Percy Daggs IV
Photo credit: JSquared
We’re very happy to have some time today with acclaimed young actor Percy Daggs IV; greetings and salutations Percy and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we charge down the proverbial celluloid Q&A pathway, how is the last half of 2024 treating you and yours?
It’s been special, thank you for asking. After wrapping Season 1 of “Paradise” I enjoyed a fun summer with friends and family. With the release of Never Let Go this fall, school back in full swing and my basketball and football teams starting back up, I have been busy! But I am doing things I love to do so, no complaints!
Major congratulations on your bravura turn in the upcoming Hulu series Paradise City which is set to premiere in 2025! Starting at the top, can you explain to readers what Paradise City is about and how your character of James Collins figures into the proceedings?
Thank you thank you thank you! I am very excited about “Paradise”! I can’t really say much about it, but the main character played by Mr. Sterling K. Brown, his name is Xavier and he is a father of two children. In life and work, he experiences several life-altering events simultaneously that the audience will journey through with him.
Did you know as soon as the script for Paradise City crossed your professional desk that this was a production you wanted to be a part of?
ABSOLUTELY! The story, cast, and production team are all incredible, and I immediately connected with the character of James. We have several things in common, and in the world these characters live in, he brings some light and humor to their challenging circumstances. I love comedy and dra-ma, and this series has both those elements within my character, as well as others.
What has it been like working with such accomplished actors as Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden on Paradise City?
Super awesome! Sterling embraced me right away and he is always so open and kind. He does a lot but is always present when he is with you. I didn’t have any scenes with Mr. Marsden, but the couple of encounters I have had with him were very cool. I was a fan already, so I am super glad he is a part of our show.
Can you give readers a hint or three as to what
they can expect and look forward to with Hu-lu’s upcoming Paradise City?
They should buckle up! On this ride, they will encounter some riveting scenes, some laugh-outloud moments, and some overall great television entertainment!
What fascinates you the most about acting?
The fact that you can impact a person’s emotions and beliefs with a single word or action on film. To be able to share yourself through storytelling on film and have such a powerful impact on people astounds me.
Who are some of the actors that you look up to?
I look up to my parents. I look up to Halle a lot too. The way she carries herself on set stands her ground in a tough business and acts on the things she cares about. Women’s health, culture, youth... she is a great person.
You had the opportunity to work with Oscarwinning actress Halle Berry in the new motion pic-ture Never Let Go; kudos and accolades! What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside that of Halle?
It was dope! Her faith and trust in me helped elevate me to my fullest potential in this film. I worked really hard, and she treated me like a peer, not a “kid actor”. But still looked after me in all the ways you should for being a 10-year-old kid at the time. Her expectations of me were the same as mine and she trusted me to deliver.
When you’re not acting, what do you enjoy doing?
I love other aspects of filmmaking as well. Writing, directing, producing...
So in my free time, I am doing those things or learning more about doing those things. I also play basketball, football, and piano, I draw, play video games, and love hanging out with my friends and family.
Any final thoughts you might like to leave readers with regarding your upcoming turn in the new Hulu series Paradise City?
Tune in! Enjoy it. I can’t wait for you to see it! It is soooooo goooooood.......
Sarah DeSouza-Coelho
We’re very excited to have some time today with actress Sarah DeSouza- Coelho; before we get started, how has 2024 treated you so far?
Thank you so much for having me! 2024 has been so fulfilling. I went on a solo trip to Greece, turned 30, starred in 4 commercials and had the amazing opportunity to be in a holiday rom-com that stars some of my favourite actors.
Congratulations on your new film HOT FROSTY which is set to premiere this coming November 13 on Netflix! Can you tell us more about the film and how your role as ‘Nicole’ fits in?
Thank you so much! Hot Frosty follows Cathy, a dinerowner that’s struggled to move on after the passing of her husband. But when magic and Christmas collide and the snowman Jack Frost comes to life, Cathy feels compelled to look after the handsome stranger. Soon enough, she realizes that love happens in the most mysterious ways. Nicole is Cathy’s number one waitress at her diner. She’s bubbly, has blue hair, is always looking to break her personal record of tips and seemingly one of the few level-headed citizens in the town.
What was it like collaborating with HOT FROSTY director Jerry Ciccoritti?
What’s so funny is that before playing this role, I finished binging My Life With the Walter Boys. Getting to work with Jerry was such a memorable experience. Before we shot every scene, he sat down with the actors to read through the script and discuss the plot points and what our motivations were. His patience and generosity are something that we all cherished and helped us tackle the scenes confidently.
Speaking of collaborations, you work with a great cast including Lacey Chabert, Lauren Holly, Chrishell Stause and Joe Lo Truglio! What was it like working alongside these actors?
Getting the opportunity to work with actors that I’ve watched and admired over the years was so surreal. Mean Girls, Selling Sunset, Brooklyn-99 and The Office are some of my favourites. They were all such a joy to act with on set. The level of professionalism,
preparation and confidence they brought was admirable. Although the imposter syndrome creeped in at the beginning, this opportunity served as a reminder that I’ve worked hard enough and deserve to work with these legends.
Can you tell us about other future projects you’re working on?
I’ve truly fallen in love with being a Writer and Creator over the last few years and as a champion for diversity in the entertainment industry, I’m excited to shine a light on my West Indian heritage through future works. I’m currently developing a digital series in collaboration with Colrize Productions entitled Back to One, a 6-episode dramedy that follows Sarah Rampersaud, a budding 20-something GuyaneseCanadian actress who quits her 9-5 to embark on a journey to become network TV’s biggest star. But along the road to success, she realizes her greatest achievement is disappointing the people she needs the most. We shot the teaser and it’s gotten over 13K views across social media so far. I’ve also written a rom-com entitled Five More Minutes and I’m polishing up a TV pilot script.
What’s the E! True Hollywood Story on how you became an actress? Is acting something which you’ve always loved?
Ever since I could remember, I always loved performing. Whether it was karaoke, school concerts, plays, you name it. It’s always where I felt the most at home. Growing up, I adored Hilary Duff and the idea of being a triple threat. As an actor, writer and creator today, I feel like that dream still came true in its own way.
Final – SILLY! - Question: Favorite holiday-themed movie – It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story or Die Hard?
This is a tough one! I’d have to say Miracle on 34 th Street (the 1994 version). It was released the year I was born, I had the exact same haircut as Susan Walker and it’s something I’d watch every year as a kid with my parents on DVD...what a time!
Kyle Jordan
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Kyle: Pretty damn good. Except I was a little naïve and tried taking my motorhome and $30,000 worth of guitars and drums through the Coquahala during a whiteout blizzard and black ice this weekend. At one point I was red lining the fuel gauge will 111 kilometres left to the next petrol station. We survived. The crazy shit we do, eh? My record label told me to just pull over and sit it out next time.
Greg: Hey there! Thanks for the warm welcome. I’ve been well, thanks! Keeping busy, making lots of music, and I’m going to be a dad in a couple of months! Other than that, just the usual. Making lots of music!
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
Kyle: “Demons” is one of those songs that cuts deep for us. It’s about struggles—any kind of struggle, really. For me personally, it reflects a few major battles in my life, including going through a divorce and facing down a brain tumour. But it’s not just about the heavy stuff; it’s about finding strength in those moments when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Everyone has their own ‘demons,’ and this song is like a reminder that you’re not alone in that fight.
How was the recording and writing process?
Kyle: It was a total team effort. Recording “Demons” felt like bringing a raw, emotional idea to life. We’re talking those moments where you hear something click and know you’ve got it.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Kyle: The inspiration came from life, plain and simple. My own experiences were a big driver—wrestling with health issues and emotional upheaval. But beyond that, it’s about the universal human experience. Everyone faces challenges, and we wanted to create something people could connect to, whether it’s a personal battle or something they’re seeing in the world. It’s like, “Hey, you’re not alone. We’ve been there too.” That raw, emotional space is where the best music comes from, right?
How long have you guys been playing your instruments?
Kyle: I’ve been playing the drums since I was 11. My Dad and Mom bought me an old electronic Pearl drum kit that sounded more like an Atari than a drum kit. But it’s how I got my start and what I fell in love with. I’ve dabbled with the guitar for most of my life. But I really only got serious about it when I became sick. I was in too much pain and too weak to play my kit. As a result, Charlotte, would hold the guitar on my lap and I would strum a few chords until I was in too much pain to play again. I now own several beautiful guitars including my newest – a Godin Session HT in Aztec Red. We were recently endorsed by Godin guitars and can’t be happier about it!
Greg: I’ve been playing guitar for about 21 years now, god I feel old saying that... And bass for about 16 years.
Erick: I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12 years old which makes it 20 years.
How many instruments do you play?
Erick: I also play a bit bass guitar and drums but my technique for those are terrible! I also play keyboard at a very, VERY basic. Mostly I play the fool (har har)
Greg: While bass is my main instrument. I also play a lot of acoustic guitar and dabble with piano, electric guitar, and the occasional ukulele. At the moment I’m most obsessed with synthesizers and samplers though!
Kyle: Well, Drums are my main gig. However, I also play a decent rhythm guitar and lead (electric) guitar. I can play poor man’s bass haha! I like to dabble with the harmonica… on my own… in a locked room… when everyone else in the neighbourhood is wearing earplugs. I also tried to learn the trumpet once, but I realized that I was better off just hitting skins with sticks!
Will you be hitting the road this year?
Kyle: With Greg becoming a dad and me on the tail end of my recovery (just a few more months of physio and regular MRI’s) we are planning to hit 2026 with a bang. 2025 is going to be spent with a much heavier studiocentric approach and building up our online fan base.
What else is happening next in your world?
Kyle: I feel like a new era is beginning and The Kyle Jordan Project is really going to take off and surprise the world.
Duane “D.O.” Gibson
We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed rapper, author, and motivational speaker extraordinaire Duane “D.O.” Gibson; greetings and salutations Duane and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, how is the latter part of 2024 treating you and yours?
Ah it’s been great! I was just travelling to Amsterdam for Amsterdam Dance Event and I’m currently in Fort St. John, BC where it is snowing – so it has been a big change. But the highlight of 2024 was performing in South Africa in May and shooting a music video for my song “Redemption Song”
Major kudos and accolades on your upcoming children’s album, The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven which is set to make its eagerly anticipated debut! Starting at the tip-top, can you explain to our ever-inquisitive readers what exactly inspired this beautiful new children’s album as well as its upcoming companion book?
I’m a big promoter of literacy and I think that a children’s book will give the opportunity for young readers to learn my story and for parents to read the story to their kids at night. The story is based on my life story but I think the cool thing is that regardless of background, a lot of kids will be able to relate to my journey.
Speaking of that upcoming book version of The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven, that particular gem is set to make its auspicious debut on November 15; congrats! Who did the beautiful illustrations for the book iteration?
I have to shoutout Aminat Mahmoud who I found online. She is an incredible illustrator from Nigeria! What an amazing world we live in where you can work with someone across the world. She did an amazing job of capturing the look and feel for the book.
Do you feel that The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven has valuable life lessons to offer to both children and parents? Is that an ingredient which you tried to bake into the proceedings?
I think the book offers great life lessons because it is about feeling different. I write about feeling excluded from my friends and facing bullying, but instead of getting into a fight, I turned to rap as an outlet. I encourage kids to find their outlet – whether sports, music, or art. I think that is a great way to combat bullying.
Your producer on the album The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven is none other than the rightly lauded Omito Beats! What was it like collaborating with Omito on this very special project?
Omito was great to work with on this project. I felt like his beats captured the feeling that I wanted to convey. His beats are uplifting, upbeat, and fun. As I discovered more of his production, I realized I may as well use him for the whole album!
When working on The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven, were there any specific children’s books and/or programs which you drew from your own childhood as a source of inspiration?
A big source of inspiration was Maestro Fresh Wes’s children’s book based on his life story. Maestro has been a great mentor for me because when I was starting out, I didn’t know if it was possible for music to be your career. Most artists usually just had a few albums before their music was no longer relevant. Maestro has been releasing music for five decades and his more relevant now than ever!
In your humble opinion, what differentiates The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven from the distinguished competition on the children’s book and album scene of 2024?
I think the key to my book is that I have reached hundreds of thousands of youth across the country for over twenty years, so a lot of kids are familiar with my story. It’s great when a parent messages me saying that their child came home and told them my story and/or about Black Canadian history. I think the book is a great way to continue this message by having parents read the book to their kids.
The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven LP was released via Believe Digitial! What makes Believe Digitial the perfect launching pad for the album?
Believe has been a great supporter and I love working with them. As an independent record company, having a partner in place that understands your vision and niche in the music industry is crucial.
Have you toyed with the notion that The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven might make a great animated special? Is that a venue you might want to explore?
Wait, have you seen clips of what I’m working on!? Just joking, but yes, we are animating part of the book for one of the singles so that is going to be really cool when that song comes out. It has me thinking that a full animated special could be in the cards!
Outside of the October 25 release of the album version of The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven, as well as its release on November 15 as a companion book, what else do you have coming up?
I’m excited to tour. I’ll be doing dozens of school presentations over the next month and then will be gearing up for my annual Black Canadian history tour in February so things are about to get very busy.
Any final thoughts you might want to leave readers with regarding your upcoming children’s album The Story of How Young Duane Gibson Stayed Driven, as well as its companion book of the same name?
My goal with the project is to inspire youth. The first single is called “Dream Big.” I think it is so important for young people to dream big. A lot of time kids will be discouraged by classmates, teachers, and even their parents. I am fortunate that I had the support of my parents and teachers and friends were instrumental in helping me achieve my dreams. It’s important to dream big, but to work hard at your goals everyday and, always Stay Driven!
LVNDR.SOUND
We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed livetronica trio extraordinaire LVNDR.SOUND; greetings and salutations gang and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive reading audience?
Thanks for having us! Super excited to be here to discuss our latest release. We are LVNDR.SOUND, a livetronica trio based out of Denver and LA, and we just dropped our second fulllength album, In The Dark.
Major kudos and accolades on your freshly-minted sophomore album In The Dark! Geoff, can you talk about what inspired one of the best LP releases of 2024?
This project was a long time in the making… Some of these tracks are over four years old, and some we just wrote in the last year. I think we all had our own inspirations along the way,
but the overall concept that ties this album together was to highlight the joy and beauty we found through making music with friends during a really dark period of human history, and also in some of our own personal lives.
Josh, who did the producing honors on the In The Dark LP and what did the collaboration between band and producer look like while in the studio fashioning and shaping the new album?
Well, I think we’re a unique group in that we’re all producers and have substantial experience working with other artists in the traditional producer/artist dynamic in both electronic and live band music, but our dynamic is completely different from that. So, as far as producing goes… we all produced it, and we all produced each other’s performances throughout. The three of us have a long history together and know who should be in the proverbial captain’s chair based on the context of the song or piece of the process. It’s more akin to a band
self-producing a record, except every member of the band also has experience producing commercial records in various genres, so we sort of operate as a production super trio.
Jay, in your humble opinion what differentiates the In The Dark album from the Distinguished Competition on the current-day music scene?
I think a lot of things set us apart. Obviously, the fusion of live instrumentation with electronic production isn’t something many are doing in this particular way… You see a lot of JamTronica style music and a lot of sample-based electronic music; I think we’re sort of in the middle of that spectrum in a way that’s unique compared to others. Additionally, I think our songwriting and lyrical storytelling are unique in electronic music. There’s a lot of great-sounding music in the electronic world, but a lot of it lacks narrative. That isn’t a bad thing, but it’s one way I think we set ourselves apart. All of this, coupled with our commercially viable, immersive sound design and production style that hits as hard as our competition, really makes us stand out from the rest.
Geoff, one of our favorite tunes off of the new In The Dark LP here at the Vents HQ also happens to be the one currently making the rounds as a bona fide single off of the album, Nostalgic Nights; congrats! What’s the story behind this gem of a ditty? What made it the perfect choice out of all the other incredible music on the new album to get a single release?
This song was one of the first tracks we started working on for this record and has an interesting story. It started in August of 2020—Jay and I were just hanging in his old bedroom studio, jamming on guitar and bass. I laid down this bass line, and Jay immediately locked in with me on guitar. We knew we were onto something, so we recorded demo versions of guitar and bass in Ableton and made a drum beat to bring to Josh. The next week, we took it to the studio, showed Josh the demo, and he took my bass line, fleshed it out, and added a little extra swagger. We re-recorded the guitars and started messing with synth design. To give it a more live band feel, we brought in our friend Matt McElwain for drums, and he absolutely crushed it. We finished the music pretty quickly after that but didn’t have a direction for vocals, so it actually got shelved for a while. It wasn’t until a few years later, when Jay found his voice as a vocalist, that he decided to revisit it, write lyrics, and add vocal melodies. The lyrics talk about a nostalgia for simpler times, reminiscing on the carefree youthfulness when we could just drop everything and go on an adventure. It’s a blend of reminiscing on prepandemic times and our youthful days without responsibilities or people relying on us… so it’s fitting it took so long to complete. This track wasn’t actually released as a single; we decided to keep it for the album release because we felt it would be a great focus track when the album dropped.
Josh, what does the touring/performing dance card look like for LVNDR.SOUND in the coming weeks and months?
It’s been really tough to tour or play shows with LVNDR because I’m always on the road with my other band, SunSquabi. But we’ve been getting some offers for festival slots next summer, so we’re hoping to line things up and get this music out there soon!
A question for all of you: Who are you inspired by musicallyspeaking?
I think this is a broad question since we’re all inspired by so many different artists. For me (Jay), I’m most inspired by legendary producers like Quincy Jones and Rick Rubin, but also by artists like Prince, Mac Miller, Miles Davis, Flying Lotus, and J Dilla. For me (Geoff), I have tons of different influences, but I’m a huge fan of Flume, Disclosure, Rüfus Du Sol, and Louis The Child. Jadu, Hux and Thin, Wax Motif, Daft Punk (Josh)
Jay, how is the new In The Dark LP similar to the band’s freshman album? How is it different?
In many ways, it’s totally different… Even though we still capture the same aesthetic sonically, I think we crafted songs on this record that hold a lot more meaning and are much more impactful. On the first record, a lot of the music was just a vibe—it sounded really good and was cool, but there wasn’t a larger narrative or story. To me, that’s really important in a good record, and I think we captured that perfectly on In The Dark in a way we didn’t know how to on our first record, as we were still defining our sound.
Geoff, what’s the VH1-Behind the Music secret origin story on how LVNDR.SOUND came together to form the tight band we hear on the new In The Dark album?
Well, Jay and I played in a band together all through college, and he and Josh have been working together on various projects for Perception Records for the last five years. In 2020, Jay proposed this project and suggested the three of us get into the studio to experiment and see where it would go. We all had some downtime because of COVID and figured this would be a great way to pass the time and keep creating, even though the world was in disarray.
Josh, at the end of the day what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-spin to the brand-spankin’ new LVNDR.SOUND LP In The Dark?
I hope it brings people uplifting and positive vibes and inspires them to persevere through dark and difficult times. You have to create the light you want to see in the world, and we hope this project inspires people to be positive forces for good in their communities and beyond.
James C. Clayton
We’re very happy to have some time today with acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker, producer, director and – last, but never least – actor James C. Clayton; greetings and salutations James and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the proverbial Q&A celluloid mosh-pit, how is the latter-part of 2024 finding you and yours?
THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THE LATTER PART OF 2024 HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING. MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY WELCOMED OUR SECOND SON, AND AS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE NAMED PHIL GRANGER SAYS,”BABIES BRING MIRACLES”. SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, LOTS OF DIAPERS, AND GREAT JOY. ON THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE, A GOOD NUMBER OF PROJECTS I’VE HAD IN DEVELOPMENT ARE COMING TO FRUITION FOR 2025. IT’S GOING TO BE A BUSY NEXT YEAR.
Major kudos and accolades on your upcoming November 15 bravura turn as a director, writer, producer and actor in the eagerly anticipated Get Fast which is the sequel to the 2022 smash hit Bullet Proof! Starting at the top, can you explain what Get Fast is about and how your character of ‘The Thief’ figures into the proceedings this time around?
‘GET FAST’ TAKES PLACE ROUGHLY A YEAR AFTER THE EVENTS OF “BULLET PROOF.” THE THIEF HASN’T EXACTLY LEARNED HIS LESSON FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PREVIOUS FILM AND INADVERTENTLY GETS HIS PARTNER KIDNAPPED BY A MURDEROUS GANGSTER AFTER HE BOTCHES HIS LATEST HEIST. ON HIS WAY TO RESCUE HIS PARTNER, THE THIEF CROSSES PATHS WITH A YOUNG ORPHAN, WHO IS FORCED ON THE JOURNEY TO HELP THE THIEF.
‘BULLET PROOF’ AND ‘GET FAST’ ARE BOMBASTIC ACTION FILMS BUT AT THEIR HEART, THEY’RE STORIES ABOUT FAMILY. ‘GET FAST’ IN PARTICULAR IS ABOUT FATHERS AND SONS AND WILL TEST WHAT THE THE THIEF VALUES MOST: MONEY OR FAMILY.
When you initially wrote Bullet Proof alongside Cooper Bibaud and Danny Mac, did you envision a sequel to the story?
NO. TO BE HONEST, WHEN WE STARTED WE REALLY JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FUN ACTION MOVIE. AND THEN IT TURNED INTO SOMETHING MORE. IT WASN’T UNTIL I WAS EDITING THE FIRST CUT OF ‘BULLET PROOF’ THAT I REALIZED THERE WERE MORE STORIES IN THE THIEF’S WORLD TO TELL. WE NOW EVEN HAVE A THIRD ONE BREWING!
Speaking of Cooper and Danny, what was it like reuniting with your fellow writing gremlins for Get Fast?
GREMLINS. I’VE NEVER HEARD THAT TERM USED LIKE THAT BEFORE. VERY FUNNY! IT WAS GREAT WORKING WITH THEM. COOPER AND DANNY ARE PROBABLY THE MOST TALENT WRITERS I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO COLLABORATE WITH. THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR CRAFT AND PAINFULLY FUNNY. WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS IN THE WORKS TOGETHER AND I HOPE I GET TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT MY CAREER!
After the success of the first film, did Get Fast come together pretty quickly? And have there been any talks in a possible third chapter?
IT CAME TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY. REALLY QUICK ACTUALLY. WE STARTED DEVELOPING ‘GET FAST’ IN JANUARY 2022, WELL BEFORE THE RELEASE OF ‘BULLET PROOF’ IN AUGUST 2022. THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST FILM CEMENTED OUR INSTINCT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND WE FINISHED FILMING ‘GET FAST’ IN JULY OF 2023. A WHIRLWIND TO BE HONEST. I FEEL LIKE I’VE BEEN THE THIEF FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NOW!
You work with such a talented ensemble of actors in Get Fast, including the nigh legendary Lee Majdoub and Lou Diamond Phillips! What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this group while also directing?
WHEN I WAS FILMING, I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT. BETWEEN ACTING, PRODUCING, AND DIRECTING, IT WAS JUST NON-STOP. THAT BEING SAID, ONCE THE DUST SETTLED I WAS IN AWE AT WHAT IT WAS LIKE. FIRST OFF, LOU DIAMOND PHILLIPS IS THE NICEST AND MOST TALENT PERSON YOU COULD EVER WORK WITH. HE’S A DAMN LEGEND AND HIS SKILL AND TECHNIQUE IS SO EFFORTLESS, I FOUND MYSELF WONDERING IF I’D FORGOTTEN TO SAY ACTION BECAUSE HIS PERFORMANCE WAS SO REAL. I GREW UP WATCHING LOU. I CLEARLY REMEMBER DANCING TO LA BAMBA WHEN I WAS NO MORE THAN 5 OR 6. TO WORK WITH SOMEONE AS A PEER WHOM I’VE LOOKED UP TO FOR SO LONG WAS ONE OF ‘THOSE’ LIFE MOMENTS. I HOPE I GET TO WORK WITH HIM AGAIN. NOW LEE ON THE OTHER HAND! I GREW UP WITH LEE AND HE’S A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE. I’M CONSTANTLY IN AWE OF HIS INSTRUMENT AS AN ACTOR. HE IS A MASTER IMPROV AND KEEPING UP WITH HIM ON SET WAS DIZZYING. NEVER MIND TRYING NOT TO LAUGH WHILE HE WAS DOING THINGS. AS A PEER, I COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. HE’S UPLIFTED THE COMMUNITY AROUND HIM WITH HIS BRAVERY TO FOLLOW HIS DREAMS. HE’S A BIG TALENT.
As we noted at the top, Get Fast is set to charge into theaters this November 15. Will the film also have a simultaneous release on streaming? And, while we’re on that hot-button topic, what are your thoughts on the streaming phenomenon as a filmmaker?
YES! I WISH I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHICH STREAMER BUT IT IS YET TO BE ANNOUNCED. IT WILL BE LANDING PRETTY MUCH EVERY DIGITALLY. I THINK THE STREAMING PHENOMENON HAS REALLY OPENED THE DOORS FOR FILMMAKERS AND CONTENT. I’M A BIG FAN AND WOULD LOVE TO DIRECT A FILM FOR NETFLIX OR AMAZON SOON.
Do you have a preference between acting and directing, or is it a matter of apples and oranges?
I LIKE THEM BOTH THE SAME. THEY ARE APPLES AND ORANGES AND YET NOT? IT WAS ONLY WHEN I STARTED DIRECTING DID A FULLY UNDERSTAND ACTING. AND WHEN I STARTED DIRECTING, I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW MUCH ACTING INFORMED IT. IF I HAVE MY WAY, I’LL DO BOTH AS LONG AS THEY’LL LET ME. IT’S A JOY TO DO BOTH.
You’re the founder of Play By Play Entertainment; congrats again! How did Play By Play get started and what are you the proudest of regarding this production company?
THANK YOU! PLAY BY PLAY CAME ABOUT DURING THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE OF ‘BULLET PROOF’. DURING THAT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, I REALIZED I HAD A LOT TO SAY AS A FILMMAKER AND WANTED TO BRAND A HOME FOR ALL FUTURE PROJECTS. I HONESTLY CAN’T REMEMBER HOW I CAME UP WITH THE NAME. MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST HAD OUR FIRST SON, SO I WAS PRETTY UNDERSLEPT. MY MEMORY IS FOGGY! I WOULD SAY I’M MOST PROUDEST OF MY FILMMAKING PARTNERS, WHO ARE THE REASON THE COMPANY AND THE FILMS ARE SUCCESSFUL. THEY’RE ALL SUCH WONDERFUL, TALENTED, PEOPLE.
Your first credit as an actor came in the form of 2002’s K:19 The Windowmaker which starred Harrison Ford. Any special memories of that freshman production?
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS SPECIAL. I’VE NEVER BEEN SO COLD ON A SET, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT BECAUSE I GOT TO WATCH HARRISON FORD AND DIRECTOR KATHRYN BIGELOW WORK. ALL I CAN SAY IS THEY ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR A REASON. THEY HAD SPECIAL AURAS AROUND THEM.
At the end of the day, what do you hope moviegoers walk away with after checking out your upcoming feature film Get Fast?
I WANT THEM TO HAVE FUN. SIMPLE AS THAT. THE FILM ISN’T MEANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD OR HAVE A BIG MESSAGE. JUST BE A BIT OF PURE ESCAPISM.
Final – SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies – Living In Oblivion, Hollywood Shuffle, The Player, Barton Fink, Swimming With Sharks or Once Upon A Time In Hollywood?
I LOVE THIS QUESTION! ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. HANDS DOWN. IT’S TARANTINO AT HIS FINEST BUT IT ALSO IS SUCH AN EARNEST LOVE LETTER TO A TIME WHEN FILM WAS, WELL, ROMANTIC.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU!
Photo credit - Erich Saide Photography Stylist Eleni by Tapas Hair/Makeup by Tianna Marie
John Hickman
We’re excited to be speaking today with acclaimed actor John Hickman; greetings and salutations John and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive down the proverbial Q&A celluloid rabbit hole, how is the latter-part of 2024 treating you and yours?
It has been great! My newest role I am about to take on is the very important role of Grandfather but that is in early 2025 and it’s also true in my real life. I am so excited! I was very close with my own grandfather.
Major congratulations on your bravura turn in the new Warner Brothers action motion picture Gunner! Can you explain what Gunner is about and how your character of Sheriff Bob Lilly figures into the proceedings?
Gunner is a high-octane action thriller about a former war hero that returns home and tries to reconnect with his kids on a camping trip and they stumble onto a powerful drug lab and the cartel kidnaps his boys when the DEA arrives at the same time and arrests our hero. My character is an old friend of the hero and is torn between doing his job and what’s right. He has a connection to our hero and those boys, but his hands are tied by the wonderful DEA.
Did you know as soon as the Gunner script from Dimitri Logothetis and Gary Scott Thompson crossed your professional desk that this was a production you wanted to be a part of?
I got to know Dimitri when we were shooting Jui Jitsu over in Cyprus a few summers ago. He sent me a text saying he had a project he was doing, and he wrote this character with me in mind. I love Dimitri! I probably would have done it anyway, but when he told me Morgan Freeman was on board, that sealed the deal. The bonus of it was they were filming all of it in Alabama 30 minutes from my house. I think the world of Luke Hemsworth from working with him on Crypto, River Runs Red, and of course Westworld. Luke is amazing to work with and so talented.
Speaking of Dimitri Logothetis, along with being the cowriter of Gunner, he is also the director. What was your collaboration process like in working with Dimitri? Is he what some actors might refer to as ‘an actor’s director’?
Dimitri is definitely an actor’s director. He is so good at getting what he needs out of me in every scene. In all these years, I have only seen him lose his cool once. I know I could never do that job dealing with actors. Dimitri is one of the coolest cats I know.
You work with such a great ensemble in Gunner, including the likes of the legendary Morgan Freeman, Luke Hemsworth and Mykel Shannon Jenkins. What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this amazing cast?
I did feel like I was out of my element working with those guys. I kept thinking “What the hell are you doing with these guys?” I had never met Mykel, he is so good! I did get to spend about an hour talking with Morgan one on one and it was an almost religious experience. His voice is so amazing and we were just talking about life. I had an injury from a previous film and I had a pretty bad limp and he was so worried about it. He is really a great human being and was so easy to talk to. I hope to cross paths with him again one day.
You landed upon the acting pathway a little later in life than some may assume, especially considering your extensive filmography! Was acting something you always admired from afar before jumping in head-first?
I had wanted to be an actor since I was very young, but at the time there were 0 opportunities in small town Alabama in the 80’s. I had actually given up on it in high school. Then in college, my daughter was born when I was 21, so I went to work and raise my daughter. I didn’t try it again until she was in college. I was selling chicken on the west coast when I got on True Blood as a featured walk on role which is really nothing more than an extra that the camera stays on for 2 seconds more.
Who inspires you, acting-wise?
Without question, Pierce Brosnan. I got to work with him in the film I.T. He is so incredible and a very good human being. After we wrapped, he invited me out drinking and of course when James Bond asks (even though we both had a 12-hour day), you don’t decline. I was a big fan many years before that. He is so gracious with fans and taught me how to handle the pressure.
You have no less than six upcoming projects in the pipeline; kudos and accolades! Can you give our ever-inquisitive reading audience a hint or three about your upcoming films Barron’s Cove, Fog of War, The Good Life, Case File AOD, Montauk and Dead Heist?
Barron’s Cove is the only one I have seen. It is amazing. I only have a small role in that one. Fog of War is a World War 2 picture that I really wanted my dad to see but he passed away in March of this year. Case File AOD has been winning awards on the festival circuit and I only have one line. The young lady that is the lead, it’s her first film. Her name is Savannah Genae Griffin. You are going to hear a lot about her. She is very talented. Montauk I got to work with my childhood crush, Molly Ringwald. She is so nice. That was such an amazing experience and I will never forget it.
Your first credited on-screen work came in the form of 2015’s feature film Black Water Wilderness. Any special memories of that freshman production?
I have many fond memories of that one. The director Michael Gordon became my best friend and neighbor. He brings me in on a lot of projects. We get to hang out a lot when our schedules allow.
You’ve worked as a producer on a few productions. Is producing something you want to do more of in the future?
I would love to, but I prefer the acting side.
In 2011, you established the John Herman Hickman Foundation. For anyone not in the know, can you explain what this amazing foundation is all about and what inspired you to get it started?
The foundation helps company employees, awarding scholarships to poultry science schools. The foundation started after a tornado destroyed most of the city of Tuscaloosa in Alabama.
Final - SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies - Living In Oblivion, The Player, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Swimming With Sharks or Barton Fink?
I really loved Once Apon a Time in Hollywood. Brat Pitt’s portrayal of the stunt man was marvelous. You were rooting for him, such a likable and relatable character. This movie really captured the nature of the Hollywood effect in a fun way.
Megan Davis Host of the Month
We’re super-excited to have some time today with acclaimed actress, model and poet extraordinaire Megan Davis; greetings and salutations Megan and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we meander down the proverbial celluloid Q&A pathway, how is the latter-part of 2024 treating you and yours?
You know, I was actually just reflecting on this last night. It’s actually so odd because in so many ways this has been the best year of my life. But also one of my best friend’s died in June. Random cardiac event –no reason the doctors could find. He was so young and had only been married 6 months and today would’ve been their one year anniversary. So it has been such a wild emotional experience to have some of these things happen that I have always dreamed of – my first book, my first film I wrote – and they are both winning awards and I am getting to travel the world... and yet there’s still a sadness there. But in a way that is accurate to what I think a human life is. Constant beauty and tragedy juxtaposed. I hope it has been a good year for you!
Major kudos and accolades on your beautiful first complete book of poetry which is entitled What Breaks Us! Starting at the top, can you talk about what inspired this personal and provocative collection of poems?
Of course! I always loved poetry as a kid. I would read anthologies at night before bed. And the things in those books always made sense to me. I had a lot of feelings and they always felt overwhelming, and while the words for those feelings never felt accurate – the way the poets described them did. Like, I didn’t necessarily understand the word futility. But I understood Poe’s image of trying to grasp a single grain of sand from the wave. I didn’t understand the word lonely. But I understood St. Vincent Millay’s image of the tree in winter that had lost all of its leaves and sat alone. So, as I grew up, I would write. Especially when I didn’t know how else to get the feelings out. And I have never been big into journaling. I guess this is my version of it. There’s a magic that happens within a poem. It’s a place where human courage and determination is a “rage against the dying of the light”, and love is holding someone so close to your soul that “your eyes close as I fall asleep.” I’ll find myself reading a poem and thinking, “Yes, I have felt that before,” or, “Yes, I can’t wait to feel that again.”
From conception to final draft, how long in total did What Breaks Us take to complete in the shape which we have it in now?
Well, with this book, a lot of them are poems I wrote years ago. I never wrote for anyone else to read them. And then someone asked to and then they sent them to a couple of different publishers and they all came back with offers. I was pretty surprised. I thought they’d be pretty boring for anyone else to read. But the process of publication took about a year.
Was there anything for you which you may have considered “off limits” regarding your private life which you made a conscious decision to exclude from What Breaks Us?
I probably should! I don’t really have an off limits. I think if you have decided that your job is to share yourself as a human through art, then your job is to be as honest as possible through that medium. I think that’s what the people consuming the art deserve. Because they have some there to connect. For communion. And I don’t know if I believe you can truly connect with someone through an edited version of self. But the art is also my perspective. So I do my best to share my honest perspective and experience, but I also understand that doesn’t mean it was the same as anyone else.
How have your close family and friends reacted to What Breaks Us?
I was actually a little nervous about this, because I did go into some topics that I didn’t know how they would feel once they read. Particularly my family. My friends have always been incredibly supportive. I was still nervous to share the book though. I think I threw up three times the night before it came out. Because creating art and intaking art are two different things. And once you’ve created it, you have no control anymore. You have to let go. So the way in which people will intake it has so much more to do with them and their experiences than what I may have been interpreting from my own life when I wrote it. Because, ultimately we are all the same. The details of the experiences of our lives are different, but the feelings we experience are the same. Being human is not super easy. And while I don’t always like every human being, I have a tremendous respect for humanity and the courage it takes to get up every single day and try again.
The critical and commercial response for What Breaks Us has been tremendously positive. Would you ever consider writing another book of poetry?
I am writing one! This book was so much about the personal experience
of heartbreak and grief and growth. What I have been writing lately seems to be more about the collective experience.
Switching gears momentarily, and as we noted at the tip-top, you’re also a very respected and acclaimed actress. What is it about the craft of acting which is so fascinating to you?
I like the phrase tip-top. I have always loved acting so I am not even sure if I know the answer to this myself. It’s also very magical. I used to dress up as Cosette from Les Miserables and clean my mom’s floors by hand while sining “Castle on a Cloud”. Very dramatic. It is interesting though, because I am so used to being super wildly vulnerable as “other people” and the poetry book was the first time I was being that vulnerable as myself and it was absolutely terrifying.
You delivered a tour de force performance as actress Amber Heard in the Fox film Hot Take: The Depp/Heard Trial. How did you go about prepping for such an intensely watched person as Heard was at the time? Did you do a lot of your own research in order to portray Amber, or was everything you really needed already baked into the script?
Oh my gosh, you know what – it was so crazy. Because when I got the audition I hadn’t seen a minute of the trial. I kind of thought it was weird that everyone was watching it. Like it almost felt like voyeurism. It seemed like what they were going through was really hard. But, even though I wasn’t watching it, I was seeing the way people were talking about her on social media and I was getting more and more angry. From my perspective, this girl was in her 20s when she got involved with him, and I don’t know about you, but I have done some pretty wild things in the name of love. And not just in my 20s. So when I got the audition, I watched as much as I could related to those specific scenes. And then I got the role and just all I did from that moment until filming was watch and read everything I could about her. I watched the whole trial, I read and watched all of her interviews, I read about her hometown in Texas –anything I could to understand her and where her thoughts and actions came from psychologically. And then recreating the trial was it’s own beast because it is something that we actually have footage of – so it needs to be as close to that as possible in every way (tonally, gestures, etc.) while still coming from an authentic place and not just feeling like you’re mimicking. So it was really challenging. But after the movie I had a lot of people come up to me at the store or send me messages that they felt like the movie helped them to see her as also human and that is I think all you can hope for as an artist
. Can you give our ever-inquisitive readers a hint or three as to what you have coming up next in the way of film?
Haha or three! I will totally just tell you. We just finished the postproduction on our film “Hemorrhage”, which is about a young couple who drives from Georgia to Virginia to get an abortion. That is the closest state they can. They can’t afford to stay overnight, so they drive back, and on the way, she suffers a hemorrhage and begins to bleed out and they are afraid to go to the emergency room because they are now in a state where abortion has been criminalized. I was lucky enough to get to act with my friend Adam Irigoyen, as he played my character’s boyfriend, and he’s so stupid talented. Every scene with him is so fun because you just don’t know what he’s going to do - in the best way - so you have to be so present. But I think everyone involved feels very passionately about the issue and grateful to be apart of the film.
Any final thoughts you might like to share regarding your incredible freshman book of poetry, What Breaks Us?
You are so sweet! Just that I tried to structure the book in the way that I experienced those things. Life is really challenging and sometimes it feels like it is going to break us, but if we can alchemize that pain, and instead use it to help ourselves grow, well, then I think we can do anything. We can face anything with our head held so high our crowns don’t slip off. So, while the book starts with heartbreak and pain, it ends with empowerment and healing. It ends with the journey back to yourself.
Final – SILLY! - Question: Favorite movie about the making of movies –Living In Oblivion, Hollywood Shuffle, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, The Player or Barton Fink?
I love silly. I am honestly such a nerd. I watch Jeopardy! before bed while I eat my chips and chocolate. Ok, I want to say Noises Off but it more a play about people making a play. It is hilarious though. I also absolutely love Sunset Blvd. Does that one count?!
Also, thank you so much for doing this and for uplifting other artists and their work!!!
Ghalia Volt
We’re super-excited to have some time today with acclaimed multiinstrumentalist and songwriter Ghalia Volt; greetings and salutations Ghalia and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive down the Q&A musical rabbit hole, how is the latter-half of 2024 treating you and yours?
2024 has been an amazing year.
Traveled all around, with both the one woman band and the band projects. Shared the stage with with Buddy Guy, opened for him as well as for Tab Benoit and Samantha fish. Performed in dozens of countries in Europe and and dozen of states in the USA. The rest of the year is looking pretty busy as well.
It’s been nice.
A hale and hearty congratulations on the October 6 release of your
amazing new album Shout Sister Shout! Starting at the very top, can you talk about what inspired this true gem of an LP?
Shout Sister Shout is the evolution of my latest influences to at you can find on my two previous albums, with the many music genders I have interest for through different stages of my life. From Hill country Blues to Garage/Punk/Surf music, with a hint of 60’s/70’s.
You recorded Shout Sister Shout! at the nigh legendary Rancho De La Luna! What did laying down this masterful platter at this specific location mean to you as an artist?
The mojo and magic you experience at certain studios is just unexplainable. You have to feel it.
The room, the people that were there before you, the people that surround you, the amazing gear… soak up the vibe.
In this case, not only it was amazing working with David Catching, but being on top of a hill in the Joshua Tree desert, looking at the full moon, thousands of stars, hear the coyotes moan,… the pitch black… running into a cactus cuz you’re tired at the end of 10 hour session… Anecdotes are endless.
We’re big admirers of the gem of a ditty Hell Is Not Gonna Deal With You which can be found front-andcenter on the new Shout Sister Shout LP! What’s the inside scoop on this soulful tune?
Glad you like this song in particular.
It’s probably the only “mean” song I’ve ever written. Poetry and music gives you that extra freedom to be who you want, …. In this song I describe what would be a revenge if I had to give paid back to someone that hurt me in the pass. But of course, I’m not taking none of the is very seriously and this is kinda playful.
The farfisa adds this surf/60’s to the song and we loved it
Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to the other amazing talents who contributed musically to your revelatory Shout Sister Shout! LP?
David Catching , you probably know him
Ex-member From Queens of the Stone Age or Eagles of Death Metal. He’s a great producer on top of an amazing guitar player.
Danny Frankel, played with hundreds and hundreds of amazing musicians including Lou Reed. His approach to the songs is unique. Love his percussion work especially.
And finally Ben Alleman who’s a multi-talented musician and producer who shared the stage with Dr John, and many others.
Great talent. He laid all keys and left hand bass tracks.
You’re a huge part in the highly-anticipated RUF RECORDS 30th Anniversary Tour which kicks off this coming November 7 with its inaugural show at the esteemed Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Can you talk about what this special tour means to you as a performing artist? It’s not just another tour, is it?
I signed my first album with Ruf Records in 2016… getting close to a decade ago.
I love Thomas Ruf and really appreciate his support through the years. He always support the art and gives me freedom to express myself in my music. So it’s an honor to be celebrating the 30 years of the Label.
I’ve been listening to Canned Heat for over twenty years. I’m beyond excited to be on the road with Fito, and share this run with the other band members like Dale or Jimmy Vivino and can’t wait for road stories.
Finally, Samantha Fish is a very talented hard working lady, I have much respect for her and her accomplishments.
You better be sure all together with Canned Heat, Mitch Ryder and Bernard Allison, it’s gonna be Fiyaaaa!
For anyone not in the know, can you talk about who some of your fellow music all-stars are who will also be appearing on the RUF RECORDS 30th Anniversary Tour?
Well, at just answered that question I guess.
For those folks who might never have caught you during a live show, can you give them a heads-up on what sort of a performance you put on?
On this particular tour, I will be leaving my band at home and warm up the crowds with my One Woman Band showcase.
The set is short, so I will be goin straight to the point, some slide, more slide, original songs, I classic or two, and people will see me hammering those drums with my feet while slamming that guitar and sharing stories.
Playing tunes from all my latest records.
Where does the tour head off for after the November 7 opening venue in Pittsburgh? Is the plan for the tour to hit most of the major spots in North America?
Yeah, the route is fun! Look it up, hopefully we’re coming to a town next to you.
If not, hop on a ride and join us for this memorable showcase
RUF RECORDS plies its considerable wares in the world of Blues music. In your humble opinions, what makes a perfect Blues record? What primal ingredients always need to be present in a Blues tune?
I can only talk for myself. There’s no such thing as “making a perfect blues record”. I personally stay true to myself, the stories I tell, I lived and my music is organic, mostly raw. I’m not a shredder and I will never be. For me it’s all about groves and feel good.
“The feel” is what counts the most…
Any final thoughts you might like to share with readers regarding your brand-spankin’ new album Shout Sister Shout as well as the forthcoming RUF RECORDS 30thAnniversary Tour?
I can’t wait to see all of our friends and fans on the road, I’m honored to be part of this tour. Be sure to get there early to enjoy the full showcase and the many guests appearances.
This show is gonna be memorable for all the live music fanatics out there.
Into The Unknown
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
We’ve been good. Thanks for taking the time to interview us. I’m Rupert, the Bass Player for Into The Unknown
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
We’ve just released the mini album, “The Other Side of the Wall, Part 2”. It’s a covers album, and came about originally a few tears ago. When the band was just three piece band, we weren’t able to rehearse the songs as we were recording them for the first album, so what we were doing was recording covers as warm ups. When we finished our debut album, we realised that we’d actually recorded enough songs to make up a mini album, so we decided to release it, and that album was called, unsurprisingly, “The Other Side of the Wall”. Fast forward to now, and we’ve expanded the lineup to a full band, and we also have a new singer, Natalie. Natalie hadn’t sung symphonic rock before, so we thought that it might be fun to do another covers album to ease her in gently! Thus, it became “Part 2”
How was the recording and writing process?
We basically work the same now as with our previous albums, we all usually come into the studio separately and write/record our parts, we rarely record together … the band aren’t actually that local to each other, we’re not all in the same town, so it works out easier to record at our studio with just each member and me (as the producer). Our writing process is quite interesting too, again we rarely write in rehearsal, the way it usually happens is that someone comes up with an idea and brings it in, and everyone else just does their interpretation, and I combine them. I can honestly say that I don’t think we’ve ever done a song that ends up sounding like whatever the person with the original idea thought that it would! At the moment, we are currently writing the vocals for the new album, so although the music has been written, we really don’t know what the end songs are going to be like until Natalie has put her spin on them.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Obviously for the current album, it’s a covers album, so we are just reinterpreting the songs our way. Each band member made some suggestions, and we then worked out what we were going to do. Some of the songs are from our peers in the symphonic rock genre, such as Nightwish, Within Temptation and Evanessence, but we also took a few unusual choices and recorded them as symphonic rock, such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and Sheena Easton (We seem to have started a tradition of doing Bond themes). We also went down the classical instrumental route with the William Tell Overture.
We are also recording our own new album, and so the inspiration comes from many areas. Lyrically, Natalie is working on the songs, so I cant really give a definitive answer to where all of her inspiration comes from, but I know that she loves horror themes, so there will undoubtedly be some of that in there, there will also be life experiences in the songs. Previously the lyrics were mostly written by ex singer Lucie and myself, and encompassed various themes, some influenced by current events, some motivational, we joke amongst ourselves that the last album was about various relationship breakups!
Will you be hitting the road this year?
We wont be this year, theres not a lot of his year left for a start but we are also working hard to finish off the new album. We definitely intend to do some shows next year 2025, to support the new album.
What else is happening next in your world?
The next thing is definitely our new album. It will be our third ‘full’ album (we don’t count the covers albums as full albums) and will be the first original album with the current line up. Its been a long time coming, its been hit with multiple delays beyond our control, such as Covid, Family commitments (2 band members have had children in the time between our last album and this one), and we had to audition and change singers which wasn’t in the plan! Time has run away from us, but now we are close to finishing (famous last words!). I personally have been developing a 3D audio process, which we used on this covers album, including being lucky enough to release it in Dolby Atmos versions as well as the stereo, although (hopefully) you can hear more of a 3D sound in stereo if you listen on headphones. So the new album will also be done in this way, with the Atmos mixes as well.
Check out our links and hopefully you will like what you hear.
www.intotheunknown.band www.facebook/ITUUKVigilante
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UClXxDhKyf4YPRqR6hHZIFqw
Instagram Into_the_unknown_band
Video link for the new single https://youtu.be/ aUe1E18bEH0
RADA
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Great thank you I hope you are too
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
Our recent release is called ‘‘Together We Are Stronger’ – This is a collaborative song involving all the artists featured on RADA Unearthed Volume 3. - iSandi, Ramelo, Pedro Barbosa, Lia Elise, Ross Learmonth, SEVVEN, Me-Ko, SeanJ and Mark Beling. It’s a song intended to spread positivity and inspiration in the world. The song addresses daily personal and societal challenges, reminding us that by standing together, we can overcome anything. ‘Together We Are Stronger’ emphasizes that unity is our greatest strength and love binds us together.
How was the recording and writing process?
The process of creating ‘Together We Are Stronger’ was a long journey and the team had very high expectations of the kind of song we wanted. The message is clear and simple but to articulate it in music can be a challenge. Three very good but different versions were written, long hours and many discussions later we were able to make the last version live up to how we wanted to inspire people. A lot of care went into making this song. Recording was done separately with each artist featured on the track. The challenge as you can imagine is to co-ordinate very busy diaries along with studio availability. The end result is an inspirational song that hopefully strikes a chord in people’s hearts.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Our goal is to inspire people though music. All our songs featured on our four albums speak of overcoming challenges. ‘Together We Are Stronger’ is about standing up for one another and to know that no matter how tough life gets, we’re stronger together. It’s more than just a song; it’s a movement. It’s about being brave enough to fight for positive change, showing kindness and leading with love. That’s what makes us stronger. It is a message of solidarity in pursuit of positive change.
Will you be hitting the road this year?
As a group it would be difficult to tour as each of the artist have their own show schedules. The way to get this song out there is through the airwaves. We want the world to hear the song and more importantly the message in the song.
What else is happening next in your world?
We will be creating and sharing more music that carries messages of love, peace, and positive change. Music is an amazing catalyst for this.
We are working on releasing four more singles next year all part of RADA Unearthed Vol 3 while planning Vol.4. This means we will be back in studio early in 2025 producing new tracks, meeting new artists and reconnecting with some familiar talent.
The royalties generated by the songs on the various RADA albums from streams, downloads and airplay are donated back into RADA, a humanitarian organization, to build, promote and support the community projects the non-profit is involved with. The music therefore has a direct impact on the lives of others and continually strives to uplift and inspire many.
Luna Honey
We’re super-excited to be speaking today with acclaimed Philadelphiabased dark-avant group Luna Honey; greetings and salutations gang and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we dive into the Q&A mosh-pit, could you all say ‘hi’ and introduce yourselves to our ever-inquisitive readers?
Hello there! I’m Maura Pond, vocalist, guitarist, and wordsmith in Luna Honey. Benjamin Schurr is our main guitar brutalizer, and Levi Flack is the bass master.
Major kudos and accolades on your freshly-minted sixth full-length album Bound which is set to rule the airwaves when it is released this coming November 22 on cassette, CD, digital download and via streaming services! Maura, can you talk about what inspired one of the very best LP releases of 2024?
You are too kind. Madness? Fury? Hope? What is it that ever inspires artists to make things? To try to get up in the morning and create something instead of just consuming or destroying stuff. But I think in particular for this one, we were just grateful to be in the same city again. We formed in DC and the first year of the band was wildly intense. We had great creative chemistry together and palpable momentum. But then by the end of 2019, Levi and Ben had moved to Philadelphia, and for awhile we were commuting between DC and Philly for practice. Of course then the pandemic hit and that kicked off a really dark period. Ben and I moved to Richmond to be closer to my family, but then my mom passed almost as soon as we got down there. We continued to work remotely, but that’s just not the same. Bound is our album that’s maybe not triumphant, but is infused with the spirit of having persevered past the hard times.
Levi, who were some of the special musical guests who threw in their own
musical alchemy towards making the Bound album a reality?
Well we had long time friend Roger Martinez play double bass on “Snarge” and “Vacuum Cleaner.” We like to refer to him as the whaling ship because of the bellowing moan it adds to “Vacuum Cleaner.” His playing really added so much to both tracks. I think it evokes a sense of relentless momentum on snarge as soon as it makes an appearance in the second chorus. Dan Angel played drums on the entire album except the last 3 tracks. We recorded the album with Dan so he was able to see the vision very quickly. The drums on the album are especially exciting for me when I listen back to it. Not only have we never collaborated with a drummer before but Dan is probably the best drummer I know. I’m so grateful to both of them for imparting some of their musical DNA into our album.
Benjamin, speaking of collaborations, who did the producing honors on Bound and what did the in-studio collaboration between band and producer look like while fashioning and shaping the new album?
We all split the production duties within the band. When we were working on the first record “Peace Will Grind You Down,” I signed on primarily as a producer before I officially joined the project. Ultimately, the line between arranging, songwriting and production is pretty blurry. You have songs like “Kerosene” and “Barbie Cake” which Maura came in with the riffs and general structure followed by a track like “Vacuum Cleaner” which is a track Levi and I came up with in my attic in DC and then a track like “Lemons” which came out of the three of us jamming together in Levis basement. Somehow the chemistry of us putting it together makes it all work. We spend a good amount of time collectively doing sound design and production utilizing found sounds, odd “non instruments”/electronics as well as integrating more standard rock instruments. Exploration is a major motivating factor in the
project which goes hand in hand with production. A tape loop of spring peepers can morph into a song like “Gravity” and the smallest kernel of inspiration like the sound of a train going traversing a bridge over the James river can morph into a track like “Snarge.” This record does mark the first time we’ve brought in another engineer (Dan Angel) who both helped record/mix certain tracks which is the closest to having another producer on the album. You can definitely hear his sonic fingerprint on the record which was really exciting to bring into the fold.
Levi, how is the Bound album similar to Luna Honey’s freshman LP outing, 2018’s Peace Will Grind You Down? How is it different?
I think it’s similar because we’ve kinda always wanted the same thing from making music. We’ve always wanted to blend the insane, unhinged, beautiful, and captivating things that we find magic in. We’ve always been sonic explorers. I remember on the first album we had all sorts of found sounds from a shaker full of baby teeth to sticks dragged across on stair railings. Compositionally I think the two couldn’t be more different. I think we’re getting better at channeling the chaos. All being in the same city now is a great feeling. We were all together for Peace but Ben was producing songs that Maura and I had written. The creative trio being able to bounce ideas around is really freeing. With Bound we were able to hone in on exactly what we wanted everything to sound like and truly all be part of the collaborative process.
Maura, we’re big admirers of the tune Vacuum Cleaner which can be found front-and-center on the new Bound LP! What’s the story behind this gem of a ditty?
Most of our songs don’t sit around that long before making it onto an album, but that one is an exception. Ben and Levi actually came up with most of the music for that back in the first year of the band one day when I was out of town. At the time, it didn’t fit with our other songs, but we all liked how threatening it sounded. But somehow, every time I tried to write lyrics for it it just wasn’t coming out right. I was having a hard time putting words to the feeling in my gut in a way that didn’t sound cliche or overwrought. So we’d shelve it and then pull it out each new album and try again, but nothing was working.
This time it clicked in place. It wasn’t supposed to be on this album, but we had one day left in the studio and the night before I wrote the lyrics, then went in mostly blind the next day to give it another shot. What you hear in the recording is the first take and is basically improvisation.
What had been tripping me up was trying to strike a balance between anger and ambiguity and wanting to touch on feminist themes that were more universal but also not going to be immediately put in the box of being a “girlpower, men-suck” song. The vacuum cleaner was marketed as liberating women from drudgery and the vintage ads are fun to dig through. But it in no way changed the expectation that cleaning was women’s work. It made it easier for us to keep doing the same work but with the illusion of making progress. The ambiguity comes in because it DID give women more time. It just really didn’t require anything from men in the process, there was no reshuffling of duties just because it was invented. To me, there’s a lesson in there for everyone to be critical about the things we are sold to make our lives easier. Maybe you don’t need more productivity apps. Maybe you can’t buy a solution to the problems that are eating away at our modern lives. Maybe we need bigger changes that involve everyone. That being said, I’m still grateful for my vacuum. The song is not meant to put a neat, tidy bow on the issue. You should be a little unsure of what you are feeling.
A question for all of you: Who inspires you musically-speaking?
Levi: I’ve always been inspired by The Birthday Party and Rowland S Howard. Ben and I basically started talking because of our mutual love for Nick Cave. Swans is a huge one for me also. Those influence the brutality that’s apparent in the music. I’ll always go back to Portishead and almost anything Geoff Barrow is associated with as a huge inspiration. I’m also really inspired by Placebo, especially their earlier stuff. Deftones are the band that made me want to start playing music to begin with even though you wouldn’t hear that influence at all in Luna Honey.
Benjamin: I’m a big early 4ad/mute records fan so I feel like the spirit/
energy of those bands is an endless well of inspiration to me. I started getting into programming beats as a result of my love of early 90’s hip hop,00’s warp records as well the kinda minimal wave records that were being reissued in the early 2010s. I find myself drawn to music at the beginning of when a new genre emerges, when it feels like the doors are completely wide open and there are just possibilities for new ideas and forms of expression. Oh yea and DJ screw mixtapes.
Maura: Insane things like simultaneously having “Blood on the Saddle” stuck in your head but it’s the version sung by Big Al from the Countrybear Jamboree while also Moondog’s “Bird’s Lament” is also playing on a loop. What Would the Community Think-era Cat Power was a big early influence. I learned guitar playing her songs. Also Nirvana, the B-52s and the Meat Puppets. I liked opera as a teen and used to drag my family to go make use of my student discount to see all the classics. I spent a big portion of my life not listening to very much music because I don’t think I had access or exposure to the right kind of music. I am more comfortable around the edges. I liked The Coup because there was a message. I’d rather listen to Henry Cowell or Scott Walker than anything on the radio. These days the most consistent thing is probably Swans. During really good shows, I’ve had a few out of body experiences if the conditions are right and it happens most often with them. That feeling is what I’m chasing--that and the flow state of getting lost in a song. I steal from Nick Cave a bunch, he’s an interesting character to try on. I was a big Savages fan when they were still together.
Benjamin, as we noted at the tip-top, Luna Honey is based out of the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, PA! How do those particular stomping grounds inform the sound and energy which we hear on a Luna Honey album such as Bound?
I grew up in Philly so at least for myself it informs my perspective both emotionally and philosophically. There’s a definite approach of brutal directness and absurdity that I’ve absorbed environmentally that I feel comes through in. Luna Honey has existed in each member’s respective home cities (DC, Richmond, Philadelphia) so I think the sounds we all utilize tend to reflect the elements of those places. The collaborators Dan Angel and Roger Martinez both are Philly folks who also bring in their perspectives which reflect a really playful abrasiveness which I feel is the spirit of the city.
Levi, in the wake of the November 22 release of the new album Bound, can fans look forward to catching Luna Honey on the touring/performing circuit?
Anyone who wants to help us set up a tour should reach out! We haven’t done an extended tour since before the pandemic, but want to get back out there. We’re starting to think about our next record and along with that what kind of tour we should set up and when. We are spoiled on the east coast because you can easily pop up to New York or down to Baltimore or DC for a weekend without having to book a big thing, so we do play out of town shows fairly regularly.
Maura, any final thoughts about the new Luna Honey album Bound which you may like to share with readers?
We already are a band that tends to have a wide range of sounds and styles between albums, but even for us, this is an album that takes you to the polar extremes in terms of mood from the start of the album to the end. While it kicks off with noisy vengeance, the second half of the record has some of our most delicate songs yet, and I think that catches some people off guard on first pass. But all these songs are very intentionally strung together and arranged that way to have balance and purpose as a whole. To me, they are a collage of interconnected pieces that capture something intangible in what you are left with after weighing them against one another.
The cover for Bound is a carpet beater. It’s become my personal symbol for the inefficient things that are hard but still worth doing, that need doing and that we can’t rush and take short cuts on. It is associated with “women’s work,” but there is a violent strength to it. It is used to beat things, but it is a productive force rather than a destructive one. Go drag your metaphorical rugs into the yard and shake loose the dust that’s accumulated over time. Beat the living daylights out of them. It will feel good.
Exassens
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hi, and thanks for having us! We’ve been great—super busy but excited with all the responses we’re getting to the new album INFINITUM. The support from fans has been incredible, and it’s motivating us more than ever.
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
The album is called INFINITUM, and it represents the idea of infinity and limitless exploration, both in space and within ourselves. We wanted to capture a sense of vastness and introspection, inviting listeners to experience something that feels both epic and personal. It’s about embracing the unknown and finding beauty in it.
How was the recording and writing process?
The writing and recording process for INFINITUM was immersive. We spent a lot of time experimenting with new sounds and pushing our boundaries. We wanted each track to flow together as one cohesive journey, so there was a lot of attention to detail. The recording was intense but rewarding, with each of us bringing our own influences and ideas into the mix.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Since we’re an instrumental band, we focus on creating emotion and atmosphere without lyrics. For INFINITUM, we drew a lot of inspiration from space, science fiction, and themes of exploration. Films, landscapes, and the idea of infinity itself all influenced the mood and sound. We wanted each song to feel like its own adventure.
Will you be hitting the road this year?
Yes! We’re excited to bring INFINITUM to the stage. We have dates lined up across Europe in 2025, with a few stops in Spain and hopefully some UK shows too. It’s shaping up to be our most ambitious tour yet, and we can’t wait to connect with fans in person.
What else is happening next in your world?
Aside from the tour, we’re also working on some visuals and collaborations to complement the album. We want INFINITUM to be more than just a listening experience, so we’re exploring new ways to bring the music to life visually. We’re also looking forward to releasing some exclusive content and maybe even a few surprises for our fans.
Thanks for the support, and we hope INFINITUM resonates with everyone who listens!
The Chinaskis
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Thanks for the warm welcome – pleased to meet ya. Things are great in Chinaskisville!
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
The album’s called “Songs for the Scunnered” – “Scunnered” being a great Scottish word for “unhappy, tired and pissed-off”. This theme is really reflected across the lyrics on the album, but what makes the tunes special for me is taking those lyrics and putting them to some really catchy, upbeat melodies and arrangements – this is something my favourite bands have always done, and I’m always trying to get that “bittersweet” feel with my songs.
How was the recording and writing process?
We started recording in 2016 when I was still living in Scotland and playing with the original ver-sion of the band in Glasgow, laying down bass, drums and vocals. I then moved to America in 2017, and the album really sat doing nothing for a few years while I adjusted to my new job and life out here.
I started playing solo shows and getting more connected with the Dallas music scene, and in 2020 I decided to finish the album off with the help of John Dufilho, who’s something of a local legend through his band The Deathray Davies and is a master producer and mixer. I added guitars, keys and even some pedal steel for that Texas feel, and John mixed it into the big radio-friendly album you can hear today.
So the whole process took about seven years, which makes it sound like a real labour of love… but if you added up all the time spent on it, it’s likely closer to six months.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
First and foremost, I’m inspired by strong emotions – some of the songs are quite political and reflect feelings of anger, disappointment and bitterness at some of the injustices that I see in the world, particularly here in my new home of the U.S.
I also like to write about heartbreak, hurt, and anger – the funny thing is that I’m an incredibly optimistic and positive person, but for me as a songwriter it’s a lot more productive to connect to those more negative emotions and remind others that they’re not alone in feeling them.
I’m also hugely influenced by music. I listen to music constantly, from when I get up to when I work, to when I’m in the car or the gym… I’m always on a quest to find new sounds that inspire me or make me think about songwriting differently. In terms of the artists who have influenced me most, I’d say the major ones are R.E.M., The Replacements, Bob Mould, Neil Young, CSNY, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, St Vincent, Biffy Clyro, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, Rocket from the Crypt, Joni Mitchell… there are so many!
Will you be hitting the road this year?
We’ve had a bit of a hiatus for writing and because of work commitments, and we’re currently looking to recruit a new bass player, but I’d love to get back out there when we’ve re-jigged the band lineup a bit.
What else is happening next in your world?
New songs! Living over here in America is great, so the challenge is to recapture some of that Scottish bitterness and use it as a catalyst for some new lyrics and new musical ventures. I’m so proud of our debut album, but really want to make sure that the next one pushes the boundaries while doubling down on the stuff that resonated so strongly with people in the first place.
The Haptics
Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hi! We’ve been great thanks. Enjoying the rainy season in Vancouver right now
What can you tell us about the title and meaning behind your most recent release?
“Vows” is a song about shared affections, commitment, and the battles that happen before, during, and after relationships. The song so takes us through the beginning of the relationship, where the romance forms around both highly romanticizing and demonizing the other, through to the middle, where both parties find out about each other’s vices and weaknesses, to an emotional crescendo where the vocalist sums up the relationship in their mental state and finds it lacking. The lyrics end with an emotional callto-arms where the vocalist asserts their boundaries and reflects on the distance they’ve traveled together, and the people they’ve been along the way.
How was the recording and writing process?
The recording process was a lot different for us this time around. Instead of getting into a proper recording studio with an engineer and a tight deadline, we recorded this one in our jam space initially and then did overdubs in Mikes (bass player, producer) home set up. It was a much more relaxed atmosphere then when we’ve felt the pressure of having to be done on the studio by a certain time.
Where did you guys find the inspiration for the song and lyrics?
Jin (singer) tapped into her recent dating history to get the right feels going for this one. As usual she has a way of putting words together that puts everything in the right light.
Will you be hitting the road this year?
Not in 2024 but we look forward to getting out in 2025. We’ll be playing in the closer cities to us In BC and we’re hoping to get out and play some festivals in summer 2025
What else is happening next in your world?
We’re continuing to work on the new album, to be released April 1st 2025. And the next single “Biodome” will be out Dec 1st 2024
