star power [NYOTA Magazine ]
starring
Haven Volume 17
from the editor
HELLO THERE, READER! In this Star Power issue, Haven graces the cover. Haven is a singer-songwriter on the rise and has already had her single "Swimming in My Feelings" reach #6 on Radio Disney's Top Ten Song list. I also was lucky enough to have a quick chat with Ruby Jay who can be seen on the new hit show The Unicorn. As always I hope you enjoy reading the issue and are inspired to go after your dreams!
YOURS TRULY, Carol Wright EDITOR IN CHIEF, NYOTA MAGAZINE @_CAROL_WRIGHT
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contents
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Get to Know Haven
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Haven's Playlist
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Star Power: Haven
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Haven's Top Picks
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Quick Chat: Ruby Jay
#StarPower
GET TO KNOW HAVEN
I’m a bad cook
I can’t roll my r’s
I have 3 brothers
I’m scared of horror movies, so I mainly watch rom-coms
My favorite food is pizza (with cheesestuffed crust) 3
#NyotaMusic
Haven's Playlist Selena Gomez // Lose You to Love Me Julia Michaels // Body Bazzi // 3:15 Sting // Roxanne Lizzo // Truth Hurts Selena Gomez // Look at Her Now Camila Cabello // Cry for Me Kanye West // Follow God Lauv // Superhero Ed Sheeran & Khalid // Beautiful People
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#StarPower
#StarPower
Haven Interview by Carol Wright | Photos by Storm Santos
Your discovery for your love of music came out of you battling POTS syndrome as a child. How did music help you during that time? Music was my healer when I was in the hospital. I went from being super involved with athletics and playing every sport that was available in my town, to being too weak to walk to the bathroom and stuck in a hospital bed. The only thing that was left for me was music. It was my getaway and writing music took my mind off of being sick. I remember towards the end of my illness, I was at the Mayo clinic meeting with my doctor and I wanted to bring my guitar so I could sing for my doctor. My superhero mom pushed me in my wheelchair and carried my guitar on her back all the way through the Mayo Clinic, just so I could sing for all of the doctors. It wouldn’t matter how sick I felt when I sang the pain disappeared for a moment. It gave me something to be passionate about during that time. I remember when I was starting to get better and started doing shows again, I would have fevers or be puking on the way to a gig, but once I was on stage it would all subside. I was just consumed in the music and the feeling of performing. I loved it. An amazing local family sent me and my family on a trip to Nashville as a gift. That trip is what set me on fire and made me want to pursue music permanently. I am forever thankful for that trip and the family who made it happen. Once I was better, my parents asked me if I wanted to start getting involved with sports again and I told them I wanted to focus on music. So, they helped me start booking shows, I started doing around 100 dates a year, and it went from there. I’m so thankful I had the gift of music to carry me through that tough time in my life.
You moved to Nashville at age 12 to pursue music more seriously. Were you nervous to take that leap? I was pretty young so I never really got nervous about anything because it was all very normal to me. I started fronting a band doing around 100 dates a year and using my gig money to fly to Nashville on my own. I lived with a sweet family there so I could be writing and taking meetings. I just loved what I was doing so being in Nashville was very exciting for me.
You’ve had the chance to tour with Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith and Hunter Hayes. What did you learn from those experiences? I am so thankful to have had those experiences. I learned a lot about performing and I got to meet so many new people. Doing those dates was a dream come true. Looking back on those shows, I realize how lucky and blessed I was to have had those opportunities.
Tell us about your single “Swimming in Your Feelings”. What inspired the lyrics and sound? I wrote “Swimming In Your Feelings” about a year ago when I first started making trips to LA. Long story short... I dated an LA boy, we broke up, and I wrote a song about it. I feel like most of us have felt like we’re swimming in somebody’s feelings at some point. Even though it’s technically a breakup song, I wanted it to still feel like a jam and not just another sad song. I try to incorporate pieces of what inspire me and make me excited as a listener into the music I create. So, I hope y’all turn it up and enjoy it!
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#StarPower
Do you often work through the emotional moments in your life through music? Yes! Music has always been my therapy. Whether it was working through my illness or a relationship, music has always been there for me and helped me through everything.
"Swimming in Your Feelings" was included in Radio Disney's top 10 songs when it was released. How did it feel to have people discovering your music? I was a total Disney kid growing up so to have Radio Disney’s support has been the most incredible blessing! It’s been such a dream come true to hear my song on the radio and no words can describe how thankful I am for the opportunity.
Who are some of your musical inspirations? Some of my musical inspirations are Julia Michaels, Bazzi, Selena Gomez & Shania Twain!
What advice do you have for aspiring singers? My main advice would be to do it because you love it and even though it’s a lot of hard work, never lose your love for music. You may get told "no" a lot but most of the greats have gotten told the same thing, so keep working hard and it will pay off! Also - don’t wait for someone to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself first and your belief, talent, and work ethic will attract others!
Can fans of “Swimming in Your Feelings” continue to expect new music? Yesss!!!! I will be releasing a new single every 6 weeks starting in 2020!! I CANNOT WAIT!!!
Tell us a bit about your work with the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research and how our readers can get involved. I started becoming involved with The Rally Foundation for kids with cancer in Nashville around 13yrs old. While I was singing at events to help raise money I learned that only 4% of federal government cancer research goes to studying pediatric cancer, which is unacceptable. It’s something I didn’t realize until I became involved with Rally. I’ve met so many incredible, smart, beautiful kids, and it breaks my heart to see a child going through any type of illness. Kids should be outside playing with their friends, not stuck in a hospital bed. I was hospitalized a lot when I was younger so my heart truly goes out to childhood illnesses and any families that have to go through that. You can get involved by going to https://rallyfoundation.org!
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#StarPower
Haven's Top Picks
Book: Bible
Movie: Masterminds
TV Show: This Is Us
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#QuickChat
Ruby Jay
Interview by Carol Wright | Photography by Anthony Naylor
#QuickChat
You’re a singer and an actress. Did you have a very fun, creative childhood? I can definitely say that I had a fun childhood and I still am! I am only 14 years old, so I’m still living my childhood years and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the opportunities and fun that has come my way.
How did you feel when Holly Hobbie got renewed for a season 2? What can fans expect from the second season? When Holly Hobbie got renewed for season two I was filled with excitement, I couldn’t wait to see all my friends again! In season two you can expect a ton more fantastic music as well as a new character who is a male musician! Let’s just say, things get flirty. The characters all mature and grow closer as friends and I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s to come!
Alongside your acting career, you also make Youtube videos. What motivated you to start creating videos? What’s your favorite part about having your own channel? I really enjoy singing, creating music and art, so that alone motivates me to post and record music. Obviously, I am an actress first, so I try and work on my music as much as I can. When I share content that I have created it makes me so happy to have people who support and enjoy my music.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors? The best advice I could give is don’t stop. Keep going. Even though it may take years to get that one role, it may only take that one role to start your career. I always say it takes 100 no’s to get that one yes.
How do you go about choosing roles? Do you like to pick characters that remind you of yourself or push you out of your comfort zone? I’m not exactly at the point where I get to choose my roles but I love every character I audition for. I want to be able to play any role I am given the opportunity to. I love being pushed out of my comfort zone.
You’re in CBS’s new hit show The Unicorn. How did the opportunity to be in the show come about and what about the show interested you? When I got the audition for The Unicorn I was super excited and after reading the script it looked like such a fun role. I can’t wait to see where the story goes and for everyone to see Grace develop as a character.
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NYOTA Magazine STAR POWER TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CAROL WRIGHT CAROL WRIGHT
COVER SINGER
Haven
CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHER
Storm Santos
PHOTOGRAPHER
Anthony Naylor
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