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EDITOR IN CHIEF mason taylor EDITORIAL ASSISTANT jared quick MEN’S FASHION EDITOR earvin sulapat
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NANI VOIRSE WELO JO JORDAN YUMMM!
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LESLIE MAIRE KYAH BABY
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What is a typical day like for you as an independent artist balancing everything it takes to perfect your craft along with your everyday life?
Can you tell us about how your single Lucky came to be, and what your creative process was like behind conveying the lyrics through the video?
Balance is an everyday struggle for me! Seriously! I sometimes feel overwhelmed, but I always take a moment to gain perspective.
Lucky is close to my heart because it was really me channeling my frustrations at the time into my creativity! I was in the studio with one of engineers; (RayC) and I had received this amazing beat from Basshead. I told him I didn’t really feel like writing the typical love song. I wanted to talk about getting too comfortable, about a woman not feeling appreciated but at the same
That looks like writing down things I’m grateful for every day, speaking to a loved one so I can let go of those feelings or just taking a moment to be still. I’m an independent contractor so I pretty much choose my hours right now which really helps. I usually get to find the time to gain momentum in every area of my life everyday: spend at least 30 minutes in the gym, an hour practicing vocals, another hour doing things around my brand (planning upcoming releases, dealing with publishing stuff, brainstorming business ideas, social media, etc), then its spending time with my family, working for 7-8 hours and somehow washing my ass, sleeping and cleaning my house with how ever many hours I’m left with!
time saying-I care about you I just want you to shape up! In terms of the music video, I really just went with the flow this time. Usually I love to plan every single detail to the T and that would hold me back because I would be so fixated on perfection that I would literally avoid releases. With “Lucky” I knew I wanted it to be the single, and started brainstorming with family and friends about what they saw. I knew I wanted to convey confidence and I wanted to dance.
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One day as I was driving home (I live in southeast daygo) I drove by a place called “Writerz Block”. It is a space designed to prevent graffiti artists from vandalizing by providing a space with walls and furniture to create on. I loved the principle and I loved the aesthetic of the space, so I literally just pulled over and went inside. The owners weren’t there so I left my number, but I was supposed to shoot the video three days later. I literally stopped by every day for three days until I got the green light and now you can see the outcome! The blessing was that originally the shoot was supposed to be entirely done during the day including the dance scene. That day, I had a hair catastrophe, was doubting myself and stressing out so bad that we ended up shooting two hours later than planned. Luckily, the night scene turned out to be my favorite. It may sound cliche but a major theme for me has been that everything happens for a reason. I’m still learning to go with the flow, but ultimately that has led me to major wins so far.
In your opinion how important is networking to an artists career? How do you use social media for yourself and your music? Networking keeps me awake at night. Of course I do believe networking is important, but as a
creative I really wish you could be locked away for two weeks and create, then put out your masterpiece and be successful. That’s the dream, right? In all reality, though, you have to be a jack of all trades as an independent artist, and that also means networking. So to answer your question, I believe networking is vital to an artists career. It keeps the momentum going. With social media, I just try to be authentic and share my music in the process. I’m really candid about asking for the support- sometimes you just have to be humble in that way! There is some planning with Instagram, because it is a more visual platform. I love being creative so coming up with photo shoots and organizing posts is fun and satisfying to me!
When did you decide that music was something you wanted to pursue versus something you just did for fun? It’s weird but even as a little girl-I always knew I wanted to be a recording artist. I would sing Lauryn Hill and Selena songs to my family. I would even plan, write and perform little plays with my siblings and cousins. When I was sixteen I started going to this Boy’s and Girls Club Teen Center in my neighborhood. They had a music studio and I had amazing mentors that helped me record my first song. The same year, I performed the National Anthem for the San Diego Padres and the two experiences combined really solidified my goal to be an artist.
What new artists are you into at the moment? I love Daniel Caesar and I also just got put on to Sabrina Claudio. R&B is coming forward in a big way and I love it! Also speaking to San Diego - I think Desean is really dope and he is a really humble, cool person in general. He actually gave me a few roles in his music videos, which are more like short films and his director Eric Stephenson is who I use for my videos now. So this is another example of going with the flow. There are no coincidences!
What do you like to do outside of music that adds to your creativity? I love reading, specifically personal growth and spiritual books. My current favorite is The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz. I also absolutely love to dance. I’ve been dancing since I was about 5 and it is such a wonderful release for me. I actually took a long break between 2010 and 2017, so I feel like I am starting over with my technique, but it’s all love, it’s all an adventure!
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Can you tell us about your upbringing and how music was involved with your childhood? My mother was a dancer and B-girl before she had me and she instilled that love for music and dance into me at a very young age. I literally remember her teach us how to do backspins and poses on the kitchen floor. So hip-hop & R&B has always felt like home to me. On the other hand, every Saturday morning she would wake us up mad early to clean the house and blast salsa music. I’m talking about Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, La India- all of the salsa music of the nineties. To this day I still listen to it when I clean or need a pick me up!
What are you working on right now? I’m currently putting the last touches on my last album, Stepping Stones. It’s been a great journey and a great therapy so I want to make sure new listeners can hear the growth. I am still looking to do one or two really personal tracks so if you’re a guitarist hit me up! (Talk about networking! )
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Who are you, and where are you from?
Jerrad Richardson but I go by Welo, Welo5Hunnid, El Chappie. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Spent five years in San Diego, California via the Navy so you could say I have two homes.
How did you get your start in music, what made you want to be an artist?
I got my start in music back in San Diego around 2012. Started off just doing songs with friends at small venues out in the area to get use to performing in front of friends and strangers. I didn’t start writing full songs until I moved back to Hawaii back in 2015 and that would be what made my whole persona as an artist start to blossom. I did a show with KingFool in 2016 called Foolapalooza and it got my name in the spotlight out here and it’s been up there ever since. Writing is what made me want to become an artist (if that makes sense). I used to write short stories and poetry as a kid and it just kind of came natural to me to write stories, whether they be my own, someone else’s or things I made up just for others to enjoy. Music is just that: storytelling with a dope beat and hook behind it.
When did you discover you had this special gift and love for music?
I would say I discovered it back in 2012 when I linked up with one of my co workers. He was the one who convinced me to get into a studio and not just write. It took me about four years to finally get into my own lane, my own style and my own flow.
Would you say that you have a style, how would you describe it?
That’s hard to put into words. For lack of those words...I would have to say my style is just me. It’s weird, wavy, abnormal, unique and just..well….Welo.
Who would you say influences you, what inspires you to be different and to want to create music?
Anyone who knows me growing up knows I was raised in a Christian home so I grew up listening to Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Detrick Haddon, Gospel Gangstaz (I know corny sounding). Soon as I got to middle school some new friends I made introduced me to My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Blink 182, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Maroon 5 and my whole life changed. I went through my whole punk rock alternative phase and it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I
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even listened to old school hip hop and became a fan, let alone the new age hip hop at that time. I couldn’t say who influences me too much nowadays but if I did it would be Pierce The Veil, Kid Cudi, Isaiah Rashad, Chance the rapper, Travis Scott and Kendrick. Music in general inspires me to be different. I want to be my own innovator and push for my generation as well as the new school. People tell me constantly that it’s what I’m meant for….I’m just trying to live up to that title Do you do other things beside your songs, such as produce beats, ad lib, or ghost write for other artist? [Nahhh] I don’t dabble too much in all that. I’ve never personally written for another artist but I’m not against it or anything.
Are you doing any projects or collaboration currently if so, with whom and what are they?
Right now I’m working on my EP titled #MBTMIW my first ever solo project. Besides that I’m working with Larry Ocean on The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy set to drop in August. That will be my first collaboration project and I’m so hype for it. Party at GoolaGOON is one of the first tracks off the project and it’s just pure ignorance at it’s finest (wouldn’t be PACK if it wasn’t).
Being in this industry what lesions and challenges have you been faced with to help you grow as an artist, would you share those lessons with other artist or allow them to find out on their own?
Going out to show face even when you really don’t want anything to do with the club. Artist hitting you in the DM asking for your advice, feedback, collab interest and such. It always gets me like, I’m nobody yet but I’m getting asked for all this. It’s weird you know. I know it’s only local but I have even got out of state artist hitting my line. I know it’s nothing special I have no doubts other artist go through the same thing if not more than me I’m just a small fish in the middle of the pacific. The only thing I got going for me is (and [tbh] I don’t hear it) but everyone that has heard my music one way or another has said I have this voice and flow that they haven’t heard anywhere else and that’s what gives me the upper hand. Let’s hope the next year and a half with these projects that the rest of the world hears it too.
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Can you tell us about the journey of creating your EP?
Who is Jo Jordan, the artist? Jo Jordan is the future.
It was all organic it’s an Ep in which has all old school R&B samples so i used some of my favorite songs and i just added my own flavor to each track .
What is unique to your sound that you would say makes it yours?
How did you come to the decision about forming your band?
I say my vocal in itself it’s a very soulful R&B tone which stands out.
I’ve always wanted to form a band of musicians who individually are amazing at what they do and I’m lucky that within what I do I met each individual along the way and i decided to bring everyone together and form the band.
What is your favorite part of the process in creating a song?
What are you working on right now that we can be looking forward to in the near future? Right now im in the process of releasing my latest Ep Late Night Vibe. I also have a video for, Call My Phone, soon to be released
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The writing process.
What is the first thing you’d want your listeners to think of when they hear your music and why? I want them to feel some type of way whether it be excitement or happiness, as I feel music is supposed to make you feel a certain way when you hear it.
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what’s your food is my food Created by two food lovers (& lovers in general), Yumm is all about enjoying the tastes and ambiances of the local restaurants around us. Originated in San Diego, California, we crossed paths while working at a restaurant in the Gas lamp District and we ate our way from there! From our first date at Mitch’s Seafood, located in the harbors of Point Loma, to our most recent visit to Bankers Hill Bar & Restaurant, we swoon over unique dishes and indulge in one (or three!) glass of wine at neighborhood eateries. For a glimpse into our foodie world, come join us on @yummsandiego as we attempt to document tasty dishes and drinks, before we inhale it in all of 3 seconds.
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To kick off our foodie explorations, we decided to take it back to where it all started. Mitch’s. Located alongside the Point Loma Marina, the casual seafood eatery is home to the most fresh fish tacos you’ll find in San Diego. But most importantly, it’s the location of our first fig. Our “go-to’s” are the calamari (a must!), half a dozen oysters, and six tacos to share. Since they catch their fish fresh, the menu of available fish always changes buuuut some of our favorites are the tuna and scallops. We always opt for the outdoor seating for the full fishy smell and sea breeze experience. Not to mention, the variety of beers they have on tap to sip (or chug) while waiting for your food. wanderlust
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How important is it to you to allow your roots to show through your music and how do you like to go about doing that?
Who are the top 3 artists you’re into right now and how do each of them inspire you differently?
It’s very important to me that my roots show through my music, because as a black woman I don’t always feel represented. Especially as a young, queer black college student. I make sure to express who I am in my lyrics by mentioning things the everyday millennial may be going through. Whether that’s from relationships, to being respected as a person of color, to just going with the flow of things because it’s okay that we don’t have everything figured out in this moment. Just live.
This is such a hard question to answer right now. In no particular order, I would have to say Lianne La Havas. She is such an inspiration from her neo-soul/jazzy style of music, to her fashion style and the way she carries herself. Next I would have to say Paolo Nutini. He has so much soul it’s overwhelming. I’m in love with the way he performs on stage, he’s definitely an artist that will bring me to tears. Last but not least Erykah Badu. I’ve gotten a lot of comparisons to her as people first hear my music, which makes sense because she inspires me the most. I had the opportunity to meet her a few years back and her energy was insane. She is so respectful, and confident and mad creative. The biggest lesson I’ve learned from these three artists is to stay humble.
What about music attracted you or inspired you to start creating your own? The influence music has over people’s emotions inspired me to start creating my own. I have a decent list of songs that can move me in certain situations, and even help me through hard times because they’re so relateable. I wanted to be able to do the same for other people. My goal is to reach as many people I can in the most positive way through my music.
As an artist what’s your take on engaging in social commentary through your music? Social commentary is very necessary in my music. There are a lot of things people need to hear whether they know it or not. My favorite line of mine at the moment is from my song “End Of The World”. It goes, “now don’t act all shy when we talk about race. I loved you then and I love you now, when you see my skin you better see my crown”. The first part is acknowledging that racism still exists and it’s not okay to shut a conversation down when the topic comes up because it is still very relevant. The second part is basically saying, I love you and you need to respect me. Acknowledge my melanin and treat me as the queen that I am. We’re all kings and queens in my heart.
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Outside of music, what is your biggest passion? Outside of music my biggest passion is acting. I’m in school right now as a theater major, with a minor in music business. I’ve been acting since I was a child, and I will hopefully continue to act throughout my life, as well as sing.
Who is Leslie Marie the artist, and the person? When I’m not creating Leslie Marie is an auntie, a daughter,horseback rider,swimmer the list goes on. It’s hard not to think I’m always an artist though. So that list basically intertwines into my everyday creating lifestyle. Although Leslie Marie the artist is a bit more energetic and confident in terms of performing on stage.
What are you working on right now? Right now, I’m working on an EP with a handful of Chicago artists as well as a few visuals. The EP will be released sometime this fall, I can’t wait for you guys to hear! It’s very different from my released work as I’m still evolving.
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What drew you to Hip Hop? Life in itself and being able to musically express myself drew me to hip-hop. I’m more so an R&B girl but I don’t have the vocals for that. I was blessed with the talent to put words together and tell a story.
How has your style evolved over time as you’ve grown as a person? I’ve grown to find myself and not what others want me to be. Wear more shoes, show more skin, talk more about sex; those are things I’ve heard over the years. Staying true to myself I’ve gained an organic fan base and people respect my craft. They don’t like me because of what I’m reveling sexually but what I’m revealing lyrically, and that’s real sh*t !
Has your flow been the same since you started rapping? If not, how has it changed? My flow has changed drastically over the years. It took a while for me to concept flow but I got it now and still have a lot more to learn. Sometimes it’s not what you say it’s how you say it. I could make the weakest punchline sound like it’ll knock Mayweather out but for the most part I give real bars.
What is it about you creatively that sets you apart from everybody else with rap dreams? I really just go with the flow. I don’t try to impress people with money or being flashy I let my talent and grind speak for itself.
Can you tell us about the experience of being on Ridin’ Out with DJ Magic, and what that was like mentally? It was definitely a great experience and an honor. I was the first person he had to pull over for while driving so that alone says a lot. Mentally I know my hard work is paying off.
When people think of you and your music, what do you want their first thought to be? I want them to know this is me, the real me. No gimmicks you get what you see. I also want people to know that I’m very silly and approachable. A lot of times I get people telling me I don’t look nice but I am.
How do you incorporate your surroundings in your creative process? I record in a basement in my own studio. That alone inspires me. But, typically I incorporate my everyday life in my music. What I see, what I’ve been through or even what a friend or family member is going through. There are always going to be people who feel they have no one to relate to, so I try to touch every topic in my music, especially being a female people think we don’t go through things or struggle ... think again!
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