THE LUNA COLLECTIVE ISSUE IV X KITTY NALGAS

THE LUNA COLLECTIVE

FEATURING

JUNE/JULY 2018

KITTY NALGAS

ISSUE IV

a note...

We’re back - did you miss us? I am so excited to share our Issue IV with you all. I’m constantly wanting to try something new and keep the magazine evolving, so I hope this issue reflects that.

I’ve never identified with just one art form. I’ve always been interested in various media and the second I started this magazine I wanted to find a way to incorporate that.

As The Luna Collective finds its identity and expands, we’re gonna branch out in so many ways and I hope you will join us on this journey to see where we go. The Luna Collective is more than just a magazine.

Thank you all for taking the time to support us, whether it be skimming through our issues or sending us sweet messages on Instagram - it means the world to everyone that contributes. Putting yourself and your work out in the world can be a really scary thing, but it’s not so bad when there’s a creative and sincere community waiting for you. You’d be surprised what follows once you put yourself out there.

xox, Sophie Graphic By Leah Lu

1

TUNES FOR THE SUMMER

Empire of the Sun - Walking On A Dream Knox Fortune - Lil Thing Clairo - 4EVER The Honeysticks - Out Like a Light MGMT - Electric Feel JAHKOY & ScHool Boy Q - California Heaven Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool Joji - Yeah Right Cuco, J-Kwe$t - Summer TIme High Time Naji & falcxne - Hipster Girl Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky Billy Lemos & Stevan - Can’t Be // How U Feel Friendly Fires - Love Like Waves Foster The People - Sit Next to Me Mk.Gee - If He Passion Pit - Little Secrets Childish Gambino - Sober TV Girl - King of Echo Park John Vincent - Back to My Ways The Beach Boys - Wouldn’t It Be Nice Cherub - Doses & Mimosas Omar Apollo - Erase Weezer - Island In The Sun George Walter - Escape BROCKHAMPTON - SUMMER Hajk - Best Friend Knox Hamilton - Video Sunshine DREAMERS - SCREWS Smallpools - Stumblin’ Home Scan to listen to the playlist Her’s - Low Beam on Spotify

CONTENTS AVA BARTLOW

9

JOHN VINCENT III

The Honeysticks

3

43

29

KITTY NALGAS

49

CONTENTS

ASIATICA

61 The Munch Club / 5 Love, Simon / 7 Summer / 15 Zoie Knives / 35 Woodland Prayers / 69 4

The Munch Club x

Her Garden Kitchen

Pictures & Recipes Provided By Tara Thomas

About Chef Tara Thomas

My name is Chef Tara Thomas of Her Garden Kitchen.

I feel that the responsibility of a chef is to nourish the consumer not only with flavor, but health. An experience of benefits from organic quality ingredients and the conscious chef goes beyond the experience at the table.

Everything I create is vegan, gluten-free and soy-free.

I specialize in lifestyle/allergy conscious cuisine on the elegant side, I do this by bringing seasonal produce and superfoods into recipes. Being 100% plant-based, health conscious, and earth friendly centered chef is rare, and I live to bring light to the fact that it is a chef’s responsibility to take morals into their work. To me it means utilizing as many locally sourced plant-based ingredients, wastereduced shopping, earth conscious products, and more.

P icnic P latter | Sandwich and C ollard Wraps with an Easy Garbanzo Mustard Sauce Picnic Platter

Halved and de-stemmed collard greens Peeled Radicchio Sliced Gluten-free Buns Summer Stone Fruit Fresh Garden Herbs (Basil and/or Parsley) Sliced Carrot Sliced Celery Sliced Bell Pepper Thinly sliced Radish Jeweled Dates *Other Options: Olive bar, Nuts, Crackers, Your favorite vegetables and fruits & anything yummy that you love!

Wash, slice, and prep your produce for the platter. Arrange in a way so you have balance between bitter, sweet, juicy and crisp.

5

Easy Garbanzo Mustard Sauce 1/2 cup of hummus 3 tablespoons of water 1 tablespoon of mustard 1 teaspoon of black sesame seeds 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1/4 teaspoon sumac Maple Vanilla Drizzle 3 teaspoons of maple syrup 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla Whisk all ingredients together into a thin dipping sauce, sprinkle sesame seeds, and drizzle maple vanilla drizzle on top.

Summer Picnic Tips

To Make It Easy Shop in the bulk foods section of your local store. My favorite thing is to start with nuts, dried fruits, jeweled dates. Some shops have their own snacks in the bulk section like raw bars! These are fabulous accessories that will add an elegant tone to your raw platter.

To Quench Your Thirst A drink that will hold it’s value in the sun.

Kombucha + herb: this is the holy grail picnic drink. My favorite is a classic kombucha with a single mint leaf. Get frisky with it.

To Keep It Casual I find that packing a vegetable platter offers the ability to serve a snack for many, or a refreshing lunch for an intimate gathering. Anything left over can be happily composted in a nearby bush - you know the cleanup is the stressful part of the picnic!

What to Pack Blanket Pillows to lean back in comfort Basket Plates Glasses Large Plate/platter/cutting board Napkins or lick your fingers Tissues for the allergies Essential Oils for emergencies

6

Words by Charissa Marie Love Illustrations by Megan Potter

7

Simon Spier is a regular kid – normal friends, normal family, kid sister he likes (but won’t tell that to), average student, drinks too much iced coffee and loves music. He’s a regular high school senior, just like most of us are, or were. Except he’s got one huge ass secret – he’s gay.

In this coming of age, romantic comedy-esque film, we follow Simon Spier in his process of falling in love with the only other closeted gay kid at school. They exchange emails after Simon reaches out to him – Blue, he signs himself – after Blue anonymously posted his biggest secret (being gay). Simon’s parents don’t know, his sister doesn’t know, his best friend’s, since forever, don’t know – not even his absolute best friend, Leah Burke. He finds comfort in his hidden away relationship with Blue, and he finally feels like more of himself….until a fellow student finds his private email account, set only for Blue, and blackmails Simon with screenshots of his and Blue’s emails.

Love, Simon is one of the most important movies to come out this year, so far. The cultural impact it’s had on the LGBTQA+ community proves how important movies like these, coming of age coming out movies that don’t make the character being gay its main focus, but instead normalizes the idea of coming out stories.

Love, Simon took a gay couple and told their story without the raunchy subplot and the unnecessary seductive exoticness most LGBTQ+ films and books have felt the need to sell to be seen as interesting.

This story is about a boy graduating from high school and finding love with himself and finding love around him. This movie follows the same steps, undoubtedly, as John Hughes movies did in the eighties.

The movie stars Nick Robinson as Simon Spier, Katherine Langford as Leah Burke, Alexandra

Shipp as Abby, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Nick and Keiynan Lonsdale, a Black and Jewish bi-sexual, who came out during the process of filming this film, as Bram Greenfeld. The film is directed by Greg Berlanti, who identifies as gay.

Love, Simon has sparked conversation within the LGBTQA+ community, a lot of them having taken the parents and friends to watch the movie, and then coming out to them afterward, or just taking them so they have a better understanding of what they went/are going through.

A lot of people came out after just watching the movie alone. In my theater, there was not a dry eye in the room when Jennifer Garner, who plays Simon’s mother, Emily, delivers her speech to Nick Robinson’s Simon:

“Being gay is your thing. There are parts of it you have to go through alone. I hate that. As soon as you came out, you said, “Mom, I’m still me.” I need you to hear this: You are still you, Simon. You are still the same son who I love to tease and who your father depends on for just about everything. And you’re the same brother who always complements his sister on her food, even when it sucks.

You get to exhale now, Simon. You get to be more you than you have been in...in a very long time. You deserve everything you want.”

I hope this movie continues to spark conversation on how important normalizing kids and adults, and those in between, who belong to the LGBTQA+ community is – hopefully the idea of a “coming out” story doesn’t exist and being gay is just as normal as being straight. We don’t want the “default” anymore. We shouldn’t need it. Like Love, Simon advertises, “Everyone deserves a great love story.”

8

9

AVA BARTLOW Story by Grace Tarandek P hotos by Nikoli Partiyeli

ART FLOWS THROUGH HER EVERY MOVE --- there is truly no one like Ava Bartlow. The supreme confidence that Bartlow has in her vision is key to knowing that she is a force to be reckoned with. Ava Bartlow is as relevant as they come, combining a unique spirit with a gentle touch, she allows her art to stand on its own. At 19 years old, it’s astonishing to see someone of such eloquence existing within the music industry.

heavy amounts of jazz that she describes as a huge influence in her music. She draws inspiration from fellow singers like Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse. Interestingly enough, Bartlow only took one voice lesson at a young age, which points to the fact that she has always been a natural. Bartlow isn’t just comfortable with that fact though, she embraces her unparalleled raw talent and believes it defines her as an authentic voice in music.

Ava Bartlow is an up and coming singersongwriter that sees no boundaries. She has been making music her whole life but carved a new path with the formation of Fille, a band she started less than a year ago that is already making waves. Fille consists of drummer Eric Seel, guitarist Max Lindberg (creator of Black Pool) and bassist Sienna Geo. Although the group has yet to release music, you surely can expect to be hearing from them soon. Their songs are written, performances are aplenty and their next goal is to release music.

The origin story of Fille is quite amusing and inspiring to say the least. The band was born in Shane Blanchard’s backyard where all of her friends would hang out. She casually expressed one night her dream of wanting to create a band.

Her friends laughed and said, “Alright, well, everyone here is a musician Ava! Do you want to a start a band?’ To that she responded, “Dang is it that easy? I could’ve asked that 4 years ago.”

And that was the night Fille history was made.

Bartlow is a natural songwriter and has known from the beginning of her life that she was born to do it. She says that not once did she question her fate as a songwriter and stuck to what she knew she was good at. “I’ve been singing my whole entire life since I was a little girl. I’ve been singing my heart out. This is what I’ve known. It’s not even a ‘this is what I’m supposed to do’ it’s like this is what I was born to do. It wasn’t a question at all.”

Growing up in Long Beach, Bartlow listened to

Bartlow is excited about the obvious quick momentum of the group. “We’re playing shows, we’re getting a following. It’s cool to finally have a band and have people supporting me. It’s really getting somewhere.”

To look at someone’s creative process is very telling of the type of artist they want to be.

Bartlow’s songwriting process really reflects her artistry and her voice in the industry. She is honest, emotive and expressive. She doesn’t have a specific method for writing and instead

10

lets her emotions flow through her in an organic process. “I’ll pretty much go through something super intense and instead of going and doing a bunch of drugs and drinking I’ll sit in my room, cry my eyes out and write a fucking amazing song. As a process, I’ll just sit there bawling and strumming my guitar. That’s honestly how I’ve written most of those songs.”

Obviously Bartlow is a natural musician, but she’s more than that, she’s also a true artist. It is a rare thing to come across someone that is so sure of who they are at such a young age but Ava Bartlow is just that; a woman that knows her power in the world. The name of her band, Fille, which comes from the French word “girl” lets us in on Bartlow’s intentions in her creative world. She is impactful and strives to use her art to demonstrate female empowerment. “I won’t let anyone make me feel like they’re belittling me when it comes to music because I’m doing what I love and what I was born to do.” She uses her art as a weapon and will never let anyone, especially a man, kill that message. Bartlow’s confidence and bravery is something that people, especially younger girls, may well look up to during her career.

She seems to love this early stage in her career which points to her down-to-earth energy.

She is excited about the multitude of possibilities but seems very grateful for where she is right now. Where many artists want to rush towards industry success and fame, Bartlow steers far from that vernacular and focuses on doing what makes her happy.

One of Bartlow’s biggest upcoming goals is to create a new genre that encompasses her individual style. As of now, she describes her music as “folky western indie ballad with some bedroom pop” but is working towards a way to

11

talk about her specific style of music that’s something other artists can also identify with.

Bartlow has the most craveable style, and her Instagram is mad inspiring, but surprisingly, she is all about individual style. Her approach towards fashion is inclusive and diverse. “I wear whatever I want when I want.” All of her bandmates have their own unique styles and she strives to encourage them to be themselves fully and wear whatever makes them feel good.“With my band I’m not gonna be the type of person that’s like ‘oh this is my band and I want everyone to wear suits’ I want everybody to be their individual self.

I want Max to wear his Dickies and his Hawaiian shirt and his converse and everyone to just wear whatever they want. Same goes with me, I refuse to subject myself to one form of style or I’ll just get turned off.”

Growing up in Long Beach, California, is a defining part of Bartlow’s story. The Long Beach music scene has recently gained attention and she speaks about her gratitude to get to be a part of it. “Long Beach really is an incomparable, growing artistic community and everyone is always creating not only music, but everything art based. One month we’ll put together an art show and the next you could have the opportunity of walking in a friend’s fashion show. I just love living in a place where you can express yourself through your art form, whatever that may be.”

She is a big part of this growing community of artists that thrive and rely on collaboration and Fille’s early fans are lucky to witness and hear its by-products.

She’s classic, unapologetic, and inspiring. She is effortless and purposeful at the same time and she is only getting started. Ava Bartlow is a magical woman.

12

“I won’t let anyone make me feel like they’re belittling me when it comes to music because I’m doing what I love and what I was born to do.”

13

14

IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER...

Late night drives along Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down and your friends screaming along to the perfect summer playlist you’ve curated -- the time has come as summer is here. There are so many senses, whether it be the scent of the neighbor’s barbecue or the first note of ‘Walking On A Dream’ by Empire of the Sun, that just take you back to the summer in an instant. Thank goodness summer is here - we’ve missed you.

Here’s what you had to say about

SUMMER.

P hoto By Stefanie Murza / Virginia Beach

Melisa Ulkumen / Los Angeles

Isabella Wright / Melbourne

Stefanie Murza / Virginia Beach

Sea Salt and Blackberry Brambles

17

Growing up, summer was embodied by trips to our family cabin in Point Roberts. Every year without fail, we’d pack our swimsuits and sunscreen, throw the inner tubes in the back of our rusted, beat-up hatchback, and made the hour-long drive to the beach. The ride felt slower than that, though; as a child, the journey to your favourite place takes an eternity. Point Roberts always felt like an entirely different world to me, like something out of a fairy tale.

After you cross the border, you emerge in a tree lined street that, with a few twists and turns through wildflower saturated meadows and rows of candy-colored cabins, deposits you fifty feet away from a bluff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. As soon as we pulled up to the cabin, my sister and I would grab our towels, fly out of the car, and run down the worn wood steps to the beach. We’d launch ourselves into the ocean, too young to be deterred by the freezing temperature, and spend most of the day there, floating on inner tubes or leaping over waves.

There was only one thing that could get us out of the water: blackberries. Our mom would tempt us with a walk through the lanes where the brambles twisted around each other and nearby signposts, heavy with fruit. We’d pull them from the vine, putting just as many in our mouths as what we tossed in our buckets. We’d meander back to the cabin, mouths stained dark purple, grinning in the fading summer light. Now that I’m older, our trips to Point Roberts have lessened, but my summers still revolve around spending time in nature. Any given day you can find me swimming in a lake, hiking through a forest, or sitting on my lawn, reading amid the flowers and honey bees. And although I don’t spend nearly as much time near the ocean as I’d like, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Kat Friesen / Abbotsford

Isabella Wright / Melbourne Summer for an (almost) 20-year-old Summer.

The idea of summer is looking through rosecolored glasses. Adventures around every corner.

The summer fling you have always imagined.

Summer, instead, is sitting in a classroom taking the classes you’ve put off and hoping your queer energy will just happen to attract that girl who is wearing jeans you know are from the thrift store.

You could flirt with her about her pants but that’ll just be weird so you just focus back on math. Math is important but the cute girl with the jeans that are just the perfect amount of baggy has great taste in fabric and maybe you should weirdly highlight that with smooth words. Or not.

If it was really summer, you’d be at the Observatory watching planetarium shows and taking that perfect picture of your future partner with the Hollywood sign but instead, you are avoiding fractions and fantasizing about what could be.

Summer is for extroverts. It has to be. Those people know how to just go out and stay out. You have a good 4 hours, maybe 2 hours if you talk during the car ride. You get excitement by turning on a Spotify playlist and imagining your own “is this a thing or is this a thing”

while looking out the window in stop-and-go traffic. It isn’t pathetic but there’s a world outside the one you have created.

Summer for an almost 20-year-old, introverted and anxious “kid” is imagining that rose-colored fantasy instead of living it because it is easier that way.

You want summer to invite women and adventures with women (because buddy it’s about time. Stop being afraid and start being the queer hottie you want to be). Summer is fearful because there are no excuses…besides those summer classes but let’s be honest, who takes math during the school year. You have insecurities but you don’t hate yourself. Summer is to escape the other long periods of the year for a moment where everyone is allowed to be a little carefree.

So…be carefree. I mean you aren’t getting any younger. Why do you think you wrote almost. You know it. Don’t rush the process but do kick yourself into high gear. An idea can become reality so put on those shades (yes, they are prescription) and start seeing summer for what it is. Also, maybe talk to that girl. Or any girl really. Just, please, take some well-deserved freedom…AND NOT SUMMER CLASSES.

Nod’Keya’ / Los Angeles 18

Kat Javiniar / Santa Cruz

Isabella Wright / Melbourne

Melisa Ulkumen / Los Angeles 19

Kat Javiniar / Santa Cruz

20

Stefanie Murza / Virginia Beach

Arelly Vallejo / Palm Springs

21

Alanna Dwoskin, / Washington D.C.

Stefanie Murza / Virginia Beach SUMMER KISSES

Summer is nights full of fires and the sounds of peepers in the back yard and perfecting the art of catching fireflies and building homes for them in glass jars that you keep in the window by your bed at night when you’re a kid. Summer is nights full of fires and gin and tonics and the sounds of peepers in the back yard and still perfecting the art of catching fireflies even just to hold them in your hands for a few short moments and feeling like a kid again when you’re older.

Kayla Goulden /Portland

The wash of the waves and the wind seeping through your hair Those who mean most to you surround you as the Summer warmth grows across your skin and spreads through you heart.

Sunburnt cheeks, sandy hair and salty lips These little Summer kisses.

Summer bliss a mind as clear as the sea.

Clarity, sanctuary and connectedness.

This is all Summer in one, Summer as a whole; these things connect people.

They are not ones’, but everyones.

And they’re our little Summer kisses.

Kahlin van der Borgh / Brisbane

Olivia Duncan / New York City

22

23

Amy Megan Day / Worcestershire

I sit here. Watching the water crush the pier with confidence and fury. Thinking about nothing. Just taking the sun and wind into my pale skin (when I say pale, I mean really fucking pale). Right now i am just feeling of yearning for. Dogs look happy chasing grass. Birds are loud and annoying. Cougars are looking at me funny (I mean the cats. Not lonely moms that want young genitals). Can’t escape the noises of cars and trucks yelling engines. It’s summertime. Winter is always better. You can’t get burned by the cold air or drowsy clouds. Boats are starting up now. Fishermen are hoping to get lucky. It’s about 8:32 in the morning. A minute ago I was thinking about that song (morning yearning) and what does that mean. Now I’m just sitting, and nothing I am thinking. My watch beeps. My brain is about to fail. I’m yearning for normality and intelligence, whatever that really means. I must go now. Go back to that room that makes me numb every time I enter through that door. Well goodbye for now reader. I hope I’ll write for you again.

Sincerely, Guy on the bench

Gavin Morehead / Redondo Beach

Nakima Mayfield / Brooklyn 24

Aja Villacres / San Francisco

25

26

27

28

29

JOHN VINCENT III Story by Malika Mohan P hotos by Nikoli Partiyeli

SIMPLE YET STIRRING — While there are many ways one can describe LA-based musician John Vincent III, this succinct phrase encapsulates the way John blends elements of different genres, creating a selfdescribed “ambient/moody indie folk” type sound. Drawing inspiration from not only other artists like Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers and Pale Seas, but also from the outside world, a clear mellow and boho chill vibe is forged.

His gentle vocals overlaid on his passionate instrumentals succeed in evoking all kinds of sentimental feelings from listeners, as can be heard on his projects like “Back to My Ways” and High Ridge & Stones.

Despite what one may think after listening to his music, John hasn’t always planned on making a career out of his art. It wasn’t actually until age 17 or 18 that he realized that his passion could be transcended into a way of life.

“I had no idea what it meant to pursue music, so I just continued to have fun with it, record songs in my room, jam with my friends and try to get better at singing and playing instruments.

Then, it was kind of like okay two years have gone by -- I still love it...So, the love of music was there for a long time, but the understanding of pursuing music and deciding to make it my plan A was a gradual thing.” Described Vincent on his delve into his career.

In contrast to his gradual dive into music, his style has managed to remain stagnant since the start. While his gear might have grown from his $90 USB mics to mixing and mastering in a recording studio, the raw emotions and vulnerable soul that manage to come across in his music have thankfully never disappeared.

This is a particularly impressive feat, as it’s difficult to stay true to one’s sound amidst battling against the pressures of “pop” that come with moving out to Los Angeles. While his initial move was difficult and led to a hotpot of questions, self-doubt and depression that took a toll on the release of music for about a year, Vincent ultimately came out stronger with a more secure idea on who he is as an artist and what he wants his music to be.

His primary goal for what he wants his new music — recently recorded in a studio in East Vancouver with producer Tyler Neill Johnson — to be is to ultimately just create something that people can connect with. “I hope that

the sad songs help people through shitty times. I hope that the love songs are the soundtracks to new lovers. I hope that the introspective songs make people think about their lives and who they want to be. I hope the upbeat songs prompt spontaneous road trips with best friends.”

30

Vincent passionately explains, “I hope that they give people help, and I hope that if nothing else they just make people feel.”

There’s no shortage of hard work and effort that transpires in trying to fulfill this purpose. For example, in the making of his most recent album John gave himself fully to the creative process.

Straight after waking up, he would spend his full day writing. It was “exhausting,” Vincent explains “but its like my musical muscles were constantly being used so I got into a nice groove and started writing better than I ever have.”

Not only is Vincent important to take note of as an up-and-coming musician with great vibes, in terms of both sound and general aesthetic, but also due to his role in the bigger picture of the music industry. Recent years and technological developments have led to a world today that’s in a completely strange and new place in the sense that people are the least dependent on others than they have ever been to help launch their careers. With the rise of the Internet, streaming, and artists able to DIY social media market themselves, a lot of questions regarding the power of institutions in the music industry have been thrown up in the air.

Rather than seeing this as a fragile time, Vincent spoke to this commenting on how he sees the music scene in a great place due to way tools like Spotify have allowed artists from the underground and independent scene to make money, get fans and gain all kinds of traction. It’s not only allowed all different kinds of people to make and get music out there but allowed people to easily have access to various types of music

31

and expand their horizons with a few clicks on their keyboard.

Beyond streaming, social media has also played a large role in giving power and access to artists who may not have had as much of a fair shot if not for the Internet. It’s becoming increasingly common for artists to take on the business and creative side of their career themselves, as they’re now increasingly able to do their own marketing and releasing and so much more.

Commenting on this artist DIY career trend, Vincent says “It gives the artist the

freedom and the creative control, and that’s what being an artist is about...

For myself the mindset is, if I never get a record deal...cool that won’t really change my efforts and I know that I can still have a career and make money. If I do get an offer...fuck yeah, that’s sick.

Read it and if it’s right for you, why not? If it sucks and you are doing fine on your own then bail.”

While Vincent’s music has begun to attract fans across his YouTube channel and Spotify — where he even made it to Taylor Swift’s playlist of favorite songs — his goal for 2018 is to continue to get his music out there as much as possible. He plans on touring, playing a bunch of shows, and getting to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through his chilled essence and purely enchanting sound, there’s no doubt John Vincent III is going to spend this year and many more continuing to capture the eyes, ears, and hearts of many.

32

33

34

E I O Z S E V I g N g a r K g by

ie h p so

@zoeknives @zoeknives @zoeknives

“If people aren’t staring what’s

the point of getting dressed up” 39

40

THE HONEYSTICKS

Story by Grace Tarandek P hotos by Nikoli Partiyeli

43

SWEET AND ENDEARING, Los Angeles based band The Honeysticks have slowly made their transition into the group they are today while finding their place in the vast array that is the LA music scene. 15 years ago the term “social media musician” wouldn’t have rung a bell for anyone, but for Ricky Montgomery of The Honeysticks, the new reality is one laced with fortune, opportunity and also misplaced pressures. “Ultimately I think social media following is closest to a cult following of sorts.” He would know. Ricky Montgomery has transitioned from popular Viner to being the creative force behind The Honeysticks -- and it hasn’t been the easiest of transitions to say the least.

44

45

Backing our story up a bit, Montgomery transferred into Mizzou University as a junior but quickly found out that none of his credits properly transferred through. Understandably upset about the whole thing, he made a bold move and decided to quit school and move to New York.

He obtained an internship with Adult Swim and started gaining a lot of success through Vine (RIP). Between work and Vine, he was also playing music on the side. Montgomery wasn’t taking music too seriously at the time but ended up putting out an EP that charted on iTunes, which was a testament to him to see how far his music could go and everything he has done since then has been his personal commitment to that.

So, who are The Honeysticks? The beautiful thing about this project is the organic nature of collaboration that allows for creative formation.

Montgomery and fellow members Caleb Hurst, Ben Russin and Ryan Fyffe do not act like they have everything figured out. They embrace that everything is still falling into place. Instead of placing descriptive labels all over their sound and image they welcome the notion that it is a work in progress and is a true testament to the way art should be — real and transformative instead of commercialized and marketable.

“I think I always wanted to do it, by like age 14. But I didn’t have the confidence to really pursue it until I was 19.” Montgomery started touring and quickly found that he became tired of the whole solo act charade. “I guess in high school I was always in bands and was always into that collaborative aesthetic. It was more fun. I didn’t have enough of an ego frankly to continue doing that. I think I was too self aware about it, to a fault maybe.”

Montgomery describes The Honeysticks’ purpose personally, “That was an attempt by me to start a new project. I didn’t really want to associate with my name as much for some reason because I wanted to make it a more collaborative thing.” At this point he started to transition from Montgomery Ricky, the name of his solo album, to Ricky Montgomery and The Honeysticks to finally settling in as just The Honeysticks. Ricky found this transition necessary but feared losing his social media fan base if he dramatically changed his moniker over night. But even with that possibility, Montgomery knew it was the right thing to do musically and collaboratively so he slowly transitioned the name over. It took a bit of time but he believes that he was able to balance it all very successfully.

The members of the band take from many different musical approaches to create their own indie alternative flavor that reminds you of everything you’ve always loved about music.

Listening to their music brings memories of the first time you heard your favorite band or the tenth time you listened to that Beatles album remembering that this shit only gets better with age. The Honeysticks embody change and classics which, when put together, is a lethal combination. “We all listen to hip-hop mostly. We don’t really listen to rock music even though we’re a rock band kinda. Mount Kimbie, James Blake, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend, Kendrick Lamar. I love JPEGMAFIA, and I love Tyler. The Creator a lot - he’s one of my favorite artists right now.” The Honeysticks is a band that is fresh and new and still in the exciting process of discovering itself.

46

47

The band has many goals for the future and you can obviously tell that they are in the business of trying to create the best art they can, not just to reach critical acclaim from charts and record sales.

“I’m trying to become a better producer and really figure out how to exist as a rock band in 2018 and also be interesting and not be nostalgic. I’m trying to get cleaner, more sophisticated arrangements going I guess, more minimal. It’s hard to zero in on what we’re trying to go for aesthetically right now.

I guess at the same time we’re trying to lean in to a new side. We’re trying to incorporate more electronic elements without sounding like an electronic band.”

Montgomery also says The Honeysticks are trying to be dancier with references to SZA and Drake in a song they are currently writing.

There are difficulties that come with the social media following that Montgomery has established over the years. “I think I’m just so burnt out on social media now because I did Vine for 5 years.

It was crazy and it was exhausting. I’m so bored of the internet in a lot of ways and just burnt out of irony humor and stuff. It’s hard for me to really get in that mindset now. Now there’s a social mandate to be really politically involved right now

or at least constantly aware of everything and be woke, and that’s fine, it’s just a lot of pressure and it’s hard to be creative in that environment.

Not that I’m a warrior about it or anything, but I’m burnt out and it’s harder to be weird because things are so analytical now.”

Another issue that social media brings to The Honeysticks’ creative process is the level of expectation that random followers can bring to his music. “You have to put extra effort into music because if anyone is gonna take you even remotely seriously it has to be really strong and it can’t be some thrown-together demo.” This pressure is harder for social media influencers BUT can also have an alternative positive narrative. Because the pressure is so intense, it forces creatives to give their all to projects and set a level of expectation within themselves to deliver work that exceeds all standards.

The Honeysticks have many plans for the near future and I promise you will start seeing them more and more as this year rolls out. They talk about possibly signing with a label in the future explaining that it is a lot of work to do on their own. They also have plans to tour this year “We’re gonna be working with a publicist this year for the first time so that’ll be exciting. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll be a touring band”.

Make sure to keep this band on your immediate radar and you will be thankful you did so.

48

KITTY NALGAS Story By Sophie Gragg P hotos By Haley Appell Illustrations By Celena Dixon

49

50

SHE’S YOUNG AND CREATIVE - and yes she loves astrology. Celena Dixon, popularly known as Kitty Nalgas, has found success with her art and Internet persona through Instagram in a time where being “social media famous” is all too confusing. Though originally from East Los Angeles, Dixon recently moved back to California and currently resides in the Valley, and is ready to continue to grow as both an individual and artist now that she is back in her home state. The 22-year-old knows it seems cheesy, but admits she began gaining success on Instagram once she began being more herself and caring less about what other think, which in turn has created an authentic and genuine feel to Dixon’s presence online, “Of course it fluctuates from time to time because social media can sometimes distort who you think you are, or who you think you want to be, but my personal success on social media came from authenticity and transparency.”

Though the artist obviously finds herself interested in the fine arts as well as poetry, spirituality has recently played a big role in her life has well. Get to know Kitty through our Q&A and you’ll soon find you love this Gemini as much as we do.

51

52

Tell us more about your artistic background?

“My artist background is much like any other artist! I’ve always been into drawing. I actually remember a distinct memory when I was about 6 years old, when I was watching my oldest brother, who is also a fine artist, draw. I remember pulling up right beside him with a piece of paper and crayon so I could do what he was doing, and from then on I just always started drawing. As for if I’ve had any formal training, I wish! I’m self taught but I want to go back to school and learn a couple things for sure.

Let’s hear more about your self taught process.

“It’s honestly a strange process and changes with each project I begin. It all starts with energy and intent, as I suppose most anything involving terms of creation would require. I have to really channel and hoard that energy through the entire composition of it, which sometimes complicates the process actually because my moods are so fluctuating, thanks to my Gemini placements!

53

A lot of my art is more mood than anything, even though I compose most of my pieces in a way that makes them look all tied together. Other than keeping the same steady energy for a piece, I tend to stress myself out at times because I’m such a perfectionist, but I’m working on it and have being doing a lot better in letting myself make “mistakes” and being okay with them, and flowing with it! Because more often than not, the mistakes that an artist sees, goes unnoticed by the viewer/audience - that’s definitely a piece of advice I’d offer anyone looking to begin art or level up their craft.

Make peace with your mistakes and flow along with them because they themselves are their own category of perfection, and they make up small parts of the greater finished masterpiece!”

What are you most inspired by?

“My emotions and being able to express it in productive, colorful ways.”

Let’s talk more about your spiritual side. Were you brought up in a spiritual household or is more of a recent thing?

“I am very devoted to my own spiritual liberation, or just simply seeking the truth to all things that is the purpose of this whole crazy human existence. It wasn’t something I was brought up in - my parents actually weren’t involved with the church system until they separated. Then, I was introduced to Christianity and some Catholicism. It didn’t resonate me because I couldn’t really believe that there was some huge male entity in the sky that was just watching us and judging our every move. Also the concept of hell really frightened me! To think I had to conform to all of these rules in this book in order to make it into “heaven” and fast forward to me being atheist, discovering Buddhism briefly and finally discovering spiritual accounts on Instagram that really kickstarted my spiritual journey. While I’m not into religious systems, I am now able to see the universal truths that are hidden within each of them.

54

My spiritual journey would have to be a whole interview in itself, but to keep it brief, I started using crystals and researching chakras as well as angel numbers and my life path number, etc. which eventually lead me to astrology! I’ve been diving deep into it the past year or so and honestly as much as people don’t want to believe it (to each their own) it gave me a lot of answers to questions i had about myself and my life. Not to say that’s where my journey stops, I believe we’re all on spiritual journeys whether we realize it or not because we are spiritual beings in general, so in a way everything we do is spiritual. It’s just important to be as human as we possibly can while we’re here.”

What about poetry? Have you been getting into this more recently or has that always been a big part of your creative life?

“I’ve actually been writing for a really long time! I used to write short novels in spiral notebooks and pass them around to my friends to read in middle school, but I fell off for awhile as I started to focus on different things throughout life. I always come back to it whenever I’m going through heavy stuff. Lately though, I’ve been writing more about falling in love.

Do you think Instagram as a platform has helped support your artistic career? Has your success on it impacted you as an artist or person in any way?

“I definitely think Instagram has helped a lot in the support of my career. It’s kind of insane the way social media can do that for us not only as artist but entrepreneurs in generaL I do think it impacts you in a way that you start to become kind of hyper aware of what you’re creating as well as who you are as a person, because every part of your life that you choose to share on your platforms is open to interpretation, judgement or criticism so it sort of gets a little scary when your number of followers begins to climb because you’re like, ‘this many people are watching me now’ - like it’s an absolute trip. It’s fun if you can find the balance though. Definitely a love/hate relationship.

But still, it’s really cool to be able to reach so many people all at once. I’ve made so many friends and genuine connection along with the business ones, and it’s made my life feel that much more full.”

55

Are there any other forms of art you want to explore?

“I would love to explore ceramics and more photography! I don’t share a lot of my photography because I’m still learning and am very critical of myself but maybe over time I will feel it’s the right time to share more of that part of myself.”

What do you want people to take away from your art?

“I’m not quite sure what my audience takes from my art but all I can hope is that my I can touch a few heart along the way.”

What are your plans now that you’re back in LA? Do you have any goals for the rest of the year career wise?

“I plan to have more fun this time around! Finding that balance between business and pleasure but ultimately I just want to live a more fulfilled life now that I’m back. Make a couple new genuine connections on the way, who knows! Just here for the ride, flowing on and onnnn!

As for goals for my career this year, I want to go bigger! I want to make much larger pieces and maybe work on a solo show.

Maybe a zine, there are so many projects that I’m really looking forward to releasing very very soon. Just need to get my Gemini self to focus on one at a time!”

56

61

ASIATICA Story By Megan Smith P hotos By Starr Smith

SHE’S FUNNY YET FIERCE and ready to start carving her place in the music scene. The Compton based artist, Asia Lacy, is making music under the alias ASIATICA, pronounced “ah-see-ah-ti-ca”. The name came from otherwise boring back and forth banter with a friend on their way to a Halloween party, and though her friend doubted her integrity in using it as her handle, Lacy simply responded with a simple “bet!” and has stuck with it since. This speaks volumes to Lacy’s character: independent, experimental, and slightly impulsive.

Lacy grew up singing and harmonizing with her family and is fortunate to have another serious artist in the family, musician Steve Lacy. She is able to turn to her brother for collaboration and guidance when needed. Though her family has musical tendencies, they aren’t as supportive as Lacy hopes they will eventually grow to be.

However, according to Lacy, it’s more of a feeling that they do not yet take her seriously. When she decided to not go to school, she actually didn’t tell her mom at first. Lacy simply wasn’t happy at school, and when she finally did tell her family, their support helped her to feel more confident in what her gut told her was right.

Now, to support herself and her budding music career, she takes care of her nephew during the day, and recently also got a job as a lifeguard.

Still, Lacy says she feel her family’s attitude is

more of a “let’s see where this thing goes” kind of stance, which she hopes improves as her music grows.

Even since kindergarten, she knew she wanted to pursue music. She and her friends would watch The Naked Brothers Band on Nickelodeon and muse about creating their own band. Lacy, though, took this to the next step, and her dreams manifested into ASIATICA. Her style has evolved and changed as new artists and genres were introduced to her. Growing up in Compton, Lacy says she had initially been introduced mainly to R&B, Soul, and Neo-Soul.

One artist that her mom used to play from her CD player, Chrisette Michele, has resurfaced recently for Lacy. Her first introduction to music outside of “Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop” came in the form of her sister’s burnt John Mayer CD: “his song ‘Bigger Than My Body’ literally, like, caught me.” Lacy laughs. Also in her rotation of inspiration is Paramore, who she has always listened to “like, heavy” since she was eight.

In her self-described genre of once Folky Indie-Soul and now Neo-Soul mixed with Pop Punk, Lacy has taken her seemingly disparate inspirations and created herself. Her creative process is less of a process and more of a feeling, showcasing her evident talent and remarkable instinct.

62

Lacy explains it simply, “Most of the time, it just works out.” Using her bedroom setup of Garageband, Logic, and an iRig she can hook up to her guitar and bass, she creates chords that she feels match the emotions she wants to express, and freestyles, writes and edits from there.

This ability to do everything herself and the freedom attached to it is one thing Lacy likes most about not being signed to a label at the moment.

She’s still in the process of creating herself, and it’s a process that she truly values. Her sound is still shifting, though it will “always have that soul aspect in it because that’s just [her] genre.”

Her look is still shifting; at the moment her wardrobe is an experiment, comprised mainly of inherited gems of whatever is around. Her bedroom setup, too, was free as Lacy shares, “I finesse a lot.” A lot of this finessing is allowed by remaining independent. As she establishes herself, Lacy sees herself possibly signing in the future, but now is not the time. Now, what’s important to her is exploring the possibilities for her craft, empowering herself through creation, and being able to receive respect from those around her.

63

It’s been about six months since her first single hit Soundcloud, “Hide in Me”. Despite an enthusiastic fan base and rave reviews from publications like Pitchfork, Lacy claims she “didn’t put a lot of effort into it.” Actually releasing the song was a spur-of-the-moment type of decision. She wrote the song about two to three years ago, and since then her style has shifted. Now 18 and a year out of high school, she wants to release an EP that speaks more to where she’s at now. Though unsure of the release date, Lacy is going to continue trying to put all the songs she has into the production and recording process until she’s happy with the result.

If “Hide in Me” was as effortless as Lacy claims, then it can be assumed that what she releases next will blow us away. Her stunning voice matched with her innate musicality as seen in this single leaves listeners waiting on the edge of their seats for more. Lacy is determined to showcase how much she’s grown and how hard she’s worked through ASIATICA’s next EP, and we do not doubt her showing us that and more.

64

65

66

67

68

WOODLAND PRAYERS

PHOTOS BY AUDREY GRETZ

MUCH LOVE TO:

75

Haley Appell / @haleyappell Ava Bartlow / @we.are.fille Olivia Boryczewski / @oliviaboryczewski Celena Dixon / @kittynalgas Audrey Gretz / @luftmenschx Zoie Knives / @zoeknives Asia Lacy / @asia_spacy Charissa Love / @ thatssocharissa Leah Lu / @leahluser Ricky Montgomery / @thehoneysticks_ Nikoli Partiyeli / @nikoliparty Megan Potter / @megankatepotter Starr Smith / @starrsmith Tara Thomas / @hergardenkitchen Aja Villacres / @ajavillacres John Vincent III / @johnvincent3

76

The Luna Collective ISSUE IV X K I T T Y NALGAS The Luna Collective is a cultural online and print magazine featuring music, poetry, fashion and more.

We want to shine a light on all of the cool people and places we come across. Creativity should always be rewarded.

HIT US UP!

Email: lunacollectivemag@gmail.com Twitter: @thelunacollective Instagram: @lunacollectivemag www.thelunacollectivemag.com Check out our website for more exclusive photos from the features & tag us in your photos on Instagram

THE SQUAD THAT MADE THIS ALL POSSIBLE

Founder & Editor In Chief Sophie Gragg Graphic Designers Olivia Boryczewski, Leah Lu, Megan Potter, Nikoli Partiyeli & Aja Villa Photographers Haley Appell, Nikoli Partiyeli & Starr Smith Writers Malika Mohan, Meg Smith & Grace Tarandek

77

78

THE LUNA COLLECTIVE â„¢ 2018