mad sounds
JANUARY 2017
a publication for the young and daring
new beginnings ISSUE NO. 20
drumaq
mad sounds a publication for the young and daring
Giselle Melendres Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director, & Designer madsoundsmagazine@gmail.com Contributing Writers Brindy Francis, Emily Zheng, Justin Tilton, Zoe Allen Contributing Photographers Brandon Sapp, Taylor Schroeder, Jordan Worthy, Kaija Xiao A Special Thanks To.... Drew Macdonald, Brandon Sapp, Emily June, Kaija Xiao, Paige Lorentzen, Ashley Ballard, Chalisa Singh, Jordan Worthy, & Taylor Schroeder
ON THE COVER Photography by Brandon Sapp Featuring Drew Macdonald
stay rad, stay mad @madsoundsmag www.madsoundsmagazine.com @madsoundsmag
contents
photography by BRANDON SAPP featuring DREW MACDONALD
introduction 009 a letter from the editor editorials 010 shimmer & shine by TAYLOR SCHROEDER 026 seeing through you by JORDAN WORTHY written 036 & feels me too by ZOE ALLEN 038 forced change by JUSTIN TILTON 042 to another year of reckless self-love by EMILY ZHENG 046 change is necessary by BRINDY FRANCIS features 050 Drumaq: Singer/Songwriter & Creator 066 Emily June byemilyjune.com 080 Paige Lorentzen Model & YouTube Creator 098 Ashley Ballard closetvomit.com
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
new beginnings DRUMAQ BRANDON SAPP It's finally 2017--a new year, with new opportunities, adventures, and memories to be made. For many people in January, we take the opportunity to make resolutions: to start fresh and make changes that we would normally overlook in the year. Within our January issue of Mad Sounds, I thought it was only appropriate to focus our theme around this idea of the new year, specifically about starting new, making changes, and experiencing new beginnings. A concept that we all encounter at some point in our lives. Our featured creatives in this issue have inspirational stories to tell about these new beginnings, and we were lucky enough to feature Drumaq on our cover and talk to him about his
experience in shifting from YouTube to music, creating an album, and making his mark in the music industry. We also featured some of my favorite creatives at the moment: Emily June, the NYC based creator of byemilyjune.com, Ashley Ballard, founder of closetvomit.com, and Paige Lorentzen, L.A. based model and YouTuber. As we continue on through 2017, I hope you find these stories to be a source of inspiration for the new year. Whether that is to pursue a new passion, follow your heart, or explore a new pathway--stay inspired, stay creative, and stay true to what makes you happy. Make 2017 your year. Your new beginning starts now.
Giselle Melendres Founding Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director
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shimmer & shine featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER
photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
mad sounds editorials
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featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
mad sounds editorials
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NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
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mad sounds editorials
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featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
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mad sounds editorials
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featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
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mad sounds editorials
seeing through you photography JORDAN WORTHY featuring MARYN WORHACZ
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photography JORDAN WORTHY featuring MARYN WORHACZ
mad sounds editorials
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NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
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photography JORDAN WORTHY featuring MARYN WORHACZ
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
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mad sounds editorials
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photography JORDAN WORTHY featuring MARYN WORHACZ
featuring ASHLEY BALLARD photography by @DILLON_IVORY
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
& feels me, too written by ZOE ALLEN photography by @DILLON_IVORY I have spent days finding proper lighting for a picture that will never occur, because I am not cool enough to make it happen. I will never be that person I idolize on Instagram, try as I might to emulate her selfies. I obsessively refresh a page to see how many likes I have after posting something, and lose all hope in myself if I do not have a certain number of likes in a certain amount of time. I crave this reinforcement, needing reassurance and a pat on the shoulder for every move I make. a girl stuck in a universe that revolves around the opinions of others; with every simple “like”, a new planet born, with every comment, a supernova, with every flattery, a nebula entering consciousness. I wish to be born into a new universe, a world in which I only need myself to validate my worth. with every task completed, the stretch of a flower with every kiss, a drop of rain with every smile on my lovers’ face, a ray of light. a ray of light not made to accommodate my iPhone and followers, light not just confined to such a miniscule number of people, but one so pure that the whole world feels it— and feels me, too.
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NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
forced change written by JUSTIN TILTON photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER At this stage in life, I have an aversion to change. As a recent college graduate, with a supportive family, and great friends with whom I’m able to experience Los Angeles as a twenty-one year old, I’m completely comfortable and I love it. Rather than wanting anything to change, I have an inclination to relax a bit and put my life on hold. That might be how I feel, but I also know that kind of attitude kills. I heard once that “when you’re finished changing, you’re finished” and I always keep that in the back of my mind. It motivates me to shake off comfortability and meaningless routine when necessary and to embrace the unknown. The funny thing is: I may not always have the desire to change, but I’ve found that every time I push myself to grow and develop as an individual through change I never regret it. A couple months ago when I was considering life after graduation I asked myself what I really wanted to do. I think that was the first time I ever asked myself that question regarding my own life. Prior to that, I had always asked myself what I needed to do, either to please my parents or to prepare myself for the future. Being young, healthy, and
single, I personally didn’t have an inclination to begin the rest of my life right away. The world seemed too big and life too short for that. I decided that, no matter how much I love my life currently, I needed to force a change and experience something new. I was sitting in design class when I learned the guy next to me had previously taught English in South Korea for a couple years. He mentioned he made enough to live off of, learned more about himself than he had ever imagined possible, got to see the world, and gained a deeper appreciation for life. By the end of that class period in October I decided that was exactly what I wanted to do with the next year of my life. So I am. In a few days I’ll be moving to Bangkok, Thailand. Let me be real, I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. I know no one there and I know nothing about the culture. I have a hotel reservation for two nights and I’m hoping to figure out my living situation during that time. I’m completely unprepared and I’m okay with that. One of my biggest fears is to one day be forty-five years old with a wife and three kids and wish I had done more and
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seen more when I was able. I know it would eat me up inside if I didn’t enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of life as much as I could when I was young. I expect to be overwhelmed, I expect to be lonely, and I expect to be scared. I think I need that. I’ve found sometimes life requires embracing the unknown, ignoring every excuse to say no, and jumping headfirst into whatever will best develop me as an individual. I can’t honestly say I’d be happy if the remainder of my life continued in the same general direction I’ve been taking the last few years. I feel the need to force change. Whatever it may be you’re considering with some hesitation or fear- go for it. If the outcome is unknown then that’s perfect because you could be entirely unaware as to how great the outcome could actually end up being. There’s only one way to grow and we all know stagnation eats up life. Whatever change you may be considering, big or small, ask yourself if it could be beneficial for your growth and if the possible outcome is something you want. If the answer is yes- embrace it.
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NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
to another reckless year of self-love written by EMILY ZHENG photography by JORDAN WORTHY When I look back on 2016, I think about running around in the Museum of Fine Arts so I could look at each piece and still make my flight to LA. I think about dancing to live music with a big, goofy smile and hair whipping my face. I think about driving around to look at Christmas lights and stripping naked on a mountain and making out with a stranger. It has been a wild year. 2016 taught me resilience. That when insecurity strikes, I can fight back. That my moments of self-doubt are worth attention. Earlier this year, I realized that I was the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) of my friend group. I was the girl with loud, weird ideas and no one wanted to hear me because I wasn't the pretty one. I ended up sitting in my car at a party cursing a boy and absolutely hating myself. I screamed at the Universe until I was sick of hearing my own voice. I am completely disposable. I will always be the crazy best friend, whose five minutes of fame are simply because she has no filter. I'll always be crass and sloppy and vulgar, and because of that, I make myself the DUFF. I wanted to believe for a
second that someone would want to know me for who I am, and I cannot even be allowed that. The DUFF may be a trivial social construct, but it felt real to me. I woke up multiple times that night writing a piece in my head about how being the DUFF hurts. More than I wanted to admit. When I finally got out of bed, I didn't even eat. I went straight to my laptop and wrote a 2,307 word email to my friends. An unfiltered, angry rant riddled with swearing and an honesty that surprised me. After hours of bitterly staring at my ceiling, I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't let the Universe just take my confidence away. Not like that. Later that day, I reworked my email into an article "Confessions of a Real Life DUFF." I realized that day: I don't have to be pretty to be pretty amazing. A couple months later, I became doubtful of my strength as a writer and whether all the rejection I've received from my work meant that my creative career was doomed. I was envious of my favorite authors who seemed to have libraries of beautiful metaphors stocked. Meanwhile, I would sit at my
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my computer for hours with nothing. I was all bark and no bite. I was big dreams and nothing else. All the criticism I had ever received as a writer came flooding back to me: "Your writing is sub-par at best," "I don't know who would like that," "Too angry." I gave a careful thought about the censure. I smiled. A big, satisfying grin. It surprised me, but not too much. Because my writing - while mostly is an honest expression of my feelings - is also an open letter to those who doubt me. Look, I can still be great despite your disapproval. What I love most about rejection is the strange self-empowerment I receive from it. The knowledge that I have failed but I can believe in myself regardless. I realized that day: I am head-over-heels in love with what rejection has done to me. My lapses in confidence are just as integral to who I am as my I'm-on-top-of-the-world-and-no-onecan-stop-me moments. When I look back on this year, I cringe. I cringe at all the over-the-top ways I embarrassed myself and all the stupid things I cared about. But more importantly, I feel a great sense of pride as to who I'm becoming. Someone who doesn't need the approval of others to feel comfortable in her skin. I can still be silly and loud, and that's okay. It doesn't matter if all my dance parties are solo or whether my crazy "If I'm single by 35, I'm throwing myself an anti-marriage wedding" plan actually happens. I can just be me. I can get way too excited about cotton candy grapes and be passionate about politics. I can have excessively long text threads with my friends about how we're in love with love. I can write shitty rap and sing in my car and obsess over cheesy romance books. The only person I need permission from to do all these things is myself, and in 2016, my answer was a resounding hell yes. I'm thinking the same answer for 2017 too. I don't know though, just one of those crazy ideas I get from time to time.
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
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featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
change is necessary written by BRINDY FRANCIS photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
Although the majority of us frown upon the use of the phrase, “new year, new me”, there really is beauty in a new year. The beginning of a new year does not necessarily mean all your bad habits will disperse and that this time around, things will just magically be better, but if you’re looking for a time to make some change, now would be that time.
can put everything into perspective. Every once in a while, we all feel a deep need to reinvent ourselves entirely. Sometimes, we notice that the people we are surrounded by don’t make us feel as radiant as they used to. Other times, we notice that our fashion sense doesn’t reflect our personality anymore.
A lot of us find new year’s resolutions tacky and unnecessary since rarely does anyone follow through with them. Although both of those facts can be true, it’s important to make goals you want to accomplish in coming events. Success is a key factor to a beneficial year, so setting some goals and planning how you’re going to reach them is essential. If you’re like me, you’re also one who tries to start healthy habits as the new year rolls around. A tip I learned from a few college-living websites is to start working on those habits about a month in advance. It takes a while for a habit to stick, so start early to make change.
I am a strong believer in annual adjustment. Although I believe you can make change within yourself year round, if you’re looking for a time to make some accommodations, starting out a new year can make the process easier and more inspiring. In no way is 2017 your clean slate, but it is another opportunity for reinvention.
Many people fear change, but I’m here to tell you, change is extremely healthy. We all strive for the word “healthy”, don’t we? The idea of wellness attracts us. We crave the idea of benefit. Change
Despite the fact that big changes such as new crowds, new job, or new school can benefit us all, the smallest of changes can make you all the more refreshed and motivated. There are three quick changes that will make all the difference. PS. You can change these up as many times throughout the year as pleased:
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featuring MARYN WORHACZ & MAYA N. HATCHER photography by TAYLOR SCHROEDER
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1. Self-expression. There is a reason we all hear about everyone chopping their hair off at the end of December to start the new year. Making physical changes can really help us alter and find our sense of expression. Each individual changes dramatically in as little as weeks. Sometimes, when things get old, change in our clothes, hair, makeup, piercings, and tattoos can call for a refreshing and new feeling. 2. Personal environment. How your room/home looks can actually affect your stress levels and creativity. Sometimes, modifications in where furniture or posters are placed give a completely new feel. At other times, we prefer to just change the entire look. Occasionally, repainting your living room or buying a new table from the flea market is completely conventional. A lot of people function better in a clean environment, so giving the walls a scrub and the floor a mop will get our creative juices flowing. 3. Internal behavior. Reinvention does not have to be about your haircut or grades. It can also be focuses on self-stability. The most important change one can make is internally. We all have room for mental improvement. Both women and men all around the world have insecurity problems. Making sure this is the year to stratify the love for yourself is a significant goal when thinking of the future ahead. Change can be frightening, but when you’re in control, it can help you tremendously in the long run. Being held back by norms prevents you from getting close to end goals. 2017 wouldn’t have the improvement it does without people trying to make a change. Although we have plenty to improve on, think about how much has changed since 1950. Change is necessary. Change is revolutionary.
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drumaq interview by GISELLE MELENDRES featuring DREW MACDONALD @DRUMAQ
photography by BRANDON SAPP @IBRANDONSAPP
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
Meet Drew Macdonald: the Los Angeles based music artist popularly known as Drumaq, and the cover star of our January issue: New Beginnings. You may know him from his singles, "Neverland", "Baby Blue", and "Peach Arizona", or recognized his face from his previous YouTube videos. Today, we had the opportunity to talk to Drew about his new beginnings--in singing, songwriting, and finding his passion in making music. Read our interview with Drew to learn more about his upcoming album, inspirations in the music industry, and the reason why he's an artist to watch (and listen to) in 2017.
HI DREW, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US HERE AT MAD SOUNDS! TO START OFF, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE DAY IN THE LIFE FOR @DRUMAQ?
song is an anthem to celebrate escaping that.
I’m a singer/songwriter and student so the majority of my days are spent writing songs or writing essays. But, when I’m not working I usually spend my time eating sushi with my friends, dancing in our living room or playing with Dexter (our dog). I love that little guy.
I don’t think there really was an exact time when I discovered my love for music. It’s always been instilled in me and kinda just felt right, even from a young age. I’ve always been relatively shy growing up but performing was the one space that allowed me to open up and really be myself. I think that feeling is how you know you love something. It’s special and I can’t even really put my love for it into words.
YOU’RE CURRENTLY BASED IN LOS ANGELES. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT L.A.? ANY FAVORITE SPOTS? My favorite thing about in LA is definitely the sunsets, and my favorite spot would probably be my roof. I try to take that time for myself everyday and just sit up there as the sky changes colors. It’s like my special little place that no one else can get too. YOU’RE A SINGER/SONGWRITER WHO HAS JUST COME OUT WITH A NEW SINGLE, “NEVERLAND”. WHAT INSPIRED THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE SONG? Neverland is about escaping the bullshit. I’ve always walked a thin line between reality and fantasy and wanted to share that part of me with my audience. I think it’s easy as a teenager or young adult to get caught up in so many things and this
HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR SINGING AND SONGWRITING?
CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR PROCESS FOR WRITING MUSIC AND FULLY CREATING A SONG? WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS? I like to write in my bedroom cause thats where I’m most comfortable. Lately I’ve been going to sessions where I write in studios, but my favorite songs are always written on my bedroom floor with my keyboard. I usually just light a few candles, practice a new chord progression and then the melodies and lyrics follow. I think the hardest part of writing my own music is finding inspiration. You can’t just write about something that you aren’t feeling. Because of that, I only write when I really have something to say.
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featuring DREW MACDONALD photography by BRANDON SAPP
featuring DREW MACDONALD photography by BRANDON SAPP
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC? I always pull inspiration from real life experiences. As a writer I tend to romanticize every single little moment, but it’s all real. All of my songs are about somebody who was special to me at that time or a situation I was in. It’s funny to look back on each song and see how different I feel now. DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL INSPIRATIONS WHO YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
THIS ISSUE IS CENTERED AROUND NEW BEGINNINGS--WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF CREATING? I really want to collaborate in all aspects this upcoming year. Whether it’s working with new producers or writers or other artists, just submerging myself into as many creative places with as many creative people as possible. I don’t think there’s anything better then bouncing off of other people’s creative energy and I think I’m finally at a place where I’m ready to do that. WHAT IS ONE LESSON THAT YOU’VE LEARNED FROM YOUR JOURNEY AS A CONTENT CREATOR THUS FAR?
Kehlani. That woman is made up of pure magic. It’s refreshing to see someone be as real and vulnerable in their music like she is. I’m still just getting my feet wet in this industry but I can already see all the fake shit that goes on behind the scenes. She’s different though. I’ve actually met her a couple times and she’s just as cool in person as she is on stage and I love her for that.
Be yourself. It’s simple but surprisingly difficult to stick to when you’re in this industry. I’m still learning and growing everyday, but as long as I’m creating content that is true to me, then I’m happy. DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG THAT YOU’VE WRITTEN THUS FAR?
Yes! I’m gearing up to release my debut EP early this year which I’ve been working on over the past several months. I’m a perfectionist so it’s taken me awhile to finalize the project, but I am so proud of it. I’m also working on merchandise and am hopefully going to start playing shows and touring this year as well!
There’s a song on my upcoming project called Happy Ever After that I’m really proud of. It’s probably one of my favorite songs, both lyrically and sonically. Overdose is also really cool. It’s only an interlude but it tells a story and I think that’s pretty rare in pop music nowadays.
ONE ALBUM YOU WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF:
YOU WERE ON YOUTUBE FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND LEAVING YOUTUBE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A PRETTY BIG STEP FOR YOU. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO LEAVE?
Just one? Ahhhhhh, I’d say Souled Out by Jhene Aiko. I still listen to it daily. IF YOU COULD POWER BRUNCH WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Leaving Youtube was definitely a big step for me. I found it really difficult to create content for my channel when my headspace and heart were totally pursuing another creative outlet. It didn’t feel fair to myself or my followers to post videos I wasn’t even remotely proud of. Leaving has allowed me to put everything into my music and create the content which makes my heart swell, so I couldn’t be happier with my decision!
SZA. She’s definitely one of my biggest musical and life inspirations ever. It would be really dope to pick apart her brain and get guidance on this whole life thing over breakfast sandwiches and smoothies. I would geek out so hard.
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mad sounds features
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featuring DREW MACDONALD photography by BRANDON SAPP
featuring DREW MACDONALD photography by BRANDON SAPP
COFFEE OR TEA? Iced coffee with almond milk and way too much sugar cause I’m wild. TOP THREE WINTER ESSENTIALS? Wireless Headphones, Fenty Slides and Oversized Sweatshirts. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS YEAR? It sounds silly, but I need to learn how to say “No”. I always get myself into messy situations because I say Yes to absolutely everything, even when I know I won’t be able to fulfil the request. So that’s a huge one - and to drink more water. LASTLY, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING TO CREATE MUSIC OR PURSUE THEIR DREAMS? Start now and be vocal about it! I think a lot of new artists are scared to put their music out because of what their peers may think. If you are passionate about something and let everyone know how important it is to you, they will show you nothing but love. Be confident in your craft and don’t let anyone change that.
KEEP UP WITH DREW: Instagram/Twitter: @drumaq Listen on Spotify, iTunes, and Soundcloud: Drumaq
featuring DREW MACDONALD photography by BRANDON SAPP
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emily june interview by KAIJA XIAO
featuring EMILY JUNE photography by KAIJA XIAO
featuring EMILY JUNE photography by KAIJA XIAO
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
At the intersections of beauty, music, fashion, and lifestyle, you may find byemilyjune.com, a website created by Emily June: a former Lifestyle Vlogger and a current New York based creative who is taking the internet by storm. After making the decision to leave YouTube and start her own website, Emily has built a personal platform for creativity: a place where she encourages her readers to find something new and be inspired. Today, we sat down with Emily in SoHo to chat about her website, the challenges in starting new, and her favorite sources of inspiration. Read the interview to learn more about Emily, and her journey as an internet creative. HI EMILY! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US TODAY. TO START OFF, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS? WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF EMILY? I’m Emily, I’m 21, I grew up in Long Island, New York, in the smallest town ever. So even though it’s in New York and people expect me to say that I’m from New York City, I grew up in a small town where everybody knows each other and whenever I go home, you go out to eat and see everybody you know and you’re like, “Oh my god. I wanna hide.” But yeah yeah, I currently live here (in New York). My typical day in New York City is work. I work a lot, so I usually wake up, go to work, come home, work on my blog, maybe get dinner with a friend, and I pass out--I am such a grandma, I go to bed at 11 and wake up at 7. But I’m such a morning person that I get everything done during the day and try to do blog stuff at night. YOU’RE CURRENTLY BASED IN NYC, WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE SPOTS IN NEW YORK? One of my favorite spots is in Central Park, it’s the little boathouse area and I live kind of close to there. Some mornings, especially in the fall, I would go over and watch all the cute couples boating. Of course, I would be alone, but you know, it’s okay (laughs). That’s one of my favor-
ite places over there, it’s so calm and whenever I need to just listen to music and reset, you wouldn’t even know you’re in the middle of New York City. Another area would be just SoHo in general, I’m here all the time. And there’s so many cool shops and so many cool people that all come together in this one place in the city. My favorite spot in SoHo is probably Mercer street; I love the cobblestone and the buildings and it’s just so beautiful. My third one would probably be the Highline in the West Village area--I think the Highline is really beautiful and it’s another place to go when you want to get inspired or see different people. Sometimes it’s touristy but I think it’s really pretty. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT L.A. VS. NEW YORK? I SAW THAT YOU STUDIED AT FIDM IN LOS ANGELES AND NOW YOU CURRENTLY LIVE HERE. WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE FROM L.A. BACK TO NEW YORK? I originally chose FIDM because I wanted to have a beauty major and the schools in New York required you to take two years of fashion and then do two years of beauty. My good friend Lindsey Hughes (who I knew from YouTube) and I lived in two different states and were like “How fun would it be if we went to L.A. together?” So we did. And it was a very interesting time. I would say I learned more about myself and in life than in school. It was two weeks after I just turned 18 that I moved from the smallest town to L.A., and it made me think
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NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
“Oh my god, I have so much to learn and so much to see.” And it was a really awesome experience. A lot of my YouTube friends that I had all kind of moved there together one by one, so it was really cool to have my internet friends with me all the time. L.A. is just...it’s very chill, the weather is cool, but I never felt motivated there. I would just lay around all the time and hang out and go shopping, and that’s not a real way to live. I feel so much more myself in New York and there’s so much more of a hustle here, and I feel like there’s more culture and history here. Overall, I’m just a New York girl! Not bashing on L.A., but I just don’t think it’s for me.
things, but the many reasons were that I had been doing it for six years, and in anything, change is completely healthy and necessary. I was looking for something new and challenging, so that was one reason. Another reason was after living in L.A. I was kind of turned off by it and how, (not to hate on YouTube or anyone on it), but just seeing how some people would act, or seeing them on the Internet vs. real life, I didn’t want to have to put on this show, or act a certain way and do certain things for views. I also think YouTube has a much younger audience now, and as I’m growing up I want something that reflects me and my age, and people my age. So yeah, I just kinda did it. It was ballsy, but I did it, and I’m way happier doing my own thing now!
YOU STARTED OFF ON YOUTUBE AS A BEAUTY & LIFESTYLE VLOGGER AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN: WHAT INITIALLY DREW YOU TO YOUTUBE AND THE BEAUTY COMMUNITY OF YOUTUBE SPECIFICALLY?
WHAT DOES DOING YOUR OWN THING ENTAIL NOW? YOU STARTED YOUR WEBSITE BYEMILYJUNE.COM: CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
I had an off middle school experience. I spent a lot of time alone, and one night I was in my room found a makeup tutorial and thought it was the coolest thing in the entire world. I knew nothing about makeup, how to do it, or even what YouTube was, but I thought “this is so cool!”, and I used my mom’s makeup and tried to recreate it, and then I slowly developed this love for makeup. And I was like ‘okay, why not just try it for myself? No one’s ever going to see it.’ I started posting videos and I guess people started finding them, and I think I started at the right time because now I think it’s too congested and there are just so many people on YouTube. I’m really glad I did it when I did and I’m really glad that I had stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something that I never thought that I would ever do.
I completely got to design the site myself and work with a web designer, and I worked on it from last January to May. I wanted everything that I liked to be on there: clothes, beauty, music, an advice section--which is one of my favorite part about it, people write in to me and it comes directly to my email and I just love it. I love the fact that people write me paragraphs and feel comfortable enough to do that, and it’s just so cool to me. I also have a street style section, which I should probably be using more, because so many people are so inspired by New York street style. I just wanted it to be a place to go where you can get inspiration: if you’re going to New York you can check out some of my favorite spots, and I also do interviews on there with people that inspire me, have their own business, etc. I just try to make it a place where people go to learn and find something new.
SO THAT’S STARTING YOUTUBE--WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO? I stopped because...there’s a lot of reasons. I think it’s kind of hard to understand unless you’re in my position because a lot of people don’t see certain
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featuring EMILY JUNE photography by KAIJA XIAO
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS NEW SITE TO ACHIEVE? I’d like to create some sort of merch or open up some sort of shop on there, whether it’s a boutique and I sell something like a Nasty Gal store. I really admire what Emily Weiss did, the founder of Glossier, who took her blog “Into the Gloss” and create a million dollar business. I don’t know what exactly I want to do yet and I think still have some time to figure that out, but I would like to create something and make it a brand. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CONTENT TO PRODUCE FOR YOUR WEBSITE? WHAT DO YOU RESONATE THE MOST WITH? What I put my heart into the most/what people respond to the most is this new section on my website that I started called “Journal”, and I eventually want to write the entries out and scan it in. I wrote a post about growing pains and growing up and what not, and that was one of my most popular posts. That was a post where I literally didn’t put effort into it--I was crying one night in my apartment and I just typed something up and posted it, and people were like “Wow, that was amazing”. I also like the “Heart to Heart” section, where people can feel comfortable enough to come to me. A lot of my followers are still young, so young girls, if they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents, or sister, or best friend, and feel that they need someone to go to...the fact that they can come to me is really cool. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE A WEBSITE VS. A BRAND? I think because it was a place where I could do whatever I want and I’m completely in control of it. I can still share things that I love and not have a view number or a follower number define me. I like that it’s all me and that I don’t have anyone else helping me with it.
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“I think [I started a blog] because it was a place where I could do whatever I want and I’m completely in control of it. I can still share things that I love and not have a view number or a follower number define me. I like that it’s all me.” WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN DOING YOUTUBE, AND NOW, RUNNING YOUR OWN WEBSITE? My biggest thing right now is the fact that YouTube was a job. I really don’t make that much money off of my website so I’ve had to find substitutes, and I saw it as a big problem last year. I was wondering “what am I going to do for money?” and I think that’s a thing that holds a lot of people back from leaving YouTube. I kind of turned that around and got an internship last year at a probiotic skincare line, Tula. It was only two people fulltime at the company and now it’s grown so much and I work there part-time. I can’t even imagine not having this experience to see how a brand works in all aspects. Because it’s so small I get to see the marketing, the product development, P.R., everything. They’ve taken such good care of me and they teach me everything I want to know and I’m like, “What if I stayed with YouTube and never met these people or never learned this?” So money was probably the biggest thing but, it’s not the end of the world. I still do make a bit of money from sponsored posts, which I don’t do a lot, but hopefully more of those will come!
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WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND HOW WOULD THAT ADVICE BE DIFFERENT FOR WANTING TO START A WEBSITE? For YouTube I would say to make sure you have really nice equipment, nowadays you have a lot to compete with. A good camera, good lighting. Make sure you’re making content that is true to you, it’s very obvious when someone is just putting on an act just to appeal to a certain person. As long as you are really passionate about what you’re doing and you’re producing it in a way that people would be impressed by--I think that’s really all you need. I don’t think you should ever act like someone else or try to be someone else for views or money, because that’s eventually all going to die down. For a blog, I would say kind of the same thing. Make it the most “you” that you can. Make sure that in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s YouTube or a blog, that it’s true to you. And even if it’s something that you’ve been doing on the side for a while, you’re already winning. Even if you have a full time job and you want to do that on the side, you’re already set. WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE YOUTUBERS? My favorite YouTuber is Casey Neistat but he stopped his daily vlogs! I feel like I can connect with him because he’s right in New York. He literally had nothing for a long time, and he’s so passionate about filmmaking and you can tell. It’s so different and unlike anything else on YouTube, and he’d wake up at like 7 AM, run twelves miles, go to work for a full day, edit these vlogs and upload them and I was just so inspired every day to see what this man could do in one day, while producing this amazing movie.
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THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF: Fun: I used to be a dancer, I’m just always dancing. Passionate: I put a lot into myself and everything that I do. Introverted: I love my alone time, whenever I have a minute to be by myself I like to just take it all in. TOP FIVE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS? I don’t really really wear that much makeup anymore, I’m more into skincare now that I work at a skincare line. My favorite is probably my moisturizer, the Tula Hydrating Day and Night Cream, which completely changed the texture of my skin and it’s my favorite skincare product I’ve ever tried. Second one would be my Makeup Forever Foundation, I’ve been wearing that everyday since like senior year of high school. I wear that all the time whenever I wear makeup. I love my Glossier Haloscope in Quartz, my Smashbox Contour and Bronzer powder--that’s like the only really cheap stuff I use other than Glossier. I also love the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil! IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE CLOTHING STORE TO SHOP AT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Kith! They actually have a clothing store in SoHo, and Kith is very clean, simple, but has really cool clothes. Hands down, I would shop there. They have the coolest sneakers ever. DO YOU HAVE ANY FASHION ICONS? BEAUTY ICONS? For fashion icons, I get inspired by people in New York, there’s not one specific celebrity or anyone in particular. I see people wearing stuff, whether it’s on the subway or in the backstreets of SoHo, and I just think “that’s cool, I want to wear that”. For beauty, I just really like clean and simple makeup these days so maybe Emily Weiss: she always has the dewy, glowy, healthy, doesn’t-look-like-she’swearing-makeup, makeup.
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WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS? I used to be a dancer and I would dance competitively in middle school and some of highschool so I told myself I would start dancing again in 2016 and I never did it! So if I don’t do it in 2017 I’m gonna be really mad at myself. I wanna start taking classes now! And overall, I would just like to find balance. In 2016, I just overworked myself, so I would hope to just chill out a bit while still working and being motivated. I just want to enjoy where I live and enjoy my friends and just balance it out, because I just did overdid it this year!
“I just wanted it to be a place to go where you can get inspiration: if you’re going to New York you can check out some of my favorite spots, and I also do interviews on there with people that inspire me, have their own business, etc. I just try to make it a place where people go to learn and find something new.” -Emily June byemilyjune.com
featuring EMILY JUNE photography by KAIJA XIAO
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WINTER CLOTHING ESSENTIALS? I love my Tim’s, I wear them all the time. They’re probably my favorite winter shoe. I love my leather jacket, this one is from the Arrivals, another company based in New York. People always make fun of me because I never really dress for winter, I always just freeze. So I don’t really wear gloves or scarves ever. I also like some sort of hat, like a baseball cap or a beanie or something. ANY FAVORITE WEBSITES? I really like my friend Kailee Mckenzie’s website, she just made a website and she’s awesome. I admire so much about her so I love her site--it’s really simple and clean but she’s got a really cool edge and style to her. My other favorite is called “The Messy Heads”, it’s just a very carefree totally “anti-normal” blog. Really informative, really beautiful writing, and amazing photography. COFFEE OR TEA? Tea! I got into coffee a few months ago, and then I just drank so much that I started to hate it, so now I’m a tea girl. But that might change again! ALL-TIME FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST? My favorite artist ever is Miguel--I love everything about him. My other favorite artist is Kehlani, another person that came from nothing and that has totally made something of herself. I’m always bumping her music.
KEEP UP WITH EMILY: Instagram/Twitter: @emilyjune_ byemilyjune.com
paige lorentzen interview by GISELLE MELENDRES featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE
featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE on Instagram
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
Part-time model, part-time YouTuber: Paige Lorentzen is a girl boss to watch in 2017, and she's taking over the internet--one video at a time. Today we had the chance to sit down with Paige and ask her about how she started her YouTube channel, her journey in the modeling industry, and her personal style inspirations. Read our interview to learn more about Paige, and her creative aspirations for 2017.
HI PAIGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SITTING DOWN WITH US HERE AT MAD SOUNDS TODAY. TO START OFF, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF PAIGE LORENTZEN? Hi it is so nice to meet you! The exciting thing about my job is that every day is different. Some days I wake up, make myself a cup of coffee, go grocery shopping and grab lunch with some friends while other days I have auditions or am working on set for 10 to 12 hours. I love working and keeping myself busy so even if I’m not on set working I will schedule photoshoots or create content for my social media in my down time. At the end of the day I like to go to go to the gym or go on an afternoon hike just to get outside or get some exercise. Then I typically will catch up with my roommates, cook a healthy meal, and watch Friends, Gilmore Girls, Master Chef or a Hallmark Movie. YOU’RE CURRENTLY A MODEL. HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR MODELING? My senior year of high school I was in a photography class where we had to model for eachothers projects and so forth; I didn’t think anything of it then but when I went to college my roommate freshman year was a photography major and asked me to model for some of her projects. Around that time instagram was becoming a pop-
ular outlet to share photos so I would post the photos she would take of me on there. Eventually I started tagging clothing brands such as Brandy Melville, Aeropostale, PacSun, and other lifestyle brands. One day a photographer from Neff reached out to me and asked if I wanted to do a photoshoot for them, I figured it would be a fun opportunity so I said yes. After Neff, more lifestyle brands such as the ones mentioned above as well as photographers started asking me to shoot and as I got more comfortable in front of the camera I started to fall in love with it. BEING A MODEL COMES WITH WORKING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PHOTOGRAPHERS AND DOING MANY DIFFERENT SHOOTS. WHICH SHOOT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE TO DO THUS FAR? Oh that’s a hard question! So many shoots have been memorable in their own way. I have to say working with Annie Leibowitz was the best experience i’ve ever had with a photographer. It was an honor to get to work with someone of her calliber. She doesn’t care about followers or fame she is a photographer because she has a love for the art of it. You can tell she has a vision and watching her work is the most inspiring and humbling experience.
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YOU ALSO RECENTLY STARTED A YOUTUBE CHANNEL, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL?
FILMING LOOKBOOKS AND FASHION RELATED VIDEOS REQUIRES A UNIQUE SENSE OF STYLE. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
I wanted to start a YouTube Channel because it was a way for me to connect with my audience on a different platform. I wanted people to get to know me as a person and feel like they knew who I was. Instagram is amazing still but photos can only tell you so much about a person. I wanted the opportunity to give people a chance to see my personality and that I’m not perfect all the time. It’s a chance for me to share the good times and the bad with my viewers. I felt it was a way to be more relatable and real with the people that follow me.
I would say my personal style is a beachy/California style. I was born and raised in Southern California so I have been influenced by where I live. I love more natural looks that are summery and casual but can be dressed up with accessories. I’m all for dressing up every now and then but on a typical day I prefer a pair of distressed Levis, crop top, and sandals or a flowy dress. DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR BEAUTY ICONS OR INSPIRATIONS AS WELL? When it comes to fashion I am inspired by a number of different people. I have always loved certain TV characters like Rachel Green from Friends or Serena Van Der Woodsen from Gossip Girl fashion. I absolutely love Gigi Hadid’s sense of style as well; she grew up in Malibu so she also has a similar beachy/California style.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE KINDS OF VIDEOS TO MAKE? I think my favorite kinds of videos to make are my travel videos just because they are so fun to look back on. These videos are also really fun to edit because I can make them a little more artistic than the challenge or Q&A videos. It’s also a chance for me to share the adventures that I go on in a vlog type of video which is unscripted so you never know what footage you’re going to get that day.
IF YOU COULD CREATE YOUR DREAM PHOTOSHOOT, WHAT WOULD IT CONSIST OF? Ah another hard question! I think my dream location for a shoot would be Greece, Tahiti, or another tropical location just because I love the blue/ teal color of water that adds to a photo. I also love the texture that sand adds to a photograph and I am always happiest when I get to photograph on a beach. I have been dying to shoot with Jorden Keith since day one so I think I would have him shoot it. His beach photography and editing are incredible and I think he would be ideal for the job.
WHAT’S ONE THING THAT YOU HOPE YOUR VIEWERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR YOUTUBE VIDEOS? I hope my videos can make my viewers smile a little more and inspire them in some way. I hope that by creating these videos it helps to make someone’s day a little bit better. I try to respond to all the comments left on my videos because I appreciate them taking time out of their day to leave me a note of encouragement or constructive feedback. I see people that view my videos as friends and not as “followers” or “subscribers”. It’s like a family and hopefully they feel like they have a friend in me :)
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featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE on Instagram
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featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE on Instagram
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“I wanted people to get to know me as a person and feel like they knew who I was. Instagram is amazing still but photos can only tell you so much about a person. I wanted the opportunity to give people a chance to see my personality and that I’m not perfect all the time.” DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS OR GOALS FOR 2017? Last year my resolution or goal was to graduate college, move to Los Angeles, and make modeling my job which I achieved and am so thankful for. This year I want to try acting and see where that road takes me. Now that I have moved to LA and have finished school I feel like there are so many possibilities that I want to be open too. I would love to travel more and see places I have never been too. It’s kind of scary to try something new or travel to a foreign country where there is a language barrier but I think 2017 is the year for pushing boundaries and getting out of my comfort zone.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING TO ENTER THE MODELING INDUSTRY OR START A YOUTUBE CHANNEL SUCH AS YOUR OWN? I think the one thing I like to tell everyone is that if you want to model then you can do it and if you want to start a youtube channel then you can do it. I am a firm believe in the fact that you can do anything you set your mind too. I’m 5’5 and thought I would never be able to model because of my height and more muscular build but I am thankful that I get the opportunity to pursue this as a career. The industry is changing and stereotypes are being broken so go after what you are passionate about and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it because i’m here to tell you that you can. :) NOW TIME FOR SOME RANDOM QUESTIONS. COFFEE OR TEA? Is Creamer with a splash of coffee an option? Haha definitely a coffee person! FAVORITE MUSIC ARTISTS OR BANDS? 1975, Alina Baraz, Michael Jackson, and Troye Sivan IF YOU COULD ONLY SHOP AT ONE STORE, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Revolve or Top Shop because they have a little of everything! They have shoes, clothing, accessories, swimwear, etc. and it’s all cute! :) CITY OR COUNTRYSIDE? Is the beach an option? Hahah probably city if I had to pick between the two. TOP THREE WINTER BEAUTY ESSENTIALS? Urban Decay Illuminated Trio, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer Lotion, and Colour Pop Midi Matte Lip Color KEEP UP WITH PAIGE: Instagram: @paigelorentzen YouTube: Paige Lorentzen
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featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE on Instagram
featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN photography by @STRIPESCOLLIDE on Instagram
mad sounds features
closet vomit interview by CHALISA SINGH featuring ASHLEY BALLARD photography by DILLON JOHNSON @DILLON_IVORY
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featuring ASHLEY BALLARD photography by @DILLON_IVORY
NO. 20 — NEW BEGINNINGS
Meet Ashley Ballard, a modern-lifestyle blogger and digital creative, based in Phoenix, Arizona. Finishing her degree in Journalism at Arizona State University, Ashley is a devoted creative to her blog, closetvomit.com, where she shares her fashion favorites, tips, lifestyle essentials, and inner thoughts. In our interview with her today, Ashley tells us about her journey with Closet Vomit, her greatest inspirations, advice for young creatives, and her New Year’s Resolutions!
HI ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR CHATTING WITH US HERE TODAY AT MAD SOUNDS! TO GET STARTED, CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ASHLEY BALLARD? I am an advocate of rituals. I always make a point of doing the same things every morning to feel centered: wake up, stretch, check my email, do my skincare routine. If my face isn’t clean, it’s as if my day didn’t happen. I love to get the best of every hour in my day, so I am almost always working on something, shooting photos, meeting with other creatives to bounce ideas off each other over coffee, or I am finding a way to practice self-care in between obligations. I guess you could say that a day in my life involves valuable social interactions and forging a slow lifestyle out of being the busiest person ever. AFTER FINISHING UP YOUR JOURNALISM DEGREE, WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER AND/OR LIFE PLANS?
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BLOG, CLOSETVOMIT.COM? WHAT WAS YOUR VISION BEHIND IT? There wasn’t really much of a vision. In fact, I had no fucking idea what I was doing for the first year of creating on the internet. Someone told me once that I am going to hate the first ten thousand photos I take. And he was right. On terms of how I came about blogging, I was having a major depressive episode when I was 18, and I wanted to have a creative outlet to be able to channel my thoughts and emotions into while empowering myself. I wanted to learn how to love who I am, and I felt compiling myself into a website was a solution for that. It still is a continuous solution. WHAT HAS BEEN YOU PROUDEST MOMENT WITH CLOSET VOMIT? The day I publicly admitted to being a rape survivor.
I am living my life right now with the intention of continuing to write for the internet and working for a culture/lifestyle/fashion magazine. I have some specific goals, but I am not going to namedrop, hahaha. My end goal is a modest, clean lifestyle in a city that I love. I’m hoping for NYC by this time next year.
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WOULD YOU SAY THAT CREATING THIS OUTLET AS A MEANS FOR EXPRESSING YOURSELF HAS HELPED YOU GROW AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND CREATIVE?
Geldof used to write a column for NYLON Magazine called “Just Peaches,” and she always had such a conversational tone and unfiltered dialogue. That’s the exact tone that I love to use on the internet.
Absolutely. Everyone thinks they know who they are at 18. I was convinced that I knew everything about myself, and documenting my tastes, feelings, and lifestyle choices over time has shown me that I had a lot of fundamental things to learn about myself at that age, and I am still learning.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIECE YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN? I don’t like anything that I have written. WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST FASHION ICONS?
When I started blogging, I thought I was going to be a pharmacist and that all of my creative pursuits would have to remain hobbies. The longer I ran with it, the more I realized that peddling drugs behind a counter for a living wasn’t going to bring me happiness or prosperity. This is the first time in my life that I am confident in chasing a creative job. I wouldn’t be where I am now without my website and the incredible people who read it.
People on the street, always. I get more inspiration in ten minutes of walking around somewhere than I do in an entire magazine. I also always pull ideas from small music festivals I go to with my partner. I think we underestimate 16-year-olds and their capabilities to make cool outfits on a lunch-money budget. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTY ESSENTIALS?
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BLOG POSTS?
I’ve mostly stopped wearing makeup, in all honesty. I wear a basic mascara and I comb product into my brows and swipe on a little highlight, and that’s about it. My favorite skincare products right now are Dr. Jart Water Drop moisturizer, Mario Badescu rosewater spray, and sheet masks with all-natural ingredients. I was skeptical about sheet masks, but I gave them a chance recently and I actually love them.
That you’re not alone. I always incorporate a human element into everything I do: if I am doing a post on my favorite household items for autumn, I am going to give an explanation as to why. Everything in life is a choice with a purpose, and people deserve to know the motivation behind what I share.
WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO OUTFIT?
I refer to my blog as my “digital living room”: I invite people to sit down and feel as if I am having a one-on-one conversation with them. I feel a lot of blogs unintentionally instill a sense of insecurity in their audiences, and I aim for the opposite. I want people to feel motivated and positive.
Comfortable, practical, and unique. I don’t wear jewelry or any accessories, really. I enjoy an outfit that stands out, even with the bare minimum, and is of high quality and a neutral palette. I have a couple oversized jumpsuits that I like to throw on in a pinch too.
WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING, WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM? I feel it is a catastrophic blend of David Sedaris and Peaches Geldof. Sedaris actually inspired my thirst to become a journalist, and his humor is so bone-dry. I aspire to meet him one day, actually.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED TO? Paris. When three of the main themes of a place are fine art, shopping, and solemn drinking, you know it will be a fulfilling trip. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO BRANCH OUT INTO THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY? All the cliches: keep your head down, work hard, be kind. Don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t want to work with you. They are trying to grow their brand and their business, and if you don’t fit their needs, the only thing you can do is set out and find someone who needs you. It’s all in your control, and your success does not depend on other people. It depends on how hard you are willing to work. ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT? WHAT SHOULD WE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR? I’m dabbling in podcasting, so that should be an interesting new dimension of my blog that people will soon be able to enjoy. You can expect to hear some cool stuff in the upcoming months. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AS THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS OR RESOLUTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE IN 2017? I’m going to focus on my health right now, taking my days slow when I have to, but never slowing my work. I want to move out of Phoenix. I want to write a book. Oh, and drink more milkshakes.
KEEP UP WITH ASHLEY: Instagram: @closetvomitfashion closetvomit.com
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STAY TUNED there’s more mad sounds on the way! madsoundsmagazine.com DO YOU WANT TO BE FEATURED? email madsoundsmagazine@gmail.com with a cover letter & link to your online portfolio not all submissions will be featured for publication
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