Nyota Issue 27 by NYOTA Magazine

featuring

Sydney Morgan Issue 27

CONTENTS Music The Digital Issue Playlist

Culture 07

Sydney Morgan 43

Alessandra Boldrini 09

Alicia Osborne-Crone

AJ Wander 13

Christina Harris 51

ÊMIA 15

Jordan Preston Carter

Young Rising Sons

Ella Rosa 23

The Radical, Digital Action that is Taking Over Gen Z

Cade Hoppe 27

Brooklynne Webb 59

Vegan Treats to Splurge On

Opal Stewart 37

Jacob Kaplan 67

Fashion Shelcy & Christy Joseph

Revell Carpenter 71

THE

TEAM

Editor in Chief Carol Wright is a graduate of American University. At a young age, she became interested in telling stories through photography which eventually led her down the path of creating NYOTA. Now, her passion for storytelling has given her the opportunity to pick the brains of musicians, actors, and influencers across the world.

Art Director Nicole Cox is a American University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She has always enjoyed the arts, from making pottery to painting and sketching in her free time. Thanks to her wonderful professors at school, she was able to explore her passion for the arts and further implement her skills in her professional career and hobbies.

FEATURES Alessandra Boldrini

Sydney Morgan

AJ Wander

Alicia Osborne-Crone

ÊMIA

Christina Harris

Young Rising Sons

Jordan Preston Carter

Ella Rosa

Brooklynne Webb

Cade Hoppe

Jacob Kaplan

Shelcy & Christy Joseph

Revell Carpenter

Opal Stewart

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Sachar Arielle Ostry Ella Titus

EDITOR’S LETTER “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” - Maya Angelou

As the world continues to connect in various ways via social media, it only made sense for us to shine a light on the creatives who use their platforms to bring color into our lives every day. Our first quarterly issue of 2022 focuses on digital stars, creators, influencers, and those making a change in the digital space because, for once, we all deserve to hear about the good things happening online. As always, I hope you enjoy reading. With Love, Carol Wright Editor in Chief @_carol_wright

What’s Love // Baby Tate Switchsides // Elujay

midnight sun // Nilufer Yanya

The Digital Issue Playlist Playlist curated by Sophie Sachar 7

#NYOTAmusic

Love’s Train // Silk Sonic

No Smoke // Tiberius b

happy accident // Tomberlin

Bad Love // Dehd

The Guy We Used to Know // Good Morning

Should’ve Been Me // Mitski

Red Moon // Big Thief

Alessandra Boldrini Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Dean Sherwood

In 2016 Alessandra Boldrini decided to chase her dreams of making music and head to London to pursue a degree at BIMM Institute. Since then, she’s amassed over half a million streams across her tracks and positioned herself as one of Pop’s most exciting rising stars. Boldrini talked to NYOTA about how streaming services have been beneficial to her and her single “What You Wanted.” How much did your upbringing play a part in your passion for the arts? Thanks for having me! I come from a very musical family, my dad and my brother play the piano, and my mum sings as well. My parents introduced me to music at a very young age, and since then, I have fallen in love with it! I realized that was what I wanted to pursue in life when I started performing live in my hometown - Fabriano. In 2016 you headed to London to attend BIMM Institute. What did you learn in school that you take with you in your career today? Attending BIMM has definitely been an interesting experience; it made me more aware of the music industry and taught me the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. You have amassed over half a million streams across your songs. Streaming services can of course get some flack, but do you think they’ve been helpful to you as an up-and-coming artist? I definitely think they have been a big, massive help for me. Through streaming services, I managed to get my name out there, which helped me find more great musicians to connect and work with. Outside of getting yourself recognized via streaming. Have platforms such as Instagram helped you to grow your listenership? I am not that big on social media. However, Instagram helps me connect, stay in touch, and share my feelings and new music with people. I am always very truthful and authentic on the platform, which is one of the most important aspects for me when using social media platforms. Tell our readers about your upbeat single “What You Wanted.” What story are you telling through the song? “What You Wanted” is my latest release and third song produced by Rich Pilkington, a phenomenal producer who helped me bring my sound to life! It was written on a cold winter day. I was in bed and the lyrics just came to me while hearing Rich’s idea! “What You Wanted” is a catchy and upbeat tune that talks about overcoming the end of a romantic relationship. 9

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic Did you pull from personal experiences to write the lyrics? I wrote this song about being blamed for everything in a relationship, even when you have done nothing wrong! I’m sure I’m not the only one who has felt this way at least once, and I’m happy I could talk about this experience through my song! These past few years have been challenging to say the least. Has working on your music helped to keep you grounded? 100%. During these past few years, music played a big part in my life and helped me overcome some really tough times. The fact that I can express myself through songwriting is something I really value, and it’s essential for me. It’s like a 1-to-1 therapy session with myself and makes me more aware of my feelings. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? I’d say work hard to achieve your goals no matter what and believe in yourself because no one will do it for you.

#NYOTAmusic

AJ Wander Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Elevation Group

AJ Wander grew up surrounded by music in the suburbs of South East London due to his father being a pianist. So it is no wonder he became inspired to sing, play, and eventually write music. Wander talked to NYOTA about people connecting with his music, his song “When You Say I Love You,” and his advice for aspiring singers. With your dad being a pianist was it no surprise to your family that you followed in his musical footsteps? My dad certainly laid the foundations of my passion for music, he was too sensible to pursue it past his early twenties though…and for so many valid reasons. It certainly isn’t the easiest lifestyle, to be so emotionally invested in your job but even in moments of doubt, I don’t regret making music my life. Before writing songs, did you ever write poetry or short stories? My only creative outlet has been songwriting up until now, but I admire a host of poets and poetry and would love to try my hand at nonmusical writing someday. London is a city with a rich musical history. Has growing up there had an influence on your music? I think it would be impossible for it not to have had some influence on my music. London has surrounded me since birth, so it has certainly shaped me in many ways and in turn, my music. Tell our readers about “When You Say I Love You.” What inspired the lyrics? “When You Say I Love You” has a cinematic feel. When you write do you ever picture scenes that would go with the lyrics? WYSILY is about when someone falls for you too fast and you go along with it just because you don’t want to hurt them. Then finally realizing that pretending to be in love isn’t a healthy solution. You have to be honest but telling them that you need to slow things down is an emotional minefield.

Y’know…I’ve heard that cinematic thing a few times now, I think I must be subconsciously attracted to the drama that cinematic production brings to my music! Yes, I do exactly that! I aim to inspire a visual representation of the lyrics in the listener’s mind when I’m writing. You’re set to release an EP later this year. What can you share about that project? I am indeed… It’s been a long bloody time coming, that’s about as much as I can say! Last year you had over two million streams of your music which is an incredible milestone. In 2022 do you have your sights on connecting with even more listeners whether through streaming or live shows? I feel very fortunate to have had so many people listen to my creations so far, of course, I’d love for more and more people to find and relate to my music. Witnessing people connect with something you have created is such an incredible feeling. However, this isn’t the reason I create music…I make music because it keeps me sane. If what I write happens to connect with lots of lovely strangers, then that’s a bonus to me. I am planning lots of shows over the coming months and can’t wait to get on alllll the stages. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? Pffft, I’m not sure I’m in the position to give advice yet but what I would say is, and it’s the cliche to end all cliches: Trust your gut. Oh and this: Persistence is key. (Which is basically another way of saying ‘Never give up’ which is another MASSIVE cliche but there you have it…oops). 14

ÊMIA Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Alisha Kabir

Anh Le, a Vietnamese-American indie-pop artist under the moniker ÊMIA, is handcrafting her own ‘tell-all’ brand of pop music. Heavily inspired by artists like Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne, Le follows in her idols’ footsteps through singles like “Teleprompter” and “Needy Desperate Manic,” and as an independent artist has gone through many different stages of her career. She talked to NYOTA about her upcoming EP VIDEO CALL: AM and creating relatable music. Did you start creating music at a young age? I think I did! I had a very rudimentary process of “songwriting” in 5th grade (making up lyrics and singing my own melodies), but didn’t make anything that legit until I was 15. For the most part, I spent more time learning and falling in love with other people’s songs before feeling like I had the skill/vision to create my own. Who are some of your musical inspirations? It’s been years...but I still find myself saying: BANKS, Lido, Julia Michaels, Taylor Swift, and Nina Nesbitt. My new faves have been Griff, Rina Sawayama, Half Alive, and Push Baby. As an up-and-coming artist have you found social media platforms to be beneficial when it comes to connecting with listeners? I think it’s essential. Without social media, my career would be at the mercy of gatekeepers in the music industry and I’m sure that I’d have to work much harder to prove to those guys that I could be a pop star. I feel like anyone can relate to the lyrics in your song “Fake Scenarios.” Do you often aim to make songs that can resonate with your listeners on a more personal level? Absolutely. Ok, so I was a huge HUGE speech and debate nerd in high school. And something I learned from competing was how important it is to make eye contact with everyone in the room individually. I apply the same philosophy to my songwriting. I am always speaking directly to a particular person when I’m writing… but in that sense, I hope that it ends up feeling more universal because I’m not being too general. I aim to be as true to my experience as possible…trusting that others can step into my shoes and feel what I have felt.

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic “Fake Scenarios” is such a fun, upbeat song. What were some of your influences when it came to how the song would sound? Thank you so much. So I made this song with my dear friend and long-time collaborator, Charlie Kurata (fka Duumu). We are both HUGE pop nerds. We especially like recent pop music made by artists like Chelsea Cutler, Fickle Friends, Trove Stykre - to name a few- that feel so honest and vulnerable. We both have also had a lot of experience writing music in the EDM world and, as a result, will probably always have the inclination to make music that people want to move to. “Fake Scenarios” and your song “Being Single” have different vibes. Do you often like to experiment and change your sound? I don’t think I go out of my way to experiment as much as I think the production of my songs varies and evolves with the kind of stories that I tell. The more I grow and change as a person, the more my sound changes with me. In this case, the change in sound is a reflection of what Charlie, my producer, was feeling when he heard my first draft of “being single.” Tell our readers about your upcoming EP VIDEO CALL: AM. What can listeners expect? I hope VIDEO CALL: AM makes listeners feel like they got to eavesdrop on a juicy phone call. Because that’s exactly how it feels like to me. The songs are a collection of some of my most unfiltered thoughts on love and growing up. I hope they make the little moments and feelings in life feel big and important. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Let joy and passion guide you. Success in the music industry is the result of SO many factors beyond your control. The only thing the industry can’t control is your personal relationship to creating and music-making. So if you can find a way to love the process and not be discouraged by rejection and unfortunate outcomes, I truly believe you’ll find the people who believe in you/ who will help you become the musician you want to become. Secondly, I made the mistake of taking other people’s opinions and advice way too seriously when I was younger. And now? I listen critically and trust my intuition first.

#NYOTAmusic

Young Rising Sons Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Jesse DeFlorio

If indie pop/rock band Young Rising Son is not yet on your radar, they will be soon. Consisting of Andy Tongren (lead singer/guitar), Julian Dimagiba (bass), Max Iantorno (guitar), and Steve Patrick (drums), the band has received praise from BBC Radio 1 and DJ Zane Lowe. Young Rising Sons talked to NYOTA about how streaming services have been beneficial to them and their debut album Still Point In A Turning World. Take us back to the beginning. How did Young Rising Sons come to be? The four of us have somewhat similar stories that all happened to collide in the east village years ago. We grew up around music and started our own individual bands in High School, and that’s where Steve and Julian met. Years later they started a band, met me (Andy) at an open mic night at this bar called Angels and Kings on 11th & A in the East Village while they were looking for a singer. We were in similar social circles with Max, had him fill in for a show once and it just stuck. Who are some of your musical inspirations? We all grew up with vastly different music, but we’ve found a way to blend them all together to create Young Rising Sons. Julian is our resident punk-rock aficionado, Steve grew up listening to bands like The Cars and Queen, Max could listen to nothing but 80s hair metal and country for the rest of his life and be fine with it, and I grew up listening to a lot of Motown records. As an up-and-coming band has social media been a helpful tool for you to reach a wide audience? When we put out our song “High” we somehow wound up on the front page of YouTube. We still have no idea how it got there - perhaps it was a part of the algorithm, but that was really the first massive catalyst for our band and it helped us reach the next level, ultimately getting us our first record deal. Along that same vein, how have streaming services been beneficial to you in getting your music noticed? Streaming services, while a lot of artists knock them, have made our music accessible to an entirely new audience we otherwise would never have reached. What we’ve found to be most important is turning any passive listenership on those platforms into real fans of our band, rather than them just liking one song. 20

You recently came out with your debut album Still Point In A Turning World. Was it cathartic to work on during these turbulent times? Very much so. I think writing Young Rising Sons songs has always allowed us an escape from the darkness in the world. Sometimes it’s difficult to remain optimistic, especially given the last few years, however, our goal in Sons is to find the silver lining or the lesson in that darkness. Do you feel as though your music-making process has changed since you first formed the band? The writing process has ebbed and flowed over the years. We’ve gone through phases where we were overly precious, and phases where we left the scratch demo vocal as the final. With the new record we kinda just let it flow and tried not to overthink it. However, on the production end, we’ve gone from not being very hands-on, to producing everything on our own which has been a really fun learning process. Tell our readers about your song “Good Days.” What inspired the lyrics? We were driving down the NJ Parkway in the midst of moving our band studio from my old home in NJ to our new space in Brooklyn, and “Small Town” by John Mellencamp came up on shuffle. At that moment I felt the fleeting nature of life hit me like a truck. Life changes, sometimes too fast. Like Andy Bernard said in The Office, ‘I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.’ What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Keep going. At times you’ll be rejected and let down, but often those are learning moments that make your successes that much sweeter.

#NYOTAmusic

Ella Rosa Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Marti Hoyos

British-born, LA-based singer-songwriter Ella Rosa has shared her music with the world since she was 16 years old. With influences ranging from Erykah Badu to The Police, Rosa’s experiences are conveyed through soulful vocals, underlined with jazz undertones in her music. She talked to NYOTA about writing for other artists, her single “Good Times,” and how streaming has benefited her as an independent artist. When did you discover your passion for singing and songwriting? I learned I wanted to perform after I saw my brother play a lead role in a local play, maybe It was jealousy, maybe it was just the second-hand adrenalin but, either way, that was a very pivotal point for me as a kid. Outside of making your own music you also co-write songs with other artists. Does your songwriting process change at all when it comes to writing music for yourself versus someone else? Yes, it’s actually very different. When I’m writing by myself I kind of just vibe out and make myself as comfortable as possible and write from mumble singing. When I am writing for someone else it’s almost like a therapy session for them where I listen to the current events of their life or anything that’s coming up with high emotional energy and we weed it out / make it sound pretty together. You recently performed at SXSW which is an incredible place for artists old and new to find themselves. What was that experience like and is it refreshing to be able to take part in live shows again? I can’t tell you how incredible it was to be around such talent and such opened minded artists. I recently went into my art full-time and this was the first trip I went on after so it was a really good affirmation trip, solidifying the reasons why I went fulltime in the first place. Streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music are now a key way for artists to get their music discovered. Have you found those platforms to be helpful or is there still a lot of work to be done when it comes to the benefits of streaming? I think they’ve been as beneficial as they can be for an independent artist that’s selffunded. I think in terms of developments within those platforms that could be a lot more manual discovery instead of algorithmic. Then again, that could just be me though I know a lot of people benefit from that feature. 23

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic Tell our readers about your song “Good Times.” What story are you telling through the song? It was actually stemmed from a night out with an old friend of mine after discussing our youth in New York City and how free-spirited we were and how much we wished we could go back and just tell our younger selves to stay present and not to worry about the upcoming future so immediately. I wanted this to be an affirmation song for me currently to enjoy the moments I’m having now no matter how scary they are. My Favorite Color is featured on the track. What was that collaborative process like? I literally was explaining this story of the song to him one night and he related it so much and we kind of put two and two together and agreed to collaborate on a feature. I think he captured my emotions really well. On social media, particularly Instagram, you have a distinct aesthetic. Do you try to have fun with social media and use it as another way to express who you are as an artist? I really love how social media portrays my art. While it can be toxic sometimes I think with a little self-discipline it’s a really good tool to display what you’re all about. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Work harder than the person sitting next to you and find a way/method that works for you. Your path is your path.

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Cade Hoppe Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Carina Allen

Originally hailing from Sacramento, CA, and now based in New York, rising indiepop singer and songwriter Cade Hoppe originally moved to the East Coast to pursue academic and athletic opportunities before exploring the possibility of recording and releasing his own songs to prioritize his true passion. Hoppe talked to NYOTA about connecting with fans via TikTok and his single “Morphine.” Was music a big part of your life growing up? Yeah, I grew up around a lot of music. I remember when I was really young, we had these CDs in my mom’s car of early Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, and the Disney hits—just to name a few—and we’d listen to those all the time. I also grew up playing a lot of instruments; I started playing piano when I was 7, alto saxophone when I was 9 in the school band, then switched to tenor saxophone when I was 11. After that, I picked up bass guitar for the middle school band as well and hopped on piano from time to time for the jazz band. I started playing talent shows around that time too, and I was singing and playing piano for those. Then, I wrote my first song the summer before high school when I was 14 and about halfway through high school I started teaching myself acoustic guitar. Going to concerts was also a huge part of my teenage years—my mom and dad both took me to a bunch. So yeah, anyway, I’ve always been around a lot of music. You weren’t originally going to pursue music professionally. What changed your mind? I think the main thing was that being a professional singer-songwriter was always a dream of mine, especially since I started writing songs. Everyone, including myself, had kind of just convinced me that music was something I could pursue on the side— and maybe if there was some clear shot at a career, I could pursue that—but that’s just not how this industry works. The thing that really woke me up to this was reading Ben Folds’ (my main music idol growing up) memoir and meeting him for the first time; his book talked a lot about his journey and how much of a grind it was for him to build his career and it was really inspiring. And when I met him and I told him how he inspired me to start writing songs of my own, he told me if I really wanted to do it for real, it was going to take everything I had. On TikTok, you often share your songs through POVs. Do you find that being open and vulnerable with your listeners allows for a more genuine connection? I think being open and vulnerable allows for the only connection—at least the only connection I want to have with my listeners. I want people to feel connected with my music because they’ve been through similar experiences to what I’ve been through, so if I don’t share my experiences honestly, then that can’t happen. Sometimes I’m probably a little TMI on TikTok, but honestly, I just want to show people that if they’re fans of me, then they’re fans of an artist that isn’t afraid to give them every single piece of them. 28

“Morphine” is about coping with expectations, something we all deal with. Was it cathartic to write? For sure, it was definitely cathartic. I always say that in songwriting I’m usually learning how I really feel as I write, so it was an important song for me to write. This was also the first time I was consciously putting lyrics in my song that really scared me and that made it that much more powerful to me (and will hopefully make it more powerful to listeners, too). Do you often pull from personal experiences to write your song lyrics? Almost exclusively. If it isn’t specifically about a personal experience I’ve had, then it’s describing a feeling I’ve had with a story or metaphor that I’m using to expand that feeling. I wouldn’t put a song out if I didn’t feel a strong connection to what I was writing about. Did you have particular influences when it came to the way “Morphine” would sound? “Chinese Satellite” by Phoebe Bridgers is one of the greatest songs of all time and it was a huge influence as I was writing the song, so it was definitely an influence when it came to production as well. I would say that the Aaron Dessnerproduced Taylor Swift stuff influenced the sounds as well, especially that opening acoustic guitar line. Being an artist in this digital age can be tough as so many people share their work via social media and streaming platforms. How have you managed to stand out in the crowd? I hope that I have been able to stand out in some ways, but I’ve got a long way to go and I’m definitely still working on standing out every single day. Ultimately, I want to be known for and grow a loyal fan base because my songs are good and my songwriting is authentic. So as I’m trying to make my career into something, I’m mostly trying to make great songs and TikToks that earn me fans for those things. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? The best advice I can offer is to work on your craft every day and just be yourself in everything you do. And if you want a career in this business, you have to want it with every fiber of your being. Thank you so much for having me!

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAfashion

Shelcy & Christy Joseph Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Zayira

Shelcy and Christy Joseph are continually upping the game when it comes to content creation. The Brooklyn-based sisters create content for their page NYCxClothes, run a boutique agency NYCxStudio, and still find time to work full-time and freelance. The fashionable duo talked to NYOTA about pursuing creative careers, diversity in the fashion industry, and their collaborative process. Did growing up in Haiti play a role in your interest in fashion? Did you both have a strong sense of style from a young age? Shelcy: Yeah, it started really early for me. When I was seven I used to sketch and I used to play with my mom’s jewelry box and wear her heels, which were obviously too big for me. Then I would do fashion shows that I would host for just my family. So I think very early on fashion was a big theme growing up, and I just explored it with sketches and looking at what people were wearing on the streets and trying to recreate that myself. It wasn’t until I moved to New York that fashion became a viable path and I saw all the possibilities outside of just being a designer, or a model, which were kind of the two options that in Haiti you just sort of had to pursue and take your chance with. Christy: For me, it came a little bit later. I was never into fashion I was actually a little bit of a tomboy growing up and I got into it when I moved to New York and was really out in college, in the city, and just seeing how different people were expressing themselves through clothes. Also starting our blog kind of merged our two interests, which for me, has always been video and for her [Shelcy] fashion. In college, you both had majors that were not directly linked to fashion (neuroscience and international business). What motivated you to pivot into creative careers and make your YouTube channel and then NYCxClothes? S: Well, for me, I think I had to sort of compromise. When I was little, even just sketching, I didn’t know that fashion was even a path I could pursue. And I don’t think at the time I had set it as a goal that I wanted to do anything in fashion; it was just a hobby that I pursued. But I also did a lot of writing, wrote poetry very early on around the same time, and did a lot of painting. So I was a very arts-driven child. But growing up in Haiti, I felt like the options in terms of viable prestigious careers came down to the traditional ones. So I set out to either become a doctor or an engineer, a lawyer, any of those traditionally “reputable careers.” So I majored in neuroscience in college because I always loved psychology. I thought it was a good way to blend psych with biology to better understand the brain and how it controls or influences our behavior. So, that’s how it came about. It was really just me figuring out the interest that worked and that made my parents happy. And so I did that, but I also kept a major in English writing or creative writing, so that was always sort of me rebelling and being like, I’m still going to do my own thing. 32

#NYOTAfashion C: I was actually always interested in business. I have a lot of different passions, and when I came to New York, that’s when my passion for fashion came. But as a young child, I’ve always loved history, always loved international relations, anything that was businessrelated. I always wanted to be a diplomat. So when I moved here, I just continued that path, becoming a business major. The more I started taking business courses alongside our YouTube, the more I saw that I was heading on the path of entrepreneurship. So then I put a small focus on that and was able to learn some principles of business which still helps me in my day-to-day, and that catapulted a bunch of different interests, like my videography that we were able to weave into our YouTube and my passion for film. I recently started shooting on film on medium format, and that’s something I’ve always been interested in. So it’s just always been business, but then being in New York and being around different people really made me see myself creatively, which I had never done before, and I just realized that I have an eye for it. Content creation is not always a stable job and you both were working full-time before pivoting to focus more on the creative work. When brands started reaching out to collaborate is that when you felt as though things were on the right track? C: We started just as we moved to New York, and we wanted to create a space where we could meet other people like us. Other people who were pursuing traditional careers but are very creative. So every new thing that would happen to us was the cherry on top of the cake. The photos came from us just wanting to have still images, then the partnerships, then the free gifts, then we got paid, and then everything else. So it was kind of like we were learning as we went, which is different from now where everyone wants to have their own business and stuff. S: When we went into it in 2014, it was just a creative outlet. We wanted to have a space where we could explore this newfound interest in fashion and video, and our YouTube came about this way. Then slowly but surely, as we felt more confident and were figuring out our styles and the brands that we liked, we started to focus more on editorial images as we tried to find a way to create a voice and a brand visual. So we thought that was the best way to communicate different stories. We’d have themes, series, and things like that. Brands started reaching out, but again, we were in college and still pursuing our side jobs, so

it wasn’t something we went into to make money. It turned into a business, I would say, in 2019 after we had a steady flow of gigs, but to be honest, I still work full-time right now. I’m a fashion editor at Pop Sugar, and I juggle the full-time job with the full-time work of running the agency and running our influencer platform, and Chris also pursues her side video work, and she’s in school right now. C: I’m currently in school for video and also want to get into video freelance and stuff like that. So a lot going on. S: The moment we decided to take it more seriously started way before we started making money because we saw that on YouTube, there was such a response in terms of seeing people like us just expressing their fashion tastes for different occasions. And we thought, ok, let’s explore that side of us more. We started investing more in equipment and photography; I would say the end of 2015. Brands wouldn’t reach out until mid-2016, mostly for in-kind collaborations, and the paid partnerships came through around early 2017 but went bigger in 2018. So it has been a process, which is something that’s still constantly changing, and we’re learning to evolve the brand with that now that we’ve been able to achieve a bit of success. Your Instagram page NYCxClothes is truly a feast for the eyes from the color scheme, lighting, and incredible outfits. What is your collaborative process when it comes to creating your posts and coming up with captions for each post? C: Our process has changed throughout the years. We’ve always had an editorial eye since 2017 when we decided we wanted to create stories within our photoshoots, so then the brand partnerships would marry into that. We always knew what we liked in terms of colors and who we worked with. We were able to maintain this, I guess, color story by working with photographers that aligned with our style, experimenting with film to bring that nostalgic element that you always see in our photos. We work together in terms of fashion. We know what our style is and the photography, and we marry it. We work on the themes that we want to put out. For example, we want to do a studio shoot about sisterhood for one particular photo series, and we’ll marry the clothes into that idea. So the idea always comes first, then the partnership, and somehow, it always has the same kind of vibe and the same mood.

S: We usually pick a theme, and either we let the clothes drive that, or other times, the clothes reflect the mood. Lately, we’ve been gravitating towards black, and I don’t know if it’s because of the political climate, but now we’re looking at colors as the spring comes around. We’ve always been color people, but there are times when we allow ourselves to experiment with different palettes. Usually, it starts with the clothes, because we know our style and as much as Chris and I are very similar, sometimes we like different things. Chris would probably feel more comfortable with jeans and things that aren’t necessarily revealing or tight-fitting. Whereas I don’t mind experimenting and pushing the envelope there a little bit. We always try to think of how the clothes align or contrast in a visually pleasing way. Then we think about the story that we want to tell. In the jewelry shoot that Chris mentioned, we have these rings and these earrings that we’re supposed to promote with this brand, and we thought about the best way to capture that. We figured a studio shoot would be best to bring that concept of us working together and sisterhood to life. So it’s always based on a theme. Whether it’s the discovery of a place or that feeling of summer vacation. We always try to build this aspirational storyline that is also approachable, and Chris is our creative planner. She thinks about the where, the what, the who. She’s very good at vetting photographers, seeing what their aesthetic is, and then I complement that with the caption and the writing. C: As she pushes more into writing and fashion, I push more into photography. Like film photography, learning about different mediums that’s my way of stepping out of the box. After the racial reckoning in the summer of 2020, the fashion industry was forced to face the fact that there was still progress to be made when it came to diversity. How did that time period change the work you do and the brands you work with? S: Well, Chris and I were always vocal. I think there was a fear for a while that if you expressed your opinions or outwardly declared that you’re anti-racist and want to create more space for Black people, that would somehow hurt your chances. That’s a chance we took because we felt like there could be more of us, and we’ve seen people who are just as talented who look like us, and that question of the pipeline not being there, we were just always, like, that’s so odd to us. So we’ve always tried to share information knowing that our audience is a lot of young but also 35

very established creatives who are in transition, just figuring out what they want to do and how they can tap into that creative entrepreneurship. We started with just sharing information, talking about pay disparities, poking fun at brands that would offer us really insulting rates, knowing that they wouldn’t offer our white counterparts the same. Then it turned into having behind-the-scenes conversations with a lot of our partners, especially when summer 2020 happened. We found that many were open to those conversations because that’s just the relationship we’ve always had. Even with the pandemic when it first hit, and brands wanted us to promote their bags still, we would say, ‘’hey, like, we need to take a step back a little bit.’’ We always try to keep that very transparent relationship, which is why we’re very selective with the brands that we work with, prepandemic and even more so now. We try to vet them. One, what is their intention? Are they open about the questions we ask and are they willing to be transparent about that? Are they committed to investing in the work that we put a lot of thought into? If anything, it’s just made us stronger regarding our positioning and why we’re in this space, telling brands right away what they can get from us. They get transparency, honesty, and a sense of social conscience, and all of this will be woven into the message somehow, whether or not they’re comfortable with it. On the agency side, it’s a big learning curve for the brands just trying to learn how to bring the idea of diversity and inclusion to life. So that’s something we’re working on. C: We’ve been cultivating these relationships for a while now, so these brands were already comfortable with us because we’ve always had that door open for them to reach out to us and ask us questions that they probably would be scared of asking. Especially at the time, it was such a sensitive time; they felt more comfortable asking us because we would bring it up years into the relationship if there was an issue. Cultivating these relationships has helped get clients for our agency as well. Tell our readers a bit about NYCxStudio. What’s the mission of the agency? S: Our goal going into it was to try to change that perception that brands and creators have to be on opposite sides and that there isn’t this middle ground where our interests can align. Also, being in a space that doesn’t traditionally include many people who look like us that’s just something that we bring with us. We’re not a diversity and inclusion agency solely;

#NYOTAfashion it’s embedded in the DNA of the agency. So going into it, I think we wanted to continue showing brands that there is a transparent beneficial relationship that they can create with creators that doesn’t necessarily involve being at odds with each other. Also, on the creator front, I think, as NYCxCLOTHES, we will continue to share information and find ways to answer questions and give back to people however we can. But the agency, for now, focuses more on the brand aspects for the consulting, although we do have the studio space that is available to creators. Ans we’ve had over, by now, it’s probably 100 people since we officially launched in March of last year to have that one-stop shop where both brands and creators actually can come in and create content for their needs. C: It goes back to what we were saying earlier about how each step in our journey has had a learning curve; for example, we realized that we could be the agency after years in the industry. We can be that middle ground, especially having worked with many brands. So every stepping stone is leading us somewhere that we don’t know where we’re going, but at every touchpoint, we’re learning something and intentionally building up to it. S: Our mission remains the same, ultimately creating that space of conversation and discovery around fashion and lifestyle. Still, it just takes on different iterations as the brand continues to evolve. We’re still NYCxClothes who create content that inspires and feels aspirational and relatable, but we also are that source of information and entertainment. We try to bring that side, but on the agency front, that same sort of mission of creating spaces is what we’re doing now with brands. So while the core mission remains the same, the way the brands continue to expand will change, and we’ll be learning as we go. Do you think that social media has helped to open a door to let more diverse voices into the fashion industry? S: Generally, it’s easier because people can be discovered on social media. You can do something for long enough, and then eventually, people sort of catch on. Still, I think that even considering issues of the algorithm, which are very real as far as censoring creators of color, censoring certain topics. I think those continue to be a challenge. Social media is essentially a mirror to the world outside of us in many ways. So those same sorts of inequalities are perpetuated one way or another in those same spaces. The same will

be for even the NFT space. Those with power and privilege will continue to set the rules and norms and how things operate. But I think within that there’s always a little bit of whitespace, where, with persistency, and that consistent hard work, you will push through, but I can’t say it’s easier. The challenges are just different. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? C: My piece of advice is something I’ve learned, not recently, but over the years. I’ve realized that if you want to do something, take your time to learn it. If you’re going to do content creation, obsess over it, sleep thinking about it, wake up thinking about it, do research, and go on YouTube to find how to do stuff like that. Engage with people, make sure that you understand it from the perspective of people who are doing it, and learn the technical expertise. I realize more and more I crave going back to school to learn a specific subject like I’m doing with videography. I am seeing the masters, what other people are doing, studying the methods and methodology, and how they became an expert. So push that boundary and learn about something that you’re truly passionate about, and then the rest will follow. That’s my number one piece of advice. S: Mining relationships that you have with people is key. When we talk about nurturing relationships, not just going to people because you need something but starting conversations, being polite, being nice, and forming those relationships that are really the backbone and part of your support system. That makes it all worth it. C: And honestly, just being genuinely interested in other people and seeking other people, not just for personal gain. That’s always been the backbone of our business. How we’ve gotten such amazing partnerships and opportunities is the people; at the end of the day, it’s people behind these brands, it’s people behind Instagram. So making sure you’re connecting in real life and not only on digital, that’s an important thing when it comes to relationships.

Opal Stewart Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Maxim Skornyakov (@maximsaidso)

Opal Stewart, known by her over 30,000 Instagram followers as OpalbyOpal, is a New York-based fashion, lifestyle, and beauty blogger who has been creating and sharing content for over ten years. Stewart talked to NYOTA about her journey to becoming a fashion blogger, making her company Lapo Lounge, and keeping her content feeling fresh. Have you used clothing as a form of self-expression from a young age? Absolutely! Growing up in New York, I was always inspired by the fashion around me and I felt like I couldn’t leave the house without looking put together because everyone was so well-dressed. They don’t call it the fashion capital of the world for nothing! In high school, I had to wear a uniform - a whitecollared shirt and black pants which I was not a fan of at all. Like most teenagers, I wanted to develop my own personal style so I started playing with adding different accessories to spice up the uniform. Like changing my shoelaces to a different color every week, adding a lightweight scarf or a colorful belt. I also used to go to Forever 21 and buy some funky chandelier earrings. I think that was the moment when I started experimenting with my style and developed my love for fashion as a form of self-expression. So in a roundabout way, having to wear a uniform to school brought out that creativity in me. Initially, did you start sharing your outfits online and it grew to become something bigger, or were you always hoping to break into the industry through social media? The former. Around 2010 when fashion blogging was just becoming a thing, I remember discovering a few fashion bloggers who I admired and thought that I had something to contribute to the space. So I started a blog of my own and named it OpalbyOpal - and I am still running it to this day! This was while I was in college, so I had a lot of free time to browse the Internet. I saved up and bought a Canon Rebel T2i camera, recruited my sister to be my photographer and we just went out and shot on the streets mostly in my neighborhood. The fashion blog was also a way 37

for me to experiment and develop my style further. I would then upload the photos to my blog and other platforms that used to be big at that time like Tumblr and Lookbook.nu. What started as a fun side project that I did in my free time became something bigger once I got emails from a few magazines like Grazia UK and Cosmopolitan to feature my style. This definitely gave me the boost and motivation to continue blogging and I think I did my first paid collaboration around 2016. That was the moment I realized that fashion blogging was a lucrative business that I could pursue further. Due to the pandemic content creators had to get creative while stuck at home. How has the pandemic changed the way you gather your content or what you post, if it has at all? I think everyone had to adjust to dealing with the pandemic and spending more time at home. I actually spent a good portion of 2020 working on different home projects as I had just moved into a new space. Mostly trying to make my apartment feel homey and also photo and video-friendly. So now I call it my little “studio” because I can shoot a lot of content right at home. I think finding these little wins and turning negative situations into something positive is a good way to cope in general. And I’ve seen the creatives on all platforms getting more creative (no pun intended) and filming a lot more content at home - be it getting ready with me, with nowhere to go in particular. Or filming home DIY projects. Home workouts. Skincare routines. House plants and how to care for them. The conversations happening around mental health and self-care, in general, is another topic that I am happy is being given more attention.

#NYOTAfashion

Tell our readers about Lapo Lounge. What motivated you to create your own line of belts? I’ve always loved accessorizing! It’s always been one of my go-to tips for elevating one’s style. Just like the right seasoning can turn a bland dish into something delicious, jewelry, belts, and hair accessories can elevate any outfit. I’ve always gravitated towards chain belts because of how versatile they are - you can rock them with jeans, slip dresses, trousers, blazers…and unlike traditional leather belts, they are easy to adjust to fit any waist size. And once you put them on, you can style them in many different ways - loop them over once or twice, layer multiple belts for a maximalist approach, let them hang off your hips for a more relaxed fit (I did a video series on how to style chain belts on our Instagram @LapoLounge). My fianceé jokingly calls me “the Queen of chain belts.” As for starting my own line, I just did it out of necessity. Most of the belts that I have in my collection are vintage and most brands that made them don’t even exist anymore. I tried going the fast fashion route but the options I found were almost like gold-plated plastic as opposed to real metal options. I was going to an event once and this so-called belt literally broke in two when I was getting into an Uber. I wanted to make an item that you can wear over and over and even pass down as a modern heirloom. And this is where Lapo Lounge came from.

#NYOTAfashion

#NYOTAfashion How do you go about choosing the color and type of chains for the belts? It’s mostly my personal preferences and style really. Before creating anything, I ask myself - is this something I see myself wearing? If the answer is yes, then I go ahead with it. I started with a simple line of gold and silver belts because both of these metals are classic and timeless. Oh and you can totally use our belts as chains for your bags too! So that’s what I was drawn to - durability and versatility of use. But I am hoping to expand to other accessories as well we just launched hair clips and I want to expand into jewelry and home next. So really the goal of Lapo Lounge is to be more of a lifestyle brand that aligns with my personal vision of quality living. Creating a business can lead to a lot of ups and downs. What have you learned about yourself through creating Lapo Lounge? Oh, I am still very much learning. I think patience in approaching things and learning to do things the right way is something I had to wrangle with. I can be impatient sometimes and want to see results right away but developing your brand and especially building it from the ground up can take time. It took Telfar Clemens over 15 years of running his brand before he saw the success that he is seeing now with Telfar. So in the grand scheme of things, I am definitely keeping my eyes on a larger story that I am trying to tell with Lapo Lounge. I don’t want to build just a brand, I want to build an empire. And empires take time.

One of the biggest trends that I’ve definitely seen emerge since I started blogging back in the day is the move from photo to video content. If you are not producing video content yet - Reels, Youtube Shorts, TikToks, you should start now. And even in this space - I remember when long-form YouTube vlogs (15-25 minutes) were the hottest thing. Compared to 15-30 seconds of most video content now. So even with my editing, I experiment with faster transitions and am learning how to tell a story in a more concise fashion. That’s one way I’ve been trying to keep my content feeling fresh and relevant. What advice do you have for those who are interested in working in the fashion industry? I think this industry very much rewards self-starters and those who are willing to carve out their own niche. Create opportunities for yourselves. If you want to be a fashion journalist, start a blog and start covering that space. If you want to be a photographer - start shooting and create a portfolio. Fashion blogger - get on all of the platforms that I’ve mentioned above. Whatever you decide to do, be proactive and put your work out there. From there, you can leverage your portfolio and the experience that you’ve gained along the way to either get a job in the industry or start working for yourself.

Content creation has changed so much in recent years due to the influx of creators on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. How have you kept your content feeling fresh to attract new followers? It’s definitely a challenge but really about finding a balance between staying true to yourself and not being afraid to try new things. Sure, when TikTok just started, I think it earned a reputation as a platform for “TikTok” dancing and was sort of looked down upon by anyone older than Gen-Zs but that platform is so much more than just dancing now. You can find any niche of creatives on it - from comedy to fashion, finance, and beyond…I mean there are so many rabbit holes that you can go down on TikTok. So I think doing what feels true and most authentic to yourself is what will help you carve out that niche. As much as I think my dance skills are amazing I always had a gravitational pull toward fashion and that’s what I’m trying to pass along to my audience.

Sydney Morgan Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Gabriel Stewart

Sydney Morgan has already well-established herself as an actress, model, makeup artist, and digital creator in a short time. Her vast digital footprint consists of over 7 million TikTok followers, 2.7 million Youtube subscribers, and too many viral videos to count showcasing her outrageous makeup creations. Most importantly, though, she is utilizing her platform for good: shining a spotlight on Crohn’s & Colitis and the long-lasting impacts of chronic illnesses. Morgan talked to NYOTA about what led her to start sharing her makeup looks online and her advice for aspiring content creators. Growing up did you use art as a way to express yourself? Yes, I’ve always been into drawing and painting and overall just being creative. I always felt like there was a jumbled mess of ideas and emotions in my brain and being able to create art felt like a way to organize my brain, quiet the noise for a little while, and just escape. Battling ulcerative colitis is what initially led you to experiment with makeup looks. Were you nervous to take that leap and share your looks online? I remember being so scared to start posting photos of my makeup on Instagram. I had wanted to start a makeup account for years but was too worried about what everyone at school would think, or if people would make fun of me or think it was weird. I finally decided to take that leap and do it and it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. It actually made me feel free and very happy. I started my TikTok account in secret and didn’t tell anyone about it so that made it easier as well. People often say that art makes us happier. Did creating your makeup looks give you the joy you needed to get through that hard time? For sure. To be able to enjoy the creative process of planning a look and executing it is just something like no other. And having this end result that you created and can be proud of. It definitely gave me a lot of joy during my hard times. Where do you look to for inspiration when it comes to the looks you create? I pull inspiration from literally anything and everything. I don’t usually get inspired by other makeup looks I try to create unique ones of my own based on emotions or actual physical things that inspire me such as nature or a fabric. 43

#NYOTAculture

#NYOTAculture Being a content creator you always have to come up with ways to keep your audience engaged. How do you go about standing out on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube? I try to do things that users have never seen before and can’t find anywhere else. Being creative and original is the best way to get that thumb-stopping content and keep people coming back because at the end of the day I think it’s so important to be authentic and have fun with it. What are some makeup products you swear by? I love NYX Cosmetics Juice Lip Glosses, Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain from Benefit, and Anastasia Beverly Hills highlighter. But I’m always trying new products and finding new go-to products. This year you’re diving into acting. Can you tell us anything about your upcoming projects? I’m acting in and producing a horror movie called Kindling. Part of the campaign we are launching is donating to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation which is very important to me, as well as the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth. In the digital space, there are a lot of fun events you’ll see me attending as well as some cool collaborations. You often use your platform to spread awareness about chronic illness. Has this allowed you to connect with your followers who may be going through the same thing and create a safe space through social media?

Tell our readers about the Chron’s & Colitis Foundation and how they can get involved. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation truly is a great organization. It is dedicated to funding research aimed at finding new treatments and ultimately a cure for Crohn’s & Colitis. For me, my local chapter was how I met a group of young women my own age who were also battling these diseases and helped me come to terms with a lot of the issues that come along with that. Now they are some of my closest friends. When I was first diagnosed, it was so much to process because I really didn’t know anything at all about ulcerative colitis. Having the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and my “Crohnies” helped me so much. Anyone battling these diseases should reach out to their local chapter. I promise you will meet some great caring people and get a lot of information and support. Here is a link to their website and here is a link to my team which raises funds that go directly to the foundation. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? Don’t be afraid to really put yourself out there and do what is gonna make YOU happy. At the end of the day, playing it safe never accomplished anything extraordinary. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.

Yes definitely. I love to be the voice that I didn’t have when I was going through my beginning phases after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. And really embracing that part of me online to hopefully make others more comfortable and willing to share. My favorite comments to reply to are people that have similar diagnoses to me, telling me that I helped them in any way or made them feel inspired or more confident. I’m glad I can continue to use my platform to raise awareness about IBD.

#NYOTAculture

Alicia Osborne-Crone Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Alicia Osborne-Crone

Alicia Osborne-Crone started sharing videos via TikTok during the lockdown in 2020 and has since gained over 250,000 followers. With content that focuses on showcasing beautiful scenes in nature and the peaceful moments of everyday life, TikTok users are clamoring for more. Osborne-Crone talked to NYOTA about her videos serving as an escape and her dream of publishing a children’s book. What initially motivated you to start creating videos to share on TikTok? I’ve always loved traveling and exploring new places and taking lots of videos and pictures wherever I go (think 100 photos of the same sunset). Throughout the UK lockdowns, it felt like a slice of escapism to look back on those times - I was working as a care worker, so could only leave the house for my shifts. It was a tough time and I was really struggling. One evening while scrolling on TikTok, I thought I would combine my videos with some peaceful music - I found the whole process really therapeutic, so decided to share it. I remember waking up the following morning and was amazed that it had been seen by a few hundred people, who had left some lovely comments about how watching the video brought them comfort. It was the first time within those months I felt excited to do something creative again, so continued from there! In each of your videos, you capture the beautiful moments in everyday life. How do you go about choosing what to record? I think I just look for moments where life feels like there’s a touch of magic to it - the last few minutes of a sunset or a quiet road in summer light, where everything feels warm and surreal. I find a lot of peace in these types of moments, so when I come across them I make sure to record it. Your first post on TikTok shows glimpses of the 2020 summer lockdown and it’s crazy to think about how much has changed since that point. Do you feel that some of your older videos can now be looked at as a video diary? It is crazy how quickly time has passed since then! I would definitely say they represent a personal video diary for myself, and what an amazing journey it has been building an online community through sharing the videos. I look back on them and can envision exactly where I was in life when each one was recorded, and all the places I have been lucky enough to explore. 48

#NYOTAculture Has creating videos on TikTok had any effect on how you view your own life? It’s really helped establish what is important to me in my life. I think from choosing to post such idealistic and peaceful moments, people believed that my life coincided with this image, when the reality was very different! This contrast pushed me to the realization that I needed to make a change and try to pursue a different path, where I put my energy into creativity and things that I love. Creating videos and receiving such lovely support from followers on TikTok has given me so much more confidence to do that.

The characters in your illustrations are often placed in peaceful environments. Where do you look to for inspiration when it comes to your artwork? Usually a mixture of imagination and referring to my own photographs - from recording so many videos, my camera roll is full of lots of different scenes to take inspiration from, so they definitely influence my art! I am also a huge fan of the style and vibrancy of Studio Ghibli films and always feel so inspired after watching them. I follow a lot of amazing artists on Instagram as well, whose work really motivate me to keep practicing.

Has filming and editing your TikTok videos ever made you notice things you hadn’t before about your surroundings?

Do you hope that your TikTok account can serve as an escape for people during these tough times?

I think the main thing is how much beauty can be found in the simplest of moments. It’s definitely made me appreciate my surroundings so much more - little things like birdsong and the colors of each month. In searching for beautiful moments to record, it’s helped widen my perception of the environment around me in a really positive way.

I really hope so! The reason I began creating videos served as a type of escape for myself, so I hope it can provide the same for others. I often receive comments and messages from people saying that my account has helped with feelings of anxiety, or that they found a sense of calm within the videos, which is always really touching to hear. It’s amazing to see how a 10 second video can resonate so deeply with people.

You also have a page on Instagram to share your illustrations. Has art always been a prominent part of your life? Yes, very much so! I have loved art since I was little, and was always presenting friends and family with some very questionable homemade cards, poems or drawings - art and creative writing were my favorite subjects growing up. I was so painfully shy throughout school, and those lessons were my safe space. I recently graduated with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, so my dream would be to combine the two and publish a children’s book, which I am excited to be currently working on!

#NYOTAculture

Christina Harris Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Krystena Patton

Christina Harris, also known as BeautyChickee by her over 1.5M followers (across all platforms), has her hand in almost everything. She is a content creator, podcaster, entrepreneur, and talent manager who has remained authentically herself while sharing her life online for the past ten years. Harris talked to NYOTA about taking a step back from YouTube, creating West 27 Talent, and having no regrets about what she shares online. This year you shared that you weren’t leaving YouTube but would not be posting nearly as much to focus on other aspects of your career. Was that a difficult decision to make? Yes and no, only because I knew that if I wanted to reach my fullest potential and work as creatively and efficiently as possible, that involved me not posting on YouTube as much. I’ve been doing YouTube since I was 12 years old, and now being 22, I burned out a bit over time. I think that’s inevitable, though, that if you’re doing something for basically a decade, you’re going to burn out at some point. I didn’t want to hate YouTube, and I didn’t want to hate social media in general. I think it was time for me to take a pause and start pursuing some of my other paths, especially now that I’m older and I have a more stable mindset as to where I want the future of my social media career to go, and YouTube wasn’t necessarily in the picture. It was a bit disappointing to my audience, so that’s why it was difficult because I didn’t want to disappoint. However, my real fans and supporters know and love me and will follow me on whatever platform I decide to go to next. Your podcast Gin & Toxic discusses everything from rejection to setting boundaries. Why did you originally want to create the podcast and how do you and Lily go about choosing topics? I used to have an old podcast called The Really Bitchee Podcast, and the whole point of that show was to have this open, vulnerable space on the internet to talk about topics to do with relationships, sex, life in general, etc. However, I wasn’t being as open as I anticipated at that point in my life. I had a lot of blocks in my career and personal life that prevented me from being my most authentic self on the internet. Once I broke out of that blockage, I decided it was time to start up a brand-new show where I could speak on my experiences, give advice, and be my most authentic self. I wanted a partner-in-crime to do that with, and I immediately thought of Lily since she is such a free-spirited, open-minded person, and she has no problem talking about all her crazy life experiences. As for choosing topics, we like to speak on topics that we know a lot about, or if we don’t know a lot about the topic, we have a casual conversation and figure it out along the way. We honestly decide our topics a day or two before we’re going to record, and we usually just let the conversation flow from there. We typically jot down a few bullet points before we start recording, so we have an idea of what we’re talking about and the direction to move in, but 90% of the show is very raw and very unscripted; it’s us just going off on whatever topic we decided on that week.

It is not easy to put yourself out there online, and you do so on many different platforms. Do you ever have moments where you regret being so open online? I don’t regret anything in my life. I believe everything happens for a reason! There have been moments that I thought about, “maybe I shouldn’t have shared this”; one thing that comes to mind right away is my relationship status and who I’m dating. Sometimes I “regret” being open on the internet about my relationships, but then I stop myself, and I think, no, I don’t regret that. I am such an open and vulnerable person on the internet, and I want people to live my life alongside me. So even if I date a guy for one month and I put it on the internet and then a month later, we break up, that’s just me being my most authentic self. I think that’s what people enjoy about me is how open and how real I am with them. I don’t like to seem like I have it all together, and my life is perfect. I go through the ups and downs just like everybody else, whether that’s in my personal life, love life, career life, etc. Therefore, I don’t regret sharing things on the internet. Tell our readers about BITCHEE Apparel. Is there a particular process you have for coming up with designs or color schemes for the next collection or do you often have the clothing reflect your own personal style? I created BITCHEE to empower women and take the word “bitch” and flip it from derogatory to empowering. I do not care if people think I’m a bitch, because to me, a bitch is the most powerful, carefree, badass female, and we shouldn’t be using the word bitch as a term to degrade others, but rather as a term to empower them. BITCHEE is the most powerful form of female. The designs and color schemes for BITCHEE come to me naturally; it just has to do with what I like in fashion at that moment. I only want to put out clothes that I would genuinely wear daily. For example, my latest collection was a bunch of neutral colors, such as brown, beige, and greys. Those colors are very trendy right now, and they can be mixed and matched with tons of different pieces in everyone’s wardrobe. As for the designs, different designs represent different things. I wanted my latest collection to have a bit more of a streetwearbadass feel to it, hence the small text on the front of the items, talking about doing whatever the fuck you want, and being a bitch. I also released a collection in October 2020 called the Rock N’ Roll collection, 53

where the rock and roll hand on the merch is a tattoo that I got for my dad. So, the colors and designs come to me based on what I loved at that time, what I’m inspired by and what I would personally be wearing. You have a talent management company, West 27 Talent. What have you learned through creating the company? I’ve learned a lot of really great things and a lot of shitty things being in the talent management field. Being in this field has taught me more about how a company operates behind the scenes in terms of brand deals, budgeting, and the analytics that go into it. I’ve also learned a lot of crappy things, such as how some of these huge corporations that you think would have their shit together actually tend to have horrible communication, or they try to lowball your clients. I charge fair rates for my clients based on their content, the work going into it, engagement, usage rights, and more small factors. It’s incredible how many companies try to belittle the capabilities of an influencer. But aside from the companies that suck, I’ve also created so many great relationships with other companies that I continuously partner up with. Overall, this field is very hot and cold. You win some, and you lose some! That’s the cost of working in talent management. Content creators can often get a bad rap because people don’t see it as “real work.” You’re someone who is a content creator, designer, and entrepreneur, and that all stems from starting your YouTube channel. What would you say to people who don’t take the industry seriously? When I was in high school, nobody took what I did seriously. Everybody thought what I did was a joke, and comparing back then to now, it’s incredible how much progress we’ve made with realizing that social media jobs are real jobs. Unfortunately, as you said, some people still don’t see it as real work, and to that, I don’t say anything. I’m not going to get in an argument with someone over the topic anymore. Honestly, if someone wants to believe that what I do is not real work, that sounds like an issue for only them to ponder. I know that what I’m doing is real work. I answer emails, curate brand deals, film, edit, etc. It is a full-time job! Many people assume an influencer poses with a product on Instagram and calls it a day, but they don’t necessarily think about the business aspects behind it. Social media is the industry; creating content is the job.

#NYOTAculture What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? I hate giving corny advice; however, I need to tell you just to be yourself. It shows on the internet when you are someone that you’re not truly meant to be or when you’re faking it for the views or followers. So be your most authentic self with your audience; they’ll appreciate that more. On the more analytical side, consistent uploading is key. People love keeping up with influencers who consistently give them content, so keep it that way. Soon enough, you’ll be set for success. Anybody has the potential to truly be successful!

#NYOTAculture

Jordan Preston Carter Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Brian Jones

Jordan Preston Carter is an actor on the rise who has already gotten to be a part of exciting projects such as Ava Duvernay’s DMZ on HBO Max, Shaft, and The Last Full Measure. Next, he will star in New Line’s adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel, Salem’s Lot. Carter talked to NYOTA about getting into character to play Odi on DMZ and his advice for aspiring actors. What initially got you interested in acting? I initially got interested in acting from developing a deep appreciation for the arts and creativity because of the actors that I was watching on the variety of shows and movies I watched. From an early age I knew I wanted to become a part of that world and for me bringing a character to life and being able to transform it into something relatable for the public to experience is mind-blowing to me. Tell our readers about DMZ. What was the audition process like for the show? My first audition for my role was a self-tape and after that, a series of zoom auditions followed. The last audition was with Ava Duvernay. They flew her in from LA to meet with me and another kid that I was up against. It was between me and him, so in the end, I was chosen. Ava gave me such high praises on the final audition. I was so nervous going in but it was all worth it in the end and here I am playing Odi Peerlis. What did you do to prepare for your role and step into Odi’s shoes? I read the entire script and just started to become Odi. I had to take away all the nice materialistic things I had and get into survival mode learning how to deal with no food, no real shelter, and even imagining no family. That was the hardest thing for me because I think we sometimes don’t appreciate the little things because it’s so common to us but for Odi it wasn’t. Did you learn a lot through working closely with Rosario Dawson?

indescribable. She was always giving me great advice on the set and to receive that kind of critique was extremely enlightening to my path as a young actor. In September you’ll be seen in Salem’s Lot, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Was it exciting to work on a horror project? Yes, it was. It was truly a great experience. I think my fans will see me in a different light. I always wanted to do a scary movie and to do a classic like this was a dream come true, landing the lead kid and portraying Mark Petrie was a blessing for me and I’m so excited for everyone to see this movie. It’s going to be so good and not what people typically expect from a scary movie! Did you read Salem’s Lot to prepare? Yes I did, the book was very enlightening and I watched the original movie as well. As a young actor, do you find social media to be a helpful way for you to connect with old and new fans? Yes, I do. Gaining new fans and keeping my original fan base is very important to me. We are in a social media-driven world and so knowing that everything I do keeps me in touch with my fans but also grounded throughout my career. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I would say that it can’t be your dream but your vision to become what greatness looks like for you!

I did, she is truly an awesome actor. She has a special way of just drawing you in. I have worked with some amazing people but her spirit and energy are 56

The Radical, Digital Action that is Taking Over Gen Z By: Arielle Ostry

What are Gen Zers best known for? Bringing back the low-rise jeans of the 2000s? Pioneering highlighter pink front pieces as an everyday hair look? These are superficial style choices that seem to be dominating the Gen Z generation thus far, but these bold hairstyles and denim preferences reveal very little into what makes us – as a generation coming into adulthood and active societal participation – tick. As a Gen Zer myself, I’d argue a couple of things that are undoubtedly true about who we are: we’re diverse; we’re progressive, and we’re the first generation to be digital natives. I came across this phrase and felt it was so fascinating – a digital native. We don’t recall a world without the Internet. We barely remember the ancient flip phone. We’ve always lived in a world that has been connected digitally, and we know how to use it. Social media becomes your oyster when you’ve had some sort of social media account ever since you turned 13 (or potentially even earlier – just don’t tell Twitter). And while we can consider the pros and cons of this constant connectedness and nonstop engagement, there is no question that because of the revolutionary, virtual world we grew up in, Gen Z is built different. We value different things. We have different priorities. We think differently when it comes to politics. And we most definitely get creative when it comes to taking action in the digital space. Nothing is off-limits. The world is becoming our digital oyster, with social media the way we can take strategic, coordinated action. How thrilling is that? Like almost everyone my age, I’ve been on TikTok for a while now. And I love the funny skits, dumb dance trends, and magical videos churned out by the Washington Post TikTok as much as the next girl.

But in light of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ and abortion bills popping up in states all across the country, I’ve also been noticing calculated action being taken by countless young people on the app. I’d like to point out one TikTok account in particular: Gen-Z for Change. Through the account and its network of creators, the community has shared accurate COVID information with over 12 million people, stopped Starbucks from replacing union leaders they fired, removed the critical race theory tipline in Virginia and abortion tipline in Texas by overloading it with fake claims, and collected over 150,000 signatures to bring a refugee family from Afghanistan over to the United States. This is all relevant, consequential work being done by our country’s newest generation of young voters. And it’s all being done with a distinct Gen Z flare that I find noteworthy. It appears to me that outright disgust for the restrictive actions of a conservative minority and a penchant for mischief is the perfect combination to awaken Gen Z’s rage. And digital organizers like those at Gen-Z for Change know how to channel these feelings with a message that inspires results. During Donald Trump’s second presidential campaign in 2020, Gen Z kids and K pop fans on TikTok deprived the former president of a large crowd at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma by registering for hundreds of thousands of tickets and then staying home. The Trump campaign, claiming over 1 million ticket requests, had only 6,200 attendees. This was a devastating blow dealt by young people, some of which couldn’t even vote yet. This act wasn’t a one-off thing. Organizers and content creators on the app introduced additional actions users could take to stir up trouble for the Trump campaign while he was running for re-election,

#NYOTAculture and this mentality has transcended to other current issues – namely, Gen Z’s recent attacks on the critical race theory and abortion tiplines. I’d argue that the roots of this kind of scrappy yet coordinated digital action can be traced back to the early days of the #MeToo movement when Actress Alyssa Milano triggered a firestorm of tweets when she encouraged others to reply to her tweet with the phrase ‘me too’ if they had ever experienced sexual violence or assault. The phrase, first coined by Tarana Burke as far back as 2006, achieved a new life and extraordinary reach through social media. Another movement comes to mind: Black Lives Matter. In the wake of George Floyd’s horrific murder in 2020 came the black squares on Instagram, the endless book and documentary recommendations, and the idea that supporting a community of targeted minorities meant you need to do more than just agree with the movement’s message. The online world inspired organized action because we all saw the video capturing George Floyd’s death. We came away with a list of ways to act: taking the time to educate ourselves, opening our pocketbooks to charities, organizations, and black-owned businesses, and showing up to the demonstrations honoring the lives taken too soon and demanding a better path forward. We saw abuse and felt moved to act. And when we saw our peers doing the same, we felt compelled to go even further; be bolder; call for solutions that will improve the lives of those living in our communities, instead of sitting back and letting them be stifled. It’s not to say we’ve fixed what’s broken – far from it. But Gen Z has found its voice. We’re honing our digital tools, and we’re looking for every opportunity to call out abuse where we see it, inspire action where it’s needed, and build a future that we can be proud of. So whether it’s another abortion-reporting tipline or some outrageous bill targeting transgender youth, best beware. Gen Z is ready to raise hell. And to us, that’s what the Internet was built for.

#NYOTAculture

Brooklynne Webb Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Dylan Lujano @dylanlujano Hair: Mika Fowler @mikahairstylist Makeup: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup Stylist: Haili Pue, All Ze Details @allzedetails

TikTok star Brooklynne Webb has taken the social media world by storm with content that celebrates self-love and body positivity. After deciding to pursue content creation full-time during quarantine, she quickly gained a following on TikTok with over 662 million likes and over 10.6 million followers and on Instagram with over 470,000 followers. Webb talked to NYOTA about her song “My Crown” and making the internet a kinder place. Growing up did you always see yourself pursuing a creative career? I had always known I was going to pursue a creative career! Since middle school, I knew I didn’t want to go the traditional route and attend a university. My dream back then was to go to a makeup school in Vancouver, B.C., and work in the film industry there. When did your interests switch from posting content online for fun to wanting to create content as your full-time job? My interest switched honestly once quarantine hit. I had put most of my time and energy into dance, musical theatre, and work. Once that was gone, I put all of my additional time into creating content. My account quickly grew from 50,000 followers to over a million and I was able to start turning it into a career! Tell our readers about “My Crown.” What inspired you to create the song? “My Crown” is a super upbeat, sassy pop song that was created as a trolling/ performance art piece! It was meant to be about the characters that I typically play in the media—various princess types. This song was something fun for me to do where I could be creative and include lines in there that allowed me to take back the narrative of the hate I receive. I was inspired to create this song because I wanted to show people that there is more to me than they may think. Then you created a parody EP, My Crown: The Album. Even though it was comedic did you feel as though you were exploring a different side of your creativity making it? I definitely did. I took this entire project very seriously even though it was comedic. It involved many months of heavy planning and creativity for it to become what it is today! I learned a lot about the music industry and what goes into it. 60

Content creation can lead to numerous opportunities. Has there been one moment that was the most rewarding for you? I think the most rewarding moment for me was when I had my release party. That night was crazy! I was surrounded by incredible people who came out to support me. The energy that night was just positive and fun. I was able to celebrate alongside so many people who worked so hard on the project which was super fun. You talk about body positivity and mental health online which is so needed because social media platforms often breed hate. Do you think that Gen Zers are helping to make the internet a kinder place or is there still a lot of work to be done? I think that the internet is getting worse in some ways, but also better! A lot of people have discovered the easiest way to get attention online is typically through spreading hate. Yet, there have also been a lot of amazing open and honest conversations online that are helping. Since creating content is your job, what do you do to take time off of online platforms in order to protect your own mental health? I usually like to put my phone down and just hang out with a few friends! It’s nice to get off of my online platforms, but I typically find myself working or thinking about work 24/7. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to keep working at it! Social media is hard, but also powerful. Things could change overnight so just keep working hard and don’t compare yourself to others.

Dress: Mangishi Doll Earrings: Pangea Shoes: Alterre

#NYOTAculture

Vegan Treats to Splurge On Photos by Ella Titus of Splurge With Ella Intro by Carol Wright Recipes by Ella Titus

Ella Titus is a vegan recipe developer and the content creator behind the blog, Splurge with Ella. The goal of her blog is to provide people with a variety of easy, plant-based recipes that they can feel good about splurging on. For this issue, she’s sharing four gluten-free and vegan recipes that anyone can try. So take a break from TikTok and get those oven mitts out!

Easy Vegan Snickerdoodles Ingredients 1 cup of almond flour

Optional: ½ teaspoons of maple syrup for extra flavor and sweetness

½ teaspoon baking powder

Cinnamon-sugar for rolling:

¼ teaspoon of cinnamon

2 tablespoons of granulated sugar of choice

¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar (optional)

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon of salt

Instructions

⅓ cup of overripe mashed banana (it is

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

important that the banana is very overripe for optimal sweetness) ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

2. In a medium bowl combine the first 5 dry ingredients and stir until combined. 3. Add the banana, vanilla, and optional maple syrup and stir until combined. 4. Make the cinnamon sugar coating mixture: Combine 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and stir until combined. 5. Roll balls of dough into perfect circles, coat in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, and place on a lined baking sheet. Flatten to desired thickness (they do not spread in the oven). 6. Bake in preheated oven for about 13-15 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown and the tops of the cookies no longer appear wet. 7. Allow to cool on the tray for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

#NYOTAculture

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins Ingredients

Instructions

2 cups of oat flour (can be made by processing oats in a blender until flour consistency is reached)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin for 6 muffins.

1/3 cup of almond flour

2. Combine the first 6 dry ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until evenly combined. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.

1/4 cup of coconut sugar or brown sugar 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 teaspoon of baking soda

⅛ teaspoon of salt 2 tablespoons lemon zest

⅔ cups plus 2 tablespoons of almond milk or

dairy-free milk of choice 1/4 cup of maple syrup

⅓ cup of lemon juice

3. Evenly distribute batter into muffin tin and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow muffins 5-10 minutes to cool on the tray before transferring to a wire rack. 4. While muffins are cooling, make the icing: combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of dairyfree milk, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt (for a thicker icing add more sugar and for a thinner icing add more milk). Whisk until very smooth and drizzle onto the top of each muffin. Enjoy!

2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 1/2 tablespoons of poppy seeds 64

Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients

⅔ cups almond flour or almond meal 1/2 cup oat flour (can be made by processing whole oats in a blender until flour consistency is reached) 2 teaspoons baking powder small pinch of salt 3-4 tablespoons maple syrup (depending on desired sweetness levels) 3 tablespoons natural nut or seed butter 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 tablespoon dairy-free milk 1/2 cup of chocolate chips Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Combine the first four dry ingredients in a medium bowl and stir. Stir in wet ingredients. 3. Add chocolate chips and stir to combine. 4. Roll tablespoon-sized dough balls and place them onto a prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Top with additional chocolate chips. 5. Bake for 7 minutes and allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from tray. Enjoy!

#NYOTAculture

Perfect Vegan Chocolate Pudding Ingredients

Instructions

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1. Combine cornstarch and cool water in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

2 tablespoons cool water ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or white sugar ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 ½ cups almond milk small pinch of salt

2. Combine sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a small bowl and whisk to combine. 3. Add almond milk to a small pot or saucepan over medium heat. Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir or whisk to combine. Stir constantly until pudding begins to thicken – about 4 minutes. 4. Once you see the pudding has begun to thicken, remove from heat and stir for another 2 minutes. Allow pudding to cool by transferring to a bowl or ramekins and place in the fridge to set. Enjoy with fresh berries or whipped cream.

#NYOTAculture

Jacob Kaplan Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Rosalind O’Connor

Growing up watching sketch shows like All That and The Amanda Show it is no wonder Jacob Kaplan developed an interest in comedy writing. A New York-based writer and comedian, Kaplan has been taking TikTok by storm with his relatable videos and witty writing. He talked to NYOTA about working on his material, creating content that’s hyperspecific, and his advice for aspiring comedians. As a kid were you the class clown or the person who often made family members laugh? It was tricky. I loved making my classmates laugh but also feared any authority. I was bad (truly, so bad) at sports, so making people laugh was my only social capital. So for the teachers who were into it, lots of classroom antics. But if I sensed a teacher didn’t like me, I’d be an angel. As for my family, I think everyone was making everyone laugh. I grew up in a very comedy-forward household. Though not in a jokey Christmas Card, “you’ll never believe what dad said at dinner” way. Though I’d usually turn it off around my extended family since I was shy around adults and, again, feared authority. SNL and other sketch shows tend to spark people’s interest in comedy. Was there a particular sketch show or comedian that got you interested in comedy? I think my generation (Millenial/Gen Z cusp) got quite lucky when it came to sketch shows. Shows like The Amanda Show and All That introduced me to sketch at a super young age. And then when I did start watching SNL (roughly the 2008 election), I became a classic superfan. Doing the Sarah Palin rap for my friends. Lonely Island songs. The whole nine, very annoying, yards. I wouldn’t say any single comedian made me want to do comedy. But there are certainly particular people

or shows that got me interested in different facets of comedy. Whose Line introduced me to improv. I think the first stand-up I watched was an Ellen Degeneres special. I think I saw both of those for the first time when I was five or six. Then around, like, eighth grade (!!) I listened to Bo Burnham’s albums and was like “Okay that’s what I want to do.” And then said that same thing about like a dozen other comics since then. Do you have a particular process for writing your sketches or time carved out in your day where you work on new material? The silver lining of making self-produced, unpaid content is that I’m on no one’s schedule but my own. So it’s never really worth rushing. Generally, making a video will be a 2-3 day process. Once an idea comes to me, I’ll try to write out some beats. If I can’t think of at least five or so, I’ll set it aside. But once I’ve thought of like 10-15 funny lines, I’ll sleep on it and film the next day. Filming usually takes about an hour, depending on the length of the video. Then I’ll edit it together, “pre-screen” it to a couple people, and put it out. When I started doing videos I was out of school, unemployed, and in the height of pandemic lockdown. I’m much busier now, so finding the time to consistently make videos is increasingly difficult. But I’m also busy for good reasons, so can’t complain! 68

Who are some of your favorite comedy content creators and did any of them inspire you to start sharing your work online? I definitely feel like I was part of a “boom” of comedians who started making videos in those early months of the pandemic. Before I started making videos, I’d watch a lot of Luke Mones’ stuff. That probably inspired me the most stylistically. Rachel Wenitsky’s videos were so funny, and I wish she was still making them. And Liva Pierce, for me, was the proof of concept that theater-based humor could appeal to a wide audience. And then once I dove about an inch deep into the Twitter comedy world I found tons of great people. Scotty Nelson, Meg Stalter, Caleb Hearon, Kyle Gordon, Tyler Ellis, Ben Marshall, Alyssa Limperis, Dylan Adler, Kylie Brakeman, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Jamie Watson, Matt Buechele. I could go on. TikTok is chock full of creators. How did you make yourself stand out when you first started posting? So really my online comedy “journey” started with Twitter. I started posting videos around March 2020 and then have posted roughly one video per week since. I didn’t join TikTok until July or August 2021. But by that point, I had a trove of videos from the last year and a half. So I was able to resurface a video every 1-2 days. I don’t pretend to understand the elusive TikTok “algorithm,” but I do think the frequency with which I put up the videos gave me a boost. But a similarity across Twitter and Tiktok – the response to a video is very much out of your control. So I think my ability to stand out was less about active choices I made and more about the luck and randomness of a video hitting an audience a particular way. Why do you think comedy sketches have gained popularity on TikTok in the way they have? I think there’s a couple things at play. First, there’s no barrier to entry. Anyone can post a video. The For You page is also very attractive. Creators’ videos can have a much wider reach than on, say, Twitter or Instagram, where your content is largely just presented to your followers. The FYP makes it relatively easy to go viral with virtually no followers. Then, it’s a positive feedback loop. The more people who see lowfollower accounts go viral will try to do so themselves.

The FYP also introduces comedy videos to people who wouldn’t otherwise watch them. The Twitter and Instagram comedy crowds can be pretty insular, but TikTok casts a wider net. So it’s the combination of more people posting videos and more people watching. A lot of your videos such as “every platitude in a college class” find the funny element of everyday moments. Do you sometimes overhear conversations or experience something and immediately know you want to write a sketch about it? Absolutely. Often I won’t even think of something as a trope until I see it pop up in conversation or a movie. And then it’s like “oh yeah, that’s totally a thing.” For me, the sweet spot is calling out things that are both hyperspecific and widely experienced. I think that’s why so many of my videos center around school and teachers. Because everyone has had, say, a non-native speaking foreign language teacher or some professor with an outrageous lateness policy. But since they’re so ubiquitous, you wouldn’t immediately find them unusual. What advice do you have for aspiring comedians? This is all borrowed advice, but certainly stuff I try to live by: 1. If you think something is funny, the chances are someone else will too. Prioritize that when you’re doing anything. 2. You can (and should!) put out your comedy before you think it’s perfect. You should always try to make your stuff good, but don’t drive yourself crazy trying to prepare a polished masterpiece. You’ll get better by putting more out. And if the core of it is good, people will notice. 3. Be prepared for luck. This is a wildly unpredictable industry, and anyone who’s “made it” will have some sort of a “right place, right time” story. That may seem discouraging. And you can’t really make your own luck, but you can be ready for it. Have a solid writing sample ahead of time. Have your five minutes ready to perform. Basically, do everything in your control. So when a lucky break comes your way, you’ll be ready to go.

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Revell Carpenter Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Juan Patino Photography

Revell Carpenter has gotten involved in every part of the industry, from acting and writing to directing. After training in New York, Los Angeles, London and graduating from UCB, it is no surprise that she has worked on a variety of projects. Carpenter talked to NYOTA about her short film Goodnight showing at Cannes Film Festival, and using social media to promote her projects. Was there a television show or movie that initially sparked your interest in acting? I was lucky to grow up in NYC with access to the best theater. I would say I first got interested in acting by going to Broadway shows. I used to ask to see Mamma Mia or Aida for pretty much every birthday I can remember growing up. I saw them each many, many times. You tend to play darker roles in your projects. Do you feel that you are able to stretch as an actress playing complex characters? I definitely think it’s fun to play a villain. It’s a meaningful exercise in empathy to be able to honestly portray someone that outwardly appears ‘dark’ or ‘evil’ because you never want to judge your character, just find their perspective! A project you wrote, directed, and starred in was just selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Walk us through the process of creating your short-film Goodnight, when did the idea for it come to you? Goodnight was definitely born in COVID-19. I was quarantining with my dad and my sister - who both work in banking - and I was getting very stir crazy. I wanted to tell a story that would be a film noir vignette of a past relationship. We used a 16mm Bolex for flashbacks, to illustrate the nostalgia of falling in love. Then we used a lot of crazy colors and filters in the scenes where the couple is breaking up to portray the emotional stress of that experience. With Goodnight showing at the Cannes Film Festival in May you must be over the moon. Has this motivated you to create more original projects? Definitely!! It is so much work, but I absolutely want to produce more projects. I have so much respect for people who work behind the camera.

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#NYOTAculture Tell our readers about your role in All American: Homecoming. What can viewers expect from your character? I am SO excited to be a part of this new show. I play Katia Williams, a pro tennis player that is sort of a Goliath to one of the lead characters, Thea. I am highly competitive, and definitely could be described as a villain. As an up-and-coming actress has social media been a helpful tool for you to get your name out there and promote your projects? Yes! I also love social media as a way of staying in touch with people. I travel so much for work. I feel like I spend more time with my friends and family than I am really able to because I get to see what everyone is doing, and I can share what I am too! Outside of acting, you’re passionate about working with the New York Public Library and improving literacy throughout the city. How could our readers get involved in the work the NY Public Library is doing? I’d say to look into being a part of the Young Lions! It is a tier of involvement with the library that is more realistic and affordable for people earlier on in their careers that want to work with a great charity in the city. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I’d say to keep at it! Don’t compare yourself to anyone else because everyone has their own trajectory. Just keep your head down, do the auditions, and trust the accumulation.

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