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Page 29 Cover Feature:
Stephen Perkins
Table of Contents
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Page 3 The Nexxt
Page 20 Dave Miller
Page 38 Bleu Stroud
Page 7 Callahan Anderson
Page 24 Santiago Cirilo
Page 41 Tom Thumb
Page 10 Gold Lemonade
Page 27 Milan Rede
Page 14 Steve Hamm
Page 29 Stephen Perkins
Page 17 Mike Ferguson
Page 35 Fool’s Brew
THE NEXXT The Nexxt Chapter... When did you first get into music? Wake: I think the first time I played guitar I was 12 at church. They were giving free lessons to kids and I went and didn’t stick with it. It wasn’t till a few years later that I got really serious about playing and performing. When we were in high school Aidan and I asked Snacks if he wanted to join our band and he was like “sure? When do you guys start?” And I was like right now, grab your stuff were going to my moms to write songs. Aidan...well when Wake came to me and said that we were gonna start a band I was all in! Of course then it hit me that I didn’t know how to play an instrument. So I went out and bought a bass and a guitar and I learned to play. Next thing I knew, I was hooked! Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Wake: Not to be arrogant; but I was 17 and I watched the guys on the stage at a show an thought “you know what? I can do that better.” So I walked into my dad’s office one day, I sat down and said “Dad we’re going to start a band.” My dad who was on the phone told the guy he’d call him back and he looked at me and said “Son you guys can’t play any instruments. How can you be a band?” And I just said “don’t worry about it, we’ll figure it out later.” We started out wanting so bad to be the chili peppers, man Aidan an I always had our shirts off. Let
me tell ya if you’re ever thinking “is it a good idea to play a show in your underwear”, I can assure you the answer is fucking no mate. We used to try and just be as high energy, balls to the wall intense as possible. But now we have learned that that’s not authentic, not every song needs you to be full insanity. Sometimes you need to back off and get present in the moment. For me I go to a different place during each song, I find the site of the what caused the me to write those words. And the thing is I fearlessly go there no matter what, whether it’s sex, depression, drugs or loneliness, I go there for that moment and relieve it. That’s the only way you can do this is to go there and be honest about it because in this world we want to be superficial but this can’t be. This has to hurt because it’s honesty and people deserve my honesty. Aidan: Well first I want to say, that I have to disagree with my brother here, playing music in your underwear in front of a few hundred people is a great time! For me though music just made so much sense, I started listening to music like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and I was completely blown away by the sounds they were making. Then I started finding more bands and genres that just were just mind blowing. The first of which was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who has been the biggest band in my musical journey. I remember listening to the way Flea and John Frusciante played with such passion and love. The blend of so many different styles
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talked at length about the Big Libowski and music. He was very kind and never even bothered asking how I got a seat at his table! Oh! I also met Shia LeBeouf one day, we hugged and I told him how big of a fan I am and then he smiled and kissed me on the cheek.
of music was just mind blowing! And from there it was just one band after another. Punk, jazz, rock, grunge, pop, blues, everything under the sun. I’d like to think that in the songs we write now you can hear my love of all of these styles of incredible music. You recently changed your band’s name. Tell us about that? Wake: You know that was a different era, a different time. We were different men. This is different, this feels different and the name had to change to reflect that. When a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, you call it a butterfly. That’s the thing to remember. You call a butterfly a butterfly. Aidan… right... butterflies... I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? Playing with the Maine was pretty cool, Hawthorne Heights was a fun show to play. We got to open for Set it Off once too. Also when I was playing basketball in High School I played Kawhi Leonard one time in Phoenix. We lost the game 79-26, but I like to think we left the floor with a mutual respect for each other as warriors. Kinda developed a rivalry if you will. I like to think he occasionally thinks back to those battles. Aidan.. a couple of months back I got the opportunity to meet Flea and I got to hug him and thank him for the amazing music and gifts he’s given world. I cried, like ugly cried. Then a few years ago I had dinner with a famous producer named T Bone Burnett and actor Jeff Bridges. It was a delightful meal, Mr. Bridges was an amazing man and he was a great story teller. We
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If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Wake: I don’t know if belief is an emotion but I’m gonna say it is. We need each other and we believe in one another and I know we’re going to discover what were supposed to be. If you don’t believe, if you don’t have faith, you can’t do this. It’s that simple. I wish it was easier, but I know it’s going to be ok because I believe that it will be worth it in the end. Aidan...For me it’s the love of music and it’s ability it has to make life better for people. Music can truly save people and it’s a beautiful thing to see. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? Wake: I think my energy is what makes us different, I don’t know, I’ve always been able to really connect with people. I have always connected and cared about people and I think in my performances you can see that. I feel people’s emotions and I share mine as well and we experience things together. Aidan.. other bands don’t have me writing their songs. What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/singer-songwriter? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Wake: The biggest challenge has been the mental strength to believe in what you’re doing and to keep pushing. Truly It is hard to keep the faith and frankly that’s why some people don’t make it; people lose the nerve and the stomach for it. It’s hard putting your whole life into something and keeping the faith can be a challenge. We’re lucky we as a band have each other, we have a group of guys that have been doing this for a long time with each other and there is faith in the group and sometimes that is what carries you forward. Someone else in the group believing enough for both of you. Aidan.. I’ve gotta kinda agree with him. This isn’t like working towards a degree or moving up the ladder at work, you really just have to keep the faith that it’s something you will succeed with! But man it’s hard as hell some days.
A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? Wake: You know I don’t know if suffering is the right word. I think it should be “you must live and be honest for your art.” I don’t think I truly have suffered, I think I have gotten to live a life that has had it’s ups and downs; but I am willing to be completely honest with you. Be completely sincere when I talk about my heart hurting or the feeling of loneliness that we can all relate too. I think that is what you need for good music, good lyrics, honesty so that someone can relate to that experience. Aidan… well like he said, honesty is huge. I don’t think you have to suffer in order to be an artists, I personally always encourage young artists to make better choices than I did. Because I was a suffering artists and I personally think I could’ve skipped over that stage, and still written some incredible music. Because my life after getting clean and after my suffering, has given me far more opportunities and music to write. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? Wake: Well the good news is it is far easier to get music out there. But by the same token it is hard to get noticed in the sea of artists. Aidan.. I think it’s caused bands to not put in the same amount of work as they once did. You post something, you buy ads for it, people see it. No one hops in the mystery machine anymore and goes and tours! And people don’t go see bands they’ve never heard of at a club that is down the street from them. Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans? Wake: We actually have one coming up, it’s on September 5th that’ll be announced soon.
It’ll be at a drive in theater in Phoenix, Arizona and it’ll be one of our first shows in a long time. If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be? I just wish our genre had a bit more diversity and inclusion. We can always use more ideas and sounds that come from other cultures. Aidan.. we need more kids starting bands in their garages and just suck. And then they need to go and play on a stage and suck. And then they have the time of their lives and they practice more and more and get good at it! More people just need to be playing music! What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why? For me it’s gotta be The 1975’s first record, Glass Animals- How to Be Human, Oasis- What’s The Story Morning Glory, Kings of Leon- Come Around Sundown and probably Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. I feel like there is a sincerity in each one of these records that I try to draw from, a feeling of genuineness that I hope to capture the energy of in my work. Aidan.. I mean that’s a huge question. I mean at so many different points albums moved me musically forward. To get to an other album. For me I couldn’t put them in any particular order, cause that’d make it impossible to answer. But I would have to say The Beatles Rubber Soul, Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication, Foo Fighters Waisting Light, John Frusciante’s When Shadows Collide with People, and Catfish and the Bottlemen The Ride. There are so many more that I could list off that have moved me and made me think about music and life differently, but when I think about myself as a song writer those all have been so key for me. And they’re all albums that I can listen to all the way through and love each song on it. Plus he also took my favorite Oasis album (I’m the one with the picture on that street and the Oasis tattoo) Tell us about your current project. Are you working on new music? An EP or Album? We do have an EP that will drop soon. We recently got added to a Universal label and our stuff will soon be out there for all y’all. In the meantime follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for news and stuff. Oh we have a youtube channel that will soon have music videos. Aidan.. always writing music! It’s like drinking water or sleep. It’s a part of my day like anything else! How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? https://www.facebook.com/TheNexxtbandoffical
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LISTEN NOW!
Bailey Elora “All the Feels” EP out now. Everywhere! Facebook: @baileyeloramusic Photo by @urbanimpressions
CALLAHAN ANDERSON
Photo by Tino Duvick
Model on the Rise When did you first get involved as a model? What or Who inspired you to pursue such a competitive career? In September of 2018.
whom I have deemed my 2nd Mom. I have had the wonderful opportunity to walk in 2 Runway Fashion Shows, been Published several times and there are still so many exciting projects on the horizon to help gain exposure and build my resume.
My mom inspired me to pursue modeling when she saw a selfie I took that reminded her of a specific Super Model, Cindy Crawford. I’m sure you have met a lot of talented individuals and/or celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? I can’t say that I have ever met a celebrity, but talented individuals, absolutely. A particular story of an extremely talented individual would be my step-dad. He is a powerlifter, and I have learned from him that true talent is used from the strength of your mind. I have watched and learned that you can not worry about the things you can not control or change. He lives by that every day and his drive to always stay positive regardless of the circumstances. To never give up is talent. How has your modeling evolved since you first started? Since my introduction to modeling about 10 months ago, I have gained so much confidence in myself and I have learned that I am an individual. I have my own voice and I stand proud in who I am. I have gained professional experience personally and professionally through my amazing agent Deidre Michelle
Photo by Tino Duvick
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Photo by Tino Duvick Photo by Marshall Tommy St. John
If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in these tough careers? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Eager to learn and grow not only in modeling but everything in life. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? My Determination. I know that I am different and I know that no matter what people say, I will always succeed, even if life dictates a different path for me down the road. What has been your biggest challenge as a model? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? I don’t look young, even without makeup, everyone always thinks I am older than 17. In this industry, diversity of age is a big deal. So the challenge has definitely been fun trying to take portfolio shots that make you look a few years younger.
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A common phrase as a performing artist is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? No, I do not agree with this statement. I would not try to force something that isn’t meant to be. I believe everything in life happens for a reason and
Photo by Tino Duvick
sometimes life presents us with various paths to determine what is best for us in the end. How do you feel the Internet has impacted the modeling business? Instant Access to Industry information, trends, lifestyles, model - calls, opportunities, the latest and greatest of just about anything you want to know at your fingertips. Do you have any hidden talents? I am very athletic and I enjoy powerlifting with my step-dad. What is the best advice you have received? Every struggle in life is only temporary What projects are you currently working on... that you can talk about? I have a couple of Fitness Magazine photoshoots coming up and with that, you will find me most of the time these days in the gym. How can fans-to-be follow your career? They can follow me on Instagram @callahan.official or on Facebook under Callahan - Model
Photo by Marshall Tommy St. John
Photo by Tino Duvick
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GOLD LEMONADE A Dynamic Duo Hailing from the West of France and inheriting a passion for music which was sparked by her influential DJ father at a very young age, Lya Lewis has traveled the world showcasing her spinning mastery and uniquely-redefined dubstep/EDM genre flavor. As a female producer in the DJ/hip hop industry, Lewis is making waves and changing perspectives. She is known for her striking persona, high-energy sets, and funky, blended scores. Artist Jvgg Spvrrow (pronounced ‘Jag Sparrow’) is the Carib-style vocals, and lyrical whiz kid behind the hip hop/EDM concept duo, “Gold Lemonade”. Growing up in the French Caribbean, Spvrrow discovered his passion for hip hop early on as he spent much of his time in St. Martin and the West Indies. He eventually left school at 16 to pursue music on a local scale. He then later released a solo single that was in rotation on many online radio stations around the world. These endeavors eventually took him to multi-platinum partnerships and shows in France, where he met DJ Lya Lewis. This marked the induction of their creative collaboration.
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Known for his gritty demeanor, hard-hitting vocals, yet smooth flow and clever lines, Jvgg is part of the
inventive, yet contemporary sound that makes Gold Lemonade a modern success. He sings and writes all the lyrics, often quoting St. Martin as his inspiration for his work, saying it’s the birthplace of his heavy cultural rhyme. The winning combination has propelled Gold Lemonade into creating hits, turning them into a quick success. The duo has been ecstatically working on new projects around the clock alongside Jackie Jackson. “I’m rushing and trying to get everything in line so I can just roll down the train track. At this moment, everything’s looking good,” said Jackson. “With plenty of new releases, and a growing fanbase, Jvgg and Lya are serious about creating a stealthy body of work that ties in their diverse artistic background in the form of a unique pairing.” How did Gold Lemonade come into existence? We met each other at a recording studio in Paris called “Arts Digital Studio”. Jvgg was working on his solo project and Lya was composing an album for another artist. Lya needed English vocals and lyrics for some of her demos, so she approached Jvgg for a collaboration. We recorded some features for Lya’s solo album, and we vibed together so well,
that we decided to form a duo, known as “Gold Lemonade”. Where does the name Gold Lemonade come from? We were looking for the perfect name as soon as we began collaborating together. We wanted something that represented the both of us, and funny enough, we both enjoyed the fast-casual restaurant “Lemonade” in Los Angeles at the time. Lemonade represents being fresh and sunny, which truly encompasses our brand, and the word “gold” draws inspiration from being shiny and authentic, which describes our personalities. Your style is unique, fusing hip-hop and electronic dance music together. Where do you see this newfound genre going in the future? We wanted to do something that was original, that no other artists had done before. Hip-hop and electronic dance music are the highest ranked genres right now, so we decided to fuse the two together and create a unique sound. We really think this is the direction that music is going to start going in, and we want to ride this new wave. How did you meet Jackie Jackson and what does your relationship mean to you? Lya met Jackie by happenstance at a café in Las Vegas. Lya was visiting the United States to pitch her new project to various venues, and Jackie was seeking a producer to compose a track for one of his artists. The two began collaborating and have been working together ever since. We believe that meeting Jackie was sheer destiny, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds working with such a legendary figure in the music industry. We still have so much to learn! What is one of your most memorable music video shoots and why? “How You Feel” is our most memorable music video shoot due to it being the most difficult. The video was shot in the cold of winter in the South of France, making the various production elements much tougher to execute due to the windchill. Regardless, we were extremely happy with the results and it is one of our most cherished videos to date. “Yeah Yeah” is the second most memorable video that we shot due to there being such a positive vibe on set. Everyone was happy to be on set, and we were surrounded by close friends who participated in the shoot. The video was shot in the deserton a dry lake bed in Nevada, and it was truly a beautiful setting. Who are your biggest musical influences? Jvgg’s biggest musical influences are Richie Spice, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Tupac and Lil’ Wayne.
Lya’s biggest musical influences are Sade, Tina Turner, Supertramp, Radiohead, Portishead, Tupac, Eminem, Joshua Redman and Maceo Parker. You just took home two awards at the Independent Music Awards, how do you feel achieving something so distinct so early on in your career? We are truly surprised that we won, and it is a big honor knowing that prominent individuals in the music industry have recognized our work. To have our work hand-selected by a judges panel truly feels like a stamp of approval, and it’s the best feeling in the world. We hope to win more awards like this in the near future! With the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, what have you guys done to adapt? The COVID-19 pandemic has really allowed us to adapt to the current times, as well as connect with our fanbase on a much deeper level. We were able to participate in a “Unity Festival” consisting of a lineup of prominent electronic dance music artists to raise funds for multiple charities in France. It seems that everything is going virtual, and we look forward to participating in more virtual festivals coming up. We have been able to connect with our fans on social media and get their feedback on our music. Many of them participated in a social media remix contest that we launched, where we will publish the work of some of our most talented fans on an upcoming remix EP. and playing at massive nightclubs, venues and festivals.
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Photo by Stephane Greffier
What are you looking forward to the most in your career? We are most looking forward to touring the world tivals in every ma jor city. With the current times, we appreciate the human connection even more, and we can’t wait to connect with our fans on an in-person level once again. Aside from that, we look forward to collaborating with many of our favorite artists, and launching our own label in conjunction with Critically Amused where we can mentor and produce up and coming artists who are deserving of a career. We also look forward to giving back to our family and friends who have done so much for us.
Photo by Stephane Greffier
How do you see your career advancing in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, and this is not by mistake. The city is quickly being put on the map in the music festival scene with large production shows calling Las Vegas home, including Life Is Beautiful and the Electric Daisy Carnival. We can’t wait to perform at these festivals one day, as well as the ma jor nightlife and day life venues up and down the Las Vegas Strip. Any upcoming projects or final thoughts that fans should know about? We have been consistently releasing new singles every month, and plan to continue to do so. We have a big project scheduled to drop in September, and we are excited to share it with the world! We also have a new music video for our single “Lemon Step” that will be released in the next few days. As far as shows go, we are participating in another live streamed festival that is set to take place this Fall.
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Subscribe to Gold Lemonade and watch their new music video, “LemonStep” music video at: https://youtu.be/r4sqyZvHQ8Q
STEVE HAMM Actor on a Mission Introducing Steve Hamm... Handsome actor/model Steve Hamm has a unique story. He is a retired Army helicopter pilot who is now a “Lifeflight” pilot while also focusing on his acting and modeling career. After having served in the Army for over 23 years and being deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, Hamm was captured by the acting bug. Having ma jor experience in military linguistics, Hamm hopes to put that to good use during his acting career but is also intrigued by detective suspense roles. Hamm has appeared in “Deliver Us from Evil, “The Warriors”, “Law & Order” and the Bruce Willis project “Acts of Violence.” I spoke with Steve regarding his very interesting careers.....He authentically loves to help people and hopes to continue to do so no matter where his professions take him....
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My obvious question is after being in the army for so long, how did you catch the acting bug? It’s kind of a funny story actually. It was a spur of the moment decision. I was living in Tennessee at the time and I just happened to google acting schools. I found one that was in Nashville, so I emailed the owner and he invited me down for an open call to see if I liked it. So basically, I did a weekend workshop
with him. It was basically doing cold reads with other members of his class. After doing several of these with the other actors you could say that the acting bug kind of hit me. It was something I was interested in pursuing, however, as a beginning actor knows you can’t make a good living at first. I was actually in the process of leaving the army and moving to Ohio, so I had to get established with a new location, career, and surroundings. I happened to find another agency in the Cleveland area where I got picked up for representation and the rest is pretty much history. But it was just a spur the moment thought which kind of flourished from there. So during your Army days you never before thought of acting as a career? No, not really. I did do a play during my junior year in high school. It was fun to do, but it wasn’t something I was thinking of doing at the time. I’ve always enjoyed watching good TV shows and movies and seeing what good actors produce. I guess maybe subtly and indirectly I’ve always had the inclination to do it, but I never really had the time or the financial means. When you’re serving your 24/7 doing something with the army so I think that once I got out it enabled me to have the time to focus in that direction.
What inspired you to join the army? My dad was a big influence on that. He had served four years in the Air Force and he helped mold or groomed me for military service basically. I did four years of high school ROTC, so I was already prepared to go into the service. He wanted me to once I finished graduation go to one of the military academies to get a degree and become an officer, but unfortunately, I was kind of a rebellious teenager and it really wasn’t my goal at the time. He finally gave up and told me to do what I wanted to do, and I realized that college wasn’t for me. So, I contacted my local Army recruiter and the rest is history. How did you become a helicopter pilot? Initially I signed up to be a helicopter mechanic. I did that for about eight years. Basically, if you hang around with pilots for a while most people get the urge to want to fly. You listen to their stories and it’s pretty cool. The army has a program where anyone can apply to become a helicopter pilot. So, you put in an application which goes to a review board and depending upon how many slots they have available and how good your application is and how good your recommendations are, they decide if they want to select you or not. Fortunately for me I had an aviation background and a lot of good recommendations, so I got the position. Does the fact that you are a helicopter pilot help you with your acting career? Unfortunately, there is a little bit of a misconception. Having a pilot’s license is not the same as having a driver’s license. With a driver’s license you can basically drive almost anything whereas for the pilot side there’s a private pilot’s license and a commercial license. I do not have my private license so I really can’t just rent a single plane and go flying anywhere. I have a commercial license so that enables me to fly for companies, but you have to get certified for that type of aircraft. I get asked a lot to fly for different things and although I would love to I actually can’t. In this day and age, you have a guy that can operate a drone for much cheaper and pretty much see the same results. Yes, but I feel like a role as a helicopter pilot would suit you? I can definitely take on the role as a helicopter pilot. Either being cast in a role as a pilot or be on the sidelines of it as an aviation consultant telling people what is realistic and what is not is something I can do. I could even give advice as a military person. So, if you were given the choice of any role on the planet what kind of role would you like? Well, on the top of my list would go being a detective trying to solve a very gritty crime. I guess that’s what I kind of gravitate towards. Those stories that just grab you and suck you in. The ones that you
can’t really figure out how they are going to end with twists and turns. I would like to play a character that just makes you think by the way he reacts to certain things. So, I think on the top of my list that would be the most enticing role. Other than that, I think horror movies are my other top thing. I love a good horror movie. I grew up with “Friday the 13th” and “Halloween” type stuff. Things that make you cringe and jump at the right moment kind of get me. Do you have a favorite actor? I don’t have one. There are a few on the top of my list. One for sure is Denzel Washington. He’s incredible. Every role he plays is incredible I loved him in the “Equalizer.” I like Russell Crowe. Who would you love to have as a leading lady? Angelina Jolie would be an interesting person to share a scene with. There’s Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep.... Can do you recall a single moment that changed the tra jectory of your life? One moment came early on before I even joined the Army. They were going to lead me into a job involved with tanks but one of my former brother-inlaw’s who was a recruiter at the time looked at my scores and advised me against it. So, he helped
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recommend a course change and because of that I was able to get something that I really enjoyed doing. That change allowed me to pretty much become a pilot. Another one was the acting thing before I retired from the army. That was a significant moment. It instilled a confidence in me that hadn’t been there before. You have to become vulnerable especially for auditions and do what the casting director expects you to do. I think that is very empowering to do that. Most recently somebody recommended that I should look into real estate, which is a 180° change for me. I looked into it, pursued it and I have my license now. I like helping people. I do have this genuine desire to want to help people not just for my benefit but for theirs. I like caring about what happens to people essentially. Has the army experiences taught you anything significant in your day-to-day life? Over the past 10 years I definitely had my mindset changed and always think in a positive regard. I’ve seen some bad things while serving especially overseas. How some people live, what people have endured. I think seeing all that when you come back to the states you just have a better appreciation of how we live over here.
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Follow Steve Hamm on the web: Official Website: https://www.stevehamm.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve. hamm.526 https://www.facebook.com/StevenPHamm05 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SteveHammActor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevehamm_ actor IMDb: https://www.imdb.me/stevenphamm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKw1H1hYX3D5D-VMsUjK6vA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hamm01181b55
MIKE FERGUSON Actor & Stuntman First and foremost Mike Ferguson, what do you do? Primarily, I’m an actor and a stuntman with a love for horror movies, the color black and cats. I fuckin’ love cats, yo.
goddamn cool. While I was there, I hit the gym like a motherfucker to play an Army veteran and ex-MMA champion turned illegal fighter and mercenary for hire. I’m proud of that role yo.
It seems like you always get typecast as the bad guy in any film project. This might be true as fuck, but in real life I’m a goddamn teddy bear...but a scary teddy bear that will kill your whole family and a few neighbors. Of course, I can be totally chill too...with the times I like to bathe in my enemy’s blood. I have been acting in movies and television for about 4 years for what seems like BEYOND full time. I work a lot...but not always as a bad guy, (laughs). In fact, I was just featured on the newest video from the YouTube superstar, Collins Key, in a family friendly episode. Sp yeah, I’m usually cast as the antihero, like Ash Williams, Snake Pilskin or The Punisher, but I’d like to think I’m pretty versatile. Great for my career, not so much personal life .
Favorite thing you’ve ever had to say in a film? My favorite line of dialogue is a movie for Dustin Ferguson me and my roommate and fellow actor, ERIK RUSSO just filmed... “I’m your goddamn King.” featured in the horror film, Ebola Rex, out in September 2020.
We’ve heard you had some incredible success with hit show, Death Squad… Absolutely. I was blessed to play Greg “The Champ“ Thompson on Death Squad for Popstar! TV. He’s a man on the downside of his prime but still willing to sacrifice for others.A great Anti Hero...killing zombies. The show was filmed in Armenia which was pretty
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Who do you surround yourself with in your life? Man I have so many creative people in my life. I love watching Mike Markoff act. I’ve been blessed to work with him on Death Squad and a film we are about to finish with the amazing. Jamie Bernadette. And the insanely talented Betsy Sligh, the horror Western HOMESTEAD... “In the film set in 1800s Oklahoma, Beth (Jamie Bernadette) flees from an abusive marriage with her twin children—Irene (Betsy Sligh), a loud-mouthed 12-year-old girl who has an uncanny knack for shooting guns, and Brian (Cavan Tonascia), a shy and awkward boy who can never seem to do anything right. “Beth soon meets Robert, a charming man with dreams of living off the land. They marry and together, become homesteaders. They build a small cabin far off in the Western frontier away from civilization. Beth adjusts well to life on the prairie, and Robert quickly becomes a strong father figure for the children. “When a gang of outlaws, each with their own uniquely twisted and terrifying personality, finds the family on their little homestead and terrorizes them, Beth starts to question Robert’s identity and his obscure past. Trapped on their homestead, outgunned
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and outnumbered, the family’s survival comes to rest in the hands of twelve-year-old, hot-tempered and hair-triggered Irene, who trusts few and shoots first.” Favorite actor? My absolute favorite actor is Robert LaSardo, an amazing actor covered in tattoos just like me. I’ve been Blessed to be Able to work with him many times...SILENCER (Danny Trejo ,Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Robert LaSardo, Johnny Meisner Big Jeff Hill), it was dope. Ohhh, I can’t leave out my brother, my best goddamn friend my hetero life partner, The Italian Stallion... ERIK Goddamn Russo. He’s helped me step my life and acting game up...a talented actor and filmmaker. I’ve done film after film with him, for Dustin Ferguson.
Favorite movie? My favorite movie of all time man is Escape from New York (Kurt Russell is the MAN ) and Evil Dead 2 ...You have two movies, SUE ME.....all goes back to the Anti-Hero ...Guy doesn’t wanna be the good guy but he has to...I can relate like a motherfucker. Recent projects? I just recently worked with Michael S. Rodriguez on Last American Horror Show Volume 2 . I had an amazing role just sitting in my prison cell having a conversation with legend MEL NOVAK, horror and action legend....Stick from GAME OF DEATH, and I just wrapped Ebola Rex for Dustin Ferguson’s release in September. “After your audition, I expanded your role because you fit the character so much that it’d be a waste to give you less screen time.“ Anything else? Man, I kinda fulfilled a childhood dream ..I’m in a movie with Steven Segal and DMX...So dope and huge for me. I was so stoked and I worked again with Big Jeff Hill and Jonny Meisner on Beyond the Law on Demand now...and I got some more crazy stuff coming up but NDA’s, yo… (laughs)! And my slate is pretty full until the end of year. Parting words? Here’s a quote, “If you’re gonna be dumb ya gotta be tough , I’m tough as fuck.” Acting is tough, selfish and cruel...but I fucking love it, yo.
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DAVE MILLER Drummer, Producer & All-Around Great Guy When did you first get into music? I was interested in music from a young age. I remember plinking around on my dad’s piano and hearing classical music from his radio and turntable. My mom was into country and folk music and my parents took me to square dances often. I was hearing music all the time, but I really fell in love with music when my schoolmate played me “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon on his walkman. Just after that I discovered The Beatles and my obsession with music began. I got a drum set when I was twelve and that solidified everything for me.
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Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? How has your music evolved since you first began performing? I played in bands with friends through high school and was really into practicing and performing. One of these groups recorded a couple demo tapes and I got hooked on recording too. When it came time to pick a focus for college, music was the obvious choice. After a year or so I landed a job teaching drums part-time. It all happened pretty naturally and I’m still recording, performing and teaching 20 years later.
I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? I’ve met a lot of great people in the industry over the years, and through these connections I’ve had some cool opportunities personally and professionally. While playing in bands, I’ve shared the stage with Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters), Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta), Kings X, and countless Colorado bands. Some of my favorite shows were opening for my tabla teacher Aloke Dutta with my band Katalyst. Through my good friend Peter Fletcher (Vessel, Pigmy Love Circus), I was introduced to Danny Carey (Tool) and on a handful of occasions, I got to tech for the drumming legend. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? I would have to say passion and joy. I’ve been playing well over half my life and I’m still obsessed with music. It’s just kind of there as a constant calling. I’ve branched out from drums over the years and now I’m producing music for myself and others, as well as playing with a number of bands.
Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? It’s overwhelming at times to see the talent this world has to offer. I’m inspired every day by the art and music people are creating, but like many artists, I’m consistently battling feelings of doubt even in times of great inspiration. I hope to be a reflection of the art and music that has given me so much joy and happiness throughout my life. I’m heavily influenced by different kinds of music from all over the world and I’m actively introducing these elements into the art I create. What has been your biggest challenge as a musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? My biggest challenge as a musician and producer has been going deep to learn how to express sounds, thoughts and feelings clearly and truthfully. I’m always working on it and maybe getting closer to what I hear in my heart. The lockdown has been an interesting time. I’ve had lots of time with my family and time to meditate and reflect. I’m excited for us all to emerge from this confusion and chaos and express love again…in person! A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? Yeah I think part of living and learning anything can feel like suffering at least a little bit. Figuring out how to navigate a career in music is definitely challenging and I’ve had many moments of doubt. I always try to focus on the positives of any situation and strive to be in projects that I feel excited to be part of. How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business? It seems like the internet has flipped the industry on its head. It’s really cool that it is easier to get music out there, but everyone is so inundated with content that it doesn’t seem to be any easier to push through and get noticed. With COVID-19, the internet is virtually the only thing keeping the entertainment industry going. It’s so sad how many venues have closed already and we’re not out of the woods, yet. Here’s hoping for the triumphant return of artists. Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans? I’ve been recording a ton and posted some videos, but I haven’t gone live from the home studio. I played drums on a video session with Matt Skellenger at Mighty Fine Productions in July and it sounds like we may be back doing a live stream for Dazzle in September. Kudos to the live-streamers out there, you really provide a great service during all this.
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If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be? At this point I think the industry is changing and evolving constantly. I wish mainstream pop-culture was more varied from the usual mold, but it seems like many artist/bands still thrive within their niche. Though struggling and working on passion alone, the fringe has at least enough to sustain and keep making their art. This really is a golden age of music and people have access to so much. Innovative artists will keep coming up with ways to connect with fans and get by. What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why? It’s tough to pick five but here’s some albums that are still important to me: “Graceland” – Paul Simon – For some time as a kid this was one of only a couple tapes I had and I listened to it on repeat. I still love this album to this day. “Vespertine” – Bjork – I love Bjork’s music for so many reasons but hearing the production on this album was very influential on me as I was beginning to work with electronic music. “Exit Stage Left” – Rush – After hearing Tom Sawyer on the radio I knew that I wanted to play drums. This album is a collection of incredible songs played live and was a great source of inspiration for me as a young musician.
“Lateralus” – Tool – A good friend turned me onto Tool as a 12 year old kid and I’ve been hooked ever since. This band oozes true artistry and still provides me with a ton of inspiration in life and music. “Give a Monkey a Brain…” - Fishbone – Fishbone is one of my favorite bands of all time. This album really grabbed me as a teenager and let me into their vast catalog of musical excellence. Tell us about your current project. Are you working on new music? An EP or Album? In the past year, I released the debut “Deep Ocean Creature” album, as well as two ambient albums from the alter ego “Deep Space Creature”. Both projects are co-produced by Kyle Jones (Brotherhood Studios). In 2019 I played drums and percussion on “Vitality” by Matt Skellenger. This album is fantastic and is the fourth album of his I’ve been a part of. I’m working on a new “D.O.C.” release for 2020, and long time project with Peter Fletcher and Neale Heywood, “Vessel” that will both be released on label Va jra Records. I played on a couple tracks for the new project “Man Vs.” from my buddy, Ben Fellows (Lacuna Brotherhood). I have more tricks up my sleeve too, when the universe will allow it. What’s next for you? I’ve been really into making electronic music and I have some great sounds coming out of the studio lately. I’ve been mixing lots of analog synthesizer sounds with acoustic drums and other acoustic instruments. The tones and textures work synergistically and I’m really excited to see where it goes. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? I’m @tabladave on most social media platforms. Check out my label, Va jra Records for the music I produce and release. www.va jrarecords.com or www.va jrarecords.bandcamp.com @va jrarecords on instagram and twitter @deepoceancreature on instagram @deep_creature on twitter www.mattskellenger.com
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SANTIAGO CIRILO Acting with Intention We caught up with the actor that goes by the name of Santiago Cirilo during some of his down time... Tell us a little bit about yourself? I love life. I love human beings. I love being me. I’m very funny; but I have a lot of serious emotions in me from a lot of tragic events that happened in my life that led,me to believe that there is a happier more fun Universe in life. So, I show more Love and I recieve it back 10 Folds. Oh by the way if you wanted the usual response like - I was born in Puerto Rico raised in Ohio went to college in Columbus, then I party myself out to the point where I decided to join the Army and become an infantry Soldier?
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What got you started as an actor? A prayer. I was so tired of the norm. Get up in the morning drive the same path to work, and continue to do that year after year after year like Groundhog Day. I knew since I was young that I had Talent in entertaining others. I mean I can draw I can do Improv I can always be someone to motivate others and make them stronger and no matter the situation they are in because I’ve been there since I was young. So I prayed to God and asked for him to use me in the talents that I was blessed with. I went to the kitchen at work and the TV was on and there was a commercial about wanting to be an actor?
I said immediately what the heck you can be just some extra money on the side making local gigs like a singer since Nashville is all about music and merchandise push. So I decided to research in the business portion of the entertainment business 40 V films and so on. since I’ve been out of the army I decided always to keep up with the business portion of life to include law and marketing. So after my research I went and pretty much Google the best agents and small organizations or schools for actors. To make a long story short, I did a two-year course in entertainment, and have a degree as a paralegal, and audition for the top agents in Tennessee and in Los Angeles. I was immediately offered a deal with Talent Trek in Nashville which is one of the top agents in Tennessee. I also was offered a contract with osbrink Talent in Los Angeles who represents a lot of great young actors like Dakota Fanning. within a year I was on Global TV and since then I’ve averaged a national or global TV or movie since I got in this business. What was you doing before you got started as a actor? I was a paralegal for a big law firm in Nashville, TN. Before that I was making guitars for Gibson. What attracted you to begin a career as an actor? God and my momma. Since I was a kid I always was a Class Clown a person that tried their hardest to entertain people whether it was at an event or hanging out with the
friends or even in a bad situation. Since I was a kid I was only taught in the Bible way, heck I didn’t see a Disney movie until I was 18 and that is because I was taking a friend out on a date LOL. So my mother always embedded in my head of how I should always be nice and show love to others, and never judge because that is God’s job. What has been your greatest accomplishment as an actor? People hiring me. LOL! For real. I’m so down to earth, that I can win an Oscar, and not show up to receive it because I had plans with family or friends. The real deal is that I am hired and constantly working. Describe your acting style? I rehearse on what character the film company wants and let them adjusted to accomplish the project. I turn to that character in seconds before we go hot. It’s like being possessed. Tell me about what you’re working on now? I just finished writing zombified the resurrection a follow-up to zombified the headhunter 2 books that me and award-winning author Kindra sowder have written from one of my scripts. we took the book out of the market because we were working on a miniseries deal with some streaming services. Now we are re-releasing the first book in October with a new cover and then in February 20-21 we will release the second book and also work with a DC and Marvel freelance artist and his team to put a graphic novel out to help this become a franchise. I’m also waiting on the release of my new movie by scared City Productions and owner producer director Scott Baney film called Slaughtottery. it was filmed in Jonesboro Arkansas about a year ago and we had to do pickups right before the covid happened. So the editing has been and ongoing process and hopefully the film will be out later this year in time for Halloween if not then 2021. I’m also working on a Paranormal horror mystery TV show called smoke. It’s about a half human half ghost superhero that goes to haunted facilities all across America to find the demon that killed him and his wife. There is of course a lot of the backstory and more involvement to this character in this TV show but the main focus is to go to actual facilities across America end film the TV show with giving part of the real history and of course doing the TV show scripted version but creating a rise in popularity so people can come visit these facilities and they can make money to help repair and keep the history alive. of course again there is more involvement with just hiring the locals and promoting the small businesses in the towns that we film it. Who is your favorite actor, and why? Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson it’s a tie. they express different characters that that even though we know it’s Jack Nicholson and Harrison Ford their characters come out more so you going to either
hate or love their characters or feel their emotions they’re not actors you have a true performers. We see you are credited with over 27 films under your belt, how does that make you feel? It makes me feel that I’ve chosen the right path. Knowing that I would never have that what if? because I just did it because I want to be successful in life and here I am feeling the success. Of all the roles you have played in the past, which is your favorite? Andrew on the movie Rosa Leigh. I had to deal with many emotions, including the death of my wife. Well, my on-screen wife, LOL. Much love to you Jessica, you did a fantastic job. The character had moments where he was funny he was serious and emotionally distressed to the point where once they said cut, the makeup and FX crew had to take me to the side give me hugs breathing exercises so I can easily transform and come back to me. I know it sounds weird but that’s my profession and I have to be the best at it. Do you think honesty is always the best policy? No because everyone in this business is trying to be ahead and think about it how many times have you told a little lie just to get the job or two get that promotion in any profession? Myself I did a small small lies but the honesty in seriousness situations will always be the truth that will come out of my mouth, I don’t play with the seriousness and people’s lives and those around me.
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Think about a demanding director, professor or cast mate. What made him or her difficult? How did you successfully interact with this person? Stay in the same level. once you’re on set you’re an employee, and you work for them. follow their directions and their guidance as you would do have any other job. Be kind, always have a smile and make sure you give good eye contact, that way everyone will know that you’re there to accomplish this product and make sure it delivers to the best of your knowledge. You don’t want to get fired, you don’t want to be late, you don’t want to take too long on your lunch break. Stay on schedule and once you are off the set, you’re back to being and your comfort zone.
How do you like to encourage ideas in others? I tell them to quit being the anchor and their talent. If you have a dream if you can draw if you can sing if you can act if you could do the best mechanical work in construction or electrician or any profession in your life that you have in your hand as the talent been in you since you found it, then why waste It? Go Do! Go be yourself, go accomplish life how you want it, and show the world that you have that Talent; OR ....you can live the norm, wake up in the morning driving that same route to work wondering what if? When have you worked with a diverse group of people? Probably right after I graduated high school once I went to college and then the military I got a taste of travel met different people knowing different religions adding more knowledge to the history that I have known How do you show your cast mates the importance of communication? By treating them as your family being equal on set.
When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work? It affects me a lot, as it stops your money flow. We’re different than any 9 to 5 work, we don’t get paid every week or every two weeks. We do a gig and we have to make sure that we keep working. Sometimes we don’t get paid for a gig for three weeks, sometimes you don’t receive residuals within 6 months to a year! So, we have to have our hands in everything from going to special events to meet fans, doing film project promotions , selling merchandise. You have to remember being an independent worker means that you are your own company. So, you have to constantly promote yourself and constantly be networking. Tell me about an organization or group outside of work that you contributed to? Helping homeless veterans, helping people with drug abuse, helping those cope with suicide thoughts and survivors who have gone through hard times in life. There are so many organizations, but there are also personal times with people and groups. In which area would you like to improve as an actor? Being in shape physically and working on memorization techniques. What sort of acting roles will you be seeking in the future? A superhero, of course. https://www.facebook.com/santiago.cirilo.3
Have you progressed in your acting career as you have expected? No, I have so much more that I want to accomplish. Be known as a writer/director/producer and to know that I have the mentality that Paul Newman had, and other actors. And that is to give back and keep it on the down low, because I don’t believe in being glorified for something that we should all be doing and that’s helping each other.
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MILAN REDE Beauty and Brains When did you first get involved as a model? What or Who inspired you to pursue such a competitive career? I first got involved as a model when I was about 16 years old. I was inspired to start modeling when I would watch fashion or look at magazines and see all of the beautiful and talented models. I thought to myself, I want to be like them. So then I just decided to start building my portfolio with a few local photoshoots and fashion shows and then my career took off from there! I’m sure you have met a lot of talented individuals and/or designers along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? Along the way, I have gotten to do so many cool photoshoots with amazing artists. For example, one of my favorite photoshoots was with photographer, Audre Holtz. We got to shoot at Tent Rocks which was beautiful and I loved how those photos came out. We also did another photoshoot at Nambe Falls which was quite the adventure because we hiked up a waterfall trail to get to the giant waterfall at the end and take pictures. I modeled in my favorite swimsuits too so that was a lot of fun!
Photo by Mandy St. John
How has your modeling evolved since you first started? I started out doing more general photos at first, just trying to build my portfolio. Then, once I got more experience, I was able to decide what style I like to work with and now I do mostly high fashion, swimwear, or editorial style shoots. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in these tough careers? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Passion. I love modeling because it allows me to express myself in an artistic way that no other career can do. It is my creative outlet and my passion. Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? One thing that makes me unique in the industry is that I am not just a model; I am also a chemical engineer. I will actually be pursuing my PhD this year and am only 22 years old. So I guess you could say I am pretty smart too ;)
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What has been your biggest challenge as a model? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? My biggest challenge as a model is finding consistent jobs. It is hard to constantly look for gigs and it is a very competitive market.
Photo by Audre Holtz Makeup by Angelique Martinez
A common phrase as a performing artist is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? Yes, I agree with this statement. The reason I agree is because throughout my career, I have dealt with a lot of judgement from my peers and mean girls who are always trying to bring me down or don’t like me because I am unique and like to model. However, that never stopped me from being successful and booking shoots so I feel like that saying also goes along with whoever tries to bring you down is already below you. How do you feel the Internet has impacted the modeling business? The internet has actually made modeling a lot easier because with social media it is now easier to market yourself and put yourself out there as a model. You can also be directly contacted by agents, photographers, and designers on Instagram or other social networks which makes setting up shoots a lot easier. Do you have any hidden talents? I love long boarding. I can actually even do some tricks on my longboard and go down a parking garage and hills on it. It is my way to relieve stress.
Photo by Nikki Gonzalez
What is the best advice you have received? As cliché as it sounds, it is to never give up and never let anyone’s negativity bring you down. As you become more and more successful, there will always be some people trying to hate you because of your success (out of jealousy normally), but you just gotta keep your head high so your crown doesn’t fall and do your thing! What projects are you currently working on... that you can talk about? Currently, I am still doing some photoshoots here and there, but I am still looking to work with more people and even do some traveling for photoshoots. I was recently published in a few national and international magazines so I am wanting to do more of that. How can fans-to-be follow your career? Follow my Instagram: @milanrede I absolutely love my followers and when people comment on my posts. That is the best way to get my attention or to follow my career.
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We caught up with...
Stephen Perkins The Beats of A Different Drummer 29
“The passion for techno is older than techno itself. The passion for drums is older than their invention. And the time will come when the reason for both surpasses them”......Dan Van Casteele Stephen Perkins, drummer of Jane’s Addiction is a show in himself. He is an animated avalanche faster than God on a skateboard, loud as a tsunami with the power of a nuclear blast, but has the dazzle, blaze and sparkle of fireworks on the 4th of July. The backbone of the band Perkins becomes one with the drum kit. We’ve had several conversations regarding Think:EXP however I never asked you how you got to this space? Let’s back it up a little... I found the drum set as a piece of art when I was 10 or 11. I would stare at a drum set and it would look like a sculpture to me. It wasn’t only a musical instrument, but it sparkled. It was loud. There was this magnet pulling me. Even though I didn’t have any chops or a serious understanding of what to do with a drum set....I just loved looking at it and getting close to one. When I was around 10 or 11 or 12 my parents ended up giving me drum lessons here in Los Angeles. It was on a practice pad. I didn’t have a drum set at home, so I practiced on pads and pillows for about two years. I would put on a Stones record or The Beatles or Jackson 5 and I would play on pillows. I would find a rhythm and a different type of response from each pillow surface and try to get into this at home. It wasn’t till I was about 13 after my Bar Mitzvah that I was able to afford a drum set with my Bar Mitzvah money. After my Bar Mitzvah I went and bought a drum set and it was an awakening. It was loud, it was noisy, the response was different than the pillows.... I had to re-learn and kind of re-digest what hitting the surface was and what the response was and the sound that came out of it. That was almost like a rebirth of drums for me. But now I had a musical instrument that had melody and the sound of cymbals that resonated three or four seconds, maybe even 10 seconds. I would have to reflect on that as a drummer. What kind of music were you first influenced by? My first love for drummers, were jazz drummers. They were so musical, and they all sounded so different from each other. I loved Motown and rock but the way I interpreted drummers they all sounded the same. With the jazz drummers everyone sounded different. I wanted to be a jazz drummer, so I started swinging and playing the jazz records. But no one in Los Angeles at my age was buying jazz music or playing it. I couldn’t find a trumpet player or saxophonist or even a pianist. It was really all about bass and guitar.
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Everybody was playing bass and guitar and learning Sabbath and Zeppelin. I started to realize the kind of rock drummers that I was attracted to were actually jazz influenced. Ginger Baker was swinging, and Ringo and Charlie and Bill Ward from Black Sabbath were really swinging back there. They were influenced by jazz guys like I was. But being surrounded by Marshall guitar rigs and Ampeg amplifiers you’ve got to play harder. You can’t lay back you’ve got to step on the gas. The experience I had at age 14 and 15 was exploring the rock drummer and how to play hard and powerful and not lose that swing. Kind of when Tarzan goes up one vine and is flying through the air before he grabs the other vine. That’s how I see the drum set. You’re steady, you’re holding and then you let go, and then you look for the next one. That’s how the drums are to me like a big wave on a ship. You go up and down. You’re safe on the surface but you definitely feel the movement and it’s not consistent. It’s different. A big wave will take you up higher and a small wave will bounce you small, and that’s how I kind of see the role the drums have in rock ‘n’ roll and in jazz. Cool So, I was able to find great players but not fantastic musicians at 14/15. I found guys that would enjoy playing the rock ‘n’ roll stuff, but the easier stuff like the Ramones or AC/DC. I kind of started playing rock ‘n’ roll on the simple side of drumming in a sense, but still very athletic. At 15/16 I met Dave Navarro. Dave was a master on guitar and I thought “this is a guy I can play with.” Most guys weren’t obsessed with their instrument as I was and Dave was a natural. So finally, I met somebody that I can play with an explore some of the harder stuff, like on the strip you met all of these guys hanging out at the bar, and then getting on stage, and then hanging out down the street at the army surplus store buying spiked boots. They were just some of the more progressive bands that still rocked but we’re thinking out of the box. There were some real chops going on. That expanded our pallet, there were more colors. We weren’t just black and white players, we had orange and blue and yellow. So at 16 we started a metal band called, “Disaster.” We actually gigged the Troubadour, the Roxy, the Whiskey.... and at the same time Motley Crue, and Ratt, and Poison, and all these bands were playing there. So, I got to hang out with Tommy Lee. I got to hang out with Stephen Pearcy, the singer from Ratt. Even though I was 8 to 10 years younger than those guys I felt like I could do what they were doing. They were just up there having a good time, wearing make up and ripped up T-shirts, and that’s what I decided to do. It seemed possible. It didn’t seem out of reach. When you were a kid you looked at people like Led Zeppelin and you think to yourself that you can never be like that, they were from another planet. But one of us and we were one of them. You just had to step on
the gas and find yourself a good team that was all in the same state of mind and then it’s possible. If you have one weak link you were going to fail. We realized that “Disaster” was a good stepping stone. But we needed to start something new, a little bit more concentrated. So, the summer of 85 me and Dave were looking for a bass player to do a power trio and my girlfriend at the time had an older brother who was in a band with Perry, the singer for Jane’s. They were in a band called PsyCom, Psychological Communication. Great name. My girlfriend told me they were starting a new band and looking for a drummer. Perry was 26 and the bass player was 24 and I was only 17, so they weren’t looking for a teenager. They tried out a bunch of drummers maybe 10 or 15 drummers their age and my girlfriend suggested they try me. I showed up, they gave me an audition, and with the very first song they said “oh shit this is what we should sound like.” I told them “I had a guitar player, my buddy Dave who is just like me, he’s on fire.” It took about a week or two before I convinced the guys that my buddy Dave was going to be a better fit then Ed the guitarist they had in the band. Ed was also 25 or 26 and didn’t have the fire or the hunger that I had. We brought Dave over and just like my audition they chose Dave. This was “Jane’s Addiction.” The sound at that moment is really what you hear through the whole career, an electric, sensitive, dynamic band, paying attention to the poem. Perry wrote great lyrics, not about cars and girls,...he wrote a song called “Had A Dad”, about God and losing your faith. These were real lyrics. I could take the lyric and get emotional...not only the baseline and the guitar solo, I’m connected to the words. Then we started writing songs around his words. His words weren’t lyrics. He didn’t say the same things four times. He said one thing and then he moved on. It’s was a poem. The music had to conform around the identity of the lyrics and the placing, the way he would place the syllables. The poems and the electricity that me and Dave brought, the bass player Eric was a 180 degrees from me and Dave. I’m connected to the words. Then we started writing songs around his words. His words weren’t lyrics. He didn’t say the same things four times. He said one thing and then he moved on. It’s was a poem. The music had to conform around the identity of the lyrics and the placing, the way he would place the syllables. The poems and the electricity that me and Dave brought, the bass player Eric was a 180 degrees from me and Dave. He just liked to write baselines that just repeated itself. That’s all he did. That’s when I started realizing the power of the rhythm section. I kind of put it in one of my favorite artists MC Escher. You have the white duck and the black duck. You don’t know which one you’re looking at, but it’s a pattern. That’s kind of what the rhythm
section should be. It fits together and one without the other doesn’t make sense. You can’t have the white duck without the black duck. They fit together. That’s how Usher put it. I started to see the Base line and the drum part as this union. We had great poems, we had a lot of electricity with guitar, and a lot of sensitive topics that Perry had brought to the table to sing about..... wasn’t about getting laid or paid...there was something deep in that. We had this great moment with the music and the lyrics and the combination....we all had different record collections, we all dressed different, we all had different had some records out. It seemed like the strip was coming to an end. This strip was getting signed and most of it was crap. There was this urge and moment when heavy-metal and post punk both hit the ceiling. There was nothing left, friends, we were inspired by different music, art and books.... it wasn’t like four of the same guys, it was four different guys. That was in 85/86 and the post punk thing in LA hit the ceiling. Some of the bands weren’t going to get any bigger. They did it, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, they were all there. But there wasn’t anything growing bigger than what they did. We already had Fishbone and Chili Peppers, they And then? Jane’s Addiction...we would play these late night after hours parties that started at 1 AM. The strip would end at midnight so you would see at a Jane’s Addiction party all the cats from the strip, Poison, and the others needed a place to go out all night. The post punk guys were putting on the party and we were the band. Jane’s Addiction was the house band. We had an audience full of an eclectic, colorful LA scene Full of movie makers and film directors and rock and rollers, punks, artists, and I was only 17 years old. Most of these cats were in their mid-20s. I felt a little intimidated hanging with these older cats. But then again with what we were bringing to the table, they wanted to hang with us. Where is this energy coming from? Where is this excitement coming from? For our first show, the Chili Peppers, X and Fishbone, they were all there. They put us on their shoulders....they said, “You guys are mixing it up!” Everybody in LA wanted music to succeed. They said “let’s make music and change the world.” Yeah So, the Jane’s moment was just the perfect storm of Punk and metal coming to an end in a sense. Something new needed to be stirred up into the blender. Eric and Perry were listening to Joy division, New Order, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Echo and the Bunnymen, Iggy.....Me and Dave heard of these bands but we were more obsessed with Iron Maiden and The Scorpions. So they opened up our eyes and gave us a whole other record collection. As a drummer in a parallel world I was obsessed with jazz and rock but then I got a little antsy and started buying African records, and Indian records. I would think
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what about an African beat to poem. So, I started to find my own voice as a drummer hybriding all these influences. I was around guys that accepted and encouraged it. I would always take cues from Perry. If he was singing about something evil,l I would think evil. If he was singing about something beautiful I would think beautiful. I would let the lyric drive my emotional and organic drumming performance and not just be the Motown clock, which I think is important but I’m not that. I didn’t grow up in Detroit. I didn’t have a funk background. I grew up in LA where there were drum circles in Venice with half naked people playing drums and smoking weed. So it was a little more Grateful Dead, organic, social music in a sense. That was really the storm of Jane’s Addiction. Our first record we did live at the Roxy because we didn’t want anyone to step on us or try to produce us. After that we had a bidding war which we thought we deserved but now looking back...wow. We had Capital, Geffen, Warner, and a bunch of labels. Like I said everybody on the strip had already gotten signed, so we thought as you get better you get signed. That’s the MO. But they weren’t looking for the blonde haired David Lee Roth singer, they were looking for what was next. And you were what’s next. Geffen offered us an amazing deal, but they had just put out the “Appetite for Destruction”, the GNR record, and they kind of wanted to have the West Coast rock scene. We didn’t want to be produced and put together. So, Warner Bros. was fantastic in the sense that they let us produce our own record, our own artwork. “We just want to show the world we are part of LA.” They told us to make our best record and they would put it in every record store. They were willing to give us choices of managers and agents. Warner Bros. was going to have to work harder because we weren’t a Warner Bros. band. We weren’t the Doobie brothers, we’re not Van Morrison, we are a punk band. Warner had to rearrange the world a little bit to make it work for us. They didn’t care how long the song was, if there was cussing, .... they just wanted to know what we were doing and how to get it out there. So, looking back now, wow how lucky! There was a perfect marriage. So that was the first Warner’s record called “Nothing Shocking”, the second record was “Ritual.” It was kind of more progressive like Genesis and Yes and Rush. It was more of a progressive playing as opposed to punk rock because we’d been on tour for two years and we knew how to play. We really had a great live band. The “Ritual” record was basically just putting the mics up and doing in the studio what we had been doing on stage for the last two years. That probably was the best we could be. The friendships were strong, the recording session was great. The memories from the tour, the museums we went to, the bus, this all went into the “Ritual” record. You could hear friendship and a bond. Then we toured
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for another year and we started to diffuse. I think a great manager would’ve said “take a break”. We had a good manager and he said “keep going.” The good manager wanted to get it done, The great manager would’ve seen the future. We didn’t have a great manager and we broke up. That’s sad. Everybody asked us what we were doing. We just had Lollapalooza....we had just coined the phrase “alternative music.” We have just told the world that this is relevant and we could go into Madison Square Garden and sell 20,000 seats. Echo and the Bunnymen couldn’t. Everybody was in shock, but we didn’t know any better. We did five years of the same thing, with the same people. Suicidal Tendencies opened up for Jane’s for about 2 weeks so I was already friends with them. They had made a record that I played on and they showed up for the last show in Hawaii, and I was heartbroken. The day we broke up they told me that they were offered to open for Ozzy for two months on “The No More Tears Tour”, and asked me if I wanted to come with my band Infectious Grooves. So that was the way to heal my broken heart from Jane’s Addiction. This was a metal scene and I was just rocking the alternative scene for five years. So now I’m on tour with Ozzy and surrounded by all these metal heads so I made new friends with all these cats. It opened up a whole new door in the social type of heavy metal scene. There was Zach Wylde on the guitar for Ozzy, one of the greatest guitar players ever, there were just some great metal guys. So, I was out there for a year with them and the whole time Perry and I were talking about our next band Porno for Pyros. Perry needed some time off. He wasn’t interested in being on tour like I was. I am an athlete. Perry was like “oh cool we just broke up I’ll call you in a year.” A year went by and we prepared to do Porno... we knew we’d never find another Dave Navarro but we had a great guitar player name Pete Distefano. So, we thought let’s write Porno songs around poems and rhythm. So, the Porno record really brought my drumming to another level. I stripped the regular drum set and I brought bongos and chimes and all these weird instruments that were percussion but less of a drum set. I was able to explore more of that Latin Indian type of rhythms. That’s how the Porno record came together. The first Porno record was written day after day at my house. The second Porno record we traveled the world with acoustic guitars and bongos. We went to Fiji, Bali, Tahiti and Mexico. How cool. The second Porno record was more song driven and the first one was more of a rock record. The band went through a big change which was exciting. The work ethic wasn’t there like Jane’s Addiction. We weren’t obsessed with getting on a bus and a van and
playing everywhere. I think that even though the Porno music was so deep and fantastic the band itself wasn’t a workhorse. During that whole time, I really wanted to play more drums so I started a band called Banyan. I decided let’s not have a singer so I didn’t have to step on the poem or get in the way of the poem. We just played. We made three Banyan records wth EMI which were mostly instrumental with a couple of vocal moments. But that kind of gave me a chance to spread my wings as a drummer. Porno broke up, not officially. We just stopped playing. Banyan kept rockin’ and then in 97 we had Flea and Navarro and started doing Jane’s shows called The Relapse Tour. We did about 40 shows. It was amazing.....what a tour. We made a movie out of it called “ Three Days.” The movie kind of taps into the weirdness that was happening then. We really didn’t have any plan. We just wanted to go on tour, so we did about 40 shows and that was about it. All of a sudden I heard Tommy Lee was looking for a drummer. He had a band called “Methods of Mayhem.” I called Tommy and asked him how could he be looking for a drummer? He told me he wanted to get on the guitar and sing and that he needed a drummer. Fuck yeah, I said “I’m your man.” I love Tommy. I love his drumming and his work ethic is unmatchable. So, we would join together around noon and play together for about 2 hours and the band would show up from 2 to 6 and then at six he would say “Perkins you and I are going all night.” Tommy wanted to play for hours upon hours. He was almost like my workout coach. Then we went on tour with a whole other group of musicians, the new metal musicians. Through the years I’ve been fortunate to have punk rock, Nu Wave, and heavy-metal hard rock musicians around me. I still strive for jazz players. I kept thinking one day I’ll meet a trumpet player or a saxophonist.
glove down because you can’t keep up with 20-year-olds. But a musician never has to. So, the whole time my drums are my love and my backbone. Then of course meeting my wife Cindy and having Eden gives me so much more to play for, so much more food for the creative side. To show Eden, my kid what’s it’s like to get on stage .... show him the power and the glory that you get from seeing other people enjoy your music. That to me is the reason to do it. To make people happy. It goes back to when I was eight or nine. I saw a movie and it was the “Benny Goodman Story.” They had the real drummer from Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa in the movie. They show Gene doing a drum solo in the movie and the camera goes to this conservative couple. The husband is tapping his hand on the table and the wife says, “Can’t do that, we’re conservative.” Then they go to her feet and she’s tapping her foot and I thought “that’s for me.” You can’t stop what drums do to you. My favorite thing about drumming is seeing people react. I’ve watched you play and you’re a show. It’s just coming from the heart. It’s not planned, it’s not premeditated, it’s happening. It’s going to be different tomorrow and it’s different than yesterday. Just be in the moment.
Well? When I got to hang out with Scott Page that was kind of like full circle, getting back to those instruments that really speak to me. This is an amazing story. I’m just hungry to play. I just need to play. Then about two years ago Norwood and Scott approached me about doing Pink Floyd music which has grown into what we know as Think:EXP, and the power of what Derek Day brings and Kenny Olson... it’s just obviously top quality players. My love affair with Derek Day is what I’ve always had with players. I love brave. I love groundbreaking and rule breaking players. As a drummer you can’t break too many rules because you want people to move their butts. But I love being around people that are trying and are brave and are courageous on their instrument. I’m 52, Derek is 26, Scott is 60 something and it doesn’t matter. We’re just playing music. Of course, if you’re an athlete one day you have to put your
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FOOL’S BREW Not Your Average Fools... FOOLS’ BREW is straightforward, Midwest-bred heavy metal that drips with aggression and energy. Hailing from the South Suburbs of Chicago, the quartet is composed of band kids with music degrees that escape the frustrations of everyday life through heavy music. They have toured the Midwest and performed on multiple stages at SXSW, crushed the Rebel Stage at Summerfest 2018, and continue to showcase their raucous live set across the country. Their sound rides the line of hard rock and metal with heavy breakdowns and catchy choruses that leave a lasting impression. They’ve opened for national acts like Korn, Kyng, Kill Devil Hill, Soulfly, Butcher Babies, Crobot, Texas Hippie Coalition, and Upon A Burning Body. After releasing their fiery EP “THE RECKONING” in 2016, the FOOLS dropped their new single ‘THE PARADE’ on April Fools Day of 2017, gripping listeners by the ears on radio stations nationwide. On November 11th of 2018, the FOOLS released their highly anticipated third EP “NEW MACHINE”, featuring the scathing new single ‘GHOSTWRITERS’. Currently they are in the studio working on new material. The FOOLS show no sign of slowing, as the Brew Crew keeps on growing.
Photo by Mark Pollard
What is the Full name of your band and is there a meaning behind the name of the band? FOOLS’ BREW - we are four jackasses with different musical inspirations Who are your inspirations? (as in other band or artists). Pantera, System of a Down, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Rage Against The Machine, Whitechapel, NIN, Tool, Parkway Drive, Synovial, Metallica When did you first start performing? We are all band kids who have been performing since we were 7-10 years old in various ensembles. We all have music degrees and have been performing as a band for 10 years. What is your motivation behind your music and why? Music is our sanity. Without it, we’d be insane. Writing/performing provides a release for us and our listeners. Our lyrical themes can vary widely, but they all describe some realistic aspect of the human experience. Whether anecdotal or hypothetical, they provide a release to us as writers and performers, and are relatable feelings and experiences that our fans connect to on a personal level. 35
What did your family do to encourage you? They were and are incredibly supportive. They never judged us for our commitment to making music and living out our dream, even when it came at a financial cost. Also they’ve come to many of our performances, even when we are out on the road, which always means a lot. Who are the members of the band and what instrument do they play? Jarrett O’Cooley - vocals Diggs McNasty - guitars Cormander - bass Timmy Daniels - drums Who are your musical inspirations? Diggs - All the bands above. As a guitarist, I’ve been heavily inspired by Dimebag, Synyster Gates, Mark Morton, Tom Morello, Tony Iommi, and Tim Mahoney. Timmy - Mainly Joey Jordison, Travis Barker, Lars Ulrich (to some degree), The Rev, Justin Foley, Mike Portnoy, and Ben Harclerode (more recently). Jarrett - As far as being a vocalist/frontman, here’s the list in my own chronological order: Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, Jim Morrison, Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell, Zack de la Rocha, M Shadows, Corey Taylor, Phil Anselmo (but only as a vocalist), Howard Jones, Randy Blythe, Jesse Leach, and Phil Bozeman Cory - Evan Brewer, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Sheehan, Rex Brown, Paul Gray, Justin Chancellor, Dominic “Forest” Lapointe, Victor Wooten, Geddy Lee...duh, Lemmy, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Chris Potter, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, and Michael Brecker. What kind of music do you listen to today? Mostly metal, sprinkled with some rock, classical and jazz. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Nothing embarrassing about the Backstreet Boys. Where would you most like to perform? Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island and Red Rocks Ampitheater. Who would you most like to open for? At this point it’s a toss up with Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Rage Against the Machine, and David Blaine. If you weren’t performing, what would you be doing? Exactly what we are doing now.
36 Photo by TNS
Do you play any other instruments? Actually aside from Timmy, we are all on secondary instruments. Jarrett and Cory both are saxophonists, and Jarrett can play piano as well. Diggs is a trumpet player too and also had to learn how to play all concert instruments in college. Timmy being a percussionist can play timpani, mallets, and a myriad of different percussion instruments.
Photo by TNS
If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? Ska, musical theater, anything as horn players, jazz/rock fusion, hardcore, punk, and metalcore. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? Stadium country.
Do you have any social media? foolsbrewband.com facebook.com/foolsbrew reverbnation.com/foolsbrew twitter.com/foolsbrew instagram.com/foolsbrew Spotify: https://goo.gl/j1woQZ
What hidden talents do you have? Not all of these are necessarily hidden talents, but Cormander also brews beer, Jarrett can stab a hole in your throat to help save your life (he’s an EMT!), Timmy teaches kids with autism (which requires more talent than most think), and Diggs studied martial arts and is a black belt as well as a certified scuba diver. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? Absolutely! Being creative is part of being human. Writing is the cause of and solution to all of life’s frustrations. For us, coming together as four individuals and connecting through our music is everything. Sharing that experience with fans and anyone in the audience is incredibly visceral and straight up just the tits, man.
Photo by TNS
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BLEU STROUD Rising Country Pop Artist Who are your inspirations? My main inspirations have been Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Ed Sheeran, and my dad. How did you get started? I started writing little songs here and there when I was 8 years old. Then when I was 11 I started to sing, write songs, and play the guitar every single day. I started to perform as much as I could and meet and work with people in the music industry.
What did your family do to encourage you? They’ve just always been so supportive of everything I do. My parents would take me to music and voice lessons and to shows and rehearsals and choir shows. My whole family always try’s their best to come to all my shows and listens to my music. They’ve just always been so supportive and encouraging in every way, and I’m so grateful for that.
Who are your favorite bands/singers? Some of my favorite artists have been Ed Sheeran, Charlotte OC, Taylor Swift, and Maggie Rogers. What do you think about when you’re performing? I think about the lyrics that I’m singing, and what they mean, and place myself in the setting of each song. What else can we expect from you in the future? More music definitely! I just want to keep on creating music. What was your first song ever sung? I don’t really remember, but the first song that I ever sung in front of an audience was Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri.
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When did you first start singing? I feel like I’ve always loved to sing but I remember really starting to sing a lot when I was around 7 or 8, and then I started taking voice lessons when I was around 12.
Photo by @nicolegalinson
Have you always enjoyed the art of music? Yes, I was 8 years old when I realized that songs are written by people and go through a whole process before being released. I was so fascinated by that that I started writing my own songs and singing more. I’ve always enjoyed songwriting and music, and it has helped me in so many ways. Any loves, other than music? I love spending time with my family and friends, riding horses, working out, and creating stuff (painting, drawing, writing, baking). I also love to travel, camp, and explore new things and new places. Who are your musical inspirations? Some of my musical inspirations have been artists such as Taylor Swift, Jack Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, and Ed Sheeran. What was the best advice ever given to you? I’ve definitely been given a lot of good advice but currently the best has probably been to be kind to myself and my mind, and to keep an open mind and an open heart. It has helped me to let go of hate and so much anger, and to grow in so many ways. If you could have any style what would it be? My own, haha! What kind of music do you listen to today? Recently I’ve been listening to Lennon Stellas new album, Tame Impala, Kacey Musgraves, Dua Lipa, and LAUREL. I’m always looking for new or different artists to listen to though. What embarrassing songs might I find on your playlist? Most likely the camp rock song “This Is Me” - Demi Lovato. Where would you most like to perform? I would like to maybe play at The Whiskey, next.
Photo by @nicolegalinson Who would you most like to open for? I don’t know, but it would be really cool to open up for Kacey Musgraves. If you weren’t singing, what would you be doing? I’d probably still be playing volleyball and going to school, and/or writing songs. Do you play any instruments? I play the guitar, ukulele, 12 string, and piano. I definitely want to learn how to play more instruments. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be? Maybe, Alternative/Rock or R&B. What genre of music can’t you stand to listen to? Some EDM and remixes. What hidden talents do you have? I don’t know if this is a hidden talent, but I ride horses. Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics? YES I LOVE writing music and lyrics so much. I’ve always had a love for writing. I remember, before I even knew how to spell, I was always writing short stories, little letters and poems, and writing in diaries. I’ve just always had a passion for writing and creating things, so I definitely love writing songs. What is your favorite quote to say to others? Most likely something like, “You were born to be real, not to be perfect”.
Photo by @nicolegalinson
https://www.facebook.com/bleustroud https://www.instagram.com/bleustroud/ https://www.bleustroud.com/about
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www.rsvpcigars.com
TOM THUMB
Photo by Amber Riann Rowe
Up and Coming Actor & Model When did you first get involved in acting? Well, I got into it by chance in Colorado. At my job ....I did meet female that did convince me to audition for a vampire role for an indie gig and honestly if I did not get a call back, I was done acting....I only did the first one to get her to leave me alone, lol! Funny how things happen, well they called me back and wrote a role with me playing, you guessed it a bad guy, lol! That’s how it began... What or Who inspired you to pursue a career as an actor? Well, really no one again read above, but admires I started researching when I got started were Daniel Day Lewis ....Marlon Brando....Tom Hardy.
background part on Longmire got to talk to one of the top guys in there again about the craft very briefly I don’t like to drop names I respect there privacy.... What has been your ideal character, so far? And why? My type, I know is bad guy, serious I guess. It’s my ugly mug, lol. People meet me and say, wow nice guy, lol. I am working at more range, but I feel that’s my strength and will get me into more doors. You really need to know your type, it does not hurt :)
What have been your biggest achievements in Films, TV, and/or Theater? When I did my scene is Sicario II, I got the chance to check off a goal on my list to talk to an A-List actor and ask him about there craft and not ask or say the typical stuff to them they hear all the time...such as can I have a autograph and I want to be a star or selfie with them lol when I ask this particular A list actor about the craft his eyes for wide and he said wow I never get that craft question very nice :)))sag is in my future but not in a rush right now :) I’m sure you have met a lot of celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? Same as above, that’s the goal to take it serious but have fun and be humble also on my very first featured Photo by Amber Riann Rowe. Pictured with talented model and talent agent, Deidra Michelle.
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How has your acting evolved since you first became involved in the film industry? Because of my amazing acting coaches starting with Benjy Dobrin scene work and monologue studies class back in Denver Co and coaches Randi Klein showing me a lot of the miner training to get out of my head ... I am a method actor and feel completely comfortable with it. I am at an age where I can turn it off and on. Steve Burhoe and his practical acting methods have been amazing with being in the moment........and also Eric T. Esparza and his let’s just get to work and practice has been a great help. However, if I was younger method can be somewhat dangerous I feel because you have to know how to turn it off and on….. for auditions, I used to think about them, but now I do one be off book and after I am done I don’t think about it, because you honestly don’t know what casting directors are looking for, lol! So, just go in and give it your best shot for their Vision for the character. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Well, I would say passion and being humble I love acting but there is a difference between want and need ...I want to act but don’t need to to be happy as I see people in the craft and the over ego which is never needed act like it is life and death if the don’t get a call back that will never be me :)also seem actors and actresses quit to quickly thinking its a overnight thing extremely unrealistic Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas? Work ethic and I keep it simple stupid lol and treat it like a 9 to 5 job even through it is not every director I have had to work for I have letters of recommendations and you don’t get those without them liking you and I never whine and complain and always on time no one wants To hear you whine everyone is tired suck it up and do your job and also I am extremely proactive and my agent loves how I promote myself as well as People I have acted For promoting there projects....
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What has been your biggest challenge as an actor? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? Understanding rejection and not taking it personal is extremely important. The actor that plays “The Hulk” in the Marvel movies did 600 auditions before getting a callback. Wow! Also, money issues... because most jobs won’t let you go on auditions. So, I am lucky, now I have three jobs that I work when I want to and that’s a real blessing for this business. Also, being used to a certain amount of money from an old job when you are used to making 60 to 100k a year and then going down to 30 to 40k for your own schedule to do auditions when requested. It’s a huge money difference! And being away from my 2 sons and 8 grandkids back in Colorado, is really tough!
Photo by Jason Dobson
A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art”. Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art? To a certain extent yes look above a huge money difference and being away from family but when you love what you do and the challenge of it it really makes up for it. How do you feel the Internet has impacted the film business? In a great way online auditions save so much time and money and travel and has giving filmmakers and all in the business a chance to show there talent Bad way and me being a introvert my privacy is at stake but you have to realize that social presence is very important now on all platforms... If you could change anything about the film industry, what would it be? This is a dream that won’t happen but like in anything else some things are based in who you know or who knows you and favoritism which can be fine to a certain extent but I wish it would be more like a real 9 to 5 job and just be about the work:)) And of
course, I want all New Mexico actors and actresses to get more opportunities for the bigger roles. If you could give 3 tips of advise to an up-and-coming actor, what would they be? 1. Train…Train...Train.....I meet so many that say, I don’t need acting classes. Oh really? Than go to LA right away, lol! 2. Do student, indie films and theater to get use to it. Honestly, start in background because If that makes you to nervous you won’t be able to go further. 3. Be humble as possible, but confident and never complain about being tired on set. Get your sleep when you can... How can fans-to-be follow your career? Thru my Facebook under Tom Thumb Albuquerque, NM and Instagram Under actinglyfe and of course my IMDb Tom Thumb. Great thanks to all my family back in Colorado, I love you all....and miss you all! My son’s Victor and Kenneth Rasberry and my 8 Grandkids in order: Apollo, Gage, Kennedi, Khloee, Kylee jo, Olivia , Rayne, and Zoey. And, I’d like to give a shout out to my acting coaches in order they all have helped me greatly.... Big thanks to: Benjy Dobrin Acting Studios - Denver, CO, Randi Klein -Albuquerque, NM, Steve Burhoe - Albuquerque NM, and Eric T. Esparza - Albuquerque NM As well as my modeling agency, DMe Talent Agency and my acting agency, Bankston Talent Agency.
Photo by Patrick Baldonado
Photo by Gary Sieja
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