Rival Magazine: Issue 15

Caye

Writer: Olivia Vitarelli

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

L E A

Writer: Ashley Vitarelli

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

Hair: Jessica Ruby

MUA: Ryan Styne

Wardrobe: Heather Koepp & L E A

Hunter Hayes

Writer: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

Grooming: Joanna Faivre

Rioaz

Writer: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

North Ave Jax

Writer: Ashley Vitarelli

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

Wardrobe: Sponsored by H&M

Styled: Heather Koepp

Editor in Chief

Heather Koepp

Layout Design By Liat Halmos

CAYE CAYE

CAYE

CAYE

By: Olivia Vitarelli

Piano, drums, steelpan, guitar, bass, and didgeridoo. That’s a list of instruments writer, producer, and singer Caye can play, many of which you’ll see on stage in his upcoming headlining tour this March. A self-proclaimed philosophical, existential guy, Caye spent secluded quarantine months crafting his debut album WE LOVE – a melodious exploration of life’s big questions and universal truths. He’s a storyteller at heart, and he’s sharing his musings in the form of songs that, true to the album’s name, we love.

The multi-hyphenate musician grew up just outside of Boston, in a small town called Belmont. “I grew up in a musical household,” Caye says. “Every other weekend in high school, we’d throw parties and jam with different musicians from the Boston area. It was always a big family affair where we’d have tons of friends gathering and the vibes were just incredible.” The jams were open to all. “It didn’t matter if you were a professional jazz musician or if it was your first time picking up an instrument and you were shaking a tambourine. Even if you weren’t playing music, as long as you brought positive energy, you were welcome.” In addition to these musical gatherings,

Caye found himself writing, producing, and performing for a variety of jazz bands and rock bands throughout the city. “[I was] switching off weekends attending a jazz program at New England Conservatory and competing in tennis tournaments,” he reveals. “There was a time when I thought my future was playing D1 Tennis.”

His love and talent for jazz began early in childhood.

“I studied classical piano for the first ten years of my life,” Caye explains. “I then started studying jazz music roughly for the next eight years. I learned a whole lot of theory, and how to play my instruments at a high level. That experience greatly informs my work today.”

Still, he tries to strike a

balance between music theory knowledge and uninhibited creative expression. “There’s knowing music, there’s playing music, and then there’s feeling the music. Mostly anyone can learn the first two, but the feeling is what I’ve found to be the most important for music creators.”

After his introduction to classical piano, at just age twelve, Caye forayed into producing and solidified his love for music. “I was given Logic Pro as a Christmas present and started producing hip hop beats. I spent that next summer in Trinidad with my dad. We were kindly hosted by this family who showed us around the music scene down there and even invited me to jam in their family band. This is where I fell in love with music.”

By age sixteen, he was releasing original songs on Soundcloud. “The word started to spread

around my high school and then soon around other schools in the area,” he notes. “Not long after, I started playing shows performing my own music.” Two years later, after turning eighteen, Caye enrolled in the music program at the University of Southern California and moved to LA. With just a year of USC training under his belt, Caye booked a gig opening for a tour through Canada and the U.S. He spent the next few years on the road, until the pandemic hit. “Everything stopped,” Caye says. “I spent a lot of quarantine creating what is now my new album, WE LOVE.”

An eight song debut album living “somewhere in the alternative, indie, psychedelic, pop, rock, and R&B world,” WE LOVE started as a mantra between friends and became a sonic reflection on the human condition. “‘We love’ was something my friends and I would say instead of goodbye or

peace, like Pura Vida in Costa Rica. Then, I wrote WE LOVE PT. 2 and soon after, WE LOVE PT. 1. These two songs inspired me to create an entire album.”

Motivated by a mantra-turned-melody and his lease up in LA, Caye decided to journey across California with his roommates and girlfriend, embarking upon an adventure that would “greatly change [himself] and [his] music in many ways.” They stayed in a multitude of different cabins and Caye learned to take his time and enjoy the stillness. “I learned that, to truly get to know yourself, it’s sometimes helpful to isolate and get away from external influences. I learned that I need those quiet, peaceful moments more often in my life, and I will continue taking journeys like this. It gave me the time and space to create something that I’m truly proud of, that I feel truly reflects me and how I feel about the world in this moment. And, although I will continue to change, as will my music, this album will always be a reminder of who I was during this period.”

Moved to reflect by the slow pace of quarantine months, Caye reveals, “I did a lot of thinking on the currencies of humans. I realized that the most important currencies in our society are Love, Time, and Money. Love, to me, felt like the strongest currency that we have to give and receive. So, since Love is the most important human currency, it just felt right to call the project WE LOVE.”

In addition to laying down the vocals on each song, Caye both wrote and produced the album. Of the three disciplines, he notes, “they all resonate equally for me. There are different phases of life for a musical artist. It goes in cycles, sort of like the seasons. There’s creation mode, where you isolate yourself, look

deeply inwards and create. There’s the middle phase, where you get all the content, cover art, mix and master the album, and start testing the waters by playing it for specific people. And then there’s the release and performance phases, where you take all of that work and share it with the world,” he says. “It’s the cycle that makes me love being an artist. It’s that process that keeps this lifestyle so interesting and exciting to me.” Now that WE LOVE is finally in the release phase of the cycle, Caye feels amazing. “Especially for it to be received with so much love,” he says. “After putting so much time and care into this album, I’m extremely happy for the world to finally be able to hear it.”

Up next, he’ll headline a tour in March. “I was immediately excited, nervous and then grateful,” Caye says of the moment he learned the news. “I realized there was a lot of work ahead of me. But also, that my manager and I have already put in so much work to get to a place where I can headline my own tour. Headlining a tour is not something that every artist gets to do in their lifetime, so I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity.” Driven by gratitude and excitement, Caye reveals, “I just can’t wait to get out and play this new music for people. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to play a show. The joy it brought me on my past tours to play my old music live was unexplainable, and I feel that I connect on a much deeper level with the message and sonics of this current album.”

To Caye, touring is like a big sports game that he runs no risk of losing. “I’ve learned to love the butterflies before stepping on stage. Then, the rest is just pure adrenaline and joy. A lot of times I get lost in the moment on stage and sort of black out. All I know is when I come off stage I

usually feel amazing.” With a tour on the horizon and his debut album in the rearview, music has become a pivotal part of Caye’s identity. “If I go too long without picking up an instrument, or writing a song, or jamming, I start to go a bit crazy…at this point I can’t imagine living without it.”

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

HUNTER HAYES HUNTER HAYES

HUNTER HAYES

By: Heather Koepp

Taking in the beautiful sights of Malibu, I shut the door to my Jeep and approached the front of the studio home. With an intimidating blacked-out gate, I reluctantly entered the code I was given and was greeted with three blinking lights of approval and the click of a release. I stepped over the threshold into the mudroom, from where I could see the sweeping views of the ocean below. Nestled

off the side of the Pacific Coast Highway, the 600-square-foot home was all mine - at least for the next three hours. I immediately began setting up for our photoshoot, pulling out shoe boxes and bags filled with clothing options followed by my camera equipment.

With my camera bouncing off my hip, I walked out onto the balcony and took in the sounds of the crashing waves. A seagull and his mate squabbled back and forth as they passed by. Reminding myself to breathe and be present in the moment, I put on my game face as the sound of wheels on gravel joined in Nature’s choir; showtime. “H Squared!” I called

out, and Hunter Hayes laughed. “I like that,” he said as he approached. We shared a quick hug, and I gestured to the small, tucked-in house behind me and said, “Welcome home”. I guided us through the short hallway and into the studio, where the preparation began and with no time wasted, it was “Lights, camera, action!” We made our way down the treacherous steps leading to the beach below and found a spot to start shooting. This became our routine for the next three outfits: up and down, up and down, until we chased the sunlight to the Earth’s edge. And, as quickly as it began, it was time to wrap up and head home. We said our goodbyes the old-

fashioned way, with a selfie on the beach and plans to meet up soon.

Five days later, I found myself on the road to Fantasy Springs Casino in Yucca Valley to attend the singer’s first live performance of 2023. Arriving early for the soundcheck, I found Hunter at the lighting booth speaking with lighting designer Ethan Martin. “Can we add a gradient prism chase to the start of ‘Everybody’s Got Somebody’?” I heard Hunter ask as I approached. You would think this would be the last place you would find the performer before the show, but according to the singer, it’s his “part-time job.”

“It’s 3-4 months of late-night dreaming about a show. I love building the show in my head from scratch because I want to know how it feels before it starts. My exercise with producing music is if you can hear it, then go make it. With a live

show I’m using that same practice, that if I can ‘see’ it, I can feel it’, and that’s what we’re going to make. It’s all an extension of the music.” He goes on to add, “It’s a part of the experience I want guest to have at the show. I’m always looking for ways to take the show from ‘just a set list of songs’ to an experience they won’t forget”.

After the duo put the finishing touches on the lighting design, I took the opportunity to whisk Hunter away to chat some more about his upcoming tour and album. As we walked through the sea of empty chairs that would soon be filled with excited fans, I began:

RIVAL: “Congratulations on the new album! ‘Red Sky’ is a musical journey that steers the listener though peaks and valleys of growth, self-exploration and overcoming inner turmoil. Which song(s) would you say are the most important on

the album?”

HUNTER HAYES: “It’s interesting because some of the most important songs are the songs that I almost left off. ‘Lonely Loves Me’ is a great example; I never felt like that song was done, but I’ve felt that way about songs in the past and they ended up being really important songs for that album. I don’t know, maybe I have a precious perfectionism around certain songs. But ‘Lonely Loves Me’ I would say is one of the most important because it’s so vulnerable, raw, in a moment. ‘About a Boy’ and ‘Victory’ are really important songs to this album. ‘Wallflower’ is one of my personal favorites and one of the first songs I wrote for ‘Red Sky’, so I think it always carried the spirit of the album.

RIVAL: ‘Let’s talk about the writing process. Where do you gather your inspiration from?”

HUNTER HAYES: “I have this piano that I got for the last record, and I kept it around for this one because every time I sit at, I play ten minutes worth of music and three songs start to take shape. There are tons of ten-minute piano recordings on my iPhone and notes full of random sentences. I like starting from titles because for me personally, it can act as a time machine. It will drop me right back into those feelings,

those reactions, those conversations. I write about feelings; when something moves me, I pay attention to it. I’ll go through phases where I don’t have a lot to write about; so, during those times I go inward, and I did a lot of work on myself- a lot comes up through that.

RIVAL: “Were there any songs that didn’t make the cut?”

HUNTER HAYES: “There were a few that didn’t make the cut, but they will probably be put on an extended version as the fans are very honest and outspoken about what songs they want on the album.”

RIVAL: “How many songs do you write for an album, and how do you decide which ones make the record?”

HUNTER HAYES: “I’m still learning how to do that. I easily write a hundred songs but if you really dig through and look at what was considered for this project and only looked at what was written specifically for ‘Red Sky’, you would miss half of ‘Red Sky’ because the record is a combination of multiple albums and later projects that we brought together.”

RIVAL: “Straying away from your early country roots, ‘Red Sky’ is a different sound from what fans are used to. How do you think this album will translate to the die-hard Hunter Hayes fans, and what has been the

fan response to the singles so far?”

HUNTER HAYES: “The response has been amazing. As you describe the album on paper, technically, it is different from what I’ve done before, it’s very adventurous. It’s new, but I don’t think it’s surprising to my core fans that have been with me for so long as they’re familiar with how much love I have for blending genres and sounds and just really going for it. That is my version of being bold; combining sounds and building my own genre inside a song, and they’ve always supported that. They’ve always championed that.”

RIVAL: “With every great album, comes one great tour! How does it feel to be hitting the road again?”

HUNTER HAYES: “I love every single part about what I do. It’s exciting because it’s the closest you get to the end goal, which is play the song in front of and for people. I was working on this album in a sort of vacuum; I had a great team of collaborators, but a lot of the process required me to work solo. Going from that to being able to finish it with my collaborators and finally bring it to the stage is what I really love. I didn’t really get to do that with ‘Wild Blue’ due to covid, so to be able to do this with ‘Red Sky’ is really important, and it’s everything that I love and want.”

RIVAL: “The tour life we know can be rather challenging, are you ready to sleep in a bunk again? What is in the Hunter Hayes survival kit to make those long days on the roads a little easier?”

HUNTER HAYES: “I love being on a tour bus. I very rarely use dressing rooms; I typically give those to the band so everyone can spread out a bit more. There’s something about being on a bus; it’s more than just a way to get from Point A to Point B. There’s a consistency to it, there’s like this sacredness to being on the bus,

and it gives me this energy of being on the road and it helps me stay on a tour focused mind set. So, anything that makes me feel like I’m at home: incense candles, instruments that won’t go on stage. I typically have a little studio set up in the back because for me that is home: a place where I can keep my relationship with music separate from what I’m there to do. That’s a necessity for me because it allows me to stay excited about music in a new way every day which is really important to me.”

RIVAL: “Which cities are you looking forward to the most? Are there any new cities on this tour that you haven’t been to yet?”

HUNTER HAYES: “I’m looking forward to all of them. To share where my headspace is, I don’t really get excited about an individual place, my excitement now is in building the tour and that we’re touring and getting to play for actual people.”

RIVAL: “You’ve always been very connected to your fans and now you get to connect on a deeper level with the upcoming Meet and Greet opportunities on the ‘Red Sky Tour’. How excited are you for the ‘M&G’s’ and what can fans expect from the experience?”

HUNTER HAYES: “We put a lot of thought into ‘Meet and Greets’ and work hard to protect those moments and create a safe space of connection. There’s an element behind the scenes where you get to see the show you’re about to watch being built. There’s an element of this was curated specifically for you {the fans} through musical connection by sharing stories and answering questions and performing. Most importantly, though, is the human connection.”

Concluding the interview so the singer could finish preparing for the night’s performance, I asked one final question: “What do you want fans to take away from listening to ‘Red Sky’?” Hunter thought for a moment before responding, “This is quite ambitious, but I would love for the listener to have a better relationship with themselves.” This was the first album that wasn’t about one chapter in my life but a combination of a lot of different chapters and life lessons. It’s the relationship you have with yourself and how you see yourself. Self-love. Self-respect. It carries all those themes, and that’s what I really want.”

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

Wardrobe: Heather Koepp

Grooming: Joanna Faivre

NORTH AVE JAX NORTH AVE JAX

NORTH AVE JAX

BY: Ashley Vitarelli

Every story has a genesis, an emergence, an inception, a start. For rising star North Ave Jax, his tale had its beginning on a small street called North Ave in the tiny city of Burlington, Vermont. Provisioned with all the essentials: tremendous talent and an ingenious

stage name — a combination of the street he grew up on and a childhood nickname — North Ave Jax has established himself as one to watch in the world of music. With praise from the press and people all over the world, an escalating singing career, and a recording contract with Interscope Records, the next chapter of North Ave Jax’s story promises to be explosive, expressive, and exciting.

“Growing up in Vermont, I did really normal things such as hangout with my friends and go to school,” North Ave Jax explains. “I played basketball with all of the older kids because I lived right outside the basketball court. There isn’t much to do, so at the time, basketball was my biggest focus until I found music.” Indeed, discovering a passion for music transformed North Ave Jax’s life in truly phenomenal fashion.

“My earliest memory of music is watching my dad play the drums when I was younger,” he explains. “My dad is the one who got me into music and taught me how to play drums, which ultimately kicked off my love for music.”

Indeed, North Ave Jax’s love and affection for music is evident in all of his work. Describing his style of music as “raw emotion,” North Ave Jax’s songs routinely offer powerful insights into his life and mind. The music video for “Eastside” particularly showcases this raw emotional exchange that the artist describes. The video is an incredibly potent illustration of his life, covering the singer dropping out of high school and struggling

with anxiety in a format that feels like a three minute documentary. “Music was a ventilation process for me, especially in high school,” North Ave Jax reflects. “It allowed me to vent in ways that other things didn’t. Making good music made things satisfying. Listening to artists such as Jack Harlow in 2018 and listening to their story and feeling a good melody became addicting. Good music made me feel good, so I wanted to keep pursuing that and make something great from it so others can relate to music as much as I did.”

With this vision driving his music and career, North Ave Jax was determined to make his dreams come true. “When I first started making music, I would

record in my friend’s studio that was set up in his closet with just a mic and a computer, and overtime

I would just make music in that little studio,” North Ave Jax recalls. “Things really changed when I noticed that the qualityof my music didn’t sound great. There are no studios in Vermont, so it was hard to produce quality music. I took myself to a real studio in New York City and drove six hours just to professionally record a few songs. Eventually, those songs I recorded that day in New York City ended up changing my life and pushed me to get signed.”

From New York City to Atlanta, North Ave Jax visited city after city in pursuit of his dreams. “Being flown to Atlanta when my first video

went viral seemed so surreal,” North Ave Jax recalls. “I wanted to meet the expectations of everyone who started to believe in me when I didn’t necessarily fully believe in myself. I didn’t know how LVRN believed in me so much without knowing me, so I wanted to prove myself to them since I felt the love and commitment from them from the beginning.” Indeed, North Ave Jax quickly established himself as a rising star, with the traveling schedule to prove it. And still, despite his newfound travel itinerary, the sentiment no place like home still rang true for the talented singer as he sold out a venue of 750 in Vermont. “It was cool that people from my hometown were showing love and I couldn’t have asked for

more,” he reflects. “Playing in my hometown is always such a great experience because for a small town, the crowd gets so hype and everyone is on the same level. It’s always good to be home.”

North Ave Jax’s work LaZy, but I have goals is incredible from start to finish, often touching on the struggles associated with him feeling trapped in a town where many people suspected he would fail. It’s an impressive body of work — so much so that North Ave Jax struggles to select a favorite lyric from the collection. “I don’t have a favorite lyric, but my favorite songs are ‘Awful’ and ‘Guns & Roses,’” he explains. “The album I think opened my eyes to what I want to do better next time with my music. My

music is a reflection of me and my feelings and how I express myself. I only make music about things I’ve gone through, so everything I’ve made has been an experience or feeling I’ve went through. It means so much to me knowing that people can relate to me. I love it.”

That transaction of relatability is even more profound at North Ave Jax’s exhilarating live shows. “I like that I am able to share myself with people while performing live and dive deeper into my story with my audience,” North Ave Jax notes. “Being able to see people’s reactions and give someone my presence is my favorite part of performing live. I hope my performances influence people to believe in themselves.”

Looking to the future, all eyes are on North Ave Jax, poised and ready to watch him thrive in his upcoming plans. “My next project is coming with Jetson and we are taking it to the next level,” North Ave Jax shares. As for dream collaborators, North Ave Jax puts Dominic Fike at the top of the list. “I think he’s super talented,” North Ave Jax explains. “And I think he could help me a lot.” Indeed, the future looks bright for North Ave Jax, but so does the present. His work has been recognized by XXL and Complex, among others, a reception that he is “super grateful for,” he explains. “It just shows that I have something good enough for them to talk about.”

Through his music, North Ave Jax has a commanding influence on people all over the world, inspiring them to follow their dreams with his story and sound. Moreover, he himself hasc found personal inspiration from a destination far closer to home — his brothers. “My biggest inspirations are my little brothers,” North Ave Jax reflects. “I gotta win for them. That’s my biggest goal.” Indeed, his noble goals do not end there. “I want to be able to help small communities once I get my platform bigger,” he shares. “I want to help world hunger and help people change their habits so they can live a life they want.”

When asked to reflect on what it was like when his music first started getting traction, North Ave Jax shares a powerfully honest and vulnerable response. Indeed, despite his monumental success, he is still hungry for more. “I am proud of how far I have come,” he shares. “But self consciously there is still a part of me where I get down on myself. I want to walk out in the Hollywood Bowl one day and have the crowd chant my name so loud I can’t even hear

myself. I think that’s when I will still start to feel that it’s actually happening for me. Don’t get me wrong, it is crazy the position I am in now in my life because if it wasn’t for music, I would still be painting houses in Vermont. But now I am in a place where I am working towards my dreams coming true.”

As North Ave Jax’s story continues to unfold, he is enjoying every step along the way. “My favorite part of my career is the journey,” he shares — a perspective that is powerful in the music industry. From the small streets of Vermont to Interscope Records and beyond, North Ave Jax represents the next generation of creatives making their mark on the business. In pursuing his passions with steadfast precision, North Ave Jax has made a name for himself in the business — one that soon, everyone will know. “The power of music is never-ending,” North Ave Jax says. “Music is so important because it can change people’s lives.”

Creative Director:

Heather Koepp

Photographer:

Heather Koepp

Wardrobe:

Sponsored by H&M

Styled:

Heather Koepp

L E A L E A

LE A

BY: Ashley Vitarelli

In a world where new music is magic and fresh voices are vital, one emo alt-pop sensation is more than hot on the radar of stardom. Learn the name L E A now, as soon, everyone will be shouting it. As she gears up for the release of her new EP Happy Never Ending, L E A is set to not only thrive in the music world, but redefine it. She is poised to make her mark on the industry with her irresistible style, magnetic personality, and captivating sound, all the while making her dreams come true.

“Growing up in New Jersey was pretty great honestly,” L E A shares. “I was adopted and put into choirs and musical theater as a kid and a teen, so I was always exposed to music. I owned a ton of instruments growing up and started songwriting in fifth grade. The music community I was surrounded by really inspired me. And of course, living at the beach was an absolute blessing!”

That exposure to music quickly ingrained itself into every fiber of L E A’s being. “My mom always likes to remind me that I used to sing The Beach Boys for the bank tellers,” L E A recalls. “My own memory though, is when I used to listen to Aaron Carter in the car on the way to go swimming, or when I asked my mom to buy me my first CD when I saw an ad on

television for Dream Street.”

From singing songs by The Beach Boys to writing her own music, L E A evolved into more than just a fan of music, but also a music creative. “One of the first of many songs I wrote revolves around my fourth grade crush,” L E A explains. “It went something like ‘I really like you, I wish I could say something. Even though everybody knew, but you.’” Those lyrics, though “corny” as L E A describes them, marked the start of her creative journey and, in many ways, the birth of a star.

Indeed, L E A’s first moment where she felt like she had made it as an artist and was becoming a star came from working with one of her beloved music heroes, her producer Chase Coy. “It really felt like life came full circle,” L E A says of working with Coy. “From growing up listening to his music, to him literally making and writing my music with me today, all those songs have really put me on the map, and I’m super grateful for that and him.”

Moreover, as L E A’s music found itself on the map, L E A found that her own map was shifting, too. “Moving to LA was a dream come true,” L E A notes. “I had always known I wanted to live in California, and after I visited LA for the first time in 2014, I knew I was going to spend a lot of time there. Moving across the country was so fun and that part of my life was fresh and exciting! I’ve loved getting to know LA as a

whole and meeting so many new people.”

Now out in LA and making her dreams a reality, L E A found herself coming into her own as an artist. Sonically, her music includes pop-punk and emo nods intertwined with brilliant pop sensibilities, an essence that is authentically and wholeheartedly L E A. “I have been making piano ballads and pop music for as long as I’ve been writing, but grew up on classic rock and pop punk music,” she states. “I’ve always been told to make rock music because my voice fits better in that style, but at one time wanted to write mainstream pop. Mixing my love for pop, emo, and then some created the genre that I’m sticking with today.”

That genre of course is, as L E A explains, the perfect blend of many different styles. “Alternative-pop, nu-rock, pop-punk, pop-rock, nu-punk, exciting, bold, loud, aggressive, and colorful,” L E A says of her genre and style influences. “I think I’ve always remained pretty authentic to myself, but one thing I did notice is that as I get older and become more confident in myself, my music gets better! So that’s cool!”

L E A’s confidence is more than evident on her new EP Happy Never Ending, which showcases her captivating capacity to create. “Happy Never Ending is about never-ending cycles in your life that you’re not mad about,” she shares. “You can expect two never before heard songs, three popular previous

releases, and a lot of grit!” The EP also highlights some of L E A’s collaborative work, as she worked with both Kellin Quinn and DJ Bemo Rouge on Happy Never Ending.“Bemo has been so dope to work with,” L E A says. “He gets just as excited about this music as I do and we’re always sharing milestones on our song. I feel really grateful to have a tune with him! And Kellin was great to work with as well. His constant support and sharing our song before it’s out is the best, and I’m also grateful he gives opportunities to smaller

artists.”

In sharing more of the creative process for Happy Never Ending, L E A reflects back to when she first started working with Coy. “I had just started working with Chase Coy and brought him two songs I was eager to start,” she recalls. “By the time we finished recording them, I just kept giving him more to work on, and I’d fly to Nashville to track them. Happy Never Ending came about when I had all five songs that completed that little creative project. The EP told a perfect story from start to

finish in my opinion, and that’s when I knew it was ready for release!”

When discussing specific songs on the EP, L E A is quick to bring up “Like Yesterday.” “I think ‘Like Yesterday’ is the most ‘Lea’ song,” she explains. “It flows how all my silly little piano ballads I’d write growing up would flow. The lyrics are super raw and specific, my voice is very low, and the end absolutely explodes, which is what my emotions have felt too. I thought it was so cool that we captured that in a song. To be honest, I’m not sure how people will take that one, but I’m excited to have it out there anyways!”

With the release of Happy Never Ending, L E A continues to manifest her dreams into reality, both inside the studio and out. “I think it’s kinda cheesy, but seeing some of my idols follow me on social media is the coolest thing,” she shares. “That and getting to play Emo Nights in front of big crowds, I feel really lucky. I absolutely love getting to teach the crowd the chorus to ‘I Guess I Like You Anyway,’ it makes me so excited and happy to hear others enjoying my music. Having around 300 people at Emo Night Brooklyn sing back to me was one of the sickest experiences.”

In pursuing music, L E A is acutely aware of the power that her profession has. “Music has the power to connect us,” she notes. “It brings people together. To party together and cry together.” Moreover, as she continues to reflect on her career, she ponders on who to cite as her biggest creative inspirations, before settling on Secondhand Serenade and Mayday Parade. “I think from the start both of those artists and bands have inspired me to get into music, pick up songwriting, and pursue a full time career in this field,” L E A says.

love every minute of it — the highs and the lows — because it all builds the artist I’m becoming. It’s stressful and financially tough, but the reward of getting to meet new fans and perform in front of hundreds is worth it all.”

Creative Director: Heather Koepp

Photographer: Heather Koepp

Hair: Jessica Ruby

Makeup: Ryan Styne

Wardrobe: Heather Koepp & L E A

As L E A gears up to share Happy Never Ending with the world, it becomes evident that she is only just getting started on all that she will accomplish in music. “More music is still in the works,” she teases. “I’m hoping to eventually get signed and also play my first festivals.” However that’s not all the singer hinted at. “There may be some cool collaborations in the future,” L E A suggests. “Stay tuned!” Indeed, L E A is making a name for herself in the industry, making her dreams come true, and making mesmerizing and magnetic music. “Being a musician is an emotional rollercoaster that I wouldn’t dare to get off of,” L E A shares. “I

RIOVAZ RIOVAZ

RIOVAZ

BY: Heather Koepp

Riovaz is here to ‘Disturb the Norm’

Singer/Songwriter Riovaz might not be the most well-known ‘Tik-Toker’ on the social media platform, but the 18-year-old, New Jersey artist is no stranger to success. With his catchy ‘contemporary rave pop’ sound, the self-proclaimed introvert found himself in the spotlight when his 2020 song, ‘Prom Night’ took off and amassed over a million streams. This caught the attention of Darkroom Records/Geffen Records and the rest fell into place from there. Riovaz is currently celebrating the release of his debut album, ’Disturb the Norm’ that released on February 24th, 2023 in addition to selling out his first ever tour appropriately named the

‘Riorave’.

With the tour launching off in Los Angles, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the sold-out performance to find out firsthand, what the ‘Riorave’ experience was all about. The day of the show had me arriving early for soundcheck where dedicated fans had been camping the block as I walked up to the doors of ‘The Echo’. Stepping out from the blaring sun, I adjusted my eyes to the dark venue and took in my surroundings. I quickly found Riovaz on stage preparing for the night ahead as he transitioned through his setlist with ease. When he concluded his soundcheck, I stepped in to introduce myself and was instantly greeted in return with a huge grin and a hug that felt like a long-lost friend. We quickly fell into step as we snuck out of the venue to capture some last-minute photos of the setting Los Angeles sun however it didn’t take long

for us to be recognized and we quickly ducked back into the venue to conclude our shoot and begin our interview.

RIVAL: ‘U Neva’ is finally out to the world! After nearly a year of fans begging to get this track in their playlist what has been the fan response since the song dropped?

RIOVAZ: “It’s been EXPLOSIVE! After a year some fans would lose interest, but no, they stuck by my side. I kept getting comments from people saying, ‘Drop the song, drop the song!’ for over a year and now that its out it already has half a million streams. It’s crazy!

RIVAL: What can fans expect from this EP that may be different from some of your past hits?

RIOVAZ: “‘It’s me coming into my own. Its like

an introduction to my fans; some fans don’t really know where to categorize me right now and this EP is like a staple. They’ll really understand when they listen to the album. I want them to hear the album from the beginning to the end with no skips, in order. It’s a whole story.”

RIVAL: Do you have any collaborations in the works or any dream collaborators you want to work on a track within the future?

RIOVAZ: “Oooh ya, I definitely do. Fans are going to be really really happy. They’ve been begging for this one for a while.”

RIVAL: 2023 has announced some amazing festivals this year. If you could see “Riovaz” on any one festival bill this year which one would it be and why?

RIOVAZ: “Definitely this year’s Coachella. The line up is crazy. They have ‘Bjork’, ‘Frank Ocean’, a bunch of artists that I love. Or Lollapalooza, I’d love to do that one day.”

RIVAL: So skipping to the part where you’re selling out performances like tonight in Los Angeles, no big deal right...how surreal is all of this when you stop to think about it?

RIOVAZ: “First LA show! I’ve been wanting to do a show out here for a minute, the love out here is real. It was the first show to sell out actually.”

RIVAL: When will fans get the opportunity to see you perform next? I hear you’re traveling overseas soon?

RIOVAZ: “I’m doing another LA show at a bigger venue, later this year. I wanna do another one in NY as well and yes, I’m going overseas! I’ll be performing in London, Paris, Amsterdam; London has already sold out! It’s all really exciting; I just want to perform and stay performing.”

Photographer: Heather Koepp