EDITOR IN CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR: LE’KEISHA SIMS
FASHION EDITOR AT LARGE: TAJ RAGLAND
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: BETHANY GRACE
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: DAVID B LACK TAWNI BANNISTER ANGEL COLOUR JASMINE BOLER MICHELLE PAULSEN SAMUEL OLSEN ZEKO EON
ADVERTISING / CONTRIBUTION: infoxomag@gmail.com
BLOG: xomagazineonline.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/XOMAGAZINE ALL XO CONTRIBUTORS OWN SOLE COPYRIGHT OF THEIR WORK. CONTACT XO AT INFOXOMAG@GMAIL. COM OR CONTRIBUTORS DIRECTLY WITH ENQUIRIES.
MUSIC BOX FEATURE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
BATTLE IN ME GARBAGE
CALL MY NAME CHERYL COLE
MYTH BEACH HOUSE
UP ALL NIGHT BEST COAST
HONEYCOMB ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
P L AY L I S T
summer 6. 7. 8. 9.
YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTHMETRIC STATE OF DREAMING - MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS WEATHERMAN DEAD SARA
BIBLEBELT DRY THE RIVER
Editor’s Letter “We’ve got the ocean, got the waves, we’ve got the sun, we’ve got the babes.....” the lyrics from the title track of Best Coast’s new album matched the vibe we were feeling for the summer issue of XO. So I thought who better to have on our cover than Bethany Cosentino! This issue is all about surf, sand and sun; what summer is all about. Inside these pages you’ll find beach inspired looks that will take you from the steamy afternoons to cool evenings, an interview with fitness guru Nicole Winhoffer on how to get that perfect bikini body, and music features that will inspire the soundtrack to your summer. Shortly after the release of this issue, we’ll be releasing our June Digital issue. XO is really utilizing both our digital and print platforms. While our print issues will remain quarterly, each month a digital issue will be published featuring more interviews, videos and editorials! We’re excited for the summer and all its possibilities and we hope you are too! Enjoy the issue & stay fearless, Le’Keisha Sims Editor in Chief XO Magazine @kthefashionista
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XO’S #NOWPLAYING FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH. FROM THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. 1. JET – SHAKKA ROCK Forever awesome, Jet’s Shakka Rock album from 2009 is the go-to album for psyching yourself up for the summer season. The tracks “She’s a Genius”, “Black Hearts (On Fire)”, and “Beat on Repeat” are particularly fantastic. In light of their recent break-up, let’s honour the band by putting their beat on repeat!
3. THE BLACK KEYS – EL CAMINO The latest album from The Black Eyes that they are currently touring with is probably the best they have ever put out. It’s literally non-stop awesomeness from the very first track to the very last with the stand-outs being “Lonely Boy”, “Mind Eraser”, and “Gold on the Ceiling”.
2. FIVE – 5IVE Welcoming the re-emergence of the boy band (thanks to One Direction!), Five is one the 90’s originals. Who can resist busting a move to songs that just demand attention like “Slam Dunk (Da Funk)” and the classic, “When the Lights Go Out”. Coincidentally, One Direction’s founder Simon Cowell also founded these guys. And if we’ve learned anything from Idol and X Factor, Simon is never wrong…
4. THE SHINS – PORT OF MORROW Five years after its predecessor, The Shin’s fourth studio album made its debut on March 26. Great song-writing and wonderful musings make this album unforgettable. Favourites on this album are “Simple Song” (which has a killer music video to go with it) and “40 Mark Strasse”. Is it all so very simple, and horribly complex… Ah, how can you not love such interesting lyrics?
SS 1.
12 TRENDS MERMAID
Florence Welch’s chilling performance of “What the Water Gave Me” at Chanel (from inside a giant clamshell, no less) was the official christening of the “Deep Sea” trend. It was all over the runways, rearing its head at Alexander McQueen in the form of coral embellished gowns and at Versace with starfish and seahorse printed miniskirts. Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy gave his supreme sanction when he presented his surfer/mermaid love affair inspired collection complete with shark teeth, eel skin accents and the dreamy beach curls the models were sporting.
2.
ICE CREAM DREAM No matter what vibe the designer was going for a pastel color palette seemed to fit them all, from Louis Vuitton baby doll fever dream to Versaces 90’s glam and even with Prada’s greaser babes pastel seemed to just fit right in and cover everything in a dreamy sheen.
3.
PAJAMA RAMA
Christian Louboutin once said, 'Comfy’— that’s one of the worst words!" the legendary cobbler admitted to hating the idea of being comfortable and fashionable but I bet he's eating those words now as comfy couture, as I like to call it, is cropping up on major runways such as Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein and Theory. Rihanna even sported a luxuriously lax outfit by Peter Dundas at Pucci to a Japanese premiere of her new film Battleship. Rihanna's delve into pajama dressing was chic and elegant, but I fear that once this trend trickles down to the racks of your neighborhood Target...thing may get a little messy. We all wanna ride that thin line between comfortable and couture but I think its best that this trend stay in CelebVille. Maybe Mr. Louboutin was right.
Ɔ WE
1. VANISHING ELEPHANT (MENSWEAR)
Unpretentious, but cool enough to look like you give a damn. Aussie based menswear line, Vanishing Elephant simply raises the bar on easy but experimental dressing with patterned oxfords, comfy but expertly tailored pants and blazers, duffle coats and light as air knit wear. If you’re looking to make an impressive statement while staying relaxed and cool, Vanishing Elephant is the end all be all. Unpretentious, but cool enough to look like you give a damn. Aussie based menswear line, Vanishing Elephant simply raises the bar on easy but experimental dressing with patterned oxfords, comfy but expertly tailored pants and blazers, duffle coats and light as air knit wear. If you’re looking to make an impressive statement while staying relaxed and cool, Vanishing Elephant is the end all be all.
3. EMMA MULLHOLLAND (UNISEX)
Unpretentious, but cool enough to look like you give a damn. Aussie based menswear line, Vanishing Elephant simply raises the bar on easy but experimental dressing with patterned oxfords, comfy but expertly tailored pants and blazers, duffle coats and light as air knit wear. If you’re looking to make an impressive statement while staying relaxed and cool, Vanishing Elephant is the end all be all.
2. MANNING CARTELL (WOMENSWEAR)
1. Gotye - Somebody that I used to know 2. Rihanna - We Found Love 3. DJ Khaled - I’m On One 4. Lil Wayne - How to Love, and Mirror 5. M83 - We Own the Sky 6. The Social Network Soundtrack (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) - Hand Covers Bruise 7. Bon Iver - Holocene, Michicant, and Perth 8. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead 9. Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites 10. College - A Real Hero
playlist
SUSAN JUSTICE
ALBUM REVIEW INTO THE LIGHT
E L IS S A F R A N C ES C HI You only need three syllables to describe Elissa’s debut album, Into the Light: A-maz-ing! Her hauntingly beautiful voice makes the most out of every track on the album. Favourite tracks include “Salt” featuring her equally talented brother, Josh Franceschi and “Elliot” featuring James Veck-Gilodi. Elissa’s voice is perfect for duets and songs about the many facets of love. Her powerful and breathy voice is unforgettable and completely sets her apart from the pack. This super awesome chick may very well be the new Adele.
MUST HEAR ALBUMS NOT YOUR KIND OF PEOPLE - GARBAGE THE ONLY PLACE - BEST COAST ELECTRA HEART - MARINA & THE DIAMONDS THE NIGHT EP - MELANIE C WANDERBLUSS - JACK WHITE
BEST COAST
Summer is officially here and what better way to start of the summer than with the latest offerings from California band, Best Coast Known for their sunny, surf pop melodies woozy guitar riffs, and lyrics about love, lost and everything in between. We chat with singer Bethany Cosentino on the band’s sophomore album The Only Place.
XO: SO ONE OF YOUR MAJOR GOALS WITH THIS RECORD IS TO "GET PEOPLE TO STOP THINKING OF ME AS THIS STONER, CAT LOVING GIRL", DO YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE THAT NOW THAT THE ALBUM IS COMPLETE? Bethany: I don't really know, and to be honest- I don't really care. The most important thing is that I see myself differently, and that was really my biggest goal- was to change to the point where I felt the change, and could see it in myself. I’m a goofy girl, I always will be- but I think i'm stronger and more grown up now. XO:WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH JON BRION? Bethany: Jon is great. we had a lot of fun working on this record with him, and we learned a lot from him. He came in and helped us shape the sound into what we wanted it to be, without really changing too much. He is a great guy to work with. XO: YOU MENTIONED THIS ALBUM BEING A LOT MORE PERSONAL THAN, 'CRAZY FOR YOU' CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH YOUR WRITING PROCESS, DID YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT OR DID THE SONGS JUST KIND OF HAPPEN ON THEIR OWN? Bethany: All of my songs happen naturally. I never sit down and say ok i'm going to write a song about this...and then go for it, i just sit in my room and naturally talk about what's going on in my life, and then it turns into a song. This record is a lot more about me, and my own issues- rather than relationship issues. It helped me get over a lot of bad feelings to make this record, it was super cathartic.
XO: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS OFF THE ALBUM? "Up All Night" is my favorite song for sure. It's just such a beautiful ballad and I get to sing really intensely. I really wanted to sing my ass off on this record, so all of the slower songs are the ones that I'm the most stoked on. XO: "THE ONLY PLACE" IS KIND OF LIKE A LOVE LETTER TO CALIFORNIA, HOW DID YOU GUYS DECIDE THAT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST SINGLE AND BE RELEASED FOR FREE? It just felt like the best song to put out first, and everyone agreed on that. It is the most upbeat and fun song on the record, so we wanted to catch people with that, and then slowly bum them out with sad songs, haha. Giving music away for free is important to me. I mean, people have the chance to buy everything we make, and most of them do, but I think it’s also like a nice gift to your fans when you give them the chance to hear a song without having to purchase it first. XO: WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE THUS FAR IN YOUR CAREER AND WITH RECORDING THE NEW ALBUM? I think just meeting all of the young girls I do that say they look up to me as a role model is really incredible and the best part of this job. I never ever thought that I would end up as anyone’s role model, but it's so awesome that I have become one to some girls. I just got this really beautiful note from a fan at our LA show and the said "Im 100%, I wouldn't be the teenager girl I am without best coast" that is so fucking cool, man.
PH OTO GR APH Y & ST YLING: TAW NI BANNISTER MAK EUP & HAIR: AMY PINK MODEL : ELISA MUTHIG
RAW PH OTOGR APHER: ANGEL CO LO UR MO DELS: K AYLA @ MAJO R, INDR A GR ANT, AND J OSH ALFR ED @ R ED M AKE UP AND H AIR: AM ANDA R OSE WAR DR O B E: ST YLEDBYPHIL AND JUAN NUNES
SEA
& SURF
PH OTOGR APHER: JASMINE BO LER ST YLING & ART DIR ECTION: R ACHEL HO LLAND M AKE UP : GEMMA WHEATCRO FT @ K MANAGEMENT H AIR ST YLIST : AMBER R OS E @ MO DELS 1 MO DEL : ER IKA @ ZONE MO DELS
DRES S: ADA ZANDITON NECKLACE : FION A PAXTON BOOTS: DUNE
DRES S : ADA Z ANDITO N NECK LACE : FIO N A PAXTO N CUFF : FIO N A PAX TON SH OES : CH O CK ERS HAT : ASOS
SUNGLAS SES: B LACK EYEWEAR DRESS : BEAUTIFUL SOUL SHOES : HEAD OVER HEELS AT DUNE
TO P : SI MO N PR EEN LEGGINGS : SIMO N PREEN HEADPH O NES : MO LA M I GLAS S ES : BLACK EYE WEAR BOOTS : BERTIE
TOP: SIMON PREEN LEGGIN GS : SIMON PREEN HEADPHONES: MOLA MI GLASS ES: BLACK EYEW EAR BOOTS : B ERTIE
HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHELLE PAULSEN MAKEUP: AMANDA MENDOZA HAIR: ANN-MARIE HOANG STYLIST: JUSTIN BARCO MODEL: TAYLOR WITH ENVY MODEL LA
S EA GIR LS MODELS: HARRIET GROVES, MEGAN BOWES & KIERA HARAGA STYLING : CELINA BOOTH MAKE UP/ HAIR : COURTNEY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY : SAMUEL OLSEN
WE CHAT WITH LONDON DESIGNER EUGENE LIN ABOUT HIS LABEL, COLLABORATIONS AND WHAT 2012 HOLDS.
EUGENE LIN
XO: You were born in Signapore, and are now London based. Has living in both places influenced your design aesthetic? I received my formal training and work experience in London, and I only began noticing fashion when I was 18. Back then, Singapore had very, very few places to access high fashion, and the local scene was nothing more than a dress-making service. Office or workwear is a big part of the clothing economy, then and now, and it influenced my first three collections which I had intended to be purposefully commercial. The line has evolved a lot since then, with digital prints, fabric manipulation and the pattern cutting (for which the brand is best known for) getting a lot more complicated. Buyers and press have actually said the line is very Eurocentric – combining the prints London is known for, with the sophisticated cut that Paris loves. XO: Can you tell us about your experience working with Roksanda IIIincic and Ashley Isham, what has been the most valuable thing you’ve learned from them? It was a privilege to work as a freelance pattern cutter for both Roksanda Illincic and Ashley Isham, as they have different aesthetics to myself. The most valuable thing was the chance to work with new silhouettes and pieces I would not normally attempt as they both have a very different aesthetic from myself. XO: Does music inspire you and your designs? Do you listen to anything specific while working on your collections? Music tends to colour the mood of the collection but not directly inspire pieces. I can look back at each collection and remember what album or song I was listening to at the time and vice versa, but there is nothing specific. It tends to go from deep house to neo-classical, just something to play in the background when working long hours on each collection. XO: In our Spring issue we featured your collaboration with Imogen Belfield, can you tell us how that came about and what inspired the collaboration? I always look to push the brand and grown with each season and was looking around for jewellery designers to collaborate with. As soon as I saw Imogen’s work, I knew I wanted to work with her. She has such a distinctive aesthetic and ‘raw’ look to her work, which I found very arresting and refreshing. I have never been a fan of over-polished/airbrushed work, even for my clothes, I allow a certain level of spontaneity as I firmly believe that there is perfection in ‘imperfection’. Her attention to detail and hand-crafted nature of her work was parallel to the care I take in cutting my pieces, and so it felt like a natural fit. For the jewellery collaboration, we looked at the Heretic’s Fork, a double ended torture device used by the Spanish Inquisition to extract confessions from suspected blasphemers. It was strapped to the neck and pierced into the collarbone and the underside of the chin at an uncomfortable angle, removed only when the victim recanted their beliefs. We felt that using a fork on its own would be too obvious, and it had to be more intelligent than that, so we designed a choker with the imprint of it like a dirty shoe-print, but in 18k gold. By taking the idea and using it as a hint or memory, we turned a torture device into an elegant choker, with Imogen’s trademark texturizing of hand-crafted precious metals. We then expanded on that idea to create a belt, as well as matching cuffs with prongs. The prongs prevent the wrist from being flexed backwards, which echoes the restrictive nature of the original torture device. XO: Who is the Eugene Lin girl? While it would be tempting to draw up a celebrity list for ease of understanding, the very idea of celebrity has never interested me and has never been a focus of the brand. A key point of my work is that they are impeccably cut, real clothes for real women. So far they have been patricians between 25 and 45, who enjoy the craftsmanship of the label and its quiet sophistication.
1. AEROSMITH ‘’ I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING’’ 2. WHITNEY HOUSTON “ I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU” 3. BON JOVI ‘’IT’S MY LIFE’’, “MAKE A MEMORY’’ 4. JAMIE CULLM ‘’REAL LOVE’’ 5. CELINE DION “ALL BY MYSELF” 6. ROLLING STONES ‘’ANGIE’’ ‘’SATISFACTION’’ 7. BEATLES ‘’YESTERDAY’’ 8. MICHAEL JACKSON ‘’EARTH SONG’’ 9. LINKIN PARK ‘’WHAT I’VE DONE’’ 10.PETER GABRIEL ‘’DOWN TO EARTH’’
INTERVIEW
NICO LE WINHOFFER XO MAGAZINE CHATS WITH DANCE AND FITNESS GURU NICOLE WINHOFFER ON GETTING THE ULTIMATE BIKINI BOD, HARD CANDY FITNESS AND HER ULTIMATE GOAL OF COMBINING FASHION, MUSIC AND FITNESS IN A NEW WAY.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZEKO EON
XO: YOU ORIGINALLY STARTED OFF AS A TRAINED DANCER, WORKING ON BROADWAY, AND PERFORMING WITH ARTISTS LIKE SHAKIRA; HOW DID YOU VENTURE INTO FITNESS? Fitness has always been a part of my life. Being a dancer, a dancer has the deepest understanding of his/her body. It’s their profession. It’s their craft. When I started seriously training at 13 years old, I always knew that the body has amazing potentials and that it could accomplish the impossible. I would often watch and study different types of sports on TV, and was intrigued at the levels these athletes would perform: basketball players, rhythmic gymnasts, sprinters, swimmers, divers… they all influenced me because they were showing the world, that the human body was capable of anything. I wasn’t born with the dancer body, but these athletes proved to me, that if you trained your mind and body, you could achieve anything. It was at that moment, that I studied on my own, outside of my dance school, the ability for my own body to do what I told it to do. That is fitness to me: conditioning the body and the mind to allow the body to be the best it can be. The more specific, the better the results. Boom.
XO: FROM GOING FROM PERFORMING HOW DID YOU MEET MADONNA AND START WORKING WITH HER? Being a dancer all my life, (I trained in classical dance, modern, jazz, and musical theater). I was always intrigued by the science and mystery of the human body. I performed in three Broadway shows: 42nd St, Bombay Dreams, and Wicked. [Madonna’s] previous trainer was recruiting professional dancers for the dance cardio portion of her fitness training. I was brought on board to assist her on her last tour. When the tour ended, I immersed myself in understanding anatomy, physiology, and the latest fitness trends while continuing my dance training. I continued to train Madonna and now I’m her primary trainer.
JACK ET : AUGUSTIN TEBO UL LEOTAR D : N O R DSTR OM STO CK IN GS : N O R DSTR OM KNEE HIGH S : TO PSH O P SNEA K ERS - NIK E
XO: HOW DO YOU APPROACH FITNESS AND DIET? I approach fitness and diet with facts and creativity. I have built my foundation: based on certifications, fitness and nutrition facts, continually researching new findings in the field of sport, medicine, and food. Based on this knowledge, I approach fitness and diet with a freedom to explore. Without the base/foundation, one cannot be free. I aim for a freedom in creation.
XO: OUR MAY ISSUE IS OUR SAND, SURF AND SUN ISSUE WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OUR READERS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR BEST BIKINI BOD? Awareness. Be honest with yourself. Are you comfortable with your body? If not, ask yourself why you’re not happy, then commit to yourself. Give back to yourself. Put yourself first. Mind over matter. You can achieve anything you put your mind to. With the time you put in, you will reap its benefits. Make changes in your diet. Honestly, ask yourself: is this food I am putting into my body going to fuel me and give me the energy and supplements I need to give me the body I want? If not, make the healthy choice. Make better choices. What are your workouts like? Are you working out at all? If not, seek and find activities that you enjoy. Everyone must be active at least 6 days a week. On my blog: tastenicolewinhoffer. com, I offer tips to diet and workouts that will suit everyone’s needs. Fitness and health is everywhere. If you ask, you shall receive; but first you have to commit!
XO: WHO IS CURRENTLY IN YOUR WORKOUT PLAYLIST/MIX? Music is so important to me. It acts as the force behind my creativity and inspiration. I love classical, electro, R&B, rap, techno, and house music. MDNA Madonna – its sick: every song is unique and sounds drastically different from the next. With its fresh beats, and one can relate to her lyrics that she so honestly sings. DJ Misha Skye is my favorite DJ. He always provides a great continuous playlist with the best remixes that are a no fail – hard core support to the workout! Offer Nissim is another genius. He makes the greatest remixes: fresh and new. He knows just when to bring in a heavy bass and makes any song he remixes have a beautiful arc. M.I.A has always been an influence on my movement. She has fresh beats and an amazing sound. Phillip Glass is a composer whose music creates this mood that puts me into a deep calming, focus.
XO: YOU’RE WANTING TO COMBINE MUSIC, FASHION AND FITNESS INTO ONE MEDIUM, ULTIMATELY PRESENTING FITNESS AS A ART FORM; WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT THAT WOULD ENCOMPASS ALL THESE THINGS? My dream is to work with a brand that would support my goals. I want to inspire. I want to create. I want to learn. I want to grow. I want to improve. I want to be an inspiration to people provide an outlet that would allow them to achieve their dreams. With my vision, I hope to allow the world to see that anything is possible if you believe.
TUNIC: 5 PREVIEW LEGGIN GS : 5 PREVIEW HEADPHONES: B EATS BY DRE B OOTIES : A M I CLUBWEAR
XO: AS YOU LEAVE WITH MADONNA ON TOUR IN MID MAY WHAT WILL YOU BE WORKING ON, AND WHATS NEXT FOR YOU FOR THE REST OF 2012? I will be on tour working harder than I ever have! As my work is never done: I will be improving my craft and creating new, innovative workouts for my clients. Hard Candy Fitness Gyms will continue to open globally around the world, and I will be updating Madonna’s Addicted to Sweat curriculum: for addicted to Sweat Dance cardio and “Jawbreaker” toning. I will gain a lot of inspiration from seeing the world, and I hope to gain more knowledge in culture, the arts, history, and science while I am on tour. Knowledge is power and I want to expand my rolodex of fact and creativity.
SHIRT: R OBB & HUGO SHORTS : NIKE LEGGIN GS : AUGUSTIN TEBOUL SHOES : M AISON MARTIN M ARGIELA
ELISSA FRANCESCHI INTERVIEW BY NANCY LIU
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN ONE REPUBLIC’S RYAN TEDDER SAID YOU WERE “ONE TO WATCH”? It was a big surprise because you never think people really trawl through the web to find new acts, but he is easily one of the best writers and producers of my generation so it was massive encouragement for me.
HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS? Hustling from a young age! I was in the studio writing and producing my won songs at 15 and organizing shows in London at 16, I had to take my Dad along because I was underage! Through people I was working with at various studios I got some interest from some labels when I was 17 but I wasn’t ready.
WAS THIS SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO OR DID YOU KIND OF FALL INTO IT? It’s always been the only thing I can truly ‘do’ and when you find that thing that makes you content you have to try and build your life around it, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish anyway.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE MUSICIANS/YOUR INSPIRATIONS? So many, but if I’m brutal about my list- Jeff Buckley, John Mayer, Damien Rice, Kara Dioguardi, Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WRITE YOUR OWN MUSIC? WHAT EMOTIONS AND EVENTS DO YOU DRAW ON FOR INSPIRATION? I don't think I will ever be a songwriter churning out hits because it really comes to me sporadically and I'm mostly motivated by the dark moments. It's a running joke that I find it hard to write happy songs but I'm actually a very happy person!?
ARE THE SONGS IN YOUR ALBUM ABOUT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?
Of course! There is cross over on Into The Light with a few older songs that I re-worked that are about other guys but the latest ones are just about one person in particular. I can't help it I literally have no control it has to come out, I hope he doesn't hate me!
WHAT WAS IT LIKE CREATING YOUR OWN SOLO ALBUM? HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH THE PROCESS?
It’s been amazing, recording ‘Into the Light’ was a completely different experience to doing the first 2 albums, I took a whole year doing it, meticulously working with the producer and engineers on getting every line & every layer perfect, and I think overall, spending time over a record made me a better writer and pushed my vocals to their limit because we had time to let arrangements breathe and re-work the weaker ones, I’m so happy to have set that benchmark for myself and the people I work with.
MAGAZINE SUN THE SURF, AND SAND ISSUE, SUMMER 2012