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
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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
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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