THE DAILY SHUFFLE
SEPTEMBER 2020
THE DRIVER ERA
contents 5, avenue beat 7, christian french 11, whitney woerz 13, the driver era 23, dylan playfair 25, almost monday 27, kara marni 29, sydney meyer 31, penelope 33, eves karydas
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CREATIVE DESIGNER
@xonessa
@karlas.jpg
Vanessa Salles
Karla Silva
Follow us at
@thedailyshuffle
August Playlist LOVE U AGAIN olivia holt & r3hab OK NOT TO BE OK marshmello & demi lovato AS LONG AS YOU CARE ruel CHEMICALS the vamps LOVE LOOKS BETTER alicia keys LET’S LOVE david guetta & sia SHH...DON’T SAY IT fletcher
letter from the editor Hey readers, Can you believe the summer has come and gone?! Sweater weather is officially upon us! We hope you’re continuing to stay safe and sane out there and we hope you’re cozying up with your favorite blankets as you read this latest issue! I’m thrilled that Ross and Rocky, aka The Driver Era, are this month’s cover stars and am so excited for you all to get the inside scoop on what they’ve been up to! It was such a treat to talk music, inspirations, life in quarantine, etc. Be sure to check it out - new music is coming! In this issue, you’ll find our top picks for this month’s must-watch movies/shows and must-hear albums. Let us know what you’re excited about! As always, feel free to let us know who you’d love to see featured next! XOXO
Vanessa Salles Editor-in-Chief
(avenue beat)
With a knack for writing viral hits, Avenue Beat deserves a spot on all your favorite playlists. We talked to the group about blowing up on TikTok, dream collaborators, and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by DELANEY ROYER
Take us back to the beginning; how would you describe Avenue Beat’s musical journey? Sam: Our musical journey begins when we were all 14 and doing a musical theatre camp in our hometown! We had a sleepover at my house, learned a cover, and the rest was history! We just spent all our free time doing covers in my kitchen, writing songs, and playing shows at the local bars and restaurants. When we graduated high school, we moved to Nashville full-time and started diving into songwriting. It took us a couple years of writing songs everyday to really figure out what we wanted to say to the world with our music. When Savana learned how to do tracks and started producing for us, we figured out what we wanted our sound to be. It all just fell into place after that. What can you tell us about the writing/recording process of F2020? Sav: I think the whole experience of writing F2020 was pretty unusual for a song. It was SO fast because the verses were literally things that had happened in our lives. We had no idea how many people this song would reach, or that it would even be released at all, so we didn’t overthink or stress any of the lyrics. The track became an instant hit on TikTok and other streaming platforms; how would youdescribe the reaction from fans? Sami: So. Freaking. Crazy. We’ve never seen anything like it with our stuff before! People have been so kind and gassing us up like crazy! It almost makes the few negative comments necessary so our heads don’t get too big, haha! How would you describe your creative process? Sav: Our creative process typically starts with
an idea or an emotion. We’ll all get together and if someone has something they wanna put into a song, we’ll talk about it and the conversation just becomes the lyric. We always want to keep our stuff real like that. Who is on your dream collab list? Sam: One of our dream collaborators would be Post Malone because his music is fire and his vocals are insane! Don’t even get me started on how catchy and SICK his melodies are! And the way he can get an audience to sing along?! BYE. Where was I?! Oh yeah, and Kacey Musgraves! She’s a magical songwriter goddess woman. Chance the Rapper would be dope too and of course, the queen, Billie Eilish. When you think of career goals, what comes to mind? Sav: For me, it would be a DREAM to be playing a show, and then have the crowd sing our songs back with us. I feel like that would be next level. What’s the best way for fans to get your attention online? Sam: Slide into our DMs! Ask us questions on our live-streams! Tweet us or send us messages on TikTok! Now that we aren’t traveling and aren’t super busy, we have the time to sit on our phones and connect with fans and really work on our relationship with them. We want to know everything about you so please slide into the DMs and be our best friends! Any special message to fans? Sav: Just a big, huge, ginormous THANK YOU and WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. We’re living our DREAM because of you guys!
THE DAILY SHUFFLE
6
christian french
With a newly released EP, Christian French is taking the music scene by storm! We talked to the rising singer about how the EP came about, what he’s learned throughout the process and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by MICKEY MARS
Tell us about your ‘good things take time’ EP! How long was the EP in the works and what was the writing/recording process like? ‘good things take time’ is about the trial and error of figuring life out - finding what works best for you and what doesn’t, then learning from it and bettering yourself for the future. As I was writing these songs, the phrase “good things take time” kept coming to me - keeping me sane when I wasn’t writing the best music that I thought I could and was getting frustrated with myself. This mindset has saved me from being swallowed by failure and has helped me move past it and continue to grow. It’s crazy because a lot of these songs have been done for over a year now and they’re just now seeing the light of day. I wrote 5 of these songs in one month with the same amazing friends and collaborators - we were on a roll together. the last two (“paper thin” and “wake up”) have their own stories. “paper thin” was written in May of 2019 and has gone through so many different versions to get to where it finally is, and “wake up” wasn’t even supposed to be on the EP - I made that song with my roommate about a month ago and was just too excited to wait to release it. It was actually perfect because it fit so well with the theme of the EP, and now the track list is 7 songs instead of the original 6. Is there a track off the EP that you resonate with the most? What’s the story behind it?
I would have to say “good things take time” is my favorite track - it was the theme behind this whole EP and will continue to be a theme in my life forever. I keep going through these transitional phases of my life where my beliefs and desires change, and with that comes a lot of growing pain. “good things take time” always reminds me to just put my head down and do the work the best I can and things will work out. Sonically, how would you describe the overall vibe of the EP? I think the EP is very bonafide and soulful - it’s just me expressing what I’m going through at the time and relaying it with the most emotion that I possibly can. I think people can tell when things are genuine, and that’s something that I think my fans appreciate about my music. How would you describe your creative process? Does it differ with each project? Definitely! Three years ago, I really had no clue how a song was put together - I would just write acoustically with a piano in front of me and would have a producer build a song around the demo I made. Now, I’m very much involved with the production of my music and am there for every step of the way to get the details exactly how I want them. I’ve started learning guitar this year and have written SO much on it, but it really is just when inspiration hits. Sometimes that’s in a session working with another producer, sometimes it’s by my-
THE DAILY SHUFFLE
8
self while I’m playing the guitar or piano, and other times inspiration hits at 4am while I’m laying in bed. With the EP exploring themes like love, heartbreak and self-growth, what do you hope that listeners take away from ‘good things take time’? I want fans to feel all of the feelings, honestly. I feel like different songs bring up different emotions, and it’s important to feel all of them, not only the good ones. I do enjoy putting optimistic twists in my music though - because I feel like that’s something that’s missing in music. Having positive thoughts and conversations with yourself are so important and no one really teaches you how to do that. Which artist(s) are on your dream collab list? I’ve been listening to a lot of Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, John Mayer and Dominic Fike each of these artists makes music that sounds like nothing else, and I really admire the sound selection each artist has. Being in the room with any of these artists would be a total dream and I feel like I would learn some priceless knowledge from them. What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? I’ve learned that if you keep working on your craft, you will find your voice. Don’t just sit and wait for the perfect scenario to happen for you to start your career, because perfect scenari-
9
os are so rare. If you’re persistent with working with your best intentions every day, good things will come. I also can’t express how important this is: DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL. If you’re really pushing your own boundaries, you will always be trying new things and failing, but failing facilitates growth and evolves you as both an artist and a human. Failing is important. With a growing social following, what’s the best way for fans to get your attention online? It’s always really cool to hear how my music has impacted their own lives. Hearing their personal interpretations of what my lyrics mean to them is one of the coolest things that a musician can experience, and I always try to make time to respond to those. It has definitely become harder to go through all my DM’s every day, but I try to stay consistent with it. I always try to make the time for my fans to feel heard.
Any special message to fans? I feel like I’m a brand new person every year, and it might sound cliché but this is really just the beginning for me. I feel like I’m really just starting to dive into what my potential as a musician is, and there’s no telling where it could go. It feels really cool to have such a connected fan base that is there for the whole growing process. Thank you guys for creating my highest highs and being there for my lowest lows these past few years.
THE DAILY SHUFFLE
10
whitney woerz
With a sound and style that’s uniquely her own, Whitney Woerz deserves a spot at the top of all your favorite playlists. We talked to the rising songstress about her latest single, her creative process and more. words by VANESSA SALLES
Tell us about your latest single, “Retrograde” – what’s the story behind the track? I wrote “Retrograde” during the first mercury retrograde this year in February, RIGHT before the pandemic happened! Everything in my life took a turn and I was in a darker place than usual. I knew I would make it through each not so great thing, but it was really hard to see the light! Naturally for me, I had to write about this. I believe heavily in the energy and frequencies we feed off from our solar system/universe, so I was partly blaming what I was going through on the retrograde taking place. In the lyrics, I describe what it feels like to go through a retrograde/a dark time. I wanted to show a look into my mind and the sporadic thoughts that were going on. The underlying message throughout the song is to keep going ,no matter what. There will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.
walking or making dinner. I write random lyrics, thoughts, observations, and journal entries down constantly. I also will stop anything I’m doing to open voice memos and sing a random melody that’s in my head. I’ll then go back to these thoughts and melodies when I know I want to write a full song and pull from the ideas I had. I also love writing with people! I wish we were able to be in studios with people right now because there’s some sort of magic that takes place when a group of writers / producers get in a room.
What has the reaction been like from fans so far? The reaction over ‘Retrograde’ has been really good so far! People are saying how much they can relate to the song which was truly my main goal writing it. I wanted people to listen to it and feel like they aren’t alone in their negative thoughts or any dark time they are going through. It really makes me happy that people are already relating! Everyone goes through things and that’s completely ok!
Which artist(s) are on your dream collab list? John Mayer, Tame Impala, Twenty One Pilots, A$AP Rocky, Lana Del Rey! If any of these could happen, that would just be so cool.
How would you describe your creative process? My creative process varies every time I write. Most of the time, my best ideas come to me at random throughout the day- like when I’m
Music-wise, what should fans expect next? I’m going in a more alt-pop/kinda jazzy direction. I am heavily influenced by old jazz singers/music, along with modern day pop, and I will be releasing music that I feel combines this!
What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year is that everything is a lesson. Another thing is that when I resonate in a positive mindset, I attract positive things. Any special message to fans? You can do anything if you put your positive energy and love towards it. Good energy brings you whatever you desire!
THE DAILY SHUFFLE
12
the driv
words by VANESSA SALLES
ver era
photos by MK SADLER
Since their debut in 2018, The Driver Era never does the same thing twice. Their genre-bending sound, paired with immaculate production, gives brothers Ross and Rocky Lynch what every artist craves: limitless possibilities. Having written and produced every track they’ve released, The Driver Era strive for sonic innovation and do so by avoiding restricting their vision to any specific sound or style. We talked to the pair about how they stay on the same page, cultivating their relationship with their fans, and what’s to come. x Take us back to the beginning! What can you tell us about the moment where The Driver Era became more than just an idea for the two of you? R&R: When we were nearing the end of our ‘R5’ journey, we wanted a blank slate to be able to venture into new areas of music that we hadn’t explored before. For awhile, we thought about just changing the band name but after some time and consideration, we decided to form The Driver Era together. It all felt very natural and it felt like it was something that needed to happen in order for each individual to really branch out and explore their own skills and pursue new passions. It definitely feels like everything turned out the way it should have. Since forming The Driver Era, the two of you have hit many milestones together. What’s the one you’re proudest of? Ross: I’m really proud of our videos. I’m really proud of the fact that everything
15
you see from The Driver Era is all in-house. I know it’s not something that would last forever; eventually more people would be involved in the behind-the-scenes of it all but for now, it’s a very special time to be able to do everything ourselves and execute our visions exactly the way we want to. Rocky: I’m proud of our shows and how fortunate we’ve been to be able to sell out venues when we perform live. It’s always hard for pop or alternative artists to stay consistent in ticket sales so it definitely makes me feel like we’re crushing it when we sell out. When you think of milestones that you’re still hoping to achieve, what are some that come to mind? R&R: Performing at Red Rocks! We’re from Colorado and Red Rocks is one of the most beautiful venues to play at. That’s definitely been on our bucket list for a long time. Releasing another album is also something we want to do – now feels like the right time to work on that so that’s very exciting. When it comes to your creative process, does it differ with each project? What’s been inspiring you lately? R&R: It definitely changes with each track. There are different obstacles to work through with each one. I think it also depends on how life is going, too. The creative process, to me, is just ‘how do we want to approach this?’ which is always a different answer.
As for inspiration, it always comes from recent events in life or just other people that we admire. It’s all about whatever gets us to the studio! How do you make sure the two of you stay on the same page, creatively, when working on new music? R&R: We think very highly of each other and each other’s opinions. That can be difficult sometimes because we always want the other to like whatever we’re creating. We do our best work when we’re completely honest with each other about how we’re feeling and it’s actually surprising how often we’re going through similar situations and can relate to each other. When there’s open communication, things to tend to flow very easily for us. How would you describe the evolution of The Driver Era’s sound from “Preacher Man” to now? R&R: It’s been a natural evolution. We’re constantly exploring music and we just let things go where it takes us. We have unreleased songs from years ago that we still relate to and unreleased songs from months ago that we still relate to so it’s definitely not a linear process. The next single we’re releasing was actually written before ‘Preacher Man’ but it feels like our most recent honest expression of work because it came to the surface when it needed to.
THE DAILY SHUFFLE
18
Though a lot of your fans have been around since the early days, do you find that The Driver Era has reached its own audience of new listeners? Ross: I feel like it’s a mixture. Our demographic of fans has definitely expanded since The Driver Era but I think, overall, we still have a plethora of fans from the R5 days. All these people that come to our shows, we’ve known for years and it’s awesome to see familiar faces because it feels like seeing old friends. The R5 family is definitely a life-long family and that’s so special to us. People tell us all the time that our fans are the most dedicated fans and we agree! We’re definitely grateful that so many of them stuck around to support us in The Driver Era. When it comes to stage presence, which artist(s) are you most inspired by? R&R: We have a lot of favorites! Prince, Michael Jackson, and The Stones are just a few. With your world tour happening next year, what should fans be expecting from your live shows? R&R: Shredding, stage presence, and a whole bunch of new songs. It’s going to be a fun show, that’s for sure. On your dream collab list, who are some artists that you’d love to work with? R&R: Pharrell is definitely high on the list. It would be awesome to do something with Tame Impala; they do a lot of cool remixes. In the future, it would be so cool to have a couple tracks (no vocals) and have a big
19
name like Dua Lipa or Ariana Grande hop on it and we’d just be listed as producers. What do you see for the future of The Driver Era? Ross: More music, for sure. I think I have a bit of a weird relationship with fame because I’ve been doing this for so long but my only objective, really, is to continue making art. In any way. Recently, I’ve been thinking that the scale that it’s on now is perfect. I don’t know if I’d need it to be any more mainstream than it is currently. Rocky: I’d say things are great the way they are now. When you’re performing at arenas, they all look the same. When you’re performing at theaters, they’re all different and they all have their own history and it just feels more intimate. We’re definitely in a good place right now. How important is to you to prioritize mental health? What are some self-care habits that you practice? R&R: We spend a lot of time on consciousness and figuring out life. We’re very interested in spirituality and just interested in the potential of humans. We read a lot about it and a lot of our mornings are filled with those ideas and that carries into our music and everyday life. It keeps us healthy and keeps our mental health in check, too. More than anything, it keeps our lives entertaining, fun and positive. What has life in quarantine looked like these past few months? R&R: I think it’s been really good for us. I’ve been enjoying the downtime and taking
THE DAILY SHUFFLE 20
21
it to learn more about mindfulness. It’s felt good to be on ‘pause’ and just reset. We had been working on our album and it was all starting to feel really rushed and just didn’t feel genuine. Everything was happening really fast and quarantine allowed us to just take a step back and reevaluate what we wanted to do and how we wanted to do it. Honestly, I think it’s been good for the whole world because everyone’s always being pushed to move faster and faster. With the world on pause, it gives people the excuse to slow down. We’ve definitely benefited from it. What’s the best way for fans to get your attention on social media? R&R: Make your own versions of our art! That always gets our attention. We try not to spend a lot of our time on social media but whenever we do go on, we love interacting with our fans and seeing them be creative. Even though we’re not active everyday, we definitely see everything our fans do and we see all the support and the love. It fuels us, for sure. With the ups and downs of 2020, what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? Ross: I’ve been learning to just trust the process of life. I often feel this pressure that I need to be creating more, even when I’m
not feeling inspired, but I’m learning that it’s okay to take a break and it’s okay to slow down. If you don’t feel inspired today, go to the beach, go take some time for yourself and enjoy life. When you come back, you’ll be fueled up and ready to contribute again. That’s definitely a big lesson I’ve learned this year – just trust the process. Rocky: This year, I’ve learned to just sit in the silence. I learned that it’s important to take a moment and just be with yourself, with no distractions. If I do that for a day or even just a few hours, everything just seems a bit clearer to me. I don’t think I’ve really done that until this year and it’s actually really nice. Outside of music and acting, what’s something you’re passionate about? How do you devote your time to it? R&R: We LOVE hockey. We play a lot of ice hockey and watch a lot of it, too. Other than that, we’ve been trying to be adventurous – we’ve been trying to get out in nature and wanting to see and experience more of the world. That’s definitely something we’ve become passionate about recently. It helps us contribute, artistically, if we get out and have new experiences. Any special message to the fans? R&R: We see you, we love you and we miss you! Stay safe so we can all see each other soon.
THE DAILY SHUFFLE 22
dylan playfair
Proving his versatility with every role he takes, Dylan Playfair is a name you need to know. We talked to the actor about his recent projects, dream roles and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by BOBBY QUILLARD
Let’s talk Odd Man Rush! Having such a personal connection to Dean Hunter’s story, what was that filming experience like for you? This was the second time I was able to collaborate with Howard and Karen Baldwin which was incredible. The Baldwins have had a huge part in shaping the landscape of professional hockey, as well as cinema. When I began prep for Dean, a lot of dialogue was had between Bill Keenan, the writer of the book, and Doug Dearth, the director. That was extremely valuable in the shaping of how Dean would fit into the story and how we would make the character of service to the story. Dean’s freewheeling spirit was not overshadowed by his realistic view of the world he saw in front of him. He took advantage of the opportunities in front of him while maintaining focus of what he felt was important and that’s where I felt Dean and Dylan had a lot in common. What do you hope viewers take away from this film? I hope viewers realize the film’s glimpse into the human experience of transition. It beautifully highlights the necessity to be present, to smell the ‘roses’ and realize it’s the journey, not the destination, that truly matters. Tell us about your next project, Summerland! What drew you to the film and made you want to be involved? Summerland was, for me, an opportunity to work with some great friends on an important film. When Chris Ball reached out to me to be a part of the story, I jumped at the chance to collaborate with him and Kurtis David Harder gain. Maddie Phillips is a close friend of mine and the chance to act with her was exciting. I was in Vegas at the time working on another film so it was only a 45-minute drive to meet the crew and film the scenes I was in. We had a blast and I’m so proud of the film. What can you tell us about your character, Shawn, and what viewers should expect from him? Shawn is the “love interest” who is essentially being catfished by the two leads of the film. A sort of unseen pivotal character. He’s the reason for the journey that is ‘Summerland’ and the catalyst for Bray (Chris Ball) and Stacey (Maddie Phillips) to realize what true love should feel like.
With Letterkenny going into its ninth season, what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your time on set? Wow, it’s hard to boil it down to just one lesson, but since you’ve asked I’ll answer it with a story from set that sticks out. We were filming a scene at Modeans in season 1 where the hockey players confront the skids and have a verbal altercation. Andrew and I had finished our written dialogue and Tyler Johnston was adlibbing at the end of the scene; the cameras were pointing at me and I was blanking on a comeback. I waited, looked at Jacob Tierney (our Director) and said “That’s it, right?” He didn’t answer so I exited the frame. He stood up and yelled ‘Dylan, don’t run away from the funny! You know how to be funny! Don’t stop till I say cut!’ It was by far the best piece of advice I ever received in a scene. ‘Don’t run away from the funny.’ Comedy is about dealing with discomfort, about unexpected turns and witty remarks; you have to be brave to be funny and be willing to make mistakes. That single direction changed the way I act and how I approach opportunities to improvise. I owe a lot of my comedy chops to Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney. What’s been your favorite part about portraying the role of Reilly? Being able to work with my best friends! The people who make Letterkenny truly are some of the best humans I know. The camaraderie you see on screen is as real as the farm we film on... it’s a real farm, guys. True story. When you think of your ultimate dream role, what comes to mind? I know it may sound crazy but Letterkenny has been a dream role for me! It opened the doors for me comedically which is incredible. One day, I would absolutely love to do a wartime drama. It’s a bit offbeat from Letterkenny but for me it’s about the collaboration, not so much the one ‘part’. Any special message for fans? Thank you! I love you! I couldn’t do what I do without you!
THE DAILY SHUFFLE 24
[almost monday]
With their signature feel-good sound, almost monday have gone from performing at a local surf shop to gearing up to release their debut EP with Hollywood Records. Comprised of best friends Cole Clisby, Dawson Daugherty and Luke Fabry, the alt-pop trio is certainly on their way to the top! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by EITAN MISKEVICH
Take us back to the beginning! How would you describe almost monday’s musical journey? Dawson: Well, it starts with my friendship with Luke. We’ve been close friends since 1st grade and we grew up playing music together. Then, in high school, I met Cole through surfing and found out he played guitar. After I met Cole, we just started meeting up as a group and making music. It was a very run and gun approach! We started off only playing live shows at our friend’s surf shop and didn’t really put much focus on recording music at that point. Tell us about your upcoming debut EP! How long has it been in the works and how would you describe the vibe? Luke: The EP has been in the works for about a year. Each track has its own vibe so this EP is essentially a collection of all those different vibes. Is there a track off the EP that you resonate with the most? What’s the story behind it? Cole: ‘broken people’ is a track we’ve come to resonate with a lot. It’s the first song we wrote for the EP and was the first track we released as almost monday. How would you describe your creative process? Luke: Our creative process differs a lot of the time but it’s usually us talking about what has been inspiring us lately and what’s been on our minds. Working as trio, how do you make sure the three of you stay on the same page, creatively? Luke: We share songs, movies, Instagram posts, and whatever else that’s inspiring us at the moment!
When it comes to ultimate career goals, what comes to mind? Dawson: Winning a Grammy would be insane. Playing the Super Bowl? That’s a hard question. I think, in a materialistic way, those things or accolades are something that’s very appealing but what makes me most excited is just the thought of building a fan base around the world. Meeting and playing for fans who resonate with the music you write is the ultimate goal! When it comes to stage presence, which artist(s) are you most inspired by? Dawson: I’m inspired a lot by David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and James Brown. I love artists that give everything to a performance. The idea that every time you go on stage, your job is to entertain people and make sure they have an amazing time is something that I want to do at our shows! What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? Cole: I think, for us, we’ve had to master the art of patience. We were so excited to get on the road and tour for the first time so it was a huge bummer to have everything get canceled. We’ve been keeping things positive and productive in the meantime with virtual concerts and writing music but we’re crossing our fingers that we can play some shows soon. With a growing social following, what’s the best way for fans to grab your attention online? Dawson: It always blows my mind when I see fans making video edits or fan art. The other day, somebody made such a sweet video on Twitter that cut together a lot of different moments from our last year or so and it really caught my attention and honestly made my day! THE DAILY SHUFFLE 26
kara marni
27
If Kara Marni isn’t already on your radar, allow us to introduce you to your new fave. We caught up with the rising British R&B powerhouse to get the inside scoop on what she’s been up to. words by VANESSA SALLES photo by WILL SPOON
Tell us about “Young Heart” – what’s the story behind the song? When I wrote the song originally, “Young Heart” was inspired by the constant conflict I have between my logical and emotional self – my head and heart! Then, as if it was meant to be, Russ and I connected. Through that, he organically became part of the song, which in turn made it less about me trying to rationalise with myself, and more about me having a conversation with my other half at that time.
my mental health and how being with my thoughts 24/7 without any distractions (especially during this period) has been difficult.
What can you tell us about your experience working with Russ? I honestly can’t sing his praises his enough. He’s truly a man of his word and his willingness to share the love goes way beyond anything I’ve ever experienced as an upcoming artist. I will forever be grateful to him for believing in me and this song. He’s the best.
When it comes to stage presence, which artist(s) are you inspired by? Sade. She exudes this power on stage so effortlessly and I’m forever in awe! I also think Snoh Aalegra is amazing. Her aura on stage is actually magical.
What has the reaction been like from fans so far? Overwhelming... the support on both the video and on streaming has been crazy. It’s my fastest growing song yet! So beyond happy that everyone loves it as much as we do. Tell us about your upcoming EP! Overall, how would you describe the vibe of it? I would say it’s definitely more introspective, where I’m examining my own thoughts and feelings more. Is there a track off the EP that you resonate with the most? Yeah, there is one I actually wrote during lockdown, in my shed, that really touches on
How would you describe your creative process?
Each time can be different, but I usually have something I want to write about, a concept, then the lyrics flow as I experiment with different melodies! Some days can be heavier than others, depending on what I’m talking about.
Which artist(s) are on your dream collab list? I have loads but at the moment, H.E.R, Daniel Caesar & Khalid are at the top of the list. What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? To appreciate the small freedoms in life like going for a walk in the park/to the shops. These have become treasures now. Any special message to fans? That they’re the best in the world and I can’t wait to rock with them at some shows once this madness is all over! And to thank them for their patience & support because I couldn’t have gotten through this time without them. Also that I’m going to stop overthinking dropping songs and release more regularly!
THE DAILY SHUFFLE 28
sydney meyer
29
Set to star in Netflix’s highly anticipated Grand Army, we talked to Sydney Meyer to get the inside scoop on her role, her time on set and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by ALEX OZEROV
Tell us about Grand Army! What is it about the show that drew you in and made you want to be involved? Grand Army is a portrait of today’s American youth. It’s a gritty look at teenagers from a range of socio-political, and racial backgrounds fighting to make their mark and be heard in their community. The show is so raw and honest and it deals with so many important and relevant issues. I was actually working the auditions as a reader and I knew it was a special project and that I wanted to be a part of it. I tried to get an audition but I was told I was too old for the project. I ended up working the table read for the first two episodes and I met the Showrunner and the rest of the cast there. I was lucky enough that they decided to take a chance on me and cast me as Anna the same week. How would you describe your role? What should viewers expect from Anna? Anna is the motherly figure of her group. She’s incredibly smart and nurturing. She’s Joey’s best friend since childhood and Tim’s twin sister. She’s loyal, quick to laugh, and she doesn’t mind not being the center of attention. I think Anna is such a relatable character. We watch her become stuck in the middle of certain events and she has to decide what she stands for and who she is going to be. She’s a more moderate character so I think I really sympathized with her struggle of being placed in the middle of things and having to really make a choice. With the series exploring a range of important social issues, how would you describe the vibe on set? Honestly, sometimes the vibe on set was pretty heavy. We became like a family and we were all so close but the subject matter of the show definitely was not lost on us. We took it seriously and it affected us. There would be times
after a table read that we would all need to take a break and sit and just talk out our feelings before we went back to filming. We had an intimacy coordinator on set that was amazing and so compassionate. She would sit with us and talk with us, check in on us when she knew we had scenes that would affect us emotionally. We had to take care of each other in order to do the work and be vulnerable in that way. Overall, what do you hope viewers take away from watching this series? I really just hope that this show opens up conversations. I hope that if there are issues that people have had difficulty broaching in their lives with the people they care about, that this show will be a catalyst to open that conversation up in a new way. What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? I think the biggest lesson for me this year has been patience. I tend to be a person of action and I can get impatient with myself and with others. I’m always looking for forward motion. I think I really learned this year that patience is a type of care and respect that you can give to yourself and to others. What has quarantined life looked like for you these last few months? Well, I got engaged so my fiancé and I have been planning our wedding which has been wonderful! We’ve been spending time with my parents. I’ve been reading a lot, writing music, and spending a lot of time with our cat. We try to keep creative whether that’s photoshoots or writing or scene work. It’s been a balance of staying active and also being appreciative of this time and allowing ourselves to stop and breathe. THE DAILY SHUFFLE 30
penelope
31
Gearing up to release her debut EP, penelope has already proven herself as a force to be reckoned with. We talked to the folk-pop singersongwriter about her latest release, lessons she’s learned and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by GENEVIEVE ANDREWS
Tell us about “coming home” – what’s the story behind the song? “coming home” is about that feeling of relief when you know you’re about to be “home” - whether that be a literal place, a house, or the person you love. For me, this song is about feeling centered and loved by the person you hold closest, or the house you grew up in. Last year, I moved to LA and felt a bit lost and discombobulated. I’d often drive up to the Bay Area where a lot of my friends were living or fly home to NYC for the holidays. As I reached that final exit on the highway or my plane began its descent, I felt such comfort in simply knowing that despite whatever was going on in my life, I was about to be “home”. Any memorable moments while writing/recording it? Like most songs, “coming home” started out as a simple voice note idea on my phone. When I sent the original few seconds of it to my co-writer, Naz Tokio, she loved it immediately. I remember I had originally written the chorus as “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you I do” instead of “I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming right home to you”. As soon as Naz and I hopped on our Zoom writing session she said “Hey P, I have an idea… how about ‘coming home to you’ instead of the love you’s?” and it stuck like glue. Tell us about your upcoming debut EP! Overall, how would you describe the vibe of it? I’m so excited! I think the vibe is really raw and honest. Songwriting to me has always been an outlet for the thoughts and feelings I’m passing though and I always try to put as much honesty in there as possible. These songs are my babies and I am just so excited to share them with the world. How would you describe your creative process? My creative process is pretty dependent on my emotional state. I’m a deeply emotional person
(probably because I’m a Scorpio…) and so my best songs come out when I am feeling really strongly about someone or something. It usually begins with me finding a chord progression that I like - once I have the chords down, it’s pretty easy for me to find the melodies and the words. Sometimes, though, I will think of a really killer phrase and sing it into my phone or write it down and then build around it. When it comes to stage presence, which artist(s) are you inspired by? I totally relate to artists who have alter egos when they go on stage - people like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, etc. You have to be the most hyped up version of yourself. As a former athlete, I was taught to be strong, confident, and fierce - so I bring that with me on stage. I’m not exactly a shy person but I do think I tend to fall on the quiet side sometimes. On the stage, there’s no time to be quiet! What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? I think 2020 has brought a lot of lessons along with it… but I’d say that the biggest one is to not take your health for granted (that is, if you are a healthy, able-bodied person). If anything, this pandemic has shown us how precious life is and, throughout it all, I have just been so grateful for my health as well as the health of my family and friends. Any special message to fans? Just a huge thank you! Thank you so much for listening to my music, for the kind messages you guys send me on Instagram or Facebook, and for being with me on my journey! It’s not an easy path and having you all there to listen and support me along the way is truly what makes it all worth it! THE DAILY SHUFFLE 32
33
eves karydas
With a voice that captivates you from the very first note, Eves Karydas is a name you’ll want to get familiar with. We talked to the Brisbane singersongwriter about the making of her latest single, what’s to come and more! words by VANESSA SALLES
Tell us about your latest single, “Complicated” – what’s the story behind the track? ‘Complicated’ was born out of the perfect storm. I was in Stockholm at the end of a very long writing trip where I hadn’t come up with anything good for months and was starting to feel pressure/imposter syndrome/self doubt… you name it. I was also dealing with my ongoing mental health journey; I was homesick and struggling with the recent passing of my grandfather. There was a lot going on but I didn’t want to keep feeling down. So, I went into the studio with the intention of just having a bit of a laugh at myself, and ‘Complicated’ was born! Any memorable moments while writing/recording it that you can share with us? Stockholm is one of the most magical cities in the world. I was falling in love too, and I think there was something in the air there that helped rejuvenate me. We (my co-writers Calle Lehmann, Max Thulin and I) would go and get Swedish meatballs for lunch and sit at a lookout overlooking the Old Town of Stockholm. It was a very special time, very otherworldly. What has the reaction been like from fans so far? It’s the most engaged I’ve ever seen my fans and there have been so many new people discovering me. Despite no touring and no travelling for promo, this song has connected with people in a way I couldn’t have planned. It’s taken on its own meaning this year, with COVID, and how everyone’s lives have been upturned. I’m so grateful for how the song has connected here in Australia.
out is my unique perspective and doesn’t feel like something someone else has already said. I grew up as a singer/songwriter/busker so I’m heavily influenced by folk music and storytelling. All my songs start with guitar and lyrics. Music-wise, what should fans expect next from you? Stripped back production, vocals up front, can’tescape-the-lyrics, guitars, feel good! My aim is to remain confessional and super direct and have nothing really getting in the way of the words. When it comes to ultimate career goals, what comes to mind? Having a song go big on radio has been my biggest dream from day one. ‘Complicated’ was added to every major radio station in Australia which is my biggest career milestone so far. I’m beyond thrilled with how it’s going. My next goal is international airplay! What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? Remembering why I started writing in the first place. Sometimes I get caught up in the ropes of this industry and spend too much time focusing on what’s not actually very important like the stresses, social media, etc. But, I keep reminding myself that music is what brings me peace and happiness and if I focus on songwriting and my love of the creative life, it all feels alright again. Any special message to fans? Everything I do is for you. And I have all the time in the world for you. Thanks for sticking by me!
How would you describe your creative process? Lyrics are my everything so I spend a lot of time fine tuning and making sure the message I put THE DAILY SHUFFLE 34
SEPTEMBER 2020
What to watch
Love, Guaranteed, Netflix, 9/3
Mulan, Disney+, 9/4
Unpregnant, HBOMax, 9/10
What to listen to
WILD - Carly Rose 9/10
35
Ballerini - Kelsea Ballerini 9/11
Color Vision - Max 9/18
TDS IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT!
THE DAILY SHUFFLE AUGUST 2020
CARLY & MARTINA
www.thedailyshuffle.com/digital-magazine THE DAILY SHUFFLE 36
www.thedailyshuffle.com
