Loud&Clear Magazine - No. 18 by design&print Media

WITTY, EDGY, AND FUN.

Interview by Stephen Knezovich

MELISSA VELASCO

AUTHOR + CHOREOGRAPHER + STAGE MANAGER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TINO DUVICK @broken_chain_portraits

Bailey Elora is an accomplished singer and songwriter of a alternative rock band with powerhouse vocals and Latin inspired guitar. Formed in 2017, the band consists of Bailey Elora (Lead Vocals), Alfredo Zamora (Lead Guitar/ Vocals), Isaac Zamora (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), Geoff Orwiler (Bass), and James Romine (Drums). Bailey and her band have performed at many reputable venues in and around the Denver area including festivals such as the covetted Westword Music Showcase and The Underground Music Showcase. Bailey Elora and her band bring the fire to every show, no matter the size or their position in the lineup.

From solos to trios, to full band performances, Bailey Elora has shared the stage with many great artists and bands including the Flobots, Pato Machete, The Unlikely Candidates, iZCALLi, Silver & Gold, Los Mocochetes, Brass and Gold Society, Circles We Draw, and This Broken Beat.

With new music on its way, all 5 members feel more driven than ever when it comes to fulfilling their mission as a band. This year, they are looking forward to getting back in the studio to record their next EP, booking more gigs, and building a solid fan base.

Follow Bailey Elora at:

Photo by Andrew Ortega

AFTER HOURS

SPOTLIGHT INDULGE TM treeana

MODEL

JOE CALDERON @joecalderonphotography

@serpentine_1

LOUD & CLEAR

LOUD & CLEAR MAGAZINE IS RELEASED AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. IT IS A DIGITAL MAGAZINE THAT IS DISTRIBUTED GLOBALLY. DIGITAL LINKS WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALL CONTRIBUTORS. WE DO NOT PROVIDE PRINT COPIES OF THE ISSUE AT THIS TIME.

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

DAVE NAVARRO // @_designprint @loudandclearmagazine

CREATIVE design&print

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

AUTHOR RUSS RAY // @eat.travel.type.colorado

JAY MADHATTER // @city_built_music

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PHOTOGRAPHERS (REGULARS)

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DOUG MUNGAVIN // @dougmungavinphotography

JOE CALDERON // @joecalderonphotography

JONATHAN WOODEN // @jzw_photo

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COPYRIGHTS

LOUD & CLEAR ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE is owned by DAVE NAVARRO. The magazine, its staff and writers, has made sure that content is accurate on the date of publication. The views expressed in the articles reflect the author(s)’ opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content is published in good faith.

5

FACTS 11-13 KRISTI LYNN // Massage Thpst + Yoga Inst. + Model + Photographer

“It’s

15-21 ASHLYN QUINTANA // Model + Dancer Photos by Donte Toussaint @d_2_photoz

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

22 Bailey Elora, Shane Franklin aka SF1, Suitable Miss, Circles We Draw, Revenant Melody

COVER FEATURE

24-31 MELISSA VELASCO // Author + Coreographer + Prod. Manager

Interview by Stephen Knezovich, Cover Photo by Tino Duvick

Other photographers credited on images within interview.

10 SONGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

32-33 SOUL TRACKS by Melissa Velasco BLUE JEAN BABY // Jeff Healey Band @jeffhealeyband

SOMETHING I CAN NEVER HAVE // Nine Inch Nails @nineinchnails 5 TO 1 // The Doors @thedoors DEMONS // Jacob Lee @jacoblee WHAT WILL WE DO // Bailey Elora @baileyelora KOZMIC BLUES // Kozmic Blues @kozmicblues

I LIKE IT HEAVY // Halestorm @halestorm AWAKEN // Damien Escobar @damienescobar FALLING IS LIKE THIS // Ani DiFranco @anidifranco

THREE LITTLE BIRDS // Bob Marley @bobmarley

Photo by TINO DUVICK @broken_chain_portraits

Saiz

PHOTO BY @santafesunboudoir

Marivelle

fred padilla SAG-AFTRA

OUTLAW

MANAGER:

Press

KRISTI LYNN

MASSAGE THERAPIST // YOGA INSTRUCTOR // MODEL // PHOTOGRAPHER

1. I love to travel and see new places. I’m extremely spontaneous and have been known to take last-minute trips, and they always turn out awesome!

2. Connecting with nature is a must for me. Spending time outside is the best way to calm my mind and be intentional. I love hearing and seeing wildlife and exploring new places with my bff, Husky, Leia. She’s my bestie of 10 years!

3. I had the opportunity to fulfill a 10 year dream of mine: to study yoga in Costa Rica for 3 weeks. It was a life changing experience. I will forever be a different person, and I’m so grateful. Being published in

multiple magazines has also been a dream come true! It’s something that seemed so far away for a long time. Chase your dreams, and never give up!

4. I’m a trained massage therapist and yoga instructor. Helping others take care of their body is important to me. I enjoy exercising, stretching, and dancing to connect with my body.

5. I’ve always been fascinated by photography. I enjoy taking landscape and nature photos. Being on the other side of the camera is a fun challenge that I’ve enjoyed the last four years. I’ve enjoyed being creative in a way that I dreamt about for a long time.

Distinguished Artist

MATT SKELLENGER BASSIST MUSIC TEACHER SONGWRITER

BOOKING

FACEBOOK.COM/MSKELLENGER INSTAGRAM.COM/MATTSKELLENGER1

SWALLOW HILL MUSIC (SINCE 2008) https://swallowhillmusic.org

The Matt Skellenger Group’s instrumentation is a unique mixture of acoustic instruments that are centuries old (Tabla, Ghatam, Cajon, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Conch Shell), with modern electric instruments and effects (Electric Bass, Pedal Steel Guitar, Effects Pedals).

Matt has studied with world renowned bassist, composer, and educator Victor Wooten.

Matt’s music is performed in a variety of formats. Solo bass, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, and the full band(sextet).

This performance will feature duo arrangements from the new album:

Matt Skellenger – Electric Bass

Matt Reid – Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Effects

Latest album:

Subspace Transmission | Matt Skellenger Group | Matt Skellenger (bandcamp.com)

Santiago | Matt Skellenger Group | Matt Skellenger (bandcamp.com)

Subspace Transmission (Ron Miles, We Love and Thank You) feat. Ron Miles | Matt Skellenger Group | Matt Skellenger (bandcamp.com)

Weezie and Willow | Matt Skellenger Group | Matt Skellenger (bandcamp.com)

Electric bassist, Matt Skellenger , has always been an exception to the rules. By combining forward thinking creativity, progressive techniques and natural musicality, Skellenger displays a uniquely identifiable sound. Born and raised in Denver, CO., Matt has been composing, performing, and recording in the Front Range for 31 years. In 2002, he earned a B. A. in Music from Metropolitan State College of Denver where he studied with internationally renowned trumpeter Ron Miles. Skellenger’s fierce dedication to the electric bass led him to attend Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten’s Bass At the Beach Workshop in 2004, as well as nine of Victor Wooten’s Bass Nature Camps from 2004-2020. There he had firsthand experience studying with world class musicians including Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey and Chuck Rainey who are full time instructors at the camps and some of the most influential musicians to ever play the electric bass. At the 2005 BNC, Skellenger was awarded one of two scholarships to attend The Bass Collective in NYC for a week long intensive course. The versatility of Matt’s playing can be heard on music ranging from solo bass, jazz sextet and modern rock power trio to folk, Americana, funk, blues and pop groups. In 2003, Matt released his first solo bass album On My Way Home. In 2009, Parentheticals was released featuring Ron Miles, Dave Miller, and Andy Skellenger. The group released its second album, The Owls Are Not What They Seem , in 2013 adding Glenn Taylor on Pedal Steel Guitar. New Radio was released in 2014 adding Adam Bartczak on Trombone and Conch Shell. Vitality was released in 2019. The group added Matt Reid on Trumpet, Cornet, and Flugelhorn for this release. The South Ivy 3 was released in 2021. This album features Dave Miller, Matt Reid, and Skellenger playing trio, duo, and solo arrangements of some old favorites plus the new title track. The most recent release, Subspace Transmission, was released in 2023 and is dedicated to Ron Miles.

“Subspace Transmission is dedicated to our bandmate, mentor, and friend Ron Miles. It was released on March 8, 2023. One year after Ron’s passing. This 12-track album features 2 of Ron’s compositions, and his incredible playing is also featured on 2 tracks. The artwork for the album was done by Ron’s son Honor Miles. Ron Miles, We Love and Thank You.” - Matt

In addition to leading his own group, Skellenger has been teaching music at Swallow Hill Music School since 2008, and he also plays in The Grown A$$ Man Band.

LOUD&CLEAR ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY NEWS

by david r. navarro

DENVER ALT/ROCK BAND BAILEY ELORA RELEASES NEW SINGLE, “WHAT WILL WE DO”

Denver, CO - Denver alt/rock band Bailey Elora is releasing their newest single “What Will We Do” on Friday, August 2nd, 2024. The song is a breakup song that asks the question “what’s next?” The third of a collection of songs that were recorded, mixed and mastered by respected producers, Glenn Sawyer and Rich Veltrop of The Spot Studios. The band plans to release more music throughout 2024.

“What Will We Do”

Website: https://baileyelora.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyelora/ Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/baileyeloramusic Pre-Save: https://distrokid.com/ hyperfollow/baileyelora/what-willwe-do

SF1 RELEASES NEW ALBUM, “WHIMSICAL”

Denver, CO - SF1 said, “Before I was born, my mother would place headphones on her expecting midsection playing various genres of music. This is where my love for music began.”

Shane Franklin aka SF1 releases new instrumental album “Whimsical”, an artistic representation of his journey in music incorporating all of his experiences in Marching band, Jazz band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, West African, Afro Latin, Brazilian and Indian drum and dance.

With songs produced and performed by himself, mastered by @markfullermastering and distributed by @createsourcemedia / @sonymusic @the_orchard_, SF1 presents to you...”Whimsical.”

Stream “Whimsical” available now on all streaming platforms worldwide and add it to your playlist!

Listen here: https://tr.ee/5TBXMvuI70

POP/PUNK BAND SUITABLE MISS HITS THE ROAD IN SEPTEMBER

Denver, CO - Pop/Punk staple, Suitable Miss hits the road this September with shows scheduled for Chicago, Fort Wayne, St. Louis, and Kansas City with their friends, When The Sun Sets.

Tickets are on sale for Chicago and Kansas City now at: www.suitablemissband.com

Tickets for Fort Wayne and St. Louis can be purchased at the door.

CIRCLES WE DRAW RETURNS AFTER TO LOST LAKE LOUNGE ON AUGUST 3RD AFTER EIGHT-STATE TOUR

Denver, CO - Circles We Draw returns to Denver from a successful eight-state tour with a show on August 3rd at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver. Make sure to get your $15 tickets from the band for No Fees.

EDM ARTIST REVENANT MELODY RELEASES NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “INTO THE MAZE”

Albuquerque, NM - Revenant Melody, known for her melodic beats releases new music video for song, “Into The Maze”. Stream it on Vevo at: http://vevo.ly/mc8TIW

Photo by Aimee Giese @greeblehaus

Artwork Photo by Josh Shanks @joshpshanks

Photo by 1 Woman Productions

MELISSA VELASCO WITTY, EDGY, AND FUN.

Interview by Stephen Knezovich, Photography by Tino Duvick

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TINO DUVICK

“I’m a firm believer in doing things thoroughly with no cut-corners. I’ve held steadfast to my goal of a thorough process that leads to a quality product.”

–Melissa Velasco, Author

Melissa

Melissa Velasco is the author of the Hollywood High Chronicles book series. She is a true explorer of the arts. With a well-rounded background as a choreographer, professor, dance teacher, stage manager, author, and Crystal Grid teacher, she thrives in creation. At her core, she believes that the arts save lives and provide a route for passion and connection. The artistic ride makes life a whole lot brighter.

With a quick wit, often edgy mouth, and loud laugh, Melissa exuberantly embraces life. To find balance from the mental cacophony in her head, she enjoys expansive views in her mountain home. Her ideal day involves a mug of hot tea, music playing, and a whole day to write. Her greatest loves are her three children and husband. The four pillars of her ultimate happiness include her family, friends, dance, and laughter.

Melissa, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule. Tell us about the Hollywood High Chronicles series. What’s it about? How many books are you planning in total? What do you want readers unfamiliar with the series to know?

The world of the Hollywood High Chronicles is a wild place

full of daring adventure, growing metaphysical abilities, and gritty life.

It’s a journey through the teen years of the main character, Melanie Slate, who is passionate, unsure, driven, fragile, determined–and, eventually, powerful.

While the series is firmly rooted in the “Thriller” book genre, it’s also full of romance, laughter, pain, and the realities of growing up as an “old soul in a new world.”

Sixteen books are planned, four for each of Melanie’s high school years. The series is perfect for readers who want to experience the realistic fantasy of energy workers who face evil with grit. It’s not for the faint of heart. A warning that these characters unapologetically live life with gusto. Buckle up: The series is gonna be a wild ride.

What inspired you to start writing this series? Are any of the characters inspired by real people?

I will never forget the moment when the idea for the series came to me. I was sixteen and a performing arts student at Hollywood High. There I stood in Actor’s Alley, which is a real place, surrounded by these incredible

people that I had the privilege of calling my friends. What a unique bunch! We came from all walks of life, and the talent! These people were unreal! Singers, dancers, actors, musicians, technicians. I scanned the group and was stunned to realize how shockingly beautiful they all were, inside and out. As Melanie would say, “Not a scrub in the bunch.”

So, anyhow, there I stood, realizing I had to create something. . . But, what? Who knew? My sixteen-yearold brain couldn’t process it yet. I was a good student, but had a head full of teen dreams. I stashed the dream away, knowing that then wasn’t the time. I never forgot it, though.

Fast-forward quite a few years, and I had my astrological star-chart done when I was forty. It’s essentially a life forecast built from the day, exact time, and planetary alignment of your birth place and combined astrological signs. I’m into that stuff. So, there at the “last half of my life” section was the epiphany I was to become a novelist. What a thrill! Things started to click into place and up boiled sixteen-year-old Melissa’s fantasy of a book series about Hollywood High. I was off like a shot! Everything started churning and then it BURNED! There was no controlling the onslaught. I HAD to do it!

So, yes, the characters are inspired by real people. It’s incredibly important that I clarify that point, though. I’ve been stunningly mindful. I took the qualities that I adore about certain people that are inspirational to me. I created what I’d like to believe are well rounded, three dimensional characters, utilizing the wonderful qualities of individuals from my past and present. That’s when things got interesting. The characters took on a life of their own. They spun off into the ether, evolving into their own people. While they hold the essence of so many people that I love and respect, the characters aren’t those people. The series, and characters, are purely fiction. They are not telling the story of actual people in my life, they are telling their own story.

Tell us about the first two books.

Book One: Intuition is a springboard for the series. We set the stage, introducing the world, characters, and initial conflict. My goal with book one is to set the stage for the reader to grow and experience along with the characters. We enter the world of Hollywood High Chronicles at a time when the main character, Melanie, is on the edge of a big shift. She’s shy, insecure, and

introverted when we meet her. Through experience, and her connections, she starts to come into her own. This coming-of-age theme is important.

We all have a catalyst that helps catapult us from child to adult. It just so happens that Melanie’s catapult is one of rage, desperation, and built from evil that hunts her.

Book Two: Dark Water is an important next step in Melanie’s growth. She’s leaned on her friends and family up to this point. What happens when she’s plunged into isolated darkness? Remove her crutches and she must dig deep to discover if she will sink, or swim. As individuals, we grow and learn through desperation and being pushed to our limits. While those moments in life are often soul-breaking, they’re also the most lucrative life-changers. It takes honesty, self-realization, effort and discomfort to shed that which no longer serves us.

Human beings are creatures of comfort, but relying on familiarity often leads to being stagnant. Melanie doesn’t have the luxury of settling comfortably into stagnant familiarity. Her cage is rattled over and over, forcing her to grow into the superhero I think we need.

We need a female heroine who is scared and brave, destroyed and healed, fearful and whipcord strong. I love that she kicks ass, but is still fragile.

You chose to indie-publish the book series. What are the pros and cons of doing it yourself?

The biggest reason I chose this route is that I have a vision for the book covers. I’m well acquainted with the modeling community in my area. I want to work with other artists, and strongly

believe in the arts community. I have the privilege of working with an extraordinary photographer, Tino Duvick, who is a master of post-production. It was important enough to do this my way that I discussed self-publishing with my editor. He supported my desire to maintain control of the project and do it my way. Knowing that I had my editors’ team behind me, confident that I could successfully self-publish quality products.

The biggest perk is an easy one. I have full artistic freedom to create the story I envision. I am blessed with hands-on involvement in the editing process. I’m able to maintain the “voice” of the series. Even with a well connected team, voice changes as work moves from person to person. Maintaining the voice of the series is our number one priority, and it starts and stops with me. The gratitude I feel for my team is astronomical. They work tirelessly to maintain the voice and vision of The Hollywood High Chronicles.

The biggest con of self publishing is expense. Doing this right, with editors, proofreaders, models, photographers, type setters, marketers, publicists, and designers, is a very expensive process. With that said, I’m a firm believer in doing things thoroughly with no cut-corners. I’ve held steadfast to my goal of a thorough process that leads to a quality product.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started on this journey?

(Laughs vibrantly) Woo doggies! That’s a loaded question! My answer is both “everything” and “nothing.” Welcome to how my bizarre mind works. (Laughs again.)

To explain, I came into this journey a driven zygote of a writer. I knew nothing, which is both refreshing and dangerous. My original manuscript of book one was a hot wreck, but it had promise. I knew enough to be fully cognizant that I needed help. I started researching pathways and found a consultant. Kyle Fager is both brilliant and honest. He doesn’t take on just any project, but agreed to chat with me. Lucky for me, I have a boisterous personality and I think he found my quirkiness endearing. He agreed to do a consultation breakdown of my first book, and when the evaluation came back. . . Well, I had work to do. Instead of scaring me, I was fascinated. My consultant answered my never ending questions, and we went through several rewrites. Luckily, I learn fast, and my willingness to learn kept Kyle on board. He suffered through my learning curves with wit and candor. I thrived in the newly minted partnership, and his role morphed from consultant to editor. It’s been magic.

Now, here’s the hard part. When I started the project, it came to me so fast that books poured out. Many writers struggle for years to finish a book. I have the opposite problem. These works come to me on a never ending tidal wave. The issue is that it wasn’t until well into the editing of Book One: Intuition, that I realized the direction we were headed. I realized that direction as Book Three took shape. You see, I was still writing maniacally as Intuition was in the editing phase. The process halted and I panicked. My editor was onboard with the shift, and rewrites, revamps, tears, and hyperventilation ensued. We got it right, though.

So, I believe that knowing nothing about how this writing/publishing process works benefited me greatly. I got to start from a raw, organic, place. I didn’t have terrible habits to unravel. I got to build my methodology with guidance from an expert who was open to who I am. The first thing he, and my subsequent team who have joined us on this journey, have said is that I’m not a traditional writer. Luckily, they seem to find it refreshing. (Laughs). They warn the new people who join the team that it’s going to be a little bizarre.

I like being a writer that needs a warning, though. Well behaved people rarely make history. They also rarely have the kind of fun that I’m determined to infuse into this project. We laugh, argue boisterously, and let our imaginations run wild. It’s been a blast.

Can you tell us a bit about your own reading habits? Reading is such a passion for me. I’ve always been lost in a land of make-believe. When I was little, my mother took me to B. Dalton Bookstore every Wednesday. She’d let me purchase

Tino Duvick and Melissa Velasco.

enough books to get me through the week. I loved mysteries, The Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High, back then.

My interests expanded as I grew up, to include Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and docu-books like Helter Skelter. I found escape in the pages of these stories.

Everything changed when I discovered Laurell K. Hamilton and Mercedes Lackey.

The magic, mystery, and metaphysical thrill was engulfing. These are two very different writers, but they share the common quality of building extraordinary characters and realities. You can live in their tales. You can vividly hear, smell, touch, taste, their stories. I love the vibrancy of their worlds. I’d wait with baited breath for a new novel to drop. Those two writers changed my life.

Who’s work has inspired you the most?

Regarding writers, Laurell K. Hamilton, Mercedes Lackey, James St. James, Stephen King, and Michael Musto.

As a dancer, dance historian, and artist, I need to add Andy Warhol, Bill T. Jones, Vaslav Nijinsky, Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Bob Fosse, Ani Difranco, and a spiritual leader named Athena Perrakis to that list.

These artists all share a common quality that is a must to interest me. They’re all true to themselves. They create, guide, and display, without tightly held societal expectation and restraint. They make no apologies for their honesty, even when it’s controversial. I believe strongly that the purpose of art is to evoke a response and make people think. That isn’t always a tidy process. Sometimes we have to pour our disaster on the floor and slog through it.

You reference a lot of grunge-era music in these stories. What’s your favorite band—grunge or otherwise—from those days? Favorite song?

Oh man! I’d love to boil it down neatly for you, but music is my safe place. It speaks to me on a cellular level and makes my soul vibrate. I learn, grow, bask, and realize through music. So, please tolerate a few bands instead of one. My favorites then, and still to this day, are Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Portishead, The Doors, Janet Jackson, Massive Attack, and Garbage. I love the passion, mystery, and truth that their music evokes.

Regarding favorite songs from that time, there are five. “Blue Jean Blues” by The Jeff Healey Band will always be my number

one. It pulls and breathes. It’s a sultry fantasy, but so real. Second would be the Doors “5 to 1.” That driving beat and voice! Next is “Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails. It’s built of fantasy and blatant truth. I love that it’s gritty and speaks to being both lost and found. Massive Attack’s “Protection” is next. It tells the story of the vulnerable girl that will always live in me. Last, but not least, is definitely “Glory Box” by Portishead. There’s nothing quite like it. Something about the musical picture of the warrior in all of us, that’s both exhausted but thriving, is so beautiful. We all have that part of us that’s exhausted, must keep moving, and wants to feel safe. What’s one article of clothing you miss from back then? Describe your favorite outfit.

Flannels around the waist! I loved 90s era clothing. We had so many outlets for creativity. Self-expression was alive and well. We had so much to choose from! The grunge look, Betsey Johnson, Posh Spice, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Triple Five Soul, surf brands.

One of the best things about the 90s was the sense of unapologetic personal expression. Everything was possible, and there was something creative for everyone. It was also a throwback to the sixties and seventies. I loved bell-bottoms and a crop top!

What’s the most awesome thing you did in high school? What’s the dumbest thing you did in high school?

Well, I’ll tell you right now that I’m not answering the “dumbest thing I did in high school” question. (Laughs.) I was a teen during the last great generation with privacy. We didn’t have a

camera in everyone’s pocket, or social media. Having the freedom to be teen idiots without long term repercussions was incredible. Our indiscretions and mischief live vibrantly in the memories of the people I was fortunate to experience life with then. I’m leaving those memories in that brother and sisterhood. What I will say is that growing up as a teen in early 1990s Hollywood was everything!

The most awesome thing I did in high school was take a chance and apply to the Hollywood High School Performing Arts magnet program. What a magical place! I gained a spot and it was a gift I can never repay. We were trained by industry professionals who were incredible. The dance, theater, and technical training that I received was life-changing.

To this day, one of the hardest and greatest moments of my life was graduating at the Hollywood Bowl. I stood on that iconic stage and knew it was the end of one of the greatest eras of my life. I made friends and connections at that school that continue to grace my life to this day.

The love interest is based on your husband. What drew you to him in high school? What has been the secret to your romance over the years?

Indeed. I was drawn to his quiet habit of brooding. I got to know him better and it turns out he can be hilarious. He has a work ethic that’s unshakeable and I love how driven he is. He and I have a bond built on a lot of things, some good and some volatile. We’re both very goal oriented. We’re also each fiercely independent. We’re good about leaving each other the space and time to do our own thing, but we come together when we need to mastermind.

Having a partner who does his own thing works for me. I also appreciate that he’s a very linear thinker, because I’m definitely not. I do best when I have a partner who isn’t an artist. He pulls me up from my rabbit holes and saves me from spiraling, lost in a creative abyss. I really do get lost. I’ll go days without moving, just typing, creating, and ruminating, if I’m allowed to. I need the person who gently closes my computer and makes me get ready for the day. He drags me to a movie, or dinner, to clear my head and remind me that reality exists.

Now, there’s a dark side to that. My husband can be a pragmatic dream killer. He’s had to work hard to quell his habit of rolling his eyes at the inkling of my creative sparks. This series was a tough sell on him, but he trusted me, albeit with sarcasm. I’m the same with him. I don’t understand his maniacal grasp on reality. There are times that I really wonder how he can be so unimaginative. We balance each other. Apparently opposites really do attract.

I’d like to state for the record that while my husband and Trey’s personalities are similar, Trey’s actions and indiscretions are purely fiction. (Laughs) My husband has his own ghouls, like we all do, but I haven’t shared those in my pages.

Your background is in the performance arts. When/how/why did you start writing?

I think writing was a natural progression for me. Art is all connected, in my experience. Artists must create and express. Writing is no different than my other creative outlets. Whether I’m stage managing, choreographing, dancing, or writing, I’m flexing my creative muscles. The amazing thing about my Hollywood High Chronicles experience is that I get to incorporate all my artistic skills in my writing. I choreograph for the characters. I create and manage their shows. All my outlets are infused into the book series.

I’ll tell you this, though. Writing this series is a remarkable privilege. I believe readers find friends and common bonds with characters in books. They escape, live, learn, and experience through stories. I hope my readers find camaraderie with these characters. I want my stories to offer an outlet for vicarious living and belonging.

What’s your favorite show you ever produced? Favorite festival memory? Favorite piece of choreography? I’ve so fondly loved my incredible career in the arts. I’ve choreographed, stage managed, and performed in so many shows that it makes my head spin. There’s nothing in the world like each of these jobs.

As a choreographer, I get to experience the growth of art in the abilities, personal experiences, and triumphs of my dancers. Dancers are incredible people, almost superhuman. They defy gravity and push the limits of the physical body. Dancers are the toughest people I know. I adore the artists who trust me and bring my visions to life.

As a stage manager, there’s a thrill sitting in the dark booth, calling cues, and masterminding magical timing. I paint emotion and subconscious understanding through the timing of light, sound, fly rail, and technical aspects. It’s a job many fear because of the pressure, but I delight in it. I get to create magic. What a gift! Huge festivals are an animal all their own. There’s nothing like sitting at my stage management table and feeling the energy rush of a hundred thousand people behind me. That music/performance starts and it rattles your soul.

My favorite experience as a performer was many years ago, at Hollywood High. I was cast as one of the witches in “Macbeth.” The production was uniquely staged, and the witches were choreographed dancers. I transformed in many ways during that show. It was shockingly physical and cerebral. Our “off stage” was under the stage. We’d lay on the floor, with the stage only feet above our heads, in the fog from the smoke machine that drifted down and filled that strange underworld of metal platform legs and darkness. We’d enter the temporary

built stage by lifting ourselves through trap doors. I loved the lifts, counterbalance, and physical work. I started that production as a fit dancer, and came away from it a muscled, capable, strong woman.

Describe the HHC series in five words or less. I can do it in six: Sweet Valley High meets Stephen King.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? The following books in the Hollywood High Chronicles Series are available:

Book 1: Intuition

Book 2: Dark Water

Book 3: The Surge

Book 4: Ocean’s Inferno

Our website, www.hollywoodhighchronicles.com has a lot of exciting opportunities to dive into the world of the Misfits. From character interviews and spotify playlists, to Behind-theScenes photos, we love to offer a look behind the curtain.

The series can be purchased at amazon.com, and author signed copies are available at: hollywoodhighchronicles.com

Come on in! The energy is fine!

BLUE JEAN BLUES // Jeff Healey Band @jeffhealeyband

SOMETHING I CAN NEVER HAVE // Nine Inch Nails @nineinchnails

FIVE TO ONE // The Doors @thedoors

DEMONS // Jacob Lee @jacoblee

“EVERYTHING” // Bailey Elora @baileyelora

KOZMIC BLUES // Kozmic Blues @kozmicblues

I LIKE IT HEAVY // Halestorm @halestorm

AWAKEN // Damien Escobar @damienescobar

FALLING IS LIKE THIS // Ani DiFranco @anidifranco

THREE LITTLE BIRDS // Bob Marley @bobmarley

Follow Author Russ Ray @eat.travel.type.colorado

A Bottle of Stoli (Moving to Maui)

by Author Russ Ray

I was bartending at Goldini’s in Boulder. It was the 1980s. My roommate and co-worker was a Long Islander with a drinking problem. When Hank tied one on, he got belligerent. One night Hank came into the restaurant lit. He and the owner, Joe Gold, got into it.

Joe: Russ, get your friend out of here or there’s going to be a problem.

Hank: F you, Joe.

Hank piled on the New York profanity like a longshoreman who stubbed his toe on a steel girder on a cold December morning.

Joe fired him on the spot. On his way out of the parking lot, Hank walked on top of Joe’s brand new Corvette, grinding his heels on the paint with each step. Joe called the cops. Hank went to jail.

Hank’s girlfriend, Sue, was a waitress at the restaurant. The next day, Sue and I pooled our tips and posted Hank’s bond. We met at Sue’s condo that night and, over a bottle of Stolichnaya, hatched our next plan. Sue tossed out the idea of moving to Steamboat Springs to work in the resort bars and ski all winter. I suggested we move to Maui where my brother lived. I was sure he’d put us up for a week or so until we got jobs. After some discussion, and with help from the Russian vodka, we all agreed on Maui and promised each other we wouldn’t back out of the agreement. The next day Hank backed out.

Sue and I packed her belongings and a few of my clothes into her VW Beetle and we said goodbye to Boulder. Her parents lived on a hill overlooking the ocean on Redondo Beach near Los Angeles. On the way to LA, we stopped in Las Vegas and spent the night. We arrived on the fault line between Frank Sinatra Vegas and Steve Wynn Vegas.

We were unemployed restaurant workers in our 20s. Our budgets were tight so we did our best to stay away from the slot machines. The next morning we headed off to California.

Sue showed me around her hometown. In the evenings we went to the bars on Hermosa Beach to listen to live music. It wasn’t unusual for celebrity musicians to drop in for a set or two. One night we just missed Neil Young. Sue grew up next to Sharon Tate and her family. Sue’s older sister and Sharon were best friends. It had been years since Sharon’s death, but her absence was palpable. I overheard them talking and crying about stories of Sharon. It was as if Sue’s mother had lost a daughter. I renewed my hatred for and fear of Charles Manson.

Grateful for the hospitality of her parents, we were off to LAX for a flight to Honolulu and a connecting flight to Kahului. I arrived on Maui with six dollars in my pocket. Vegas and Los Angeles were hard on my wallet. Sue and I slept in my brother’s living room.

The next day, we applied for and got jobs at the Mana Kai Hotel’s restaurant across the street in Kihei. Sue got a waiting job, I started as a busser. In six months, I worked myself up to general manager. At 23 years old, I was in over my head. After a couple of months I quit and was off to Lahaina for a bartending job.

I fell in love with Lahaina and made it my home for the remainder of the two years I spent on the Islands. Sue and I remained great friends and, except for one sultry afternoon just before she moved back to Los Angeles, we were platonic.

I bounced around a couple more bar jobs on Maui before the Rocky Mountains called me back home.

CHELLEY ROSE

INDULGE SELF PORTRAIT SERIES

INDIE SPOTLIGHT MASTER FEROCIOUS

MASTER FEROCIOUS is Mark Pilloud - Guitars, Brian Kennedy - Bass & Backing Vocals, Bri Bosen - Main Vocals, and Shawn Farmer - Drums & Backing Vocals

Booking: @masterfurocious

Master Ferocious began as a band in 2014 around Denver, Colorado. Guitarist Mark Pilloud (Lakewood, CO,) drummer Garrett McGaugh (Littleton, CO at the time,) bassist Brian Kennedy (Arvada, CO,) & guitarist Jimmy Giachetti (Boulder, CO) wanted to continue to write original heavy rock and roll music together from working in the band Angry Hand Of God, but wanted to keep it a separate band so that AHOG vocalist Ezana could keep playing AHOG shows when he visited Colorado from China from where he moved to. Mark’s daughter Sarah invented the band name Master Ferocious & they were off to the races. MF started playing shows with Brian & Jimmy sharing vocal duties, but decided it was best to try new vocal talent. From 2016-2018, Jared Schmidt provided main vocals, from 2018-2019 Teri Froelich provided main vocals, from 2019-2020 Sonny Cruz provided main vocals (Jimmy G. had left the band at the time to pursue many other projects & was replaced briefly [2019-2020] by Nate King on 2nd guitar.) From 2021 on, singer-songwriter Bri Bosen (moved here from San Francisco, CA, now lives in Aurora, CO) is currently rocking the main mike for Master Ferocious. In Summer of 2022, our drummer Garrett moved his family to California. Currently Shawn Farmer (Louisville, CO) is representing on the drums. An 8 song album is currently in the works as to when this bio was last updated in 2022, with help recording & mixing from our friend Gary Germaine. Some songs were released individually on Bandcamp & Reverbnation, soon to be on Spotify & other platforms. The current Master Ferocious gigging 2022 lineup is Mark Pilloud on guitars, Brian Kennedy on bass & backing vocals, Bri Bosen on main vocals, Shawn Farmer on drums & backing vocals. Master Ferocious believes & has proven that their original music (& some covers that they do) to be compatible & work well with the various types of great bands & venues in Colorado, & they always look forward to new bonding musical relationships.

https://www.instagram.com/masterferocious/

films by CHRIS RAFFAELE

It’s about friggin’ time! (2023) Starring Joseph Cassese, Wayne Gurman, Chris Raffaele, and Tim Cinnante.

He’s finally getting married at 50. With the clocks ready to spring ahead, four middle-aged men go out for a night on the town with a mission to win back the hour and beat time. Chasing sixty minutes proves to be hysterically enlightening.

The Dash (2016)

Starring Carly Bassen, Bradley Brown, Rosaria Caporrimo, and Craig Cassano.

After the death of his Mother, a struggling playwright moves back home with his bitter angry Father and slowly turns into him.

ThE F3aR (2018)

Starring Mike Starr, Saul Stein, Courtney Sturm, and Joseph Diaz.

A couple in an unhappy marriage is forced to deal with their issues during a nationwide cyber attack.

the grasslands (2011) Peter Greene, James Madio, and Chuck Zito.

Ciro, a Bronx hood whose sense of loyalty is being tested after he’s accused of killing one of his partners. Haunted by his fathers unsolved murder twenty years earlier, Ciro is conflicted with protecting the people (Chuck Zito, Peter Greene) who have always looked out for him.