Winter 2018 | Meghan Trainor

EUPHORIA. WINTER 2018 / ISSUE 10 $13.50

Meghan Trainor

bebe rexha by jack alexander in wesley harriott read more on page 80

EUPHORIA. Editor-in-Chief LAURA ERSOY

Photo Editor

Online Editor

JACK ALEXANDER

AIMEE PHILLIPS

Writers AIMEE PHILLIPS AMANDA LANG ELLA GUTHRIE HASAN BEYAZ ILANA KAPLAN KRISTEN CUSUMANO LINDSEY BORDERS LUKE PETTICAN NICO SEIDITA NICOLE ALMEIDA RUTH BLANEY

Photographers DERRICK FRESKE JACK ALEXANDER JERRY MAESTAS LOUIS BROWNE TOM OLDHAM

Stylists ADELE CANY CARLEE WALLACE CHARLIE BRIANNA DAVID BOYO DEREK PERRETT ELYSE LIGHTNER HAYLEY ATKIN JAMIE RYAN MCFARLAND JENNIFER AUSTIN KATIE QIAN KENDY MICHAEL MILLER

Hair BEKAH LESSER BRADY LEA DARREN HAU DAVID STANWELL DRITAN VUSHAJ GABI LOPEZ KATY JANE TANIA BECKER

Makeup / Grooming ALISON CHRISTIAN ANNA INGLIS-HALL BRITTANY PAIGE CAITLIN KRENZ GRACE SNOOK JENNA ANTON KRISTINA VIDIC MICHAEL SHEPHERD NICOLA HAMILTON PAULA LANZADOR STEFAN BERTIN

Set Design NIENTA NIXON

NUHA MEKKI

Special Thanks AKA BEVERLY HILLS GOOD SOLDIER SONGS HIGH RISE PR NO BASURA OPUS BEAUTY SAINT MARTINS LANE HOTEL STELLA CREATIVE AGENCY UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP WARNER MUSIC

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Discover

A huge foundation of who we are is shining a light on talented up-and-coming people across entertainment. Here are a few you may already know, and some that you should keep your eye on.

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AU/RA

MUSICIAN Singer-songwriter, Au/Ra, is making a name for herself in the pop music industry. At only sixteen years old, she has already put out two EPs: Outsiders, which came out late last year, and X Games, released in October of this year.

One of her most notable tracks, “Panic Room,” landed the number one spot in Australia’s Club charts and found its way in the US Top 50 dance tracks.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with the singer and find out more behind her creative lyrics. words nico seidita photography jack alexander styling thomas george wulbern hair/makeup amanda bourne

What inspired you to begin to pursue music?

My dad is a producer, and my mom’s a songwriter, so growing up and watching them work in the studio was super inspiring. I loved music, writing stories, and singing – so it felt natural for me to venture into songwriting. Even though both of my parents are musicians - my dad didn’t really want me to get into the music industry, knowing how tough it can be.

But, I was stubborn, and now they’re both very supportive.

How did “Panic Room” come to be?

I wrote "Panic Room" almost two years ago when I was having a tough time with my anxiety. I didn’t feel like myself. Anxiety is the most common mental issue, especially amongst teens, and yet, it isn’t talked about that much. I knew I needed to talk about it, because there’s definitely people out there who need to hear it. The song’s not literally explaining “oh, this is how to overcome your anxiety” it’s explaining what it feels like so it can be acknowledged, and that if the listener is feeling that way, they know they’re not alone.

Your recent single, “Emoji” is really clever. What inspired you to write a song surrounding cell phone culture?

Thank you! At the time I’d been watching a lot of Catfish, the series on MTV which follows the journey of couples who have formed an online relationship but have never met in person.

I reflected on how I also had situations where I communicated to people that I cared about more over text more than seeing them in real life, and realized how sad that was. Technology is such a useful tool, but it’s disconnects us more and more from real life and real people.

Fantasy seems to play a great role of your music and style.

Why do you think you are drawn to such themes?

My fantasy and imagination is something that I’ve always used a lot as a kid, and still now in my songwriting. I get inspired by movies and other media in that genre specifically, because I think it’s so cool to be able to bring an otherworldly feel to my lyrics.

What message do you hope to send to your audience?

I always want to be honest, and talk about the things I struggle with. My goal is to continue to make music that others can connect to, especially subjects that aren’t talked about a lot, but that people need to hear.

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DONNA MISSAL

MUSICIAN Although she always wanted to live her life somewhere in the music industry, being a performing artist wasn’t something Donna Missal had really considered. But, after hitting a brick wall when sending out demos of her songwriting, a badass snap decision to release a demo version of "Keep Lying" for herself spurred her career into action.

Now, making her own brand of feminist stripper music, she’s released her debut album; made up of insightful, heartfelt lyrics paired with incredible vocal range and control, Donna Missal is not the kind of girl to sit down and shut up. She’s got something to say, and This Time, she’s saying it for herself. words ella guthrie photography jerry maestas

How would you describe your music?

I like to find ways of describing my music without using standard genre association. I think that I make music that is between a lot of different genres and influences and I’ve always had trouble finding the right genre description. So I just started making up my own; like I call it Like Neo Pop or Feminist Stripper music.

I love Feminist Stripper Music. Do you think people get too preoccupied with the label instead of the music?

Yeah, I think it’s getting harder for people making music now to associate with a genre that’s already there, because so many people have grown up in this age of being influenced by so many different things and having access. You can listen to anything that you want at any point in time. The phone has created this opportunity to have music in your hand at any time, so I feel like it’s opened up people’s taste. People are fans and musicians and artists.

Do you think the industry “standard” is changing?

I think what’s really incredible is it seems in these last couple of years most definitely, there has been a really prominent shift happening in culture around music, art, media and fashion.

We’re seeing women coming forward and saying we will not sit back and let this continue to determine the way we see

ourselves and our values. It’s been really transformative for me to be coming into my own as a woman during this shift and being able to be emboldened by women around me that are making the conscious choice to boldly and proudly create this space.

What made you realize this was something you could shift?

It came with age for me in particular. Finally shedding that image of perfection which I did by seeking the advice of strong women around me, and jumping on that wave of social and cultural change and applying it to myself and saying I’m not a kid anymore and I refuse to be held back and I am worthy, I do have something to say that is of value.

And that’s the reason behind the name This Time too?

The title of the album is also the title of a track on the album called "This Time" and I knew when I wrote the song I wanted to name the album that. I really wanted to have this cornerstone that I could turn to where I was making sure that every song was reflective of the story of someone finding the courage, self-acceptance and resilience to finally say all of I’ve been through, and the time that I spent getting here, this time is my time.

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LUNA BLAISE

ACTRESS & MUSICIAN Luna Blaise’s work ethic is unceasing.

Although already known to millions from her role as Nicole in ABC’s faultless sitcom Fresh Off The Boat or, more recently, as Olive in NBC’s enthralling new drama Manifest, she’s not satisfied with solely acting. Given her soaring ambitions of exploring various creative facets, it’s unsurprising that she’s recently released a compellingly addictive R&B-infused track driven by alluring vocal work in the form of "Secrets."

Astute and attentive beyond her seventeen years, Luna Blaise undeniably has the passion and talent to surpass even her wildest expectations of herself. words luke pettican photography derrick freske styling elyse lightner hair gabi lopez makeup michael shepherd

How did the track, "Secrets," come about?

I was in the studio and I was having a hard time trying to figure out what I wanted to write about and I kind of just had gotten over this thing with a guy. It was like weird and it was a secret the whole time. I really liked him and, you know, nothing ever ended up happening and we went our separate ways but, in the moment, it was like a huge fantasy. It was like a Romeo and Juliet type of relationship.

What other recording artists inspire you and why?

Oh gosh there’s so many! Halsey is up there. Kehlani. Amy Winehouse has to be number one definitely. Bruno Mars. Ed Sheeran. Tyler The Creator.

Tell us about your partnership with GLAAD and how they helped you.

GLAAD was extremely helpful in every way, shape and form.

Taking on a character, even a character you’ve known and been with for four years, but with this story I had no idea what exactly I was getting into. Like what I was going to be talking about, what I was going to be standing up for. They’re just like the biggest family and they are so welcoming and so

heartwarming and everything they do for the LGBT+ community is incredible. I owe a lot to them for that whole year of my life and even being partnered with them now in any way I can help is incredible. I’m always here for them and they know that.

You're currently starring in NBC's Manifest. What's your favorite part of playing Olive?

Manifest is amazing, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Olive has definitely gone through some crazy life changes throughout the season so far. Everything in her life went downhill but it’s all gone to turn out, hopefully! I can’t wait to see the end of the season. It’s bit of a mystery to us now, too! The showrunner won't tell us how it ends, but I can’t wait to find out with everyone else.

I can’t wait to find out if we get a second season because that’s just going to add on to our incredible story. Everyone that works on the show is having the best time getting to work with eachother, the best crew and writers. We’re just a really happy family and I’m super jazzed to be able to work on that right now.

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WHENYOUNG

BAND The up-and-coming indie-pop trio hailing from Ireland, are making bold and beautiful music. Consisting of Aoife Power (vocals/ bass), Niall Burns (guitar) and Andrew Flood (drums), they’re the most chilled-out, least pretentious people you could meet – despite rocking up in matching Matrix style leather jackets and color coordinating outfits. Theirs is the kind of comfortable chemistry you get from a band that really understands one another.

From meeting at concerts to playing their own, this year alone, Whenyoung have supported The Vaccines and Blossoms on tour and released their debut EP in November. We caught up with the band in an East London pub to chat about their creative influences, life on the road, striving to be the best. words aimee phillips photography tom oldham assisted by claudia gschwend hair/makeup anna inglis-hall

Talk us through your EP, Given Up. What are the focal themes and inspirations?

Aoife: We were practicing and writing music loads but we went a bit mental and didn’t really have much direction.

“Heaven On Earth” came from the idea that people like different things. Something that one person loves could not be what another hates; someone’s heaven is someone’s hell.

Andrew: That [“Given Up”] was probably the earliest song we wrote out of the collection. It’s about hiding away, getting away from everything.

How has your hometown of Limerick influenced your style of music?

Niall: By going out too much! [laughs] Being an outsider in a city shapes it a lot. We moved here and didn’t really know anyone except from ourselves and a couple of other people. A lot of the music we’ve written is about finding your way and trying to make things happen for yourself; the good things that come with that but also the tough side as well.

Andrew: Maybe it gave us more of a drive as well. Maybe being from a small place gives you a sense of drive to achieve something? To prove everyone wrong.

When you first got together did you think you’d be doing so well?

Niall: No, I don’t think so. We always really, really wanted it.

Andrew: Up until we signed, our dream was always to do this full time.

Aoife: It was less about the support slots and more about making an album. When you think of a band, you think of an album. All of the lovely things that have happened in between have been a blessing, but we never expected it.

What role does everyone play in the creative process?

Andrew: It’s all stems from melodies in Aoife’s head. Most of the time we then work around those melodies.

Niall: We all do have a vague part. I write the guitar parts and Andrew does the drum parts and Aoife does the bass parts.

Andrew: We always take it in together and flesh it out toget– her, demo it several times and work on it. We’re all different in our own ways so bring something slightly different. We can be quite critical of each other because we all have the same ultimate idea. I guess we know each other well enough that that’s a good thing?

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WHETHAN MUSICIAN Faced with a tremendous amount of momentum, Ethan Snoreck packed up and moved to LA after his remix of Missingno’s “XE3” went viral. Four years later, his repertoire feels full of intention and ambition– a quality that has made him stand out among a sea of up and coming producers.

His sound is unique– his focus on buzzy bass and intricate, catchy melodies, gives him a distinct style, while also taking notes from role models such as Skrillex and Daft Punk. Recording with the likes of Flux Pavillion, Charli XCX and Dua Lipa over the years, Whethan has always had something up his sleeve.

His latest release is his freshman EP Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1, a thoughtful collection of music that showcases the immense depth and diversity of the music he can create. words kristen cusumano photography jerry maestas

Looking back to the beginning, what gave you the inner drive to pursue music as a career from a young age?

Just how addicted I was to producing music. I always wanted to have my headphones on and make beats. Realizing that I actually could have a career in music, if people liked my music so early on at 15, gave me a lot of hope that I could have a future producing music. Wanting to be better also naturally motivated me to keep pushing forward.

How would you say you approach to the industry and songwriting has changed over time?

I feel like my approach has been the same. The only thing that has changed is being able to work with artists and writers that I look up to. Back then I was only working by myself.

Now, looking at your most recent release Life of a Wallflower Vol. 1, the EP is quite different from what you’ve prev– iously released. Can you talk a little bit about the writing process for the album?

I really wanted to wrap up an era of my latest productions and expand my sound into some areas of electronic music I’d never ventured into before– more upbeat, heavy hitting, faster songs that are more short and sweet as well.

Tell us the story behind one of the tracks.

I did “I Miss You” by myself and used a robotic voice simulator to express the feeling of a robot missing somebody even though robots don’t have feelings.

What is one track that you’ve produced that you think is truly uniquely Whethan?

The intro track “Wallflower” is one I find truly unique. It has a lot of old school Whethan vibes in a fresh, new light. It’s unlike anything I’ve done before.

What would you say is one accomplishment to date that you’re the most proud of in your career?

I’m very thankful for everything I’ve accomplished so far but I think it was really cool to be included in the "21 under 21" on Billboard this year alongside a lot of amazing artists.

What is coming down the pipeline for you in terms of releases, announcements, singles, etc?

There are definitely a lot of cool new things I have coming out. You’ll just have to stay tuned to find out..

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Anne Winters Do you remember the moment you realized it was what you were meant to do?

I’m constantly reminded that acting is what I’m supposed to be doing. I think every actor has doubted themselves even if they’re working! I always loved performing whether it was on stage or being filmed. Even as a kid I was a massive camera hog and always wanted to be in front of a camera. I realized it was my passion probably on my first indie film called Sand Castles when I was the lead. I had the most amazing experience and I’ve never seen myself doing anything else.

What are some shows and/or films you can always watch?

FRIENDS. I always put that on or Sex In The City. Also, since the holidays are coming up I always have to watch Elf at least once.

It’s my favorite holiday film.

What has been your favorite role so far?

It's so hard to pick, but I would say Mia in “Zac and Mia.” I just loved the vulnerability that the scripts allowed me to play with.

The series is about two kids who are battling cancer. They share a wall at their hospital and fall in love. I actually won an Emmy for “Best Leading Actress in a Digital Series” for that role, which was incredibly humbling. I also just found out that the series will be airing on Hulu starting December 14th and the second season will be airing sometime in 2019.

I have been told I remind people of Brittany Murphy on-camera who I also love. She was very bubbly, fun and different, which I love.

What would you say is your dream role?

I really want to play a superhero. I’ve auditioned and come close to so many Marvel projects and I’ve gotten my hopes up for playing a superhero, so I’m ready for that next (laughs).

Are there any other genres of either TV or film you’d want to pursue next?

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Who are some actors/actresses that inspire you the most?

I love Naomi Watts! I think she is so genuine and truthful with every character and I still don’t quite know who she is as a person, which I really admire in an actress. I want to be there with you on the journey you're taking through a character and she does an amazing job with that.

What are some of your favorite genres of music?

It really depends on my mood. I heavily rely on music for different characters I have to prepare for. For example, when I’m trying to get into a dark headspace I can put on some indie music. If I’m driving and having a great day I’ll listen to R&B, pop or my favorite artist at the moment, Tori Kelly.

We loved the complexity of your character Chloe in Thirteen Reasons Why. You portrayed a visceral vulnerability that was very timely considering the social landscape at the time of the premiere. How did you tap into that role?

I try not to draw too much from personal experience because I think every character has a completely different headspace than my own. I genuinely lived those experiences (on-screen) as if they were happening to me for the first time. I prepared my mindset and my goals, but other than that you have to let everything go and see what happens on-set with the other actors.

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You mentioned online that love goggles often blind people from reality and the seriousness of some situations, which related back to your character. We saw for a moment that Chloe had taken these goggles off, but ultimately decided to side with Bryce. For a lot of fans, they felt betrayed, considering the horrendous things Bryce had done. How did you feel while reading the script?

As Anne playing Chloe the character, I was like “ugh come on girl, get it together!” I think that when you put so much weight on your social existence and reputation, it takes a lot to stand up for yourself – especially in high school. Chloe took the easy way out, but I actually loved the way it was written because it’s very relatable. I think girls at home watching can learn from Chloe.

Season 2 ended on quite the cliffhanger. Is there anything you can tell us about Season 3? We learned Chloe is pregnant – how will her character further develop through the season?

I can't say too much, but it’s definitely worth watching! They are completely turning the tables this season in every aspect. You’ll have to wait and see what I mean!

How do you think Katherine Langford’s departure from the show will affect other characters in the telling of their stories?

I wasn’t sure what was going to happen this season because of that, but they definitely found a perfect way to evolve the storyline into something that’s just as heart-wrenching.

We saw that you’re working on a new ABC series, Grand Hotel – executively produced by Eva Longoria! Can you tell us about how it came about?

It was my last audition of pilot season, and I had tested for a few other projects too. I was actually on hold for the new Charmed reboot at the time! My character Ingrid in Grand Hotel was originally supposed to be German with an accent,

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but they loved my take on the character and I booked it almost right away. I’m so excited about it to start airing!

Can you tell us a bit about the series? Your character?

I play Ingrid, who is a maid at the hotel. The show is based on the original Spanish series called Gran Hotel. The ABC show is a contemporary take on the original that involves the drama between the upstairs and downstairs of a hotel in Miami and everything in between.

You’ve already earned yourself a few awards – Can you recount the moment you heard your name called when you won?

My boyfriend Taylor actually got the perfect video of me when my name was called. It’s on my Instagram @annewinters if anyone wants to watch it! I didn't think I would win but when they called my name my jaw dropped and I literally can’t remember anything after that - I was in shock and so excited.

What’s next for you for the remainder of the year? What can fans expect in 2019?

I’m going to finish up filming Grand Hotel and Thirteen Reasons Why. After that, I'm so excited to see what the new year has in store for me. The thrilling part of this job is not knowing what’s next for your career. I will say that I’m sure that whatever it is will come with new life experiences and challenges. I can’t wait to see what that is. Wish me luck!

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LOOK off-white

Bazzi Building on the momentum of a viral hit is by no means easy but Bazzi has managed it seemingly effortlessly. Since the release of "Mine" in October 2017, which propelled his already blossoming career to almost unimaginable heights, he has cemented his position as an artist to watch with his debut album Cosmic, which spellbinds with palpable emotion.

Speaking of what he wants people to take away from Cosmic, Bazzi explains “I want people to just take away the feeling.

Just you like said, every song is packed with emotion. And every song is packed with honesty and vulnerability. I want people to hear the human in me and relate it to themselves. So, hopefully, my success or my energy can inspire them to do something great in their life.”

All of the album’s 16 tracks clock in at under three minutes, forcing the listener to quickly absorb all the multi-layered emotions. “There’s no rule. People are always like “it’s so smart, it’s a genius idea.” Really for me it has nothing to do with trying to be like that, it’s cool it worked out like that, but I really just make the music that I want to hear. And I know that I don’t personally listen to songs that are too long, but you know, then again, there are songs where I’ll listen to the entire seven-minute song. So, you know when the day comes where I feel like I need a bridge, or I feel l should put something in there, I’ll put it there.

But, for now, I just make the music I like to hear and how I like to feel it and that’s usually faster.”

Although relatively short, each track serves as a part of a dynamic portrait of an intense emotional journey. He explains “The placing of the tracks is everything. For the order, for me, 38 | EUPHORIA. Magazine

it’s definitely about telling a story. I think Cosmic is an album you can shuffle, and it’ll sound like you’re hearing it in the correct order or you can listen to it in the order that I intended, and I think my order is more along the lines of telling a story.

"Kind of going through the emotions and in that whatever state of mind I was in or whatever energy I was in, I like to bunch those songs together. So, you move through them and it flows onto the next thing and the next mood and the next feeling.”

"Honest" serves as one of the highlights on Cosmic, utilizing brooding synths and forceful drums to illustrate the complexing reality of human emotion. “It was very interesting from the start, it was almost like a therapy session. My buddy came in and we just broke the situation down and talked about it for like almost three hours before we even wrote a single thing. We just literally broke the situation down like I was in a therapy session, you know, what it really was, what was really happening, why things happened the way that they did. Then we wrote it. I would say it’s probably the most vulnerable I get on Cosmic. It’s the most real I get on the album so 'Honest' is a really important song.”

When asked about the challenges of uprooting from Michigan to Los Angeles to pursue his career, Bazzi humbly explains “I guess the only real challenge was the finances. Because we kind of moved out here on a limb and we didn’t really know how we were going to live out here, but we just knew it would work.

"I would say that was really the only challenge. Like even when things were challenging, we never saw it as an obstacle, it was just part of the journey and part of the path.”

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His journey obviously led to "Mine" but Bazzi still can’t precisely pin down why the song has resonated with so many. When questioned about its’ astonishing success he simply said “That’s a good question. I honestly don’t really know, I think it’s just random. At the end of the day, it’s not like a business model or like skincare or something like that, it’s music. So, it’s creative.

I think people connect with things on like a singular basis and it’s always random. I really have no idea.”

Although seemingly perplexed by the randomness, he’s much more assured of the reasons behind his success. “My mentality is, you know, the exact correlation to my success. It’s everything.

The main thing that’s really important for me is staying mentally healthy. It’s a very big part of everything.”

Though he initially grappled with fame with his success on Vine, the breakout success of "Mine" has led to some mind-blowing opportunities including coveted tour supports with the likes Camila Cabello and Justin Timberlake. When questioned about how he keeps level-headed, he explains, “The mindset definitely keeps me grounded because I’ve kind of accepted that cool things are cool things but at the end of the day it’s how you treat people. It’s about how you respect yourself and how you respect others. Those are things you can really hold on to and will always be special and always feel good, regardless of money or anything. I just try and keep it simple. You can get lost so easily so I’m just trying to focus on just being a good person and keeping my values pretty basic.”

Not content with just supporting some of the world’s largest artists, Bazzi has been commanding his own audience with his own thrillingly impassioned sets across festival fields globally and with his acclaimed headline shows.

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“I mean the experience is everything. It’s one of my two favorite parts. My two favorite pieces of everything is the recording process, I love creating music, and it’s performing the music and experiencing it with people is so amazing.

"I mean these songs are so personal, you stay with one other person in the room and you create these songs and then you walk out to festivals with 50,000 people and it’s not personal anymore. You’re experiencing it with them and they’re experi– encing it with you, it becomes like this unity which is a really beautiful part of it.”

Despite his self-assured confidence and rapid success, Bazzi is determined to never let go of his undeniable passion for creating songs that he feels completely represent him, as both an artist and an individual. “For my motivation, there’s definitely a mix of a couple of things. I’m definitely motivated by fun. I genuinely enjoy making music, it’s really fun for me. I like making songs that make me feel great and that make me feel like I’m experiencing something that I’ve never felt or experienced.

I think music is the best part of life, I really do believe that. It can just hit a spot that no drug, no drink can hit. So, I like to make songs that hit that spot and that’s genuinely fun for me. What else motivates me? I feel like the fear of not being the best that I can possibly be. I try not to live in fear but a lot of the time I find that being the thing that pushes me to go a little bit harder and to work harder and to keep going and to keep my head down.” words luke pettican photography jack alexander styling jamie ryan mcfarland grooming katy jane special thanks saint martins lane hotel

Emily Bett Rickards

Confession: When I first saw Felicity Smoak on Arrow back in 2012, I was not a fan of her character. All I could think was, “What is this little tech geek doing on a superhero show?

What is up with those dork glasses? Why is she so awkward?”

Looking back I realize I had been so conditioned to see strong, female characters only as the stereotypical action girl who can box with the guys. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that not only do I actually adore Felicity, I relate to her as well. I am not tech savvy, nor am I good with computers, but I am a very flawed individual. Felicity Smoak portrays the reality of how a woman can be feminine and kind, but still selfish, stubborn, and frustrating. In other words, human.

Which brings us to Emily Bett Rickards, the fiercely talented actress who brings this character to life. Like myself, Emily does not share Felicity’s talent with computers. What she does have, however, is a quiet intelligence and warm sense of humor that imbues everything she says with urgency, forcing the listener to quiet their mind to take in what she has to say. Emily takes long pauses before delivering each response… except when it comes to her television crush. That one she knew right off the bat. And no, it is not Oliver Queen.

You've kind of become a geek girl icon with all of the cross– overs between The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl as well as your work narrating the Mortal Instruments audio books. Are you a fantasy comic book fan in real life?

I haven’t been in the comic book world from the time I was a kid but I love to read so I have always been a Harry Potter and an Eragon nerd. I also read Ender’s Game and all those books. I

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was always into novels, I absolutely will be interested in any sort of storytelling.

Felicity is the moral center and beating heart of the Arrow– verse in many ways. How do you think she has held onto that hopefulness after everything she has been through?

I’m always very proud of her and shocked by her ability to move on from the things she has experienced. She has been able to go forward and heal from some of the darker things she has endured. She’s inspiring to me in that sense that she is able to keep moving and keep bettering herself. She is so strong, I really look up to her for that.

Do you think she has sort of lost some of that hope after Oliver's decision that has caused her so much isolation recently?

I think she has been burned a couple too many times. She wants to fight back and be able to protect herself and the world around her instead of just relying on others.

Would you say you are more like Felicity in real life? If Emily Bett Rickards were in this universe, what would her role be?

We have helped each other grow over time. We have been together for 7 years! There are things that bleed in and bleed out into our lives. Our environments are completely different, but she has taught me a lot. You know, I’m not leading an undercover life.. But I wouldn’t tell you if I was! She has a very strong, moral code. Her voice of justice is the same and she holds very high expectations for herself.

A villain would be fun to play, but I don’t think I would really want to be one. If I were in that world, I think I would be more

in an actionny kind of role. I am a lot more physically active than Felicity, though i’m not very coordinated. I also don’t have her technical ability in terms of hacking. Her skills are really not my skills.

Your characters on Arrow and Funny Story are deeply feminist in that they are flawed, fleshed out characters and not just "the girlfriend" or "damsel" that we often see in media. How much input do you get on your characters in these projects?

In the past have you had to act as a character that didn't feel quite as real?

When choosing a project, the connection to the character, for me, happens before I ever even act as the character. I have gotten to play, and choose characters that I am interested in, and who I find three dimensional. It’s constant work, and these characters are hard to find and that’s why we hopefully get to work with very wonderful groups of artists and sort of flesh out these people. But that is how I go about choosing the characters who I play.

Which do you prefer – comedy, drama or action?

I love comedy! I find it very smart and usually very current. That is definitely what I gear towards. There is such a wonderful truth in comedy that is grounded in our realities and very relatable.

So, that is definitely what I am drawn towards. Also, anything that has well rounded characters who aren’t perfect. That is what life is, i’m not interested in perfect characters, because I don’t think that really exists.

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What draws you to certain roles? Is there something particular that you look for?

Complexity, authenticity, truthfulness, just anything that is written with complete honesty and without ego. Something written with a humane lense to the world. That is what I tend to be attracted to.

Who is one female comic character who you would love to hangout with?

My friend Caissie [Levy]’s on Broadway in Frozen so I do kind of get to hangout with her.

What is your favorite ship name?

I was going to say my best friend’s ship name but I probably shouldn’t share that. I mean Ollicity is obviously the best one out there!

Who do you ship yourself with?

Are you watching The Good Place? There is a guy called Jason on there and he is incredibly hilarious. Sense of humor is a requirement. The character is Jason Mendoza, his real name is Manny. I have never met him but he is a fucking genius on that show. Such a phenomenal actor and the show is hilarious. words amanda lang photography derrick freske styling jerry maestas hair dritan vushaj makeup jenna anton

Emma Kenney At 19 years old, Emma Kenney has already built a career that most work all their lives toward achieving in Hollywood.

For the past 10 years, she’s given life to Debbie Gallagher, the Gallagher clan’s slightly rebellious, stubborn, and very loving younger sister, on Showtime’s Shameless. The family’s scandalous and hilarious patriarch, Frank, is played by none other than the Emmy-nominated William H. Macy, and the group’s mother-like figure comes in the form of Emmy Rossum’s Fiona, the eldest Gallagher sibling.

When describing her Shameless character, Kenney says she sees Debbie as a “chameleon, she’ll accommodate to her surroundings, and very much wants everyone around her to feel good, supported, happy, and safe.” That’s as perfect of a description as one could achieve. Watching Debbie Gallagher grow onscreen for the past nine seasons has been nothing short of wonderful. The public has seen her go from a doe-eyed kid who’d always have her father’s back and hope that the Gallaghers could live under one roof and be a conventional family, to a heartbroken teenager turned into teen mom, and more recently a badass, feminist welder who wants to topple the patriarchy while exploring her sexuality. It’s quite the journey, and one Kenney is glad to have embarked on.

Recently, co-stars Emmy Rossum and Cameron Monaghan, who play Fiona and Ian Gallagher respectively, announced that season nine would be their last on the show. Monaghan’s character took his final bow before the mid-season finale, while Rossum is set to leave by the end of the second half of season.

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“We all started the show at such young ages and at such different points in our lives, so it’s kind of amazing to watch them grow up and turn into who they’ve turned into today” Kenney passionately recounts of her departing cast members.

With Fiona’s motherly figure and the third oldest sibling gone, Kenney says she thinks Debbie will definitely step up and have more responsibility in the Gallagher household.

Shameless recently celebrated 100 episodes, a milestone that few shows can say they’ve earned. “Being able to do 100 episodes with people I’ve grown with and care for so much on and off camera has been incredible” says Kenney, “It’s a really special feeling that we get to connect with our amazing audience members throughout the world and grow with them as well.”

Connect is a word that Kenney uses a lot. As she enthusiastically talks about all her different projects, it’s clear that her aim is to challenge herself and grow, but most of all, she just wants to make meaningful work that allows her to connect with people.

Empathy and passion make her move forward, always hoping that whatever she makes will touch someone else’s life and make it better.

This capacity to reach and positively affect others is what, she claims, drives her to family-centric projects where she can be part of the average American family and show people all over the world that regardless of what they and their family go through, they’re not alone.

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Another form of connection is the one Kenney finds with the audience during the live taping of The Conners, ABC’s Roseanne spinoff that first aired in October of this year, and in which Kenney stars as Harris Conner-Healy. Harris, a character most people only had a quick glimpse of as a newborn when the original Roseanne ended in 1997, is moody and a little dark, and her quick and dry comebacks add a unique twist to the family dynamic. Other members of the Conner-Healy ensemble include Laurie Metcalf, John Goodman, and Sara Gilbert.

Kenney is in extremely good company.

Breathing new life into the iconic Conner-Healy family doesn’t come without its responsibilities, and The Conners’ showrunners have created a show that finds a special balance between tradition and modernity. While most of the characters are wellknown and loved by the public, the show addresses extremely timely issues in today’s America, like the opioid crisis and gender fluidity. When speaking about this element of the show, Kenney refers to the “certain kind of connection”– which, just as anything that you’ve treasured and grown up with, is indescribably special– that people have with the Conner family that allows the show and characters to comment on current affairs.

In order to properly get into these characters’ shoes, Kenney builds a whole world around them. “I was talking to Lecy, who plays Beck, and she was telling me that her perfume as Becky is so different to her perfume as Lecy, and I told her that I have these candles that remind me of the Conner family in my dressing room” she excitedly explains. Something else Kenney loves crafting for Harris and Debbie? Playlists. Not one single playlist that will transport her into that character’s world, but playlists that change per episode. If you haven’t noticed, Kenney is extremely passionate, and very dedicated to her craft.

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Emma Kenney is not stopping any time soon. She says music is an important part of her life, and recently dipped her toes in that world by starring in LA-band Freedom Fry’s album trailer for their debut Classic. “We got to shoot around LA and it was really dope.” In it, she strolls around a farmer’s market, a coffee shop, a bookstore, and a clothing store, among other locations, listening to the album on tape. And aside from being a TV and music video star, Kenney somehow also found the time to shoot a movie called Robert the Bruce last winter. Though she can’t say a lot about the project, she recalls filming in Montana in January, describing it as “so cold and insane” and “a crazy experience,” one she wants to have again. Sometime in the future she also hopes to study directing, and while she says she’d be “honored to direct anything,” Kenney admits she’d “probably have the most fun with an indie film” as her directorial debut.

The best part about Emma Kenney’s experiences so far is that they’re clearly just the beginning of what she can and will achieve. She speaks about all her projects with an invigorating passion, and her desire to create art that touches others’ lives is a perfect example of someone who wants to be the change actually doing something about it. If connecting with people is her goal, she can consider it achieved so far. But the best part of seeing someone great grow and develop is not knowing what’s the next card they’re going to play, and with Emma Kenney, clearly, the possibilities are endless, and success is almost certainly guaranteed. words nicole almeida / photography derrick freske styling jennifer austin at opus beauty hair bekah lesser at opus beauty using oribe makeup nicola hamilton at opus beauty using kevyn aucoin

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Hart Denton Your character Chic in Riverdale was so hard to stomach. How did you feel about that being your first role on television?

I’m very appreciative that was my first role. I portrayed someone completely opposite of who I am. Some actors have to work for years until they are given the opportunity to play something sinister. It was quite therapeutic to become something I’m not… to escape reality even just for a moment.

How do you prep for such a role, and what did you learn from playing him?

I spent days on end researching people all over the world who shared the same profession as Chic did. Studying them, pulling pieces from multiple people, gave me the base of the character.

I learned that some paychecks come from pleasure, but more come from a way to make ends meet. It was enlightening to discover why these people chose to do what they do.

What are interactions with fans like given that your character is so polarizing? Do you have any interesting stories?

Ha. Most people have been extremely sweet and can separate me from the character. But every once in a while, someone can’t seem to understand that I’m not actually terrifying and the look on their face is priceless. Several people have come up to me and just said “you give me nightmares” and it always makes me laugh.

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Riverdale is such a huge show with an incredibly passionate fanbase. Do you feel pressure being thrust into spotlight so quickly like that?

If you mean pressure in terms of population judgement, no, not at all. It doesn’t bother me one bit. I’ve very content with who I am and the morals I have. The spotlight can scare someone when they have something to hide, but I don’t. I’m not perfect by any means, but I take responsibility for my mistakes and I never hide.

Ask and I’ll answer.

Your Instagram is full of backstage photos from set, and they really capture what a fun and loving environment it seems to be out there. Can you talk about photography and the role it plays in your everyday life?

Those moments are very dear to me. I’m so happy I was able to capture them and stamp them into existence digitally and physically. We all love each other so much on that cast. They are some of the best people I know.

You also just designed your first fashion line for /Nyden, congratulations! How does it feel to know people will be out there wearing clothes you designed?

I’m very excited for it to be out in the world. A piece of my story, living in existence with someone’s wardrobe, is such a lovely feeling. The line means so much to me and was inspired by me being broke and only able to afford thrift shop clothes.

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How does fashion compare to acting in terms of your own creative expression? Do you find that they complement each other or do you draw from different inspirations and instincts for each?

I view them separately. At least at this point I do. Maybe some– day a role will come into my life that inspires a clothing line but that hasn’t happened yet. Same goes for the inspiration aspect of it.

What’s the most urgent change you think we need to make as a society?

TO LOVE. AND HAVE MERCY. Give people the benefit of the doubt and tell yourself “they didn’t mean to be hateful or hurtful.” Even when it sounds very much like their intentions were cruel. We are all on this planet together, hurling through space, and this existence is so confusing and strange.

You also love music - can we expect a release from you soon?

Yes. Very soon. I promise.

So let’s band together and be more patient with one another.

And workout! It helps so much with anxiety and anger.

Who are your three favorite actors and musicians?

Actors: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix Musicians: Elvis, Kurt Cobain, Kendrick Lamar

You’ve been very open about how much you were struggling before you got the call for Riverdale and your life changed.

In case someone who’s now fighting to make their dreams a reality and is having a rough time is reading this, what would you like to say to them?

Back down from no one. Push through the struggle. Pave the path yourself and show others how unstoppable you are. Believe in yourself. Truly. Believe in yourself. And work hard. NOTHING will be given to you, I promise.

You were recently part of the Model Citizens Vote campaign that encouraged people to vote on the past midterm elections.

You have a huge platform and it’s great that you recognize your influence and use it for the better. How important is it for you to speak out on political issues like this and have your voice be heard?

People should be the change they wish to see. If you’re not happy, do something about it. Use your voice. Be independent.

Do your research. Make change. No matter the size of your platform, changing even one life matters.

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Bastille words: aimee phillips photographer: jack alexander / assisted by: josh howland set design: nuha mekki / assisted by: ella wilbraham styling: michael miller at stella creative artists / assisted by: david boyo grooming: stefan bertin at frank agency

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“You have to look elsewhere these days for hope,” Dan Smith ponders. The lead singer of British band BASTILLE is known for his existential musical musings and had previously described their upcoming third album as an “apocalyptic party record” that serves as an antidote to their last.

“We wanted to look at escapism,” he explains when quizzed about the phrase. “The album represents shutting the curtains on the apocalypse happening outside. It’s the understanding that it’s not necessarily helpful but distraction is a brilliant tonic.”

The band had been keeping quiet about the highly anticipated Doom Days – until now. “I’m wary of talking about the album too much but I keep chatting about it...” Dan tails off, grinning sheepishly, before diving into an explanation of the record.

“It’s quite a personal album. It’s a snapshot of a night but it’s also meant to be about everything at the moment. It’s a natural extension from our last album where it’s reacting to the mad changes in the world and figuring out how to get your head through it. This album’s about a few years later, everything is even more fucked up and strange. It’s about escapism and it’s about trying to lose yourself in the people around you in the night and acknowledging that escapism can be healthy to a point, but it can also be destructive.”

So what’s changed in the two years since Wild World was released to change the band’s outlook?

“There came a point two years in, playing a head– lining slot at a festival with this quite intense

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1984-esque news media, paranoid production behind us. I just remember standing there with Theresa May in drag mouthing along to a song called “Fake It” and was just like...'fuck,'” Dan recalls, chuckling at the memory. “People come to festivals to have a good time. You want to be engaged but you also want to disconnect for a bit."

“We also spent the last two and a half years touring an album that was all doom and gloom,” Bastille’s drummer, Chris (Woody) Wood adds.

“Now I think we owe everyone a bit of escapism.”

“There’s euphoria on the album but it’s quite a dark record as well. It’s quite nihilistic,” Dan continues. “When I say party – a party for us, because we’re British it's not champagne popping, it’s house parties, bars, our tour bus, hanging out with our mates and staying up all night. It’s that kind of album. There’s a song called “4am” which is a love letter to your friends and the people around you when you’re off on another planet.

You feel so earnestly connected to the people around you, it’s a funny but quite wonderfully naive and ironically pure feeling.”

It’s clear from talking to Dan and Woody from their airport hotel in Philadelphia – it’s not all glamor– that while the band has had so much commercial success (a BRIT award, Grammy, AMA and MTV nominations, four UK Top 5 singles, 15M single sales and 6M album sales worldwide) that creating music is still about having fun.

Their most recent mixtape, Other People’s Heartbreak Pt.4, is one of their ways of doing just that. These mixtapes, Dan says, are “a place to experiment with production and nod towards the music that we loved.”

The band sees their albums and mixtapes being split into “two lanes." “I guess it was a license to do things production-wise or sound wise that you wouldn’t dream of doing in an actual Bastille song,” Woody reveals. “It's such a fun outlet to have something that has a lot less pressure on it,” Dan adds.

Endearingly, Dan cringes when he’s asked which song on the mixtape is his favorite. “This is probably really embarrassing because I sing most of it,” he begins, “but I really like the cover of 'Wild World' because that song for me is so nostalgic. My parents used to listen to Cat Stevens when I was a kid That song for me is almost like a lullaby. It took us covering it for me to really engage with the lyrics.

It’s such a beautiful song.”

“It’s 'Don’t Let Go' for me,” Woody shares. “I will never not smile about having Craig David on a song that we’re involved with.”

While the majority of the songs on the Other People’s Heartbreak Pt.4 mixtape are captivating covers and vocal-led tracks, “Grip,” featuring Seeb, is a climbing, endlessly-replayable number with an EDM chorus. “This is a theme that runs through all the mixtapes,” Dan explains. “There’s this window of pop music that sounds really upbeat and euphoric but has really sad narratives.”

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While this particular track is a lot more dancefocused than we’re used to hearing from Bastille, surprising and delighting their fans is just what they want to achieve. “We want our fans to come with us and enjoy us experimenting and trying different things,” Dan says. “There’s some people who think of us as mixtape makers and some who think of us for our albums. I guess we just embrace that.”

Other People’s Heartbreak Pt.4 features a mixture of collaborations with high profile artists such as Craig David and EUPHORIA. alumnus James Arthur, as well as up-and-comers like Lily Moore.

Unlike some artists, who collab based purely on reputation, Dan is keen to assure us that all the collaborations on the mixtape came about “totally organically.”

Bastille originally met Craig – the “nicest dude you’ll ever meet” – at a festival a few years ago.

Their remix of En Vogue’s song, “Don’t Let Go” is the second time they’ve teamed up, after Bastille wrote and featured on Craig’s single “I Know You” last year. James’ guest vocals came via a connection with Bastille’s producer, Mark Crew. Music newbie Kianja – who features on three out of seven tracks on the mixtape – was sharing their studio space, and Rationale is on Dan’s record label, Best Laid Plans.

“It’s been really fun working alongside people we really admire and who are amazing, no matter whether they’re really famous or not,” Dan tells us. “That’s not the point. There’s an element of planning and then the element of whatever the fuck happens.”

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Besides his own music creation, Dan is keen to champion the talents of other artists in his spare time. “That’s where the idea for the label came from,” he says. “To encourage and support people we think are amazing. Give them the space to record and the facilities to write with other people if they want to, or the ability to put stuff out and give it a bit of a push.”

Assigning Bastille to a certain genre has always been a bit of a struggle for many. One journalist, for example, who interviewed the band when they were first starting out, became so infuriated by Dan refusing to categorize their sound that he proceeded to take a few “verbal swipes” at them.

“That’s the whole point of doing the mixtapes,” Dan says. “Just when people thought we were trying to be an indie band we were like, no. I love The Weeknd, I love House of Balloons and I love Frank Ocean releasing Nostalgia Ultra. Fuck it, we’ll do the same thing. We’ll do it in our own way. It’s grown a life of its own. Going forward, I think Other People’s Heartache will turn into its own artist so it can turn away from Bastille even further.”

It seems that Bastille is most comfortable being undefinable. “Most new artists that come through now don’t seem to give a shit about genre,” Dan continues. “In America, we get played on alternative radio. In some countries, we’re seen as straight-up pop and in others, we’re seen as a rock band. I quite like that we straddle that. I like that we got to put out a depressing acoustic guitar string song for a film in December last year and also a trap song.”

Said trap song is the international hit, “Happier” that Bastille created with EDM superstar Marshmello that almost didn’t happen. Dan revealed that the song, which has over 336M streams on Spotify alone, was originally written for someone else.

Luckily, Bastille’s team knew they were onto a winner and didn’t want to let the song go. It was shared with Marshmello, who Dan previously said “managed to find joy in the melancholy,” and after six months of “batting it back and forth,” one of the biggest dance tracks of this year was born.

Bastille are still surprised by the song’s unexpected success today, however, rather than bask in the glow of success, they each used the opportunity to take some much needed time off. Dan travelled India with friends, keyboardist Kyle Simmons explored California, bassist and guitarist Will Farquarson produced a play, and drummer Woody relaxed at home with his family.

“It’s really surreal to be involved in something that’s that big,” Dan marvels. “It’s probably what it feels like to be a proper pop star.” It’s slightly bewildering yet endlessly refreshing to hear that the band don’t see themselves in the same light the rest of the world does. “When people recognize me on the tube in London I probably get about as excited as they do!” Dan laughs. “Things like awards feel like a very surreal thing that happens to other people. We rarely go to award shows but when we do, they feel kinda ridiculous. You just have to enjoy them for what they are.”

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Dan reveals that he still gets starstruck and “should never be allowed near famous people.” Woody tells a story of how the pair of them ended up “giggling like schoolgirls” when they met actor Steve Coogan and “fucked up the chance to be friends.” But surely they have loads of famous mates? Dan has almost 1.5M followers on Twitter alone. “I don’t have any famous friends!” he exclaims incredulously.

Perhaps it's the band’s humble beginnings that have kept their feet firmly on the ground throughout their five-year journey. “We went from being a DIY band, literally sleeping on floors and playing shows, which were kinda selling out but we weren’t making anything,” Dan remembers. The band made their first album after work, at the weekends, and through the night, all while holding down different jobs and touring as much as they could.

Then, when their album Bad Blood unexpectedly went to number one, it totally changed their lives.

Nevertheless, Bastille made a concerted effort to spend time at home whenever they could and stayed out of the spotlight wherever possible in order to retain a sense of normality.

“We turned down judging on talent shows and going to stuff where we’d become those people,” Dan explains. “Not because there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just not what we wanted. So that’s allowed us to have this mad experience of getting to tour the world and having songs on the radio. Then we just go home and do what we want. The fame stuff is not something we care about or think about. As

long as we’re lucky enough to make music and people wanna listen to it and we get to tour, that’s all that really matters.”

Besides their burning passion and ever-growing talent, it’s the band’s sweet, humble nature that attracts such a loyal fanbase. This character is reflected perfectly in the pair’s answers when they’re asked what’s the most significant thing they’ve learnt so far. “Don’t be a dickhead,” Woody says matter-of-factly. “If you’re a dickhead, you get found out really quickly. There’s a lot of people who haven’t achieved much success but carry themselves as the biggest thing since sliced bread.

This industry’s like a giant knitting circle because everyone gossips.”

“It’s not worth being an arsehole,” Dan affirms. “I know it sounds like the most obvious thing but just be nice to everyone. You never know when you’re gonna meet again, who you’re gonna work with them, bump into… It’s not cool to be a prick, it’s just not.” Woody adds, “There’s so many bands we’ve met who we looked up to when we were younger like Incubus and Muse, and they’re just so nice. That’s why they’re probably still going.”

Although Dan feels being in a band is a “fucking weird life,” we can’t agree more when he says, “why would you not want to make it as nice an experience as possible?”

Bastille's latest mixtape Other People's Heartache Pt.4 is now available. Keep an eye out, their junior album Doom Days due out late Spring 2019.

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Bebe Rexha words: ilana kaplan photographer: jack alexander set design: nuha mekki / assisted by: maya mayall, laure iffenecker, natalie brierley styling: adele cany with stella creative artists / assisted by: shade huntley & ailish collins hair: brady lea with stella creative artists using leonor greyl / assisted by: chad maxwell makeup: brittany paige lambert using tom ford beauty and becca cosmetics

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BEBE REXHA speaks with the frankness of a NYC cab driver. For better or for worse, there’s no filter, no facade: what you see is what you get.

As a native New Yorker, Rexha’s candor is refreshing when it comes to being a part of the pop industry.

While her bluntness has helped her craft her un– apologetically raw pop songs, it’s also made her journey tougher in certain areas, like turning down working with big-time producers when they wanted her to compromise her identity. But Rexha’s talent is undeniable, she’s mastered the art of crafting great pop songs. And finally, after eight years in the business, the 29-year-old singer released her debut album Expectations in June. Rexha worked hard for this moment, and she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

Last October, Rexha’s career was revolutionized with an unexpected hit; the country-pop crossover hit with Florida Georgia Line, “Meant To Be.” The song has arguably become the most unexpected and impactful hit of her career. “I think 'Meant To Be' is one of those very special situations – not to be corny about it – but it was written in the stars,” Rexha tells us by phone after a shoot in New York.

“It’s just so different [and] unexpected, and I think the best things in life are unexpected.” After “Meant

To Be” was number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for 14 weeks, Rexha made history breaking the record for a female-led song – a spot formerly held by Taylor Swift (“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”) and Connie Smith (“Once A Day”). It peaked at #2 after 50 weeks moving far beyond its initial record. Despite the song’s popularity, Rexha was surprised by how it took off.

“I didn’t see ‘Meant To Be’ having the success it did,” she admits. “I know it was a special song, but I didn’t think it would be that big.”

“Meant To Be” challenged any preconceived notions about Rexha when it comes to making pop music and what genres she would excel in: “I would do country or jazz, it all depends on where I’m at, what’s inspiring me and how I’m feeling in the moment.”

“Meant To Be” wasn’t Rexha’s first hit, but it was arguably her biggest. In 2014, she dropped her debut single “I Can’t Stop Drinking About You,” along with “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy.” But her breakthrough single wouldn’t come until her 2015 collaboration with G-Eazy, “Me, Myself & I,” which would lead to her charming dance-pop anthem with Martin Garrix, “In the Name of Love."

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Equally, Rexha expanded her profile with features on Cash Cash’s “Take Me Home” (2013), David Guetta’s “Hey Mama” with Nicki Minaj and Afrojack (2015) and “Back to You” with former One Direction member, Louis Tomlinson (2017).

However, despite Rexha’s slew of hits, her journey to becoming a pop star was filled with career pivots and false starts. The Brooklyn-born, Staten Island-raised singer grew up immersed in music as a self-taught pianist and guitarist who sang in her high school choir.

During her teenage years, she submitted a song to the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' annual "Grammy Day" event where it would be performed if selected. Rexha’s song was subsequently chosen, winning the "Best Teen Songwriter" award. Soon after, she began taking songwriting classes.

But it wasn’t until 2010 when Rexha would first pursue her career as an artist with Pete Wentz’s electropop project Black Cards, releasing a slew of singles and touring until 2012 before pursuing other projects. By 2013, she signed as a solo artist to Warner Bros. records, songwriting for other artists, penning tracks including Selena Gomez's "Like a Champion,” Tinashe’s “All Hands

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on Deck,” Nick Jonas’ “Under You” and Eminem and Rihanna's smash hit "The Monster.”

While songwriting, Rexha parlayed her talents into building her own solo career. But it’s been a long road for her, especially when it comes to putting out a solo record. “I remember when I first moved to Los Angeles and everybody was like ‘you should just go home this isn’t going to work for you,’” she recalls.

“I got signed to a record deal and a songwriter deal, and then I had 'The Monster’ [come out] and they were like, “No. You have a record deal and songwriter deal but you should stick to songwriting because you’ll never be an artist.’”

When she began releasing songs with other artists, she’d receive criticism that she was just “a featured artist collaborating” and that she’d never be anything more than that. But “Meant To Be” revealed Rexha’s inherent talent, proving she could do whatever she wanted. Now she’s doling out advice to other songwriters who want to pursue singing careers: “It’s always a journey, and if you’re a songwriter and you consider yourself an artist, then you should just put songs out and not give up. People are always gonna have an opinion and put you in a box.”

Instead, Rexha constantly challenges herself in her personal and creative work. “I’m always trying to push myself to be the best I can be,” she explains.

“It’s [about] always going in that way and never letting things slow you down.”

For Rexha, creative control is everything because she’s the one who has to answer for her work at the end of the day. In some cases, it may have cost her opportunities to work with important people, but it doesn’t matter to her.

“If I were ever put in a situation where I felt like I didn’t have creative control, then I just left no matter how big the person was,” she says firmly. Rexha knows that it will never be people calling out her and her managers and label if she wore an ugly outfit or did something “crazy”: she’ll have to answer for it herself.

“If I’m in a situation where there’s no collaborative effort and someone tells me what to do, I’m out,” she says doubling down. “I’ve been in really weird situations where I’ve looked like an idiot having walked away from a really big producer because I wouldn’t have them tell me who I need to be.” At the time it was terrifying for her because she was told she had “fucked her whole career and it was “the stupidest thing” she’d ever done. Looking back,

she has no regrets. “Now I feel so glad I was strong and a little cunty,” she says with a biting smile through the phone.

Rexha’s instincts were right: her debut album Expectations finally surfaced this year following three EPs. It did, perhaps, take a bit longer than anticipated for it to happen, but for Rexha the timing was right. “I think Expectations [the album] itself just fell into place naturally, but the journey of getting there was really long,” says Rexha.

“You need to know who you are, build your artistry and build your craft as an artist.”

For Rexha it was important for her to create all her content; everything she touched needed to be authentic. Instead, Rexha proved she could deliver stunning power ballads (“Grace” and “Pillow”) and cinematic anthems (“Ferrari”) all-together. Still, Rexha’s candor about her flaws pours out into the album’s 14 tracks.

“I never want to have anything written for me or any treatments written for me or be told what to wear or what to,” she says firmly. More importantly, making music for her has never been about fame.

“I wanted to be creative but also say something – not just be creative to be famous,” she adds.

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The journey of making Expectations allowed Rexha to really discover herself. With the extra time, she had more stories and perspective, so, in a sense, the album “wrote itself.”

On the surface, Expectations was sad for Rexha, but it wasn’t as simple as one emotion. “I’m really an insightful person,” she says. “I like sitting down and asking questions about why people feel a certain way, why we’re on this earth and what our purposes are. It’s not me being sad, it’s me being real.”

Part of that is being honest to a fault with herself.

Acknowledging that fairy tales and Santa Claus aren’t real and that the world looks like a different place when you go through hardships.

“I think it’s growing up, being an adult and learning about the world,” she says of the album. “For a second I looked at it as sad, but then I looked at it as a beautiful thing.” While Rexha breaks down these harsh realities, she knows that some people aren’t comfortable going there. But she isn’t afraid to. Perhaps it’s Rexha’s empowered self-awareness that has caused her songwriting to resonate, but her penchant for oversharing has become a mainstay of her work. Rexha focuses on the ups and downs in life, whether that means celebrating moments or leaning into blissful avoidance.

And that honesty is something she’s proud of. “Life wouldn’t be interesting if it were rainbows, cotton candy and sunshine every day. You wouldn’t know what the sun felt like. You have to have the highs, the lows and the contrasts of life,” she says. Because Rexha doesn’t shy away from being realistic, fans can relate to her music and feel less alone.

Empowerment seems to be on Rexha’s radar. With Expectations out of Rexha’s queue, she’s been in the studio a lot, and she’s been thinking about what she wants to really do with her music. “I’ve been feeling very inspired. I’ve been feeling really strong and anthemic. I just want to empower people to take everything they’ve gone through and flip it into a positive,” she explains.

She’s been so inspired by some of the incredible people she’s met that have gone through the hardest circumstances, but you wouldn’t know it. “That taught me that shitty things make you stronger,” she says candidly. It’s why her unabashed honesty resonates in her own music. Not so candidly, when asked about whether or not she has a release date for her next batch of songs she plays coy. “Maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” she muses.

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But she does reveal that she’s been really focused on determining who she wants to be in the studio with for her latest steps, but maintains it’s “very baby steps.”

“Right now it’s me in the studio with a guitar and people I feel very comfortable with – the guitar, the piano and the producers and [then] we expand,” she says. When she’s halfway through this process, she’ll determine the sound and the theme of her project, but for now, she’s immersed in production and working with up-and-coming songwriters.

Even with chart-breaking records, Rexha still sees herself as a pop outsider. “I never really feel like I fit in,” she says. “I feel like I live in my own word.”

So far, she’s been successful at avoiding being boxed in.

Part of her want to pave her own path comes from the pop idols she looked up to as a young girl.

“When I was growing up, all my favorite pop girls were so fit and had abs and shit and I will never be that. I will never be a size 2, I will never be a size 4.

I will be a size 8 and I’m proud of it,” she declares.

Rexha rebels in the best way possible, but never singing songs that don’t say anything.

“I respect P!nk because she said what she needed to say and say fuck you to all the record label people at the time and that’s something you do not do,” says Rexha. With her music and position in the industry, she wants to be a catalyst for change in the future. “There are women who have inspired me and inspired me to be in the pop world and that’s the reason I’m here for today,” says Rexha.

“I feel like I’m paving the way for my own world.”

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When we talked to FREYA RIDINGS, she was mid-transition from bedroom songwriter to a fullyfledged pop star. Having spent a day surrounded by glittering photoshoots and press, I caught her for a phone call at the tail-end of her crazy schedule as she maneuvered a taxi from her shoot and eventually settled down inconspicuously in the back of a Starbucks and back to a brief normality, almost as if she was somebody who hadn’t spent the entire day getting superstar treatment, for an honest chat about fame, music and Love Actually.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for the 24-yearold, with the chart success of her single "Lost Without You" catapulting her into the mainstream. Since then, she’s been touring intensely, building her name and working on her debut album, set to be released next spring. Aside from that, she’s released two live albums and a handful of singles and music videos.

Despite being born into a musical family and an alumnus of the BRIT School (other past students including Adele and Jessie J), Freya had modest beginnings. Shy as a child, and referring to herself as “the tall, weird, ginger girl,” she never jumped into the spotlight, but spent her days glued to the piano in the school music room, describing it as a "safe haven."

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Aside from her shyness, she struggled with trying to teach herself music due to her dyslexia, but in the end, her passion overcame. “I had to learn to work things out by ear. At the time, I thought it was a great weakness, but now I’m so grateful because I had to write my own songs because nobody else would literally teach me any… All my music teachers kind of gave up on me one by one.” Nevertheless, she persisted and grew more accustomed to the piano. “I didn’t really have any friends at school, I’d tell the kinds of stories you’d usually tell to friends... to a piano.” Her loyalty to the instrument clung long past school days, as it serves as a backing, a constant to all her tracks, true to her roots.

I ask her about how she managed to make the leap from the piano room to the stage, and her response is aptly seasonal. “When I was about nine years old, I was watching Love Actually, and do you know the girl at the end who sings ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’? I remember pretending to sing the song as well and it was a real moment where I was like 'maybe I could try and get on stage and singing like that.' I don’t know why that moment just hit me.” Maybe a cover of the Christmas belter could be in the works?

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Following her revelation, it took the young Freya a couple more years for her courage to catch up with her dreams. “I did my first open mic night at school when I was eleven. It took me a few years, but I got up on stage and it was like a lightning bolt moment and it hit me."

Since then, Freya has had an affinity with the stage.

“I love playing live, it’s my favorite thing in the whole world.” Unsurprising, with two live albums at her helm. But what draws her to the live scene, even now, when she could be releasing EPs instead?

“I think because I’ve been doing it for so many years and I had all these songs I wanted to share with people in the most authentic, raw format before holding everything back and trying to make it perfect. I think it’s more about connection, not perfection. I wanted people to not feel left out.

I didn’t want it to be a 'you can only hear it when it’s ready' sort of thing. I wanted to share.”

Musical style aside, I ask her about her own personal, fashion style, something that often goes hand in hand with music and visuals for an artist, and can be overlooked. She laments on how it's evolved as her career has.

“I think it’s definitely gone on a journey over the past year or so, I’ve had some very good help for which I’m very grateful. But overall, I think there’s a lot of green velvet. I have a green velvet bomber jacket that I’m obsessed with. Lots of greens and

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warm dark tones. I love velvet. I think on-stage it’s really fun to experiment with really memorable show outfits. I think I’m very driven by very visual things like lights and colors and the way that a show looks. I’ve had some incredible opportunities to work with people who want to try and help you expand your style, and help find new things. Like today, I said I was never going to wear trousers, like ever, because I just don’t like the feel, and the stylist came out to me with trousers and I wore them and I loved them."

Delving deeper into the heart of her songs, she notes that “they come from the isolation of me being so different, that sort of feeling of loneliness, when you really want to connect with somebody and for some reason it doesn’t work, and that makes you feel more alone than actually being on your own, so that seems to always be the thing that I write about.” I ask her what her favorite song of hers is, and she says it’s still "Lost Without You," "not just because what it’s led to and the kind of success it’s had with people but because it’s one of those songs that came from a really deep subconscious place and I didn’t think about it, I just felt it, and the songs where I think about them too hard never come out as good as the ones where I just let them be.”

The track certainly has led to great things, which Freya is still in awe about, describing the experience as life-changing. “I remember me and my mum freaking out when ‘Lost Without You’ got into the

Top 100 and thinking that Top 40 would be such a dream... Or Top 30 maybe, let’s just see, that would just be a great achievement. Then when it went into the Top 10, I just thought it was absolutely insane. I have no idea how this happened, it’s just so surreal when you hear it on the radio.”

As of November, the song sits at 46M Spotify streams, with Freya herself at 3M monthly listeners.

Aside from that, one of her top moments of the past two years was supporting Tears For Fears at Royal Albert Hall. “It was so surreal and a couple of weeks before I had been thinking about dream venues or locations I would like to play at and Royal Albert Hall had always been the number one. I went there when I was eight years old as part of my school choir and I remember being one of two thousand kids looking down at the stage and wondering what it would be like to ever be one of the grown-ups on the stage."

Since then her fanbase has grown steadily, which she noted in the difference between the two shows she performed that served as the recordings for her live albums. “The first show was such a special night because it was only my friends and family, only about a hundred people and I knew everybody there, and then by the time we got to Omeara, there were so many new songs I’d written and there were loads of people that I didn’t know in the audience so it was like a completely different show."

Between her inherent shyness, stripped back, ballad style music, and almost overnight fame with "Lost Without You," Freya is perhaps an unassuming pop star. She notes that her songs are unlike a lot of her musical peers. “I never thought that anything I wrote would ever get on the radio, let alone get into the charts, but it’s amazing to have a song that doesn’t have any drums or be a typical pop song in any way do so well.” In terms of comparisons to the equally soulful albeit somber Adele and Florence & The Machine, she is flattered. “I know some people don’t like comparisons, but I think that it’s a huge honor to be associated even vaguely with the women who were my musical, literary heroes growing up.”

As an old soul in a modern industry, I asked her thoughts on the prominent streaming culture today.

What does somebody so loyal to the live scene think of this new way of gaining momentum? Is it a shortcut, necessary in this fast-moving world or does it ruin the live experience, of finding new bands and artists through their gigs?

“A lot of people find it quite scary but I think it’s actually a really empowering thing for the people to have the power to choose the artist they want to hear, especially through like Shazam and things like that, it’s been such a life-changing tool because it means that people can find the songs that they love, especially when they’re on TV and stuff.

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And for musicians it’s really liberating to be able to connect with so many people across the world, to be able to go to somewhere on the other side of the planet and people are singing the lyrics that you wrote in your bedroom, it’s very very amazing.

Before it was only when the radio gods chose you or not and now it’s much different, which I love."

It’s understandable that Freya would feel warmly towards the likes of Spotify and Shazam, consid– ering the story of "Lost Without You"'s success. The track gained momentum months after its release after being used on an episode of the British reality show Love Island almost six months after its release.

The two services would definitely have played a huge role in helping viewers discover the song after hearing and enjoying it, on the show.

Aside from music apps, who does she admire in the industry? Her instant name-drop is a fellow BRIT School graduate. “I’m really into Rex Orange County at the moment, I think he’s awesome. I’ve become really obsessed with his albums and listening to his stories. He’s such a talented guy, just doing a genre that you know comes from his deeper self, he’s not trying to be cool and I absolutely adore him for that.”

So what does the future hold for Freya Ridings?

She’s most excited about her forthcoming album.

She explains, “It’s a very big experience for me because I’ve never written a studio album before.

It’s been an absolute dream to take the ideas I’ve had in my head and make them a reality with these incredible musicians and we’ve got a gospel choir and string players. It’s one of those things that over the years kind of changed the direction, so it’s taken a bit longer, but I’m so happy and grateful that we’ve had that time now to be choosy because I want to put out something that I’ll be proud to look back on for the rest of my life. The people around me have been so supportive that I just want to give them the best I can possibly give."

On other endeavors, she doesn’t rule out writing for other artists. “I’m so so inspired by the idea because when you’re writing for yourself you’re so conscious there are so many things you can and can’t say, so I think writing for somebody else is the most freeing thing you can do.” And of course, she’s dreaming of collabs with her teen idol, Taylor Swift. “I find her lyrics and her craft so incredible."

By the end of the interview, she’s reminiscing on our photoshoot and chattering about her excitement for the cover to come out, as if we’re old friends.

It's clear Ridings is not bogged down or feeling the pressures of fame, but beaming with joy and pride. Only Freya Ridings could be on such a high on a rainy evening as she finally gets to live out her dream that was born in her school's piano room.

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LANA CONDOR is excited. She’s excited about her journey as an actress. She’s excited about using her platform to raise voices for the Asian community. She’s excited about building a positive community on her social media challenges. And she’s maybe most excited to play her next role as an assassin on SyFy’s Deadly Class.

The burgeoning actress may be one country away– she’s currently filming the upcoming series in Vancouver– the effervescence in her voice never falters. With every sentence, Condor seems to radiate: she’s unflinchingly optimistic, and while we’re separated by 2,000 miles, it’s as if she produces verbal exclamation points with every thoughtful response. Condor is genuinely bursting with joy. And, she should be. 2018 has arguably been a groundbreaking year for her.

On August 17, Condor’s career seemingly trans– formed overnight when the Netflix original romantic comedy To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before premiered on Netflix. It was the 21-year-old actress’ first leading role, and it went viral. The film, based on the young adult novel by Jenny Han, chronicles the drama that ensues after the private love letters of high school junior Lara Jean Covey are mysteriously sent to all of her crushes.

Too nervous to act on her feelings, Condor’s Lara Jean instead fantasizes about them until she’s forced to deal with the aftermath of her penned confessions going public. To All The Boys details the impact of the letters of Lara Jean, her family, friends and crushes.

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But the notes also lead her to forge a bond with one of her childhood crushes: vulnerable jock Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) who ultimately ends up helping Lara Jean open her heart to love. Maybe it was the tumult of the grim political landscape or a lack of quality rom-coms– or perhaps the world just needed something pure – but a steamy hot tub scene and a thoughtful gesture of a boy buying his crush the Korean yogurt smoothies she loves ignited an internet frenzy.

It was as if everyone in the world experienced the exhausting, addictive butterflies in their stomach feeling of having their first crush all over again.

But the ways in which To All The Boys managed to create such a diehard fan base doesn’t matter: it graciously fulfilled a universal sense of longing for something pure, and it came just when everyone seemed to need it.

In seeing To All The Boys’ impact, you would think it was Condor’s first acting role, though she had really made her debut as Jubilee in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse. While Condor had under 100,000 followers on Instagram prior to the premiere of To All The Boys, it’s quickly surged to nearly 6 million followers since mid-August. The film’s cult-following mimicked the rabid fan base of past teen sagas Harry Potter, Twilight and Pitch Perfect.

But the hype behind To All The Boys was different due to the film’s female Asian-American lead, a rare sighting in Hollywood where Asian actors are often cast as secondary or tokenized characters who don’t fully develop.

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A 2017 study from the University of Southern California even revealed that 37 of the top 100 grossing films in 2017 had no Asian characters.

In many instances, like in the unforgettably terrible casting of Emma Stone as half-Asian Captain Allison Ng in Aloha or Scarlett Johansson's controversial role as Major Mila Killian in Ghost in the Shell, Hollywood has chosen to whitewash characters who have been written for Asians.

The release of To All The Boys, in many ways, rewrote Hollywood’s outdated canon of casting.

It, along with the releases of Crazy Rich Asians and Searching this summer, proved that the need for diversity in Hollywood could no longer be ignored.

In fact, Crazy Rich Asians marked the first all-Asian film cast since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club.

But out of the Asian-led films this summer, Condor’s character Lara Jean was perhaps the most impactful, as she emerged as a role model for young Asian women who wanted to see themselves on-screen.

"She’s definitely my favorite, I love her so much,” Condor gushes.

The feeling has been mutual, considering the adoration Condor has received from the film’s fans. “I’ve had so many young and old Asian women who have come up to me and really poured out their hearts about how meaningful it is to see a lead character that looks like them in a romantic movie,” says Condor of the response she’s gotten to the film.

“Lots of mothers have said they’re so excited for their children to see it because when they were younger they didn’t have a role model or face that they could see that looked like their own on film and television.”

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The actress has her own theory about what has accounted for the shift in representation this summer.

Millennials, who have been accused of spending all of their money on avocado toast, seem to be making a difference. “I think millennials, in particular, are a very vocal group,” she says. “We’re very steadfast in our beliefs, and I think that with streaming content so readily available to us and millennials being a huge audience with those streaming platforms, I think we’re just seeing so much content and knowing when it’s not representative of what it looks like outside and so then we speak up about it."

She also thinks social media is the catalyst for the change too. “I think they’ve been able to ignore it for a while, but now with social media and everyone’s reach and influence, in the world, there’s more of a demand for a diverse cast. Millennials knowing and wanting to use their voices is probably the reason why we’re seeing more representation in film and television,” she says.

Condor, who was born in Vietnam and adopted by two Caucasian parents, found her passion for acting in high school, first immersing herself in drama class and then summer courses on her own. By her senior year, she booked her first acting gig. From there she took whatever jobs she could. While she acknowledges the instability of having employment as an actor, she remains brimming with positivity.

“It’s been fun,” she says, smiling through the phone as if she mastered a challenge.

The impact of To All The Boys has been palpable, especially on Halloween when Condor and I connect.

She’s been inspired by the Lara Jean costumes she’s

been seeing on social media this year. I posted a picture of a little girl dressed as Lara Jean with her mom dressed as Lara Jean, and she wrote this amazing caption about representation, and I was just saying this is the full reason why I want to perform and why I want to entertain and act, so that people can see themselves in characters that aren’t stereotypes,” says Condor passionately.

Representation hasn’t just changed things from the outside, Condor has seen internal changes happening in Hollywood as well. “It’s quite fascinating because I’ve made so many more friends who are Asian-American or Asian-Canadian actors through the process because they’re always coming up to me and saying, ‘we’re so excited for you, and we’re so excited that we can be seen as a leading role in the industry,’” she explains. “So, it’s been fascinating to see how my network has grown within the Asian-American and Asian-Canadian actor, director and producer communities.”

Since the film’s release, both Condor and Centineo became internet obsessions, but after Centineo’s doe-eyed heartthrob status landed him a role in the new Charlie’s Angels and the dust from the film’s success had settled, fans began seriously advocating for Condor to get as much recognition and opportunity as her on-screen beau.

But Condor doesn’t see herself being overshadowed by the hype surrounding Centineo at all, “I’ve been receiving so much love from all these girls and from the whole experience, and I want the best for both of us,” she says without hesitation.

“I completely understand why everyone is so obsessed with Noah and Peter. At the end of the day, it is a rom-com and the majority of the viewers are female, so of course they’re going to love Lara Jean, but they’re really going to love Peter because Peter comes off as this seemingly perfect boyfriend that these girls would like to see themselves with, so I completely understand the hype, and I’m supp– ortive of it 100 percent.”

Condor’s admiration doesn’t end there, in fact, she seems as in awe of the actor as the film’s first-time viewers. “I’m really grateful for the support I’ve gotten and I’m really grateful for the support Noah has gotten because I think he deserves it all,” she says lovingly.

Condor and Centineo’s chemistry on-screen was so convincing that it fueled rumors that the duo was dating, which could be frustrating for some people, but not Condor. Instead, being genuinely optimistic, she sees it as a strength. “I think it means we did our job right if people want us to be together in real life,” she says. Even Condor herself watched the film as an outsider and felt the need to root for them.

“I love when I watch a romantic movie like Twilight and there’s a believability when they get together in real life, so I totally get the fandom,” she confesses. “More than anything, I’m just flattered.”

While a sequel for To All The Boys remains up in the air, it’s definitely a possibility. “I feel like we’ll find out soon, but I don’t know,” Condor says coyly.

“That’s the goal, right?”

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In the meantime, Condor does have her own theory for one of the burning questions left by the film: who shot the video of Lara Jean and Peter in the hot tub.

“I think it was still Genevieve,” she says. “I know she said she didn’t, but I’m dead convinced it was her, and I will be dead convinced forever.”

In January, Condor will take on a new challenge, starring as the “badass” assassin Saya Kuroki in SYFY’s new series Deadly Class. The day after To All The Boys came out, Condor moved to Vancouver to shoot the show, which she’s been doing non-stop. “I haven’t been able to sit down and unpack everything that’s happened, because I’ve been so busy on another project, but I do think that distraction has been really good,” she notes.

Based on the DC Comics graphic novel by Rick Remender and Wes Craig, Deadly Class is a dark, coming-of-age drama that follows a group of young assassins as they study the deadly arts at a high school called King’s Dominion. Condor won’t be playing a sweet Lara Jean.

“My character on Deadly Class is completely diff– erent from Lara Jean,” says Condor. “She strives to be valedictorian, but she’s a really deadly assassin, so I get to learn fight combos and sword work, and I get to ride around on a motorcycle all the time, which is really exciting.” Sure, there might be some typical teen drama, but King’s Dominion isn’t your standard high school: it’s an amalgamation of teens who are the children of various gangs, syndicates and crews.

“You can imagine the drama that would happen in a school based off of all rival gangs,” Condor hints.

However, Condor (who loves rom-coms like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days) isn’t quite done with rom-coms just yet: she’ll be starring in a romantic indie film in 2019 called Summer Night alongside Analeigh Tipton, Justin Chatwin and Victoria Justice.

“It basically follows a group of kids over the span of one summer night and examines their lives and what it’s like to be a kid in a small town during the summer,” says Condor. “And [it] examines their relationships and them trying to figure out what they want to do before they go off to college.”

Once again, she’s beaming: she’s crossing her fingers for a sequel to that one as well.

Despite her upcoming rom-com role, Condor definitely doesn’t want to get typecast. In fact, her dream role may surprise fans from To All The Boys. Condor is obsessed with war films– Hacksaw Ridge, specifically.

“I would actually really love to be the female version of Andrew Garfield’s character in Hacksaw Ridge,” she says. At the same time, she dreams of working with Emily Blunt because she’s been able to be such a versatile actor.

With her newfound fame, Condor emphasizes repeatedly that she wants to use her platform to lift up other people’s voices. But she’s been warned not to have the “burden of all representation” on her shoulders. She doesn’t see it that way though: “To that I say, it’s no burden for me to have. I’m just so excited to use my platform to normalize having Asians be in leading roles as fully-fleshed characters that aren’t based on stereotypes or what we look like.”

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Meghan Trainor words: hasan beyaz photographer: jack alexander styling: hayley atkin / assisted by: allison cartagena hair: david stanwell at the wall group using the hair shop makeup: alison christian at opus beauty using charlotte tilbury

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“I'm a busy girl! I’m getting my wig put on right now,” international superstar MEGHAN TRAINOR shares on the phone. In between a judge panel slot on Fox's new music competition The Four and hard at work preparing for the release of her third major album Treat Myself, which is expected to release early 2019, Meghan Trainor takes time to talk to us about what fans can expect in the new year.

We dive deep into the album, which Trainor says “would be Oprah” if it were a living person. "It would be someone who knows how to treat them– selves and is constantly trying to better themselves and find ways to improve their health and happiness, which is what I’m trying to be now and I watch a lot of Oprah now.”

“For me, it symbolizes a moment in my life that I had after my second surgery, where I kind of crumbled emotionally and physically,” Trainor explains. “My body just kinda gave up on me and I had to remind myself that I can say ‘no’ and that I have to focus on myself and treat myself.

It took therapy and doctors and help – I had to really ask for help, because I was going through some dark anxiety while being on vocal rest for so long, cause you're just alone with your thoughts which is a terrible place to be (laughs)... but with a lot of help, support and love from my family and my lover boy Daryl [Sabara], I climbed out of it and my therapist was like ‘don’t forget to treat yourself for how great of a job you did from all of this post surgery stuff’ – so I did; I treated myself, and I continue to focus on myself and want to spread that message with the world with this album.

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My message throughout my entire career has always been ‘love yourself, focus on yourself, don't forget about you’ and even I forgot about myself– and especially nowadays, it's a crazy world and you gotta go back to you sometimes.”

As Trainor says, her message has first and foremost been one of self-love and realizing self-worth. One of Trainor’s biggest appeals is her natural ability to craft pop gems that appeal to a wide generation, and there’s no denying that Trainor is one of the most viable songwriters today.

Mumbling some lyrics and melodies to an upcoming song from Treat Myself, which soon enough the world will surely be mumbling too, Trainor reveals: “I have a song on my album called ‘Evil Twin’ and it's about the person inside you that you are most insecure about... Like if you take all your insecurities and put them into a person, you could say ‘that’s my twin! That wasn’t me, that was her last night!’ So the whole song is like, she’s crazy and she talks a lot and she gives me anxiety and she screams, but I’m quiet and sweet and innocent. I think it will relate to everyone out there in the world if you have different personalities and you're very aware of it.”

Treat Myself also marks a departure from Trainor’s previous records Title and Thank You in multiple aspects, which we discuss in great detail. Lyrically, Trainor challenged herself to say something different this time: “I didn’t wanna rewrite what I’ve already written about– love your body, love yourself– so I tried different ways of selfempowerment.

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Musically, Treat Myself will hear Trainor dabbling in fresh new sounds to mirror the star’s happiness. “I did a lot of upbeat! I love dancing, I love upbeat dance songs that you can play at my wedding. I wanna play my whole album at my wedding and that’s what I’m focusing on now. I’ve dipped in to my love for ABBA with extra harmonies and big big choruses and I mixed that with disco feels, and my ‘90s NSYNC, Destiny’s Child, and then with my doo-wopy background just smothering each song and every song. I wanted it to sound like ear candy, just easy to listen to and sing back.”

Excitingly, Trainor then divulges about an untitled bop from the album which she believes could be a potential big hit: “I’m finna have it as my single but like, everyone's gotta agree you know… it’s a team effort.” The song in question “is housey,” Trainor reveals: “I am a sucker for house beats. And I couldn't find anyone to produce it like that until I met The Futuristics and it was AWESOME and it's my new favorite song.”

When it comes to Treat Myself’s creative process, Trainor mentions that she’s had “so much freedom.

I get to write as long as I want, and I get to just keep creating and no one's telling me ‘you have to put it out right now... Or else’ which is such a blessing from my label and my team.” According to Trainor, Treat Myself is very much a family affair too, much more so than her previous works.

“I also got to put my family on the backgrounds of my songs, which just happened randomly; I was like ‘hey I need a choir and I don't have time to go get one, can you sing for me?’ and they were so good that I was like ‘alright, every song, you have to sing backgrounds on’ and so now this album is like, extra

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important to me because I want the whole world to hear my family singing and my fiancé singing cause he's got a voiiiiice” she says while laughing.

The album is a personally significant release for the multi-platinum artist, as it follows her successful vocal chord surgery which almost threatened her reign as one of the world’s leading pop stars. “It was kinda weird making this album because I was so happy and in love and all I could take from my experiences was ‘after surgery,’” she shares.

I put a scenario forward: if that surgery hadn't been successful and she couldn't sing anymore, would she have considered a career solely as a songwriter for other artists? “Oh yeah, absolutely!” she begins.

“That's always in the back of my head because songwriting was first for me, and my dad always reminds me if I'm having a tough day on the job, he's like ‘just remember, you can always stop being the pop star and go back to writing songs for everyone, like, people definitely know your name now so you'll be successful!’

It is terrifying to go under surgery and you're signing a paper that says ‘if I never have a voice again, it's not your fault.' And then after the surgery, you can't speak for four weeks, so there's a whole month of not knowing if you're gonna sing again, and I remember the first day they asked me to sing– I cried in fear because I couldn't do it. I was like ‘oh God, I don't know what I'm gonna sound like!”

It seems that threat to her career was a contributing factor behind the development of her anxiety and depression and consequently the driving force behind wanting her album to be all about positivity and "treats." When asked what she hopes to ach– ieve by openly speaking about her battle with these

struggles, Trainor explains that it’s to help educate people about mental health and to be a guiding light to her fans.

“When I was deep in my anxiety, I went online and tried to do some research because I was uneducated. Carson Daly did a video that explained exactly how I felt for months, and I couldn't explain it to my own parents– like, they didn't understand when I was like ‘my head’s on fire, my back feels like someone has a flame to it’ or ‘I have nausea and I don’t know why’ and it was just cause my adrenals were all messed up. Hearing Carson Daly explain exactly how I felt was better than a doctor; it was like ‘Oh, a regular human being who is in the industry feels like I do’ and I told him ‘you don't know how much that saved me and made me feel relieved and calmed me down.' So, while I'm writing my album I wanted to do that for my fans, cause they talk all the time on Instagram about how they are depressed this week or they've lost an aunt and it’s been really tough on them and I just hope that some of my songs and me talking about it can help them with their issues."

There’s also a specific quote from Trainor’s dad which gets her through dark days: “My dad always says, ‘well life will get better if you let it.’ And it's so true! Because it could be the worst day of your life but if you try to stay positive, you can change how your whole body feels and anything going on, you can make it better with your mental state just by staying positive.”

With that in mind, Treat Myself also has quite a literal meaning– Trainor has “so many” top treats for herself which elevates her health and wellbeing, she says. “I have been trying to workout and eat really well for my mental health and my physical

health. But you know, you should get a cheat day every once in a while,” Trainor explains with a giggle. “When we do, our big favorite thing is acai bowls because they're like ice cream mixed with berries, which is like sugary and granola, and it's bomb. Also a massage from Daryl– he’s literally rubbing my feet right now, so cute! Oh and getting my nails done, I always feel like that’s my spa day.”

We chat about the feminist, anti-sexist message behind the album’s lead single "No Excuses," released earlier this year. “I wanna say something important that actually helps people and has a positive message and a strong message,” Trainor declares.

“I had personal experiences with this message and I wrote it in this song in a half hour and knew it was important, in that it would relate to a lot of women and men around the world. I knew that's what I wanted to come out with first; a big, sassy anthem about empowering myself and respect! We need more respect!”

This leads into some commentary from Trainor about the representation of women in music at the moment. “I feel like all women in music right now are slaying but there just needs to be more of us.

I would love to see more songwriters. I'm so used to– and I hate that I can say I'm used to– like, when they set me up with a producer: it’s a man, it's always a man. I recently wrote with a woman and she was a producer, and I just hugged her and I was like ‘you're the first female producer I’ve ever gotten to work with and I need more of you,’ like, this is so sad. And so I just want to see more of us all over, even in the entertainment industry in general: more directors, more executives.”

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In a moment of further female solidarity, Trainor expresses gratitude towards three of her pop star peers Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, who are similarly just as vocal about their personal battles as Trainor is. “Those three particular girls have been through so much and I just really look up to all of them and how strong they are and how they can continue their careers and still do this,” Trainor explains.

“There are some days in this position when you're like ‘is this all worth it? Should I like, go take care of myself for a minute and all the hard work I've done– just throw it all away?’ and they just keep pushing, and that really keeps me pushing, and I hear them in interviews say they surround them– selves with good people and that's what I try to do.”

Trainor also hints at an upcoming world tour, something she hasn’t embarked on since 2015.

“We haven’t started the plan but I know when this album comes out, I think we're gonna jump right into a big tour, and hopefully start overseas first and then go to America.” In a charming British accent, Trainor states she’d “like to go to London” first. “Those fans are the loudest and have been very supportive, and some of my main fans that I have remained friends with over the years are both British, both in London and yeah, they’re extra loud, I like that, I feel safe” she shares.

It’s extremely clear that Trainor respects and loves her Megatrons as much as they do her. When asked which aspect of the music industry she finds the most exciting, Trainor instantaneously declares “the fans. Seeing the fans at every show freaking out.

I've recently done shows where these young girls, I would reach out for them and they would just start bawling, and I was like oh my God, I didn't know I was that impactful in their lives and that made it so special and showed me ‘oh, I have to keep doing this for them.’

Thanks for encouraging me to keep going. Thanks for always helping me out on Instagram whenever I’m negative. Thanks for reminding me of all the positives and how cool my life is, and it’s because of them, so a big fat thank you to all the Megatrons and I just love you so much,” Trainor enthuses.

Despite building up such a solid and loyal fanbase during her five years as an international pop star, it’s intriguing to hear that Trainor still feels that she has a lot to learn about her career and that she’s “constantly learning and working harder and harder at every performance. My father always told me, ‘after five years you'll finally figure it out’ and I keep telling him that in these last months I’m like ‘hey I don't have anything figured out. Give me five more years.’” It’s an honest insight and a reminder of Trainor’s relatability, which is what helped catapult her to superstardom in the first place.

“I'm coming back - aggressively,” Trainor concludes about what the next year looks like for her. “I'm coming back to promote and touring the world and the album will finally be released - isn't that right, manager?! Yup. Thumbs up from my manager.” All aboard the M Train!

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Jake Miller Since sharing his very first song "Sit Back and Relax" on MySpace under the name J Killa in 2010, Jacob Harris "Jake" Miller has devoted the entire ‘10s decade to actualize his musical dreams.

Soon after releasing his debut album Us Against Them with entertainment powerhouse E1 Music in November 2013, Miller revealed that he’d switched to Warner Brothers Records, a move which would shape the next period of his career– for better or worse. “Good things happen to good people. This is something my dad has told me over and over again since I was a little kid and it’s the only thing I live by,” Miller says. It’s a mantra which may have got him through his rocky partnership with Warner Brothers Records.

Although Miller’s deal with the major label saw the release of three EPs, a headlining tour, a high profile slot as Fifth Harmony’s opening act for some of their 24/7 tour dates and major TV performances–seemingly the thing of music industry dreams– it didn’t seem to serve Miller.

“I think it’s important to know that if you want something done correctly, do it yourself. That doesn’t mean you don't need a great support group around you, because you definitely do. But don't ever put your passion and your life in someone else hands and think that they will do as much for you as you would. Always be the captain of your own ship. I’ve learned that from being on multiple record labels and having multiple managers. Always be your own label and your own manager, in your head.”

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That mentality is most likely why the announcement of Miller’s second album 2:00AM In L.A. came with the news that he had “parted ways” with Warner Bros. Records, seeing Miller go back to his indie roots. He released his second indie album and third overall, Silver Lining, earlier this year in February, the result of personal and professional breakups.

Although we can assume the professional breakups in Silver Lining is with Warner Bros, Miller sticks to boundaries when it comes to the personal side: “I like to keep my love life very private, so as open as I am with my fans on social media with other things, nobody will ever know who I’m dating or talking to. That way no one knows who I’m writing songs about. I think social media can drive people crazy if used the wrong way.

As a musician with a fan base, some people feel like they have to be glued to their phones 24/7. It’s really important to live your life and look up from your phone every now and then.”

Despite wanting to stick to boundaries, Miller never takes his supporters for granted: “It’s a blessing knowing I help people though my music. I’ve seen literally thousands of lyric tattoos over the past few years and to see how much my lyrics have impacted some people is truly insane,” he shares.

Miller, who is also a model signed with the influential and pres– tigious Wilhelmina agency, isn’t afraid to steam things up in his music videos. Miller’s videos for his singles "Drinkin About You" and ‘The Girl That’s Underneath" both feature some super saucy scenes of intimacy as part of their storylines, much to the delight of his nearly one million fans on Instagram.

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When asked if he thinks there are double standards when it comes to expressions of sexuality in music, Miller explains: “I think everybody should be able to express sexuality in music and in general. It’s a shame that society often makes women feel uncomfortable to express themselves in those certain ways, but everybody should be proud of themselves enough to express themselves however they want.”

With his independent DIY mentality in mind, it’s perhaps quite surprising then that Miller decided to sign with Sony Music's imprint label, RED Music in July this year. “Sony Records found me and loved what I was doing on my own. They are letting me make all the music by myself in my bedroom, but putting their major label resources and support behind me.

It’s the best of both worlds and I couldn't be happier and prouder of myself for holding out for the perfect deal. My first EP with Sony Records will come out sometime around March 2019. After leaving my previous label, I made a vow to myself that I would never sign with another major record label again unless they gave me complete freedom to create my own music.

On my previous label, songs were often handed to me to record that I didn't write nor connect with. For a while, I felt like I lost my identity as an artist. After being independent for the last two years, I’ve realized how important it is write your own music and be 100% you in every lyric you write and every beat you make.

Authenticity always wins. There are a lot of ugly sides of the industry, as with every industry, but way more up sides. Music is the only industry I plan on being in for as long as I live so I’ve learned to block out the negative parts of it. I stand for being a real genuine person. Nothing you see or hear from me is ever fake or manipulated by a manager, label or publicist.

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I am 100% me all the time and I encourage others to be the same way,” Miller explains.

Despite going back to the major labels, Miller seems to have found the perfect balance between the major label benefits while maintaining his desire for independence. “For the last few years, I’ve dedicated my life to learning how to produce my own beats. So everything you’ve heard from me in 2017 and 2018 and going forward, I wrote all the lyrics and produce all the beats myself from my bedroom,” he explains.

“I pull inspiration from a lot of different artists. I love the sounds used by Lauv, Jon Bellion, The 1975 and Flume. A lot of times lyrics come to me when I step away from the song for a few minutes and take a shower. I write some of my best lyrics in the shower. I’m always just writing about what I feel that day. There are some days where I think about past relationships and there are some days where I realize that the past is the past and try to focus and write about the future.”

With this exciting new period in front of Miller full of “a lot of new music” and even “a European/US tour around April” and the negativities seemingly behind him, the artist remains as ambitious as he’s always been: “I think at the end of the day, the only people that will really last and make an impact are the people with the greatest music and the most powerful messages to convey.”

Check out Jake's latest single "Wait For You" now available on all streaming platforms. Stay tuned for new music from Jake very soon! words hasan beyaz photography derrick freske styling katie qian grooming grace snook

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Slaves Slaves, two young lads from Kent known for being aggressive punks with a charmingly funny side. But with the release of their third studio album Acts of Fear and Love, we’re let in to a completely new side of Isaac and Laurie. Made up of nine tracks, the collection of songs are not as boisterous as the boys usually are, instead they boast emotional depth. It’s not that they’ve lost their touch, more like they’ve done a lot of growing up and feel like they’ve got something to say.

“I thought it was time to make a broader statement,” Laurie explains, while on the phone to me in Glasgow. “'Are You Satisfied' kind of posed a question and 'Take Control' felt like the answer to that question. There’s a lot of pressure on bands to be political, but I think one of the things that’s the most important is that everyone starts opening up and talking more about their feelings.”

Arguably, young men opening up and expressing their feelings is as political as you can get. The new album, with its bold title, moves away from the quick, aggressive, shout everything loudly style the band are known for and delves deeper into the human condition; showing us that young men have the opportunity to show their softer side.

“I feel like we spent a lot of time barking about what was wrong with the world in our music and never really offering any sort of solution. It was time to get a bit more personal,” says Isaac. “It’s all about meeting your flaws, getting rid of toxic masculinity and just men being a lot more open about their feelings and their emotions.”

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As I speak to them, the boys are on the second date of their tour and they’re tired, but after playing shows to smaller crowd in the US and Europe, they’re excited to be on home soil. Already, the energy they’re gathering from the crowds is palpable.

“I think kids really relate to it.” says Laurie. “I’ve always thought that anything influenced by punk has a really immediate reaction. When you’re feeling it, it makes you feel like you’re part of something, being in that crowd and everyone's sort of moving aggressively and letting energy out.”

Known for the chaos that can commence in their live shows, the caliber of their new releases means their set has had to go through a bit of a change. It makes sense, considering the boys have too. After starting the band in 2012, they themselves have grown up a lot since then.

“As I get older I want to make everyone dance,” says Laurie.

“The cool thing is seeing the whole room, rather than just seeing a group of kids in the middle fighting, seeing the whole room bounce up and down is one of the best feelings.”

"Magnolia," the band's latest release, is a dance track that chats about magnolia walls in UK homes and pokes fun at materialism.

It follows "Cut and Run" and "Chokehold" as the third single to be released, which according to Isaac was a sure thing. “I feel like when you write an album the singles kind of stick out straight away, you just know what they’re going to be. It felt like a little bit tongue in cheek and fun and with a little bit of an under– lying message.”

But Laurie was a bit more unsure. “Magnolia was this weird one where it grew as the album grew, then we started playing it live and it got a really good reaction and then it just all flowed. We had this good idea for a video, Once we got that down it just felt right.”

The video to the track is, understandably hilarious. Inspired by the lyrics and the bizarre census information that each house has at least one Magnolia colored wall, the video follows the boys as painter decorators, offering us a glimpse into what their lives could have been had they not made it to punk stardom.

According to Laurie, the visual aspect is important to the message as much as it is to keeping the bands personality alive.

“Our videos are really important to us because we used to por– tray most of the humor in the live show and then we started to feel a bit uncomfortable because we didn’t want people to feel like we were a gimmicky band. so with this album videos have been the main vehicle of humor.”

And it works. For Isaac though, "Photo Opportunity" is his favorite. “I feel like it’s definitely the most personal I’ve ever been when it comes to writing lyrics. It’s literally just the thoughts that are in my head, When we first recorded the album I was listening to the record and I was really hungover and I shed a little tear.”

It’s clear that the album isn’t just a new musical direction for the boys, but also a life one. After speaking to them for a short amount of time it’s clear that they’re not only proud of the art they’ve created but the message behind it too.

“We’re in this privileged position where we’re a successful band, but we’re quite like down to earth people who live very normal lives out site of the band, and we have the same thoughts and feelings. It’s kind of a bit more like music for the people, by the people.” It’s clear the boys are just as punk as they ever were, but this time with an emphasis on being open on why.

The titular track, which sits at the end of the album, is also full of wisdom that comes with growth, for the band’s music as well as their personal journey, but it nearly didn’t come to fruition.

Mostly because Laurie wasn’t as keen as Isaac on the rock 'n' roll vibe. “I was like really on the fence about it” he explained, “It’s such a big statement, kind of like balls out, rock kind of thing. We were struggling with the song I asked Isaac well where the phrase came from because I wanted to get more of an understanding about it.

He just said he had this teacher once tell him there’s no such thing as hate, just acts of fear and love. And I was just like that’s the lyric, and the song progressed it just felt like it had to be the title.”

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Tati Gabrielle What made you want to pursue acting? Do you remember the moment you realized it’s what you were meant to do?

I was in my first play in third grade. I had a very active imagination as a kid and I just loved the idea of getting into another world. I went to a performing arts school in middle school, but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school, I went to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland with our theater program. It’s a monthlong festival every year where people all over the world perform, street performers, all kinds of cool stuff. I remember being in that world and seeing a few different acts. I just remember thinking, ‘to be in this creative space, there’s nothing better.” That what when I was like this is what I want my life to be like. I really love telling stories and being able to tell stories for other people who may not be able to be to tell their own story.

What has been your favorite role so far?

My favorite role was during my senior year of high school– I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Tennessee Williams? We put on A Streetcar Named Desire! It was my dream come true – I was able to be the lead, I played Blanche Dubois! Definitely one of my favorite characters to play thus far. It was so fun to dive into the world of Blanche – she’s got some layers.

Are there any other genres you’d want to pursue next?

I’ve done mostly fiction: SciFi, now supernatural with Sabrina, but I'd love to try something totally existential and surreal. The first thing that came to mind is Being John Malkovich, which was one of my favorite movies growing up. It’s using the imagination but

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it doesn’t have it in a box by itself, but it challenges the mind of both the audience and the character. Have you seen Enter the Void? It’s an indie film but it’s super trippy it’s all from the perspective of the main character, but it’s filmed from his point of view – you never see him.

Who are some actors/actresses that inspire you most?

An actor that really inspires me is Jonah Hill, just how he’s grown and evolved. He started in Superbad as the super funny chubby kid then evolved into his character in Wolf of Wall Street. His range is something that really inspires me and hope it’s something I can do. Eartha Kitt is really an inspiration for me as a person and a woman. She has a brilliant personality and she’s so unapologetically herself. She walks with her head held high and is someone I aspire to be.

What was it like when you found out you were cast as Prudence on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina?

I was super excited and thrilled because I’d never played an antagonistic character. She is so outside of me and the most polar opposite character i’ve ever played. On top of the fact that I watched the older series, so I was really excited to be a part of the remake.

What was your process like in preparing for the role?

Prudence is very outside of me so I had to go to a foundational level asking questions like ‘what traumas has she experienced in her life?’ and finding out what made her so bitter. You have to ask these questions and psychoanalyze your character because they’re people too. I had to go to a deeper, personal level with

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her. I wanted to figure out her methods and madness. I also did a lot of research into Wiccan culture and figured out how that effected Prudence knowing those traumas. Going into her issues with Sabrina being half-mortal and how it goes against Prudence and her values.

Mortals have discriminated against witches for centuries. We know about the Salem Witch Trials, they weren’t tolerant of Pagan nature. I tried to parallel that with something I’m more familiar with– being African American and the discrimination we experienced for centuries and how that has made, especially older generations, really bitter. Trying to understand that on a more realistic level. Taking all of these things and trying to form a whole person.

What were some of your favorite moments in filming?

We have a lot of funny moments as a cast on set too! We have this thing on-set where one person will yell “Hail Satan!” which will create an entire ripple.

The cast looks extremely close, who would you say you’ve spent a majority of time with off-set?

Chance, Jaz, Ross and Gavin! I love the entire cast but they’ve become my closest friends. We just have so many good talks and gone through things during this process and have helped each other through it. Those four souls are with me through life now.

My dad has always told me that he has the three H’s: hungry, humble and hustle. To always stay hungry, to always stay humble to never boast, it’s not the end yet. You always need to remember to bring other people up with you. Hustle, and to always stay on the grind, cause the grind don’t stop!

What’s up next for Tati Gabrielle?

I am hoping to get into feature films! I’d really love to do an indie, passion project. That’s on my list of goals. I want to get into music! I could never play an instrument but I always knew I wanted to do something in music. It’s a completely different way to move people. I’ve been learning to produce myself, so I’m hoping to become a female producer. I’d also love to get into non-profit work for the youth to remind people to be themselves and to create a beautiful world.

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What’s been your favorite part of playing Prudence?

It’s fun being a bitch! It’s just not something I’m like in real life!

Prudence has taught me strength in a way as a woman and how to be unapologetically myself. It’s been a really spiritual experience playing Prudence, clearing out all of my insecurities in order to portray this fearless girl. That’s been a really beautiful experience for me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

One really good piece of advice my manager gave me was “hard works beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” I think that not only applies to what we do as actors. It’s not enough to be good at what you do, you have to put in the time, effort and work to achieve and get stuff done. That’s something I’m always going to remember when I’m feeling lazy.

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Violett Beane What made you want to pursue acting? Do you remember the moment you realized it’s what you were meant to do?

I started acting when I was in high school. I went to a performing arts school and I auditioned for all the plays and was in almost all of them. So, I knew I loved acting. When it came to senior year, I realized I didn’t really want to go to college necessarily at that point in time. So, I found a local agent in Austin, which is where I’m from, and just started sending in taped auditions for film and television. It started taking off and I ended up moving to Los Angeles.

What has been your favorite role so far?

Every role I’ve played has been so uniquely different and has taught me so much, which to me, is the best part. But one of the most interesting people I’ve portrayed is a real survivor of the first mass school shooting in America in the documentary “Tower.”

I played Claire Wilson, who was pregnant at the time and one of the first people shot along with her boyfriend. Her story is so powerful and humbling and it was amazing to get to talk to her.

What would be your dream role?

I don’t have a dream role per say but I would love to do a period piece, like something from the Victorian or Renaissance time periods!

Who are some actors/actresses that inspire you most?

I’m a huge fan of Margot Robbie and Brie Larson’s work. I think they have done an amazing job of pivoting their careers from what people probably wanted to type cast them as, and that’s not as easy as some people might think.

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They also tend to choose projects with meaning, which is a win in my book.

What are some of your favorite genres of music? Artists?

I love hip hop/rap and indie electronic. Anywhere from Kendrick Lamar to Beach House to Sia to Sam Cooke.

I know the show is mid way through its first season, but tell us a bit about your show, God Friended Me. God Friended Me is about an atheist who gets friended by someone calling themselves God on Facebook. He ignores the request because he doesn’t believe in God and he thinks someone is messing with him. Eventually he accepts it and he starts getting these friend suggestions for people. He sort of ends up being a change in their lives.

I play Cara Bloom, she’s an online journalist and she ends up being one of the friend suggestions that Miles gets. In the pilot, you see that she struggles with the fact that her mother left when she was really young. She came to New York in search of her and she’s actually found her, but she doesn’t really know how to take the next step. That’s when Miles and the God account enter. She then decides to stick around after they’ve helped her.

Each week, there is a new “friend suggestion.”

What makes God Friended Me stand out from the rest?

I think it’s the message of the show. It’s positive and it’s about inclusivity. I think with the world that we’re in right now with all the violence and negativity that’s going on, this show is something that can hopefully restore your faith in humanity and make you feel a little bit better at the very least.

Tell us about your character Cara. Do you relate to her?

Cara is headstrong and compassionate and I totally relate with that! She’s driven to get to the bottom of stories but she’s also a bit whimsical in her beliefs of this weave of interconnection between everyone and higher power. But I think that’s probably where we differ.

Is there anything in her persona or something she’s done this season that you disagree with?

Cara struggles most with her relationship with her parents and there’s been a couple of times where she has said things to them she wishes she hadn’t. I think that it’s part of the process of mending. I also think it’s really easy to sit back and say how you would go about a situation and “what you would do” but you really never know until it happens to you.

Tell us about your character’s relationship with Miles.

Miles and Cara push each other in a way that excites the other.

They don’t see eye-to-eye on everything, but you know what they say... opposites attract ;)

What were some of your favorite moments in filming?

My favorite moments have been when we have the whole gang together. There was one scene we shot a couple weeks ago with all four of us together and it felt like family.

What’s been your favorite part of playing Cara?

With every character I’ve played, I’ve gotten to learn something new either about the world or myself. Cara has taught me how to be a better a friend and person in general.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” Thanks The Handmaids Tale! There will constantly be people in your life and in the world, who will try and tear you or your community down but you must keep fighting. Silence is complacency.

What’s up next for Violett Beane?

I will be filming God Friended Me until the Spring and then I will be shooting a film in the Summer that I think fans will be excited about but I can’t talk about yet!

What was it like when you found out you were cast?

Amazing! Are you kidding? Pilot season was on its last week and I was pretty much convinced I would be waiting another year. I was so excited.

What was your process like in preparing for the role?

The show’s creators Bryan and Steven have been so open and communicative since my very first audition, so it’s been a pretty seamless process. They love hearing from us about what we think about for our characters and storylines and explain how they’re feeling!

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words & photography laura ersoy

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