#innovation Wow, it’s 2015. It’s been a blast so far with upcoming projects left and right. We are so blessed to have these opportunities to get you all involved! This month, we released our first ever YouTube video made by our rad filmmaker, Jessica. So thrilled for more film content within the upcoming months. Alongside that, we are looking forward to sharing stories from creatives in different platforms and industries. It’s important to always stay or be inspired by your surroundings. I also have been digging 8Tracks lately, so many playlists I found. You got to check out our monthly playlist because it’s really on point, thanks to Sena. Let’s go on to some current obsessions: Cruisr and Bad Suns have been my jam lately, such great tracks! Show wise, I’ve been loving realilty shows like Vanderpump Rules, Thicker Than Water and of course, How To Get Away With Murder. You guys were right about that show, cliffhanger on episode nine. Can’t wait! Anyways, I’m over the moon as in completely grateful for each and everyone of you for reading our issues and supporting us from your sweet comments to snapping photos of our issues that you purchased!
Cathrine Khom founding editor-in-chief many thanks:
bakkuda
hey jude shop
taylor-ann hasselhoff
@bakkuda san diego, ca
@heyjudeshop vancouver, bc
@tayhoff los angeles, ca
brandon depuma
jack dean
the bearded kitty
@brandondepuma redding, ca
@jaack norwich / london, uk
@thebeardedkitty orange county, ca
cody simpson
nome
the reasn
@codysimpson gold coast, aus
@nomeofficial london, uk
@thereasn los angeles, ca
ella grace denton
shawn mendes
@ellagracedenton london, uk
@shawnmendes toronto, can
ferras
sin
@ferras los angeles, ca
@iwearsin london, uk
+ Major thanks to all the pr companies, clothing brands, hair / makeup artists who were a part of this issue, we are so appreciative and grateful for your collaboration with us!
jaN uary 2015
contents
Classics 07
playlist
08
munchies
10
diy department
12
on the street
14
p.s. positivity
f e at u r e s 16
the bearded kitty
20
brandon depuma
24
pretty in pink ft. sin
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the reasn
34 38
bakkuda ferras
40
#innovation recap
44
ella grace denton
54
taylor-ann hasselhoff
58 64 66 70 72
hey jude shop jack dean nome cody simpson shawn mendes
iss ue t w e n t y o n e / / j an u ar y t w e n t y fi f teen
ella grace d en t on
founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom managing editor samai khom copy editor sophia khom publicist faith escalera web designer ariane therrien illustrators eduardo escanear + jaimus tailor diy coordinator madison bass-taylor playlist maker sena cheung front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo dunja opalko contributing writers kamrin baker, ashley bulayo, orion carloto, sydney clarke, amanda ferrarese, jacob karre, hudson luthringshausen, lydia snapper, alexandra southerst contributing photographers lexie alley, philipp ammon, pamela ayala, justin dingwall, rachel epstein, amanda harle, emily hedrick, katy johnson, rachel kober, lhoycel marie, louisiana mei gelpi, kohl murdock, ruby james, dunja opalko, dylan razo, haydn rydings, priti shikotra, madison bass-taylor graphic designers christine ennis, isabel manimbo, isabel ramos style department sophie bernard, emily hedrick, jessie yarborough description local wolves magazine, an online + print publication based in southern california with a talented team from all over the world. we focus on embracing the local scene in art, music, entertainment and film. our goal is to capture and share the stories about people doing what they love to do. connect http://localwolvesmag.com http://facebook.com/localwolves http://twitter.com/localwolves http://instagram.com/localwolves http://pinterest.com/localwolves http://8tracks.com/localwolves
st a y c o n n e c t e d w i t h e l l a // f a c eb o o k w e n e e dt o l i v e m o r e t w it t er @ e l l agr ac e de n t o n inst a g ram @ e l l agr ac e de n t o n w eb s it e w e n e e dt o l i v e m o r e.c o m
general inquiries localwolvesmagazine@yahoo.com press + advertisting inquiries localwolvespress@gmail.com
COVERAGE: SENA CHEUNG
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munchies + CACAO ATLANTA CHOCOLATE CO + STORY: CATHRINE KHOM PHOTOS: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR Cacao Atlanta Chocolate Company are for the starcrossed lovers who has a sweet tooth. They are known for their crafted chocolate to French macaroons that are to die for. Kudos to their founder, Kristen Hard, for opening this unique space that has a modern feel with a touch of elegance. With their promise of planted and cultivated cacao beans, this particular chocolate company makes their delicious sweets with significant care and extra detail. You can visit several of their stores in the heart of Atlanta! location 1046 North Highland Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 30306 hours Mon-Thur: 10:30am-9:00pm Fri-Sat: 10:30am-10:00pm Sun: 11:00am-7:00pm contact cacaoatlanta.com (404) 892-8202
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do it yourself + INSPIRATIONAL VISION BOARDS +
SUPPLIES • some sort of wire mesh - first option: organizer from the container store - second option: a roll of chicken wire from the hardware store that i cut with a bolt cutter • command hooks • assortment of clips • things to put on your board from magazines or print images from online (pinterest or tumblr would be fun to search from!) COVERAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR
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THREE EASY STEPS :
1
attach a command hook to the top corners of your mesh.
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attach a command hook to the bottom corners of your mesh to hold it in place so it doesn’t curl up on you (skip this step if you are using the wired organizer)
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use your clips to hang all of your inspiration pieces!
• use a wire hanger (like the ones from the dry cleaners) to hang magazines or books on!
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on the street COVERAGE: EMILY HEDRICK Los Angeles is known as the city with perfect, sunny weather, and is practically summer yearround. But how do Angelenos react stylistically when the temperature drops below the average 70 degrees? It truly takes a stylish and balanced wardrobe to fight the cold in LA. Here are a few standouts I found out and about in Los Angeles who managed to stay warm, and maintain a killer creative and individual style. Staple pieces to have in your closet in order to survive the weather and stay chic are fur coats, trench coats, ripped jeans, and layered sweaters.
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n o i r O to: o l r a C
M
y dearest wolfies,
Hi there and Happy 2015! Welcome back to a whole new year of P.S. Positivity. It’s absolutely unbelievable to me that I’ve been on the Local Wolves team for a whole year now, time flies! I would’ve never thought that my dream of writing my own column for a magazine would become reality. I remember when starting high school I really found my passion for writing and I told all of my teachers that I’d be a writer for a magazine when I grew up. My theatre teacher probably had highest hopes for me because she once said that one day she’d see my words in Vogue! Hahaha! Little did my freshman self know is that two years down the line my dream would actually come true and that brings me to exactly what I want to talk about with you babes today. Passion and drive are two extremely important things to have in life. Without it, everyone you know and everything they’ve accomplished would be nowhere with that comes motivation. I believe that was by far the hardest thing that I had to overcome. We all have dreams and accomplishments we want to achieve, but we have to realize that we must work for it. Give it all you got and do it well. I thought ‘Well, hey, one day I’ll become a writer and I’ll be able to share my words with thousands’ but I never really took action towards it. I just kind of sat back and expected my dreams
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to come true without really showing any effort. After months of realizing that’s not the best idea I’ve ever had, I started doing something about it and by that, I mean I pushed myself to becoming successful in what I want to do. Everyone is going to run into obstacles, but you must get past it to run with the big dogs. After all, Jake the Dog from Adventure Time was right. He said and I quote, “To live a life, you need problems. If you get everything you want the minute you want it, then what’s the point of living?” So that my friends is a quote we all should live by. Self-motivation tends to be a challenge for some and I know that from personal experience. The best thing to do is step out of your comfort zone. I know what you’re thinking, “ORION. NO. ARE YOU NUTS?!” No, I’m not, trust me on this one. Challenge yourself to do things that you usually wouldn’t do because you may find something that you’re really good at. When I first decided to try out writing for pleasure, I started journaling. After doing that for a while, I decided to try something a little outside of the box. That’s when I got into writing poetry. If you told fourteen years old Orion to write a poem I probably would’ve laughed in your face because I thought it was far too intense to handle. Now, if you told eighteen years old Orion to write a
illustrations by eduardo escanear
poem, I’d have it done for you in ten minutes. I discovered a passion for piecing words together in stanzas and now I simply can’t get enough. Challenging yourself to new things can definitely push you forward into accomplishing your dreams. Another thing I’ve realized that people face when trying to reach a goal is self-doubt. THAT’S THE WORST THING YOU COULD DO TO YOURSELF! It’s true what they all say, “You’re your own worst critic,” but don’t be so hard on yourself. Doubting your ability to do something is only going to make you less motivated to finish it. Cut yourself a break and if you begin to feel like you aren’t cut for what you’re doing, don’t quit. Just continue to practice until you’re satisfied with results. If I would’ve stopped writing poetry a few years ago because I knew I’ll never be as good as Sylvia Plath or E.E Cummings, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be writing for Local Wolves nor would I be writing a poetry book today. Remember that with success comes lots of time and patience. Never compare yourself to someone you wish to be. Instead, motivate yourself to become a better (insert whatever it is you want to accomplish here). Self-doubt will get to the best of us, but don’t let it stop you from what you want to do.
Last but not least, truly believe in yourself. I know it’s a very overused thing to say, but if you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect to get anywhere? Change your attitude and remind yourself that good things will be waiting for you in the end. There may be times where others fail and give up on you, but never give up on yourself. Because when they’re gone, the only person you have is yourself. You hold all of your own strengths and determination and you MUST remember that! Keep doing you and in the end it’ll all be worth it. Until next time, see you next month.
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the bearded kitty
THE BEARDED KITTY is one of the best local shops in Orange County, California. Founded in 2003, Brice Sheehan and Jennifer Young turned their hobby into a full-time business. They first started making accessories in their garage, which later they converted into a workshop and studio space. The Bearded Kitty’s accessories range from rings, necklaces, bracelets, wallets, suspenders, and more! Both Sheehan and Young produce and design products for The Bearded Kitty. Young specializes in metal jewelry, while Sheehan constructs leather goods. She incorporates crystals, geodes, various stones, bones, and different types of metals into her jewelry. He also includes various stones, metals, and crystals into his work, but he also carves intricate designs and hand stains each leather piece. Each product is unique, eclectic and handcrafted to perfection. The best thing about The Bearded Kitty is that their prices are affordable to everyone! Their price ranges from ($10-$80) making it accessible for everyone to own something unique and special. Not only are they affordable, their accessories are versatile to all fashion seasons that both male and female wolfies will love! The Bearded Kitty’s products can be purchased at their online website at (thebeardedkitty.etsy.com). Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram and Facebook for store updates and new items. STORY + PHOTOS: LHOYCEL MARIE
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brandon depuma STORY: AMANDA FERRARESE PHOTOS: DYLAN RAZO BRANDON DEPUMA, a young photographer with an eye for dramatics and saturnine tonality, is making waves with his work and has generated a significant following. The Arizona based artist attributes a portion of his success to the opportunities presented to him in his hometown, but acknowledges that there is more to it than that. “Arizona hasn’t shaped me as much as the people from Arizona. One of my friends since eighth grade actually got me into photography and wanting to take better photos and to be more creative.” DePuma has maintained this interest in photography as he has grown, but it wasn’t until another friend persuaded him to take the craft more seriously. “My friend, Cadence got me into it one day when she forced me to stop taking stupid selfies and posting them with Instagram filters. I realized I wanted to pursue photography more when I realized I had an eye for it. I loved capturing moments.” And she was right to make him do so, because he certainly has a knack for it. DePuma manages to capture not only a moment itself, but the essence and feeling behind it, creating pictures that transcend being purely visual and evoke a deep sense of emotion. Much of his work maintains a haunting and sullen feel, probably due in part to the emotional state he is typically in while working. “The vibe I usually try to convey is moody. Most of the time when I edit pictures I usually am listening to sad and emotional music, which leaks out into the photos and makes them lean more towards the moody side.”
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Prior to this editing process, however, DePuma has a very cut and dry approach to shooting: “If it doesn’t look good to my natural eye I usually don’t lift my camera.” When composing each shot, DePuma tries his best to ensure that his photograph stays as true to his natural eye as possible. He avoids making his work feel contrived by refraining from forcing his shots. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t still strive for a certain tone or style to be reflected in his work. Initially a lot of his inspiration was drawn from Kinfolk artists, but has since used that as a jumping point for his own work. Throughout his journey as an artist, DePuma has traveled to plenty of beautiful places, capturing the allure of each
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one along the way. This past year, the young photographer got to travel to Portland for the Socality event. Not only was the opportunity an amazing learning experience, it turned out to be one of the projects DePuma is most thankful to have been part of. “Probably my favorite place to take photos was anywhere in Portland. I feel like I couldn’t take a bad photo there at all. I just picked up the camera and everything was perfect. Portland is to die for.” For fellow creatives looking to pursue photography, DePuma has some tips that he has found useful in his own journey as an artist. Most of which are deeply rooted in the belief that photography (and art in general) is about taking
risks and discovering what works best for you. No artist’s approach is the same as the next and you’ll never know what yours is until you explore your options. “The greatest advice I was ever told with photography was ‘learn the rules, then break them.’ Learn how to work your device and edit and once you get that down, do you. Learn who you are, what you like.” Outside of his photography career, DePuma is also a musician with an impressive repertoire of instruments that he can play. Although, career wise, it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for him, he still enjoys it nonetheless. “I started playing music when I was twelve so I express creativity through that as well.”
Additionally, DePuma is planning to try his hand at modeling and being on the other side of the camera for a change. Though the young artist rarely posts photos of himself on his page, he’s hoping to start posting more ‘selfies’ of himself again. “I’d love to travel all over the world and take photos, but I’d rather be in front of the camera if I’m being honest. A year from now, I’d love to be signed with an agency and possibly moved either to LA or NY. I’m not sure where I’ll be five years from now, but I would love to have a set career.” Though he doesn’t have a website yet, DePuma is planning on creating a blog very soon. In the meantime, fans can find his work on Instagram @depuma.
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pretty in pink CLOTHING: SIN // PHOTOS: KATY JOHNSON
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the reasn QUESTIONS: AMANDA FERRARESE PHOTO: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR
Local Wolves is all about supporting your local scene and staying true to your roots. That being said how do you feel your hometown has factored into your development as a musician? TR: Growing up in small town in Missouri made me who I am. I wasn’t taiented by a big city. I was exposed to old school and new music from different genres. My family influenced the music I listened to. What is the meaning behind the name, ‘The Reasn’? TR: Everything good or bad that happened to me was for a reason to lead me to where I am now and to make me who I am. When did you first become interested in music AND What motivated you to create this project? TR: Watching my mom sing in church motivated my passion for singing. I wanted to make it my career because I knew I could bring something new and fresh to the world with my music. Who influenced your sound the most? TR: I can’t say one thing or person influenced my sound. It wasn’t just musicians, it was anyone from actors to civil rights leaders to politicians and comedians. Anyone willing to stand out of the crowd had influences to my craft. Are there any songs you’ve recently released that you’re particularly fond of? TR: Every song is from something personal that I’ve seen or done. It’s hard to say I like one more than the other because they each meant a lot and something different to me when I wrote them. What has proved to be the most challenging part of putting yourself out there as a musician AND The most rewarding? TR: It’s been challenging to not be a person following trends, fads just to fit in and get noticed. Finding my sound has been most rewarding and knowing people wanna hear and those who can relate to my experiences. If you could perform with three other musicians, dead or alive, who would it be? TR: Jimi Hendrix because he knows how it feels when people don’t understand you at first, but will appreciate you later. Prince since he is the most free artist I’ve ever seen on stage. James Brown because I’d like the feeling of having to step up my performance to keep up with someone.
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bakkuda BAKKUDA FOR GALACTIC PRESIDENT 2015 In review, 2014 was a “year of firsts” for San Diego based artist, Alex Capella. She traveled across the U.S. playing shows in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York. Her music traversed the airwaves in San Diego and she was even interviewed by radio personality, Tim Pyles of 94/9. I recently caught up with Alex to get the scoop behind her project, BAKKUDA. Alex is a person with a “create something today, even if it sucks” attitude. She’s constantly at work, perfecting her music down to the last note. This characteristic has helped her gain some notoriety which has pushed her further into the music scene as an independent creator; which is not something to brush off. “I’m convinced you have to be slightly crazy to try and break into the music industry,” Capella states, attributing it to the competitive nature of the industry. STORY: JACOB KARRE PHOTOS: KATY JOHNSON
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“I would love for my music to inspire emotion in people. Whether it makes you feel sad or empowered or happy or whatever.” What is even more fascinating about Bakkuda, is that she creates all of her music completely on her own. “It’s just me in my room with my equipment. My music is all electronic and created with plugins, and sometimes random sounds I record myself, so basically all the instrumentation gets recorded as I’m writing the song and then I go and record vocals later and mix/master all the tracks myself. It’s truly a solo project to the core.” Last year, Capella released her first EP on Soundcloud, a selftitled, 5 track, full of spatial arrangements garnering powers from across the universe. Her music has been described as “galactic synth beats and powerful lyrics woven with catchy melodies and sweet, ethereal harmonies.” (Bakkuda, Soundcloud) So, if you’re into alternative electronica with a galactic touch, her EP is one to check out. I recommend the opening track “Luxe” to start off with. She does hope that her music evokes some emotion in her listeners, stating: “I would love for my music to inspire emotion in people. Whether it makes you feel sad or empowered or happy or whatever. Also because of a lot of the feminist type messages of my lyrics, I hope people, especially young girls and women, can find a likeminded
friend in my music. Especially if they’re feeling down about an unfortunately sexist encounter they’ve experienced.” Bakkuda, is music of a movement. “I want them (fans) to know they’re not alone in knowing there is still work to be done in that department and we can change it together.” If anything at all, this is what Capella wishes her music can do for others. Along with a unique musical style, she has an interesting taste in fashion, which plays a big role in her artistic persona. “I like looking at Japanese street fashion blogs a lot and I love the new “street luxe” style. When I was in NYC this past summer, I got so inspired by seeing all the different styles walking the streets. I was thinking, “They’re real! They exist outside of the internet!” Capella laughs remembering the occasion in New York. Overall, Capella hopes 2015 has all of the elements of 2014 but “x 1000.” She doesn’t have any concrete plans just yet, but sees herself releasing a new EP along with touring more in different cities. All this, while trying to achieve a goal of hers by visiting The World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida and “possibly refuse to leave and just live there forever.”
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ferras STORY: SHAWN MULCAHY // PHOTOS: RACHEL EPSTEIN
Pursuing your dreams and staying true to your heart are two things that singer, Ferras truly believes in. His passion for music and his dedication to his craft are evident in his songs. Ferras has always loved music. He remembers singing into a hairbrush in front of the mirror and writing songs in his head during class. Even from an early age, he knew music was his life. He found his way to a record deal but following a change in staff, Ferras was dropped from the label. He was devastated at the time, stating that it was one of the worst things that happened to him. “I THINK IT’S SOMETHING THAT WAS IN ME AND WAS ALWAYS BURNING,” HE SAID. “I DON’T HAVE ANOTHER OPTIONS, IT’S WHAT I DO.” However, instead of accepting defeat and giving up, Ferras stayed adamant and continued to follow his passion. He views giving up as the easy way out, and he likes a challenge. He states, “I’m the kind of person that if I get told no or a door gets slammed, I will go knock it down.” Furthermore, he goes on to say “all the mistakes that you make in life will help to make you become who you are.” He simplifies this to three simple things: be honest, authentic, and be yourself. The determination and perseverance showed would soon pay off. He continued to create music, even writing songs for stars like Adam Lambert and Ricky Martin. In addition, Katy Perry, whom he had befriended during his time with his previous record label, told Ferras of her plans to launch her own record label, Metamorphosis Music. She also told Ferras that he was to be the first artist she signed. When asked if there was any skepticism about signing with Metamorphosis Music, he responded “Katy is one of my best friends and has massive success so if I was going to trust anyone it would be her.” He admits that there is always some tension and nervousness when entering into a record deal, but states that “having someone like Katy in your corner is definitely better than not having someone in your corner.” His lyrics have been regarded by many as very genuine and real, rather than the subpar content released by many of today’s artists. His secret? “I try to be honest with my lyrics, to make it real, and be very blunt.” He strives to create something that people can connect with and can feel themselves. Recently, he toured with Katy Perry on her world tour. “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to share what you do and see people responding to it – it’s a high.” He loves traveling, and describes the experience thus far as being “intense and insane.” He loves connecting with fans and bringing his music to new people. Ferras hopes to continue with his dreams and to broaden his horizons even more. He hopes to one day create his own clothing and perfume lines, and to own a vintage store. Some of Ferras’s favorite local places in L.A. are: Café Gratitude on Largemont, The Nice Guy, Chateau Marmont, Wasteland, Wild Style, Opening Ceremony, and Venice Beach.
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ILLUSTRATION: JAIMUS TAILOR
#innovation “But innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10:30 at night with a new idea, or because they realized something that shoots holes in how we’ve been thinking about a problem.” – STEVE JOBS “We cannot solve problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – ALBERT EINSTEIN “If you’re not failing every now and again it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.” – WOODY ALLEN
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wolfie submissions We often sight famous icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Martin Luther King as true inspirations. However, we almost always miss out the closest people in our lives. Despite this, we forget a kind hearted and lovely person. This individual with a gentle soul slips our mind. We ignore this beautiful human being. We forget ourselves. We don’t inspire ourselves. We are all guilty of it but it is extremely important that we do. Whatever it is that inspires you, I urge you to do it. Shout it out from the mountains. Tell everyone you know. Dream BIG. Once you have inspired yourself, inspiration will ooze out of your pores. You will begin to infect others with this delightful disease and they in turn will be inspired. So remember, INSPIRE YOURSELF! Don’t forget to praise yourself. Be confident and happy with your achievements. Be proud of your beauty and be true to yourself. Be an inspiration to others because if you take everything away, that’s what we are as humans - inspirational. Truly. Undoubtedly. Genuinely. Inspirational. So to answer the question ‘what inspires me?’ My family inspire me. My friends inspire me. I inspire myself. – RACHEL CHELLAPAH FROM LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM If there is nothing that mankind stops at, it’s innovating. We’re constantly reinventing ideas and making new ones based on what inspires us. Inspiration is based upon the things we enjoy, the things that feed our souls, and things that we will remember even when we’re old and gray. Personally I draw inspiration for my stories from other works of art, whether it be another novel or a photograph that just happened to catch my eye. I use them as building blocks just as people use only twenty-six basic letters learned in their childhood to string together complex poetry. However, by the time my story is complete, although it is founded on the basics of a concept, it is now a fully-fledged idea on its own; something new and terrifying to a world that fears change. Every innovation came into the world as something
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that people feared because it represented that the world as they knew it was going to change with or without them, but there will always be fear of the unknown. It’s just that the things unknown usually turn out to be the most beautiful. – MICHELLE TRAN FROM MOUNT LAUREL, NEW JERSEY Let’s everyone take a moment this evening and go outside at around. Now, look up. See the sky? Does the sunset inspire you? Do the amazing colors and textures create butterflies in your stomach? If so, you and I could be quite similar in our artistic interests. Sunset. I’m in love with every aspect of the word. Sun: a giant ball of light that keeps the Earth and everything on it nice and cozy. Set: Something you put in a certain place. So basically, the sunset is a cozy ball of light set in just the right spot, casting long shadows and a gentle light. I feel like the sunset is so inspiring. You know that it will disappear for only a short amount of time and that you’ll be able to see it again in a little while. That makes me look forward to at least one thing for the rest of the day. That gives me hope. The sunset is such a beautiful variety of colors. I believe a certain amount of people have a bit of the sunset in their souls. Different shades of pink and orange speckled across their eyes and you can just tell, that person has hope within them. Those kinds of people have inspired my thoughts on the sunset. Everybody should try to find a little bit of the sunset in someone. I bet you can think of someone right now, yeah? Because I’m definitely thinking of you. – LILYRUTH SMILEY FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH Our world is swarmed by the notion of innovation. What’s the next big thing? Who will be the next big thing? While some are desperately racking their brains for an innovative idea that could perhaps change the course of their life, others already have the influence and the power to use their innovative thoughts to change the world. Innovation
O UR REA D ERS TALK A B O UT # INN O V ATI O N . W HAT IS IT , W HAT INSPIRES THEM , AN D M O RE .
by definition is the act of introducing something new. However, perhaps the seed of innovation is planted when a person begins to step outside of their individual comfort zone. A simple job application, risking moving coasts in order to follow your dreams, or even starting a blog from your home one night and turning it into a business; these simple undertakings are risky. Acts such as these are not the norm and no, not everybody has the courage and not everybody even has the drive to start their life promptly rather than apprehensively awaiting the next step. But everybody has the opportunity to, and that is exactly what separates the trailblazers from the traditional, the CEOs from those who wish to be, and the innovators from those who criticize them. – MICHELLE REECE FROM WILMINGTON, DELAWARE Inspiration can be found in so many forms. It manifests itself in so many situations. If you just take a look at the people around you I’m sure your surroundings are full of innovation and inspiration waiting to be discovered. There are so many innovative young people out there in the world today and with all these different outlets of media they are able to share their ideas and experiences at the drop of a hat. I find innovation to be a very inspirational concept. It comes from a place of courage, courage to put yourself and your ideas out into the world to be either embraced or looked over. Then the courage to keep going even if there is a little bump in the road. When you see someone, whether that person is in the same field as your interest is or not, that has made their idea become a reality can spark a flame inside you. A flame that inspires you to go after your own dream or idea. If they can do it what’s to say you can’t work hard to make your dreams a reality. One of the best things about inspiration is when the hard work, happiness and success of others inspires you to be the best version of yourself and to choose your own path to
happiness and success. My story is that I have always sat on the sidelines and admired others for following their dreams. I always thought, wow I am so inspired by what this person has achieved but I never did anything with that inspiration. Now I have decided to stop sitting and start working for my dreams and submitting these thoughts is one of my steps in doing so. – KATRÍN INGA ELDRED FROM REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND Inspiration is a powerful feeling that one can receive and give to others. And many know the well-known saying “pass it on” the random act of kindness you do for strangers. This past September of 2014 I got to combine both of these to make a huge impact on a girl’s life that I had never even met. I attended Ed Sheeran’s Multiply Tour where I managed to catch his guitar pick and set list at the end of his performance. When I turned around I saw a girl who hadn’t caught anything and seemed devastated. I walked up to her instantly and offered her the set list saying that I had the guitar pick and wanted her to have a treasure too. To see the smile on her face was all that was needed. I realized in that moment that if the situation was reversed that I would have wanted someone to think like that for me. It’s all about actions that spark reactions. I may never know the girl who I gave the list too, but I will know that I brought happiness and inspiration for her to “pass it on” later in life. Inspiration is what drives our passions and gives us the chance to make a difference. Connections are formed, memories made, and most importantly the knowledge that greater things are too come. Some of the best things in life are fueled from this. It’s crazy how even the worst times can later create the best and most beautiful pieces of art and lifestyle. Always take advantage of the inspiration thrown at you in life because inspiration leads to innovation, the spark of new ideas. – RAEGAN A. BRIZEK FROM CHAPIN, SOUTH CAROLINA
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ella grace denton STORY: LYDIA SNAPPER PHOTOS: DUNJA OPALKO
ELLA GRACE DENTON is not perfect, but that’s what makes her so fascinating. She’s human; she takes risks, makes mistakes, has days when nothing is going her way, and days when everything is. She lives her life outside of the lines; her existence built on dreams, wanderlust, and a sincere belief that “anything is possible if you want it bad enough.” In early 2014, Denton launched her lifestyle blog called “WE NEED TO LIVE MORE.” She explained that when she was first building her blog, she envisioned it as a place for encouragement. Taking on an almost quasi-older sister role, she says that she hoped to reach a younger generation and help them to find adventure, what they love, experience real emotion, and make connections. She says, “I wanted it to be an online space for honesty, humor and innovative living.” With the mentality of not supporting something unless you truly believe in it, Denton constantly enriches her personal life with these very qualities. For example, after finishing school, she took a gap year and embarked on a solo eight month adventure on the other side of the world. Although leaving your friends, family, boyfriend and home at just eighteen paints the image of a fearless individual that is not to say that Denton’s travels were all picture-esq. She reflects on her time abroad, saying “I would say the most challenging part was being away, in a hot country like Australia for Christmas. I know that might not sound challenging but being from the UK, Christmas time is a time for snow, snuggling up by the fire and being with family. I had none of those things!”
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“I want to have an impact on the world, on people and their lives and make a real change. I’m still working on it.”
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However, even with the unfamiliar and altered atmosphere of her surroundings, she didn’t limit herself from fully engaging in all that the opportunity had to offer her. She describes one of her favorite memories as an evening in Byron Bay, a small hippy beach town on the east coast of Australia, where she lived alone for four weeks. She remembers on that night she had decided to wander around and see what was going on, which is when met two boys from Germany. She says, “After about thirty minutes I ended up arm in arm with these two guys, both my age, whom I didn’t even know the names of, feeling totally at ease and happy, being lost and anonymous. From town we walked with no sense of where we were going, no end destination, just talking. We suddenly found ourselves faced with a hill of sand, so we climbed it and as we reached the top we looked down on the beach, and we were speechless. There, sitting on the sand in a circle around a fire was a bunch of young people. Some were talking, some singing, some looking at the stars. We walked down the hill, still hand in hand and silently sat with these people from all over the world, all walks of life, without any question of who we were or why we joined in. I stayed until sunrise, and although I’ll probably never see those people again I feel blessed for that evening.” Denton shares that her time spent traveling taught her what it meant to be independent and that it opened her eyes, and heart, to all the possibilities that life had to offer. With a better understanding of herself and the world, she found herself determined to find a place where she could share herself, wholly and honestly. Prior to her travels, she had tried her hand at YouTube, but quickly found that although it worked for many around her, personally, that wasn’t the right platform for her. She clarifies, citing her eye opening experience at the UK’s Summer In The City. She says, “the level of hysteria at the event really worried me and I guess you could say it was the catalyst of my departure from YouTube. I want to spend my life inspiring others to live their lives to the fullest, find their passions and pursue them. I felt that YouTube gave young people a dangerous kind of escapism, they didn’t just follow these YouTube celebs, but they live for them, and live through them. Not to say all content on YouTube is like this but I really think it is important our focus is on inspiring productivity rather than creating unhealthy and unproductive obsession.” Following this realization she admits the period between YouTube and WNTLM was a challenging time. She elucidates, explaining that “after a year of trying and crying, I finally realized that all that I really needed to do was to find a new space, my own space, that I could love and nurture and really feel proud of. That is where ‘We Need To Live More’ came in. It’s not a statement claiming that those who follow what I do online should live like me. It’s a statement to inspire.”
As planned at the blog’s conception, Denton is completely candid with her readers. Instead of exclusively discussing the positive aspects of life, she talks about her life as whole including posts on personal insecurities, a debate on if university is where she belongs, and the complications that can come from a long distance relationship. After asking if she is ever nervous about sharing these types of posts with potentially millions of strangers, she makes the point that if she’s not going to do it, then who is? She goes on to say, “I think honesty and vulnerability are the most beautiful things. We are all the same deep down, sometimes it just takes one person to connect the hearts and minds of thousands.” And connect them, she does. On various social media as well as on the blog itself, a community has formed around WNTLM. Denton shares that she gets emails daily from people her age who follow the blog and want to share with her their own struggles and inspirations in the way that she does with them. Humbly, she says, “I can’t say I do a whole lot, but as long as I’m touching people enough for them to reach out, I have faith I’m on a good path.” Although a portion of the blog is confidently personal, WNTLM isn’t just a public diary. Denton says that one of her goals when creating this space was to use her platform to help give a voice to those who lack one. She says, “if I genuinely believe in something; a brand, a product, a person. I feature it. I want to share the good in this world.” Unfortunately, with a venture such as a blog, there will people who don’t quite get it, something Denton experienced first hand especially when experimenting with YouTube. There will be people who criticize and try to lessen your efforts and achievements, which can be unnerving for some. However, Denton advises that even so, that shouldn’t prevent you from trying something. Passionately, she says “you’ve got to just keep in mind with every risk you take; why you’re taking it, why you started doing what you do and how it’s going to benefit your future. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. WNTLM was the best risk I’ve ever taken and I would urge everyone to do what they truly want to do in their hearts and, excuse my French, but ‘f*ck the haters’”. The blog, which Denton describes as a “little seed that is sprouting into a beautiful, fully-functional flower” still, has plenty of room to grow and transform, which is part of what makes an online community so breathtaking. As is to be expected of a creative and ambitious individual, she has set plans and ideas for WNTLM in the coming year. However, she admits that in the end, the main goal is to simply to inspire her readers, saying “I want to have an impact on the world, on people and their lives and make a real change. I’m still working on it.”
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get to know: ella + FAVORITE MUSICIAN: I’m loving Tigers in the Sky at the moment! (who I found through Local Wolves, funnily enough!) + FAVORITE FOOD: Cantaloupe Melon. + FAVORITE STORE: Lusting over FreeBird boots at the moment. + FAVORITE MOVIE: It’d have to be Forrest Gump. + FAVORITE QUOTE: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
+ BLOGGER CRUSH: She’s not a blogger but my human crush at the moment would be Aleksandra Zee – Google her.
+ FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT: I have a Saturday food market next door to my home, always hits the spot and I love supporting local companies.
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taylor-ann hasselhoff At twenty-four years old, Taylor-Ann Hasslehoff is taking the family name to a new level. With experience in front of, and behind the camera, she has been no stranger to the scene ever since she was just a child. “I grew up watching my dad on screen,” says Taylor-Ann, daughter of Baywatch star David Hasslehoff, “So I’m actually more comfortable when the cameras are rolling.” As for her experience growing under the limelight, Hasselhoff has only good things to say about it. She was able to spend her weekends at the beach and despite his superstar status, she even called The Hoff, “a great soccer dad!” As for her recent endeavors in 2014, Hasselhoff found herself in front of the camera hosting “Bellus TV,” which gave viewers an inside look at Bellus Magazine’s exclusive interviews focusing on top notch names in music, film, fashion, and the pop culture world. With guests like, Gregg Sulkin, Cameron Monaghan and Melanie Martinez, Hasslehoff displays her charismatic personality and professional approach in front of the camera for Bellus TV. Her efforts don’t stop there, though. Hasselhoff has recently been working on a special documentary that’s taken her around the world. As the producer, director, and editor, she has devoted her last six months to following her father’s life on camera. Working behind the camera, she hopes to not only show viewers the reality of what it’s like being a worldwide entertainer, but one who’s brand can stand the test of time. The documentary focuses on her father’s life, and how he took whatever steps were necessary to accomplish his dream. The filming has taken her all over the world, allowed her to meet new people, and called for her to step out of her comfort zone. She says it is her first time shooting for an extended period of time, but the experience was incredible. “It’s been a journey to say the least,” says Hasselhoff. “I’m blessed to have been given the opportunity to tell a story I hope will inspire others to follow their dreams.” The documentary is scheduled to hit the festival circuit in 2015, and Hasslehoff hopes that the film will shine a light on the age old virtue of never giving up. “I want people to remember that it is never easy to be viewed by millions of people everyday so to be able to share the truth will be awesome,” She told us about her hopes for the reception.
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Hasselhoff may seem like she had her hands full this past year, but that didn’t hold her back from her other burning ideas. With an historic passion for singing, Hasslehoff has made her way back into the studio with producer Mario Marchetti who’s worked with names like Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez, and the Black Eyed Peas. “It calms me,” says Hasselhoff about the writing process, “and it helps clear my mind and bring me back to Earth.” Fans can expect to see a single, and subsequent music video, out in early 2015. She is in the studio working hard, and hopes to release an entire album before the end of the year. In addition to following her musical passion, she recently constructed a television pilot, which focuses on the stories of inspiring young entrepreneurs, that she is currently shopping to major networks. “It’s my baby,” she says about the pilot, which she hopes will inspire young people with a passion to follow their dreams. She tells us that being around so many creative minds that have followed their passion and made their dream become reality has inspired her to want to share those stories and hopefully urge the younger generations to “follow their dreams, and get peoples creativity flowing.”
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Hasslehoff is certainly trying to break through and make a difference within the entertainment world, but her efforts don’t stop there. As a down to earth star, she takes charity very seriously, working regularly with organizations such as The Los Angeles Mission, Wildlife Learning Center, and Wheels for Humanity. “Everyone deserves to be heard,” Hasselhoff told us about her experience with volunteering, and she loves being able to talk to the people she helps. Additionally, she feels strongly about animal charities, and urges everyone to adopt or volunteer at their local shelter. Hasselhoff advocates charity saying, “it is super important, it humbles you and is an experience that everyone must do for their own soul!” Taylor-Ann is a native to Los Angeles and calls both Skybar and Good Times at Davey Wayne’s her go to spots. STORY: HUDSON Luthringshausen PHOTOS: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR CLOTHING: LF Abbot kinney STYLING: SOPHIE BERNARD H/MUA: Xochil Pintor
hey jude shop Vintage shopping is a challenge, featuring a lot of hunt and often little reward. Finding the perfect piece can be a chore, and hard to weed out from the piles of clothes filling up thrift stores. HEY JUDE founders Lauren and Lyndsey recognized this, and the idea for the store was born. The duo met after moving to Vancouver from their respective hometowns, and bonded over their similar taste in fashion and music. They decided early on that they wanted to open a shop together, and Hey Jude was born shortly thereafter. What began as a side project has become a full time shop specializing in curated vintage pieces and other finds. “Our friends started asking us to help them with finding cool vintage pieces, and it hit us that we could do the hard work for people,” they say, “We present our finds in a modern, minimalist boutique setting rather than a crammed vintage shop.” In addition to displaying cute clothes, they also follow the eco-fashion model. Fresh off an appearance at Toronto Eco-Fashion Week, the shop is committed to the idea of eco-fashion. They say that they believe that there is so much good vintage clothing that can be reworked. In order to do this, they look at the fabric quality of past garments to determine their ability to be changed, and then transform them into modern, tend forward pieces. “We hope to encourage more people to shop vintage, and realize that they too can have a positive impact on the environment and still be fashionable.”
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In addition to their booming online business, Hey Jude also operates through a series of pop up shops. Through this model, they are able to test their products and create an environment not tied to a lease. This is an important aspect in the growth of Hey Jude, for they are able to try out different concepts without being committed to a storefront. For their next collection, they’re looking forward to stocking pieces with graphic checks and pinstripes, featuring hints of androgyny. Hey Jude’s Vancouver roots has played a huge role in its growth. Since Vancouver is known as a tough place to “break in” to, it has been important for Lauren and Lyndsey to connect with other businesses and prove themselves. “Vancouver has an amazing entrepreneurial vibe, so that’s definitely shaped our journey over the last couple of years by being supported by a community of start up companies just like us” they say. “Of course, the nature and beauty of the city makes it an inspiring place to be as well!” Check out Hey Jude online at heyjudeshop.com or be on the look out for one of their upcoming pop up shops. STORY: SYDNEY CLARKE PHOTOS: GLORIA WONG & VIVIAN KU
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jack dean STORY: ALEXANDRA SOUTHERST PHOTOS: PHILLIPP AMMON
Interviewer. Comedian. Youtuber. Three words that can be found in the banner photo of Jack Dean’s YouTube channel, Jaack. This Brit modestly describes himself as a “normal twenty one years old” who makes YouTube videos, plays football (we’re talking soccer), parties on the weekends, and works hard during the week doing a “very abnormal job.” While Dean’s sense of humor is his shining quality, he also is quite the activist. Although the majority of his videos have a comedic overtone, many of them also address more serious issues including his most notably, the Hundreds For Homeless initiative. As if that weren’t enough, Dean can add the title philanthropist to his description as evident by his work with the homeless. In 2014, Jack launched a Hundreds For Homeless initiative through which he asked subscribers to donate whatever they could to reach a £1,000 goal. This money was then distributed to ten homeless people who Dean had interviewed. Not only was the project a success, but the goal amount was surpassed in only three hours. As an additional part of the project, Dean decided to donate 100% of ad revenue from the video to the homeless. All of this was inspired by a homeless couple who Dean met on a routine train trip. A few months later around Christmas time, he recreated the video and instead of handing out money, gave out gift bags containing blankets, jackets, sleeping bags, chocolate and soda. These videos served to show how even the smallest action can make a colossal impact in the life of someone less fortunate than ourselves. On a more comedic note, Dean is also a chart topping recording rapper! His song “Hip To Be A Hipster,” reached number one on the iTunes charts within only six hours of being released. The song and video can’t be fully appreciated through words alone so I highly suggest that you take a trip to the wonderful world of YouTube to bask in the glory of hipsterdom. So far we’ve covered the “Youtuber,” “Comedian” and “Philanthropist” aspects of Dean but where does “Interviewer” come into play? Well, Jack’s channel includes a mini series named “Jaack’s Chat” where he interviews celebrities, viners and youtubers like Leona Lewis, DapperLaughs and Lee Nelson. I nstead of the run of the mill interviews that we all see day in and day out, he truly brings his personality into the room and gets to know the interviewee through jokes and funny exchanges. Like all great YouTube channels, Dean had to start somewhere. He got his inspiration from wildly popular youtuber, Charlie McDonnell, better known as CharlieIsSoCoolLike. In his own words, Jack explains Charlie’s influence, “I used to watch him all the time, I remember his old school videos about ‘how to make a cup of tea’ and the ‘wine gum experiment’ and despite how simple the videos were,
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CONT’D they were genuinely really entertaining and since being the class clown at school, I’ve always wanted a platform to entertain, and I guess Charlie just showed me that anyone can do it.” Creating, operating and growing a YouTube channel has its challenges but even more exciting are the rewards which Dean describes, “When I first started, I thought numbers were everything. Every 1,000 subscribers would be a new milestone for me. But as I’ve been on YouTube for over five years, I’ve now learnt that experience is much more rewarding than numbers. I’d have to say being invited to London’s Leicester Square to interview movie stars on the red carpet was definitely a real exciting moment.” “But 2014 in general has been my greatest accomplishment, just everybody I’ve met, and had the pleasure of working with. It’s opened a lot of doors for me.” Looking toward the future, we wanted to know if he had any dream future collaborations in mind and he definitely didn’t disappoint with quite the list, “For my celebrity interview series, I’d love to get the chance to chat to comedians Tim Minchin and Joe Wilkinson or Karl Pilkington. Musically, I’d love to grab The Front Bottoms, Jamie T and Ben Howard. But for me, the two guests I’d love more than any, would be Ricky Gervais who is a big inspiration to me, and the Kings of
CONT’D Leon. As far as YouTube collaborations go, I’m a fan of ItsAMeMyleo, Jack Howard and Jimmy0010, so any of those would be a fun one.” Now for a quick fire round. Attending any US events? “Definitely attending Playlist one day.” Favorite video of his? “Any of my Jaack’s Chat interview series or my Hundreds For Homeless project.” If not a youtuber, what would he be? “I’ve always wanted to venture into the world of acting, and I don’t think I’m half bad. So perhaps that? My friend Nick Nevern is a big film director here in the UK, and I’ve been chatting with him about having a small cameo in his next release. That’s an exciting prospect.” Any tips for aspiring youtubers? “Don’t do what I did and worry too much about numbers. Create content you’re proud to share, and happy to make, and if you do it to the best of your ability, the numbers should take care of themselves.” Favorite youtubers? “Loads, the three I’ve already mentioned are of course some of my favourites, Jack, Myles and Jimmy. However, my favourite YouTuber ever has TOP: to be TIKI Chris SS Kendell (Crabstickz), he’s been WOVEN cracking me upBOTTOM: for years!” FALKON PANT
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NÖME QUESTIONS: JACOB KARRE PHOTOS: AMANDA HARLE
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2014 seems like it flew by. In retrospect, how was this year for the members of NÖME? K: It actually has flown by, it’s gone so quick! I have loved this past year, the band has come into its own in so many respects. I feel our live show is going from strength to strength, and I’m so excited about our new material. J: Playing a sold out show at The Camden Barfly in London was a real highlight for us too, we’ve always wanted to play there. R: Working in the studio with Darren Lawson was an amazing experience, we went in the week after U2 left so that was a bit crazy. Then working with The Killers’ Danny Drysdale on our video for “Eagle” that was also real fun. We’re super proud of what we’ve achieved this year off our own backs, it feels good. Personally, my biggest achievement is probably learning a little bit of patiencenothing comes easy and waiting just that little bit longer can actually prove to be the making of some opportunities.
Was there a lot of traveling this past year? J: We’re all Londoners, so we get around the city a lot for hometown shows alone. There’s always some cool places you come across then (or not so cool). R: Going to NYC for the first time this year was cool, I actually fell in love with the place. I went to see CBGB but it was shut down. I had no idea, so spent about a day looking for Debbie Harry’s toilet. Our band trademark is catching the London Underground with a drum kit, the British stiff upper lip really comes out to play then. G: Our video locations were pretty amazing too, one was a bombed out church from the Second World War that was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It was beautiful. K: No. 42 Coffee Junction in Old Street is a really good coffee shop, and ‘the bagel shop’ in Shoredtich as well. Being band mates, what is one thing that you all collectively learned by working with one another? R: We’re learning to listen to each other almost subconsciously. For instance when we’re on stage and I don’t even have to turn around to let Kayleigh know what I’m thinking, she just knows already because of the situation. That’s pretty cool. I think we’re all naturally quite strong minded and we work well as a team best when we meet in the middle. I’m so stubborn that I probably drive them all crazy sometimes, but that’s what it’s all about. Different personalities end up creating different musical ideas and then it gets chucked into this huge melting pot and you have a ‘sound.’ G: Trying out musical ideas and avenues in order to get the best version of any song we write, it’s always fascinating to see where some songs end up. Explain the feeling after releasing a new single, such as with the band’s newest, “Eagle.” K: Huge excitement. We write our music in order to connect with and move others, so seeing this in action after months of prep is a reward in itself. There’s always an eagerness to play our new stuff live. R: It’s a good feeling, especially when quite often you’ve had the song in the bank for a while. I wrote the chorus for “Eagle” over three years ago, it wasn’t until I found the verses that it all made sense. Sometimes when we play it live, I have this flashback to me writing it. I had no idea at the time what it would become, the original version would be unrecognizable now. I always think ‘what if I hadn’t pressed record that time? G: We love sharing what we have with the world and we always want to give more, that’s what drives us. If you could go back in time, would you do anything differently IN 2014? R: You know I probably wouldn’t actually, I am proud of where we are now and all we have learned this year has come from hard work and feeling our way through the darkness. Everything you’ve ever done puts your feet where they are right now. If you’re happy with that place, then your past is just your route here. I feel more confident as each day goes by, and that really has to be a gradual thing for me otherwise I get cocky. G: Not really no, one thing we have learned is that everything falls in to place if you ‘work hard and be nice to people.’ That’s a quote from a poster up in the studio we worked in. J: We always learn from any negative experiences and turn them in to things that make us stronger as a band.
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With the previous holiday season, do things start slowing down for the band Or do you press onward? K: The band has picked up a lot of momentum in the last few months and its important we capitalise on that and keep rehearsing, writing, performing and connecting with our fans in new and creative ways, regardless of the season and the temptation to hibernate! R: We never slow! I like to crack the whip 24/7, but we do end up taking take some downtime over Christmas, maybe a week or so. I just love everything about the holidays so it’ll be nice to rest up a bit. We did have a little Christmas treat up our sleeves to say thanks to our fans before the year was over though, that’s really exciting at the moment getting that all ready. J: Keep your eyes peeled on our YouTube channel for that. What has been the greatest adventure of 2014? K: Watching our live shows go from strength to strength- beginning the year with 20/30 people crammed in to small London bars and finishing it with sold out 200 capacity venues like The Dublin Castle. Plus hearing our music reaching over the Atlantic to new ears in the States and beyond, that has been a great journey. G: Playing at Decom festival in London was an adventure, there were actually naked people in the audience for that one.
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What was the best memory the band shared IN 2014? R: I would have to say our time in the studio, we had one week to knock out six tracks in one of the best studio’s in the world. Bono’s megaphone was on the wall next to me when we were comping my vocals, we grew into different people that week. We had to though, suddenly it all got very real for us. G: Yeah, Darren our producer was amazing, the contestant rolling jokes with him were great. What is your goal you’d like to achieve this year? R: Bringing out an album next year and getting a record deal are top of the list. I want us to be the biggest band we can be, and I feel like we have got a lot to give the world. Confidence and arrogance are divided by a fine line, but I believe we have the power to do some great things in our career. I need to do more exercise, I eat too much bacon and cake to be as lazy as I am. G: We have new music in the tank at the moment that we’re scheduling for release in spring 2015, we’re looking forward to showing that off. K: I think my New Year’s resolution for the band has to be for us to continue to play stadium sized shows regardless of the room we are in. J: Performing at some major festivals and doing some shows stateside too, we’ve just got the ball rolling on the festivals.
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cody simpson CODY SIMPSON, the rising Australian star, has recently shot his way closer to the top by collaborating with the one and only Justin Bieber to write and produce a new song. It is titled “Home to Mama� and really hit home with most of his fans. He and Bieber share a manager in Scooter Braun, though Simpson has recently unsigned from Atlantic Records and is now on his own accord. He simply cited the record split on creative differences, and for the moment, is just doing his own thing. Look out for new music from Cody this year. He is one of our top artists to watch in 2015! STORY: KAMRIN BAKER PHOTOS: SAMANTHA EISENBERG
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shawn mendes STORY: HUDSON Luthringshausen PHOTOS: TALIA AZADIAN
From signing up for Vine to signing a contract with Island Records, sixteen year old Shawn Mendes has made quite the impression on the big stage. In under two years, the Canadian singer/songwriter established his presence earning the right as the youngest artist to have a debut single single in the Top 25 of the Billboard Top 100 Chart, touring alongside Austin Mahone, and winning a Teen Choice Award. Since debuting his first single, Mendes has released The Shawn Mendes EP, and most recently his new single, “Something Big.” We got the chance to sit down with Shawn and ask him a handful of questions, beginning with his influences during writing. “When I write music in New York, I write differently than when I write in LA, and in LA, I write differently than when I write in Pickering,” said Mendes about whether or not growing up in Canada had any influence on his style of music. “Wherever I am I feel I have a different style,” he added. Despite his many influences, Mendes could not choose any one favorite song he’s written. “They’re like my children,” he laughed. “I have a love for all of them in different way.” As a native to Pickering, Canada when we asked Mendes about his favorite local spot he named Jack Astor’s. “They just put a new one in my little city, and I gotta go there all the time, every time I go out to dinner with my friends. It’s my favorite restaurant,” he said, and went on to strongly recommend his followers stop in for a bite themselves. Before 2014 was up, Mendes released his second single, “Something Big,” which earned a spot on both the US and Canadian Billboard Charts. The single was released alongside a music video which currently has over five million views on YouTube. “While I was writing the song, I was thinking of what I wanted the video to be,” said Mendes about the concept and inspiration for his video, “at first I wanted it to be sort of like the music is making people, who are dead on life doing every day activities, wake up. What I was trying to show was ‘this song will wake you up.’” The video featuring an upbeat Mendes and a crew of dancers has over 160,00 likes. “It was fun to do,” he laughed. “I danced a little in it.” With 2014 successfully wrapped, Mendes and his fans have a lot to look forward this year. He recently announced his plans to join Taylor Swift on her 1989 Tour alongside Vance Joy, but we wanted to know what else he had in store for the year ahead. “An album,” he told us. “One hundred percent an album release, and maybe go to Asia,” he mentioned afterward.
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As far as collaborations go, Mendes doesn’t have a huge history, only appearing alongside The Vamps band on their track “Oh Cecillia.” He has a busy year already planned, but was certain that if he could collaborate with any artist it would be Eminem. “As weird as that sounds, cause I’m not his style at all, I’m obsessed with him and he’s a massive inspiration for the way I write my music,” said Mendes on Eminem who he called, “the best song writer in the world.” Despite few collaborations, Mendes has, himself, gained a huge following and presence with his music and talent. “I like it when things are real,” he told us about being a new artist. “WHEN PEOPLE ACT REAL AROUND ME, WHEN THE MUSIC IS REAL, WHEN NOTHING IS A SHOW, THAT’S THE COOLEST PART OF ME.” From touring to being in the studio, the sixteen year old has learned a lot about himself including his love for the A minor. “I like hearing guitar and piano, and that’s it. I like when everything is in A minor key,” he laughed. As a young, up and coming artist, Shawn has had a whirlwind of a year in 2014. “I’ve done a lot of things this past year that were amazing,” he said when we asked about his best experience. “It’s hard to think of just one thing.” Even though he is young, Mendes still recognizes the realities of touring and how stressful it can get at times. As a workaholic himself, he has found that the best way to keep producing to his full potential is to make time for rest and relaxation.
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