am doing one for women empowerment called “Sis you got this,” so everyone will be painting positive affirmations. So I just try to switch it up and keep it fun. Q: I loved the description you put in your Linkedin bio: “custom doormat company that allows you to let your doormat do the talking”. What led you to creating that mission and idea? I guess it just ties into me being an introvert. I talk, I am a talker, and if you are my friend you know I’m a talker and you know I have a strong opinion, you know I am funny. But, if you meet me and I might not know you, you may think I am quiet, and I feel like a lot of people can relate to that. Some people don’t want to talk all the time, but they want to express themselves. So, I chose to use that as my tagline because you can literally let your doormat do the talking. Someone can walk up to your door, they know your mood and your vibe before you even open the door. Q: Tell me about a time you got into a creative rut with creating a new design and how you overcame it? What were some other challenges you faced? I honestly get into creative ruts all the time. I think it’s because, sometimes, the business aspect of things take me out of the creative mindset, and whenever I get like that, I just start creating things. Some things I don’t like, but I just try to dive deep into it and create a whole lot of stuff. So that way, something will come out of it. I don’t think I have heard anyone talk about how once your business blows up and it’s trending and everyone’s reaching out to you, that doesn’t last forever. So when that turn happens, you have to find ways to keep people interested. And no one ever warned me about that. I was just like “Oh, they love me! They will love me forever!” And it’s like, people get bored, so you have to keep people interested. That’s been a challenge for me, but I just try to overcome it by remaining creative and doing new things and trying out new things and learning the things people like and don’t like. Q: I noticed you were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network and Beyonce.com. What was that like for you? Oh my gosh, it was insane, to be honest. So, I, of course, love Oprah and Beyonce, but Beyonce is like my #1 person. I’ve been loving her, like, forever. We are both from Houston and I’ve just always loved her. When I saw that I was on her website, I literally could not believe it. I was so excited and that was another stepping stone for my business. It just told me that I am on the right path because if Beyonce is posting me on her site, then something…I can’t stop. I literally woke up and someone DM’ed me and they were like “Hey, did you know you are on Beyonce’s website,” and I was like “What?!” They don’t notify people. I think they assume that if you are on there, then someone is going to tell you when they see. Q: What piece of advice would you give small business owners looking to use their voice in creating something unique and special? My advice would be to use social media in a positive way. It’s free, free marketing. A lot of people say bad things and negative things about social media, but I have built up a pretty big brand basically on social media. That would be my advice, to keep up with the trends, follow the trends, pay attention to what goes viral and find ways to bring your business into that and make it your own. Q: :Lastly, what has been your biggest accomplishment and what are you looking forward to this year with your business? My biggest accomplishment is definitely opening my studio. I went on tour last year, and I went to multiple cities, and they told me my brand had good awareness outside of Houston, and that gave me even more drive to open my studio in Houston. And just opening my studio and seeing different people come in every week and be so happy and excited. That makes me really excited. So, I want to continue building that, and grow my Houston studio, and expand to other cities and even locations in Houston, just because I see the joy it brings other people. And of course I would like to be in retail stores. Let us know where people can find more information about you and your products! My website is kickymats.com. I am on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok. Everything is @kickymats

Can you share the inspiration behind the upcoming film "Cleaner"?   I honestly can’t say much. I could say has to do with the environment, terrorists, and a girl who’s a cleaner of skyscraper windows, but can’t say much else. I wish I could say more!   I’m sure there must be a different dynamic to work with your husband, Martin Campbell, who is well-known for his "James Bond" filmography. In what ways does your partnership impact the artistic process, and what can viewers anticipate from the harmonious combination of your acting and his direction in "Cleaner"?   I love working with him. He is pretty tough. He’s a perfectionist and very exact in what he does. But I like that so I respond very well to it. We obviously know each other so well that it makes it much easier in many ways. We can get right to the point very quickly.   How do you navigate the challenges and joys of pursuing both acting and singing simultaneously?   It keeps me busy but I love it. It keeps it exciting. But I also make sure I have my own time as well as time for my family and friends as well. It’s a balancing act but I wouldn’t have it any other way.   You've worked with well-known musicians such as French Montana and the renowned producer Humberto Gatica. In what ways do these partnerships influence your sound, and are there any ideal partnerships you hope to pursue in the future?   They definitely influence me but in different ways. With Humberto Gatica, he’s super close with my husband and is a perfectionist as well, which always pushes you to do your best. When I worked with French Montana, it was the first time I’d worked with such a huge artist, which made me nervous. But it all turned out great. He instantly made me feel comfortable and it all turned out great. I’m trying to finish a music project that I’ve been working on with Chris Zadley . I’m also working with a DJ called Fab in London. I’m really looking forward to both of those projects.     Without giving away too much, can you provide insights into the character you portray in "Cleaner" and the journey?   My character is really funny! [laughs] That’s about all I can say right now. But it’s a very funny character and it’s also very “me”!   Were there any unique or challenging aspects of the filming process, or any interesting anecdotes from the set?   I guess the most recent one was in Bulgaria. Martin was filming Memory and Monica Bellucci was going to be killed. They had fashioned a prosthetic on her neck for when it was going to be slashed. They shot the scene 2 or 3 times, each take requiring a two-hour reset to clean up and do her hair and makeup. There was fake blood everywhere! And the scene was only 15 or 30 seconds long. Anyhow, by the time they finished it was 5am, so she went home covered in the fake blood and had to shower at home. She wound up getting a little sick. But even her sneezes were elegant. She’s a real superstar!   Let’s talk about your new single, Te Quiero Así. What inspired the single and what do you hope fans feel when they listen to it?   I love the song. Although it’s a little bit depressing, it’s also happy in ways. It talks about love and the frustration that can occur when that love is not reciprocate. It’s actually very romantic.   To wrap up, what can your fans anticipate from your future projects, both in film and music?   With music, I just need to finish the songs. Everybody keeps asking me. I’ve been traveling so much that I just haven’t had much time to finish it. And in terms of the film The Cleaner, it’s the first thing I’ve done since my Memory with Liam Neeson, so I’m excited for everyone to see it when it’s released.

As the anticipation builds for the nationwide release of the historical drama "The Hopeful,"  Emmy Award-winning Film Director and Co-Producer Kyle Portbury sits down with Ezzah Rafique, Editor-in-Chief of HAZZE MEDIA, during his time at SXSW. With a diverse cast and a captivating storyline, "The Hopeful" promises to be a cinematic experience like no other. As Portbury describes it, "It’s a love letter to my roots, telling a powerful human story that I am proud to share not only with those who share my beliefs, but also with the many friends, family, and colleagues in my life who hold other views." Set against the backdrop of 19th-century New England, "The Hopeful" beckons viewers to traverse a landscape fraught with uncertainty and upheaval. At its core lies the enigmatic figure of William Miller, a man grappling with profound existential questions following his harrowing survival of the War of 1812. Portrayed with raw authenticity, Miller's quest for meaning takes a transformative turn upon encountering a prophetic revelation—the world's impending end. One of the most unique aspects of "The Hopeful" is its collaboration with two-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Jonas Myrin, who contributed two original songs to the film's soundtrack. Portbury shares the process of collaborating with Myrin, stating, " I sent him a very early rough assembly of the story and just said, ‘Hey, if this inspires you, see what comes out.’ And four days later, he sent me two of the most beautiful demos I think I've ever heard in my entire life…they inspired our way in approaching storytelling in the edit.” For Portbury, directing and co-producing "The Hopeful" has been a deeply personal endeavor, challenging him to explore new creative avenues and delve deeper into the human experience.  The inspiration behind the film came from a “personal connection,” according to Portbury. “It's a faith tradition that I grew up in. Is this faith tradition of my parents something that I'm actually going to take at face value, or am I going to really test and prod this?” He states, “So when this came along about ten years ago, it was a really good time to test and prod and really dig into some of these key figures from the movement's history. I think what's fabulous about it is when you can dig into the archives and you can read correspondence between.” One of the most unique aspects of "The Hopeful" is its attention to historical detail, evident in the meticulously crafted set props that transport audiences back in time. Portbury emphasizes, "We wanted to ensure that every aspect of the film, from the costumes to the set design, accurately reflected the time period." This commitment to authenticity is evident in every frame of the film, as audiences are immersed in the sights and sounds of 19th century New England. Portrayed candidly discusses the delicate balance between historical accuracy and cinematic engagement, recounting instances where practical constraints necessitated creative solutions. From intricate medical issues to the nuances of historical artifacts like whale oil lamps, every detail was meticulously weighed against the film's overarching narrative vision. “There's a very particular lamp like at this period of time because it's all candles and oil lamps, and it's whale oil,” Portbury explains. “The historians that we had on this were very particular about a whale oil lamp that it had to be, to the point where at one stage in the conversation, you're almost wondering how far are we taking this? You know, historical accuracy is good in a true story, but at what point are you just doing it for the sake of doing it?” He questions. As "The Hopeful" prepares to make its debut at SXSW, Portbury is filled with anticipation and excitement, eager to share his vision with audiences from around the world. He hopes that viewers will be moved by the story of William Miller and Ellen Harmon and inspired to embrace the power of hope in their own lives. As he aptly puts it, “ hope and healing are the two main themes surrounding the film.” Yet, amidst these challenges, collaboration emerged as the guiding force behind The Hopeful. Portrayed emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with talented collaborators, each contributing their unique insights and expertise. From actors to musicians, the collaborative spirit infused every aspect of the filmmaking process, resulting in a cohesive and immersive cinematic experience. As he reflects on his collaborative journey, Portbury shares, “I love collaborating with people who are smarter than me because they help you get through those moments when you're stuck” In a world filled with uncertainty and turmoil, "The Hopeful" offers a message of hope and redemption—a reminder that, even in our darkest moments, there is always reason to believe in a brighter tomorrow. As audiences prepare to embark on this extraordinary journey, they are invited to join Portbury and his team on a cinematic adventure unlike any other. With its captivating narrative, breathtaking cinematography, and unforgettable performances, "The Hopeful" promises to be a cinematic experience that will resonate with audiences long after the credits roll. As Portbury prepares to share his creation with the world, he does so with a sense of pride and gratitude, knowing that he has created something truly special. “The Hopeful” will be out in theaters on April 17 & 18! Purchase tickets here . Watch the trailer here .

Interview by: Ezzah Rafique | July 2, 2024 Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in the entertainment industry. What inspired you to become a director?   KH: My dad was a cinephile, and introduced me to the great  70s movies of Cassavetes, Scorcese, Varda, Nicolas Roeg, when I was a little girl. In college, I studied the French New Wave, and did my junior year abroad in France. I was acting and writing all that time, which led me to directing theatre, and now film. Those early influences are still the films that I feel influenced my aesthetic the most. They are personal stories, relationship stories, stories that reflect society and peek in at a world with a specific point of view. And value exceptional acting, like I do. Once I directed my first film, I realized a place where I can apply my passion for creating a world while supporting the actors' most interesting work. Were there any challenges you faced early in your career that taught you any memorable lessons? How did you overcome them?  KH:  The challenge artists often face is trusting their own vision and inspiration. It’s a balance of having the humility to grow and learn, while also asserting and taking care of your unique perspective. It’s important to take the time to be in process, and not to forgo taking care of yourself in order to take care of someone else, if that is going to compromise your integrity.  I like the Rumi quote,  “The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen.” I’ve learned to take the time to be silent and listen. Sometimes the answers aren’t outside of you, but inside of you.  What draws you to directing a project and how do you stay inspired?  KH: I'm always inspired. I’m not sure if that’s a curse or a blessing. But I'm on fire for the work. I live for story, it’s my favorite thing in the world. Once I feel committed to a story, I can’t let go of it until I see it through to its fruition. I think what draws me isn’t fully conscious. I feel a connection to something I feel is important to say, needs to be said, and try to be in service of that. I’m certainly drawn to social justice, and giving voice to the voiceless. I want to do my part to fix what’s broken, to give people a lift or a mirror to their own lives.  What makes directing, writing, and teaching rewarding for you?  KH: I love personal films.  I want to recognize the characters as truthful and mirroring back something to me that is provocative and moving. I want to see diverse women on screen who are part of a specific world. Flawed, human characters are sexy to me. And characters that live through obstacles that are somehow relatable to me. So far, my films have come to me through word of mouth from actors that I work with. I love actors, and understand their work. Great acting is paramount to any show. Because I acted for so long, I want to give actors a place to really grow, thrive, build their confidence, and do the best work they are capable of. I truly feel most proud when I can help another person grow in a way that is meaningful to them. If I can touch a life, help a life, help someone succeed in their goals, I’ve had a meaningful day. In my work, that is often helping an actor share themselves a little more. What’s beautiful about that is that the actors employ their own humanity, so the payoff is pretty exciting. Without naming names, I’ve had actors come to me who from the outside had all the success in the world. But it is in the craft that they find the fulfillment they are missing. When they find ways to give more personally to the work they love so much. Who are some of the individuals who have significantly influenced your work and career? KH: I’m inspired by kindness and boldness, and of course talent. My parents, David Foster Wallace, Susan Batson, Robert Allan Ackerman, Al Pacino, Matthew Halla,  Thomas Sadoski, Laverne Cox, and the great directors I can’t get enough of. My students -  the actors I work with. And my son is an endless source of inspiration for me.  Let’s talk a bit about your workshop! Tell us a bit about it, what motivated you to create this workshop for emerging actors?  KH: I truly love working with actors. For me, it’s an extension of my work as a director. I am inspired to guide actors to find their motivations. I love discovering new works, and mining the character relationships with the text. I dedicated so much of my life and education to learning and practicing the actors' craft. I love sharing this work, and helping actors reach their highest potential.  What drew you to creating this workshop opportunity?  KH: I’m developing projects now, so I have the time to do this. But more importantly, I’m interested in sharing the techniques I use on set and with my private clients, with more actors. I want to give actors opportunities where they can grow and also share their best work in a meaningful and fulfilling way. Can you give us a glimpse into the structure of the workshop? How do you tailor your workshop when working with new actors compared to seasoned professionals?  KH: My workshops are for professional actors. Some are more seasoned than others. The STARDUST scene studies focus on script analysis, personalizing characters, and creating the most riveting path, step by step. ‘The Big Picture” ends with a play, giving actors the chance to be directed and also learn the craft while creating an entire role. I give workshops I would want to be in. I don't take actors for granted. What do you hope participants will take away from your workshop? KH: I hope they will want to keep growing and learning, like great actors do. I hope they trust their instincts more, feel more empowered by their own choices, understand how to make personal and specific choices, and feel that they took risks and discovered more freedom in their work. Lastly, what are some words of advice you can provide to those looking to get involved in either acting on screen or directing behind the screen? KH: We are in a great time where you can find a way to create work for yourself. I love the periods of time like in the 70s or the 90s where independent voices were championed and encouraged by the industry. We all know that omes and goes. But what we have now is a real awareness around the need for representation of voices that aren’t often heard. My advice is to keep training, you are never done. Keep cpracticing your craft. Keep finding opportunities, and also collaborate to make your own opportunities.

Interview by: Olivia Tindall from HAZZE MEDIA Photography: Jewel Fiorillo from HAZZE MEDIA Stylist: Sky JT Naval HMUA: Marina Migliaccio Zack Lugo is our cover story for March 2022! Read about his journey creating his very own brand & TikTok success! Olivia So, thank you for sitting down with me for this interview for HAZZE MEDIA. So I'm just gonna ask you a few questions. One, what inspired you to start your clothing line, Runaway Kid Apparel? Like, what was the vision behind starting that? Zack So as a kid, like, I was always looking up to people, like with fashion, and baggy clothes were really cool to me. Like being a skater like, I grew up being a skater and baggy clothes, and I just like, always wanted to start my own horn line and kind of like, mix it together, and tell a story with whatever line that I drop or send a message. But that's kind of like where it all started is through skateboarding honestly. Olivia So you want to like like emulate the skateboard[ing] vibe. Zack Yeah, like kind of this skateboarding style. And maybe high fashion. Olivia See where that goes. So it's my understanding, the motto of it is, "hate is ugly". Zack Yes. The first line. Olivia Okay, so what was the inspo? Is there a personal story behind that? Zack So some of you know, if you do TikTok or if you look through the comments, on some videos, it can be kind of toxic. And so I like a message that "hate is ugly" like spreads [are] kind of like, everyone's beautiful, but like spreading hate is ugly. And that's like the first line that I wanted to drop because everyone gets hate and it's like, it's gross. Olivia Yeah. Talk is toxic sometimes. Zack Yeah, very. Olivia What's your ultimate goal? If you see far years down the line, what's your like, ideal spot you want Runaway Kid to be in. Zack So I want it to be like one of one-pieces, I think that'd be really cool. Like a person combined like a shirt. Like this is one of one like handmade, super sick. So basically, there's some different than I want it to be different and want it to stand out. Olivia How did you get started on Tik Tok? Zack Like I said, starting skating, I was always making skate videos. And that was like, my childhood dream was to become a professional skater and started a few skate videos posting on Tik Tok and did horrible. So I was like, Okay, I have to figure something out. And at the time, like through the For You pages, you see dancing, dancing, dancing, so I started doing dancing, I started doing POVs, which is the point of view from someone else's perspective. And I don't know, I just literally tried everything. See, I feel like TikTok dances are fire. And I grew up in Idaho, so I was always bored. There's nothing to do. Literally. Small town. Olivia So you just picked that up. And yeah, take off from there. Zack Yeah, I just had fun with it. And I didn't do it to like, get views I just did it to have fun. I think that's what helped me grow. Olivia Yep, totally. So since then, you've obviously gained a large following of 11 million followers cumulative across social media, which is insane. So what is that like for you? Like, how do you balance that kind of lifestyle with your personal private life? Zack If you like a look through my page, I don't really post anything like personal. To be honest, especially with me and Emma, we kept it offline for like six months. And I think it was like the healthiest thing we could do for our relationship. I don't know I just keep my circle small. I only really posted like my true friends and like family like Trey and John, nuts. That's really it, I don't really do much. I'm not like into controversy. I don't start drama. Olivia Yeah, that's why I was gonna say, thinking about it's like how you navigate a romantic relationship with someone else who also has a big following. But I guess you kind of answered like, you kept it private for the first few months. And then now that you guys are public, is it at all different? Zack No, we still try not to, like mix work with our relationship. We do posts here and there. But as like, if you check, like we really don't post together that much, which I think is I think it's important, but, yeah, we keep it personal on our own side. And then we don't let TikTok like get into our lives as much as other people. Olivia So you really don't make like TikTok videos together? Zack We do here and there when like it's like a fun, cute trend, whatever, some dance videos but we really kind of just do our own thing. But off-camera we're like, really close. Olivia For those that don't know you or like haven't followed you. What do you want them to see or notice about your brands? Zack So, straight from the start, like it's always been a broad amount of like content like you don't see just one really like one thing on my account. I've always tried to keep it that way. So I don't really have like a main niche, but I really just do everything. You see like one day I'll be modeling, the other day I'll be dancing, like the other day I'll be gaming, another day I'm opening Pokemon cards, like, I'm just... Olivia Just doing your thing. Zack Yeah, basically. Olivia Cool. So what would you say is like your ultimate career-driven goal. Zack So that's hard because I've only really been in LA for like, close to two years. And I know that seems like a lot, but it's really not. I'm still testing the waters with tons of stuff. Like, I love to do modeling. But I know there's a lot of other stuff I want to try like acting. So I don't really want to put a stamp on my career. Like, I want to do this, because I really just want to do everything and whatever makes you happy really. Olivia You don't just want to like commit to one thing, right? Zack There's a couple of things. I always want to keep dancing. I want to keep skating, I want to pursue more Pokemon stuff because that makes me feel like a kid again. It's awesome. And yeah, modeling is amazing. Makes me happy. So I mean, whatever makes me happy I'm just going to keep doing. Olivia So if you could pick one, TikToker, like someone that you look up to or like your TikTok idols, do you think of one person? Who would it be? Zack Oh, that's hard. You'd probably be one of my good friends Jean. It's crazy, like, so me and my cousin Trey, back when I like had like 30,000 followers, because Trey's family's, my cousin, and we used to learn Jean's dances, like back in Idaho. And I think that's so crazy. Because now me Jean are like best friends. And like he's been grinding for a long time. And I think he deserves so much better. He's only at like, 8 million followers. But like, he's been doing it for so long. But I'd say, Jean, for sure. He worked hard. Olivia So you guys or family? You just started making videos together? And ike took off from there. Zack Yeah. So I mean, I moved to LA around two years ago, I moved here with like, 1.5 million followers. I grew insanely. When I first came out here like the first three months, I had 3 million. And I went back home one time, and I knew Trey was making little TikTok videos on his account. And I could tell he could like kind of, kind of dance a little bit. And I was like we should make a couple of videos when I'm back in Utah, or wherever back in the hometown. And he's like, okay, that and then just took off. And I was like, bro, like, this could be insane. And, like, I happened, manifested it and we blew up. Olivia So he moved out here with you? Zack Yeah. So he started coming out here because he was 12 at the time. He started coming out here like, randomly for like a week, because he's a child. Olivia Yeah, he's like a little kid. Zack Yeah, but he's so mature for his age. He hangs out with like, 18-year-olds when he skates because he's a skater too. He just skates with older people. So we just started dancing together. And like 30 million views, I'm like are you kidding me? Yeah. We get a lot of hate too that's why but that's fine. It helps the views. Yeah. Olivia For sure. Well, thanks for sitting with me and answering my questions Zack Always, Thank you for having me.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER/JOURNALIST Olivia Tindall (@oliviatindall) ACTRESS Ciara Riley Wilson (@ciararileywilson) BTS VIDEOGRAPHER/PHOTOGRAPHER Emily Beck-Hallstrom (@emily.bh_) MAKEUP ARTIST Robert Bryan (@robertti) for Exclusive Artists using Trinny London HAIR STYLIST Erika Vanessa (@erikavanessa) for Exclusive Artists using T3 Ciara Riley Wilson is Hazze Magazine's cover story for the month of May! In the interview with team photographer and journalist, Olivia Tindall, she spills some detail on Netflix's 'Freeridge', her experience with 'On My Block', & being Asian American in the film industry -full interview and video below- O: Well, thank you so much for sitting down with me for this interview. I'm just going to start off by asking what your favorite thing is about being an actress right now? C: I would say I really love diving into each of the roles I get to play and learning a lot about myself in that process and getting to look at this character and analyze, how are we similar? How are we different? And then I feel it always jumpstarts a self-growth era for me. To look at a new character in the eye. And I also really think of my life as seasons and episodes. I feel a lot of people do that. And with the lifestyle of acting, you get to work on a project for maybe three months at a time. And that feels like the marker for a new chapter. And I really like setting my life up like that. I just think it's fun. O: How did you get to where you are today from Portland to LA? C: So I started acting in Portland, in radio voiceovers and commercials. When I was, I wanna say about 10 years old. And then I did an acting camp in LA for just two weeks during the summer. And at the end of that acting camp, there's an agency showcase. And then this agent reached out and said, you should come to LA. But I was so young at the time and I had a brother back in Portland, so I was thinking, I don't know. I also did test runs at the time. O: And you were 10 at the time? C: Yeah, yeah. Really young. But when it started to pick up and I started doing well, we did more month to month leases until my the whole family migrated out here with me. O: What is it like to be an Asian American in the film industry? And what does it mean to you? C: That’s a great question. It was honestly really difficult growing up just because…not only was I as a child in the industry, being hyper-aware of how I was being perceived, but I was also having to think about, am I Asian enough for this role? Or am I white enough for this role? And back when I started, I did not get an audition for a lead role in the movie. It was the Asian person that was always the best friend. And I just kind of accepted that fact. And nowadays, thankfully it's changed a lot, in the past three years, but it was definitely hard having to start it out that way. And having to, sit with that fact that, oh, I'm just going to be the best friend. That's just the best I'm going to get. O: So it's evolved though, over the years? C: It has evolved. I think so many more people are realizing that everyone has main character stories and not pigeonholing people into certain roles. It's gotten a lot better. O: What do you look for in companies on their means of supporting Asian-American communities as well as other minority groups? C: I think it's really important for companies to support minority groups because a lot of the time America is made up of so many minorities. And so that's the people that they're trying to market to. Those are the people that are gonna find their products and watch their shows. It means a lot when a company can show those people what they are seeing. And, I can see myself and when a brand is having people with my skin tone, it changes everything. O: How did you get into fashion design and what inspired you to start sewing at such a young age? C: I started sewing during quarantine and actually I was just bored and just needed a hobby. It turned out a lot easier than I thought. This is random, but I really liked putting together IKEA furniture when I was younger, because I liked sitting down and getting really into something that was a tedious [job] and sewing is really similar to that. And so you kind of zone out. And then I found it really interesting to go thrifting and upcycle things and just give them a new life. And that's kind of how that started. And then I started posting on TikTok too. It was really fun. O: That's so cool. Just going into that, what is your favorite part about making upcycled fashion and what are your goals for working within that kind of industry? C: I really liked looking at something and it [is] like a pattern that you really like, maybe a super bowl pattern, but it's like this giant, whatever, something that would never look good on you and just getting creative with how you can completely change the garment. I think that's just really cool to not only, make something from scratch, but to actually see something and completely flip the switch. It's just fun. And I feel I found my style a lot this year, and it's been cool to see how my sewing has evolved to match my style more. I feel they are intertwined. With the show I’m doing, there’s going to be press and my. goal is to make every single outfit that I have on that. And on the red carpet, that’s my goal. And eventually a clothing line. O: Were you posting mostly about fashion and stuff? C: Yeah. I was doing little sewing tutorials and just… I would watch, fashion shows, or project runway, and then I would take the challenge and try to do it myself with random scraps I found around, so that was really fun. O: That's super cool though, because then you'll just be wearing all your own stuff. C: Yeah. Totally. O So it's my understanding that you'll be a part of the upcoming spinoff of “On My Block” on Netflix. What are you most looking forward to on that project? C: So we actually just wrapped our first week of filming this last week and oh my God. I'm so excited. I'm stoked. This is my favorite project I've ever done. It's really, really cool that it's a spinoff too 'cause it’s a phenomenal show and it's the whole team behind it. It's its own thing, but there are definitely little Easter eggs throughout the whole thing. And it's the same exact energy. And I just think it's a really fun show. It's very youthful. It's funny. But it also touches on a lot of really important issues. It's about teens growing up in downtown LA. It's just fun. I really like my character… she’s my favorite character I've ever played. She has a really cool fashion sense. And the showrunner even said, maybe down the line in the later episodes, I can wear something I make on the show. She just brought that up casually the other day. And I was like, really? O: That's really cool that they like, are accommodating that. C: Yeah, they're all about collaboration there. It's cool. Cause I got cast in the show a year ago, so I've had to wait a long time for it to start and sit with the character. They've been really awesome trying to take our personality traits and blend them into the characters. So that's like really cool. I’ve never had a project do that. O: Yeah, I was going to ask, besides maybe this character that you're going to play on the spinoff. One is your favorite character that you have played in the past, in your career? C: I would probably say Athena from the live-action Kim Possible movie. It was really funny because the storyline was… I was this really meek kind of nerdy new girl at school. And then it develops from there. I get really good at all the things that Kim can do. And then the, if you haven't seen it, spoiler alert, there's a plot twist and I end up being the villain and then I end up being a robot, not even a real human. I take my face off. And that was just fun because I got to play six different characters in one project. O: That's crazy. So, what is your favorite part about being on set on a film? C: The people. You just, it feels like summer camp, literally everyone. I mean, obviously, people are working and there are deadlines and stuff, but it's just really great. I've been lucky to have worked on projects where the people are all my age, so it really feels like I just meet my best friends. Sadie who played Kim in Kim Possible has literally my best friend on the entire planet for the past five years, and so just the people you meet. O: So, did you guys meet on the set? C: Yeah. O: Oh, that's so cool. C: Yeah. O: That’s really sweet you can make those connections. What has been [the] most memorable moment in your acting career? C: I mean, there has been a lot, but one that comes to mind was when we were cast in “Freeridge," it was a potential spin-off. So they didn't know if it was going to be greenlit yet. And I found out like three months later, three months of anxiously waiting. I found out it was picked up when I was in Paris at night. I went to a club and I bought the entire club shots. But I did not have the money yet. So it was a good moment. Cause I was like, wow, I'm in Paris. And it got picked up and there is so much to look forward to, so that was fun. O: That's so great. Well, I think that's it.Thank you so much for your interview with me. C: It's been great to meet you. Thank you.

Photographed by Josue Cambara | Oct 28th, 2025

Photos and coverage by William Smith The Newport Music Hall erupted into a vibrant psychedelic journey as Mexican-American singer and musician Cuco took the stage with his band, illuminated by a dazzling display of lights. From the moment he stepped on stage, Cuco poured out his rich LA and Mexican cultural roots, captivating the audience and inviting them to fully immerse themselves in the experience. Photos and coverage of Cuco by William Smith As the night progressed, he brought a dedicated fan from the crowd onto stage to join him, sharing a guitar and seamlessly blending into the band—so effortlessly that many wouldn’t have guessed he was part of the audience. The crowd was entranced, hypnotized by every note played and sung, caught up in the enchanting energy that filled the venue. Ultimately, Cuco and his band delivered an unforgettable performance, leaving fans with memories of a truly mesmerizing night.

Review by Josue Cambara | Photos provided by Colt Grice | Nov. 9th, 2025 Earlier this year, Kevin Parker—better known as Tame Impala —returned from a five-year hiatus with Deadbeat , his fifth studio album and his first release since 2020. To celebrate, Parker announced a brief, small eight-city U.S. tour, with three of those dates in California alone. I had the pleasure of catching Tame Impala’s San Diego show at Pechanga Arena on November 9th, and it was every bit the trip on acid as you’d expect.  Tame Impala’s set design and lighting were otherworldly, hypnotic, and drenched in trippy LSD color. It felt like stepping directly into the world that is built when listening to their music. The night started with a fantastic opening set from Fcuckers, whose bedroom-pop sound translated surprisingly well to such a massive stage. Their energy was incredible, and thanks to the 360-degree layout, vocalist Shanny Wise made sure the entire arena felt included and walked away with a new artist they could be a fan of.  When the house lights went black, the crowd erupted as Kevin Parker had arrived. He launched straight into “Apocalypse Dreams,” a psychedelic rock anthem from Lonerism . Parker did a perfect job in crafting a setlist that brilliantly balanced nostalgia with some of their older psychedelic rock cuts while also showcasing the more house-inspired direction of Deadbeat . Tracks like “Dracula” and “Loser” stood out as highlights, with fans already singing every word.  Of course, “Elephant” was one of the night’s most electric moments; the entire arena shot to its feet. But the most visually stunning performance came during “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” when the stage dissolved into a hazy rainbow dream. Fog, lights, and color merged into what felt like a euphoric lucid dream, perfectly merging Parker’s ethereal vocals and warped instrumentation.  Midway through the show, Parker made his way to a small B-stage on the opposite side of the arena. The B-stage was a stripped-down setup featuring just a lamp and a deck, resembling a home-studio environment where he often records. In this intimate space, he gave deeper cuts from Deadbeat —such as “No Reply,” “Ethereal Connection,” and “Not My World” their moment in the spotlight. The whole arena quickly transformed into a miniature rave, complete with lasers and fans now dancing from their seats.  Later, during “Eventually,” confetti burst across the arena, creating a breathtaking climax, bringing the show to a beautiful end. But the crowd wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Chants for an encore filled the venue until Tame Impala returned to the stage. Parker thanked the San Diego audience for their energy and hinted that this short tour was just the beginning, suggesting a full-fledged tour might be coming next year, and he will be back in San Diego quicker than we think.  Photos provided by Colt Grice The moment everyone was waiting for arrived as soon as the iconic opening guitar line of “The Less I Know the Better” started playing, and everyone quickly took out their phones to record this iconic moment of the show. The encore continued with “My Old Ways” and “End of Summer,” bringing the night to a warm and satisfying close.  Overall, Tame Impala proved once again why they remain one of the leading visionaries in alternative music. Their long hiatus only amplified the excitement of their return, and with immersive visuals, ever-evolving soundscapes, and Kevin Parker’s unmistakable creative direction, Tame Impala is a must-see act in 2026 and beyond.

Photography and Video Interview by Orchee Sorker | Nov 15th, 2025 Cheat Codes brought the energy to Barstool Nashville for an exclusive sit-down with HAZZE MEDIA — spilling on their 10-year journey, genre-blending creativity, and getting the crowd hype from Lollapalooza to Stagecoach. Watch the full interview here From Future Renaissance to Lollapalooza stages, the group talk growth, genre-blending magic, and what it really takes to stay creative after a decade together. Plus, the story behind their new collaboration with CeeLo Green and the advice they’d give their younger selves.