First South Magazine - 1stEd, Vol1

PROMOTING YOURSELF!

JUMPSTART WITH TyRell TymeS

NORFOLK ’S OWN

Sunny &Gabe

A PR GIRL’S GUIDE TO EARNING PUBLICITY with mariah baylor

AUTHOR’S NEST TALKS

Sex, Death & Empire with Tracey Mershon

CHECK OUT HER PHOTOGRAPHY

Tracey Mershon Photography w w w. t r a c e y m e r s h o n . c o m

EVENTS

P u r c h a s e Yo u r s To d a y ! w w w.t r a c e y m e r s h o n . c o m C op y r i g h t 2 015 Tr a c e y M e r s ho n Sponsored by Author's Nest 757 Me d i a G r oup a f f i l i at e

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WELCOME ISSUE 1

It is with humble appreciation that we present

to you the first edition of First South Magazine.

Having collaborated with various independent

our mission

artists of all genres, the term ‘First South’ was created as a representative platform for the diverse and eclectic; the talented and determined; the innovative and creative. It was a way for the

First South was branded from the rich and cultivated

voice of artistry to be heard within the region and dreams to be conquered. In our first edition, you are sure to get inspired with our featured artists, one-on-one interviews, and daily tips from entrepreneurial professionals. Stay true to your talent and be ready to grow because at First South, we strive to make this a region of firsts.

JACQUELINE LEWIS

EDITOR‑IN‑CHIEF

history of Jamestown and Williamsburg and how it has grown to flourish as a “7-city” melting pot of technological entrepreneurship and musical innovation. 757 Media Group caters to this region of firsts to aid and promote independent ar tistic innovation. Although we have branched of f to incorporate both state-wide and border crossing projects, it continues to stay true to its roots through community engagement and cross-collaborative development.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE TOO! www.firstsouthmagazine.com

JUNE 2015

ABLE OF CONTENT

JUMPSTART WITH

TYRELL TYMES Take a sound check break with singer/ songwriter, TyRell TymeS, as we

page 6

explore his artistry skill at the recent Artistree Festival in Norfolk, VA.

“WE LIKE TO CHA-CHA”

WITH D.R.A.M. Billb o a r d m a g a z in e a n d V ir g ini a n at i ve ar tis t , D.R . A .M ., debut s w ith his ne w hit single, "Cha-Cha", along side Sunny & Gabe.

page 12

page 18 INTRODUCING NORFOLK’S

Shining their light on the Hampton Roads music scene, Fir s t South t ake s you inside the realm of produc tive creativit y that is Sunny & Gab e . In this e dition, the dynamic duo t ack le s e cle c tic pop, dir t y dancing , and time tr aveling.

NEST TALKS: page 20 AUTHOR'S SEX, DEATH, AND EMPIRE

First South takes a time out to muse over armchair

page 24 EARNING PUBLICITY

Take notes from Lisette Creative Group founder and

page 28 SUNNY & GABE: HERE TO STAY

First South catches up with the 'rising duo' as they

page 30

Trouble finding your own work-life balance? Relax

OWN: SUNNY & GABE

A PR GIRL'S GUIDE TO

MOTIVATION REBOOT WITH

DR. BURGANDI

philosopher and Virginia-based author, TraceyMershon, to discuss motivation and her literary inspired photography through her recent non-fiction release.

PR Gur u, Mar iah B aylor, on g aining publicit y a s a independent entrepreneur or as a start-up company.

prepare for their upcoming featured performance at the 2015 Broccoli Festival in Washington, DC.

and practice the latest stress-free methods with licensed chiropractor Dr. Burgandi Collins.

ISSUE 1

JUNE 2015 EDI T OR­‑ IN ‑ CHIEF

Jacqueline Lewis

CRE AT IVE DIREC T OR

Davion Hussen

COMMUNICAT IONS DIREC T OR

Sarah Carter RESOURCES COORDINAT OR

Harold Jutajero DIREC T OR OF T ECHNOL OG Y

Naomi Acosta WEB/SOF T WARE DE VEL OPER

Jielei Wang DIGI TAL MEDIA IN T ERN

Mithzy Arciniega M ARK E T ING IN T ERN

Peter Romano ART DIREC T OR

Martha Stejar VISUAL COORDINAT OR

Denzel Allen PRODUCER / TAL EN T COORDINAT OR:

Dale Adade PRODUC T ION IN T ERN

Ayumi Yuasa PRODUC T ION IN T ERN

Tommy Behan

SPECIAL T HANKS T O

Mariah Baylor Lisette Creative Group LLC.

Tracey Mershon Photographer

Erika Scott Edesigns

The Muse Writers The Muse Writers Center

Sosa Music Group

IAAB Music Conference

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. S P O N S O R E D B Y 7 5 7 B E AT S . C O M , I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H 7 5 7 M E D I A G R O U P A N D L I S E T T E C R E AT I V E G R O U P, L L C . © C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 5 7 5 7 M E D I A G R O U P.

JUMPSTART WITH

TYRELL TYMES

For this edition, First South Magazine reminisces with new hip-hop sensation and Indie Artist, TyRell TymeS to talk industry success and upcoming ventures!

JUNE 2015 7

Tell us a little bit yourself & how you would describe your sound.

want people to feel like they can relate

track, Slow it Down, just took me to a

to me, my music, and the vibes. It can be

whole different world. I can’t even explain

hard because sometimes I have to remind

it but it was instantly there and I had to

TyRell: I’ve been rapping for six years and

myself to stay creative and fresh.

write it down. My new single, Slow it

lean more old school. I’m a real laid back and chill. Like whatever mood I’m in, that is the music I’m making.

What do you like to rap or talk about in your music?

Down, dropped about a month ago and

What are your current projects and can you explain how all that is coming together?

TyRell: Most of the time I go to my studio

TyRell: Everyday life. I feel like I’m a big

in Virginia Beach and listen to different

brother to a lot of people. I really just

beats to get inspired. But this most recent

8 FIRST SOUTH

will be followed by a music video soon.

I really just want people to feel like they can relate to me, my music, and the vibes...

DM V na t i v e and r ising s t ar, Ty Rell Ty meS

For more on TaRell TymeS please visit:

is cur r en t l y in t he s t udio w or k ing on his

@TaRellTymeS

f or t hcoming album . T he o f f icial r ele ase da t e w ill be announced soon . In addi t ion

www.tarelltymes.com www.youtube.com/tarelltymes www.facebook.com/tarelltymes301

t he v ideo f or “ Slo w I t Do w n� w ill be pr emier ing v er y soon .

*Transcript recorded at the 2014 Artistree Festival in Norfolk, VA.

JUNE 2015 9

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SUNNY & GABE

NORFOLK ’S OWN

Sunny &Gabe 12 FIRST SOUTH

The promo for Dirty Dancing shoves Sunny Gicz, Gabe Niles, and their wigs into a low-end consumer grade fisheye video that might generously be dated to the 1980s. It is presented as a dance tutorial, the kind that might haunt a UHF station in the lost hours in the 1980s. As 80s babies, musical lyricists and beat producers, Sunny Gicz and Gabe Niles, united their passion for the beat culture to take on Norfolk’s pop culture scene by storm.

Sunny Gicz: Dirty Dancing was at one point part of a larger plan, but has since been kicked off of our project because it doesn’t really fit in. Gabe had been playing the old dance party videos with the song for months and months, so we decided to finally work with Charley Fehrer to make it a thing. We filmed some of our own footage with Charley and Richard Perkins with the VHS camcorders, then got a bunch of whiskey and sat with Charley while he magically added our dance move names and other exciting text surprises.

The footage in Dirty Dancing is haphazardly cut with footage of a 1980s Soul Train line. New sub-titles were applied to the footage that carefully replicating old

Interview by George Booker april 2015

video burner titles from the 80s. Sunny and Gabe were not shy about getting in on the fun on the big screen and realizing their favorite past times either.

Sunny Gicz: The wigs were awesome and fun. They made it easy to jump into character and enter the zone for performing while in an environment where five minutes earlier, I was a wallflower with a slight buzz.

We both love to dress up and have been dressing up for rehearsals since we started. That’s pretty much how it all happened, aside from 30 to 45 minutes of unused footage of Gabe wearing a multi-colored, eclectic-ona-good-day outfit. Well, I may be exaggerating a little JUNE 2015 13

Their personalities work as a perfect piece. No matter how odd, from one puzzle piece to another. The friendship and connection is real, too bit. It was more like, 15-20 minutes. You can see it, but please don’t post it. The different outfit starts at around 22 minutes in. Although, there is other stuff with Gabe in the Virginia Beach tank top that wasn’t used. Oh, and Sunny doesn’t like being on camera because....

Gabe Niles: Cuz I am fleeing a former life. In her own words, not mine. But the thing about Sunny & Gabe in this context, however, is that their

Sunny Gicz: We like the aesthetics from other eras

personalities work as a perfect piece. No matter how odd, from

because I think we have been time traveling in our

one puzzle piece to another. The friendship and connection is

sleep. Either that or we were born at the wrong

real, too. I’ve seen them revive the Soul Train line at shows this

times. Soul train lines happening while we are

year, perhaps most memorably at a radical summer pool party

performing are something I greatly look forward

where they didn’t let us get in the pool I did once, and the hotel

to. Instead of feeding the crowd energy, I feel like

staff quickly fished me out. Getting back to the point at hand,

they feed it to us and we respond with even more

only this beat duo can better explain their aura.

energy. It’s really great!

14 FIRST SOUTH

There is something implacable about Sunny

Sunny’s charisma is in another galaxy. We sneaky.

& Gabe that reaches across generational and

The soul elements. I don’t think soul and pop could

psychographic lines and encourages unity and

go hand in hand. It’s like the opposite. Attempts to

celebration. This was seen when they played

categorize are cute. We are too stubborn for all that.

the First Friday in downtown Norfolk last year.

We are learning to give to get surely but slowly. ..so

Appropriately, DJ P. & Mr. T played the same

slow that it doesn’t even budge.FREE CANDY FACT:

nights. Both acts were difficult to describe for the

“Every public publication Gabe puts on the internet

pleasantly surprised throngs of young and old

representing us, Sunny gouges each paragraph

drinking plastic cup beer and eating concessions

and corrects his slang like an 18th century, bitchy,

on Granby Street. However, Sunny & Gabe’s acts

English teacher.” This presumably is just how they

were equally embraced.

like it. As Sunny wrote on her notes from their first

Gabe Niles: A lot of our songs are basically just a cluster fu*k of all the things we like (taste driven may be a better phrase). It can communicate with pretty much anyone. Old people feel young and hip listening to it and young people feel hip and sophisticated. Everybody feels hip. We the party. First Friday was hell last year for various reasons. But it was beautiful seeing our little city try and grow up.Whereas the hybrid vision of DJ P has managed to be pigeonholed into the relatively broad catch-all of “indie pop”, nothing sticks to Sunny & Gabe quite so easily. Valiant attempts have been made. Tropical dream pop?

Sun-dappled down tempo? Sure, specific tracks can almost be encapsulated with a labored

mixtape (which is really an amazing full album), 2013’s Free Candy,“From the beginning, our songs meant so much more than three minutes of sound designed to impress someone. Our material has been created with no effort to be anything in particular. We are decidedly without a genre and direction and decisions have come from nothing but our hearts and souls. With no budget, we have created a group of songs to introduce ourselves to the world. As DIY works a lot better when you have ridiculously talented friends, Free Candy has been made a reality with the help of more than a couple of golden individuals...”That’s only part of Sunny’s notes. This is the whole of Gabe’s: Yeah, what she said.. VA!”

categorization, but nothing can quite put a

When I first met Gabe he was a teenager

tidy bow on all of their output. It still all sounds

compulsively putting emcees over Justice and

cohesive and exactly like them, though.

luxuriating in the French House renaissance of the

Gabe Niles: DJ P is dope! They

FREE CANDY FACT: “We time travelers.”

go in so many different directions and yet end up in the right destination. Our music is difficult to describe because it’s like trying to describe something that

isn’t real. It’s embraced easily because of me and

past decade. Ced Hughes can spit a mean verse over acid four-on-the-floor house fu*kery. Sunny has made her fascination with France known. Her next Galaxy to conquer is Paris. Their sample-delic homage to Francoise Hardy finally surfaced in Volume 3 of the collections French radio/web crew Life is a Banana released. They’ve been occasionally JUNE 2015 15

GABE NILES

performing “Francois” for a minute. I’ve been holding it on my laptop for some months since Gabe’s sister leaked it overnight on Dropbox. It’s funny how music travels these days. It is difficult to know who said more. Sunny & Gabe’s Wonder Twins telepathy, and their cosmic curiosity, is rooted deeply in Virginia. Perhaps I shouldn’t say that. In southeastern Virginia. This is better. NFK is the city whose Norfolk Sound of the mid-20th century pretty much created punk rock and Bruce Springsteen. Timbaland and the Neptunes transmorgified pop music from the 90s onward. Most importantly, Portsmouth gave us Swamp Dogg.

We’re Virginia. We pick up the alien transmissions and transport the world in and out of this little nation. Sunny & Gabe are very much one of us. Also probably France and Jupiter.

16 FIRST SOUTH

Sunny Gicz: Virginia is slow and easy and a perfect atmosphere for creating without expectations. to me, DIY means doing what you have to do. We’re driven by a force that’s not necessarily rational or operating with financial backing. That’s why we decided to just do it. DIY is freedom. I love TheRamones and Swamp Dogg is from my city. I’m excited about D’Angelo’s new album and Stevie Wonder. I feel some kind of kinship to everywhere I’ve been, but I guess I am particularly attached to Virginia for obvious reasons, and honestly I just really want to go to France and have French people like our music.

SUNNY GICZ Follow-up with Norfolk’s Own Sunny & Gabe at sunnygabe.com NEWLY RELEASED 2015: “I Luv It!” & “Dirty Dancing” Video!

JUNE 2015 17

“WE LIKE TO CHA-CHA” WITH D.R.A.M. Dancing, music, lots of smiling, and tacos are all

which stands out most of all. DRAM’s vocals soon cut through the beat

ingredients to #1EpicSummer. DRAM is a Virginia

as he sounds like the joking friend trying to call your attention at a party.

native that captivated listeners, in particular, was the

He immediately starts singing and the clapping starts; the result to this

single, Cha Cha, which so happened to be produced

combination is that the listener could be sitting in their bed, but feel as

by Norfolk’s own Gabe Niles of Sunny and Gabe.

though they are at a party with a willingness to dance.

According to Billboard magazine it is an, “addictive;

DRAM is going through the song singing with an air of somebody having fun,

one listen and you’ll find yourself reciting the words

and if the music video isn’t already any indication of people being carefree

non-stop.” The song gives off a beat similar to one

then what is? The clapping of the song is what causes the audience in the

you would hear when playing a video game. This

music video to shimmy their shoulders and Cha Cha. DRAM wins with his

play-on-play with millennial childhood memories

carefree lyrics and we can all tell he is having fun. His croaky voice also

brings a certain nostalgic moment. At that point,

definitely allows his listeners to follow the flow rhythmically from singing to

they hook you not only because of the memories of

his quick-syncopated rap style.

growing up as a kid playing video games, but because they take you back to that moment of innocence.

Cha Cha is spreading like wildfire and people are getting infected with the dancing bug. It provides a nice distraction from real-world problems and to

That moment when, as a kid, all you worried about

take a breath and remember to life happy. It’s that type of song that rubs off

was winning the game in the simplest of terms. By

on you and before you realize it, you are singing the lyrics and shimming to

the beat playing on those emotions, the listener is

the Cha Cha. It’s time to blast the song everywhere you go!

able to connect to the carefree nature of the song, 18 FIRST SOUTH

If Can’t Get Enough of D.R.A.M, Check Out His Site! www.only1dram.com

Tracey Mershon Photography w w w. t r a c e y m e r s h o n . c o m

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AUTHOR'S NEST TALKS: SEX, DEATH, AND EMPIRE with tracey mershon Writer Tracey Mershon received her Bachelor’s degree from New York University and an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has ten years’ experience teaching, writing and literature at the university level. She is also and accomplished photographer whose work can be found at traceymershon.com

Q. What was the first thing you

on writing for a very long time so i have

when I was a child. If you have a strong

ever wrote that you knew was

a love/hate relationship with it. I hope

grasp on the system of a language, you

to bring writing into the same space

can spell, write, and understand so much

photography occupies for me. I would like

more of the written language than if you

to tip the balance in favor of love... Always!

learn sight reading.

it, especially during the time of actually

Q. Most people have a hard

The issues part is a bit more complicated.

writing it. If there ever comes a time when

enough time developing just one

Growing up, there was also never any

I say, “Wow, that’s pretty good”, it is when

skill or passion, but you happen

it has been long since forgotten and then

to be equally gifted at writing

really good?

With ever y thing I write, I seem to vacillate between liking it and not liking

stumbled upon again.

Writing my first eBook recently involved dragging out some essays that I wrote in graduate school, rethinking, and revamping them. At least that’s what I thought it would involve, but when I got them out and read them, I ended up doing very little editing. I was actually kind of impressed with the writer I was more than ten years ago. It was as if they had been written by somebody else that I didn’t expect too much from and that was pleasantly surprising. When I write it’s so much more about the end result. I can’t wait for it to be over. That’s probably because I put too much pressure

outward demonstration of love, and in retrospect I know I felt deprived and desperate for attention. So, for a long

and photography. How did that

time the things I wanted to be were at

happen?

the crossroads of things I liked and what I thought would get me famous, and

First of all, I have trouble with the

thereby (in my child mind) lots of love and

word gifted. It suggests that a person

attention. So, my desire to write and my

is a “natural” at something and that the

struggle to do it well manifested for a very

something requires no work or study on

long time as a desire to be a fiction writer.

the person’s part. Assuming that we are in

In fact, my MFA is in writing fiction.

agreement that a gift is just a gift until we develop it into a skill, then I can address

Years later, I would wish it were in non-

the meat of your question. I think a lot

fiction. But my romantic vision of being

of our life stories grow out of what we

a writer was all tied up in my idea of the

call our issues. I can attribute my writing

great and tortured novelist as the STAR. I

ability to two things: luck and my early

can’t regret it because, after all is said and

intense desire for love and attention. The

done, I am a good writer in spite of my

luck part is quick, easy, and practical: I feel

feeling that I need to reinvent myself as

extremely lucky to have learned Phonics

such.

P U R C H A S E Y O U R C O P Y T O D AY !

JUNE 2015 21

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A PR GIRL’S GUIDE TO EARNING PUBLICITY

A PR GIRL’S GUIDE TO EARNING

PUBLICITY

With Mariah Baylor

In Association with Lisette Creative Group, LLC.

So you’ve completed and polished your product and are finally ready to promote it. Now all you need to do is get it out into the world, but how? Working with the media may seem daunting, but just remember, these professionals wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for your fresh product available to promote each day. But let’s be honest, most of the time it will cost money and or take a lot of connections. As a professional publicist with my own PR firm, I have compiled a few tips to help you through this process.

Lisette Creative Group LLC was founded by Mariah Lisette in New York City. She has since expanded her business along the east coast. Mariah is savvy in many facets of media and has developed a love for using her talents to tell the stories of others.

Her business model favors strong communication, responsive actions, and creative representation. Mariah’s extensive travel

24 FIRST SOUTH

and network help her understand people’s artistic persona, benefitting her clients during representation.

1.

WHAT IS YOUR CAMPAIGN TIMELINE? 2.

DETERMINE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

•Who do you want to reach? You need to get your product to the people who want it most. For example: If you are an emerging hip-hop artist, your target audience is probably younger and utilizes social media.

•How long do you want to promote your product? Two weeks prior to an event or for a few months before and after the release of a new album? Publicists and other media outlets determine their fees based on different things. One of which is the length of time a project or campaign will be running or considered ‘live.’

3.

DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET. • Can you afford to finance a major campaign including notable blogs, radio and TV broadcasts, social media, and article drafts? If so, great but many people need something a bit smaller to start.

•If you’re starting budget is a little tighter, consider cheaper and/or free promo options such as product specific social media ad campaigns through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. This approach to advertising is a bit more time consuming, but can be self-constructed and published on your own terms.

•Be prepared to spend money each month on promotion and marketing. Set aside a budget for expenses like getting articles published, recurring fees for social media ads, and on-air campaigns.

4.

CONSULT OR HIRE A PROFESSIONAL THAT SPECIALIZES IN PROMOTING YOUR PRODUCT. •The majority of preliminary consultations are free so be sure to come prepared with questions and product samples for the publicist or representative. This helps you to come off as more serious and professional.

Remember as you are sizing them up, they too are making sure you will be a good fit for their roster.

•There are thousands of individuals, companies, and firms that are able to promote your product. However you may want to consider ones that are familiar with your product, are of similar experience, and in the same geographic location, as you may want to eventually meet these people in person.

JUNE 2015 25

JMP STARTER WHY CRAWL WHEN YOU CAN JUMP?

Any idea can expand into a vision but actions can quickly cause things to take a turn for the worse with clueless busness practices. Jmpstarter provides its members with unlimited access to successful entrepreneurs and the tips the learned to get their businesses on the right track.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT 757BEATS.COM

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HERE TO inger Sunny Gicz and producer Gabe Niles are a ‘powerfulon- the-rise’ duo from Virginia who have been collaboratively releasing their music from Sound Cloud for the past three to four years. Despite being in music for a couple of years, it seems now the world is finally paying attention. Just one of the many events and festivals this new and fresh duo will be embarking on this April is the Broccoli City Festival in our own Nation’s Capital. On April 25th, Sunny and Gabe will be one of the exclusive performing alongside other artists such as Tink, Joey Badass and the Smith siblings; Jaden and Willow. This is a festival that empowers and promotes the upkeep of the environment in a positive, educational, and exciting way.

Sunny and Gabe are able to cover and create songs by adding their own mix and twist. This is what all artists should do, but in today’s age it seems most musicians and producers get clumped together for being too similar. This is where Sunny and Gabe’s “Daft Punk meets Will.i.am style works in that new 28 FIRST SOUTH

STAY

SUNNY & GABE:

THE POWER DUO

aged multicultural- subculture,” as described

sound for new artists, such as, D.R.A.M in

on their most recent Tumblr blog post.

“Cha Cha.” His beats accompanied with

Even their Facebook fan page emphasizes

the soul Sunny is able to radiate through

their non-specific-genre platform. This

her vocals is an unstoppable match. They

testimony is far from false with Sunny &

create a peaceful sound without lulling

Gabe’s elemental blend of jazz, indie pop,

their audience to sleep. Instead that

and house music most that most millennials

peacefulness is allowing the listener to let

have heard; however, most of their work

loose and get up and dance.

carries a sense of openness. It creates a safe space where the listener is able to sit back, relax, chill, and just vibe without any harsh beats attacking their senses.

For more information visit soundcloud.com/sunnyandgabe www.bcfestival.com sunnygabe.com

Their ability to do their own thing without remorse seems to attract the audience they have now, which will only continue to grow. The world better be prepared!

Gabe not only produces for the duo, but

Sunny and Gabe aren’t going anywhere,

also does his own thing by producing a new

anytime fast.

JUNE 2015 29

MOTIVATION REBOOT: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WANT TO GIVE UP?

Dr. Burgandi Collins is a licensed chiropractor in the state of Virginia and earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University. A native of Hampton, Virginia, she obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mass Communications from Old Dominion University and began her professional career as a radio broadcaster. After being a popular fixture in radio for six years, a life-changing injury altered her career path. Dr. Burgandi has been on chiropractic mission trips to Haiti and The Dominican Republic throughout her career. In addition, enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and overall immersing herself in family time.

If you are like me and have ever made any type of plan, you will sometimes find that life can present you with obstacles.

These obstacles can present themselves as missed opportunities, bad timing, unsupportive friends, hating relatives or just overall bad luck. Although your eyes may be on the “prize” and your heart focused on what you determine as success, sometimes it seems like things just aren’t going your way. So, what do you do when you feel pushed to give up? Here are some things that have worked for me:

and champions do. Tell yourself that if Bill

REMEMBER WHY YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL/PLAN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TALK TO YOUR “COUNSEL.”

What does achieving this goal mean to

now. I call these people my “counsel.” This

you? More money, more stability, more

is imperative. These supportive friends and

security? Maybe happiness, a sense of

colleagues can help you tune out the self-

REASSESS AND READJUST IF NECESSARY.

accomplishment, or the ability to help

doubt, the haters, the obstacles and re-focus

Objectively think about your goal, your

others? Whatever the reason, tap into that to

on successful thinking. They can also look at

action plan and see if there is any room

remind yourself why you are doing what you

things objectively and offer you a different

for improvement. There is a chance you

are doing in the first place.

perspective. Everyone needs cheerleaders

are facing obstacles because you are going

and also people to put us back on track.

about it the wrong way. Perhaps there is a

IGNORE THE HATERS.

If you don’t already have a supportive group of people to mull things over with, get one

TALK TO YOURSELF.

bad. Haters ultimately indicate that you

Now, I don’t mean to the point of being

have made it. I have been “hated” on and

committed. Although “crazy” can be in the

although it hurt initially because I thought I

eye of the beholder. I say talk to yourself

was doing a good job (and I was!), I realized

as a coach would talk to his team. Say

that that person was hating because of his

encouraging

own insecurities. I realized the “hating” had

Say

nothing to do with me. It kind of made me

loud, motivating quotes, and words of

feel good because if someone has enough

encouragement. There is just something

time to say negative things about me then I

about hearing positive things. When I am

am doing something to shake up the waters.

stressed, I always say things like, “you got it

Either way, I was making an impact.

girl,” “I can do all things through Christ who

affirmations

to

aloud,

yourself

aloud.

scriptures

out

strengthens me,” “you can do it,” and “good

REMEMBER THAT OPRAH WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY AND NEITHER WAS ROME.

REMEMBER THAT NO ONE IS PERFECT OR A GOD. Keep in mind that all successful people had to begin at the bottom and work his/her way up. Some may have had to work harder than others and you may be one of those lucky ones. But also keep in mind how much sweeter your success will be knowing that you still succeed despite your obstacles and tough times. This is something I always tell myself.

job!” There is nothing wrong with being your biggest cheerleader, in fact, you should be.

world with natural laws. We can’t complete

RESIST THE URGE TO DOUBT YOURSELF.

a task by simply thinking about it as “really

There are many reasons why we do this,

hard”! We have to physically work to get it

but sometimes it is so easy to say negative

done. Brick by brick, call by call, meeting

things about ourselves. RESIST this urge!

by meeting, sale by sale. Each task brings

You are what you think, so if you tell

you closer to the next task which brings you

yourself you are a loser, you will more than

closer to ultimately achieving your goals.

likely make action to solidify this idea.

Continue doing what needs to be done to

If you think you are a winner and are a

get you closer to that end result.

champion, you will do things that winners

Keep in mind we are living in a natural

you can too!

better or easier way to get things done.

Everyone will have an opinion. Good or

things

Gates or whoever you admire could do it,

I know we sometimes want “eventually” to be today but realistically it just doesn’t work that way. Keep focused on the end result and don’t let temporary setbacks get you off your game. Remember, you have come this far, so keep at it. I believe in you! You can do it!

the fuzz band

in collaboration with Peach Fuzz Entertainment, blesses the music scene with a fusion of Urban & Rock music.

The group met and formed while attending Hampton University in Hampton, VA. They were originally created as the house band for Fuzzy Wednesdays, Virginia’s longest running open mic. Soon, the band began creating original music and developing their own sound.

Their performance stomping grounds started at local venues and colleges, at which time, they released Without Boundaries, followed by Collision, Change, and a Change of the Guards.

Now the dynamic band can count Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, Africa, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, and England as second homes where they experienced bombings, medical emergencies involving IVs, and pseudo kidnapping & ransom scenarios all in the name of music.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BOOKING AND UPCOMING PERFORMANCES: @thefuzzband

The created energy and innovative talent of The

www.thefuzzband.com/

Fuzz continues to make its mark with the same

w w w.facebook.com/

amount of determination. They were featured in

THEFUZZBAND

the Hollywood Issue of Black Enterprise Magazine, and have received nods in Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine, in promotion, for the Chrysler Jeep Campaign. The band has performed with Grammy award winning artists such as Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, Chicago, Jill Scott and Outkast; and has been commissioned to perform private parties for NBA’s Allen Iverson, Hall of “Fame-r” Bruce Smith, and have flown to Amsterdam and NYC to perform holiday parties for fashion mogul Tommy Hilfiger.

All in all, the Fuzz Band never deters to far from their home by the sea to celebrate in the latest festival or weekend block party. With upcoming performances ranging from a wide variety of eclectic venues all over the Hampton Roads area, it’s no wonder why they continued to be a favorite among the locals and beyond.

Sneak Peek: Fuzzy Wednesdays to return to VA soon!!

T HE F U Z Z B A ND B OOK ING

P a ul S a un d e r s 7 5 7. 2 8 7. 9 9 8 3 p s f u z z @ g m ail . c o m D u an e S m i t h 7 5 7. 5 9 2 . 5 6 3 5 D u a n e is @ a o l . c o m

JUNE 2015 33

Tracey Mershon Photography w w w. t r a c e y m e r s h o n . c o m

EVENTS

P u r c h a s e Yo u r s To d a y ! w w w.t r a c e y m e r s h o n . c o m C op y r i g h t 2 015 Tr a c e y M e r s ho n Sponsored by Author's Nest 757 Me d i a G r oup a f f i l i at e

P ORT R A I T S

C OM M E RC I A L

WILDLIFE

credit s / r esour ces cover

page eigh t een

www.parachutefullofforks.com/2013/11/sunnyand-gabe-2013.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEvHxe0WoAA1fUr. jpg&imgrefurl=https://twitter.com/pacers806&h=349&w=599&tbnid=nW_ NpOcbNRSDxM&zoom=1&tbnh=171&tbnw=294&usg=__xdEVV_ lsIE099gWKXeY7Cl7mBoc=&docid=IjN2JxhLVrYb6M

page si x http://www.firstsouthmagazine.com/?p=31

page t wen t y t hr ee www.picjumbo.com

page eigh t https://www.facebook.com/tarelltymes301

page t wen t y si x

page nine

page t wen t y eigh t

https://www.facebook.com/tarelltymes301

http://www.altdaily.com/features/music/7409-brand-new-dreamytunes-out-of-nfk-courtesy-of-lux-nova-and-sunny-gabe

page eleven

page t wen t y eigh t

http://cherrychaos.com/tag/sunny-gabe/

http://mixtapemaestro.net/2013/05/sunny-gabe-clouds. html#.VXcgXmRViko

page t welve http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https:// pbs.twimg.com/media/CGQd0UWUIAAuuIL. jpg&imgrefurl=https://twitter.com/

page f our t een http://www.npr.org/2015/06/08/412723146/ songs-we-love-sunny-gabe-downtown

page si x t een http://www.reubencphotography.co/sunnygabe-fatt-matt-rxzemvrie-vivian-rose-byreuben-c/img_5864/

www.picjumbo.com

page t wen t y nine http://ismyshittight.com/music/d-r-a-m-feet-in-thewater-featuring-sunny-gabe/

page t hir t y www.unsplash.com

page t hir y one www.unsplash.com

page seven t een http://www.reubencphotography.co/sunnygabe-fatt-matt-rxzemvrie-vivian-rose-byreuben-c/img_5882/

JUNE 2015 35

757 MEDIA IS PROUD TO PRESENT 19 june

launches on

THE COASTA L FES T APP!

You can get the app for free at coastalfestival.com, the Coastal App promotes 757-artistry streaming!

To download go to the app store or google play store depending on what phone you have. First download the QR code reader app. Once you have that app, scan the

bar code with your phone and the coastal fest app should pop up right away.

Enjoy the Coastal Fest App!

TO MEND THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY WAY OF THE ARTS