The Music Issue featuring AGNEZ MO

VOLUME I V

AGNEZ MO FOR

THE MUSIC ISSUE THEHOUSE-MAGAZINE.COM

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THE MUSIC I SSUE

“We are encouraged and demanded to be in touch with our feelings a lot when it comes to our craft,” she explained. “We wouldn’t be able to create without our emotions being involved; however, at the very same time, the world seems to demand us to do exactly the opposite, which is to be heartless, to not take anything personally, and to not show any emotions when we are being judged left and right.”

AGNEZ MO

Written by AIDA M. TORO / Photographed by JANA SCHUESSLER / Styling by AISAJU, Second Stylist SOFIA POPKOVA , assisted by DMYTRO MOSEIKIN / Hair by JENN LAGRON / Makeup by NOVA KAPLAN Produced by GREAT SOCIAL CLUB

cover looks FRONT: Jumpsuit, Selleza. Rings , Bulgari and Ellie Vail. Necklace, Apede Mod. RIGHT: Suit, Sla The Label. Jewelry, Windowsen. Shoes , Stewart Waitzman.

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THE HOUSE OF PEREZ WEDDINGS

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COMING SOON The latest place for luxury wedding inspiration. Follow along for the latest trends in wedding fashion, design, beauty, and tips and tricks from the best in the industry.

Photography by Jana Schuessler | @janaschuessler | www.janaschuessler.com

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CONTENTS April 2022

MUSIC

8 Editor’s Letter

BEAUTY & WELLNESS 10 The Beauty Edit Tips and product picks from Beauty Director, Frankie Sanderson

12 The Nail Whisperer A chat with nail artist Dylan Pritchard

13 Ask Nathalie Life coach Nathalie Bernier shares advice on how to avoid sweating the small stuff

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14 Motel 7 A duo with acoustic beats and lyrics

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26 Tris Munsick & The Innocents Cowboy country music with the cowboy to back it up

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John Philligan On embodying dedication to his practice

Thomas Blondet The sounds and musings of a DJ and music producer

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Benyaro The soloist that is a true embodiment of togetherness

23 Adi Myerson A world known Manhattan bassist talks music and mental health

Hector L. Torres III Forging the digital path in music

33 The Bold and Beautiful Liverpool-based artist Frimann shares his voice, unapologetic spirit, and commanding presence with the world.

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Erika Hamilton The DJ changing the landscape behind the turntable

Musical Menagerie A curation of Ella Hermë's film photography work

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FEATURES

Sofar Sounds Exploring music as a centerpiece in unique venues around the world

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Emerging Artists Introducing ones to watch with newly released albums and singles

ART 50 Akram Abdulla Fashion illustrator developed custom music inspired pieces for The House

Cover Story Meet the amazing AGNEZ MO

Avery Konrad The actress behind the character Sara Myers on the TV series FROM

88 Last Look

91 Final Notes AND P H OTO G R A P H Y C R E D I T S : E L L A H E R M Ë A N D B R E N D A N M E A D O W S

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Letter from the Editor

The House Melody I OFTEN WONDER WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE WITHOUT MUSIC. These days, a little silence is therapeutic, but I've also found that sitting with my own thoughts has lately been hard to get through. Music, for me, can change attitudes. It can change feelings.

A G N E Z M O P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y J A N A S C H U E S S L E R .

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It can change an entire mood, and this can be applied to my own weekday mornings. Those mornings are ones that include a hustle and bustle that myself, my husband and kids can never quite get used to. On some of our hardest days, I look in my rearview mirror and I am met with a sight of collective frowns and the sound of silence from my daughters. The minute I decide to add music to the drive everything changes, which is why I am continually thankful to have beats, tunes, and acoustics in my life.

The importance of music has been proven time and time again, throughout societies and their histories. It's a part of us. We create it and we digest it. Lyrics stand for something, and whether or not the stance can be applied to a group of teenage girls, or an entire global population, it can empower groups to move forward and change the world.

It was an honor to dedicate an issue to music.

After reading through this collection of articles, it's amazing how much talent and passion there is in this world. We had the pleasure of working with AGNEZ MO for the cover story, and our team is excited to share some insight and advice she provides in her interview. We also hear from bass player, Adi Myerson and violinist, John Philligan. We discovered their modern accomplishments with instruments that have remained important within the art over decades of time. This issue also could not have been cultivated without the long list of up and coming bands and artists that flow through the various genres we are so lucky to choose from as consumers.

This is our largest issue to date, and the new discoveries we have made as a team are priceless. We are thrilled to share these stories with you as this is truly The House melody.

Editor in Chief KACEY PEREZ Creative Director at Large NATALIE STEGER Operations Director + Features Editor JENNIFER STRIEGEL Editor at Large AIDA M. TORO Managing Editor CAROLINE COTTEN Visual Director JANA SCHUESSLER Visual Director FILBERT KUNG Fashion Director CONNOR DUSZYNSKI Beauty Director FRANKIE SANDERSON Social Media Manager CLAIRE GRISOLANO

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The Beauty Edit What has filled my skin senses?

W R I T T E N B Y: F R A N K I E S A N D E R S O N P H OTO G R A P H Y: CO U R T E S Y O F B R A N D S

I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF THIS MONTH. With Spring around the corner and no time to waste I had to dive into the vortex of my beauty cabinet and give you the very best! Why not, right?

We just made it through a world-wide pandemic. We deserve to be wrapped up and cocooned in our favorite lotions and potions.

Nothing but the absolute best for our skin.

Makeup: I can’t speak highly enough of Pat McGrath’s cosmetic line. The God’s have spoken and given us heavenly paints for our faces. Pat’s Sublime Perfection Foundation ($68) is a heavenly formulation that is a medium coverage, natural-looking, liquid, buildable, vegan (love that), and hydrating. This formulation doesn’t miss a beat and there’s no need to pray at night.

Rouge Dior Colored Lip Balm in a nude look matte finish ($39).

The first of its kind to be enriched with a floral complex. The formulation is enriched with peony, pomegranate flower, fig blossom, and red hibiscus flower extracts. These ingredients soothe and hydrate for 24 hours. Dior Lip Balm comes in matte, satin, and velvet finishes.

This subtle coverage is for anyone who is seeking hydration with an added color payoff plus imperceptible perfection. This product can be used on its own or under other Dior Rouge lipsticks as a primer.

The packaging is refillable as a part of Dior’s eco-design initiative.

Skin: Dr. Sturm will never lead you astray, he is our guiding light for glowing skin. For a smoother and more radiant skin try The Better B Niacinamide Serum ($145). This product will reduce and refine the appearance of pores, and protect against environmental hyperpigmentation and premature skin aging. Ingredients like the Marine Plankton Extract will strengthen the skin barrier, support the skin's natural restorative processes, and boost hydration. Panthenol will soothe the skin, resulting in a smoother, softer, and more refined skin texture.

Eyes: Peter Thomas Roth Instant FirmX ($98). FIRMx Collagen products are the newest additions to the PTR Collection.

These items are power-packed with forms of collagen and collagen supporting ingredients which help skin appear firmer, smoother and more youthful. Marine collagen, plant collagen, and hydrolyzed collagen helps improve the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and firmness while hydroxyproline, peptides, collagen, amino acids, and fatty acids help boost results.

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Body: A good lotion can make all the difference, one of my personal favorites is Blanche Body Lotion Byredo ($50). Blanche is crisp, clean, and envelopes your body like a snug blanket on a rainy night.

Soft and gentle like laundry sheets used day and night.

Scent: Dyptique Do Son Eau de Parfum ($190). This fragrance is inspired by the childhood memories of one of Dyptique’s founders, Yves Coueslant. Fresh tuberose intertwines with the sea air and turquoise water meeting the sky in the distance. You can close your eyes and imagine all the senses. This new celebration collection contains a Tuberose candle ($78), hand lotion and eau de toilette ($120), eau de toilette,($150) or Do Son eau de parfum ($190).

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1 . PAT M C G R AT H L A B S / S U B L I M E P E R F E C T I O N F O U N D AT I O N 2 . R O U G E D I O R L I P B A L M N U D E LO O K F I N I S H 3. DR. BARBARA STURM / THE BET TER B NIACINAMIDE SERUM 4 . P E T E R T H O M A S R OT H / I N S TA N T F I R M X E Y E 5 . B Y R E D O / B L A N C H E B O DY LOT I O N 6 . DY P T I Q U E / D O S O N E AU D E PA R F U M

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The Nail Whisperer Can You Hear What He's Saying? It's Coming in LOUD! WRITT EN BY: FRANK IE SANDERS O N PHOTO G RAPHY: COU RT ESY OF DYLAN PRITCHARD

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If you’re like me, or anyone else I know who enjoys a great mani/ pedi, you’ll understand not every nail shop is made the same. I struggle to find a great place and often can not. When you find a good place it’s like the planets have aligned for you.

I love clean spaces, precise work, fluid motions, and really cool nail art. It’s so hard to find those artists and spaces who do it all. I hope that changes.

I guess not everyone needs to have rock-star nails, but I certainly don’t know those people.

I’ve been watching Dylan Pritchard do his nail voodoo for a while now. It’s a consistent and impressive work of art (in a tiny space).

I had the pleasure to sit with Pritchard and talk about his art and this is what I got.

How and where did you get your start? I’m from Toronto and I started doing my own nails and it turned into an obsession and the obsession turned into a career.

I consider your nail game to be at the top.

How did you figure it out? When it comes to any kind of art it comes to experience. Every artist has their style. The more you expose yourself to things the more you get to create your style and see what works for you.

Do you have a celebrity clientele? I have done a handful of celebrities, but I like focusing more on local clients. They are like

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my friends and I prefer working on them. It’s nice to see familiar faces in your chair.

You do a lot of reels on IG. They’re quite entertaining. Have you noticed a spike in business through them? I have definitely seen an increase in interest through reels and TikTok. It seems like it’s the way social media is going. If it’s not a video it won’t receive the same reach you’re hoping for. It’s turned into something really fun for me.

Number one question we all want to know.

Why is it so difficult to find a good nail tech? Over saturation.

You can go to any major city or a smaller city and find four different nail salons and maybe one good nail tech. It gets so tricky. When there are so many options. My best advice is find the artist not the shop and then stick with that one! There’s no cheating. Most people in that stratosphere are leaving the shops and going into small private studios, so you have to dig around a little bit to find them.

Are people nail savvy in Miami, New York, or Las Vegas?

Each city is so different. The scene and style is expected to be so different. I used to work in a shop in Brooklyn called The Candy Shop. We had all the weirdos and I loved them!

We had the most interesting clientele. In Miami you find a higher brau, celebrity clientele and there’s a lot of celebrity nail artists there. They would wear crystals and all the bougie stuff.

Vegas you think of the strips, diamonds, crystal, feathers, bright lights, but I work in the Arts District which feels like a little Brooklyn. Yet, there’s a heavy Rock-A-Billy vibe here so there’s a lot of reimagined classic styles, lots of color, but Vegas glitz and glam.

How do you draw such fine details on such small spaces and how long did it take you to perfect your craft? It took a while, but having great products definitely helps. I use Japanese gel which is a thicker, potted gel and

it lends itself to art and design application and having really good tools. That’s the intersection where they all come together for me. Line work is a specialty of mine and I love to focus on that.

What is your favorite type of nail to do?

I love doing black nails with neon colors.

Anything that’s high contrast. When you have a black nail and an incandescent color, it is really visually attractive and psychedelic.

I love patterns, textures, and colors. I love to do anything that grabs the eye.

Do you see yourself creating a line of polish or nail accessories in the future? If the opportunity presents itself, I think it could be very fun.

What is the newest trend in nail art? Japan and Korea are bringing new forms and new shapes like 3-D designs and metallic. We’re looking at abstract shapes and layering with various products. Magnetic nails are really trendy.

Do you have any collaborations with other artists? I’m working with Kokoistusa to create reels and social media content and feature new products.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I move everywhere. Maintaining one city would be great. I’d love to travel and guest spot (on-site guest artist).

Would you like to own your nail shop?

Privately is the way to go. It provides

comfort to your clients. I really like that energy. I like working privately. I call it my living room vibe.

If I were to sit in your chair what would I expect to pay? For designs $90, but I also do structured nails which is a more specialized application. It looks much better than just a gel manicure. Nail with me could be around $100-$250 depending on how crazy you want to go with it.

How would I make an appointment with you? The best way to find me is on IG. I have a booking option and policies, etc listed there.

Ask Nathalie Bernier

Q UEST I O N F RO M A READER:

I am a very direct person as I’ve seen my father as a person who has never had a filter since he’s always said what he’s had to say to people to their face rather than talking behind their back. Is there a way I can express things to people without sounding “nasty” or hurting someone’s feelings?

Hello! Being honest and direct can be a good trait to have, but you have to consider that sometimes it's unnecessary, like when it won’t change anything and it is only going to hurt someone.

That being said, you can express yourself to people by being honest. What's important is the way you deliver what you have to say. If you approach someone bluntly, not only you are not going to be heard, but you will hurt the person you are addressing, and you won’t make your point and implement the change you are trying to make.

So next time, take a breath and try to articulate what you want to say in a softer manner. Make eye contact, try to be constructive, comment on the issue, and stay calm.

You can do it! Good luck!

Reach out to life coach expert Nathalie at www.nathalie-bernier. com, or email her at nberniermgt@gmail.com Models, actors, musicians, and other major players have been part of Nathalie Bernier's world. Bernier is a life coach based out of Paris, France who began her quest in assisting people when she acted as an agent at Wilhelmina Models, which is one of the world's leading modeling and talent agencies. Here is where her life coaching began, and we are honored to share some of these solutions with our readers in Berinier's new monthly column, Ask Nathalie.

P HOTO G RA P H Y: C OU RT ESY OF NAT HALIE BE RNIE R

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Motel 7 A duo with acoustic beats and lyrics WR I TT E N BY: CAROLINE COTT E N P HOTO G RAP H Y BY: COU RT ESY OF FANCY PR

MUSIC THAT CAN INVOKE A STATE OF MIND is music that is coming from a place of thoughtful purpose. Motel 7, a duo creating acoustic beats and relatable lyrics, has done just that. Anton Khabba and Dylan Jagger Lee met as students in music school where the two found their voices (quite literally) during their night owl music sessions. The band produces lo-fi beats combined with acoustics notes to evoke a captivating ease and fluidity; a welcoming retreat from our fast paced reality. This fluidity is also expressed in their writing style where the two have adopted a practice of writing what first comes to mind and simply rolling with it.

In 2018, Motel 7 released their first song on Soundcloud, and the encouraging success has grown into a sizable following. Their latest EP, “Headphones”, is a culminating display of Motel 7’s authenticity in their approach to creation. Behind the scenes of “Headphones”, Dylan and Anton acted on the immediacy of lifes day-to-day experiences to produce an authenticity that all listeners can appreciate. We at The House magazine were lucky to have the chance to get to ask Anton and Dylan a few questions to get to know them and their creative thoughts a bit more!

What was your early beginning like? How was the band formed, or how did you start? We started this all with zero expectations, we were staying up late every night making beats and finally we decided to just put up a song on Soundcloud one night and see who would listen to it. Day by day we saw more and more people finding our page and following us.

We wrote a song called “Summer Love” and decided for it to be our first song on Spotify and all other DSPs (digital streaming platforms). We put zero promotion and marketing behind this song, we didn’t even have a band page on Instagram or Twitter yet. This was back in 2018, so after about a year or so, we woke up and saw that this song randomly got 100k plays overnight. We couldn’t believe it. We then started to take things more seriously and put out a follow up single called “It’s A lright”. That is our biggest song to date with over 7+ million streams. It truly established our foundation and reputation as a band.

Unfortunately, “Summer Love” is no longer on Spotify and other DSPs, but I think it's somewhere on YouTube haha.

Can you tell us how your friendship began, and how it progressed to the making of your band Motel 7? We both met at music school. The school we went to was primarily centered around electronic and dance production. At some point we wanted to be the odd ones out and make acoustic songs with real instruments like a guitar and tie it all in with live vocals.

We didn't think we could sing, we still don't think we can sing...haha. We just do our best.

But ya, it all started there, and we still learn and expand our musical knowledge and inspiration each day.

Can you each tell us briefly about each of you and your personal and professional backgrounds? We both come from musical backgrounds. I think that definitely set a strong

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foundation for us in terms of how we create. We both specialize in different instruments and have unique taste in writing style. There’s a good contrast between it all. Dylan is also just a Web3 enthusiast, and is building a future for blockchain in addition to music. I (Anton) am just as creative and enthusiastic in other creative outlets just as much as I am with music. I originally wanted to be a film producer and go to school for that, I still want to pursue film and perhaps creative design for brands one day. But for now it’s music!

We know you guys mention you don’t necessarily say you have a certain genre, but can you tell us where the musical influences from your sound come from? We listen to a surplus of music everyday. Our inspiration changes day by day. We take everything day by day. That's the beauty of music. You should never lock yourself down to a certain creative limit. For us, I believe it is the blend of both our inspirations that lead to a unique sounding product. We both listen and get inspired by entirely different things. I feel like if we were so similar it would be hard for us to create something that is “cool”. Inspiration also comes from our daily life, and what we do, and how we feel. Emotions are a crazy thing.

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Can you tell us about your latest songs and the inspirations behind the ones you have released so far? All these songs were written in the thick of the pandemic. They came so easily for us. We wrote them all virtually too. So, it was interesting not being able to write in the same room all the time, but quite honestly it was flowing great that way for us. One song in particular, “Messing With Fire”, was inspired by bands like Nirvana, and modern day artists like Lorde, Mura Masa, Bleachers, etc. Our song “Golden” is also a favorite of ours. That one was for sure inspired by the more experimental artists such as James Blake, BROCKHAMPTON, Roy Blair, the list goes on.

How did you come up with the name of your latest EP release "Headphones"? Dylan texted me (Anton) one day and was like, “yo dude, I dreamt of a song last night, I still have it clearly painted in my mind, we gotta make it a song today or else I would forget” - we did just that. We wrote it all at home, in like four hours. That song was heavily inspired by The Beatles and also a bit of Peach Tree Rascals. This EP also just sounds so good on “Headphones”, so it all makes sense.

If you had to describe your sound or the mood of your music, what would it be or how does it compare to other bands? Fun, sad, exciting, and

weird.

Can you walk us through your creative process when writing music?

We usually start with an instrumental loop or a melody idea that's recorded on voice memo or something. We then build it out like a box of legos from there. Dylan and I bounce files back and forth via email, and we go on and on like that with notes sent over text messages until we have the song at the finish line. It’s been so productive for us to work like that recently. We also never think twice about our lyric choices. We usually write words down and roll with it, and sometimes they don't make sense haha...but that's fucking cool.

How do you overcome creative challenges or creative blocks? Step away from music entirely and kind of just do life for a bit. The best way to get re-inspired is to take a step back and be with yourself for a bit, be with friends, be with family. Experiences are everything. If you don’t experience anything, then you would have nothing to write about. I think no matter how long one stays away from music, it’s always going to feel a whole lot better when you come back to it and start writing again.

How did you come up with the name Motel 7? We wanted to upload

our first song to Soundcloud but had no name to put it under. At first I (Anton) suggested “Motel 6”. But then Dylan was like we might get sued since there is already an actual Motel called “Motel 6”...haha. So we changed it to 7 and called it there.

What does your 2022 look like? Anything planned that we should know about? 2022 will be a year of traveling, experiencing, trying new things, and writing music about it all. As of right now, no plans are set in place yet to announce at this time.

Lastly, can you each tell our readers something interesting or surprising about yourselves? We both love to cook. In fact, we do pasta night every now and then and make everything including the sauce from scratch. It’s a fun time for sure.

Dylan: Almost became a pro surfer at some point.

Anton: Is a licensed ordained minister.

Follow Motel 7 - @motel7.

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John Philligan Embodying Dedication to His Practice WRI TT EN BY: FRANK IE SANDERS O N PHOTO G RAPHY: COU RT ESY OF J OHN PHIL L IGAN

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Praised for his “rapid-fire playing and expressive vibrato”, Washington, DC-based violinist, John Philligin, has performed extensively throughout the East Coast as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. From performances at Strathmore Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center Opera House and Concert Hall, the Russian Cultural Center, and the Embassy of Argentina, John has performed with a number of ensembles and collaborated with artists such as flutist Carol Wincenc, tenor Juan Diego Flores, award-winning Broadway actor Raul Esparza, entertainment legends Rita Moreno and Chita Rivera, and Grammy Award-winning country artist, Ricky Skaggs.

Philligin has served as concertmaster for the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra and the Eastern Symphony Orchestra, and was the principal second violinist for the Washington Sinfonietta. Additional roles include performing with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, the Greene County Performing Arts Series, the Trinity Chamber Orchestra, the Takoma Ensemble, and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra.

Philligin received his musical education from the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, and the East Carolina University School of Music in Greenville. While at ECU, John was the recipient of the Mary Ruth Hardy Violin Scholarship and studied with Ara Gregorian. Philligin's primary teachers include Kevin Lawrence, Diana Sundsvold, and Guillermo Ayerbe.

Philligin plays on a 2009 copy of the

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1742 "Heifetz" Guarneri del Gesu violin made by luthier David L. Chrapkiewicz as well as a silver-mounted bow made by renowned American bow maker, Douglas Raguse.

How long have you been playing violin? I’ve been playing violin for twenty-three years of my life at this point, which sounds crazy.

I started piano lessons when I was six years

old and started violin when I was 10. I studied both all through grade school and into college, but I majored in violin performance for my undergrad.

What got you interested in playing the violin?

When I was young, the Disney Channel had “Disney’s Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra” on TV which was basically early reality television that followed kids 12 and

under from across the country who participated in a summer music camp that ended with a huge concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

I thought this was the coolest thing ever, and it sparked my interest in music. I remember watching the recorded special over and over on a VHS tape.

How difficult is it to master the violin? It totally depends on your definition of mastery. Serious musicians who’ve studied all their life are obsessed with perfection, which will never be achieved. We’re always learning and challenging ourselves, which in a way, is incredibly fulfilling. I believe that anyone can learn the violin, at any age, but true mastery takes patience and a lot of practice. For context, while I was in music school, I practiced 4-5 hours a day in addition to other group rehearsals I had. I consider myself quite accomplished on the instrument, but am still nowhere close to mastery.

What is your favorite symphony to play? Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 Eroica. I get an adrenaline high just from listening to it, and playing it is twenty times better.

What is the most difficult thing to know about playing the violin? Violin has a number of difficulties, it certainly isn’t known for its ease. Unless you’ve really trained your ear, being able to hear the notes for proper intonation is really difficult. Unlike a piano, where you can hit a key and you’ll play in tune, you have to put your finger in a very precise place on the finger board to play in tune. Over time, you develop muscle memory to play notes but your ear has to be excellent to know when you need to adjust the placement of fingers so that you play in tune.

What is your most beloved violin and why? Violins are extremely personal, each with their own unique voice. My concert violin is my most beloved, and I couldn’t imagine playing on anything else. It took me years to find the violin and its sound perfectly matches that in my head which I hope to produce when performing. The violin was made in 2009

by David Chrapkiewicz and is a replica of an Italian Violin made in 1742 by Guarneri del Gesu, which was owned by the famous violinist Jascha Heiftz.

Can anyone who is skilled at playing a guitar

learn the violin more quickly? A lot of people believe that guitar and violin are similar, which in ways they are, but in many ways they are not. I think the biggest similarity people notice is the fingerboard, which is where the fingers are placed. Guitarists have the luxury of frets, which tell them exactly where their fingers must go to play in tune.

We don’t have that as violinists! I think by having a strong understanding of playing music prior to picking up the violin will certainly aid in a faster proficiency.

What is something about the violin that only a

violinist would know? To avoid an overly technical or history related factoid, I think only a violinist would know and understand the incredible bond you form with your instrument. I treat my violin as if it were my child. I rarely let someone other than myself carry it while it is in its case and I am incredibly over protective of it. I’m fortunate that my violin maker is still alive, but every violin is unique, and if something were to happen to mine, I’d never find anything exactly the same again.

Benyaro The Soloist That is a True Embodiment of Togetherness WRITT EN BY: JENNIFER STRIEGEL PHOTOGRA PHY BY: EL L EN BIS CHOFF

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Ben Musser. A husband. A father. A brother. A son. A solo musician that has been on his musical journey since the beginning of his life’s journey.

It all started on the east coast, down a quiet street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As a son and brother, Ben grew up in a household

quite the opposite of quiet. Instead, filled with music. “All I remember is listening to music”. His sister with her piano lessons. His dad - a lawyer for wills, deeds and estates side hustling as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist (strumming cords versus playing solos). His mother, formerly in a choir during her youth, filled the home’s inside

airwaves with her own singing along to Carol King and The Coasters (to name just a few). “Music was our family’s requirement.”

Ben’s dad’s band, Pep Boys, gave him the opportunity to learn about other parts of being in a band, beyond actually playing an instrument or singing the cords, in the early days of his childhood. He was exposed

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to sound checks… as those happened when young kids are still in their waking hours.

Pep Boys was a cover band for events, minus weddings. “I didn’t know then why they weren’t included, but I do now.” There was an edginess allowance for the band playing at other events. The primary goal was getting people to just get up and dance easily. Yes, also true for weddings, just with different and more prescriptive parameters. In hindsight, it’s as if Ben’s dad was the pioneer in promoting people to be their own movers and shakers.

Ben didn’t immediately follow the guitar route in his musical journey. At six years old he claimed that the drums would be his instrument of choice. Then on his seventh birthday he acquired his first drum set. He was first chair through middle school then incorporated guitar into his repertoire.

A jazz band president in high school and a second major of music in college. That decision to add music to his academic career paved the way for Ben to see music as a potential professional future for himself.

In June of 2021, Ben - known as Musser by his frat brothers and sports teammates set off to backpack through Europe before settling into the real world. September 11th happened for Musser while abroad and he returned to the United States in October, a very different country than the one he had left the summer before. He received

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“Living and observing live crowds for free provided the ultimate challenge to get people to pay attention to me, through my voice. It was way more fun than practicing in a room to no one too… and of course provided nice fringe benefits socially.”

a call from a bandmate in college, Scott Claassen, who was heading to Austin, Texas to pursue the music career they had talked so much about at school in the late nights into early mornings. Ben felt it was a sign and immediately told his parents. And in the opposite of what’s stereotypical of parental roles, mom was pensive… “How will you make a living?” While dad - sensibly for the Musser family as a band guy himself… “Do it. I wish I had.” Arriving in Austin, Ben did include his mother’s advice too and took a short order cook job by day, while nights were filled with him and Scott’s band practice. The day job was flipping burgers, always being sure to add jalapenos to the burgers before serving them… which now seems very normal as jalapeno is otherwise known as a condiment staple, but was unheard of by most in those days and especially for a bloke from Pennsylvania.

Ben’s background environment was not just the smoke from the flat top grill, grease and smell of jalapeno seeds, but also Austin’s AAA radio stations. The AAA format, in hindsight, was foundational for Ben’s impressive diversification of genre capability in everything he creates and curates.

Scott and Ben had two music styles they were promoting in Austin at the time.

One Latin Acoustic and one Rock. Smartly, because the music types attracted two different audience sets, they created two

different bands between themselves. Minions and Ghost of Electricity. While the different bands had different sounds, looks and feels, they practiced in the same location. A classic Austin style garage band, sound proof and all….

“So we didn’t get kicked out of the place we also lived in.”

Two years later, the breakthrough Scott and Ben were hoping for with either or both bands, wasn’t happening. They needed ,and both wanted, to be swimming with the big fish to determine once and for all if this music passion could also become their professional pastimes. Ben started looking in New York, with apartments ready to go for him and Scott in Brooklyn. However, Scott decided he was west coast bound and headed to LA on his own. This decision Scott made for himself resulted in a true calling for Ben… but first solo pimping as a drummer. While the exposure in NYC with other front people was valuable, it became abundantly clear to Ben that he could be his own front man. So, he busked on subway platforms, getting his own gigs in the Village.

“Living and observing live crowds for free provided the ultimate challenge to get people to pay attention to me, through my voice. It was way more fun than practicing in a room to no one too… and of course provided nice fringe benefits socially.”

The way Ben speaks about the opportunities presented before him, right in front of his eyes, just waiting to be taken

advantage of by anyone who sees them, is such a simple yet great reminder of how the world is here to give all of us a path to take and embrace.

Ben’s ability to make something tangible so easily is both refreshing and inspiring.

With all of the success coming from his own efforts wandering the underground world of NYC, Ben needed a name for his one man band. He had always been a fan of band names.

He loved when bands described how their names came to being. One late night it came to him. “My name. Ben. There are so many Bens.

Ben Kweller. Ben Taylor. Ben Folds. Ben Harper.

Ben Musser won’t work. Besides… Musser is my college nickname. Hmm. (Thought bubbles. Words.) Batman’s ‘Thwack.’ I do love a solid Italian type of shtick. Benyaro. That’s it.

It’s a vibe. It’s my thwack vibe.”

Benyaro started touring and it was indeed vibing. So much so, in connecting with former college frat boys and teammates that were taking to the Benyaro transition as well, Ben met his now wife and mother of their two children, Camille Obering. Suffice to state, there was no more need for the fringe benefit.

Now in 2022, residents of Wyoming (Camille’s birthplace and childhood home), Ben and Camille, a powerhouse couple and trailblazers in the artist advocacy space, both support Benyaro’s road to its holy grail.

Benyaro has its new album in the works with famed producer Scott Mathews (Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Van Morrison). He has

simultaneously completed two contemporary artist installations as sound designer in the Guesthouse (private studio space for artists built and owned by Ben and Camille). As well as keeping his ears and eyes out for his second film score. Benyaro’s first, came serendipitously from a 2013 chance meeting at Sundance where a producer, Danny Kadar (Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses), was looking for music to accompany his feature narrative. A dusty tale about a young man in the mountain west, specifically Colorado and Wyoming. Not only was the scoring of the film an incredibly rewarding and career making experience, Danny went on to produce for Benyaro’s album.

Benyaro blends Electronica, Folk, Rock, Blues, and Country. Expanding the boundaries of acoustic music with a signature Indie attitude. The style not only of the tunes, but Ben as a human being, is contagious.

He somehow manages, as a solo artist, to invite everyone to his world. That seamless integration of approachability with worldliness is one we should all be so fortunate to experience and balance ourselves.

In need to ‘score’ your next… Film? Art install? Concert line up? Speakeasy headliner?

Follow Benyaro.com. This soloist has a little bit of everything to invite to all of us.

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Adi Myerson A World Known Manhattan Bassist Talks Music and Mental Health WRITT EN BY: AIDA M. TO RO PHOTOGRA PHY BY: RONAL D ST EWART

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In New York City, you’ll stumble upon artists, creatives, musicians, and individuals of all sorts that inspire and uplift society with their crafts. Adi Meyerson, a New York City Bassist, is one that does it all. All the way from performing, composing, arranging, to educating.

Meyerson currently lives in Harlem and was born in San Francisco, CA. At the tender age of two, she relocated with her family to Jerusalem, Israel where she was raised.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Meyerson on her journey towards becoming a prominent Bassist, creativity when it comes to composing, dropping an album, mental health, and more.

When did you first realize that you wanted to become a musician? It's something that was always engraved in me.

I was very musical as a kid. My parents couldn't really get me lessons or get it together to get me lessons. I always wanted to play certain instruments, so they ended up buying me a little keyboard, which we never progressed past…and the same with the violin and the guitar. My dad played guitar and we always had guitars around the house. I would sort of mess around with the guitar as well as the piano.

Therefore, it was always what I wanted to do…music was always in me because I was always passionate about it.

I attended an arts school from seventh grade to 12th grade in Israel, which I got accepted to as a visual artist. I then started to hang out with the musicians in the school, and they didn't have a bass player. I really enjoyed going to the music classes and at the end of seventh grade, I was in the summer camp and wanted to buy a bass to try it out.

So, I saved up some money and then bought a bass off of Craigslist. Then there was a senior in school when I was in eighth grade

who requested lessons from when the year started up again and then around mid eighth grade, I transferred to the music department.

I started with playing electric bass and then the upright bass towards my senior year of high school. I was into more fusion kinds of material, such as Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, as their music is categorized as fusion and electric. I also got into jazz, since we were kind of learning about the genre in school. Someone also gave me some jazz records, where I heard some Sonny Rollins, which I thought sounded really cool and

think of it like you do the electric bass or the upright bass, which is the big one.

I know you attended the New School for college. Why did you choose the New School and what was the experience like traveling from Israel and then moving to New York City? The New School had a program that I've heard a lot about and a lot of the people I looked up to in Israel in the jazz scene went to that school. Also, Reggie Workman, who played with Coltrane, was teaching at that school.

A program in Israel also started, which was an exchange program in conjunction with the New School. The program consists of doing two years in Israel and then two years at the New School, following with obtaining your Bachelor's. I got accepted into that program, so I continued my studies at the New School. When I applied to the program in Israel, I wasn't even playing bass for that long. I was only playing for like three months and was playing upright and then one of the teachers took a chance on me, as they thought I had potential, which resulted in me being accepted to the New School and decided to move to New York City.

When I moved to New York, it was pretty crazy. Although I spoke English at home, have an American passport, and have been to the states a few times, it was a lot more of a culture shock than I actually realized. It took me about a year to realize that everything works differently here. Just navigating living in the United States by starting with what to eat and witnessing that the food tastes different, as well as finding a place to buy my groceries because you can't just go to the bakery and buy bread or the butcher like you do in Israel at every corner. Overall, understanding the culture of America and just being here is like slang language. But I did like New York and felt really good about

“My dad played guitar and we always had guitars around the house. I would sort of mess around with the guitar as well as the piano.” inspired me to try playing music on the electric bass that I couldn't really do…I just couldn’t get it. Then when I graduated high school, I decided to try the upright bass and then started playing upright when I was 18 and moved to New York three years later and now we're here.

How many do you know how to play and how many are there? I play the upright and I play the electric, but I also have a keyboard that's supposed to be like a bass keyboard that I know how to play and haven’t received a chance to use on a gig yet. Every instrument family has a base version of that instrument, but as far as when people just say bass,

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the city because everyone is kind of an outsider here, therefore, you fit in by being different. It's kind of what New York is about for me. I did feel at home here.

When you graduated from the New School, what was the first ever professional gig that you obtained ? I actually started working while I was at school because I played gigs around town and even made a little bit of money. One of the first paying gigs I got while I was at school was in a restaurant in the West Village and I think it paid like $30...I didn’t even have my own bass. I also started talking to someone at the restaurant and that person ended up being the son of the Palestinian Prime Minister. They invited me to come have dinner with them and we had a really nice conversation. I ended up writing an article about the experience for my journalism class the year after at school and it got published in The Times of Israel and I got some money for it. I also stayed in touch with them and they invited me to play at this event called Seeds of Peace Gala. By the time I graduated, I was already working and playing around town.

How did you come up with your first record, and what was your creative process like? While I was at the New School, I kind of realized I like to write music as well. I started writing more and composing, and when I had my senior recital, it consisted of a combination of mostly original songs that I wrote while being in school. A couple of them even made the record in 2018. I also started booking gigs under my own name in small venues, even for gigs that didn’t pay anything. I worked as a bandleader and put things together and tried to figure out the whole process as well as working with other people and getting that experience of working in other people's bands. Slowly but surely, the sound and the idea of what I wanted to present kind of came together. The music came together, I was writing music, and I saved up some money for it, along with going to the studio. I did a lot of research on going into studios around New York. I started going to the studio in 2017 and it took a whole year for the whole thing to come out. Making this record was such a great learning experience.

As a musician, how did you cope with the pandemic? In 2018, after my first record dropped, I went to graduate school at Manhattan School of Music, which I graduated from in 2020.

Throughout graduate school, I was focusing on playing bass, but also on composing and grasp-

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ing composition techniques, my language, my musical knowledge, and more. I started writing a lot more music and then dealing with different kinds of music. My second album kind of started from an assignment that I had in school, more like its very beginning. I also applied for some funding and received the New York Foundation for the Arts Women's Grant for 2020, which funded the album and was a push to overall create it because I got the grant notification in the first week of March 2020…and then the world shut down. I'm happy that the process for creating my second album happened during the pandemic and that I received the grant during this time because it definitely gave me motivation to stay in New York and actually finish this album. During this time, I had time to sit with this music, take it slow, and do it the way I wanted to do it. It was cool because nobody was touring, so I was able to get musicians in the same room that I probably wouldn't have been able to get because they would all be so busy.

Where did you receive the inspiration from for your second album? This second one was a lot more composition heavy because it was a six part suite that I wrote based on the life and work of Yayoi Kusama, who's an avant garde Japanese artist. Her life story inspired me and her struggle with mental health as well as where she fits in in the world. Then COVID hit and I was trying to navigate the United States and the system. With that said, I thought of the idea of creating a utopian world through art, which is something that resonates with me. I thought of ways I can make something that would be kind of like an escape room and something that everyone can listen to, no matter who they are or what they are. I'd think about it as 30 minutes, 35 minutes, 40 minutes of Zen time.

Obviously, the record tells Yayoi’s story and my story, and more. But it's also just music.

The album came out during COVID and I also just started performing this album live.

Tell me about touring and your latest trip.

My most recent trip was in Dubai, where I played with a tap dancer named DeWitt Fleming Jr., and a sax player named Erica von Kleist, for a program called Sax & Taps.

We were the Sax & Taps band, and we were part of this showcase that the Mexican Expo put on, where we played at the Dubai Expo.

We played for like ten minutes and it was

incredible. The gig was beautiful.

What are some challenges you face as a musician and how do you deal with them? If we're talking about challenges, keeping your mental health stable is key because the ups and downs are crazy. After coming back from Dubai, I also forgot that artists deal with mental health in different capacities.

I forgot the ups and downs touring comes with. This is my first time traveling to this extent, which I’m very grateful for because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. The ups of being on the road consist of being with people 24/7, playing music every night, presenting and being on stage, and doing this thing where it's so grand and takes out so much emotional energy from you in the best way possible. Then the downs are coming home. For instance, I live by myself and coming home to nobody is great; however, you’re coming back to your everyday life. It definitely hits me everytime.

What do you look forward to for the rest of 2022? I'm restructuring and shaping a lot of goals in my life and trying to work towards taking things into the next level and stepping into the next working life as both a composer and performer. I also want to continue what I’m doing, elevate myself, and live the life I want to live unapologetically. Overall, I’m ready to step up and go to the next level… and whatever that means, as far as in life, in music, art, and overall anything. I'm excited for it.

I also have a few projects, for instance I'm starting a new band called Dark Matter.

I always thought that was a great name for a band because after reading a physics book, which I thought was interesting because dark matter is basically something you can’t see. The concept consists of the band being a cordless trio: drums, bass and saxophone, coming from the idea of exploring the space.

There's music in these structures, but there's a lot of space when you have a cordless trio due to no piano or guitar dictating what music is being played. It consists of two notes all the time, just top and bottom. Your ears fill in the in betweens.

To keep up with Meyerson, her upcoming gigs in New York City, and tours follow her on Instagram over @adibop.

“The ups of being on the road consist of being with people 24/7, playing music every night, presenting and being on stage, and doing this thing where it's so grand and takes out so much emotional energy from you in the best way possible.

Then the downs are coming home.

For instance, I live by myself and coming home to nobody is great; however, you’re coming back to your everyday life.

It definitely hits me everytime.”

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Tris Munsick & The Innocents

Cowboy Country Music with the Cowboy to Back it Up WRITTE N BY: NINA HAAS K IVI | PHOTO GRAPHY BY: JAS O N DOWNING

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Inspired by the world around him, Tris Munsick grew up around music and the stunning nature of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. Listening to the latest album from Tris Munsick & The Innocents is like being transported into his world. It’s easy to fall in love with the subtle mix of Country, Indie, Pop, and Modern that he describes as Western Country. We caught up with Tris and talked about all things from growing up in a musical ranching family, finding balance in nature, and an outlaw named Henry Plummer.

You come from a musical family, but did you ever consider doing something different?

I’ve always had a lot of different interests.

I really like being outside. Growing up, my dad ran a ranch on the eastern slope of the Big Horn in North Central Wyoming. So we grew up helping our dad, working with the cattle and on horseback, outdoors all the time, exploring the mountains and rivers.

I’ve always had a love for the outdoors. I’ve had a string of jobs in my life working on ranches or doing different stuff that’s always revolved around being outside and working outside whenever possible. So even though our career in music now doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that I always try to, in my spare time, make sure I can get outside as much as possible. I really love agriculture, I love the ranching world. I just got back from breaking colts for a

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week in the western part of the state. That’s always been a large part of my life too and I hope it stays that way.

Music and the entertainment industry can be taxing, especially being on the road a lot. Do you think that connection to nature and getting to spend time in the outdoors, doing something physical, helps keep you balanced?

That’s exactly right. Any job on the road takes its toll and a lot of the entertainment industry revolves around social media. We handle the whole business side of our music as well so I’m working with promoters and booking agents.

There are a lot of phone calls and emails, office work, scheduling, social media, and trying to get songs written. We live in the Western US so you’re traveling a long way between shows.

It definitely takes its toll on you. Everybody in our band has had to find something to counterbalance that in their life. Working with horses and working with cattle and fishing or hunting, just being outside, hiking around and camping, all that stuff has definitely become even more important to me as our career in music has grown. You can burn yourself out, no question. That doesn’t help us or the folks that come to our shows.

We definitely don’t take it lightly that people are there to see us play and to see us at our best. In order to give our audience our best, we need to be feeling good. In order for me to feel good, I need to have that balance in my life.

The part of your name that is your name is clear... however, where does the & The Innocents come from? Believe it or not, we get asked that question a lot. I guess folks must not believe us. Legend has it there was an ornery sheriff up in Virginia City back in the gold rush days by the name of Henry Plummer. The gold mine payroll stages kept getting robbed by a band of outlaws, but as hard as he tried, Plummer couldn't catch them. After a while, the good citizens of Virginia City became suspicious and eventually realized that the sheriff was the leader of the outlaw gang. They strung him up alongside the rest of The Innocents gang.

Aside from coming to a live show, if someone just discovered you, what songs would you suggest that really encapsulate who you are as an artist that they should listen to first? We're definitely proud of all the records and all the songs we put out, no question. Everybody (in the band) would probably have a similar answer: Each album that we put out has been, in our view, an accurate representation of where we are at the time.

Thankfully, we've grown as musicians and grown as a band, I really do feel like each project we’ve put out has been better than the last. So I would definitely say if folks were looking to get an overall feel of our music that they should check out our most recent album which is Washakie Wind. “Palomino” has been a fan favorite. There’s a song called “Sand and Sage” which is a hard-hitting Cowboy Country Rock song. One off our Dance Hall Days record called Heart of a Fighter is a pretty accessible song that seems to connect with a lot of different audiences. But I would definitely reiterate, coming to a live show, there's nothing like that experience. The bands that I'm a fan of, my favorite thing is going to their live shows and seeing how they how they do it in person, how they can connect with you for the real deal.

Who are the bands and the artists that you really love? So my brothers and I grew up super lucky, my dad is musical and he exposed us to different types of music growing up. Anything from Mozart, classical music, to Merle Haggard. He'd buy us old Marty Robbins or Billie Holiday CDs, AC/DC, all across the board, Stevie Ray Vaughn.

I do feel like that has given me kind of a lifelong appreciation for different types of music and artists. Even if I don't necessarily like the music that they're playing, if they're doing it well, I can appreciate that on a level that I wouldn't have been able to do if I hadn't had that background in music as a kid. My top artist that I still love today is Merle Haggard, he’s a huge one for me. He's one of the best country music songwriters out there. I really like Ian Tyson, he’s a Canadian cowboy folk singer that really writes a lot about traditional Western culture. He's always resonated with me. I've always loved my brother’s and my dad's music too. I think that's a unique thing, to be able to listen to and appreciate three other people that you're that close to,

be able to really feel where they're coming from. I look up to their musicianship and their song writing a lot too.

I'm sure watching them has been a huge influence on you throughout your life, given that you started performing so early like did you ever deal with stage fright or did it always come naturally to you? No, I would say I definitely did. I still do on some level. I think of my brothers and my dad, I feel like music has come a little less naturally to me. I've always had to work a little harder to hear the harmonies or work on my pitch or work on my singing. For them, it came a little more natural.

They're a little more naturally talented than I am. So that's always been something that, throughout my life, I've had to work on and I'm thankful for that. I think you appreciate something a little more when you have to work hard for it. But I did, I definitely did. There's been times even now, you'll be nervous a before the show, if it’s a big show.

Mostly I’m just excited. There's always that little bit of nervousness there which makes you want to do your best. I think I've learned to thrive on that instead of letting it get the best of me. I hope so anyway!

You've mentioned that each album reflects a point in your life or a particular theme, is that something that you do intentionally or does it come organically as you're writing songs? I feel like my songwriting is a little less intentional. I do my best to get out of my own way and let the songs come, no matter what they're about. If it happens that I write six sad songs in a row, that's great, that's fine with me. With my songwriting I really do just try to get out of my own way and write songs down, whether I think they're going to be good or not.

You just have to get it down first, then come back later and see if it's something that you think is worthy of putting on an album and showing anybody else. But you gotta get those songs written first. Then as an album, it’s much more intentional. One thing that does bum me out about the way people listen to music these days is that the days of full albums or full records are sort of done. People pick and choose and download a single song off the album. It is what it is, but I really like being intentional and listening to a full album as a cohesive project. I think there's definitely a lot of thought that goes into what songs you're going to put on there and where they go, what songs come before and after. It is a part of the creative process. We think of it as its own thing, how you put an album together. I think we're getting better at that as we go, the quality control is a little more rigid. We definitely don't feel like we need to put everything down that we've written and we try to be a little more intentional about what songs we released to the public now. We're working on some new tunes as we speak. We've been trying a few out at our live shows, and hopefully we will have something for you guys soon. Be sure to stay tuned at trismunsick.com.

“You can burn yourself out, no question. That doesn’t help us or the folks that come to our shows. We definitely don’t take it lightly that people are there to see us play and to see us at our best.

In order to give our audience our best, we need to be feeling good. In order for me to feel good, I need to have that balance in my life.”

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Thomas Blondet The Sounds and Musings of a DJ and Music Producer WRITT EN BY: NATALIE T. STEGER PHOTOGRA PHY BY: VIO LETTA MARK ELO U

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Thomas Blondet is a globally known music artist based in Washington DC. Blondet has built a long career doing what he loves and producing his music through his own record label, Rhythm & Culture Music. Blondet's career began in the 1990s as a DJ in the early days of electronic dance music. Over two decades, he has created his own following and unique style combining house, dub, and trip-hop with unique international sounds from Bossanova, reggae, Latin music, and Arab music. Blondet's unique approach and passion for music have evolved his sound in electronic music throughout his career. He is also well remembered for having the most extended residency at DC's own Eighteenth Street Lounge, where he was the resident DJ for over 20 years. Soon, he will be back on decks at their new location. His artistry, passion for music, and endless grit to keep doing what he loves most provided him the ability to play and travel the world, sharing his music internationally. In 2016 and 2017, Blondet was ranked as one of Traxsource's Top 100 Soulful House Artists. He also released several remixes of music for Thievery Corporation, Tosca, Balkan Beat Box, Nickodemus, Sola Rosa, and Thunderball, to name a few. Blondet landed his music in notable films and television spots in a Nike commercial, Netflix's "Grace and Frankie", and the film "Carrie Pilby". Blondet's latest work teamed him up with rising creative producer Steven Rubin, a trip-hop EP called "Sea Sons", which was released this past March March via Rhythm & Culture Music; it is a must-listen.

How did it all begin? Thomas Blondet started his interest in music around 11 or 12 years old while living in South Florida, listening to Power 96. His exposure to music and the desire to be a DJ started at a young

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age, and "being a DJ was really big in the late 80s down there in South Florida, like, in the Miami area. There was this radio station, Power 96, and they played Miami bass, freestyle, and house music." If one were familiar with the Miami music scene and the local radio station there, Power 96, they had many of the greats playing on that particular radio station." The likes of Tanner in the morning, Cox on the Radio, MDJ Laz, Kid Curry, Tony

the Tiger, Felix Sama, Eddie Mix, Rafi Contigo, Jammin Johnny, and others. It was the opening cursor to his long-running career in music. Blondet recalls listening to a "DJ show that was on there every night of the week.

So I used to listen to that religiously. So that's how I got interested."

By the time he was 13, he had got a job washing dishes at his neighbor's Chinese restaurant to save money to buy his DJ

equipment, despite his mother's concerns that he was too young to get into such an expensive hobby. His curiosity as a kid about how DJ's were mixing music and scratching pushed him to investigate and invest further.

He would record songs off the radio on tape, and once he saw the music being mixed, that was it for him. He continued to work washing dishes at a Chinese restaurant to earn money, recollects getting "my first Technic 1200, and then a mixer. I slowly started buying all the pieces of it." He slowly collected the equipment he needed to DJ. Fast forward to today, Blondet recalls a time when his mother realized this was more than a "phase" in her son's life, "She was like, oh, one day you want to bike, next day you want to skateboard, now he wants a DJ system? Where did that come from? I was into so many different hobbies or whatever.

So the DJ thing, she was like, oh, this is just too expensive. But as I got older, she saw that I was still at it." His mother began to support his musical career path and money to get speakers and other equipment to build his career as a DJ. Blondet shares that his inspiration in life and even part of his career comes from his mother, who he deeply respects. Similar respect he also has for his "uncle, my brother, my sisters...with stuff I trust and I value their opinion."

Beyond the influence of his own family, Blondet's music career has granted him access to work creatively among many great artists in his field and has been inspired by many. Still, one person he says is a major inspiration to him, "Farid is a big inspiration.

He's always been very supportive of my music as a DJ and as a music producer. He has always provided an avenue or like a venue where I could play my music and DJ. I could be creative and make the music that I want to make, and he really saw me as a music producer and as a DJ." Another person and fellow DJ that made a lasting impact on Blondet was the late, Sam "The Man '' Burns, who was known as influential in the DC house music scene.

Blondet shares one of his most memorable moments during the Autumn of 2005 at the closing days of Club RED, and "Sam 'The Man' Burns was playing the last night at Red.

That was probably, I would say, the only time that I ever cried when somebody was DJ'ing.

The way he played the music that night, everybody was already emotional about RED closing too. And the way everybody was dancing that night, that was like a very memorable night for me as an attendee…even though I DJ'ed the night before. But there's something on Sam, the way Sam always did something, he always created a vibe like I never really saw anybody else do. You know

“[The DC music scene is so unique]. It's like a melting pot of so many different people from different backgrounds and ethnicities and you can feel culture in the music...I think all of that combined influences the music scene.” how to create an energy that was in the room. That was something!"

Blondet's musical sound is influenced by his surroundings, as well as his thoughts about why the DC music scene is so unique, "It's like a melting pot of, so many different people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, and you can feel the culture in the music, from the food, from all of that.

And I think all of that combined influences the music scene because there's music that I don't think I would have been introduced to

if I didn't know somebody from Laos. One of my friends and I hear like, oh, my God, this is so crazy. Like, what is this? Oh, this is like Asian music, and then I start thinking creatively, like, oh, that's a cool instrument they're using. What is that? Maybe I can incorporate that into something that I'm working on."

One would say his sound is eclectic, global, and constantly evolving, much like Blondet himself. You will still see him playing one of the music genres he loves the most is 90's house, "I love house music from the 90's." He feels it is making a comeback are "90's house is definitely a lot of people are doing…I'm glad that's coming back, and it's getting the attention that it deserves again."

Music has developed in the two decades of Blondet's career; he looks back at those times in his career you would head to a party. It was the only chance to hear new music, it was being released at that moment, at that party, and now "music is so much more accessible." Beyond that, the physical labor required for DJs to carry their records and equipment. Blondet would have to carry ten crates of vinyl records to and from his gigs in the old days as a DJ. You can hear him sigh a bit of relief, sharing that he recently got rid of his vinyl records, "I sold my whole collection. I have maybe a small collection left now…I'm not going to go to a club and carrying records anymore as a working DJ. That was one of the biggest blessings."

For many, the pandemic has changed how people listen to music and the overall scene. The influence of COVID has changed the landscape of how people experience music for all genres, from live bands, DJs, and even electronic musicians utilizing streaming music applications. Blondet sees a shift in how people interact virtually and in real life, "now there's a scene on Twitch where DJs and live musicians are playing live streaming.

Since COVID happened, a lot of people went to Twitch and especially a lot of local DJs that I'd never heard of before, and I discovered them on Twitch, and I'm like, wow, you're a local DJ. You have, like, 200 people watching you live. So it's weird, like, where the scene is going, I think virtually and then in real life. So to see where things are going, like, where do I think it's headed? I think

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streaming is, like, a big part of things."

The dark part of streaming music that Blondet feels frustrated with is that "it's not fair to artists at all when it comes to getting paid out for streaming music. It's not enough money to survive. Even if you see like a million streams on a song. It's like they're not quitting their day job for that, you know? So I always feel that artists are undervalued in the music industry."

On its website, Apple Music has publicly stated that its average "payout per stream is $0.01." They are the second most popular music streaming platform in the US, with over 72 million active users in 2020, with Spotify in the lead.

Blondet breaks down the cost to even how much it cost to play music, "to make this music, it takes a lot of time. Equipment is not cheap. If you want a good microphone, you

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want a drum machine, you want software. I mean, all that stuff is very expensive."

Buying the music is cheaper than what it cost in the past; the equipment required to play doesn't equate to the cost. Blondet gave us an approximate cost breakdown on some of the items are as follows for music producers and DJs, according to Blondet: Music on average, $1.49 each that he buys to play in his sets, and more if it is a promo, even more: CDJ is $2400+, mixer $2000+, top of the line laptop $3000$4000+.

Blondet expresses his disappointment in streaming music, especially for DJs and producers alike, "now it's like the music is cheaper," for the artist, "but the equipment is more expensive… you're not making back what you're putting into it." An average payout per stream is $0.01; according to Apple's

public claim, Blondet's frustrations seem accurate for most artists.

His ability and skills as a music producer allow him to appreciate many different genres, including his favorite decade of music, "I love house music from the 90s," he said. Another sub-genre of music that Blondet enjoys is called Moombahton.

Musically, moombahton mixes the rhythmic origins of house music and the slow tempo of reggaeton. His eclectic choice in music sums up his style of DJ-ing and how he produces music, "personally when it comes to DJing, I play all kinds of different stuff. I'll play house music… I'll play drum and bass. I'll play downtempo. I'll play some disco. It depends where I'm playing or who I'm playing for."

Blondet is a celebrated musician in the electronic music genres and industry.

As an artist, he is always open to learning new techniques while producing music. His ability to embrace the new age of technology, be adaptive, and very collaborative brings a unique sound to his work. Like him, his inclusiveness in infusing genres and global beats in his music creates an ideal music community between him and his peers. The inclusiveness and freedom to be creative are recognized in his own record label, Rhythm & Culture Music, from the artists signed and his own produced music.

The House looks forward to hearing him play his sets at the new opening of the Eighteenth Street Lounge in its new location, which is expected to open its doors early summer of 2022. Also, be sure to subscribe to his youtube series, where he will share his jam sessions, exclusive interviews, and more. To keep up with Thomas Blondet, you can follow him on IG and Facebook @ thomasblondet, Watch his channel at https:// www.youtube.com/user/thomasblondet and everything else at https://linktr.ee/thomasblondet .

Editor's note: For the full exclusive interview and parts that didn't make it to print, visit www.thehouse-magazine.com to listen to Natalie Steger, The House's creative director, and music artist Thomas Blondet's full interview. Get an exclusive listen about their decade-long friendship and love for music while strolling down memory lane.

Hector L. Torres III Forging the Digital Path in Music WRITT EN BY: AIDA M. TO RO PHOTO G RAPHY: COU RT ESY OF HECTOR L. TORRES III

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When thinking of the music industry, two thoughts that often come to mind are the artists and the song lyrics behind their music. However, behind the scenes of any phenomenal artist and their lyrics is a lot of hard work done by the people working at the music labels these artists are part of. At music labels, folks like Hector L. Torres III, a seasoned Integrated Marketing Professional, is putting in the work for these artists to experience successful campaigns, tours, careers, and more.

Torres, a Brooklyn bred Nuyorican that was raised in between New York City and New Jersey, has a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry across music, television, fashion, and healthcare. He recently relocated to Los Angeles for the second time, for a role as the Director of Audience Development at Artists Without A Label (AWAL), an independent music label that recently became part of the Sony Music Entertainment family.

I had the pleasure of having an insightful and enjoyable conversation with Torres on his quest to become a director at a label, the work that goes behind working with artists, working at AWAL, and more.

Tell me about yourself, Hector. What did you do prior to working in the music industry, and how did you end up working in the industry?

I recently relocated to LA for the second time, after coming back to NYC four years ago. It was a move that I had been avoiding for quite some time, but I believe it was the right decision.

Prior to working in the industry, I worked in Television as a Camera Assistant, ran the Multicultural Marketing division for an AIDS Foundation, and worked as a freelance videographer/photographer for

fashion designers and hairstylists. It was right before I moved back to NYC after living in L.A for four years that I applied to be the NYC assistant to the trailblazing female music executive, Sylvia Rhone. I had a few phone interviews on my drive back to NYC from L.A, and once I arrived, I went into the office for two more interviews; later landing the position. Initially, I had intended for this role to be a transitional one until I landed a marketing role at a label or television network; but as life would have it, it turned out to be the position that changed my professional trajectory.

tency is key and not Everyone is going to see your vision or your worth and that's ok.

(Think about how many artists get dropped from one label, get picked up by another and BLOW UP!) Tell me about your experience at EPIC Records. What was your day to day like and what was the last time you held in which your priorities changed since you ended as the Marketing Director? Well, my day to day changed over the four years I was at EPIC. Prior to EPIC, I ran the national Multicultural marketing division, so I came into this role with no experience on how to be an Executive Assistant. As

What was the first label you started with and what did you learn from working at this label? EPIC was my first experience working at a major record label, and it was by far one of my best professional experiences because it challenged me to grow on many fronts. As for what I learned while at EPIC: Consis-

Sylvia’s assistant, my day to day primarily consisted of ensuring that everything was handled while she was in NYC. About a year into being her assistant, a position in the digital marketing department became available and I applied. After a few months of interviews, I had landed the position as a

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Digital Marketing Manager.

As a Digital Marketing Manager, I developed, pitched, and executed plans to develop the digital presence of my roster, which consisted of approximately 25 artists, including: DJ Khaled, Black Eyed Peas, Giveon, BIA, D.Muñoz, India Shawn, Joy Crooks, Tom Walker, and Flipp Dinero. I was the lead on the digital campaigns for Black Eyed Peas' RITMO and Girl Like Me, BIA's Whole Lotta Money release this past summer.

Who are some of the artists that you enjoyed working with throughout your whole career and why? That's a hard question to answer.

I have to say that my favorite experiences were with Mariah Carey, Black Eyed Peas, D.Muñoz, BIA, India Shawn, and Giveon; obviously all for different reasons. Growing up, Mariah Carey was one of my favorite artists, so the opportunity to pitch The Mariah Experience activation for the release of her 2018 Caution album and see it come to fruition was surreal. I’ve always admired the Black Eyed Peas, so being part of them reaching their first top 40 Hot 100 hit in over a decade with their single RITMO was a huge milestone in my career.

Working with emerging artists is something I truly enjoy; seeing their passion, their drive, and being part of their evolution as an artist is something special. Right before the world changed, we (EPIC) had signed a lot of exciting new acts, who have now either become superstars or are undoubtedly on their way. It was in early 2020 that I began working on Giveon’s project, which was really exciting for me because R&B is one of my favorite genres. I remember listening to his album for hours on end as I developed the digital plan for rollout. Once we released his Take Time EP, followed by his feature on Drake's Chicago Freestyle, things just started to take off and now he's one of the biggest emerging R&B singers in the space.

BIA was another artist of mine that I had the honor of working with from the beginning of her time at EPIC. I remember hearing that she was signed to us and being excited because she was Puerto Rican as well. I worked on about five singles throughout 2020, leading up to the release of her EP For Certain in December. In April of 2021, her song Whole Lotta Money took off on TikTok, followed by Nicki Minaj jumping on

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the remix; setting things into overdrive. She has really put in the work and it was great to see her finally get her flowers.

D.Muñoz and India Shawn are two incredibly talented R&B artists who will definitely be on your radar, if not already. They have always been the two artists that I would go hard for no matter what I had going on.

Tell me about AWAL. How different is your role from the role you had at EPIC? Some of the notable acts at AWAL over the years have been: Lauren Jauregui, Snoh Aalegra, Little Simz, Finneas, BANKS, just to name a few.

“Working with emerging artists is something I truly enjoy. Seeing their passion, their drive, and being part of the evolution as an artist is something special.”

I joined the Audience Development team, which is the Digital Marketing division at AWAL as their Director of Audience Development. It falls within the same scope of work as my previously held role at EPIC, with a bit more responsibility.

What are some of the hurdles you’ve encountered when working at a label, and how did you cope with them? Well, I have to say that I was probably my biggest hurdle, haha. I have this tendency to put a lot of pressure on myself, which is a double-edged sword.

My background was in my multicultural marketing and working with networks and labels to get artists on campaigns for social causes, primarily HIV prevention among Latinx & AA communities. Coming into music I thought the skill set would translate, and in some ways they did, but in music you can plan all you want and that entire plan can go to shit with just one tweet; I had to learn to be quick on my feet and figure it out. It took a lot to figure it out.

What do you love about working in the music industry and why? Music is so powerful and being part of the process in bringing that to the world is unlike anything else. In addition, music has always been an integral part of my

upbringing. My dad was a DJ and my aunt, grandmother, and cousin were also singers.

Growing up, my favorite Sundays were the ones where my cousin Melissa would lead the worship service at church. She has such a powerful voice and hearing her would always put a smile on my face. It was with her where my dreams of working in entertainment began.

What artists are you currently working with at the label you are working on now, and what excites you to work with them? There are a lot of artists on my roster that I'm excited about. However, I'm really looking forward to working with Fana Hues and Lauren Jauregui. Fana is an emerging R&B singer and the first artist I worked with upon joining AWAL. I was immediately drawn in by her soulful voice and visuals. Working with an artist with pure talent and an impeccable eye is always exciting; it challenges you to grow and push yourself creatively.

When I was interviewing with AWAL, I saw that Lauren Jauregui was on their roster and was hoping to work on the project.

She has always been on my radar because of Fifth Harmony, but Lauren as a solo artist is something special. I find her to be so articulate and sincere, which comes through in her music. I'm really looking forward to her next project.

What are the benefits of working with up and coming artists? What I like most is the fact that you're starting with a clean slate. The evolution of an artist is always nice to see as a fan, but it's that much more exciting when you're walking alongside them through the journey.

What do you look forward to with working in the music industry and what advice can you give to those who want to pursue a career in the industry? The advice I would give to someone who wants to pursue a career in the industry is work really really hard; people will notice, doors will open and when they do, never forget: Consistency is key, not everyone is going to see your vision or your worth and that's ok, and silence the noise.

To keep up with Torres and the projects he is working on, follow him on Instagram over @ht3nyc and visit his website at www. hectorluistorres.com. In addition, follow @awal for EP releases, special activations, and more by Torres’s artists.

The Bold & Beautiful Liverpool-based artist Frimann shares his voice, unapologetic spirit, and commanding presence with the world.

WRI TTEN BY: CONNOR DUSZYNSK I. PHOTOGRA PHY BY: SARAH RECHBAU ER.

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It was a sleepy, early summer morning in Virginia. The mist was rising, the sun was peeking through the trees, and I was on autopilot driving down the winding roads to rejoin my family at the farm for the day’s upcoming festivities of fireworks and beer. The July humidity was heavy, like a weighted blanket. I was too tired to think. Scrolling through Instagram at a red light, I saw Frimann’s post. His new single “Endless Summer” had dropped, so I figured I’d give it a listen. And just like that, like a much-needed shot of espresso, the beat and tune jolted me awake. This was my first experience listening to Frimann, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

That was over two years ago, and it’s still my go-to summer anthem.

Since that first time listening to his music, I’ve gotten to know Frimann more personally. I sat down with the artist to discuss his latest projects, songwriting process, and inspirations (which range from a number of queer icons from Donna Summer to Freddy Mercury).

Audacious, irreverent, yet delicate, Frimann has not only found his voice, but yearns to share it with the world.

Good morning, Frimann. Thank you for joining me. For those who may be unfamiliar with your work, please share with our readers how you would categorize your genre of music. I would describe my music as catchy pop songs dressed-up with big and over-the-top Disco musical arrangements. The songs I write are, in my humble opinion, intelligently phrased but not overly complex, with the intention to empower both my listeners and myself. They very much come from personal experiences.

Who/what are your greatest music inspirations and how has this impacted your own work? I would say that my greatest musical inspiration is my own life. When I first started songwriting as a teenager, it was always as an attempt to cope with my more challenging life experiences. I wanted to turn them into something beautiful. It quickly became a therapeutic and healing outlet for me, and I have been writing about my life ever since. However, these days I try to focus more on celebrating life and its positive sides through my music, as this feels more true to who I am as a person. I also quickly realized when I first started performing that it’s hard to dance and put on a big show when all your songs are depressing. Having said that, I am a die-hard Donna Summer and Freddie Mercury fan, they have probably inspired my artistry even more than I know.

How have you seen your music career progress, from your initial projects starting out to where you are today? This April marks the fourth anniversary since my debut single release. I would have to say that the greatest progress has been me finally becoming and embracing the performer and artist that I believe I was meant to be. I, as so many other queer people, have received a lot of backlash and rejection throughout my life for simply being myself, and it messed with my head quite a bit for a long time. I used to constantly second-guess myself and felt like I needed people’s “permission” to be the type of artist that I always envisioned. It was through the creation and release of my first record Last King Alive that I fully stepped into my persona, and I have been on a really exciting and liberating creative journey

ever since.

What is the latest project you released and/or are working on? Can you give us any hints? The last project I released was a Valentine's Day song called “Love of my Life.” It’s a song that celebrates love, and the privilege of being loved unconditionally. Besides playing gigs in the Liverpool area with my backing band, I am currently working on four separate recordings. My favorite out of the four is a new song called “Sugar Papa,” and I’ll let you imagine for yourself what it’s about.

Two of the other tracks are remixed versions of songs from Last King Alive, and the last one is a re-recording of my first single “Mind Games,” all set to be released later this year.

What are your goals for the future of your career? Brand deals, gigs, collaborations, etc? My number one goal has always been to play at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset. It just seems like the most amazing event, tailored for music-lovers. Maybe with the release of “Sugar Papa,” I’ll be one step closer to receiving that festival slot!

Describe your creative process. When are you most inspired/feel most creative? I am usually the most inspired to write music when something major has just happened in my life.

Good or bad, it always pushes me to create.

Do you develop a persona in your performances or are you most authentic when you perform? The version of Frimann that I am on stage is definitely a lot different than the everyday me, but it’s still very much who I am. At least parts of it. Right before any of my gigs, you’ll find me backstage hyping myself and the band up to the best of my ability. I always tell them “the people who are here tonight have taken time out of their lives and schedules to disconnect from their worlds and be entertained, and that’s exactly what we are going to do. Entertain.” When I talk about my performance personality I always visualize it as a guitar amp.

I turn my confidence, playfulness, sexuality and ego up to ten and all the other traits I don’t need down to one. To me, the process of becoming the stage-ready Frimann is not about becoming someone that I’m not, but rather about allowing myself to be all the things I don’t allow myself to be in my everyday life.

Thank you again for joining us, Frimann. I can’t wait to see what you do next and can’t wait to see you in Glastonbury one day.

“The songs I write are, in my humble opinion, intelligently phrased, but not overly complex, with the intention to empower both my listeners and myself.”

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Erika Hamilton

The DJ Changing the Landscape Behind the Turntable WRI TTEN BY: AI DA M. TORO. PHOTO G RAPHY: G I LBE RT VAZQU EZ.

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Disc Jockeys (DJs) play such a major role in the music industry, especially in cities such as Manhattan, Miami, Los Angeles, and others.

DJs are the main characters of the night, as they bring the life to the party through their music selections when making appearances at top nightclubs and lounges.

Erika Hamilton, a Bronx raised DJ of Japanese and American descent, is one of New York City’s prominent DJs, as she’s been chosen and booked a plethora of times by celebrities, high profile brands, famous venues, nightclubs, and arenas throughout the world. Hamilton has been behind the turntable since the early 2000’s and has refined her style of djing, as she’s gained an unparalleled range and skillset as an open format DJ. In Hamilton’s mixes, you’ll hear and dance to genres such as Hip-Hop, Reggae, House, Trap, Disco, Pop, Afro-Beats, and Latin arriving all the way from the 1970s to the present day.

I took the time to speak with Hamilton on her experience as a female DJ in the big city, how technology has changed djing, music that inspired her to DJ, and more.

What did you dedicate yourself to prior to djing? I was always creative. I had little odd jobs, such as cocktail waitressing and also worked at YRB magazine, where I interviewed Nelly Furtado. I started djing when I was really young and didn't really go full time till the mid 2000’s.

What inspired you to become a DJ? I was always inspired by the culture. I've always been inspired by Hip-Hop culture, but also the whole New York City nightlife scene, folklore that we've heard, Studio 54, the glamor…just all of it. It all fascinated me and obviously all of this was performed way before my time. During my teenage years, I was kind of sheltered. I remember seeing a female DJ for the first time at some ran-

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dom house party and didn’t even think it would even be a possibility during that time, especially in the 90’s…it just seemed so rare.

Seeing this female DJ was one of my inspirations. Also, I always loved music, as my whole family consists of musicians.

days because back then carrying those crates full of records was intensive labor, as they easily weighed anywhere between 70 to 100 pounds each..and you needed at least five crates for gigs. Back then, you couldn't wear heels and really glam out because you had

What can you say was your first gig in the city and where was it? I remember my first paid gig was at Bar 16 in the Lower East Side.

Mind you, I was playing vinyl..not by choice.

I was literally carrying crates of records to these gigs.

How did you take the transition from vinyl to digital djing? Nowadays, people play vinyl by choice, which is very admirable, however, it wasn't an option back then because there wasn’t a digital option. Digital options didn't really get normalized until 2004, which is when Serato DJ Software launched. Going digital was literally a game changer. Not to sound sexist, but I think this is the reason why there are so many women djing nowa-

to wear sneakers or light, comfortable shoes when carrying this stuff. I was grateful when everything went digital because now all I need is a little flash drive and I'm good.

As a woman in the city, how do you feel you've changed the djing landscape?

It’s interesting, because for years I've really downplayed my history and kind of manipulated the situation so people weren't able to realize how long I've been doing it for. I felt I needed to make that smaller due to ageism, as it affects women in particular, especially in an industry that is really young. I thought about this and it dawned on me that there's only one other woman djing professionally

in New York City longer than I have. Then, I actually started doing my research and realized the highest paid DJs in the world, Tiesto and David Guetta, are both in their 50’s. It's not that djing is a young industry…it's just a young industry for women. For instance, I was djing at the spots featured in Sex and the City throughout all the seasons during the times the show was being filmed, such as the restaurants, the clubs…you name it. I'm still doing it and I'm still doing it at a level where

I remember there were two albums that were game changers for me and one of them was Mary J. Blige’s What’s the 411? Now, I'm fully aware that this is not a Hip-Hop album because she’s an R&B singer, however, the album really had all the elements of Hip-Hop because she actually raps in that album. I felt this album was something I can relate to because it spoke to me. The second album was The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which I would say was the turning point for me.

I'm djing at clubs on Saturday nights. I'm still connected to what is happening now, but I also have roots with what was happening then, so I need to celebrate that. Once I started celebrating that, everything just started falling into place.

What do you love about Hip-Hop and who are some of the Hip-Hop artists that have influenced you to play the music that you play at your gigs? I was always fascinated by the culture. I grew up in the Bronx, pretty much alongside Hip- Hop in the 80s where the graffiti, the bling, and the dancing was always inspiring.

Lastly, Nas’s Illmatic is a beautiful piece of work to look at from the outside, however, I couldn’t relate to the experiences he was having in these records. I also look at the album and believe it’s such a beautiful way to tell these stories. In terms of Illmatic’s music itself, the beats are just perfection and just a professional screenshot of that era as Q-Tip, DJ Premier, and Large Professor produced it.

In terms of that and sonically, Illmatic is very jazzy and has a vibe to it.

When people talk about Hip-Hop, they are very much focused on the music itself,

rather than what led up to it, such as artists like James Brown, the disco genre, funk, and more. I cherish this music and love going back to playing those classic records because that’s the prelude to it all.

What are some challenges you’ve experienced djing and how did you cope with them?

I will say that I just stopped or said no to a lot of gigs that just don’t really fulfill me.

When I’d do those gigs, I’d leave empty once everything was over…so I learned to say no.

I love music, and I can never just play the same record because I appreciate new talent, new vibes, and new energy. I can’t just hear the same records because I get bored really easily.

Tell me about some of your major gigs.

What were your thoughts when you were booked for gigs like these? So, I was booked for HBO Max’s And Just Like That’s Premier party at Barneys. I knew I was up for this gig.

When the show was out years ago, I was djing. My entire generation of New York City women were inspired by the show, just like I was. Nowadays, I’m still djing at the level I did back then. When you’re going to create a spinoff of a show 20 years later, this kind of presence is what I guess had them choose me as well. Aside from this gig, I did a Halftime DJ set for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and did the opening DJ set for Madonna’s private concert in Harlem’s Red Rooster, which I came home crying from afterwards due to the honor of djing at this gig.

What do you look forward to as a female DJ in New York City and what would you say to women who want to become DJs in today’s day and age? Becoming a DJ is easier for women nowadays because you can literally get a little $100 controller just to get started. When we are young and fly at 21 years old, many use this to their advantage, which will only take you so far. When women hit 30, they get into their heads due to their age and I see a lot of them stopping. My advice is to not give up if you love it and don't be demoralized by age.

To keep up with Hamilton and her upcoming gigs, follow her on Instagram over at @erikathedj.

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Sofar Sounds Exploring Music as a Centerpiece in Unique Venues Around the World WR ITT EN BY: CARO LINE COTTEN PHOTO G RA PHY: COU RT ESY OF S OFAR S OU NDS

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Can you tell us a little bit more about the origins of Sofar Sounds? In 2009, Sofar Founder Rafe Offer was at a gig in London with a friend, and they decided something about the experience of watching live music in a crowded, noisy venue wasn’t working for them. The artists were fighting the bartenders for attention, and Rafe couldn’t hear the music over the noise of the crowd. Sofar Sounds began as a way of bringing the focus back to what Rafe felt was most important: the music.

What started as a hobby in London quickly grew into a global community for artists and audiences to come together in unique and welcoming spaces. Today, Sofar Sounds is a community of thousands of artists, hosts, and fans, putting on hundreds of secret intimate events each month, in 400 cities around the world.

Where was the first Sofar Sounds ever held?

In 2009, Sofar Founder Rafe Offer invited

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some friends over to his flat in London for a low-key, intimate gig. Eight people gathered in the living room to listen live music performed by friend and musician Dave Alexander. They shared a drink and sat on the floor, attentively listening to the music.

For someone who has never heard of Sofar Sounds, how would you describe the experience? Sofar Sounds is all about creating space where music matters. We’re a global community of music lovers creating intimate concerts in unique locations around the world. Sofar shows take everyday spaces, like living rooms, rooftops, boutiques, and museums, and transform them into captivating venues for secret shows, creating inclusive experiences that bring people closer together. When a guest wants to attend a Sofar, they pick a show based on the neighborhood, but they don’t know the exact venue until the day before the show, and they won’t know the artists (or even genre) until they arrive at the show.

How do you find the emerging artists who perform at the concerts? Emerging musicians apply through the application on our website – choosing which city they would like to perform in. From there, our booking teams review the submissions and hopefully book the artists to play! At the show the artist will perform a 20–25-minute set alongside two other acts.

What do you hope musicians take away from their performance? Musicians play Sofar shows for a variety of reasons, whether it’s looking to break into a new market where they don’t have as much of a fan base, filling in a date on an existing tour, or trying out new material for an attentive audience.

Whatever their reason may be, our hope is that each artist walks away from their performance feeling like they were able to connect with the audience and have gained some new, long-term fans.

What do you hope audience members take away from their experience? Since the audience

arrives without knowing who will perform, we hope that by the end of the show they’ve discovered a new artist that they love (or three!), and feel more closely connected to their community. Since we work with local businesses, it’s also a hope that they are able to discover a new space, be it an art gallery, boutique, or rooftop, that they’ll return to.

Your venues are not typical music venues, how do you decide on a spot for a concert? We're always on the lookout for unique spaces to host our concerts. We think about things like: acoustics, community connection, how welcoming the space is, and proximity to public transport. We also work hard to make sure our spaces span a variety of neighborhoods across a city, so that our shows are accessible to everyone. While we’re always scouting for new locations, potential hosts can submit their spaces through an application on our website.

What has been one of your most successful venues? Most unique venues? Other favorites? Moto Spirits, a distillery in Bushwick, Brooklyn, has hosted over 100 Sofar shows over the years, and we always have so much fun with them and are so grateful that the owners, Marie Estrada and Hagai Yardeny, have always been big supporters of what we do. We’ve had shows in so many interesting spaces over the years, but last fall we partnered with Tiqets on shows in Buckingham Palace and London Dungeons, which are

definitely high on the list of most unique venues. Since we got our start in Rafe’s home, residential spaces are also a big part of Sofar history and are a fan-favorite. We haven’t hosted in people’s homes as much since we returned to shows after our shutdown in 2020, but we’ve been slowly bringing them back as we learn how to live with covid.

Some of your concerts are BYOB - what is your number 1 drink of choice? Anything that doesn’t require a bottle opener, since there’s never enough to go around!

Is there a typical genre of musicians that perform at Sofar? How does it vary by city? The opposite, actually. It’s really important to us that we book artists from a wide variety of genres and performance styles. Our early shows were primarily acoustic, but now that we usually provide at least a basic audio setup, we’ve been able to book artists with more diverse instrumentation and setups. Most artists are local to the city they’re performing in, so our shows are generally a good reflection of the local music scene—but we’re always pushing ourselves to book more diverse acts so that artists of all sounds and styles have the opportunity to play Sofar.

What would you say is Sofar’s biggest success? When live music (and most of the world) shut down in March 2020, we quickly pivoted to do what we could to support independent touring artists in our community. Within weeks, we had paid an

advance to 3,000 artists who had canceled shows, started a livestream platform called the Listening Room, launched a Global Artist Fund to provide grants to artists who relied on Sofar and other gigs to make a living, and built a country-specific directory to recommend grants and resources while the live music industry was shut down. Over the next 15 months, we also launched In Session, a free online discussion and education series for Sofar artists and their teams, joined forces with artist services company, Seated, and together paid a combined $3M to artists.

In your opinion, what is the most unique aspect of Sofar Sounds? So much of what we do is different from a traditional concert, but the intimacy between artists and audience at a Sofar show is unlike any other. Guests come prepared to discover new music, artists trust Sofar audiences to respectfully listen. What you end up with is a room full of people who care deeply about creating a space where music matters.

What is your favorite part about what Sofar Sounds does? There's something new to discover at every show! Giving a platform to amazing talent and introducing them to a new audience never gets old. We've been part of the story of artists like Lianne La Havas, Leon Bridges, Billie Eilish, Yebba and more who have gone on to incredible success, and over the years, more than 10,000 artists have played Sofars around the world.

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Up-and-coming pop sensation Stephanie Poetri has stolen listeners’ hearts through her melodic, ethereal vocals. Not only does Poetri have a voice of gold, but her music is enhanced with soft acoustics and electronic instrumentation. This Indonesian-American artist became known for her hit “I Love You 3000” released in 2019. Now 20-years-old, Poetri has earned an iHeartRadio Music Award nomination and the title of Best New Asian Artist-Indonesia. Following Poetri’s first EP AM:PM, she has recently released her new EP oh to be in love. The EP’s focus single is “Bad Haircut,” featuring GRAMMY nominated producer JVKE. The song encompasses two lovers who are deeply flawed, but love each other, flaws and all. The “Bad Haircut” music video is enchanting, capturing the affection of every viewer. Stay up to date with Stephanie Poetri @stephaniepoetri.

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Up + Coming

A RT I ST F E ATU RES A N D P H OTO G RAPHY CO U RTESY O F FANCY PR

Emerging artists and their latest releases.

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Memphis-based artist Jon Waltz is a rising R&B legend. His music is a blend of traditional blues, unusual synths, and insightful lyricism. Waltz’s soothing voice combined with his edgy artistry is an unexpected, but an incredible combination.

He fuels his artistry with love and passion, which is evident in every single and EP he has released.

Waltz incorporates deep, emotional rap into each and every one of his pieces. Released on March 23rd, Waltz’s EP My Golden Horse will transform the R&B and hip-hop world. His EP’s hit single “Wheelie” is a mixture of profound rap, rhythmic guitar, and electronic instrumentation.

My Golden Horse was made without a budget, but Waltz emphasizes that he “made something that felt like the best version of himself.” Stay up to date with Jon Waltz @jonwaltz.

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Dissecting her past to envision her future, GRAE is making new-wave pop music that’s both nostalgic and boundary-breaking. She crafts a hazy pop world filled with spacious vocals, buoyant production, and deeply personal lyrics. It’s both starkly intimate and boldly ambitious - the sort of music that can soundtrack a bedroom hangout just as easily as it can a venue of thousands. GRAE’s music sees her dig through the musical inspirations of her upbringing and reimagine them through a new lens, colored by 23 years of experience. Her influences are deeply rooted in ‘80's new wave from The Cure to Joy Division, but she’s also studied the singer/songwriter masters like Rodriguez.

The result is a collision of electrifying atmosphere and lyrical depth. Now, the Toronto based artist releases “Boxes,” which is lifted off her debut LP Whiplash out April 15th. Don't miss it. @ yourgirlgrae 44

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In February this year, Sophia Bel shared her single “Lonely After Curfew”—a progressive-country-influenced pop ballad that explores the fear of abandonment and codependency.

The melody comes together to offer listeners a track that explores Sophia Bel’s insecurities, the ones she fails to communicate to the object of her affections. Born in Michigan, Sophia Bel has always found her path through songs, from singing 90's classics when she was younger, to now releasing her debut album. Figuring out becoming a musician was her true calling when she was still a teenager. After college, Bel found herself going back to her roots, one that is heavily influenced by the fresh pop of the early 00's, by emo-rock, and pop-punk of yesteryears. Coming soon is “I Won’t Bite” off her forthcoming debut album, “Anxious Avoidant,” out April 15th. @ sophiabel1 46

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A distinctly no-frills home recording setup — combined with a readily imbibed, heady mix of Grace Jones, Madonna, The Chemical Brothers, Deee-lite, 90's runway music and archive footage of raves — resulted in a sleeker, sexier new era of Confidence Man. Their sound simultaneously thrums with the electric energies of the club, the NYC ballroom and the warehouse; uniting dancefloors across time and space. It is the sound of the band testing, stretching and moulding; defining and redefining their parameters, Today, Confidence Man shares new song, “Woman”, the opening track from their forthcoming second album TILT, The Melbourne band's second album was always going to be self-penned and produced — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it . Follow along with this foursome @ confidenceman 48

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lov l 50

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ve letter TO THE HOUSE WRI TTEN BY: JENNIFER STRIEGEL

ILLUSTRATIONS: AKRAM ABDULLA ORIGINALS

AKRAM ABDULLA IS AN ARTIST IN EVERY FACET. Today, from head to hand, he has three primary professions: designer and owner of a Hijab (modest headscarves) company Sahar New York, corporate ‘suit’ at Walmart Division’ Golden Touch Imports, and fashion illustrator extraordinaire. This professional wardrobe transfers seamlessly to his personal life, too, as an uncle of eight nieces and nephews. Or as Akram kindly refers to himself…Guncle (gay uncle). Speaking with Akram you are instantly transported into a creative world of hopes and dreams. He refers to fashion in all the ways those of us in the industry want it to be associated. Inspiration.

Vibrancy. Self Expression. Heart. Soul. Beauty. Love.

Akram began his artistic journey in early childhood surrounded by four sisters and a single mother, drawing inspiration from his own uncle, which in hindsight may have contributed to him being such a supportive uncle himself. His uncle would take him to art museums in Chicago and provide him with the necessary supplies to express

his ideas through his artwork. Akram’s personal passion continued in the academic environment when he enrolled in AP Art in high school at Carl Sandburg in Orland Park, Illinois. This is when the incorporation of music in his creative process officially began. His art teacher, Mrs. Michelson would always have music playing in the background during her classes. From that moment onward, the likes of Disney soundtracks (be sure to check out Hercules) and a wide array of female musicians would fill his own background as Akram continued to express himself through his drawings and paintings.

When you hear the word “music” - what comes to mind first?

Inspiration and getting lost in notes. Notes of harmony and losing yourself, being free to express your thoughts and feelings. As a Gemini, depending on my mood, I listen to certain types of music to capture how I feel in that moment.

Do you have a favorite musician or playlist as of late? Absolutely, Miranda Lambert and an Enya playlist. When I illustrate,

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instrumental beats put me in an immediate trance to draw and paint.

Most recently, "Chakra by Fakear, I have had on repeat when in my creative process.

You have such a broad range of styles in both your music and your artwork. What do you attribute that to? My youth and my adult life has been very culturally diverse. My mom is Palastian and Brazilian, and my dad is Palastian, and I’ve lived in both LA and New York, before returning to my roots in Chicago. I also surround myself with diversity constantly. I am inspired by how beautiful the world can be if you just choose to be open to what it has to offer you.

You speak about being a Guncle with such pride and passion. We should all be so lucky to have a mentor like you in our lives. What’s a recent Guncle memory? I have a niece that is a sophomore in high school and

“I also surround myself with diversity constantly. I am inspired by how beautiful the world can be if you just choose to be open to what it has to offer you.”

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I swear she is better than most artists I am exposed to daily on an international level. She is leading my fourth professional endeavor… a children’s animation series called "All Eyes on Andy". Andy provides the audience her perspective of social media living on another planet.

Having a career in fashion and a personal practice of spirituality, crystals, and new age philosophy myself, Andy encapsulates a character that aims to inspire children to be artistic through the foundation I have cultivated. With my niece at the helm in this character’s development, I can’t wait for the world to be "All Eyes on Andy".

Does Andy have a favorite tune that inspires her in her world? Not yet…but I like that idea! What I do know is that my philosophy on design, getting transcended, like when I listen to music and create, is

absolutely an essential part of her essence.

We are so humbled and honored to share with the world…for the first time…your illustrations of eight female musicians, carefully chosen by you, for the House’s first time music issue. But ‘first’, we must ask…do you sing too? I’m horrible at singing. You know what they say…“those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” I’m not quite teaching singing, but I definitely hope to inspire you from the illustration I’ve done of these eight incredible musicians, my top queens. You’ll also see that I have mentioned a pivotal moment in my life recently when describing why one of these incredible queens inspires me so much.

In September 2020, soon after my 30th birthday the previous June, I was diagnosed with fourth stage stomach cancer. For any of you who have been through the cancer thing, you know exactly what I mean

when I say…living in the present means more now than ever before. I always thought I was an appreciative person, valuing each day what life had to offer me. Now that thinking has taken on an entirely new meaning…and then some. I don't know what the future holds for me.

What I do know is that every day is a gift that I will fight for, through the incredible women I illustrated’s music, the family and friends around me who I am so grateful for, and the continued blessings I am sure to have for the rest of my days.

Akram Abdulla is a gift indeed. He is heartful, selfless, and the world is so much better because he’s in it. You may have written a love letter to The House through your illustrations. We give you all the love. For all of our days.

LEFT: ZENDAYA

Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach does an amazing job always showcasing her beauty and transforming her into a young fashion icon. Zendaya exudes power, poise, and a beauty way beyond the physical. The scene in The Greatest Showman where she performs “Rewrite the Stars” always gives me goosebumps.

It's absolutely breathtaking! And the song just makes my heart melt.

RIGHT: JENNIFER LOPEZ

J Lo and her song “Waiting for Tonight”, with a spanish version "Una Noche Más” is everything. The music video that played over and over on MTV and VH1 when I was younger. She then won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video, which had body crystals throughout. She and I were clearly crystal early adopters.

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ARIANNA GRANDE.

Arianna is a force. Her vocals match her vibe.

It is nearly impossible, as an artist, to not relate to her genuine self expression. I saw this look and immediately knew I had to draw it.

KATE PERRY.

Kate Perry’s music is a source of light in some of the darkest moments in my life. Her words are like magic. She is the spell castor, igniting my soul with strength, power, and always a sense of wonder. Two of my favorite songs of hers are straight out of a spell book: “Daises” and “Part of Me”.

LADY GAGA.

Lady Gaga was blessed with an amazing singing voice that moves most who listen to her. The song “Marry the Night” has been one of my anthems while living with cancer. Her lyrics help me transcend the present moment and always remind me to keep fighting. To not take a single day, hour, or minute for granted.

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DUA LIPA.

Dua Lipa is stunning in her natural aesthetic.

In hard times we all need something fun and whimsical to transport us to a better place.

Illustrating this look reminded me why I love being an artist. It brought me back to my childhood innocence and my love for fashion, music, and art.

TAYLOR SWIFT.

Taylor Swift is my all time favorite singer. Taylor and I are around the same age, so I feel like we grew up together. I just picture us being friends…hahaha.

Taylor’s music has been the soundtrack to my life.

LIZZO.

Lizzo at RuPaul’s drag race as a guest judge was jaw dropping. It captured her breathtaking beauty.

Lizzo’s confidence embodies an authenticity that makes her message about body positivity one worthy of everyone’s embracing. I love how she is breaking the mold on how the music industry and society define what beauty is to the mainstream.

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TO P : M U S I C I A N G U S S S TAV E . B OT TO M : D I R E C TO R E D I E B L A N C H A R D

A R T I S T L I S A B LU M

Musical Me

I N TRO WRI TT EN BY: K ACE Y P E RE Z

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I NTERVI EW BY: NATALIE T. ST EGER

OUR TEAM FIRST DISCOVERED ELLA HERMË, after contacting Kids Return's management for a feature story in the February issue. Some of us on our team had been listening to the band for a couple of months and fell in love with their sound.

For us, it felt nostalgic - something we spend time on. Due to COVID and the typical "who-knows-what's-going-to-happennext" societal attitudes, our team knew that scheduling a shoot with Kids Return was not going to be possible - the band being in Europe, and us in the US. Luckily for us,

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PHOTOGRA PHY BY: ELL A HERMË

their management mentioned they had just completed an editoral shoot with Hermë that had not yet been published, so we eargly awaited the photos. When we opened them in our inbox, we were awe struck.

Hermë has an ability to capture character and bring the viewer into a moment that allows you to get to know the characters in the story immediately. There is whimsy, rock and roll, and a take-you-back-in-time vibe to her work, which is the perfect combination of talents when it comes to photographing muscians. She reminds us

all of the magic that lives within film photography. We hope you enjoy this compilation of her work, and the few moments we spent getting to know her.

Ella, tell me about yourself, living in Paris, working as a photographer and the current projects you are working on now. I started my career in London eight years ago, and I now live in Paris. I mainly work in music (helping bands with their AD and visual identity), fashion, and advertising. And on a more personal side, I’m also working on my next exhibition that will take place in June,

M U S I C I A N G U S S S TAV E

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enagerie hopefully. I’m shooting a very intimate series of portraits, I am so excited to show them to the world! It’s been more than five years since my last show. The exhibition will be called, Send Nudes.

How did you start your career as a photographer and what inspired you? In my early twenties, I was going out a lot, and I always had a film camera with me. I documented my crazy nights for years (it became the essence of my last exhibition). One day, one of my friends, who’s a director, offered me a job as a set photographer on his short

movie. That was my first ever job experience as a photographer! On that day, I felt a new world was opening right before my eyes.

Being able to watch how a movie set is lit up was immensely instructive to me! I’m really influenced and inspired by cinema, music, and I also have an obsession for people’s interactions.

What were some challenges you first incurred as a photographer and how did you overcome them? A challenge I still face today is with my biggest clients. It’s hard for them to let me shoot on film. My ultimate dream

would be to always shoot on film (the work I share on my Instagram @ella.herme is 100% film). It can be frustrating at times because they always want to get “my style” of pictures, but without using film. It’s difficult to make them understand that digital and film will never really look the same.

What are some of your greatest projects thus far? What opened the doors for you to start working on major editorials or with big music artists? Before becoming a photographer, I was a musician. I decided to give up my masters (music and art studies) to fly to London

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B A C K S TA G E P H OTO G R A P H Y S TA R R I N G M U S I C I A N A L I C E E T M O I ON THE SET OF HER MUSIC VIDEO

FA S H I O N E D I TO R I A L S TA R R I N G @ C A R L AT D M UA B Y S T E P H A N I E J A C Q U E T H A I R B Y FA N N Y F R A S L I N

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“Music is central in my life. I started playing the guitar at the age of 14, and played in bands for years until photography became my job. I always kept an infinite love for my fellow musicians, and today I find my own balance by taking pictures of them.” and start working as a photographer there.

But I always had a lot of musicians around me (most of my friends are). When I decided to move back to Paris, I offered my services to all the musicians I knew. I started going on tour with them, to capture lively instants of their lives. Music never really left me. This is my passion as much as photography. Now, if I had to pick one job that I will never forget, it’d be with my mentor Yann Gonzalez, the director who offered me a three month job as a set photographer on his movie “Knife+Heart”. It taught me so much. And then three years ago, I got signed and represented by a big agency in Paris (Le Crime Agency), which definitely changed the game, and opened the doors to fashion and advertising!

How do you balance it all with your photography and DJ duo, Ella&Anna?

Sometimes, my job can be really stressful, especially on big campaigns where so many people are involved. So being a DJ duo (with one of my best friends) is the perfect way to cool off, have fun, dance together, and play songs we love. And as it is kind of a night-time job, it just com-

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plements perfectly with my day life as a photographer.

Can you tell us more about the DJ side of you and the sound of Ella&Anna? Music is central in my life. I started playing the guitar at the age of 14, and played in bands for years until photography became my job. I always kept an infinite love for my fellow musicians, and today I find my own balance by taking pictures of them, and with my DJ duo, Ella&Anna. We started almost three years ago as a challenge. We mainly play house and electronic music, and we plan on releasing our first track by September 2022 - yay!

Any DJ gigs coming up we should know about? We usually play at PopUp in Paris once a month, stay tuned on our Instagram page @ella_et_anna to never miss a show!

We know you shoot with film, as well as make films. You are very multitalented, what are you currently using when you’re shooting?

I mainly use a medium format film camera, the Mamiya 645 pro TL, as well as a point and shoot 35mm film camera, the Contax T2. But, I have a big collection of film cam-

eras. And I recently directed 16mm film videos (ads and music videos) for the first time. It was something I’d been dreaming about for a long time!

What can you say is your favorite photography medium and why? I would either say an exhibition or a photography book.

When I was in high school, my father took me to Paris to attend a huge Diane Arbus retrospective exhibition. It was a shock for me. I cried! Her work has influenced me massively. The same year, I discovered through a book the work of Tom Wood, who instantly became my favorite photographer. Both exhibitions and photography books had a big impact on my art. I think they are a very intimate way to dive into someone’s work.

Who is someone you would you like to shoot or work with one day? I would love to meet Patti Smith. She is so inspiring and talented. She is truly a part of me always.

But, my current obsession is actor Angus Cloud, I adore him! I discovered him in Euphoria, I love his nonchalance. Angus, if you read this, please be my friend!

FA S H I O N E D I TO R I A L YO A N N P I G N Y F O U R N E R E AU S TA R R I N G M O D E L S T I F E N N -T I A N A F O U R N E R E AU THEHOUSE-MAGAZINE.COM | APRIL 2022 A L E N A G A P O N O VA

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L E F T, TO P - L E F T: M O D E L C H LO E L E D U C TO P - R I G H T : M O D E L A N D I E F O R T E AND MAKEUP BY MARIE DUFRESNE B OT TO M - L E F T : M O D E L S M AYA OT S O K O A N D E L I OT T A R D I T I .

MAKEUP BY MARIE DUFRESNE HAIR BY JOSEPHINE BRIGNON SET BY SIMONE LANEMONE B OT TO M - R I G H T : FA S H I O N C A M PA I G N FOR MANOUSH T H I S PA G E : M O D E L C H LO E L E D U C HAIR AND MAKEUP BY MARIE DUFRESNE SET BY SIMONE LANEMONE

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PERSONAL WORK S TA R R I N G M O D E L RAPHAËLLE VERLAINE

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F LO AT I N G D O W N T H E E S T UA R Y OIL ON CANVAS

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E D I TO R I A L S E T M O D E L S M AYA OT S O K O A N D E L I OT T A R D I T I S T Y L I N G B Y C O L I N E P E Y R OT MAKEUP BY MARIE DUFRESNE HAIR BY JOSEPHINE BRIGNON SET BY SIMONE LANEMONE

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P R E S S S H OT BICHE BAND

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Jacket MILK WHITE Jumpsuit BLIKVANGER Shoes AKIRA Sunglasses TATA PR ARCHIVE Rings ELLIE VAIL and ELECTRIC PICKS Hair products R&Co

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WRI TTEN BY: AIDA M. TORO

P H OTO G RAPHY BY: JANA S CHU E SSLER

STYLED BY: AISAJU, SECOND STYLIST, SOFIA POPKOVA, ASSISTED BY DMYTRO MOSEIKIN H A I R BY: J E NN LAGRON

M A KEU P BY: NOVA KAPLAN P RO DU C ED BY: GREAT S OCIAL CLU B

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Vegan Leather Pants ATOUSA White Nike Corset FRISK ME GOOD Necklaces JESSE J COLLECTION Trench IVAN YOUNG Shoes NIKE Watch VERSACE Hair products R&CO Makeup MAC COSMETICS

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B

“Being an artist is hard…I say this all the time,” said Agnez Mo. “Especially a real one.”

Indonesian R&B powerhouse, Agnes Monica Muljoto, professionally known as Agnez Mo is an all-inclusive artist from Jakarta, Indonesia who is celebrated throughout the planet for her talents as a singer, songwriter, and music producer. She began making her mark in the international music industry with her debut single "Coke Bottle" (feat. T.I. and Timbaland), that dropped in 2014 and has blossomed her into the soulful and alluring sounding artist she is now.

“I remember my team told me that Timbaland’s camp had reached out and I was already in L.A. at the time to work with Dick Clark’s Production office for the American Music Awards (AMA's),” said Agnez. “I was the co-host of the red carpet for the AMA’s, and then I flew out to Miami to work with him and the whole team.”

For Agnez, working with a prominent American record producer and artist like Timbaland was one of the best experiences she’s ever savored. Timbaland was one of the first heavy hitters in the industry to recognize Agnez’s talent in the U.S. To this day, he supports Agnez, as he reposted her recently long awaited single "Patience" on his social media platform.

"Patience" is a transition from her buoyant single "Overdose" (feat. Chris Brown), which was released in 2018 and gained over 20 million clicks and listens on Spotify. "Patience" is a single consisting of its own recognition and portrays Agnez’s facile falsetto and vocals reduced down to

the essentials. The music video analogues this progressive sound and illustrates her in a state of observation to address love with vigilance.

“I remember I had just gone through some shit that month and I kind of had to put my foot down to make a grown up decision based on what to compromise and what not to,” expressed Agnez. “Some

people are just not used to hearing the word ‘no’, but I'm cool.”

Agnez continued with a chuckle, “The song was inspired by me telling the guy to be okay with me taking my time, not rushing into anything, and getting to know each other first before moving into the other

things. "'Patience' is about the vulnerability of a bad bitch.”

As she’s released this new track, Agnez also talks about her overall journey as an artist and how she’s handled the ride thus far. She mentioned being an authentic artist comes with its turbulence. Agnez explained that being an artist is more than just fame and money.

“We are encouraged and demanded to be in touch with our feelings a lot when it comes to our craft,” she explained.

“We wouldn’t be able to create without our emotions being involved, however, at the very same time, the world seems to demand us to do exactly the opposite, which is to be heartless, to not take anything personally, and to not show any emotions when we are being judged left and right.”

Agnez mentioned that artists speak their truths for the world to see in today's VERY judgmental world, which is a hard task. Nowadays, it takes so much courage for artists to speak their truth, and again, civilians seem to forget that artists are human beings as well.

“We can’t be a robot by diminishing our feelings entirely in order to do our job,” said Agnez. “That’s why you see a lot of people lose themselves, their identity, and sight of what makes them happy.”

In order to balance out being a human being as an artist, yet still having to express truths out to the world, is having acknowledgement that whatever is done or said will be judged nonetheless, stated Agnez. At the same time, not taking things too personally is key in order to not break down in shambles.

“That is a TOUGH job,” she expressed.

“I always remind myself to know what's real and what's not, such as what life is about, what your real priorities are, who's your real

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“I focus on the right thing…fame and money will come after. Fame and money shouldn’t hinder your focus from creating your legacy.” real friend, or who's just there when it’s ‘exciting’, and what the real definition of happiness is. Keeping those in mind makes me grounded and makes me not forget who I am and what I actually am looking for in life, versus not what people expect me to do.”

Agnez also takes pride by spreading philanthropy throughout Asia via her appointment by the joint forces of the Indonesian Anti Narcotic Police force and the U.S’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). She is an anti-drug ambassador in Asia and the ambassador of MTV EXIT in battling human trafficking. When she was appointed as the anti-drug ambassador, her way of performing the duties of the role was by showing her fans that she could be successful and live her life to the fullest without having to live on the edge. During Agnez’s younger years, many thought it was ‘cool’ to live irresponsibly and on edge, which

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she actually had a different perspective on.

“I am never a big fan of being a ‘preacher’, meaning I’m big on being an example and an influence by showing them through actual examples,” explained Agnez.

“I hate telling people what to do, but I love to SHARE my experience.”

Agnez continued, “Don’t get me wrong, I wasn't talking about taking risks in general because I am a big risk taker, but I'm calculated. There are some risks not worth taking, and one of them is drug abuse.”

She also encourages up and coming artists to not base FAME and MONEY as their end goal. After 20 years, Agnez continues to stay on top of her game because she is still excited to do what she does, which many cannot express when it comes to their work.

“I focus on the right thing…Fame and money will come after,” said Agnez. “Fame

and money shouldn’t hinder your focus from creating your legacy.”

As an artist, Agnez continues to think outside the box, finding what works for her, and more. She also has a second version of Patience dropping in the beginning of April, which she is very thrilled for as it will be featuring a friend of hers who is an amazing rapper and lyricist.

“Just find what works for you and find the right inner circle,” she said.

To listen to the first released version of Patience, you can visit Agnez’s artist page on Spotify and for more updates on the second version of the song and on the artist herself, follow her on Instagram over @agnezmo.

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Coat PARISIENNE ET ALORS Shirt and Skirt MILK WHITE Necklaces ELLIE VAIL Shoes AKIRA Sunglasses GUCCI Handbags DIOR and FENDI Chain BOTTEGA VENETA Hair products R&CO Makeup MAC COSMETICS

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Dress RVNG Shoes AKIRA Bracelets ELLIE VAIL Chain BOTTEGA VENETTA Hair products R&CO Makeup MAC COSMETICS

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AVERY KONRAD WRI TTEN BY: C O N NO R D USZYNSK I

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PHOTO G RAPH Y BY: BRENDAN MEADOWS | STYLIN G: PET ER S U MERACRU

MA K E U P : M IN - JE E MOWAT | HAI R: E RI N K LASSE N

AVERY KONRAD EXISTS IN MULTITUDES. Her impressive work in film and television, coupled with her background and love of dance certifies Avery as one to watch amongst the ever-shifting and changing Hollywood landscape. Avery most recently appeared in the science fiction-horror television series "FROM", which premiered on Epix in February of 2022. Portraying the role of Sara Myers, Avery transformed herself into a complicated, multifaceted, and haunted character. Our Fashion Director Connor Duszynski sat down with the Vancouver-based actress and dancer to discuss her rising starpower, her thoughts on the success of From, her roots, and upcoming projects to keep an eye out for.

Good afternoon, Avery! Thank you so much for joining us. Tell us a little bit about yourself, where you’re from, and how you got started in acting.

Thank you for having me. I grew up in a small town outside Vancouver, BC. I was always drawn to storytelling from a young age.

Growing up, I was very close with my neighbors who I considered to be my sisters in many ways. I was the youngest of all of us and I wanted to do everything that they did. I expressed that I was interested in acting when I was fairly young, probably 12 or 13 years old. My mom found a class for me to try, and this was the first time I found something that I understood. I just got it, and I wanted to act from then on. This was important for me at that age because, growing up dyslexic, I didn’t always feel smart in class. Having my brain wired differently, it was important that I felt appreciated and understood.

Acting did that for me. It was a total game-changer. That feeling of acceptance and expression is what got me through times where I felt like “this isn’t for me.”

That’s so important to be able to express yourself creatively and artis-

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tically without fear. I’m sure a lot of our readers will be able to relate to that struggle. With that being said, what three words would you choose to describe yourself?

The first three words that come to mind are resilient, loyal, and goofy. There’s definitely that side to me. It’s so important to laugh and share that side with other people.

I couldn’t agree more. In your work in acting, you’ve shared so many sides and facets on your personality and the personalities of your characters with your viewers. Can you tell us a little bit about the current projects you’re working on? Is there anything you can tease with our readers about projects coming up that we should keep an eye out for?

I just wrapped filming a comedy in February that I’m so excited for everyone to see! After shooting "FROM", which was much darker and heavy, I think this will be a nice shift. It was nice to breathe and bring out that goofier side to me that I haven’t shown much in my past work. I love that it’s coming out after "FROM", so viewers can see the contrast between the shows and my roles. It’s called "Honor Society" and it’s coming out on Paramount+ later this year, starring Angourie Rice. It’s a coming-of-age story, and I play Angourie’s best friend who’s a little aloof, colorful, and goofy as well.

That sounds so exciting! I can’t wait to watch it. Touching upon the difference in these roles, can you expand upon how you prepared to play Sara in "FROM"? What did that look like for you physically, mentally, and emotionally?

There’s so many layers to Sara. That’s a testament to John Griffin who created the show and all the multidimensional characters.

There’s so much depth to each character. For Sara, when I got the breakdown, I felt like I understood her. I wanted to have her internal

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struggle present. At her core, she’s very caring and endearing…perhaps a bit naive. However, she’s fighting this thing, these voices that tell her to do awful things. This was something I had to sit with. I had to make sure I was very, very grounded in the circumstances. I read the scenes over and over, trying to understand what she would act like, how she would feel, and understand the headspace she’s coming from. She clearly has a history of some mental health complications.

Because this is something that is so present in her life, I wanted to make sure I portrayed that as realistically and respectfully as possible.

The days before my scenes, I would take time to sink into that feeling and get into that headspace so I arrived on set, ready to go.

Can you expand upon this process a little bit more? While I’m not an actor, I know method actors typically go about their days a bit differently, listening to music, isolating themselves from others, and other methods to get into the right headspace. What did this process look like for you and how did it make you feel?

The days before shooting I definitely isolated myself a bit more, just so that I could really understand Sara. As we went along and as I learned more about Sara, it became easier for me to turn it on and off. In terms of music, I found that for Sara, I need to listen to a lot of instrumentals. I didn’t listen to a lot other than that.

What are your thoughts on playing a character this complex?

While Sara clearly battles a lot with her internal and mental struggles, there is a sense of duality to her. The viewers can also see that she’s very compassionate in her ways. What can viewers take away from your portrayal of her?

When I initially read the breakdown for her character, I knew Sara had to be complex. She’s human. She isn’t just this or that, she isn’t one dimensional. I had to find the humanity in her and bring that to life. While she may do things that are disturbing to the viewers throughout the show, there’s still more to her than just that. It was important for me to portray her in a way that was truthful and real; I needed to show her humanity. She truly believed that everything she did was for the greater good of her family. I think in this way, viewers can connect to her struggle. Her brother is really her driving force throughout this series, as they’re trapped in this town together.

It’s also important for the viewers to understand that the weight of the place Sara and her brother are trapped in is so heavy, it can do things that you obviously wouldn’t do under normal circumstances.

I actually had difficulty in the scenes where she wasn’t battling this internal struggle more than anything because I didn’t see her in this light very many times.

Is there anything you can share with our readers that happened on set and behind-the-scenes during the filming of "FROM"?

The scene in Episode 5 with Ethan, Nathan, and the goats is something I’ll never forget! We had a goat walk not only in the frame, but directly up to the camera and I was wondering how we

were going to get that scene shot. It was too cute! But truthfully, the entire experience was something I’ll never forget. I often think about admiring the set in between scenes, in the diner, and with the crew. It was wonderful. I’ll definitely look back at this project for the rest of my career as a complete game-changer both personally and professionally.

I hope there are bloopers of the goats somewhere out there. I’d be amazed if you were able to keep a straight face. In addition to all the wonderful acting projects you’ve been involved with and filmed, you also keep very busy with Legacy Dance Productions in your hometown. How do you manage work-life balance? Also, is it a struggle to keep your personal life private?

I’m definitely learning how to juggle both. Even though I’ve been acting and dancing for much of my life, I’m still learning to fly.

It’s a learning curve. At the same time, I’m so grateful to be able to do both and be as busy as I have been. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s been a whirlwind. As far as my personal life goes, I’m not yet at the place where people are interested in my day-to-day life. With that being said, I learn something new everyday in terms of growing and managing the opportunities that are presented to me. I’ve been guilty of pushing myself too far at times. But it’s important to make mistakes in order to grow. I tell this to the kids I teach all the time.

What are some of the aspects that make you a great mentor to these kids, in addition to being a phenomenal coach?

When my sisters…I mean my neighbors! When my neighbors opened the dance studio, I knew I wanted to be involved because we danced together growing up. It’s something we’re all passionate about. I’m grateful that they allowed me to be a part of their studio.

I watched them teach. What’s great about us as a team is that we hold the kids to a standard regardless of their age. We want to teach them a great work ethic, showing up on-time and ready to encourage one another, as well as the importance of being good and kind.

It’s important for our kids to show the same love to other teams as they show to each other. Especially with COVID, some of our kids are competing in-person for the first time. It’s a new experience for many of them. It’s amazing to be there with them for experiences and memories like this.

Would you say that mentoring these dancers is the most fulfilling work that you do?

Absolutely! When I’ve been away filming, I still make myself available to help coach and watch the kids dance via Zoom. There have been times where I’ve been on-set four hours ahead of the kids’ classes and I carved out time to watch them and be present for them.

I missed them so much when I was gone and couldn’t wait to get back to them. Getting love from them is priceless. I love being a part of these kids’ lives.

What would you consider to be your favorite style of dance and why?

I grew up loving very technical dance like ballet. However, the

“I learn something new everyday in terms of growing and managing the opportunities that are presented to me.

I've been guilty of pushing myself too far at times. But it's important to make mistakes in order to grow.”

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older I got, the more I started to love hip-hop. It’s interesting because in so many ways, they’re completely opposite styles. Nowadays, I would definitely say hip-hop and street jazz are my favorites, in large part due to the music. I love how upbeat it is.

Would you also say that hip-hop is your favorite genre of music?

I’m an R&B girl through and through! Even from a young age when I danced ballet, I loved R&B. I love the way it makes me feel.

Do you have a favorite artist by chance?

There’s so many, it’s hard to pick a single favorite artist. I really resonate with Summer Walker’s music, and SZA’s and Kehlani’s. I also play Frank Ocean daily.

They’re all amazing picks! I love all their music. Share with our readers the three songs you have on repeat at the moment.

I’ve been playing Lucky Daye’s new album Candydrip since it came out. Honestly I’ve had the entire album on repeat for a few weeks now.

What’s your favorite love song and best breakup song you can share with us?

The best breakup song is “Potential Breakup Song” by Aly&AJ, handsdown! It’s a banger. There’s so many love songs to choose from, but I’d probably have to say “L-O-V-E” by Nat King Cole.

Would you personally ever consider singing in your future? You’re so multi-talented, I’m sure you could do it!

Well, I grew up in a very musical household. My mom was a singer and my brother’s an artist. It’s always been a prominent part of my life and I’d love to do a musical one day. To be able to sing, dance, and act in a project would be a dream. I don’t know if I’d ever make a career of it, but it’s definitely something I want to dip my toe into.

And do you have a favorite karaoke song or song in general you like to sing a lot?

Honestly, “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid is my jam.

I love it! That song reminds me of my childhood. Is there any album or song that you know like the back of your hand?

Well, “Male Fantasy” by Billie Eilish is a great one! I love that entire album, but especially that song. I saw her in concert just last week and she was amazing. That song’s been playing in my head ever since.

Another amazing choice. I can’t get enough of Billie. Well Avery, thank you so much for joining me today to discuss your recent and upcoming projects. I’m sure our readers will keep a lookout for "Honor Society" on Paramount+ later this year, and will love checking out your music recommendations. It was a pleasure speaking with you!

Thanks for having me!

To keep up with the lovely Avery Konrad follow her on Instagram @aveskonrad. Be sure to watch Avery in her latest work "FROM" on Epix and keep an eye for "Honor Society" on Paramount+ coming soon!

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last look 1.

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FESTIVAL STYLE

Live music and festivals are making their welcomed comeback. We've pulled together some favorite pieces for a laid back concert ready look that can take you all the way from Cochella to a night at Madison Square Garden.

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1. CIRCUS FONT SCARF BY ACNE STUDIOS SCARF

6 . W Y N N E W E S T E R B O OT B Y S A M E D E L M A N

2 . O R G A N I C H O O P E A R R I N G B Y L I Z Z I E F O R T U N ATO

7 . M AT I L D A B L A Z E R B Y R E T R O F E T E

3 . LO V E D R E S S B Y T R O I S T H E L A B E L

8. LES MAINS NECKLACE BY ANISSA KERMICHE

4 . LO R E N G L A S S E S B Y S H O P V E R I E

9 . R O S E R O M A N C E P H O N E C A S E B Y W I L D F LO W E R C A S E S

5 . L E C C E B E LT B Y I S A B E L M A R A N T

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On the

HOUSE

A music month favorite

by ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

the BIKER DENIM DRESS THE STATEMENT MAKING PIECE FOR SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS. This hybrid pencil dress makes an elegant, but rockin' statement with the combination of washed denim and an articulated leather bustier with additional waist detailing. For the encore? The leather work is finished with silver metal hardware and the denim has classic tobacco top stitching throughout.

You'll never need to wonder what to wear to a concert again after adding this dress to your line up.

SHOP THIS LOOK WITH EASE BY SCANNING THE CODE WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE. ->

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final notes FROM THE HOUSE

I M A G E S F R O M : D A Z E D M A G A Z I N E , N A M R O U D G O R G U I S , S TJ Ä R N O R N A F I N N S H Ä R , D I V I N Y L S , K A N Y E W E S T S U N D AY S E R V I C E .

WRITTEN BY: JENNIFER STRIEGEL

M U S I C. iNGRAINED IN OUR SPECIES TO THE CORE. Are you in a good mood? Bad mood? Neutral?

Feeling your mood right now… is it a good one? What song comes to mind to describe your feels? Are you listening to an instrumental song? One with various vocals? What type of music is it? Do you listen so loud it almost pops your eardrums? Or are you more of a soft in the background type?

Written music was invented 3,400 years ago in Syria.

From its beginning, music has a storied history in uniting people. People in their beliefs, people in their habits, people in their ways of living. Before instruments, people used physical pieces of nature combined with their own vocal cords to create melodies. Those melodies are often an integral part of the teachings of what’s happened in our world’s history. Archaeologists determined that the first instrument created was a flute, longer before music was written. It was discovered in the Potočka Zijalka Jama Cave in Slovenia. That cave was a bear den, which provided the inevitable materials for the development of the flute. Specifically, a projectile bone point. That flute is 40,000 years old.

Looking back this far in history it becomes so clear why music has healing elements for so many of us today. Scans of our brains show that music is medicinal.

So much so our brains are stimulated when we hear music and as a result, new neural-pathways are able to materialize, replacing any damaged ones. If you’ve been pregnant before, you’ll probably recall your doctor telling you that you’re welcome to play music to your womb to connect with what’s growing inside of you. If you’ve attended a religious ceremony, your memory likely recalls specific harmonies heard during that experience. If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you would have remembered a shoe box full of mixtapes and albums on cassettes. Today, we toggle between music apps on our phones and satellite radio automatically connected to our new car’s dash.

The number of genres of music has expanded to over 1,200 including specialized subgenres that call out specific regions and races like Swedish reggae and black punk. Have a listen to a new subgenre. Bring back an old tune that you haven’t listened to in awhile. Introduce us to a song, album, artist, genre that you love. Open your ears and get those brain waves flowing. Listen on.

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