mad sounds
APRIL/MAY 2017
a publication for the young and daring
city of stars ISSUE NO. 22
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, Nicole Bonfiglio, Janet Garcia, Rebecca Poole, Giselle Melendres, Sydney Hildebrandt Contributing Photographers Riley Taylor, Sabrina Wingate, Andre Nguyen, Danny Rozenblit, Dani Van Winkle, Zach Miscavage A Special Thanks To.... Jenn Im, Riley Taylor, Katie Qian, Lucky Sin, Stephanie Tea, Olivia Osborne, Danny Rozenblit, & Harrison Glazier
ON THE COVER Photography by Riley Taylor Featuring Jenn Im
the young & daring @madsoundsmag www.madsoundsmagazine.com @madsoundsmag
contents
photography RILEY TAYLOR featuring JENN IM
introduction 009 a letter from the editor editorials 010 the california daze by DANNY ROZENBLIT 020 down on the west coast by ANDRE NGUYEN 032 love like los angeles by DANI VAN WINKLE think pieces 040 los angeles: more than a hipster’s paradise by JUSTIN TILTON 044 passions and influences by BRINDY FRANCIS 046 self-love beyond comparison by EMILY ZHENG features 050 Meet Jenn Im YouTube Creator 064 Harrison Glazier Photographer 078 Olivia Avenue Content Creator 088 Danny Rozenblit Photographer
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city of stars RILEY TAYLOR
JENN IM It’s been three years since I started Mad Sounds and we’ve just wrapped our twenty-second issue. I cannot believe how much this publication has changed and grown, and we’ve reached a huge milestone of nearly 13 million views on issuu.com. I could not be more grateful for every staff member, creative mind, and loyal reader who makes this publication possible, and I am constantly astonished and endlessly grateful for the support our publication has received over the years. When I started Mad Sounds in high school, I not only wanted the magazine to be a creative outlet for myself, but a platform for other people to express their passion, feel inspired, and chase their dreams, and I wanted to create an issue dedicated to this idea. Our theme for our April issue, “City of Stars”, was inspired by both the pursuit of creative dreams and one of
my favorite cities, Los Angeles, California. In this issue, I wanted to emphasize the importance of following your passion, and the ways in which a variety of different creatives within the fields of photography, content creation, media, and more have continued to pursue their dreams doing what they love. In this issue we had the pleasure of working with one of my biggest inspirations, Jenn Im, on the cover of our April issue. (In our interview with her, we talked about how she turned her passion into a full-time career, and you can find her full story on page 50!) We’ve also featured some amazing artists: Harrison Glazier, Danny Rozenblit, and Olivia Avenue, whose stories I cannot wait for you to read. I am so excited for you all to read the April issue of Mad Sounds, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. Cheers!
Giselle Melendres Founding Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director
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the california daze
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT @dannyrozenblit featuring ALI HUXMAN
mad sounds editorials
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring COURTNEY JOHNSON
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featuring KAYLA JADE, FRANCESCA NARDONE, CASSIE BROWN
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photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring NATA SARAFINCHAN
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring JORDYN JONES (left), CASSIE BROWN (right)
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photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring NATA SARAFINCHAN
mad sounds editorials
down on the west coast photography ANDRE NGUYEN @yourfriendandre featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN @paigelorentzen
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mad sounds editorials
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mad sounds editorials
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photography ANDRE NGUYEN / @yourfriendandre featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN / @paigelorentzen
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photography ANDRE NGUYEN / @yourfriendandre featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN / @paigelorentzen
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love like los angeles photography DANI VAN WINKLE @bellumrosarium featuring AVA ALEXANDRA @avaalexandraw
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photography DANI VAN WINKLE / @bellumrosarium featuring OLIVIA O’KEEFFE / @oliiviaokeeffe
photography DANI VAN WINKLE @bellumrosarium featuring AVA ALEXANDRA @avaalexandraw
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mad sounds think pieces
los angeles: more than a hipster’s paradise written by JUSTIN TILTON photography by DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring MARINA LASWICK
Do you remember reading about Ellis Island in history books? On the probable chance you spent your time in history class sleeping- Ellis Island, located in the New York Bay, was a gateway for immigrants to the U.S. and welcomed over 12 million weary people to our country between 1892 and 1954. Those passing through the island were fighters and dreamers, unsatisfied with the previous opportunities offered to them, and courageous enough to venture into the unknown in order to create a life for themselves which would not be possible if they stayed in their current situation. Reading through that last sentence reminds me a lot of the countless people I have met in Los Angeles who have come to the city in order to follow their dreams and allow themselves the opportunity to succeed. Obviously, to put the difficulties those immigrants faced on the same level with those being dealt with by some random girl I met at a coffee shop is absolutely disrespectful and discounts the struggles and extreme pressures which made the immigration of those people into the States necessary. That’s not my intention. However, there are a few similar mindsets between those two groups of people which I both admire and am inspired by.
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With both groups of people I see a desire for more than would be possible if they didn’t venture into the unknown, and a complete disregard of the fear which could prevent them from achieving that. I also see a desire to challenge and grow one’s self into who they know they are meant to be. Some people are creatures of comfort and never face the restlessness which prods some to do what others consider “crazy”. Others see the world and its possibilities and will work continually to find a place in it which they are both happy with and fulfilled by. The people of Los Angeles fall into that last category. Going to school a good twenty minutes from downtown L.A. gave me the chance to experience the culture created by these people firsthand. Los Angeles is a place of discovery and growth. Every person is on a mission to achieve the goal which they came to the city with, and their life revolves around that one thing. There is no “good enough” or settling. Rather, there is a constant feeling that there is always more.
Prior to being surrounded by this culture, I worked hard but I never challenged myself mentally. I never questioned myself or really considered what I wanted or who I wanted to be, but being around the restless opens your mind to your own possibilities. It’s inspirational. Meeting musicians, YouTubers, photographers, and entrepreneurs all of whom wouldn’t be where they are without taking a leap of faith and believing in their talents and skills challenged me to really think about what I want out of life and helped give me the courage to pursue that. Sometimes you have to surround yourself with people who are living outside of their comfort zone in order to see that it really is possible. Say what you want about L.A.’s traffic or the general stigma of superficiality, but for me, the people of L.A. and the culture they create is inspiring and what really gives the meaning behind when I tell people I’m from Los Angeles.
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring KAYLA JADE, FRANCESCA NARDONE, CASSIE BR
ROWN
mad sounds think pieces
passions and influences written by BRINDY FRANCIS photography by ANDRE NGUYEN featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN
A necessary part of finding oneself is searching and becoming confident in their passions. For me, my initial passion has been writing, but the passions which motivate and drive this dream of mine are just as urgent. I am passionate about people; this can be people from afar or the people I have grown to love immensely. I thrive off of human interaction and the allure of love. The experiences one subsists and encounters are what drives primary passions. The number one contribution to experiences are the people you are surrounded with. No matter where you are, escapades are often more pleasurable when in a position of interaction. It’s important to be conscious of the things that drive you and inspire you. Always take note of little moments that make you feel free or influenced. These are the things that urge people to create art or be motivated enough to excel in the education system or workplace. My journey in finding my passions was quite the excursion. This journey is persisting. Each day, I discover a new passion or ability. It’s difficult to
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feel 100% confident in your future and happiness. We never will be confident in that fact unless your future is laid out in front of you, and very rarely do you find happiness in this scenario. This is why the spontaneity in discovering your passions and auxiliary passions is so liberating. The certainty in the unknown is what makes us stronger in creating and pursuing ambitions. Being confident in what you are passionate about in the now determines those future actions. It is important to make goals and plans, but the excitement of ambiguity will bring the most of joy. Each individual has different paths to satisfaction and well-being, so it’s always powerful when being conscious of those passions and where they can take you while being sure to embrace those aspirations in this moment and in no other. Excel in the things you feel strongly about and continue on the journey of self discovery and endearment. Find what drives your dreams and study them thoroughly. Embody your likings and become something nobody has ever imagined.
mad sounds think pieces
self-love beyond comparison written by EMILY ZHENG photography by DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring LAUREL THOMA
One of the most beautiful people I know tells me, “I just don’t think I’m good enough.” Where she sees weaknesses, I see her strength. Where she sees her fears, I see her complexity. In another perspective, this girl used to be me, wearing envy like it’s a second skin. I measured self-worth through comparison: if only I were smart like her, if only I could write like him, if only I could be someone I’m not. Then I would be happy. Because that’s how fulfillment works -- a checklist of flaws to fix, and you will achieve confidence. Only, I was a voice too jarring, an ambition with no purpose, imperfection beyond repair. I was never content with my present self, always aching to be more. I grew up believing I could accomplish anything, but all I saw was the lost time, the aspirations I could live out if only I weren’t me. I used to see the blossoming of my unfulfilled dreams in others -- she is the fulcrum of realized ambition and I am as memorable as static. She is all I could’ve been, with a smaller frame and a prettier smile and a softer voice. I’ll always be the “crazy” one, unable to be tamed, more of a nuisance than a revolutionary. Maybe I’m not enough.
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Maybe I’m a series of first chapters and she’s the happily ever after. Or just maybe, it’s time for me to rewrite my history, to redefine my future. I was unsure of myself and lost as to who I was, but I have accomplished things despite this. When I think about what I am the proudest of, it isn’t ever the big achievements, the obvious ones. I always come back to the little things, like when my friend Brooke told me she cried because of a piece I had written. Opening my heart up even though I was scared. Asking for help when I needed it. Being there for my friends and giving genuine compliments and overcoming anxiety. I refuse to be haunted by all that I am not. My unruliness may cause me to curse at inappropriate times and ask too many questions, but it is what gives my life color. I have spent too many years trying to soften my edges to compensate for insecurity. I no longer wish to be more like her, but to accept more of myself, who is loud and energized and most importantly, flawed.
Don’t let comparison push being happy to tomorrow. I am my most beautiful today, when self-love is no longer the impossible. I do not wallow in the parts of myself that are empty but celebrate how full I am: full of life, full of compassion, full of joy and wonder. I have an insatiable curiosity for stories and a penchant for going on tangents, and I would not change these things for the world. I am wild and dynamic and electric, and I am not sorry about any of this. My heart is a city of stars -- I use constellations to write poetry and dance with my dreams on top of cosmic skyscrapers. She is astronomical, but so am I, and together, we are cultivating the courage we used to lack. We are rewriting the language of insecurity. We shine with an interstellar passion and a love that transcends earthly limits. Maybe I can be revolutionary. Maybe I’ve been enough this whole time. Maybe I am the happily ever after.
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring CASSIE BROWN
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sweater / Joyrich / boots & hat / Jenn’s own coat / Guess
mad sounds features
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jenn im photography RILEY TAYLOR / featuring JENN IM styling by KATIE QIAN / hair by STEPHANIE TEA makeup by LUCKY SIN & JENN IM interview by GISELLE MELENDRES
top Guess x A$AP Rocky jeans Style Nanda
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meet jenn im written by GISELLE MELENDRES photography by RILEY TAYLOR
You may have heard of the YouTube channel Clothes Encounters, started by creative mind and fashion connoisseur, Jenn Im. Starting YouTube back in 2010, Jenn had wanted a creative outlet for her interests in fashion, and found her niche in the creative community on YouTube. Seven years later, Jenn has turned her passion into a full-time career, inspiring nearly two million subscribers through her videos, continuously encouraging her viewers to express themselves creatively, stay true to oneself, and pursue their dreams. From video topics ranging from style advice, to thoughtful discussions on how to find confidence, Jenn’s dedication to her viewers and passion for her craft shines brightly within her channel, and continues to be one of the central reasons for her ongoing success. Today, we had the opportunity to talk to Jenn about how she started Clothes Encounters, where she finds her inspiration, and her biggest advice on how to chase your dreams in a creative industry. Read our interview to learn more about Jenn Im and the evolution of Clothes Encounters. Hi Jenn, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us at Mad Sounds! To start off, can you tell us about a typical day in the life of Jenn Im? Of course! Thank you for having me. A typical day in my life starts off with giving my dog, Cheeki, a nice little cuddle. Then my fiance, Ben, will cook us breakfast while I crack down with emails and editing. I’ll head to the gym after digesting and then get ready for the day. If I don’t have any meetings or shoots, I’ll film or edit a video for my Youtube channel for the rest of the day. In the evenings, I’ll usually have dinner plans with one of my girlfriends and then finish the night curled up to a book or watching Netflix.
Let’s start from the very beginning—tell us a little bit about the origin story of Clothes Encounters: Sarah Chu and I created Clothes Encounters in 2010. We were both in community college and we wanted to have a creative outlet. We decided to upload on YouTube because there wasn’t a fashion community on there at the time. We thought it was a void we should fill and so we shared our styling tips with the world. After over a year of shooting content together, we decided that I would take over the channel. I was transferring to UC Davis and the distance made it difficult to find time to shoot together.
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top Joyrich Los Angeles skirt/belt Oh Hey Girl choker Style Nanda
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What was it like continuing Clothes Encounters on your own after Sarah Chu left the channel? Initially I was nervous on how our subscribers would deal with the transition. However, everyone was really supportive because they understood the circumstances. When I transferred to UC Davis, it was my first time living out on my own. Being a full time student and managing the channel kept me preoccupied, so it kept me from feeling too lonely up there. I felt really lucky and blessed to be connected to a community even though I was 500 miles away from home. You’ve been on YouTube since 2010: how do you feel both yourself and your channel have evolved over time? It’s insane to think that I’ve been doing this for nearly 7 years. I never would have thought this channel would have evolved into a full blown business and I feel so grateful that I am able to turn my passion into a career. I’ve always made a huge effort to keep my channel from feeling stagnant so I’m constantly searching for ways to keep things fresh. I’ve also built an incredible team around me to help me. My manager, my graphic designer and Ben are all integral parts of my life and the channel. Is there a particular moment that you feel was the most pivotal or exciting in your YouTube career thus far? One of the most exciting parts in my YouTube career was launching my collaboration with ColourPop Cosmetics. The Jenn Ne Sais Quoi collection was everything I had ever dreamed of in a merchandise line and it was so surreal seeing subscribers all over the world using the products.
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You make a variety of different videos on your channel, some including style advice videos like “What Would Jenn Wear”, along with beauty tutorials, weekly vlogs, and more. What are some of your favorite types of videos to film? My favorite types of videos to film are probably the vlogs because they’re visual diaries of my life. I love being able to look back and re-live some of my favorite moments in my life like my birthday party at the roller rink to the time I spent Christmas in London. Where do you find inspiration for your videos? It sounds cheesy, but I find inspiration everywhere from films to advertisements on TV. As an internet creative, you’re bound to get some hate online, how do you deal with hate comments or criticism? I try to never respond to hate comments. It’s not worth my time trying to defend or correct myself with haters because in the end, it just adds more fuel to the fire. Constructive criticism is a different story because there’s always room to improve. If I ever feel tempted to write back to a negative comment, I’ll just respond to as many positive comments as I can. It reminds me that out of a few negative comments, there’s a sea of overwhelming support. It helps me rewire my brain to ignore the negativity and focus on the love I have from my subscribers.
mad sounds features
makeup by LUCKY SIN @makeupbylucky + JENN IM @imjennim hair by STEPHANIE TEA @stephteazehair
photography RILEY TAYLOR / @rileytaylor styling KATIE QIAN / @katieqian
jenn im
“My biggest advice to chasing your dreams is to start today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. The creative industry is one of the most unpredictable terrains you can imagine and it’s constantly changing. The only consistent thing is yourself. Keep that drive, stay patient and things will fall into place.”
Our April issue is titled “City of Stars”: a theme centering around Los Angeles and the pursuit of creative dreams. Breaking into a creative industry can be daunting to many people, what is your biggest advice in learning how to chase your dreams without regret? My biggest advice to chasing your dreams is to start today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today. The creative industry is one of the most unpredictable terrains you can imagine and it’s constantly changing. The only consistent thing is yourself. Keep that drive, stay patient and things will fall into place. Speaking of Los Angeles—what are some of your favorite spots in L.A.? I love living in Downtown LA because I’m surrounded by so many amazing restaurants and cool places to hang out. One of my favorite restaurants is Kazu Nori. It’s a handroll sushi bar and their food is out of control. I’m guilty of Postmating it at least once a week. For shopping, I recommend checking out Mohawk General Store in Silver Lake. They’ve curated the store so well and they rep a lot of my favorite brands. What is your advice for those wanting to start a YouTube channel similar to yours? Being consistent is the most important thing. There is a lot of work and preparation that goes into creating YouTube videos and it’s easy to burn out after a few videos. Try and stick to posting at least one YouTube video a week. I know you graduated from the University of California Davis—what was it like to move from a town like Davis to a city like Los Angeles? I actually grew up near Los Angeles, so it was like moving back home. After living in Davis for two years and then Oakland for another year, I was ready to come back. Growing up near LA and living in LA are two completely different things because I finally got a taste of what it was like to actually live in the city. It’s such an inspiring place and there are always so many activities and events to do here. I love shooting and filming in all the different pockets. We’re blessed with amazing architecture, beautiful beaches, mountains, and quirky little neighborhoods. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
mad sounds features
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photography RILEY TAYLOR styling KATIE QIAN makeup LUCKY SIN hair STEPHANIE TEA
makeup LUCKY SIN / @makeupbylucky hair STEPHANIE TEA / @stephteazehair photography RILEY TAYLOR / @rileytaylor styling KATIE QIAN / @katieqian
In terms of style, what are some of your spring fashion staples? I’m loving light airy trenches with some distressed hem denim! What are your spring beauty essentials? I love a light coral lip for spring. Hourglass has this beautiful moisturizing lip color called Explorer and it’s what I gravitate towards most. What is one important life lesson you learned in your 20s? Appreciate the moment because in a flash it’ll just be another memory. What songs have been on your playlist recently? Tom Misch, on repeat. What is one item you cannot live without? My Camelbak waterbottle. I call it my sippy cup and it goes wherever I go. Gotta stay hydrated.
Keep up with Jenn: Instagram/Twitter: @imjennim youtube.com/ clothesencounters
harrison glazier photography SABRINA WINGATE / featuring HARRISON GLAZIER styling/creative direction by SABRINA WINGATE interview by NICOLE BONFIGLIO
photography SABRINA WINGATE / featuring HARRISON GLAZIER styling/creative direction by SABRINA WINGATE
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harrison glazier written by NICOLE BONFIGLIO photography by SABRINA WINGATE
Harrison Glazier is just nineteen years old and already has a following of nearly 55 thousand followers on Instagram. Not only has Harrison built this platform for himself to share his craft of photography, but he is also completely self taught, all starting with taking photos on an old iPhone when he was just thirteen. Harrison’s work is stunning, his portfolio is full of stunning portraits, shot in natural lighting, that invoke this feeling of nostalgia and intimacy that’s impossible to overlook. However when you talk to Harrison about his work, what’s so interesting is that he really makes it seem so simple, like second nature, because you quickly find out that he is one of those artists that is so gifted that they literally live and breathe their craft. To Harrison, photography is the only way in which he knows how to not only know himself, but the world around him. His art is quite literally his lense in which he understands life. Listening to him speak about his work so passionately and naturally feels exactly like the personification of art, whatever that may mean to you. While Harrison is clearly already so successful, his creative plans stretch much further than freelance photography, and at the rate and skill level he’s at now, it seems completely accurate to assume that he can and will be a major force in the creative industries in the next decade. What makes you most excited about photography? That’s literally so hard to answer. I think just having the ability to, um, oh god, I guess like I just don’t know anything without it, I’ve grown up doing it so consistently. So, what makes me so excited is where it can take me and what I can do with it, and how it gives me a lot of different opportunities to pursue other creative endeavors. That’s what I’ve been learning a lot about myself lately, like maybe I’m not going to be doing strictly photography forever but rather it can be like an entryway into learning how to direct, or learning how to bring photography into multimedia work, but also just like the people you get to meet, it’s so amazing.
I’m such a people person, I love getting to know people and just spending time with friends and random people. How old were you when you started exploring photography? Um, wow, I was like 13 when I first started taking pictures, my dad gave me an old iPhone, that didn’t have any service on it, and we went on vacation to Hawaii, and he was like, “Hey, this takes good pictures you should try it.” and I was like “Okay!” So yeah, 13 in middle school… right around when Instagram started to come out. But yeah I was just taking pictures on a phone for a while.
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When was the point in your career that you considered and labeled yourself a photographer? I think when I was, well naively when I was a freshman in high school, I was taking a lot of senior portraits for the girls in my leadership class, and at that point, I was like “Oh yeah, I’m a photographer” because of these girls, and people were actually asking, “Can you take my picture?” I think being relevant to other people coming to me and like identifying me as a photographer was when I started realizing, “Oh I can actually take on that mantle and identity.” What are you trying to accomplish with your work? That’s a good question. I think I’m trying, as corny as it sounds, photography is the only real way I know how to get to know myself. Like I’m not really a writer, can’t paint, and I only know life through art. So, photography… I think for myself I’m just trying to learn my place in the world, both like in a very utilitarian, pragmatic sense, like purpose or how can I serve or work in the world, and on an identity level trying to see where I fit in the greater puzzle, but as well for other people, something I think is really cool about photography is how widespread with social media it can be now, anyone can look at something and be like “Whoa I want to do that, or I want to be able to do that,” and have the ability to aspire to that, so yeah the idea of being that for one random person, whether it’s someone I’m friends with who sees my work and someone random that would come across it, just being able to be a source of “Oh wow! I could do that or I want to do that” or something along those lines. In a time where there’s thousands of young millennials with Instagram who label themselves ”photographers,” what do you think differentiates you from the masses? That’s such a hard question because it’s almost like a double edge sword. The place that I came
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from is what would be considered “the masses,” I guess--I didn’t have any experience in photography, I didn’t know what I was doing, I wasn’t a photographer. I think it’s hard to navigate what differentiates me from the masses without sounding elitist, you know, it’s not like “Oh I put in all this work so I deserve this, it’s not like beneficial…” I think what would differentiate myself from the masses, I think is, knowing that I cannot live without it. I can’t function without actively doing my art and doing my work, so I think at that point, where your craft becomes your life, is the point where that shift happens. I think that, that’s why if someone was like “I’m a photographer!” I would never be like “No, you’re not” because I don’t know what degree you are using photography to further yourself in a social sense? I think it’s just the only way someone can tell if they’re a true artist, if there even is that, it’s like an internal thing, I guess… if that makes sense. Where do you draw most of your inspiration? A lot of the music I listen to, and in like a very visual sense, I’m very drawn by Balenciaga’s aesthetic right now, I really like that. I guess it’s hard for me to answer this question because so much of it is subconscious, I’ve always been doing it, because my roots in photography are like taking pictures on my phone. I think it’s very second nature for me to be walking around and see something and be like “Oh, yeah! I’m going to take a picture of that.” Like, I don’t know anything different than that. So just, going about my day to day life and noticing and observing different things is constantly informing my practice as a photographer. I guess the only way to describe it is like a bingo machine, how it’s constantly just like cranking and turning…basically it’s just constantly a process of observing and internalizing things.
photography/styling SABRINA WINGATE / @sabweens featuring HARRISON GLAZIER
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Which photographers do you look up to the most and why? I’ve been following a lot of different British photographers and ones from the East Coast. Like Theo Wenner, I really love his work, he’s done a lot of stuff for Rolling Stone and he does a lot of celebrity editorials. Also I’m a big fan of Harley Weir, Theo Wenner, just a lot of photographers in this new generation of editorial photographers that are sort of reaching the prime of their careers, they’re in their early thirties, really connected with what’s happening in a very youthful, new sense, but also are these tastemakers who are sort of dictating the way that visual arts are running their route. I think what draws me to their work most is that it’s a very new breed of fashion photography, a lot of it is lively, it’s organic and it comes from a place that feels very true. So yeah, I feel like I identify with them in a way because my work has always been very organic, all my work has been self taught, I work with natural lighting, and I mainly shoot people that I’m friends with. My work is majorly comprised of working with my friends, so I think that the way that those photographers are able to shoot fashion...I just feel like I identify with it. What would your dream shoot look like? I mean honestly, being able to do any kind of ad campaign for a fashion house would be like a dream, I guess. I really like Grace Bohl’s look or Adwoa Aboah, she’s a fashion model from the UK, I really like her look as well. Yeah, I mean, being able to work with like any major fashion haus for a campaign. I would love to do album artwork down the line--that would actually be one of the coolest shoots I would do, just doing album artwork for any artist that is like really open to new concepts because I think that’s a really cool intersection of being able to create art that people can identify with other experience of music, but as well there fashion, and style, and an aesthetic that goes into it. So being able shoot album artwork for like Bjork, or Lady Gaga would be super cool. Just being able to collaborate with any fashion house or doing album artwork, that’s a goal.
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photography/styling SABRINA WINGATE / @sabweens featuring HARRISON GLAZIER
mad sounds features
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“Going about my day to day life and noticing and observing different things is constantly informing my practice as a photographer. I guess the only way to describe it is like a bingo machine--it’s constantly just cranking and turning…it’s constantly a process of observing and internalizing things.”
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Do you have any advice for young amateur photographers? I think any advice I would give to another young photographer is just to constantly be taking pictures even if you’re really not feeling it. I found that periods of time where I haven’t grown as an artist is because I was not shooting, even if it’s just little things. So yeah, just getting yourself to work and create new things. It sounds so simple, but it really is that simple for anyone who wants to grow as a photographer and pursue it, you just have to shoot and work and build up a portfolio of images that really feel true to what you want to do, not necessarily like what is marketable or will sell. And as well, meeting other creatives, that’s been huge in my growth as a photographer, I would not be where I am today if I didn’t invest in friendships that I really care about, especially with other creative individuals who have a similar outlook on life and aesthetics, I guess. What project have you done that you think was most formative to your success as a photographer? I think creating and self publishing my photo book was probably the most formative, definitive moment of my practice thus far. From start to finish, curating, choosing different images for my portfolio, printing them out, ordering them, designing the book, and then that actual footwork of reaching out to different print companies in SF, seeing who would be interested in picking it up, producing it, and using my savings to fund it, and then selling it and releasing it to the world, I think that whole process from like conception to delivery, was most definitive. You have over 50,000 followers on instagram, what’s it like to be able to expose your work to that many people so quickly? On a practical level, it’s really cool to be able to share my work with so many people. I think I’m really privileged to have the platform and that audience, because not a lot of young photographers have that, like it sort of landed in my lap. I
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feel really privileged to have that audience and I take that with a lot of integrity, and very seriously. But it also can be very very paralyzing, because you have so many people watching you, so there isn’t much room for error. So, I don’t share all of my work on social media because I do have a lot of people constantly watching my work, so what I put out is reflective of my practice. It’s great and helped me make a lot of connections but at the same time it can be very paralyzing and there’s a lot of pressure, and that has definitely hindered some growth I think because I don’t always feel like I could put out whatever I want because like “Oh my gosh, all these people are watching” and sometimes that can be kind of stifling. Do you feel that your Instagram presence has had a positive effect on your career? How so? I think the biggest thing is that it’s helped me meet a lot of people, just by knowing a lot of other photographers and creatives on social media. Having that platform has definitely helped me network, but in the same way it’s also been kind of hindering and I don’t know to what degree it’s helpful or not. I think that there’s plenty of other photographers that are much more talented than me, but don’t have the following, so brands or stylists, or different entities they see “Oh like 55 thousand followers he must be so great!” and that’s predisposed but really, I’m an amateur and I’m still trying to figure out myself, and in the end there’s plenty of people who are much more talented than me but just don’t have that platform, which is a part of the privilege part I brought up earlier, I think.
Keep up with Harrison: Instagram: @harrisonglazier harryglazier.com
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What are your long term goals? Does it include photography? Yeah, I do think that photography will always be like a really core piece of my artistic process or my practice as an artist. But I don’t know if I see photography as sort of an “end all.” Like, if I was like, “I just want to be a freelance photographer for the rest of my existence”, I think that would be selling myself short in a way. So yeah, looking towards the future, like I said, I would love to go into directing, really I’m an avid video art fan, I love consuming music videos, and different visuals for projects, so being able to oversee productions of, just overseeing larger productions, whether it’s directing music videos, or doing fashion editing, or layout. I think I want to, and be able to oversee projects, but also still being the head creative director, the person who is really facilitating the mood and the atmosphere. You’re leaving Seattle and moving to Los Angeles, what’s next for you? So I am moving to Los Angeles in a couple of weeks to enroll in Art Center to study photography under their fine art program. So, next is moving to LA, enrolling in art school, which I think will definitely give me much more of a solid, technical foundation in my work, which I think has lacked at times because I didn’t even really grow my audience on like constantly sharing my photo work, it was like that platform was built when I was like posting all of these lifestyle photos, like very like “I’m going out exploring with my friends and doing all of these things” and so now I have this back catalogue of things I need to learn if I want to like really pursue my career. I think that going to art school will give me a really good technical foundation as well as being in a larger city that has more of a creative industry that I think I fit into, so pursuing different opportunities with different artists, and being able to do things like pursuing music as well as photography, and just being down there, and being geographically relevant to all that, I think it will be a lot easier to pursue more opportunities.
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mad sounds features
olivia avenue photography ZACH MISCAVAGE featuring OLIVIA OSBORNE interview by JANET GARCIA
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NO. 22 — CITY OF STARS
olivia avenue written by JANET GARCIA photography by ZACH MISCAVAGE
Meet Olivia Obsorne, also known online as Olivia Avenue. You might have seen her on YouTube: her content varying from positive, self motivating videos, to creative montages of her stunning photography. The artist: an overall female go getter, resides in the city of Philadelphia and explores the creative fields of graphic design, photography, and more. Read our interview with Olivia Avenue to learn more about her future plans regarding her Youtube channel, and how she continues to pursue her dreams in a creative field. Hi Olivia, Thanks for sitting down with us here at Mad Sounds today. To start off, tell us about a day in the life for Olivia Avenue:
I’ve noticed some of your videos are montages of pictures of your adventures. How did that style of video making come to mind?
A usual day for me includes exploring new sections of my city, Philadelphia, taking photos or videos and meeting up with friends.
I started off taking photos at a young age. When you take photos at a high speed it allows you to piece the photos together to resemble an old fashioned film video.
Let’s talk a bit about your new YouTube channel! How long have you been doing YouTube videos for, and what made you want to start? I have been making YouTube videos for the past two and a half years. I originally started off making videos on fashion and makeup. I then later realized that I could use my platform for more and decided to shift my channel’s focus. I now try to make an effort to create videos that can help people. I was strongly influenced by creators like Meghan Hughes and Gary Vaynerchuk when I started making the content that I currently make.
Your videos are about positivity, self love, and growth--to you, personally, what is self love and how do you personally continue to grow as a person and creatively? Self love is valuing and caring for yourself just like you would for any other person. Self love is knowing your worth and respecting it through your thoughts and actions. So many times we neglect ourselves in the process of caring for other people but it is so important to remind ourselves that we need to take care of ourselves as well.
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photography ZACH MISCAVAGE @shotbyzach featuring OLIVIA OSBORNE
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I try to continuously grow as a person by educating myself on new perspectives. I love to read books, watch countless Ted Talks and listen to podcasts and sermons. I try to continuously grow as a creative by surrounding myself with new people and going to places. Your environment and mood directly affects how and what your create. What inspired you to get into photography? What is your favorite type of photograph to capture? At a young age I picked up my mom’s camera and took pictures just around my neighborhood. My favorite type of photo to capture is one that directly conveys emotion. Photos that were taken in the moment and that show what a memory looks like are my absolute favorite. What advice and tips can you give people who wants to venture into photography? Just go for it. Your gear doesn’t matter, but the emotion of the piece does. Creatively, what projects are you working on currently? I am currently working on my YouTube channel called Olivia Avenue. I want to start a positivity series on my channel that can help people live happier and more fulfilling lives. So far, what project are you most proud of? My favorite video I have made so far would have to be my Love Park Snapshot Film. I filmed it on one of the last days of Love Park before they started construction, so they lifted the skating ban. There were countless skateboarders in the park and people sitting down and observing. That day was such a wonderful memory for me and I think that video does a decent good at displaying that.
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How did you discover your interest in graphic design? I took a class in highschool on digital advertising that taught me all the basics of lightroom and design theory. What are some of your biggest challenges when it comes to creating and how do you break from the challenges thrown at you? I think one of the biggest roadblocks in any creative industry is fear. Knowing that countless people can view your work because it is online and simply accessible by everyone can be quite a scary thought. Especially in high school, judgment is very predominant and doing something that is not too normal isn’t always accepted. When harsh judgements or negative thoughts are thrown at me, I try to remind myself of the positives in my life and of the creative industry that I am in. You’re currently going through the college application process. What are you planning to major in? I am planning on majoring in Marketing and Computer Science! As a fellow female boss, who are some people who inspire you in the industry? As far as YouTube goes, I am heavily inspired by Marie Forleo, Mimi Ikonn, Karlie Kloss and Meghan Hughes. They all make content that truly tries to help people and has substance.
“Being open to new opportunities and experiences can lead you to a place of success. I think it is vastly important to open yourself up to new people and challenges to allow yourself to grow into the boss that your are.�
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You are making a name for yourself: what does it feel like to be a female, self-made, boss? How do you achieve this empowerment? Being open to new opportunities and experiences can lead you to a place of success. I think it is vastly important to open yourself up to new people and challenges to allow yourself to grow into the boss that your are. This issue is all about chasing your dreams, pursuing creative careers, and more--what is your biggest advice in learning to pursue your dreams? Perseverance is crucial in pursuing your dreams. You can’t automatically have all of the needed knowledge to obtain your desired dream when you start. You need to learn new skills, network and open yourself up to new opportunities it order to get close to your dream each day. What is the best advice when it comes to being an online content creator? At the end of the day remember why you are creating your content and who you are helping while doing so.
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photography ZACH MISCAVAGE @shotbyzach featuring OLIVIA OSBORNE
NO. 22 — CITY OF STARS I’ve noticed you are a Chance the Rapper fan. You both are creative minds, what do you like the most about his creative side? I admire that he isn’t scared of merging his faith and positivity with his creative works. Many of chances songs have spiritual and biblical references and I admire the he dives into that rather than staying away like most popular artists do. Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years I will be freshly out of college pursuing a career in a creative tech field. I would love to work at a warm company environment like Instagram or Google. Can you recommend any books to your audience, and what current books are you reading? The Secret is a book that revolves around the concept of the Law of Attraction that absolutely changed my life. I believe that The Secret can teach you so many powerful lessons about positivity that you can take with you for the rest of your life. I am currently reading the book When God Winks at You by Squire Rushnell. What places do you want to explore in the future? I would love to explore Boston, San Francisco and Alberta Canada. What is your go to outfit for a night out? My go to outfit would include a pair of highwaisted jeans, a black top and heeled boots.
Keep up with Olivia Avenue: Instagram/Twitter: @oliviaavenue YouTube: Olivia Avenue
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danny rozenblit photography DANNY ROZENBLIT words by DANNY ROZENBLIT interview by REBECCA POOLE
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring MARINA LASWICK (left) & CASSIE BROWN (right)
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring CASSIE BROWN
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danny rozenblit written by REBECCA POOLE photography by DANNY ROZENBLIT
Behind the lens that captures Orange County sunsets, the exuberant vibes of a model, and the overarching theme of a carefree youth is photographer Danny Rozenblit. As I point out that Danny is still in high school—balancing tennis with homework— the phrase “age is but a number” might come to mind. Not in the way that it’s usually used, but relevant nonetheless due to the impressive body of work to his name. Danny’s already shot for mega-popular California brand Brandy Melville multiple times, worked with a multitude of influencers (does the name Amanda Steele ring a bell?), while still keeping what he loves most about his craft alive…the fun of it. Not exactly everyone’s typical “extracurricular activity” after the last bell sounds. But for Danny, it’s what he loves and pursues full force…regardless of social media pressure or adolescent structure. Embodying the new generation of photography, we chatted with the Southern California Instagram aficionado on everything from muses to the backdrop of Orange County and following your heart in the “City of Stars”.
Hi Danny! Thanks for taking the time to talk to Mad Sounds. To start off, can you walk us through a typical “day in the life” for Danny Rozenblit? Hey, yes! I’m actually currently still in high school, so my typical day right now probably isn’t as exciting as I might like. After getting back from tennis practice after school, I’ll walk my dog (who I’m absolutely obsessed with, by the way) and usually spend the rest of my night studying (exciting, I know). Balancing photography with my academics has been more and more difficult with each year of high school, but I try my hardest to have some sort of balance between the two as school is my first priority right now, but photography is my passion and something I cannot see myself giving up anytime soon. It gets pretty hard sometimes, but I guess that’s just being in high school.
How did you first get into photography? I first started photography when I was about 13 years old, after downloading Instagram originally for the filters, not even knowing what it was. Looking back it’s pretty embarrassing, but I remember running around my street taking pictures of flowers and clouds with my iPod touch; so proud of those grainy, low quality images. After a while, my uncle, who is into photography as well, recommended I upgrade from my iPod touch to a “real” camera. At the time I didn’t understand why, but I’m so glad he encouraged me, or else I would probably still be using that low quality iPod camera. From there, I started shooting more and more and eventually asked some of my friends to shoot, and that’s where it all started for me.
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photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring MARINA LASWICK
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What’s the prep like for going into a shoot with a creative? Do you have any pre-shoot rituals you like to do to prepare yourself? Before every shoot, I always make sure that my camera battery is completely charged, and that I made sure to clear my memory card. After I do this, I always take one test picture before leaving, just to make sure everything’s working properly! The few times I didn’t do this somehow my camera/lens/memory card somehow malfunctioned or broke. Literally, one time on a shoot I took about five shots before my camera completely broke - every photographer’s nightmare! Where do you find inspiration for both shoots and the editing process? This may sound cliché, but I truly get inspired by everything around me. A location may inspire me to try out a certain shot I’ve always wanted to take, or a model’s look and energy often inspires me to take the photos I do during a shoot. Another huge factor that I find inspires me is the weather! I love shooting in some moody cloudy weather, where the even lighting enables me to capture a moment from any angle. However, shooting during bright, warm days during golden hour is just as magical, as the sunset creates a whole different vibe that I love capturing. Any photographers you personally look up to for inspiration or guidance? This is such a hard question! I personally am inspired by all the photographers I follow on Instagram, but some of my favorites are Mikel Roberts, France Duque, Jared Thomas Kocka, Jorden Keith, Alessio Albi, Ravi Vora, Brandon Woelfel (King of Instagram) and so many more! Really any photographer who has a unique, distinct style
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring MARINA LASWICK
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inspires me to further develop my own. Also, I’ve kinda been into a few travel bloggers lately! People like Jessica Stein (@tuulavintage) always have such stunning images that combine the sense of freedom and effortlessness with wonderful composition and colors, and this always results in a captivating photograph. Living and growing up in Southern California, how has the area inspired you to chase your dreams? Growing up in Southern California has completely shaped both who I am and my photography style. I am constantly inspired by the concept of the “California lifestyle” and often strive to capture this energy in a photograph. I’m also so grateful for the vast variety of location options Southern California provides, with gorgeous beaches, hills, and cities. In addition, the community of creatives in Southern California is amazing, and I love being inspired by new people I get to work with. There is really no better place to live and create. Do you have any favorite spots in your hometown that you’d recommend to anyone visiting? If you want to get some good pictures, my home, Orange County, is the place to go! In the summer, one of my favorite locations is the OC Fair, with bright colors and fun summer vibes. In the fall, there are so many cute pumpkin patches to go to, it’s hard to pick! Some places go all out with Christmas decorations in the winter, like one of my favorite locations - a festive little plant nursery called Roger’s Gardens. In the spring, the hills turn a beautiful lush green, and this always makes for a stunning location. Year round, though, I love shooting at any beach in Laguna Beach. Of these, Table Rock, Crescent Bay, and Victoria Beach are my favorites! Laguna Beach is one of the most magical places to take photos, and I am constantly drawn back there to create.
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Anyone you consider a “muse” who you’ve either worked with or dream to one day? I really consider all the models I work with muses. Every model brings something so different to each shoot, and I love vibing off the energy they give. A model’s personality really translates in photos, and this greatly inspires me and makes creating with them that much more magical. Some models I would die to shoot with one day though are Candice Swanepoel (she’s amazing), Taylor Hill, Scarlett Leithold, Irina Shayk, Bridget Satterlee, Zoe Aggeliki, Barbara Palvin, and Kelsey Calemine. I could go on forever. What pushes you to think outside of the box, especially when striving to create your personal photography style? Today, it’s hard to be completely unique, and to some it almost seems that everything has been already done and it’s literally impossible to be original. However, I disagree. There is only one you, with the ability to possess your own unique qualities and experiences that add to the photos you take. Down to the preference of coloration, there is no way your photos will be the same as someone else’s, unless you deliberately try to imitate someone. On that topic, I highly encourage not only photographers, but everyone, not to “copy” someone else. It’s completely fine to be inspired by someone, but blatant copying is one of my biggest photography pet peeves. If you are trying to gain followers, people will follow the person you’re trying to copy, not someone who is blatantly trying to imitate their style. Instead, find your own style; I promise you’ll be happier with the photos if you take them for yourself, and you will be better at that style than at someone else’s. Especially recently, I have been trying to focus less on how other photographers have been shooting and concentrate on what I like and the style of photography that makes me the most fulfilled creatively. Even though I am still working on developing a clear personal style, trusting myself in how to shoot and edit has been an important step to developing it.
mad sounds features
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photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring CATHERINE ALLEN (left) KAYLA JADE (right)
photography DANNY ROZENBLIT featuring CASSIE BROWN
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Social media is big on having your own “aesthetic”, so how would you describe your personal aesthetic on Instagram? Or do you just edit and post what you’re feeling in the moment? I wouldn’t really say I have one specific “aesthetic” or “feed” theme, but if I were to describe my photos I would probably say my photos are usually warm, playful, lively, and colorful - usually centered around the idea of “good vibes”. Most often, I’ll just edit a photo however I think it looks best, and that’s what I’ll post. However, this editing style ends up translating to a majority of my photos, since I tend to like similar colors and tones on a variety of my photos. My biggest advice for people trying to stick to a cohesive “theme,” is… don’t! I find that so often being restricted to a certain filter or color scheme can be so limiting, and people who do this aren’t able to share a large portion of their photos, even if they genuinely like them. I think that if you post what you like, people will gravitate to your work, and sticking to one specific style makes little sense, especially for photographers. This gives very little room for growth, if a photographer constantly shoots in the same exact style each time. I encourage everyone reading this, if you take photos, to try out a new style or technique once in awhile! I love doing this, and it has resulted in some of my favorite photos to date. What stories do you strive to tell with your pictures? One of my goals with photography is to capture moments through photos. I love that I can take a photo and look back and remember everything about that day - what I was feeling, who I was with, and where I was in my life. Preserving these moments through photography is definitely one of my favorite aspects of what I do. Do you have a favorite shoot to date or any that have had stand-out moments? This is honestly such a hard question! Some of my favorite shoots ever are my shoots with Amanda Steele (@amandasteele) for Brandy Melville USA,
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Marina Laswick (@marooshk) in Venice Beach, Suede Brooks (@suedebrooks) for Brandy Melville, and my recent shoot with Cassie Brown! (@_cassiebrown_). When I think of my favorite shoot moments, I immediately think of my shoot with Tori Spotts (@torispotts) in Florence, Italy for Brandy Melville this past summer. In the warm Italian evening, towards the end of our shoot, we got some gelato and walked to this bridge to take photos. Little did we know that the gelato would drip literally everywhere and cause the biggest mess. We were dying laughing as I tried to take photos with one sticky hand while Tori tried to still look cute with gelato dripping down her entire arm. Shooting in Italy was truly unforgettable and I hope I’ll get the opportunity again! Lastly, our issue this month is titled “City of Stars”, do you have any advice for aspiring photographers wanting to pursue their dreams? I would say my main advice is to just keep shooting. When I first started I was so clueless about everything photography related, but through the years I would say my photography has improved immensely from those grainy iPod touch photos I took in middle school. I think the key to success not only in photography, but in everything, is to have passion, drive, and patience. Rewards may not come immediately, but I have found that hard work is almost always rewarded in some way. When I first started out, one of my main goals was to work with major companies. This did not happen right away, but eventually with more experience and time I was able to achieve my goals. If you have aspirations, photography related or not, I urge you to invest all your energy into achieving them! Keep shooting, work hard, and be patient. And finally, good luck! Keep up with Danny: Instagram: @dannyrozenblit
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Follow Us on Spotify: @madsoundsmagazine
mad sounds music: Daniel Caesar Maybe he doesn’t stand out in the R&B world, yet, but Daniel Caesar is without a doubt an up-andcoming artist you need to look out for. His tracks are made up of soulful melodies and intimate lyrics which are reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s. Caesar’s background is in Gospel, but his transition into soulful R&B has captured a newer essence of what rhythm and blues really stands for. Check out: “Streetcar” and “Get You” Heartstreets Pairs are balanced, even and scarce. The female duo that makes up Heartstreets radiate girl power and a badass aura. With R&B as their backbone, the two also venture into soul and fast-and-forward electronic beats. You & I, their debut EP, follows the journey from the start and finish of a relationship gone awry. Together, the two mesh soulful harmonies and simple rap verses. They are a dynamic and fierce combination; one the world of music needs. Check out: “Blame it on Me” and “Cruising with You” St. South St. South is another R&B/soul artist you should keep your eye on. Her tracks date back to 2014, but she has been able to keep a consistent and
reviews & curation by SYDNEY HILDEBRANDT photography by ANDRE NGUYEN featuring PAIGE LORENTZEN
current sound specific to her brand. St. South’s vocals are chill and lulling, perfect for a quiet afternoon in. Her first EP Nervous Energy, though only five songs long, compresses soft but provocative lyrics and stories. I dare you to listen and not get hooked; it’s harder than you’d think. Check out: “Got Me” and “Lover” The Tapes The Tapes are a project started by producer Mickey Kojak and Andrew Grant. The project encompasses a variety of genres including alternative rock, electronica and folk. With a touch of Tame Impala in their sound, the duo manages to enlighten listeners with original synth pop-based tracks. Beneath the lyrics lay positive vibes ready to take over. Each track is worth a listen. Check out: “At All” and “Speak to Me Slow” Corey Harper Corey Harper is your typical singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon. But that doesn’t subtract from the quality of his easy-listening acoustic tracks. His rough vocals and soothing guitar melodies shout “rainy day” or “late-night drive.” There is value in simplicity and you can find just that in both of his EPs. Check out: “On the Run” and “Reeling”
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photography RILEY TAYLOR featuring JENN IM
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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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