NYOTA Issue 35 by NYOTA Magazine

featuring

Keara Sullivan Issue 35

CONTENTS Music

Culture

Digital Playlist 07

Keara Sullivan 35

Jack Coyne 09

Zuhaila Jama 39

Natalie Shay

How TikTok is Shaping Celebrity Culture in 2024

Thomas Oswald

Devon Vander Voort

The Bean Tones

Fashion More Than a Trend

Indya Boone 25 Brooklyn Ellis 29 1

Olivia Broussard 53 WOW: Randi Wilens

THE 3

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 Jack Coyne

Zuhaila Jama

Natalie Shay

Thomas Oswald

The Bean Tones

Devon Vander Voort

Indya Boone

Olivia Broussard

Brooklyn Ellis

Randi Wilens

Keara Sullivan

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Sachar Arielle Ostry Maggie Mahoney

EDITOR’S LETTER Spring represents growth and new life; with each new issue, NYOTA grows and evolves. Our first issue of the year, coming out a few days after the first day of spring, only feels right. This year’s Digital Issue features content creators, influencers, and creatives who are amassing followers online through their authenticity and originality. I hope this issue gives you new creatives to follow and encourages you to pick up the phone and create your own content.

With Love, Carol Wright @_carol_wright

Alesis/ Mk.gee Mother Nature/ MGMT

I Don’t Know You/ Mannequin Pussy

The Digital Issue Playlist Curated by Sophie Sachar 7

#NYOTAmusic

Life Is/ Jessica Pratt

Coma/ Caroline Polachek

Karma/ SiR, Isaiah Rashad

May Ninth/ Khruangbin

Too Good to be True/ Kacey Musgraves

Blue/ Bee Blackwell

Thinking About You/ Faye Webster

Jack Coyne Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Henry Kornaros

Jack Coyne studied film in college and used to have his own YouTube channel where he created content focused on making it in NYC, so it should not be a surprise that he co-created a media company called Public Opinion based in the heart of New York City. Coyne talked to NYOTA about the future of Public Opinion, creating Track Star, and his advice for aspiring creators. Prior to studying film in college and having the opportunity to truly dive into the subject. How did you keep your passion for film alive and teach yourself about the industry? The first time I thought of the art of filmmaking was when I watched Goodfellas for the first time as a youngish teenager. I realized that the director was making really specific choices about how the camera was moving and what music was being used to add emotion to the scenes. I always loved watching movies and TV as a kid, but this was the point when I realized, like okay, picking up a camera and filming stuff could actually be a job. This unlocked a new way of thinking about movies for me. The other thing I realized probably later in high school is how much entertainment brings people joy, and that’s what really made me want to pursue it as a job. Like, I could help make people happy by telling stories with video and that’s a really special thing to be able to do. Looking at your old YouTube videos you made content about a wide variety of subjects and connected with numerous creatives along the way. During that time period did you gain a lot of new skills and connections that are still helpful to you today? Yes. I’ve been doing more or less the same thing since I was in college: say something through video. Sometimes this was as an assistant for my first boss, Casey Neistat. Sometimes this was shooting music videos for my friends in college. Later it was producing videos at CNN or making YouTube videos about trips I went on. Every time you make something you’re going to get a little bit better at it and the more frequently you do it the more it becomes an instinct instead of this thing you’re trying super hard to figure out each time. You also figure out more and more what you like and what you want to focus on and you meet tons of people along the way who specialize in the thing you’re not as good at. Filmmaking is a team sport and you want to surround yourself with the best possible team. You meet the best people by putting yourself out there for many years.

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic Starting a production company is no easy feat. What were some of the initial challenges when it came to getting Public Opinion off the ground and what did you learn from those challenges? The biggest challenge was making sure we’d have enough work to keep the lights on but also enough flexibility to create the stuff we really wanted to make. The reason we were able to do this was because of the years of work we put in prior to starting this company and the people we met along the way. I think myself and my partners all had reputations for being pretty hardworking and capable people. From an original content standpoint the breakthrough for us was deciding we wanted to shift our focus from just interviewing regular people on the street to making more in-depth documentaries about the people and the departments that keep NYC running. A big challenge for us was getting a foot in the door at these places. The Department of Sanitation isn’t totally inclined to let someone who makes TikToks come behind the scenes, but once we got a foot in the door with one department, we were able to sort of show everyone else what our POV is and that we have positive intentions. When it comes to creating more commercial content through Public Opinion, how do you and the team determine what’s worth pursuing and what projects to say no to? The easy answer is money and time. If a job pays really well it’s worth taking on cause it gives us flexibility to do our own editorial projects. Sometimes the budget is small but we get the right amount of creative freedom to make something that we think is really great. Those types of projects are not only fun, but they also often lead to other things down the line with a bigger budget. I also think it’s really empowering to say no to projects. The more time you do creative work for a living, the more you understand the value of your work and how much you want to charge; if people go below your rate and you’re not going to get anything else out of it, you should be confident in saying no. Tell our readers a bit about Track Star. Where did the initial idea for the show come from and did you expect it to resonate with viewers in the way that it has? I’d spent like six months interviewing people on the street totally focused on NYC trivia and it was an amazing education in speaking with strangers and making them feel comfortable but the hard part of this project was finding people who could answer trivia questions about NYC. It’s kind of a niche subject and I wanted to come up with something that was a bit more universal; hence music. I had the idea of the format and how the entire show would look and feel in my head for like three months before I just said one day let’s try this. I was very, very confident it would work as a format because of the work we put in with the NYC trivia concept. I’m really glad people like the show but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that people really love music.

How do you usually approach people to get them to participate in the show and has it been rewarding to connect with people from all walks of life through music? I typically stand somewhere with a lot of foot traffic and hold up a sign that explains what I’m looking for. Like “Name the musician win $.” I never wanted to be the person running up to someone with a camera in their face but making eye contact with someone and showing this sign feels pretty low-key. If you can come up with something intriguing for the sign, people will come to you. It’s been incredibly rewarding connecting with people from all walks of life, not just through music, but in general. Talking to strangers consistently gives you a lot of faith in humanity. People are generally really kind and care about each other. Talking about music is just a vehicle to connect with people. In the future how do you see Public Opinion evolving and how do you see your own career in the film and media industry evolving over time? Are there areas of the industry that you would like to get experience in that you haven’t yet? Core to Public Opinion is the idea of talking to people, right? That’s where we got the name. I think there’s so many ways we can take that; but big picture, the idea is to continue launching new shows in a variety of formats for all different platforms. Media is evolving a lot and will continue to shift over the next 5-10 years so we just want to navigate those changes and stay in business and keep telling stories that impact people. What advice do you have for aspiring creators? Make as much stuff as possible. There are so many ways to share your work with the world and get it out there, but it’s more about finding the motivation within yourself to keep making things so you continue to hone your creative voice.

#NYOTAmusic

Natalie Shay Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Holly McCandless-Desmond

Natalie Shay is a rising singer-songwriter who turns personal experiences into honest and relatable songs. She talked to NYOTA about using social media to connect with fans, attending the BRIT school, and her advice for aspiring singers. At the age of 5 you started playing guitar. Was music a large part of your upbringing? What led you to finding your passion for music so young? I’m not entirely sure how the idea formed, but my dad is a massive music fan, when the school asked what instruments we wanted to learn, I was the only person who said guitar so I was learning classical guitar alongside doing musical theater stuff outside school. I saw Taylor Swift when I was 11, playing guitar and singing her own songs at the same time. I was completely taken by the idea that I could try doing this. My dad was so excited to see I was good at it and now here we are! Before diving into singing and songwriting were there other areas of the arts you were interested in? I’m basically a theater kid. I absolutely love musical theater. It’s my passion. Music is my purpose but musical theater is my passion, I love storytelling through song and music. So cool. How did attending the BRIT school influence your trajectory as a singer-songwriter and help you grow as an artist? BRIT did a lot for me but mostly for my general maturity and growth as a human. It showed me the real world at a young age. I got to meet people from different places doing different things, all on their own paths but sharing drive and ambition in common. It taught me to be independent and how to draw inspiration from others and learn how to collaborate. All so useful; but most of all it gave me the confidence boost I needed to take that leap into pushing my artist project full time after leaving school. 16

Tell our readers about your song “Like You Boy.” Did the lyrics come from a personal place, if so, was it therapeutic to write? Yes! I tend to always only write about myself and experiences or from the point of view of someone close to me. All my songs are therapy, when I can turn a negative emotion into something positive like a song, it almost cancels out. And I’m over it. Sometimes it takes a few more songs though haha. When it comes to the visuals that accompany your songs are you always coming up with the creative concept? As you write songs do you often envision visuals to accompany them? Nope! They usually come after. When I’m listening to the songs over and over and over again haha. Has social media been a useful tool for you when it comes to interacting with your fanbase? Yes! It’s so important. It gives a voice to artists who don’t have any major industry backing yet. It means you can reach your audience yourself and engage with them too. I do love Instagram. On TikTok you often post snippets of songs and songwriting sessions. Can responses from your followers give you a sense of what songs might resonate with your audience and which songs might not? Yea sometimes! I play live a lot and I’m constantly throwing random things into sets to see how they land and even how I feel performing them. This is usually the process one of my songs goes through before getting selected as one I’m going to release. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? Be authentic. Now more than ever. It’s good to copy trends and stay up to date with promo and social trends but the music itself should always be you. The artists who make the most honest music will always touch the right people.

#NYOTAmusic

The Bean Tones Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Andrew Dzuiba

The Bean Tones prove that barbershop quartets will always stay in style. After meeting during their time at Berklee College of Music and realizing they each had an interest in barbershop, the group formed and has been making music ever since. The Bean Tones talked to NYOTA about using TikTok to gain listeners, their debut single, and their advice for aspiring musicians. Take our readers back to the beginning. How did The Bean Tones come to be? We met each other in 2018, during our freshmen year at Berklee College of Music. Chris and Grant were roommates and decided they wanted to start a barbershop quartet. Within the first week of school, they met James by chance in the cafeteria, learned that he too was interested in barbershop, and immediately went to sing some barbershop tags (short segments of barbershop songs, often the last few measures) in a school practice room. James and Grant were also a part of the Crepusculum Choir, a student-run chamber choir, where they met fellow member Davin and became fast friends. Soon the four of us were hanging out and singing together, and the rest is history! It’s rare to see quartets nowadays. How did each of you discover you had an interest in barbershop quarters and creating this specific type of music? Chris: I had always been a fan of boy bands all the way from The Beatles to the Jonas Brothers. So the idea of singing in harmony with your bros wasn’t foreign to me. After singing in a few barbershop quartets in high school and discovering The Four Freshmen, I wrote down on my phone Notes app that I would someday start a quartet in college. Grant: My high school in Cleveland Heights had a thriving barbershop program that performed throughout the community and I can remember seeing them as a kid and thinking “I wanna do that when I get older!” When I finally got to high school it was full speed ahead, and all my best memories from that time are because of the trips and performances our barbershop chorus did. When I got to Berklee, I simply couldn’t not sing in a quartet anymore, so during orientation week Chris and I went looking for other freshmen who might be interested, and with James and Davin it was love at first tag. The rest is history!

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic James: I first heard barbershop music in middle school, and I was immediately hooked. During high school, I tried (a few times) to start a barbershop quartet with some friends in choir, but it would always fizzle out. I kept my dream of getting a group together, though - the style is so fun and exciting, both to sing and to hear. Davin: I was in my high school’s choir program, and one of my good friends, Dylan, showed me a pretty incredible barbershop choir competition video. I was hooked. For the next few years, I tried multiple times to start barbershop quartets, to no success. I even made an original arrangement of the song “Ripped Pants” from SpongeBob SquarePants in the barbershop style. All that time and effort came to fruition when I met The Bean Tones in college, and I got to sing my original chart with a group for the first time. Being based in Los Angeles are you constantly inspired by the music scene there and the creatives that come through the city? Oh definitely! We all have our individual reasons for coming to LA. Whether it’s going to improv classes, sessions at studios, gigs in Orange County, or songwriter showcases, we’re always out and about and constantly being inspired by those around us. As I mentioned before, we started at Berklee College of Music, and it turns out a lot of our friends from school are out here too. There’s a lot of creative energy in the air and it feels good to be contributing to that. You recently came out with your debut single “A Trout, No Doubt.” What is your process when it comes to working on arrangements and making a song your own? Grant Heineman is our secret weapon! A year ago he heard the song on a radio station and wrote down in his Notes app that he would arrange it for The Bean Tones some day. At that point we were living in four different places and we weren’t sure it would ever happen. So to see it come to life the way that it has is insane! He arranged it here in LA in the style of our favorite group, The Four Freshmen, and then we went to a studio owned by Davin’s management company and recorded it there. We got it all done in one long night with plenty of slices of pizza and goofy antics. We met up a few days later to finalize the mix and master, then shipped it off!

I discovered you all through TikTok. Do you feel that nowadays if you want to be seen you have to be on a lot of these platforms to gain traction? Yeah, I think all of these outlets are so unique, and we’re at a very interesting place in the industry where you can get a fanbase all on your own from posting only one video. How crazy is that! If you really want a career for yourself in this industry, I think you have to get serious and buckle down and make some content people will like. Is it important for you all as a group to come up with creative posts in order for users to find you or are you open to having people come across your content and in turn your music, more organically? This is something we’re still figuring out actually. We were fortunate to have our second video (our first original arrangement) go viral with over 2.5 million views. So we didn’t have to work so hard with posting daily and trying to feed the algorithm. The algorithm also loves unique niche things, and I think what we have is pretty rare. There aren’t a lot of young men singing vocal jazz these days, and people don’t even know that they want it or like it ‘til they see it. We’re happy if people find us in any way, whether it’s from a piece of content or more organically through a live performance. All that matters is that we’re singing together - that’s the reason we’re doing this, to just have fun with the guys. Can listeners expect an EP or album from you all in the near future? Yes, someday! We’re mostly focused on singles right now, but expect some big projects in the future! What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Never give up! And do it because you love it!

More Than a Trend: How TikTok Beauty Aesthetics Have Come to Shape Identity By: Arielle Ostry The world of TikTok beauty seems to be switching up faster than anyone can comprehend. Fads like the L’oreal telescopic mascara – despite the backlash that followed one influencer’s misleading advertisement – or LED light therapy – one of the internet’s latest skincare trends – keep ebbing and flowing faster than the tide. But beyond the kitschy product placements that are prevalent on the platform, featuring a new star every couple days, there are whole aesthetics that seem to be geared less toward a single brand or beauty product, and more about the vibe a look can portray. A TikTok for Business blog post summed up this phenomenon as a move away from demographics and toward psychographics. In other words, people can relate more to others by the communities and aesthetics they identify with rather than traditional categories like age, gender and socioeconomic status. The power of some recent beauty aesthetics that have hit the platform prove this theory true. Let’s take a look at some of the latest trends from the past year or so and see what they reveal not just about 23

a person’s looks, but also their personality, sense of self and how they desire to be perceived by their community. 1. The “No Makeup” Makeup Look: A rather ironic makeup trend, the goal of the viral “no makeup” makeup look is to appear as natural looking as possible while still using makeup to enhance facial features, bring out a glowing appearance to the skin, and draw attention to the eyes and lips with subtle, hydrating products like liquid gel eyeshadows and lip oils. Those aiming for the “no makeup” look want to appear put together with flawless, blemish-free skin, and naturally proportional, highlighted features, and they want to make it look easy. The less time it seems they have spent on their face that morning, the better. 2. E-Girl Makeup: E-girl stands for “electronic girl” also known as “a girl who is very online.” Although the term has a misogynistic background, originating in a heavily male-dominated gaming industry, the TikTok platform in 2021 saw many e-girls reclaiming their identity through their style, and many others enamored by the look’s bold color choices and punk rock accessories

#NYOTAfashion followed suit, only broadening the aesthetic’s popularity. The e-girl aesthetic is best identified by bold eyeliner, neon hair and faux freckles or small black hearts hand-drawn on the face below the eyes. Other token style choices include a mix of pastel clothing items, black choker necklaces and platform sneakers. Those who ascribe to the e-girl style have fun with past styles that some may describe as punk or goth, adding some new color and other elements to make the look more current. Nicole da Costa, a Mexican makeup artist and content creator describes the look as a combination of anime and goth styles: “You could say it’s a mixture between a punk/rock vibe with a fun doll-like twist.” 3. The Clean Girl Aesthetic: Described by Editorialist as “new-age minimalism,” the clean girl aesthetic is defined by simple fashion, barely-there makeup and daily habits that in small doses may promote wellness and productivity but through extremes may veer into unrealistic expectations for lifestyle and looks. Many who ascribe to the clean girl aesthetic surround themselves with neutral colors and basics as clothing staples. Dewy skin and fluffy brows meet slicked back hair and daily activities like waking up at 5 a.m. to seize the day, working out judiciously and journaling to improve mental wellbeing and boost organization. Although this trend professes to be less focused on the material, plenty of products have been tied to this aesthetic, from the desk chair wide enough to sit on crisscross to Olaplex hair care products to simple gold accessories. 4. The Mob Wife: Back from the late 80’s and early 90’s, big hair, bold lip colors, fur coats and something in leather had its moment in early 2024. Diverging from more minimal makeup trends like the “no makeup” makeup look or the clean girl aesthetic, the mob wife aesthetic is more about mentality than just the clothes worn and a bold lipstick. According to Glam, achieving a true mob wife look involves maintaining healthy boundaries while working to succeed in both personal and professional goals. Additional visual elements that compliment the look include a big fur coat – preferably thrifted – in a neutral color, all-black attire, oversized sunglasses and a cherry cola lip with a smokey eyeshadow. No mob wife look can be complete without the mob wife nails: either a clean French manicure or deep red.

5. Cowboy Copper: It seems like every hair color now needs a name. This past fall, a slew of women across TikTok made the move to go red, and not just any color red. A light, orangey hue has taken the internet by storm that many are calling cowboy copper. Vogue called out the cowboy copper moment as an opportunity to make a hair color more than just its color, applying a feeling and story to its hue. With the power of a name, cowgirl copper took “an existing variant of auburn and immediately [imbued] it with an actual story, one built on the shades of rust, leather and sumptuous suede of western reveries.” 6. Color Analysis: Ever wondered if you’re a summer, winter, spring or fall? People all over the TikTok app have been dipping into a trend that got its start in 1980. Initially introduced by Carole Jackson’s Color Me Beautiful, color analysis looks at a person’s natural skin tone, hair color and eye color to determine which hues – either warm or cool, bold or pastel – best bring out a person’s features. Color analysis can be especially useful in determining what kinds of makeup, hair color and clothing may help accentuate someone’s natural coloring. With the revival of this retro theory, many interested in looking their best are flocking to online color analysis generators or making appointments with in-person consultants to learn more about their season, and in turn which metallics, neutrals and colors best suit them. All of these recent TikTok beauty aesthetics and trends, from the “no makeup” makeup look to color analysis, stretch beyond a particular product or label. Many of these trends explore a mindset or encourage certain lifestyle habits. Others highlight the importance of story to make something as simple as a hair color desirable to a whole community of people. There are also elements that focus more on the beauty in individuality: how differences can actually inspire lifelong decisions on makeup, fashion and how someone presents themselves to the world. It is significant how different the beauty landscape looks from just a couple years ago. Previous decades saw the beauty community take over YouTube with tutorials and brand reviews galore. Now, the focus has pivoted to the lifestyle of the look, the identity of those owning it and the camaraderie one feels when embracing an aesthetic alongside countless others doing the same. 24

#NYOTAfashion

Indya Boone Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Indya Boone

Indya Boone’s videos are refreshing in a content creation landscape that can become oversaturated with similar posts. Boone talked to NYOTA about creating her animations, seeing makeup as a form of self-expression, and creating long-form content in the future. What about the beauty space initially sparked your interest? I remember watching makeup tutorials on YouTube when I was growing up and admiring the skills and passion a lot of the creators had. I think makeup allows people to show off their creativity and provides an avenue for them to express themselves. Not everyone takes the leap to create and share content online. What motivated you to start? The biggest thing that motivated me to start was the opportunity to share my art with others. I thought the format was cool and I hadn’t seen much other stuff like it. I love hearing that my videos have inspired others to try new makeup looks or to create more art. It’s refreshing to see the creative animations and illustrations you put throughout your videos. Have you always had an interest in animation? I’ve always really enjoyed watching animated shows and films, but I didn’t previously have an interest in creating my own animations. I started animating around the time I posted the first “get ready with me” video and I’ve been enjoying it ever since! How long does it take you to create the animations for each video? I try to include about two to three animations per video and in total it takes about 12 hours to completely edit a video. It really comes down to how complicated the animations are, for example, if I want to include a background or if there’s a lot of extra moving parts.

Do you plan out the content you want to make each week? What’s your process? My process usually starts with coming up with an idea for the intro animation, and building around that. Sometimes it feels like the intro is the most important part of the video, so I try to spend a lot of time on finding cool ways to transition from that to the part of the video where I’m applying makeup. Most of my process revolves around finding ways to incorporate animations into the video. I’ll usually have a few general ideas of what I want to do for the week, but I don’t typically plan it out in too much detail. What are some of your favorite beauty trends you hope to see others adopt? I hope I get to see more people using trends to further develop their own personal taste. I think it’s a great way to stay up to date with what’s current while being able to stay true to your own personal style. As someone who is already creative when it comes to their content, how do you see it evolving over time? Over time I hope to create more long-form content and incorporate more mixed media. There’s a lot of different types of animation that I want to try and I’d love to find new ways to include them along with the techniques I’m currently using. In the future I hope to continue to develop my visual storytelling abilities and use it to guide my content towards being more narrative driven. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? My biggest advice for aspiring content creators is to make content that you’re proud of. I think it can be really easy as a content creator to focus too hard on growth and numbers and it can take a lot of the enjoyment out of it. I think prioritizing making content you enjoy can help prevent burn out, which is something a lot of content creators face at some point.

#NYOTAfashion

Brooklyn Ellis Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Katie Begbie

Brooklyn Ellis has taken over many people’s FYPs with her bright, unique, and colorful clothing. Ellis talked to NYOTA about embracing having a distinctive style, the fashion scene in New Zealand, and her personal style influences. As a young girl were you a big fan of playing dress up? Absolutely, I loved playing dress-up. I have fond memories of wearing princess dresses and mini heels. I often raided my mom’s wardrobe in search of the perfect accessories and would often be seen running up and down the hallway in different pairs of her heels. From a young age, I relished the opportunity to express myself through fashion, meticulously selecting my outfits each day and experimenting with various hairstyles to add an extra touch of flair. Those moments of creativity and self-expression laid the foundation for my enduring love of fashion and style. It’s not always easy to know what informs one’s personal style because there can be numerous sources of inspiration when it comes to fashion, but are there any public figures or individuals in your own life that you feel have had an influence on your style? I would say that my mom has been the biggest influence on my personal style. Growing up I’ve always admired her impeccable fashion sense and the way she effortlessly puts together stylish and polished looks, and she often gets compliments when we are out and about. So, from a young age I knew I wanted to dress like her. To this day we love to shop together and often send each other photos of what we are wearing each day. Beyond celebrities or public figures, it’s the everyday influence of my mom’s fashion choices that continues to inspire and guide my wardrobe decisions. 29

#NYOTAfashion

Would people be surprised by the fashion scene in New Zealand? I feel that New Zealand fashion isn’t often talked about. When it comes to the fashion scene, New Zealand is often seen as pretty laid-back and casual. Fashion consciousness isn’t exactly at the forefront for everyone here. However, what many might not realize is that New Zealand is producing some 31

incredibly talented designers who are making waves internationally. It’s quite impressive to see how these designers are punching above their weight in the fashion world. I do think there is a noticeable shift happening, with more people opting for local designers and embracing ethical fashion choices over fast fashion. The amount of incredible New Zealand brands that we have now is really exciting and it is where I like to do most of my own shopping.

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Nowadays people tend to dress in neutral colors and subscribe to a very minimalist look, but your style allows for colors and patterns to shine. How did you become comfortable with wearing loud colors and textured clothing? It’s all about confidence! I’ve always believed that fashion should be fun and expressive, so I never shy away from incorporating fun colors and textures. To me, adding pops of color and interesting patterns not only makes getting dressed more enjoyable but also keeps my outfits unique and adds a touch of surprise. It’s all about embracing individuality and feeling good in what you wear. Tell our readers a bit about your foray into TikTok. What inspired you to start posting outfit of the day videos and styling content there?

I was inspired to start posting outfit of the day and styling content on TikTok because I loved the idea of documenting my daily outfits and sharing my passion for fashion with others. TikTok appealed to me because I’ve always enjoyed filming and editing videos since I was young, so combining these two hobbies felt like a natural fit. It’s genuinely a fun, creative outlet for me, and the followers and opportunities that have arisen because of it are an added bonus. Of course like any new venture, there were nerves involved, especially when putting myself out there on the internet for everyone to see. But ultimately, the opportunity to express my creativity and engage with a community of like-minded individuals outweighed the initial apprehensions. It’s been a rewarding journey so far, and I’m looking forward to continuing to share my styling content on TikTok.

#NYOTAfashion Due to creating content you now get PR from brands. Are there any particular brands you’ve worked with that you feel are underrated and you wish more people knew about? I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some incredible brands through my content creation journey. Particularly, I have a soft spot for new emerging New Zealand brands that might fly under the radar but offer exceptional quality and unique designs. Some of these include Ellis label, Mina, Winnie Catherine and Riel, just to name a few. On Instagram you shared a fun, Copenhagen inspired shoot. Do you often look to other cities or countries for style inspiration? Absolutely! Copenhagen is one of my go-to sources of style inspiration. I find their fashion scene incredibly captivating, with its unique blend of patterns, colors and effortless sophistication. The Copenhagen-inspired shoot was a reflection of my admiration for their distinct style aesthetic. Whenever I travel I love observing the diverse cultures and unique styles. It allows me to gain fresh perspectives for my own wardrobe. I am looking forward to visiting Copenhagen someday so I can experience their fashion firsthand and gain some new ideas. What advice do you have for aspiring fashion content creators? My advice for aspiring fashion creators is simple: be confident and authentic. Don’t worry about what others might think; instead, embrace your unique style and personality. Stay true to yourself and only work with brands that align with your aesthetic and values. Consistency is key, so keep pushing forward even if progress seems slow at first. Taking that initial step and putting yourself out there was the best decision I made, and I encourage others to do the same.

#NYOTAculture

Keara Sullivan Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Kat Soriano and Theodora Williams

Keara Sullivan did not start posting on TikTok to go viral, but her specific and unique bits resonated with users, and she soon found herself amassing a loyal following. Sullivan talked to NYOTA about her comedy inspirations, using her Notes app to brainstorm and trusting her instincts. Has comedy always been something that’s interested you? Were you someone who started watching sketch comedy shows at a young age? Yes, for sure. I don’t remember a time in my life when making people laugh wasn’t my absolute favorite thing to do. I come from a funny family and there was always a lot of laughter in my house growing up. When I was little and too young to stay up late and watch Saturday Night Live, my parents would go to the video store and rent DVD compilations like “SNL: The Best of Steve Martin” or “SNL: The Best of Alec Baldwin,” so I was aware of comedians and sketch comedy at a very young age. And the second I became aware of comedy as a profession, it was basically all I wanted to do.

Who are some comedians that you think informed your sense of humor?

Do you have a usual brainstorming process or video planning process?

I feel like my comedy persona, if you had to break it up, is one part Steve Martin, one part Fran Lebowitz, and one part David Mitchell. Steve Martin was huge for me. I would watch his DVD over and over as a kid I was totally obsessed with him. He puts on this really funny persona of someone who is dumb, arrogant, and totally oblivious, and yet he still manages to come off charming and endearing. I think some of my comedy definitely follows in that tradition; but on the flip side, there’s another part of my comedy that kind of assumes the voice of what I can only describe as “fed-up grump who thinks they’re the smartest person in the room,” and I can trace that back very clearly to Fran Lebowitz and David Mitchell.

The “Brainstorm” section of my Notes app on my laptop is essentially where 95% of the magic happens. I am adding to it pretty much every day. Sometimes I’m just adding a phrase or topic that I think is funny and could be material for a joke and other times I’m adding fully formed jokes. The other 5% of my brainstorming process occurs on a word document that is titled “Mega Dumb Shit.” This is an organized list of all the words and phrases and things and people that I just think are inherently funny. I have everything, from “Old Crone” to “Mole People” to “The concept of Smurfettes” to “Flashbulb memory” on there. It’s a very helpful reference!

What motivated you to start posting on TikTok and other platforms? Honestly, I would not be on TikTok today if it were not for the COVID pandemic. I started doing standup and going to open mics during the fall semester of my junior year in college. But come March of my Spring semester, we were in lockdown and I couldn’t try out any of my material in person anymore. So I essentially just used TikTok as a way to test out and get a sounding board for my standup material and then I gained a following and the rest is history!

Posting commentary, specifically comedic commentary on TikTok can be quite difficult since you have to find followers that share your sense of humor. How did you start to build an audience online? I’m not sure I have a good answer for this because it’s not so much that you find followers, it’s more like they find you. I also don’t do anything like TikTok live streams, which I know other creators have used to build a following with great success. My method has just been to always trust my instincts on what I think is funny and post pretty consistently - and it seems to have worked! I think one mistake online creators sometimes make is going really broad with their comedy so it can potentially reach the widest audience. In my experience, the more specific your bit is, the more universal its reach. I remember one time I made a TikTok talking about how weird it feels to find out someone has a twin in adult life, and it was so specific that I honestly thought no one would relate, but then it went viral! 37

For videos such as ‘Pandora’s box releasing situationships,’ how did that come to life? Were you having this thought and decided to whip out the camera? First, I had the idea to use the myth of Pandora’s Box as kind of a base format for a joke. I went into my usual Notes app and wrote “Why did Pandora have to open her goddamn box and release (x) onto the world?” Then, I thought about what would be the funniest thing to put into the “(x)” part of the joke. Nothing came to me immediately, so I kicked it around for a few days and eventually landed on situationships. I write a lot of my jokes that way. I make the skeleton of the joke first, then I add in a punchline, but sometimes it’s the other way around. I find some concept that I think is inherently really funny and leave it in my Notes app until I figure out how to format a joke around it. As someone with ADD, I find it’s better for me to step away from a joke for a bit if nothing comes to me immediately rather than try to push through. As such, I usually have 15 to 20 possible half-written jokes in my Notes app at any given time. In the future would you hope that a platform such as TikTok could lead to acting or other opportunities? Yes, I do! I’d love to act and my dream is to be a showrunner for my own comedy TV show someday. I majored in film at NYU so being a part of the entertainment industry has always been a part of the plan for me. TikTok has already opened so many doors for me creatively and career wise so I definitely don’t underestimate its power.

#NYOTAculture What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? I’m not sure I’m the right person to give advice on this because I genuinely didn’t start making TikToks with the hopes of becoming a content creator - it’s never been my end goal. I’ve always seen social media as more of a tool or stepping stone to further my comedy career aspirations and even though I make TikToks pretty regularly these days, I don’t see myself as a content creator at all. I’m just a comedian who likes to post her jokes online sometimes! But maybe that’s the advice that I would give to aspiring content creators: think about what you want to do beyond the reaches of social media! Nothing lasts forever, platforms can disappear at any time, and it will be better for your mental health all around if you don’t see social media as the be all and end all of your career.

#NYOTAculture

Zuhaila Jama Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Zuhaila Jama

Zuhaila Jama has blown up on TikTok and Instagram due to her sharp and witty videos that poke fun at pop culture, internet culture, and cultural differences in human behavior. Jama talked to NYOTA about being the class clown, writer’s block, and her advice for aspiring content creators. Growing up were you the class clown or the person who always wanted to make family members laugh? I was definitely the class clown. With the beauty standards set in my school (white girls) I knew I couldn’t be the prettiest so there had to be another way I could get attention. My school was very cliquey but I have this very vivid memory of me standing in front of my peers while they were shouting out teachers for me to impersonate. I was known for my impressions but where I get my true validation is when I make my family laugh cause it’s always their mission to humble me. So it’s definitely crack when I can get a giggle or two. What do you think informed your sense of humor? When I was a kid it was definitely my brother, he was always the clown of the family. Never took himself too seriously and I loved when he would tell me stories and especially how he would tell the stories. I sort of outgrew his humor as I got older, sort of how you outgrow Kevin Hart. Still appreciate them but too laddish. Then I was introduced to the gays by my friend Chiesa who’s also a member of the community. Without the girlies and the gays of stan twitter I don’t know who I’d be and I shudder at the thought. What motivated you to start creating content for social media? There’s only two things I’ve always been certain of in my life, that I see as an absolute fact; that I’m going to die one day and that I’m going be famous enough for it to be on the news. I had the plan and the talent, I just needed the platform. I started a YouTube account before TikTok but it didn’t quite understand me. I hadn’t yet found my niche. And then TikTok came along and so did quarantine and you know where that story goes. Do you often plan out the content you’re going to work on? What’s your process? I mostly have a list of things I’m going to film and write scripts. I feel like that’s the time I’m the most motivated because I know everything I have to do I just have to film it I guess.

Some of my favorite videos of yours are ‘Pov: you’re watching an explanation of a woman in hell’ or the Beyoncé “Diva” video. Are you constantly scouring social media and entertainment news to figure out trends or what to base your content on? Oh constantly! Which is why I experience writers block quite a lot and can’t think of anything to film. The “Diva” one was definitely the most random one. I didn’t plan a script, I just had a plan. I saw that it was a bit of a trend and just filmed it. Sometimes it can be a hard balance for content creators to make their content and also be themselves and show other facets of their lives/personalities. Has it been a difficult balance for you to find? I think the main reason people follow me is for my authenticity. Real recognize real. If I’m passionate about something, they’ll know. If I have a current obsession with a show, they’ll know. Even now, I have this new obsession with Latin American culture and I’ve been trying to learn Spanish and that inspired content. My point, you have to be unapologetically yourself. I’ve never apologized for who I am nor do I allow myself to be shaped in a certain way. I’m just me and most of the time people eff with it and sometimes they don’t but that has nothing to do with me. Are you interested in comedy writing or delving into the world of sketch comedy? Not really. I know, I’m known for being creative but that’s just when it’s something for me, I wouldn’t like the pressure if other people were involved. Writer’s block is painful enough. I’m more interested in acting; but, oftentimes, it’s not about the words that you say, it’s about how you say it that can make something funny. Someone could say the same joke as you but they don’t have the comedic timing, they don’t have the confidence to demand silence with their aura whilst telling the joke, they don’t have my animated expressions. Excuse me, I’m quite on the narcissistic spectrum. What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? Oh, erm. Find your niche, have a purpose for why people follow you. Let people binge your specific content! Study stan twitter, they raised me! Learn to have thick skin, people are evil! And do not apologize for who you are, these trolls can spot someone weak from a mile away! And barbs stay in school barbssss!

#NYOTAculture

How TikTok is Shaping Celebrity Culture in 2024 By: Maggie Mahoney TikTok first emerged internationally into the social media scene in September of 2017, bringing with it a unique and somewhat eerie hyper personalized algorithm. However, the true rise of this social platform and subsequent incorporation into the media zeitgeist came about during 2020, punctuated by the pandemic bringing everyday society to a halt. The app offered a special brand of catchy and relatable content existing in a never ending loop. Users were able to curate a feed that closely lined up with their niche likes, dislikes, interests, and opinions. Unlike other social media platforms at the time, users didn’t need to be following someone to see their content, making follower quantity less important overall. Rather, TikTok fame could originate spontaneously and overnight, even sometimes spawning from a singular video. Today TikTok remains one of the most popular social media networks globally with over 1.5 billion users as of 2023. The unique nature of the platform has also ushered in with it a shift in traditional avenues and notions of fame, ultimately impacting celebrity culture. In a digital landscape where everyday people can harness their creativity to garner widespread influence, the question emerges: how do traditional celebrities function alongside influencers and content creators and how have our expectations of those in the spotlight evolved? Perhaps one of the most notable departures in how the public digitally interacts with celebrities in 2024 can be observed in how everyday people are calling for greater social responsibility from public figures, especially those whom they admire. Celebrity cancel 43

culture is prevalent on social media as the public seeks to take famous people off of a pedestal and hold them accountable for their actions. It seems it is not enough in today’s world for our favorite celebrities to align with us on an artistry level. They must also align with our worldviews and personal values, using their large platforms for the greater good. When faced with the age old question: can you separate the art from the artist? Many people today appear to be answering, no. A prime example of recent public outcry on TikTok and other social media platforms directed toward celebrities can be seen in the case study of Taylor Swift. Just last month, Swift faced significant public scrutiny over her private jet usage and its astronomical impact on carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. The media circulated countless articles on the topic and TikTok users generated numerous memes, as well as more serious callout videos about Swift’s private jet activities. Some TikTok users, as noted by VOX, even took to speculating that the reason Swift attended Travis Kelce’s game against The New York Jets was to distract from negative press about her jet emissions. Critics were particularly outraged about a 13-minute flight she took between Cahokia, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri (the equivalent of a roughly 40-minute drive) that resulted in nearly 1 ton of CO-2 released. According to The Associated Press, Swift traveling from touring in Tokyo to the Superbowl by private jet is the equivalent of “14 times as much [carbon emissions] as the average American household emits in a year.”

#NYOTAculture Despite the fact that moral perfection remains elusive, people in today’s world expect online virtue signaling from prominent people they follow. Swift is not the only celebrity to come under criticism for perceived insensitive or problematic behavior. Public figures such as Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez have also faced backlash for offenses such as cheating scandals and failing to take stances on social/political issues. Perhaps some of the reason why TikTok and other social media platforms demand accountability from celebrities stems from the parasocial nature of the general public’s relationship to famous figures, combined with the fact that TikTok is a major site for social activism. Public disillusionment with celebrities may also be translating toward decreased award show viewership, especially when it comes to the Gen-Z demographic. Although the 2024 Oscars experienced a bump in audience viewership with an estimated 19.5 million people tuning in, award show viewership was at a historical low from 2020 - 2023 and has been in decline for the last decade. Award shows in many ways seek to maintain the status quo and elevate celebrities. Reasoning for the decline in viewership of awards shows could point to a variety of factors. However, TikTok discourse does highlight younger people’s concerns with corruption, a lack of diversity, and a lack of relatability associated with these types of events. As conversation arises surrounding a potential TikTok ban, it will be interesting to see what this could mean for celebrity culture, as well as for social activism and public discourse in the future. A contributor to Time Magazine commented on possible risks, saying “a ban of TikTok would eliminate an important place for Americans to speak and be heard.” The possible ban begs the question: how would the American public respond to an increase in censorship of free speech on our social media platforms and what harmful consequences may result?

#NYOTAculture

Thomas Oswald Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Micah Edgecombe

Thomas Oswald did not set out to create and run Homeboy, but since the opportunity arose has taken the bull by the horns. Oswald talked to NYOTA about bringing Homeboy to life, how social media led to his first customers, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Have you always had an entrepreneurial streak? Were you the kid in school selling their baseball cards? All throughout school I was fascinated by the beauty of business and entrepreneurship. Homeboy definitely wasn’t my first venture! I had tried every hustle you could think of - shoe reselling, a clothing brand called Only Plan A, a design agency, affiliate marketing, day trading, ect. All the practice compounded into learning experiences that would give me the confidence to start my next big thing! Homeboy is a pop-up in ‘Thiele’s Shop’ which is a creative venue. How did you get the opportunity to work with ‘Thiele’s Shop’ and ‘The PaintBox’ to bring Homeboy to life? After walking into ‘The PaintBox’ an art supplies shop early last year and seeing a connected cafe that wasn’t in use, I asked about it and they explained the nature of their ‘pop-ups.’ They explained how their last pop-up was coming to an end and that if I felt I was confident enough to run it, I should! I thought I’d give it a go, started documenting my journey and the rest was history. You’re only ever one conversation away from changing your life so I urge young people to just ask! What led to you opening Homeboy? Did you feel that there was a lack of community spaces in your area? Starting a cafe was never something I planned on doing. It sort of just presented itself and I thought why not and wanted to give myself the challenge! A bit of luck and a bit of hard work. However I do feel there is a lack of spaces where young people can truly just hang out and be comfortable these days. Which is why I really wanted to curate a space which felt a bit like a second home to people. 46

Outside of selling coffee and pastries on a day to day basis, Homeboy also sells merchandise. Has it been creatively fulfilling to choose the slogans and designs of the merchandise? I love everything about design and product development so creating things that my audience can rep with pride is very important to me. I have a high attention to detail so the quality of the merchandise is always a priority. If that means sacrificing a bit of my margins to create a hoodie that would last 10 years vs. two years it is absolutely worth it! Social media led to Homeboy having its first customers and news coverage. When you made the video about having no customers did you expect it to blow up in the way it did? Definitely not! Given the quiet day, I thought it’d be a good idea to document the low point, kinda just as something to one day look back on. This ultimately led to a bunch of the kindest people who wanted to show their support! So having that quiet opening day was a little disappointing in the moment but was actually something I was actually grateful for. It was a necessary part of my journey and taught me the value of community. Is planning what to post on social media on the same level of importance as choosing the coffee and pastries that will be on your menu? Yes, each factor is of the highest importance! I am highly particular on the quality of my posts and wouldn’t send food/drink out if it wasn’t just right. I always want the audience/customer to come first. You post videos ranging from finding the perfect logo to running the cafe on a busy day. Does TikTok almost serve as your own personal video diary at this point? Is it exciting to watch older videos and see the strides you’ve made? That is exactly how I look at it! My videos are simply a visual diary for the world to see. And if people are aligned or inspired by that, that’s great! It’ll be cool to one day look back on these videos and reflect on what stuff I did right, what I did wrong and everything in between! What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? Just get out there and get started! If you’re inspired by something, run with it and give it a go! You can’t fail if you treat every failure as a learning experience. Try your best to be a good person, do the right thing, hold the door open for a stranger, smile even when you don’t feel like it and try to give back whenever you can.

#NYOTAculture

Devon Vander Voort Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Nat Karpov

Devon Vander Voort is a curator, writer, artist, and art advisor whose passions have led her to co-create the company Levings Vander Voort, a private art advisory and collections management firm. Vander Voort talked to NYOTA about how she chooses art collectors to work with, using social media to dispel myths about the art world, and connecting to an art piece for the first time. Do you remember the moment you first felt connected to an art piece? In 2010 I was living overseas and went to a Chihuly exhibition on a field trip in the 5th grade. I remember being in awe of the exhibition, the way they angled the lights to hit the sculptures perfectly, the vibrant colors of the pieces, and the fun postcard souvenir they let us take home. In a way, that was my first connection to an exhibition and art pieces! Tell our readers about your company Levings Vander Voort. What motivated you to start the company with Courtney Levings? I went to graduate school at Syracuse University for museum studies. While I was there, I connected with a fellow art historian and another student in the program, Courtney Levings. Courtney and I became friends really quickly and after we graduated the program, we decided to start Levings Vander Voort in May of 2023. I really enjoyed art advising and Courtney really enjoyed working hands-on with collections. We wanted to advise private art collectors in art, but through an art historical and museum focused lens. We fully launched the company to the public September 2023 and have since built up our client-base, worked on a number of collections management projects, and have spent time curating three exhibitions. How do you choose which art collectors to work with and what type of work does collections management entail? We work with collectors that we like. It is really as simple as that! We meet our clients in a lot of ways, it is usually by word of mouth. For collections management, we do an initial audit of the client’s collection. We assess what they have and then hear what their goals are. We then migrate all of their data onto a collections database. We take pictures, assess conditions, compile documents and provenance. Then, we help support the appraisal process and ultimately help with deaccessioning if the client is looking to do that with certain objects. 49

#NYOTAculture

On TikTok a video of yours went viral that shared you made it onto a museum board. Did getting a board seat feel like one of those, I made it moments? How do you hope to make an impact through this? I was really honored to be invited onto the museum board. I am really passionate about supporting the art ecosystem in my home city (Syracuse). When I was growing up, I was lucky enough to be taken to museums as a child, but it was only when we were traveling. I want to make sure that young kids know that there is amazing art in their cities, and ensure that they have access to it. In terms of “making it,” I think that it confirmed that I was on the trajectory that I wanted to be on. When I left my 9-5 a year ago, I wrote down a list of goals for myself. One of the goals was to sit on a museum board and I wrote “10 years” next to it. To have that happen in less than a year was really special. Through TikTok you dispel a lot of myths about the art world, art school, and being an entrepreneur in the art space. Has it been rewarding to see your content resonate with others? Definitely! It is why I make the content that I make. I have been posting for a little bit under three years now and I feel like I have created such an incredible community on my social media platforms. I get a lot of messages from my followers that make me cry, it is so special that the things that I’m doing are inspiring others. At the end of the day, that’s all I want to do is educate and I’m honored to have the community that I do and the platform to be able to share those things.

Each episode dives into specific topics such as appraisers or finding ways to get into art events. Do you feel that the podcast is almost an extension of the topics you cover on TikTok? Yes! I am so glad you picked up on that. I share a lot of ideas on TikTok, but as we all know, it is a hard platform at times to elaborate on certain topics or ideas. A lot of my followers are young high school and college aged students who are either artists or interested in the arts. That’s why I have a few episodes that are geared towards art school! What advice do you have for people who want to make content specific to their passions? This is a great question, I am still figuring this out for myself! I think that one of the most important things is to figure out why you want to be creating this content. On videos that perform well, I am always excited to see the response, but on others that might not “perform well,” I am happy just to have the content there as a little diary entry of something that I was working on at the time. I think that the only way to make good content is to center it around something that you’re passionate about, whatever that may be!

Tell our readers about your podcast Art World Up Close. Did you start it because you felt that there were not a lot of younger voices in the art space? I started the podcast when I was in undergrad at SCAD (the Savannah College of Art and Design). I was listening to a lot of art world podcasts, but most of them felt like lectures. I also was listening to a lot of fun podcasts that felt like you were hanging out with your friends. I wanted to create a podcast that would be helpful and educational, but that was also fun to listen to and would allow people to share all their stories from the art world.

Olivia Broussard Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Olivia Broussard

Olivia Broussard first became popular on TikTok after posting content centered around The Bachelor. Once she pivoted to covering all pop culture news, her following skyrocketed. Broussard talked to NYOTA about being authentic online, where she gets her celebrity news, and if she’d ever work in costume design. Have you always been very interested in dissecting pop culture and celebrity culture? Yes! I have always been interested in pop culture as well as fashion. So much of my childhood was spent playing with dolls with my mom while E! News and Fashion Police were playing on the TV in the background. What led you to go from sharing videos specifically focused on The Bachelor to more broad pop culture moments? I never planned on talking about other topics until people in my comments suggested it. From very early on, people were so kind and supportive. They said they liked hearing my opinions or just listening to my voice, so it gave me the confidence to talk about other things that interested me. With pop culture content on TikTok it can be hard for people to differentiate themselves but you always have refreshing takes or concepts, one of my favorite videos is ‘what brand is Kylie Jenner promoting in this picture?’ How do you go about planning your content and video ideas? I usually wait until inspiration strikes. Normally I will see something that makes me laugh or a topic that I want to talk about more, and then I turn it into a video. Sometimes the videos that I put the least amount of planning into, end up being the ones that do the best. Go figure!

One of your hidden talents that has been highlighted through TikTok is your ability to style outfits whether it’s for a specific celebrity or the cast of a movie. Could you ever see yourself being a wardrobe stylist or costume designer professionally? I appreciate that so many people are nice enough to think that I could ever be a professional stylist, but no I don’t think I could be one. I never want my styling videos to make it seem like I’m a know-it-all or that I can do someone else’s job better. I always say that I’m just a random person with an opinion! Costume designers and stylists put so much time and effort into their craft, and while I may not love every outfit, I respect them and their work so much. I could never do what they do and then also have to deal with annoying people like me critiquing looks. A lot of the time on TikTok when it comes to people speaking on the entertainment industry or pop culture they try to appease the masses but you’re someone who is very true to their voice. What helps keep you grounded in your opinions and stick to your honest perspectives in your videos? I think if people are following me to hear my thoughts, then I need to be honest in how I feel. Stan culture in some online spaces doesn’t leave room for nuanced opinions, but I always try to find the balance. It is possible to generally like a celebrity and their art, while also leaving room for honest critique and commentary. Especially when it’s done in good faith!

There are so many places to get celebrity news and information on the entertainment world. What outlets do you like to read? Are there certain writers or bloggers you follow to get more in depth knowledge of the industry?

I know you try to predict the different couples or pop culture moments we’ll see in a year. Could anything have prepared you for some of the big moments we’ve already had, such as the Kate Middleton scandal?

I love a good Reddit scroll. I check the pop culture subreddits everyday like it’s the morning newspaper. I also love following some great pop culture/fashion commentators online. There are too many to name, but a few examples are:

If you would’ve told me two years ago that we would have #Kategate, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce dating, and Ayo Edeberi as the people’s princess of Ireland, I would have laughed in your face. So much about celebrity news and pop culture is unexpected, absurd, and funny. It is endlessly entertaining for nosy people like me!

1. ModernGurlz

5. Khadija Mbowe

2. @tellthebees

6. Mila Tequila

3. Bobbi from @theafternoonspecial

7. Princess Weekes

4. The Swiftologist

8. @artatmidnight

Fashion wise, I follow so many Twitter accounts that have educated me on fashion history, introduced me to new designers, and made me love fashion and costume design so much more. A few of them are: 1. Linda @itgirlenergy

4. @upnextdesigner

2. Andriana @bottegahoeneta

5. and of course HauteLeMode on YouTube!

3. Lakyn @Oglakyn

What advice do you have for aspiring content creators? I know it sounds so cliché, but just be yourself and start talking! I never intended or expected for my platform to have grown so much, from me just talking about The Bachelor. You never know what could happen if you take a chance and just start talking about the things that interest you. Don’t try so hard to replicate someone else’s schtick. Be yourself, find your own little niche, and eventually things will start to fall into place. I promise, there’s an audience out there for anything and everything!

#NYOTAculture

Words of Wisdom

Randi Wilens Interview by Carol Wright Photo Courtesy of Randi Wilens

Randi Wilens knew she wanted to work in the arts at an early age and now gets to live out that dream as someone who represents animators and produces projects. Wilens talked to NYOTA about discovering animators, producing projects for major artists, and her advice for aspiring creators. Growing up was it always clear that you’d be working in the arts in some form? I was a cinephile and audiophile at a very early age. I loved the arts growing up. Museums, concerts, films, etc. I knew I wanted to be in the film department when I applied to USC. I was fortunate to have been accepted and the rest is history. Why in particular did you find yourself interested in managing animators versus other types of artists? There is a certain one-on-one relationship when representing animators. There is no middle man or “crew” to speak of. It’s all about delivering the amazing visuals that are approved by the client. Whether it be a recording artist, advertising agency, brand or tour visual company. I love managing and executive producing for live action directors as well. While it’s a collaborative and rewarding effort, you have many opinions chiming in from all directions. What is it about animation that speaks to you? What have been some of your favorite animated projects in recent years? Animation does speak to me…whether it be 2D/3D, stop motion, anime, claymation, hand drawn, graphics - every facet is fascinating… from conceptual to narrative. Motion art installations have my attention at the moment. I am curating 10 art installations projected on a historic Daniels & Fisher Tower in Denver. All 10 are very different in style, aesthetic and creativity. It’s amazing to see this art on such a huge platform. I am also executive producing a music video that will be screened in a planetarium in Dallas. 56

Steve Locked up (ft. Akon) Steve Aoki, Trinix, Akon - Dessie Jackson

You’ve also worked in this interesting cross section between music and animation by producing music videos, global tour visuals, live concerts and more. How does a project like that usually come to life? What is the creative process behind a tour visual for example? At the moment I am producing a series of short films for a recording artist that are Sci-Fi VFX/animation driven. Recent animation music visual projects that I have produced include ZAYN, Nina Simone, Billy Idol, Sir Paul McCartney, Blink-182, Bad Bunny, Anderson .Paak, The Smashing Pumpkins, T Bone Burnett, Brandi Carlile, The Weeknd etc. One of my animators created an artistic promo for the Nicholas Cage film, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and is currently working on a film title sequence for

O’Dessa, an upcoming Searchlight Films production, starring Sadie Sink. The tour visual process can encompass several pathways. It can emanate from the artist, the manager, the tour manager or the concert promoter. The tour usually has a creative identity and the visuals are dictated by that. The animator then is free to create and execute his vision. It’s a very organic process…It’s magical to watch these visuals on huge screens.

#NYOTAculture

Nina Simone 'Touching and Caring' visualizer by Lucy Dyson

Over the years have you started to find animators you’d like to manage through social media or other platforms such as Vimeo? It’s amazing where and how I find brilliant animators. I represent animators all over the world…Spain, Berlin, London, Argentina, France, Brazil, etc. Many reach out to me directly, some I find on Instagram and others through directors or random encounters. For example, I was recently at the dog park and met another dog owner. Our dogs were fast friends and so we quickly connected as well. He turned out to be a creative executive at a major film company and introduced me to an amazing animation collective. We met and I signed them immediately. You never know! I am definitely a connector and strategist.

What advice do you have for aspiring creatives? Be curious, fearless and think outside the box. Create your own content and get it noticed on social media platforms. Don’t wait for things to come to you. Be assertive and engaged! “Build it and they will come!”

Stay Tuned for more from NYOTA Magazine Subscribe to us on www.issuu.com/nyotamagazine Follow us on instagram @nyotamagazine Want to contribute? Contact us at nyotamag@gmail.com