NKD Mag — Issue #22 (April 2013) by NKD Mag

Featuring

DEBBY RYAN

++ ATLAS GENIUS JULIET SIMMS P.SANDERS

ON THE COVER

PAGES

DEBBY RYAN 42-51 “IF I BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF IT.”

NKD NAKED MAGAZINE

PUBLISHERS Ariella Mastroianni Catherine Powell

EDITOR Nicola Pring

PHOTOGRAPHER Catherine Powell

DESIGNER

WRITERS

CONTACT

Tara DeVincenzo Olga Khvan Alexandra Lane Stacy Magallon Shina Patel Stephanie Petit Catherine Powell Tanya Traner Kiki Van Son

Publicity » Catherine Powell catherine@nkdmag.com Writing » Nicola Pring nicola@nkdmag.com Advertising » Silvia Orozco silvia@nkdmag.com Tweet us! @nakedmag

Ariella Mastroianni

IN THIS ISSUE ATLAS GENIUS

FEATURES ATLAS GENIUS [06] DANIEL KELLY [10] JULIET SIMMS [14] THE OCHOA BOYZ [20] FINCH [24] P.SANDERS [30] JAKE MILLER [52] JOEY KING [56] COLLIDE CLOTHING [60]

EDITORIAL OP-ED [04] BY JOSH MONTGOMERY OF THE SUMMER SET

BAND WRITE-IN [05] BEST SXSW 2013 MOMENTS

FEATURED PLAYLIST [34] JOSE VILLANUEVA, DIVIDED BY FRIDAY

PHOTO FEATURE [35] JULIET SIMMS

P.SANDERS

ED SHEERAN, RODNEY ATKINS, A DAY TO REMEMBER

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GROWING PAINS PT. II By Josh Montgomery of The Summer Set

THE NAKED

GUEST EDITORIAL The Summer Set

latest magazine article written about my band was titled “Growing Pains,” a diplomatically selected title that I’ve seen used to describe a band or artist at their career’s breaking point. With the upcoming release of our third record, my band has zero expectations. All we can hope for is the opportunity to keep doing what we do. Guitarist John Gomez and I always say, “If I can be this exhausted every night this time next year then we’re doing it right.” A band’s breaking point means they either go up, or they go down — staying the same size will only lead to your brands depreciation in value. With the recent amount of buzz circulating around our release, and “Boomerang” being picked up by SiriusXM Hit’s 1, I’ve seen for the first time in my career some of our fans rooting against us (Yeah, I found your Tumblr blog). What we have to ask ourselves is, why does our favorite band’s growth scare us? Because people change? Because you won’t be able to say hi after the show? Because being friends will become harder to do, if not impossible? I’ll tell you first hand that all of those things are inevitable whether our favorite bands become massive or disappear. One: Everyone changes, for better or worse, such is life. The Half Moon Kids are a testament to the already occurred change that has swept over my band mates and me. We have discovered fulfillment in promoting our fans to grow with us, and realize how capable they are of becoming exactly what they want to be no matter what obstacles are in their way. That alone has generated a flame within my band that makes us feel like we’re just getting started. Change has already come and I welcome it. Two: If your favorite band stops growing, shows will stop happening. Competition between bands right now is childish and unacceptable behavior in my opinion — I’m in a market where I am rooting for my “competitors.” Turn on MTV or the radio — bands aren’t there. I am jumping with joy at the return of Fall Out Boy and get overwhelmed with happiness seeing Nate Ruess finally receiving the recognition he has so humbly worked for and deserves. Three: Some of my best friends are fans who still to this day support my band and me. Nobody likes the friend who gets jealous because you have other friends. The same psychology comes into play with the fan who attempts to lock you up and not share you. It always ends poorly for both parties in that situation. In light of all of this we seemed to have missed the most important thing, the thing that brought you and I both here: music. So if a band’s music is something you enjoy, fearing their success is absurd. If they don’t grow, their music will inevitably come to a slow and bitter end. “Growing Pains?” Absolutely. But, let’s keep it simple and grow together, not apart. With a grateful heart, Joshua

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ASK THE ARTIST What was your most memorable SXSW moment this year? SHANE TILLER, THE SEEKING: It was surreal to have my first time attending SXSW also be my first time playing it, especially [since] our band is so young, and I am so young. I tried to get into the British Music Embassy to see a band that shall remain unnamed with some guys from our label, but they wouldn’t let me in because I’m not 21, even though I was playing the festival. I’m still waiting on my formal apology to come in the mail. Overall, it was an incredible experience which I am very thankful to have been a part of.

AJ PERDOMO, THE DANGEROUS SUMMER: Apart from my very short mechanical bull ride, our friday night showcase was the most memorable part of SXSW. It was our last night, and the night everyone decided to come see us. The energy placed a period at the end of a long week. Our label and a room full of fans were there to sing along, and witness a new song for one of the first times. Magic.

MELISSA MENAGO, JUNE DIVIDED: Our most memorable moment at SXSW this year was our set at Burnside’s Tavern. It was one of those sets you play at the right place at the right time. Tons of people filled inside and outside of the bar for us, and everyone was sweating and dancing and clapping. Definitely a show fit for the “Live Music Capital of the World.”

COLLEEN D’AGOSTINO, THE MATERIAL: SXSW was amazing this year. We arrived Thursday, and by Saturday we had already done a ton of press, played three showcases and were packed up and ready to start the 26-hour drive back to Los Angeles. On our way out we were asked by Bryan Waymire, founder of the RedGorilla Music Fest, to stay and close out his festival at midnight on the rooftop of The Blind Pig on 6th Street. We knew this was an amazing opportunity so we unpacked, rocked out on a rooftop packed with people and rang in St. Patty’s Day with what became the best show The Material has ever played — hands down.”

RYAN EGAN, THE UGLY CLUB: For our second year touring down to SXSW, we were very happy to have double the amount of shows we had booked (four) from the year prior. It’s always great to visualize your progression and our role at the festival was a great indicator of the work we’ve put in over the last year. On top of pulling in unintended press from NPR, E News and other major outlets, we loved every show we played. But I think this year’s most special memory was leaving downtown one night to play a house show and BBW with some of the nicest people and bands you could want to meet.

LEE WEISS, LIFE AFTER LIFTOFF: My SXSW experience was incredible. Life After Liftoff played the Blind Pig on a rooftop stage to a great crowd. Some other highlights were catching Set It Off, What’s Eating Gilbert, Green Day, MC Lars, Vacationer and Mark Rose. Also hanging out with Catalyst PR at the Agency Group brunch at Lamberts was a blast. And finally ending my week with a great night having dinner and drinks with Christopher Drew of Never Shout Never such a cool dude. I had a blast and would recommend everyone to go at least once and make sure to also check out the informative panels.

DAN MILLER, MISSION SOUTH: This was our first go around at SXSW, and despite our packed schedule we managed to pick out a few choice shows we wanted to hit. One of these was The Lone Bellow, who were playing an A-list party for Entertainment Weekly. Forget badges, you weren’t getting into the event unless you were on the short list. My name, Dan Miller, happens to have one of the most common names known to man, so I stepped up first and confidently told the bouncer “Miller,” to which the bouncer replied “Sam Miller?” “Yes, that’s me,” I replied, “and these are my plus two.” The three of us were in, and instantly found ourselves surrounded by gourmet food, an open bar and a front row spot to see one of our favorite groups.

MIKE ABIUSO, THE VENETIA FAIR: The Venetia Fair went down with no plan other than try and get one showcase. In that plan we scored three super successful showcases. [We] met a ton of new friends, fans and industry people. We turned more heads than the nude overweight homeless woman.

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ATLAS GENIUS Words by Kiki Van Son Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

night before I talk to Keith Jeffrey, lead vocalist and guitarist of indie rock band Atlas Genius from Adelaide, South Australia, the band have just played a show in Brooklyn. Now they’re headed across state lines for the next stop on their tour, but they’ll return to New York in a couple days to play with another big-name band in the scene right now: Imagine Dragons. The band have spent the last five months touring the U.S. non-stop, which Keith says is their biggest challenge so far. Well, technically, “Anything is a challenge,” he corrects. “But the atmosphere is different on the road.” That atmosphere pushed them to finish their first full-length album, which brought them back to America since traveling here for the first time after the success of their debut single, “Trojans.” The guys had just finished building their own studio when they recorded ”Trojans.” Keith describes the formation of the band — made up of himself, his brothers Michael on drums and Steven on bass and Darren Sell on keyboards — as a “natural progression.” The brothers met Darren only a week or so after he had moved to Australia, and Keith remembers they all clicked instantly. Keith doesn’t think their band’s bond is too different than that of any other music-loving and touring group, other than being particularly influenced by family. Keith, Michael and Steven played together growing up, and their father was involved in music and engineering, so with his help they constructed the studio and began recording. That was the birth of “Trojans,” which would lead to an EP and a debut album soon after. Atlas Genius gained early and unexpected fame from “Trojans,” which they released independently online. Its rippling success online led to more than 50,000 downloads, and music industry higher-ups nationwide contacted them about record deals. “There was no marketing plan,” Keith says of the band’s effort then. They had initially turned down several offers to showcase their stuff in the States, deciding instead to stay unsigned and hang back at home to work on writing and recording new songs. When they compiled

THE

the material that would eventually become their EP, they agreed to venture out of the land down under. They toured the States playing with groups like Silversun Pickups, Wolf Gang and Animal Kingdom. After they finished they signed to Warner Brothers Records. In June 2012 they released their official debut EP, Through The Glass. At that point, “Trojans” had sold closer to 200,000 copies. Although Atlas Genius weren’t that eager to jump on a record deal package — Keith believes labels focus too much on a band’s image — they didn’t shy away from the opportunity to make more music. “We’re not concerned with image,” Keith says. “Our music is about expressing ourselves and connecting with people.” Keith believes that the key to music is making something people can get lost in. “I’m personally drawn to certain emotions,” he says. For example, “Trojans” begins with a restrained guitar melody and subtle vocals, but produces a warm and wistful spirit like that of ’70s English rock band The Cure, who Keith says are an inspiration. “Trojans” has been dubbed a breezy summer jam, but Keith says it was written with a sort of darkness. “I didn’t even think of that,” Keith says when asked about the way the song was received versus the way he felt while he was writing it. I ask what the song meant exactly, since he writes the band’s lyrics. “I don’t think matters,” he answers. “It wouldn’t help anybody appreciate it anymore.” Now that Atlas Genius are back in the States, Keith notices their audience is changing. He notes that American fans seem louder and more excited at shows. While the intensity shift could be a difference between Australian and American concert crowds, it more likely represents their growing artistic presence around the world, now that high-traffic music platforms like iTunes, YouTube and SoundCloud are showcasing their debut album, When It Was Now, which was released last month. They’re visibly moving up the ranks, gaining traction by opening for popular bands like Imagine Dragons at hot spot venues around New York. Moving forward, Keith provides the same set of wisdom for his fans as he does for himself. “Put in as much energy as you can and be honest with yourself.” NKD

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DANIEL KELLY Words by Stacy Magallon Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

his childhood fantasies, Daniel Kelly was a superhero and the coolest kid on the block. In reality, he wasn’t. Now 20 years old and far away from the Canada suburb where he was often bullied as a kid, the rapper and actor is beginning to make a name for himself. Daniel and I share a table at a Starbucks a block away from Gramercy Theatre in New York City. The actor, rapper and MC is scheduled to perform with 17 others at tonight’s Pop Explosion, a touring music festival for up and coming artists about to explode in the industry. It’s only 1 p.m., but I can already hear noise coming from the direction of the venue as fans line up for tonight’s show. Daniel sets his drink down on the table before commenting on the swarm of fans waiting out in the cold. “Those kids are crazy,” he says. His jaw drops when I mention that some young fans have been waiting in the 40-degree weather since 8 a.m. Daniel tells me about his own childhood, which he says was an obstacle he had to overcome. “I always had something to prove,” he says. When he was 11 an aspiring hip-hop artist approached him, and Daniel immediately jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with who he calls one of the “cool kids in town.” Daniel had no idea that the artist had only asked him to throw down some verses so he could make fun of him. “He showed the verse to everybody, even the girl I liked,” Daniel says. “I experienced the worst kind of bullying. I had no friends for three weeks.” After skipping school for days and going through mild case of pre-teen depression, Daniel knew he had to make a move. He wasn’t going to take it anymore. He ended up recording a track of his own,

using his verses to insult the kids who tore him down. “The next thing I knew, 18-year-olds were coming up to me to tell me how dope the track was,” he says. “Mind you I was 11. But the feeling I got from that response was the feeling that fueled me.” Daniel continued to rap through his teenage years, and over time, people around Toronto began to catch wind of what he was doing. Aside from a few haters, reactions to his music were positive. When he was 13 he began stepping into cyphers (rap battles) he battled against bigger and older teenagers. Before Daniel could spit his game, the audience refused to take him seriously. But the second he opened his mouth, they were speechless. “My [stage] name, Deph Naught, is a play on ‘definitely not’,” he says. “People definitely did not think I could rap. Well, boom. I gave it to them.” At 14, Daniel participated in a music competition at the Waterfront Festival in Toronto. He caught the attention of one of judges, and she later became his manager. She set Daniel up with personal studio time, and by the time he was 15, he had developed his own sound. A few years later, Daniel’s manager brought up acting. Before he could give the idea much thought, he was handed an audition. Daniel soon landed a role on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He had never even watched the show prior to stepping on set. Walking into the world of Degrassi to play Owen Milligan, a prideful athlete at Degrassi High School, was a completely foreign world to him. “Before that, I was just another kid on the block. I was an asshole who broke a lot of shit,” Daniel says, laughing. “On Degrassi, I had to wear v-necks and sizable pants. It was weird making that transition, but it definitely lured me into adulthood.” When he began to tell his co-stars about his rapping aspirations, they made a connection — Daniel’s work was similar to that of Aubrey Graham, a member of the original Degrassi cast. “I didn’t know who that was because I never watched the show,” Daniel says. “I would be like, ‘Who’s Aubrey? Who the fuck is Aubrey?’” Aubrey Graham, a.k.a. Drake had just released his song “Best I Ever Had.” By the time Daniel realized who Graham was, the track was already receiving radio play. “So I was like, ‘This guy was on Degrassi for nine years, and he’s rapping now? Fuck!’” he says. Daniel wants to make hits, but more than anything, he aims to be respected. Lyrically, he wants to be feared. He wants an audience to recognize he’s good at what he does. “I want to prove that I can get a party jumping,” Daniel says. “And one day, I want to push for radio play.” His second mixtape, Naught Again, is due to be released later this year. He’s written well over 100 songs, and now he’s ready to cut them down to the best possible content for his next release. Compared to his first mixtape, Ready Or Naught (2012), Daniel is really taking the reigns in terms of musical production. “Ready Or Naught was more of a project to see what people were feeling,” he says. “I just wanted to get material out there. This time around, I’m going to give it my all.” Daniel is no longer the underdog — now he’s starting to rise to the top. He is fearless and driven by what he loves. The same probably can’t be said for the cruel kids from his middle school. “I don’t hold grudges,” Daniel says, smiling. “But if you stood in my way when I needed to move, now that I’m moving, get behind me.” NKD

“I EXPERIENCED THE WORST KIND OF BULLYING.” DANIEL KELLY

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JULIET SIMMS Words by Stephanie Petit Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

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“I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT LISTENED TO MUSIC EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG, MORNING,

efore three of the four judges turned their big swivel chairs around and announced, “I want you!” during the blind auditions on the second season of The Voice, Juliet Simms was hesitant to appear on the singing competition. “At first I was really skeptical,” she says. “I was like, ‘I’m not going to do a singing competition show. I’ve been roughing this the real way for so long.’ I felt like I’d be selling out.” The rocker has been performing from an early age. She sang in front of a room full of people for the first time when she was four, and recorded her first demo at 13. “I grew up in a family that listened to music every day, all day long, morning, noon and night,” Juliet says. “I can’t remember not wanting to sing and be a performer.” Her pop-rock band Automatic Loveletter formed in 2005, with Juliet as lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. They played shows all across the country and got signed to a small label with which they recorded their first EP, Recover (2007). “The EP got a lot of attention on MySpace and I started getting like 50,000 listens a day, it was something crazy like that,” Juliet says. Recover’s online success caught the attention of major record labels. Juliet and the band spent the next few years jumping around from Epic Records to RCA Records to Sony International, all while touring and recording. In 2011, Automatic Loveletter released the album The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On through Paper & Plastick, an independent label. That year, as the band were finishing up their summer on the Vans Warped Tour, The Voice contacted Juliet and asked her to appear on the show. Unsure of what to do, she consulted with her friend and founder of Warped Tour, Kevin Lyman. “I was like, ‘Who’s the best person to talk to about this? Kevin,’” she says. “So I texted him, ‘I’m coming over to your bus, I want to talk to you about something.’ I went on his bus and I told him about the offer and he was like, ‘You know what? What do you have to lose?’ I was like, ‘Good fucking point.’” Juliet went to the closed audition in Los Angeles and was surprised by how comfortable she felt. “I remember the woman who auditioned me was so excited and made me feel so at ease and it was totally opposite of what I thought a show like this would be like,” she says. “Next thing you knew, I’m doing the live rounds. It was a whirlwind.” Kevin and Juliet’s brother were backstage during her blind audition. She sang The Beatles’ hit “Oh! Darling” and joined Team Cee Lo Green. She advanced through the rounds and finished as runner-up. She says she was very happy with her decision to go on the show after all was said and done. “The show is so different than other shows,” Juliet says. “It’s a real, legit, honest to God show about artists and people who have been doing it their entire lives.” She’s even very happy about coming in second place. “I actually told myself at the beginning of the show, ‘I want to be on the show, but I don’t want to win,’” she says. “Some people are like, ‘Why wouldn’t you want to win?’ Well, you get so much more control if you don’t.”

NOON AND NIGHT. I CAN’T REMEMBER NOT WANTING TO SING AND BE A PERFORMER.” JULIET SIMMS

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ince the show ended, Juliet has been busier than ever pursuing her solo career. She’s been doing everything from writing to recording and putting together an album, to touring all over the country and in Tokyo and Singapore. She even signed a management deal with former coach Cee Lo Green and Primary Wave Music. “Cee Lo picked me up and is managing me now so he’s involved with almost everything as far as creative aspects, like music and the look and he’s directing my music video,” Juliet says. “I talk to him at the very least once a week. I see him all the time. He’s really involved in me and my career.” Juliet is excited to be releasing her own album, but admits it is very different than writing for and working with a band. “What’s different about it is there’s not as many cooks in the kitchen and it’s not so much band driven,” she says. “It’s more about the right melody and the right lyrics and the communication of the song. It’s definitely a new world for me because I’m writing a different kind of music and I’m not thinking about, ‘Then there’s going to be a break down here.’ It’s more like, just write a really good song, demo it, put it aside and then when we find the right producer, that’s when the elements of what kind of production comes in.” While her solo career is exciting, Juliet insists her time with Automatic Loveletter is not finished. “I did The Voice as Juliet Simms,” she says. “It only makes sense to do a solo record. I will never not do Automatic Loveletter.” She also hopes this record will fill a gap she sees in modern music. “I look at the music of today and there’s no female rock stars,” Juliet says. “Where’s our Pat Benatars or Joan Jetts or Alanis Morissettes? Where are they? Nowhere. They don’t exist. I want to bring that back. I want to bring back the idea of a real, female rock star and making an album that’s a masterpiece from start to finish, not just singles. That you wouldn’t just skip around, you’d literally just start from the beginning and finish it all the way to the end. That needs to be done again. There are some people that are achieving that, there are bands, but I want to be one of them.” Music like that takes time to create and perfect. Juliet’s first single, “Wild Child,” was released in December, and rest of her album is due out after the summer. Although her season of The Voice ended nearly a year ago, Juliet insists her fans have been patiently waiting for new material. “My fans are the best,” she says. “I actually have the most loyal, coolest, patient fans on the planet. Everyday I’m answering questions on the social networking sites. ‘Thank you for being patient. It’s happening, I’m in the studio, I’m writing, I’m recording.’” Juliet is even thinking beyond the music world for the future. She and her sister Angie Simms are in the beginning stages of developing a clothing line called Saint Savage. She describes the clothes as “really basic clothing, but it fits your body really well and it’s stuff that you can pair with our jewelry.” “I want to be the person that’s like, “Yeah, I got a perfume. Yes, I have clothing in Target.’” she says. Of course, music comes first and Juliet is ready to make herself heard. “I want to tour the world,” she says. “I want to create a massive Juliet Simms army. I want to be able to fill arenas and do this the rest of my life.” NKD

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OCHOA BOYZ Words by Olga Khvan Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

THE FOUR OCHOA BROTHERS HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO PERFORM.

infants, Rick, Ryan, Robert and Raymond would dance around in their car seats while their father blasted music. While he worked at his furniture store, the boys would set up camp in the back and act out scenes from The Lion King while the movie played in the

background. “We would learn all the lines from the movie and imitate everything,” says Ryan, who is 16. “We all just fell into it naturally.” Ryan later landed the role of Lanny on the Disney XD series Pair of Kings. Still, he continued to look for a way to collaborate with his brothers. “I didn’t want to do it solo,” he says. “I was like, ‘I’d rather do something with my brothers.” At Ryan’s 16th birthday party, the four brothers made their debut as the Ochoa Boyz. They performed the song “Go Crazy,” which would eventually become their first single on iTunes. Motivated by the positive response from party guests, which included fellow Disney Channel stars Cody Simpson and Kylie Jenner, the brothers decided to give music their full effort. “Ryan’s birthday party was fun,” says 11-year-old Raymond, with a sheepish grin. “And then we got serious about music, so it became a thing.” For the four boys, performing as brothers is an especially rewarding experience. “We’re really close, and on stage it really shows how when we’re performing, we don’t have to worry about anybody else because I know they’re going to be there and they’re doing the right thing, what they’re supposed to be doing, so I just worry about myself,” says 14-year-old Robert. But at the same time, the image of a family act can generate extra pressure, according to the boys. “People expect it of us, especially in choreography, for the moves to be right on point because we’re brothers and people expect that chemistry,” Rick says. The brothers admit that they do argue at times, but that it always works out well in the end. “It’s good because we can actually criticize each other,” Robert says. “It’s only because we want it to be perfect,” Raymond adds.

Before their performance at Pop Explosion’s Teen Music Festival in March, the brothers hung out in the basement of New York’s Gramercy Theatre, goofing around and sharing each other’s pet peeves. Going down the list, the brothers revealed that Ryan dislikes it when someone touches his hair, Rick gets annoyed when someone moves the mirror out of the bathroom and Raymond gets frustrated when he receives one-word text messages and when someone turns off the TV in the middle of a video game or a wrestling match. “The one thing that Bobby hates is when I step on his shoes,” Raymond says. “Don’t do it,” Robert says, inching his feet away from his youngest brother. “He doesn’t mind if it’s old shoes, but if it’s new ones, he gets mad,” Raymond says, smiling. Something that all four brothers agree on is that their baby sister Destiny is “the cutest girl you’ll ever see.” They say she has an affinity for dancing in her car seat to PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” When conversation turns to their upcoming performance, the brothers say that they see it as an opportunity to build up hype for their music while they still look for a label and work on a full-length album. “That’s our goal right now, to just get a lot of good hit songs out there,” Ryan says. In the future, the brothers hope to further pursue both music and acting. “Being on Disney and seeing the kid fan base that I grew up with, I loved it,” Ryan says. “The whole kid sitcom thing, that’s what we like to watch as kids, so that’s what we want to do. I don’t want to do something that feels like working.” The brothers aren’t restricting themselves to Disney. They mention the possibility of working with other kid-oriented channels such as Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network on a show or a movie. The most important thing for the four of them is staying together, no matter where their careers take them. “We want the Ochoa Boyz name out there,” Ryan says. “For us, it’s just about getting out there and performing and building the fan base as brothers.” NKD

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THE RETURN of

FINCH Words by Tara DeVincenzo » Photos by Catherine Powell

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POSTHARDCORE band Finch are giving new life to their debut 2002 album What It Is To Burn. More than 10 years after its release, and after a long hiatus, they’re back on tour to celebrate what drummer Randy Strohmeyer calls “the album that’s almost bigger than the band itself.” During a short stint in New York City last month, Randy talked about the band’s origins, struggles and where they’re headed now. Finch rose to fame in the hardcore scene with What It Is To Burn, but dismounted from their success in 2006 for what they described as an “indefinite hiatus.” Now the band are back together for their anniversary tour, which Randy says came at a crucial moment. “It couldn’t have come at a better time for me,” he says of the call to rejoin the band onstage. “Just personally, I was going through kind of a weird depression, something I think most people go through at one point in their lives.” Coming back together with the band provided the drummer the right amount of positivity and support he needed to get back into normalcy. He laughs thinking about the phone call to which he answered, “Yeah of course I’m gonna do it. I love this band, ya know?” Though it took patience, the band made a seamless transition from hiatus to revival. “We didn’t actually start rehearsing until we had everything sort of locked in,” Randy says. Getting everything sorted out — like getting their tracks back up to par and making sure shows were technically perfect — was a group effort. Once the band began rehearsing they were able to do it as if no time had elapsed. “Once we got rolling with all that stuff everything was like really, really organic and natural,” Randy says. “It’s never weird.” They went into this reunion tour without any assumptions about whether or not their fans or the industry were going to give them recognition again. Step by step, Finch tip-toed back toward the stage, careful not to dive into performing too quickly.

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GRAMERCY THEATRE » NEW YORK, N.Y.

“I THINK [WHAT IT IS TO BURN] IMPACTED NOT ONLY US BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE SHOWS. IT’S JUST AS MUCH THEIRS AS IT IS OURS.” RANDY STROHMEYER

“When we booked the shows [it was] initially just one at this place called the Glass House,” Randy says. The California-based band considered this venue a comfort zone but soon found it to be a haven of new opportunity. “It sold out within a few minutes and we were just like, ‘Holy shit, people still care.’” With the success of the first show of the tour, Finch got their feet off the ground and started to gradually allow themselves to climb the ladder again. “I don’t know if we don’t have that much confidence or something,” Randy says. “We were just like, ‘We’ll put another show up and see what happens,’ and it sold out quicker. So we were like, ‘Let’s put another show up,’ and we got to four shows and we sold them all out.” As ticket sales soared, Finch began to warm up to the idea of being welcomed back into the music scene by their fans. “In the middle of [booking the shows] we were kind of like ‘Ok, well there’s people who definitely want to see this.’” Randy says all of this success was completely unanticipated. “I think that’s the best way to go into any sort of circumstance, not really having any expectations so you’re not going to be let down either way,” Randy says. “In our experience, that’s how it’s been. We didn’t know what was out there, how good we could possibly feel.” Randy and his bandmates decided that when they got back together, they would do it with more intensity than ever. Their formula for the new tour is based on tapping into new -band fire combined with the confidence of tenured, experienced musicians. “I was like, ‘As long as we can make it really, really good, we put all of our heart into it and we play like we did back then when we had fire, but it sounds way better,” Randy jokes. “We can really make it sound like a record.”

The band know what they have done is just the basis of what they want this tour to do for Finch. “We’re really lucky to be able to be in the position we’re at where we can facilitate those things and give the best show that we can,” Randy says of their tour’s mission. “That’s what we want to do and I think our record deserves it. I think the fans deserve that kind of thing, and we owe it to ourselves too. I mean, we made this record, we should play it the best we can.” There are no talks of new music just yet — Randy wants to pace himself and focus on making this small tour a big deal. He says he’s up for making and releasing new music, but on one condition: “Only if it was really good … I want Finch to be the best that Finch can be,” he says. The band’s comeback will first focus on What It Is To Burn and the fans who loved it enough to listen to it after it has aged 10 years. When Finch take the stage, they do it with the intention of giving just as much as they want to get from their fans and more. “All the shows have been really exciting,” Randy says of the tour. “The crowd’s been great. They’re louder than us sometimes.” Finch want to make the best music to provide a fulfilling experience for fans. “We’re all in this thing together,” Randy says. He knows that what he makes is something that isn’t singularly gratifying. “I think that album impacted not only us, but most of the people who come to the shows. It’s very much theirs as it is ours. We play this very communal thing,” he says. There is nothing about the What It Is To Burn anniversary tour that the band doesn’t appreciate. It is something they are proud of and excited about and, as Randy puts simply, “It’s fucking awesome that people give a shit.” NKD

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P.SANDERS Words by Stacy Magallon Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

PERFECT TIMING. FOR PEYTON SANDERS, THAT’S ALL IT TOOK TO LAUNCH A RAP CAREER. Peyton, currently miles away from his hometown of Atlanta, Ga., is caught up in the action of Pop Explosion, a music festival featuring up and coming artists at Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan. The young, unsigned rapper, who performs under the alias PSanders, has been doing press all afternoon. To avoid the loud chatter and blinding flashes of photo shoots going on in the theater’s lobby, he and I choose to hide out in a cluttered green room. We share a laugh as we successfully step over duffel bags and wires to make our way to the suede couch in the corner. The room, cramped and unkempt, creates an interesting atmosphere for a conversation. “Well this is cozy,” Peyton says, sarcastically. Once we settle onto the couch, Peyton takes a deep breath. Even after doing back-to-back interviews, he still has a charismatic sparkle in his smile. In his white graphic T-shirt and a red flannel scarf, Peyton looks like a normal kid. I would have never guessed he released an EP, last year, and is on his way to over 100,000 Twitter followers. Peyton may still be a typical 18-year-old, but only a lucky few get to experience the ride he’s been on. Peyton’s music career began with an online rap battle. When he and his friends decided to battle back and forth with Facebook videos, Peyton experienced a minor technological malfunction. His video wouldn’t upload to Facebook so he uploaded it to YouTube instead. Within a month, it had over 15,000 views. “Ever since then, my fan base kind of just exploded,” he says. Peyton believes his success had to do with timing. “If you can put out the one thing that catches everyone’s attention, then you’re set,” he says. “The next thing you follow up with just has to be better than the first one.” When he received the unexpected positive reaction to the YouTube video, Peyton decided to combine his love of acting and dancing, and his athletic talent into rap music and performing. “My life story has been an adventure of trying new things in order to see what I love,” Peyton says. “And this is what I really love to do.”

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P.SANDERS The home-schooled high school senior plans to wrap up his high school career within the next couple of weeks. “My favorite class is sleeping,” he says, grinning. For Peyton, history and English are “where it’s at.” Science, on the other hand, isn’t as pleasant for him, but he assures me he’s getting the best grades possible. “I’m an A student, I can promise you that,” he says. When I ask him about potential college plans, Peyton tells me it depends on how the next few months go. The young musician is bent on future success and hopes to remain focused on his music career above anything else. The year may have just begun, but Peyton has already been offered headlining tours. “I might go to college if nothing goes big for me this year, but I think it will,” he says. For now, Peyton has his fans, “PSanderettes”, to deal with. “My fans will try to rip articles of clothing off of me, and I want them to,” he says with a crazy look in his eyes. “I don’t want them to stand there. I want them to attack.” Peyton’s onstage performance is intense — every drop of sweat left on stage is the product of his extreme work ethic. If his onstage dedication isn’t already evident, his dedication to his fans is. He takes time to meet them after shows, and he reads and retweets most of his mentions on Twitter. The loyalty fans have for Peyton is only multiplied by his responses. Peyton doesn’t know what fuels their continued commitment, but encourages it. “They literally go crazy. I absolutely love it,” he says, chuckling. In addition to music, Peyton hopes to pursue acting. He caught the attention of casting directors at MTV when the network was casting new roles for Teen Wolf, but the audition conflicted with his schedule. “I still want to play a werewolf one day. I actually want to get killed on a show,” Peyton says, laughing hysterically. “Any kind of dramatic death scene would be great. I think anyone could look good dying.” Peyton hasn’t released any new material since Underrated EP. He has over 20 songs that are yet to be heard, and he is not sure whether or not to release them. “I want to find that one special song to release first,” he says. “I want to market it in a way that would have the world singing this anthem for 20 years.” For the time being, Peyton doesn’t need a record deal. He hasn’t clicked with labels that have approached him in the past, but he expresses little to no concern. “You should be signed to a label that is thirsty to make you the next big thing,” he says. “If the label isn’t into you, why should you be into them?” Peyton says the label he belongs with will come eventually. Until then, he’s having a pretty good time. Peyton and I walk back out into the small backstage hallway, and we run into other press outlets hoping to gain his attention. I tell Peyton I have to leave and he pulls me into a warm hug before he is directed to another interview. We go our separate ways, and I leave the venue thinking that Peyton Sanders could really be the next big thing. NKD

“MY LIFE STORY HAS BEEN AN ADVENTURE OF TRYING NEW THINGS IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT I LOVE.” P.SANDERS

Q&A WHAT IS THE WORST LIE YOU EVER TOLD? “I USED TO TELL PEOPLE I WAS BORN IN NEW YORK CITY AND MOVED TO ATLANTA. IT WAS SUCH A BAD LIE, BUT PEOPLE BELIEVED IT.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG AT THE MOMENT? “‘STAY’ BY RIHANNA.”

CURRENT GUILTY PLEASURE? “NEW YORK CHEESECAKE. OH MY GOSH. EVERY FLAVOR. I DON’T EVEN CARE.”

BIGGEST PET PEEVE? “LIARS, EVEN THOUGH I JUST TALKED ABOUT LYING. AND PEOPLE WHO WALK TOO SLOW IN FRONT OF YOU, USING THEIR CELLPHONES.”

ONE THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE? “SWIM WITH SHARKS.”

ONE THING YOU DON’T WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE? “PARTICIPATE IN A HOT DOG EATING CONTEST. “ NKDMAG.COM

THE PLAYLIST

Jose Villanueva of Divided By Friday takes us through his current top tracks.

TRACKS

3 1. “COUNTING STARS” - ONEREPUBLIC

2. “SUIT & TIE” - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FEAT. JAY-Z

3. “YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG” - FRANK SINATRA

4. “I LIVED” - ONEREPUBLIC

5. “LOVE ON TOP” - BEYONCÉ

6. “CAN’T STOP” - ONEREPUBLIC

7. “DRY MY SOUL” - AMANDA JENSSEN

8. “DON’T JUDGE ME” - CHRIS BROWN

9. “FLY ME TO THE MOON” - FRANK SINATRA

10. “THE NIGHT THEY INVENTED CHAMPAGNE” - SETH MACFARLANE

11. “SOMETHING I NEED” - ONEREPUBLIC

12. “MIRRORS” - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

13. “HAVEN’T MET YOU YET” - MICHAEL BUBLÉ

14. “IF I KNEW” - BRUNO MARS

15. “LET ME LOVE YOU” - MARIO

NAKED EYE BEST OF MARCH LIVE PERFORMANCES

NKDMAG.COM

ED SHEERAN March 28, The Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.)

RODNEY ATKINS March 23, Best Buy Theater (N.Y.)

A DAY TO REMEMBER March 26, Best Buy Theater (N.Y.)

DEBBY RYAN Words & Photos by Catherine Powell Hair and Make-up by Sarah Joffe Âť Styled by Chris Horan

“IN ABOUT 2000 B.C. A STAR EXPLODED. FROM THAT STAR CAME A FRAGMENT OF LIGHT. THE LIGHT FRAGMENT GLINTED OFF OF A SWITCHBLADE USED BY AN ANCIENT CAVEMAN, CARVED FROM FLINT. I AM THAT GLIMMER OF LIGHT,” DEBBY RYAN SAYS WITH A SMILE.

So maybe Debby wasn’t actually birthed by an explosion, but she’s still a star. Debby and I sit in a cozy, studio apartment in Southern Los Angeles. Outside, people are going about their Sunday afternoon routines in the gorgeous 65-degree weather, all unaware that one of the biggest names in the Young Hollywood scene is peering out the window a few floors up. It’s the perfect place for Debby, who bailed on an upscale Hollywood birthday party last night to eat Taco Bell on “rich people’s lawns” with her friend Cameron. She has a taste for the simple things. Debby’s appearance is innocent — she walks into the room wearing a cut-up Looney Tunes T-shirt with an iced coffee in one hand and her iPhone in the other. Even though she’s technically still a teenager at 19, Debby is far from naïve about the ways of Hollywood. Within minutes she has her outfits picked out for our shoot and is in a chair for hair and make-up. She gives polite but specific instructions on how she wants to look and smiles brightly. Appearance isn’t the only thing Debby likes to be in control of. Debby was born in Alabama, but doesn’t remember a thing about it. “I actually had to do a lot of fighting to come into this world,” Debby says. She tells me that, according to doctors, she shouldn’t be able to walk right now, let alone be alive. Debby doesn’t go into detail, but she does add that her early struggles shaped the person she’s become. “I’m kind of a stubborn individual, based on the fact that I had to be stubborn to exist,” she says. As a kid, Debby moved around quite often. Her family left Alabama for Texas when she was two years old, and then relocated to Germany when she was seven. There she attended German Public School, American Public School on base and was homeschooled for a bit. She did many extracurricular activities like chess and gymnastics in the gifted and talented program at her school, which, according to Debby, is “where the dorks go to assemble and celebrate the fact that they eat lunch alone.” It was in Germany that she began acting in the theater before moving back to Texas at age 10. Debby continued with both homeschooling and theater in Texas. She eventually decided to go back to public school. “I tried to fit in and understand what Boy Meets World and Lizzie

McGuire were telling me,” she says. “But what they were telling me was incorrect.” Her older brother Chase was super popular, and from seventh through ninth grade she was always called “Chase’s sister.” “I wish that I could say he’s not the perfect child, but he’s the most gracious and talented person ever,” she says. Debby signed with an agent after moving back to Texas and booked her first industry role at age 12. But it wasn’t until 14 that she had her big break. Debby’s agent arranged for her to send an audition tape for a role in the Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life on Deck, a spin-off of the original series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She didn’t get her hopes up and went to shoot a movie in the meantime. Six months later she got a call asking her to come in and screen test for the role. She flew to Los Angeles for the first time and auditioned with the show’s stars, Dylan and Cole Sprouse and Brenda Song. The auditions were opened up nationwide and Debby went up against over 600 other girls for the role of Bailey Pickett, a quirky girl from Kansas. By the end of the day of her screen test she was one of the producers’ top three choices, and she ultimately landed the role. She flew back to Texas, packed up her things, said goodbye to her teachers and was back in L.A. in six days. “I never wanted to give up my normal life,” Debby says. Though she admits she gave up her childhood to a certain degree, she didn’t have to give up all of it. “I think if I moved to L.A. right away, did pilot season, pounded the pavement and then booked a role, I would feel like I deserved it,” she says. “But with acting and the industry, it’s the least about what you deserve.” She knows that Hollywood doesn’t owe her, or anyone, anything. “Even if you give them your childhood, and the prom you missed and the family you could have been there for and then say ‘Hey Hollywood, I gave you all of this, now you owe me a TV show,’ it doesn’t work that way.” After a few seasons of Suite Life, Debby began work on a new Disney movie, 16 Wishes. “I was given a script, a director and was told to ‘Go have fun in Vancouver and we’ll put you on in the summer,’” Debby says. “And I refused to be that.” She wanted her movie to debut with a bang. (Cont’d on page 47)

“I NEVER WANTED TO GIVE UP MY NORMAL LIFE.” DEBBY RYAN NKDMAG.COM

The movie was a co-production, which gave Debby and the team the freedom to do things most Disney Channel Original Movies cannot do. Two weeks before production began, Debby called director Peter DeLuise with a few ideas: using B-roll, making a website, including interviews with the cast and behind the scenes pranks and a song for the movie. But it didn’t stop there. The second 16 Wishes wrapped Debby began venue scouting, calling sponsors and begging her friends to come walk the carpet at the premiere, all while still filming Suite Life. Disney Channel movies don’t typically do premieres, but Debby wanted one. So she took control. She formed a merchandise deal with Borders Bookstores to sell exclusive shirts, notebooks and more to promote the film. “It was very guerilla style,” Debby says. The movie ended up being one of the most successful films in Disney Channel history and still appears on TV three years later. This opened the door for people to see Debby as not only an actress, but as a successful businesswoman and someone who has a good head on her shoulders. She was able to showcase her creative ideas from the beginning to the end of a project. “I don’t know if I knew what I was doing when I did all that,” she says. “I just refused to let it fail.” When the third season of Suite Life wrapped the cast said their tentative goodbyes but were hopeful about a fourth season. “Every Disney show was doing four seasons and we had one if we wanted one,” Debby says. But ultimately Dylan and Cole decided to decline the offer to pursue college. With one week left of filming the Suite Life movie, the twins sat Debby down before work one day and wished her luck. “I was shocked for about five seconds,” she says, laughing. “And then I called the president of the channel and said ‘I don’t think I’m done with you guys, and I don’t think you guys are done with me. Hannah [Montana] just ended, Wizards [of Waverly Place] just ended, I think you need something of the old Disney Channel.” Debby starts laughing and says, “I told them I was going to come into the office in a few weeks to pitch projects to produce … Nobody does that!” She was only 17 when she made that phone call, and now at 19 she realizes how ridiculous it was. But it was her bold, fearless attitude that helped her land her own sitcom, Jessie. After working on the character, Debby headed to New York City to host the station’s Upfronts, an annual event that gives press insight on the upcoming television season. During rehearsals for the event, Disney president Gary Marsh pulled Debby aside to deliver some good news. “He said, ‘This is the first time we’re doing this, but we’re not going to film a pilot,’” Debby says, grinning. “He said ‘You’re on in the fall.’” The show was set to run nine episodes and casting would begin as soon as the two got back to L.A.. “I was so overwhelmed and so happy,” she says. The announcement was made, they flew back to L.A., cast the show and started rolling. “I’m a bit of a micromanager,” Debby says.

“If I believe in something, I want to be involved in every aspect of it.” Debby co-produces Jessie and she cast all the kids, helped hire the crew, assisted on styling and sings the theme song. “I think passion is something that’s so rare in my generation that if I get a chance to do what I love, I’m going to make it represent me and who I am.” Every TV show, movie or song with Debby’s name attached to it is 100 percent Debby. There is a common idea that most young actors are hired just to play a role the way the director wants them to. “I’ve been on sets where I’ve been told to cry a different way,” Debby says. “But I was hired to bring my emotion and my way of doing things to a character, so it’s difficult.” Unfortunately, with the responsibility Debby

has, she also has to fire people sometimes. As a producer, if a crew member is making her child actors uncomfortable or making them cry, it is her job to let that person go. “With every silver lining there’s a cloud …” she jokes. “As an 18-year-old I was living this great life where my dreams were coming true, and there was a moment right before Christmas one season where one of our crew members was awful and had to go.” Debby is extremely protective of the young actors on her set and refers to them as her kids. When a situation got out of hand, she had to make the decision to fire someone, who she knew was a father, two weeks before Christmas. (Cont’d on page 50)

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“I THINK PASSION IS SOMETHING THAT’S SO RARE IN MY GENERATION THAT IF I GET A CHANCE TO DO WHAT I LOVE, I’M GOING TO MAKE IT REPRESENT ME AND WHO I AM.”

DEBBY RYAN

“That’s the dark side of living the dream,” she says. “With great power comes great responsibility.” Despite the difficulty, Debby recognizes how much that one event shaped her as a person and a professional. On set isn’t the only place Debby has felt conflicted between her personal and professional life. A few years ago Debby was set to attend a TV Guide party hosted by one of her favorite actresses. She was wearing great designers and had plans to meet the actresses she’s looked up to all her life, But there were other equally important things going on at the time – she spent the entire car ride to the event on the phone with her best friend while she was in the hospital, where her mother was dying. “I knew there was nothing I could do,” Debby says. “I knew if I was in college, I would grab my homework for the week and book the next flight out and leave.” But being in the position she is in, she couldn’t just leave. She had 120 people expecting her to show up to work the next day and for the rest of the week. “It’s those things that make me think ‘Do I be a good person?’ Because I’ve already set the stakes really high on being a professional actor,” she says. “As much as I shouldn’t have had to deal with [firing a crew member], my best friend, at 18, shouldn’t have had to deal with what her mom was going through.” “People think I don’t get to experience normal teenage things, or that other people don’t experience things that stars experience, but it’s all very similar,” Debby says. Despite her celebrity status, she’s still close with her best friend from seventh grade, who now goes to school in Oklahoma. “At the same time she’s going through something with the president of her sorority, I’m going through something with the president of my show,” she says. Debby has stayed true to the friends she had before she moved to L.A., even going as far as keeping an eighth grade promise to go to prom with her best girl friend senior year. She flew home, bought dresses and rented a limo. “We went through a drive-thru and got Icees after,” she says, smiling. “We did it our style.” Even before moving out to California Debby was able to experience some of high school in Texas: she lettered in a varsity sport and was on the drill team. But she’ll never really know what she missed out on. “I often wonder what part of myself would have flourished had I stayed [in Texas] for four years,” she says. “There’s something about actors…” she thinks out loud. “We’re able to pick up our emotions and move them elsewhere. Actors move around a lot.” She adds that the things she does on a plane to London are the same things she would do on a bus to community college in the Midwest. “I write lyrics and I’m a horrible insomniac, so I write about the things that keep me up at night,” she says. “I think that’s a very universal thing.” After spending the majority of her childhood moving around, Los Angeles has become the place Debby has spent the most time. “There’s so much culture here,” she

says. “I’ve grown to love it and appreciate it.” But if things get to stale, she “peaces out.” The stereotypical Hollywood scene of flashing cameras on a red carpet is something she can only take in small doses. “There’s still that kid who lived in Germany and climbed trees inside of me,” she says. And that person, the tree climbing, T-shirt cutting insomniac is the person who is currently writing an album. The stereotypical Disney-actress-turned-singer puts together an album geared toward the audience of their show, but that’s not exactly what Debby plans on doing. “If the name Debby Ryan was on a Disney show but not on a record, tons of 12-year-olds wouldn’t buy it,” she says. “But the fact that the name Debby Ryan is going to be on a record makes me think that tons of 20-year-olds are not going to buy it because I’m on a Disney show.”

“I’M KIND OF A STUBBORN INDIVIDUAL.” DEBBY RYAN “As a music listener, when you listen to the radio you can hear a song and say ‘This person wrote this song, cried about this song, needed to write this song and I dig this song,” she says, “Or, this person showed up to a studio, read over a lyric sheet and then a producer spent 15 hours auto-tuning their voice.” She quickly states that there’s nothing wrong with a song that just makes you want to close your eyes and dance, but those aren’t the kinds of songs she’ll be releasing. “I’ve been terrified to do music for five years because I was afraid people would think I was only doing it because I’m a Disney kid,” she says. But that can’t be further from the truth. Debby has been writing music for the last five years. She’s spent hours in the studio with her brother writing songs for other people, some of which have even made it to radio. And then there are the songs that have been tucked away in notebooks waiting to get out. “I’m finally at a point where I feel comfortable,” Debby says. “I can no longer deny how much of my life is music.” “The music business is the scariest one of all,” she says. “Music is someone coming out and saying, ‘This is exactly my story.’” Debby says

some of the worst, most cold-hearted people she’s met work in the music industry, because they’ll chew you up and spit you out with a smile on their face. But she’s also met some of the best people in the music industry. “The Nick [Santino]s, The Josh [Montgomery]s, those are the people that make this less scary,” she says. She believes that to be able to make music, you have to be able to fight yourself. “You have to be able to fight everything natural about yourself, but you also have to be so in touch with it that it almost hurts to not release music,” she says. “It’s like when you’re in the middle of the supermarket, and you hate Katy Perry, but her song comes on and all of a sudden you’re dancing with the Cool Whip in aisle 14. That’s music.” As much as Debby would like to say someone iconic like Bob Dylan sparked her love for music, she can’t. “It was Panic! At the Disco…” she says, laughing. “But Bob Dylan came later.” Her fascination for all things music stems from the idea that music can bring people in touch with emotions they didn’t know were there. “It’s why 12-year-old girls who have never been through a break up sit in their rooms and weep to Adele,” she says. She references a quote from C.S. Lewis. “We want something else which can hardly be put into words, to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.” Essentially, she felt such a strong, powerful, beautiful connection for music that she needed to be a part of it in a bigger way. The music Debby will be releasing (hopefully by the end of the summer) will be exactly what she wants to release. “I’m not signed, so I don’t feel pressure from anyone other than myself … which is the worst kind of pressure,” she says. When I ask what her record is going to sound like, she laughs. “It’s going to sound like Irish pirates singing drunken songs in a saloon, right outside of a carnival. If April Smith, Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, The Hush Sound, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jimi Hendrix and Tom Petty all had a musical baby … with mouse ears.” Of her goals Debby says, “I have no goals for my music career because it’s not a career.” The word career in the same sentence as music terrifies her — all she wants is to make music. That’s it. “I’m doing it because I need to do it,” she says. “Some people go on a run, and some people go to a therapist, and this is just cheaper than therapy.” She’d also love to have her own sitcom one day. “I don’t think as long as I live I’ll ever run out of stories to tell,” she says. I take a peek out the window and notice the sky turning a burnt orange color. What has felt like minutes has been three hours. If there’s one thing I learned from our conversation it’s that Debby is different than most people in this town. She has taken control of her own destiny and refuses to let the greedy hands of Los Angeles pull and tear at her dreams. At only 19 she’s become a quadruple threat: an actress, a musician, a producer and a genuine person. NKD

NKDMAG.COM

JAKE MILLER Words by Shina Patel Âť Photos by Catherine Powell

WHEN 20-YEAR-OLD RAPPER JAKE MILLER RELEASED A FEW VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HE NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD START HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

has always loved making music. “I’ve been playing guitar, playing drums, singing pretty much for as long as I can remember,” Jake says. Along the way music became more than just something he was into. He turned it into his life. “I really kind of started taking rapping seriously about three or four years ago,” Jake says. He recalls uploading videos to YouTube and says he just posted them to make fun of himself. But what he thought were just fun videos on the Internet posted for a few laughs soon turned into much more. Not only did Jake receive positive feedback from family and friends, local radio stations and record labels began to reach out to him. “My manager reached out and contacted me, and started managing me,” Jake recalls. “Ever since then, it’s just been blowing up.” About three months ago Jake signed with E-One Records and started working with a booking agent through Paradigm. Signing with E-One was initially a difficult decision for Jake. He had a lot of record labels putting offers on the table, but at the end of the day E-One seemed like the best fit. “They had the most interest in me,” Jake says. “They had the most passion in working on me. And I knew I wouldn’t just be put on the shelf. I knew that they were going to put all of their efforts into me and building me as an artist. I love them there, and I know how excited they are to work with me and I am equally as excited to work with them.” Before becoming serious about rapping and his music career, Jake was headed down the same path many high school graduates are — going to college. He originally planned to go to Florida State University, but a few weeks before he left for school he decided to take a year off to focus on music. “In one year if it didn’t work out, I go back to school,” Jake says of the decision. Jake’s family and friends had always told him they liked his music, but when others began supporting him he knew he had made the right decision. “I was getting feedback and calls and emails from people in the music industry,” he says. “That kind of opened mine and my family’s eyes. We took a shot.” In March Jake finished the first leg of his very first tour, The Miller High Life Tour. What was supposed to end mid-March with a sold out show in New York City was extended with about 25 more shows throughout April and May. This month Jake will tour across

JAKE

the country, and by the end of the year hopes to hit every state. “This whole tour has just been amazing, seeing all these different cities and meeting all these different fans…” Jake says. It was also refreshing for him to see people outside of his hometown supporting him. “I’m a hometown boy,” he says. “I’ve been living in the same city for 18 years. So to see people who enjoy my music and die-hard fans out of my city and across the country is just crazy. A weird feeling.” Touring has been a learning experience for Jake. Most importantly, Jake learned that, at the end of the day, it is not a one-man show. “I learned that a great team behind you is basically everything,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if four people show up to that show. As long as I have a great team with me to prepare and hype me up and just get excited with and go out to dinner with after and just share the experience with, I think that’s the coolest part about this whole tour, just building a team of my friends and family and just having them experience it with me.” But Jake knows that even with an amazing team behind him, things can go wrong and expectations can lead to disappointment. “At these shows, you can’t expect anything,” he says. “There are just so many little factors that could go wrong, that could go right. We just take it day by day.” Jake is currently working on a new EP. He has already released a single, “A Million Lives,” and plans to release the full EP with five more new songs this spring. In September, he hopes to release a full-length album. Jake says he puts a lot of effort into each song he writes. “I write all my own lyrics,” Jake says. “I definitely need to hear the instrumental before I start writing because the instrumental determines the vibe of the song, what it’s going to be about. I’ll listen to it 500 times on repeat and just sit there and write. Sometimes it’s inspirational, sometimes it’s about a girl, [it] kind of depends on the vibe of the song and also what I’m feeling that day.” Jake has huge dreams for the future. “I want to get a Grammy,” he says. “I want to tour the world. I want to have the No. 1 album or the No. 1 single on the charts.” But Jake knows that he didn’t get into music for the fame and awards. He interrupts himself and says, “More importantly than all of that, I want to inspire kids just like other artists have inspired me. Every day at every show I get people who come up to me saying how my music has saved their lives. To be able to touch people like that is just so crazy. If I can do what I love and support myself while positively affecting other person, that’s true success.” NKD

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JOEY KING 56

MOST 13-YEAR OLD GIRLS WORRY ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL, BOYS AND APPLYING MAKEUP FOR THE FIRST TIME. LIFE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR YOUNG ACTRESS JOEY KING — TELEVISION APPEARANCES AND FEATURE FILMS, DIFFERENT. Words by Tanya Traner » Photos by Catherine Powell

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oey began her career in commercials. This eventually led to the big screen and her most well-known role — as Ramona in Ramona and Beezus, (2010) co-starring Selena Gomez. “It was a big role to take on,” Joey says. “But I was completely up for it.” She says that working with such a great cast, crew and director was an amazing experience. She even got to release a song, “Ramona Blue,” on the soundtrack to the film. Joey says that while she hasn’t worked on any music projects since, she hopes that in the future she will put something out again. Most recently, Joey was featured in the Disney film The Great and Powerful Oz. She plays two characters in the film: Girl in Wheelchair in Kansas and China Girl in Oz. “The set they built was visually amazing,” Joey says. “They used a lot of green screens for the background, but they built the immediate set, like the Dark Forest. It was so exciting and crazy and so cool to be a part of that.”

“WHEN YOU’RE ON SET, IT’S NOT SCARY. YOU KNOW IT’S ALL FAKE AND BEHIND THE SCENES.” JOEY KING

Joey’s work doesn’t stop at this modern twist on the Wizard of Oz, though. She has three other movies coming out this year alone, including Family Weekend, which was released on March 29. This summer you can see her in the action film White House Down starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, and you can also catch her in horror film The Conjuring. Though she stars in one, Joey doesn’t actually like to watch horror movies — she says they freak her out. “But when you’re on set, it’s not scary,” she says. “You know it’s all fake and behind the scenes.” She says The Conjuring is terrifying because it’s based on the true story of a family who moved into a haunted house. She got to meet that family when she was on set. “One of the sisters had to leave the set when they brought out the scary person because she said it was too much like the real thing,” Joey says. Putting out four movies in one year can make balancing a normal school life difficult. Joey went to public school until fifth grade, but she is homeschooled now. “It’s very flexible which is good,” she says. “I can log on anytime. It’s an online thing.” Joey says that she doesn’t want a normal school life because now she’s able to do what she loves. “People always ask me, like, ‘What do you do for fun?’ This is fun for me,” she says. While other tweens are learning how to eat with braces and telling scary stories at sleepovers, Joey King is finding her calling. “I definitely don’t see myself doing anything else,” she says. “Hopefully it continues to be a good run for the rest of my life like Betty White.” NKD

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designer spotlight

COLLIDE Chris Kamrada is a man of many talents. In addition to his role as drummer for Orlando based alt-rock band There For Tomorrow, Chris has begun to channel his creativity into other avenues. He is using his experiences in travel, music and art as inspiration for his new clothing line, Collide, which launched in early March. This month we talked to Chris about his creativity, inspiration and plans for the future. BY ALEXANDRA LANE

LID Why did you decide to start this project?

CHRIS KAMRADA: My inspiration to start Collide came from the years I’ve spent traveling the world, playing music and living within my own creativity. This is just an extension of all those things … It’s a brand that I want to build with my career as a musician and use it as another creative outlet.

CHRIS: It’s safe to say that my first line for Collide is targeted toward markets that I’ve been affiliated with. I want TFT fans to wear my clothes, but I also want to see this company grow into something new. As of now I’m just getting started and test marketing the designs I’ve released. I’ll be selling my designs on any tours that I’m apart of, and we also have an online store: www.districtlines.com/collide

Are there specific trips you’ve taken, events you’ve been to or music you’ve written or listen to that influenced a particular piece in the clothing line?

The line, which is a separate being from There For Tomorrow, seems to be targeted at the same demographic as your music. Was that a consideration when designing?

CHRIS: Yes, music, art and traveling have all played a big role in the inspiration behind Collide. There’s too many experiences to list that deserve credit for influencing me on this brand, but the most recent experience had to be Art Basel 2012 in Miami. It opened up my eyes to different artwork that I have so much respect for now.

How is being creative for the line different from being creative in music? Are there similarities? CHRIS: The fashion/art world is definitely different from being a musician in a band. Yet the creative process is a general thing that brings the worlds together. I love anything [and] everything that involves creativity. Art, fashion and music all have a funny way of colliding together to produce something special.

What are your hopes for the line going forward? Where would you like to see it at this point next year? CHRIS: My goal with Collide is to start fresh and release inspirational, artsy, modern designs for people of all ages [and] sexes. In my mind there are no limits, so I want to take this as far as I can. A lot can happen in a year, I hope to see a lot of people reppin’ Collide in the near future. NKD

CHECK OUT COLLIDE AT WWW.DISTRICTLINES.COM/COLLIDE NKDMAG.COM