started making music on vomac | MYLES PARRISH

photos by jordan schauberger

Myles Parrish never disappeared. In fact, sitting across from me at a picnic table in the side lot of a boba joint in Northridge, the 24-year-old is conspicuously visible. He bounced onto the patio with a hug and his trademark thai bubble tea and within ten minutes, I feel like we’ve been friends for days. Behind him, a group of teenagers who are probably only a year or two younger than me are taking Snapchats with us in the background. They recognized him the minute he walked in, and have been furtively scheming for a photo. “Are you interviewing Myles?” one girl asks, as he returns inside. She points to her friend.  “She has a huge crush on him, she’s one of his biggest fans.” Halfway through the interview, the exposed fangirl hugs Myles the way you do a friend from home after they’ve been away for a while. “I haven’t seen you in two years.” She half-chides, half-complains. “When’s the next album?” Myles looks sheepish, but you immediately see how much interactions like this really mean to him, a kid from the Bay who hit the charts.

You could say it was my luck that a day-one fan just happened to be sitting there - and Myles did, in fact, say that - but I think he’s just being humble. Just two years ago, he was still part of Kalin & Myles, the Bay Area duo whose viral hits (“Do My Step”, “Love Robbery”, “Trampoline”)  had every teenage girl in town in line for their storied concerts. It was one of those high-school experiences everyone at school is talking about the next day, even if you’re homeschooled like I was. The first time I went to one, I was fascinated by how much fun everyone was having - and how young they were. At 17, I was definitely on the older end of the fangirl spectrum, with many of the girls around me falling closer to 15, but Myles isn’t that much older. It was like Bieber fever, but unlike Justin Bieber, Kalin & Myles were hometown kids, and always close enough to touch. After the girls left the patio, Myles sits back down, smiling like a kid on Christmas.  “I think about those fans, I mean - they were kids, you know? And now they’re in college and stuff, I wonder if they remember us.”  He thinks about them a lot, actually. He counts them as a huge influence in the journey that took him from a kid in his bedroom on Vomac to a tour bus traveling the nation, back to a bedroom in LA.

That bedroom in LA, just like the one on Vomac, is the territory of a solo artist now. After announcing their breakup a year ago, Kalin and Myles went their separate ways, albeit in the same city. With all the delicacy of a rhino, I ask when he realized it was really over. “After our last show in Arizona, you know, I just came home and all his stuff was gone, and it really sank in.” He paused for a minute, looking for the right words. “It’s weird, to go from one of your best friends for five years to not really talking at all.” This is the part where a lot of artists essentially curl up in the fetal position and disappear from our playlists. Not Myles. He set up shop in the apartment he now shares with his brother and friend, and got back to what he does best - making music. He posts them to his Soundcloud, and videos of him rapping along to the projector he has set up rakes in the likes on Twitter. I told him I’m jealous of the projector, and he laughs. “Yeah man, it’s great. There’s like hours long videos of fireplaces and the ocean and stuff on Youtube.” When he’s laughing, he looks a lot younger than his streaks of grey hair, thoughtlessly styled with a lot of hand motions and a generous relationship with gravity. LA is a cool place - but just like you’ve seen in every movie, it can make you old fast. I ask him about his adopted city, and if it’ll ever be home. He assures me that he’s having fun, and I believe him, but I believe him because he doesn’t sugar coat it. “It’s just..the vibes, man. Like out here, I think about everything I’m doing a lot more, and I stress about it. The minute I leave, it’s like, I can do anything.”  This is what’s so interesting to me about Myles - in LA, he could very quickly become nobody, dragged under by waves of wannabe triple threats with hundreds of thousands of followers to their name. But by luck or by special intention, he’s still Your Boy Myles, the guy from Dublin who made music with a buddy off Facebook, and hit it big. Usually, everything that blows up has to collapse, but that’s not what happened here. Myles just...went through. We talk about navigating the LA social scene, and how people like to collect names. He tells me he’s not into it, but he see’s the appeal. I suddenly understand how he’s lasted so long. His exceptionalism is balanced out by his air (I can’t quite say “vibes”) of normalcy. In fact, his secret might just be that there’s no secret at all.

It sounds like a journalistic cliche, but this kid is just a kid. He likes to kick it with his girlfriend, Tia, (“I can last in LUSH for like 15-20..seconds.”) play his music for his mom, and keeps a wardrobe stocked with dad shirts, like the “Boston, Mass.” number he’s rocking during our interview. He’s full of the kind of Bay Area vernacular that broadcasts his roots, just in case the ubiquitous thai tea wasn’t a dead giveaway. He just happens to be a really talented artist, working with the likes of IAMSU and releasing music at a rate that isn’t satisfying his fans (just like with any other artist, it couldn't ever), but is pretty impressive when you consider he’s doing it all from scratch. In LA, there’s plenty of people willing to buy your name and your sound, and like a McDonalds Big Mac, toss it down an assembly line. But Myles is taking the In-N-Out route - perfecting each part. It may take a little longer, but it’s always worth the wait.

As I double check the commas on this, the wait for those fans might just be over. With an ambiguous tweet, and a not-so-ambiguous video, Myles just announced the release of “Vomac”, on May 12th. So no, he never disappeared - he was just taking the long way home.

x J

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justina + luke bilyk | interview

 screenshot of Luke, demonstrating Ludacris reacting to being slimed

I knew Luke Bilyk was going to be a homie the minute he hit his Ludacris impression for the sake of my snapchats. What I didn't know, because I am completely out of touch with pop culture in general, is that he's basically Canadian Zac Efron, and as such, has some extremely well-formed opinions on Drake. We had a conversation ranging from Venice Beach to the Iron Throne, and it was the longest interview of my entire life, let alone my career, so get some snacks.

Justina:  As I may have mentioned, I didn't know anything about Degrassi before researching you for this interview, and now I know a LOT about Degrassi. 33 years worth of it.

Luke: Yeah, there's quite a bit to know. It's been around, we've covered a lot of stuff.

You're going to be my first Canadian celebrity! I'm excited.

Oh awesome, I'll start the avalanche. I'll put in a good word with all the Canadians.

Fantastic, I'll finally have an in. We aren't going to spend a lot fo time talking about Degrassi, because like I said, 33 years, but what are three things everyone should know about Degrassi, and three things they should know about your character?

That is a great question, oh my goodness. It (Degrassi) focuses very highly on problems teenagers face in highschool, but has always done a great job of showing both sides. The best of times and the worst of times, and I think that makes it very relatable. It basically covers everything, so even growing up on the show I was like "No I shouldn't do that, because bad things happened to my character."  The last thing is that they stay very true to plot but also to what is happening in real life. We just aired an episode about a rape and the aftermath of it when a lot of that is happening in schools, and our writers figured what better time to bring light to this issue? There are so many characters, who are all different kinds of people, that they can really touch home with everything.

It's pretty impressive.

It is, they're so good at it. Three things people should know about my character...he's not the brightest. Definitely not the smartest. But he's very caring, and no matter who another person is, he always has their best interests at heart. In the first season, you know, he just kind of  dumb jock, and by the end, he's found this sort of sense of helping people. He's school president, he starts a company after his brother dies.

You know, I tried to watch a little, and I think I jumped in too hard, because I had no idea what was going on.

It's like that. You could watch episode ten, skip eleven, and by the time you get to twelve you'll be like "What is happening?!"

I might have to bingewatch it for the next 33 years of my life.

Oh it won't take you that long. Start to finish, maybe two weeks?

That's how long it took me to watch 4 seasons of Game of Thrones.

Oh goodness, I think I watched all four seasons in a few days.

Okay, well, compared to Degrassi, Game of Thrones seems simple.

You know what, it's so funny that you'd say that, because it's true. 

I'm so glad it's not just me. You spent five years on Degrassi, right? 

That's right.

So you basically spent your formative years as a teenager playing a teenager on a show for teenagers about being a teenager. Did you have any favorite "teenager moments" on the show that were reflective of your life? 

Well you know, to be honest, I never went to high school. When I landed Degrassi I was in my first year, and it wasn't working, so I homeschooled. Because of that I didn't experience the traditional highschool things, (Justina note: if only he knew who he was talking to.) and so I was really lucky that I ended up where I did *laughs*. I've been to three different Degrassi proms, and never to one real one, but you know, ours lasted like two days because we'd film it over and over from every angle. But you know... it's hard to pinpoint. I made my best friends, and I always say that the Executive Producers, they didn't just give us a job or a stepping stone, they gave us the opportunity to meet our family. So it's not so much a moment as it was five years that feel like an afternoon in my head.

That makes total sense to me. I never went to high school either and the best prom we ever did was dressing up and going to In N Out burger so..

Oh my god, you beat my prom. 

When in California...well, we'll get back to that. I read an interview with you were filming three different things at once, and you were saying one of the hardest parts is keeping all your characters and their lines separate - do you have a favorite line that a character has said? Something that was truly memorable? 

It's just past nine o'clock and I think that's the most difficult question I've ever been asked. 

I'm getting all of the hard stuff out of the way.

Yeah I know, next is going to be like "what's your favorite color?"

Oh my gosh, that's... that's amazing. I think it's one of the best questions I've ever heard...oh yeah! I have one. I think my favorite - which, funnily enough ended up getting cut out of the final edit - was in the funeral of [his character, Drew Torres] my brother on Degrassi. I do this huge monologue about his life, and how he was so influential in others, and how I was going to model mine after his. That point in the season, back in...2013, that was a huge turning point for my character. 

Now let's do easy stuff. You're living in LA right now, yeah?

I am I just moved to _____.

That's my favorite part of LA!

I like it! Its a cool part. Sometimes I feel a bit like I'm in a retirement home though

*We talk about _____ + food for the next fifteen minutes*


What do you think is the biggest difference between Canada and LA?

Well I think being an actor in Toronto, you get used to... I mean, I've been acting my whole life, so twenty years, in the same pool. It's the same four casting directors, I know their names, I've had lunch with them. Then I came out here and I didn't know anyone, so you don't have that extra in. But that's basically it.  I've been trying to do all the same things here that I do in Toronto, you know, hang out, go to the gym. I pride myself on not becoming a partier, because that happens a lot - Canadians come out here and realize its so much fun. The key is to focus, and do what you've got to do. Because once you start - you can't work, because that's all you want to do. 

It's definitely a dark side. What's your favorite thing about LA? 

I do have to say that I think my apartment is pretty awesome. I have a beautiful view of the hill behind the hill the Hollywood sign is on. I always do the same six things when I'm here, but I just went to Venice Beach for the first time and fell in love with the vibe, the people and the little section in the middle. 

Venice Beach is the epitome of California. Just so you know, the *official* name of the park the hill is in is Griffiths Park. It has the Observatory in it, which is my favorite place in LA.

Oh yes, I just did that, and it was incredible. 

The smog is so pretty from above.

It is, haha.

Here's a good one: if you could slip into any show as a main character, where would you go?

Can I have two answers?

I guessss so.

Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad - that was like, the performance and role of a lifetime. I've also been watching a lot of comedy, and How I met Your Mother? Barney? Neil Patrick Harris is a god. He is the funniest person in the entire world.  I wish I could pull that off. He just breathes that character. 

I love funny stuff. Like I said, I'll binge watch Game of Thrones then be like "Okay, I need to watch some Parks and Rec."

Yeah, I would only watch serious dramatic scenes, and then, you've got to start watching comedy. Every time a comedy ends for me, it's like a little piece of my soul is ending. I just watched all ten seasons of Friends in like two and a half weeks, and I literally didn't know what to do with my life. 

Time to start watching Parks and Recreation. 

I'm gonna jump on that next. 

I actually, until the Kids Choice Awards, had never watched Friends, and I made the mistake of saying that, and got yelled at. 

I was the same way! I mean, I'd seen it here and there, but then I just sat down and watched all 10 seasons. It was magical. 

Anything you can binge watch is. Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad.

We keep ending up on the same two shows. 

*conversation spirals into how I am not a friendly television watching person, but instead enjoy GOT, Breaking Bad, and Sons of Anarchy*

You probably get sick of talking about him, but do you have a favorite Drake song? 

There is no answer to this. I'm a huge Drake fan..

Okay, so not just because you're on Degrassi, but because you're Canadian - I feel like you all treat him with way more value than like, Justin Bieber.

Oh 100%. Don't mind the Biebs, love his Instagram account, but if you were to ask any Canadian "Drake or Justin Bieber", almost every one would say Drake.  It was weird for me, because right when he started making music, when he dropped his first album, I was starting on the show. Everyone was talking about "Aubrey this, Aubrey that", like, he used to stay in my dressing room.  It was crazy.

You are spiritually connected to Drake. 

100%. Oh but my favorite song is probably "Bria's Interlude" with him and Omarion. 

Yeahh. Okay, I have a just like, opinion question: was his latest drop an album or a mixtape?

Oh definitely a mixtape.

THAT'S WHAT I KEEP SAYING.

Definitely. That's not a Drake album. I mean, I liked it. But it's not. What I do with every album I buy is listen to it from beginning to end, and at first I was like "I do not like this". I was thiiis close to deleting it. Then I gave it another listen, and I liked it. But it's not an album. It's like a collective. 

I have now had my opinion verified by a Real Life Canadian. Brilliant. But since you're also now a Californian - do you have an In N Out order memorized?

Oh yes. In N Out is my place, I go there like three times a week. [Justina Note: Liiiightweight.] My regular order is like a Double-Double and a single, because one is never enough and three is too many. I've been trying this thing - and it never works- where I order one protein style, with the lettuce, then put that inside the cheeseburger.

Oh my god.

Right? It works in theory, but I have yet to eat one without it falling apart. 

Last question:  What's one thing you've always wanted to be asked, and no one has ever asked you?

OH I KNOW. Okay, something I would like people to know is that I can basically rap any Eminem song. That's something people don't know, and I would like the world to know.

And now they will.

Follow Luke's Instagram for snaps of LA, some fantastically inspired fan art,
and his ludicrously perfect teeth. Seriously guys. The teeth.

x J




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justina + ian thomas | interview

"He's a singer from the Netherlands. Or is he a vine star? One of those. He's nominated."

 On the carpet at the Kids Choice Awards, I heard about Ian Thomas before I saw him coming. He's one of those fantastic quick interviewees who actually thinks about your question and focuses on you. I enjoyed our *literally* 80 seconds together so much, I decided to extend it. So now, meet Ian Thomas. (He isn't a vine star. Or the creepy husband from Pretty Little Liars.)

Justina: You're from Belgium, right?

Ian: Yes, I am! My mother is from Amsterdam and my step-father is from Belgium, so I'm half and half. 

 Either way, you're pretty far off from LA, haha. Tell me a little about your "journey to the States".

Well I moved here five months ago, but it really started when I worked on a song with Anise K and Snoop Dog and Lance Bass. They wanted to bring it to a European audience and really loved what I did, so they wanted me to fly out to LA as soon as possible. That's how I got here the first time, and I really liked it. 

And now you're here!

Yes! 

What's your favorite thing to do in LA?

My favorite thing..I really like everything. I like the weather so far. Where I'm from it's always cold and raining, so to wake up and have the sun out just makes me super happy. I also enjoy all the new things, I'm playing piano now...I'm very busy. I'm still getting used to everything. But my favorite thing is probably meeting new people, or going and relaxing, being out in nature. 

I don't think people realize how much beautiful nature LA has.

They don't! And also here you have the beach and the mountains in the same place, it's beautiful.

What do you think is the biggest difference between Belgium and LA?

First of all, the people in LA are way more welcoming. In Belgium people are kind of on their own, doing their thing in their own family. Here, people are way more open and social. I know sometimes it is "fake", but it is nice to have more open minds. In Belgium, people are very much like...make sure you go to school first, and go to university, and graduate, and then maybe in a few years you can pursue your dream. Here, people think if you have a chance and an opportunity, go for it, wow. Or like, driving a Lamborghini. In Belgium, people would say "oh my god what a cocky little bastard". But here in America, people look at you and say "oh nice man, good job". 

It's all that sunshine, it makes us optimistic. 

Yes, that must be it, haha.

So let's talk about your music - when we met at the KCA's, you were telling me about your song Cheers, with Tyga. (the music video to which just dropped on Vevo, go check it out. There's an easter bunny one piece.) Tell me about making that.

Ah, yes, we wanted to create a feel - good song, something you could listen to when you were down, and it would up your mood. I feel like we really did that. I personally really wanted a rapper on the song, and the perfect person to me was Tyga so my management got in touch with his, and we made it happen. It was very natural, working with him.

Who else would be a dream collab for you?

*Doesn't skip a beat* Kid Cudi.

Hahah, Kid Cudi? I feel like that could sound really cool.

He's one of my hero's, on both a musical level and on a personal level.
He truly inspires me. On another note, I'd love to work with Justin Timberlake. There's so many - Frank Ocean, even Kanye West. Really anybody. There are so many talented people out there, and whatever happens, happens. 

I'll get back to you in ten years and we'll see what you've done by then, yeah?

Yeah! It's so crazy - this is just the beginning.

In researching you for this interview, I found that you get compared to Justin Bieber a LOT. Like, a lot a lot. You're literally called "Europe's Justin Bieber". What do you think is a big difference between you?

I think we are completely different people. I don't know him personally, but no one can be a copy of someone else. I think we get compared because I covered one song of his, but I don't think that means I am copying him, you know what I mean? I am my own person, and I'm not planning to be the next Justin Bieber, I'm planning to be the first Ian Thomas.

Iconic words have been spoken.

I want to inspire our generation to do great things, whatever their thing may be.

What do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?

I want people to feel connected to me and their moment. Whether they are sad and want to feel better, or are happy and want to be there, I want them to connect to me and my music however they can.

Well speaking of that, let's talk about your social media...

*I said the magic words. We talk about instagram for the next ten minutes*

*Justina gets back on track*

So you have a pretty distinct look, and I've been wanting to talk to you about it. What do you think influences your personal style?

My style is influenced by everything, honestly. I will see an outfit on tumblr, and say "Okay, that is what I want to look like today", or I see a person walking down the street. Life, I guess. Life inspires me. You know what I mean?

Yeah! I'm the same way. Plus, you live in LA, which is the perfect place. 



Yes, it is!

Speaking of LA - I saw a post you put up a few days ago about going vegan. Are you vegan?

I am vegan now! I wasnt in Europe, but then I moved to LA and I became a vegan. LA is getting in my head.

Hahah it is, but again, it's the perfect place. LA is set up for vegans.

I think it is so important that people are educated on where their food comes from. You literally become what you eat, and if you are eating chemicals and genetically modified foods and such, that is what you are becoming. But they are - there's a whole movement starting, and people are becoming aware.

It's about time. Ours is running out as well, so here is your last question: what is something you've always wanted to be asked, but no one ever has? 

 Oh...this is a hard one. I want to give you an honest answer, so let me think about it.

***several hours pass**

The thing I have always wanted to be asked, or want people to know, is that I want to be different. I don't want to be the guy who says he will do something and then doesn't. This is just the beginning for me.

Cheers to that.


You can check out Ian's music here, follow his extraordinarily well curated instagram account here, and continuously groove to Cheers here. Have fun, or as they would say in Belgium, amuseer je.

I think. Google Translate hasn't got the best track record.

x J






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justina + greer | interview

 img via tumblr


I first met Greer Grammer at the 2014 Kids Choice Awards, where we had a conversation centered less around the hit TV show she's starred on since 2011 (you know, that little deal called Awkward) and more around Disney princesses. She was immediately cemented as one of my favorites, and after running into her a few times around town, it was time to bring her to the blog.

Justina : So we're not going to spend a lot of time talking about Awkward, but I feel like there should be at least one question, so how would you sum up Lissa in, say, five words?

Greer : Oh my goodness. Right into the hard questions, huh?

Indeed.

Okay. Bubbly, naive, sweet-minded, religious, cheerleader.

There ya go! Now lets talk about the BIG thing that just happened to you: You were Miss Golden Globe! I was following along on your instagram, it looked like it involved a lot of early mornings!

Yes, a LOT of early mornings, I got to be part of the nominations announcement, which was so exciting. The fact that it goes live for East Coast time means we had to start at, you know, five in the morning here.

ughh.

Yeah, so in order to be hair and makeup ready, I had to be up at 3:30 in the morning. I have a hard time sleeping, so I usually got to bed around 2, so waking up around 3:30 was not great for me. That same day, we finished around nine, and I came home, slept for about an hour and a half, then head over to Melissa and Joey, because I was working there, and live shoot my episode. I was running on like two hours of sleep. It was so much fun though. I got to do that, I got to do the red carpet roll out at 7 in the morning. It was really exciting though, being the first person to walk on the red carpet.  I just wanted to really enjoy everything that came with it. 

This year the Golden Globes were hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the ~last~ time - do you have a favorite movie or show of theirs?

Well it's funny, because Parks and Rec is actually paused on my television right now. Yeah, Parks and Rec, and I LOVE 30 Rock. I had watched all of 30 Rock on Netflix, and then started right in on Parks and Rec. It's SUCH a good show. Also currently, my friends and I are all obsessed with Baby Mama. it's hilarious. 

Oh god it definitely is. Do you have any funny backstage moments from the show? Even though you were on stage for most of it.

Oh my gosh there are so many. Well, Matthew McConnaughey kissed me on the cheek when we were back stage. Oprah told me I was beautiful. I got to meet Meryl Streep, and she was so lovely. 

I probably would have been reduced to jelly if Oprah even looked at me, so...

Oh I wasn't expecting it at all. She was brought backstage, to present for Selma, by the official stage manager, who happens to be a dear friend of mine. All of a sudden it was "Oh, Oprah, this is Miss Golden Globes", and she says "You are so beautiful, you are beautiful in all ways, you are beautiful front-ways, sideways, down ways, just all ways." and all I could say was "oh thank you".

Talking to Oprah is a bit like being blessed, isn't it?

Yeah, I will never have any self doubting moments ever again.

You did do a fantastic job. You didn't trip, which is *obviously* the main goal.

Yes! We actually shortened the dress just a little to make sure it was super-walkable.

Somewhere in the depths of the internet, I read that you really enjoy Mad Men, which is very different than Awkward. Is that the sort of acting you'd like to move into? 

That's hard to say. I do like Mad Men, and I've gone on a lot of castings where I've been told I have the look to do historical dramas like that, so it's certainly something I'd be interested in, but I also love shows like Friends, or Melissa and Joey. I really enjoy the live audiences. I'd also love to do something like Scandal. I mean, Scandal is great. 

I think you should just all of them. Everything. All of the everything.

I think so too.

Following that - if you could slip in  as a main character on any show, where would you go?

Once Upon a Time.

You want to be a princess?

I want to be a princess. I really wanted to be Anna when they were casting it, but that didn't happen. 
The first season was so amazing, and everything really well done and thought out all the way. 

Did they have a Rapunzel on Once upon a Time?

They did! They did one episode on Rapunzel. 

I remember the very first time we talked, at the Kids Choice Awards, you were telling me about how much you enjoy Tangled! I will probably never forget that conversation for as long as I live. I figured everyone else was going to ask you about your dress and your latest role, etc,  so we could just talk about Disney Movies, and you were the only one who said Tangled. I think it was just because at the time, everyone else was still stuck on Frozen.

Listen, I loved Frozen. Frozen was great, and I watched it several, several, several times, not denying it, but I liked Tangled better. It's more fun to me. 

It's quite rollicking. Frozen is just sort of like this eternal hunt. They're always looking for stuff. 

Exactly.

I wanted to talk to you about graduating from USC, because that was a pretty impressive feat. You were at school, in a sorority, and filming Awkward.

I was raised in a family where that was just always what was expected. We never talked about taking a year off or dropping out  to work(even thought that would have made it easier). I wanted to graduate with my friends, and be a part of everything, and it was just such an amazing experience. I learned so much, besides the school-school stuff.

And you pulled it off! Yay!

Hahaha yes!

Lightning round:

Did you have a New Years Resolution?

You know, my new years resolution almost every year is to just be proactive and present, and work out every day (which I can already tell you is not happening). Just really enjoy moments, and not get too caught up or rushed.

What is the best career or life advice anyone has ever given you?

It kind of goes hand in hand with what I said - My dad always tells me that as long as I enjoy acting to keep doing it, but if I ever don't, that there's no point in continuing. I think that goes for everything. If there's something you're passionate about, do it, but if that passion isn't there, find something else to do.

Last question: what is something you have always wanted to answer, but no one has ever asked?

Oh my goodness. The only one I can think of right now is Disney ones! I guess...


*line disconnects*


I said something! But it disconnected right as I said it. You've actually asked me this, but "What is your favorite Disney movie and why?".I like to ask people that, because it tells you a lot about them, but I'd like to be asked more often.

I'm in the clear then.


You can follow Greers adventures/talk to her about disney movies on twitter + instagram! (@greer_grammer)

x J
 
















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justina x danny | interview

a danny in the wild

 Usually I find art and then become interested in the person who made it. With my new homie Danny, it was the other way around. I stumbled across his Instagram, and immediately wanted to know about this boy with the fluffy hair, insane nature photos, and propensity for cuddling with cats. I got him on skype, and we talked about the internet, eyebrows, and what I haven't done since I was eleven.

Justina:  Do you have a favorite hashtag?

Danny: Honestly I don't really use hashtags - lately just the #Suedeponytail one.

Well that's a perfect segue to the next question - what's up with the ponytail thing? There's no story behind it?

There isn't! I just really like ponytails.

 I was going to get ~involved~ and try to do a ponytail and then I realized that I'd kind of look like Sonic the Hedgehog.

Hey, that could have been cool. 

Other people get really into it! They love you on twitter, and then yesterday I swear I got off and came back and your twitter drama had gone through the roof. Does that happen a lot?

Not a lot, maybe just like...every two weeks? 

And that's not a lot?

Not really. I think - people meet me in person, and they think "oh he's a nice guy", and you know, I'm not on Twitter sometimes. I'm not mean, but it's not how I am in real life at all. It's all easier when you're sitting on one side of a screen. You're trying to be someone, you've got to play the part. Act cooler than you are, you know?

It gets pretty intense, there are people saying some nasty stuff.

I know, it's not usually that bad but..whatever. I mean, I'm doing my thing.

Well now that we've got the light fluffy stuff out of the way, let's get serious: Instagram. Do you have favorite accounts?

Hmm. I follow the account of this guy named Joe Greer and Cory Crawford (@coryacrawford). I met Cory through my band a while ago, and he just goes on these crazy adventures, and his instagram is the coolest. Joe Greer does kind of the same thing - they just adventure and take amazing pictures of the places and people they meet. They're both really classy dudes. Then there's people I just follow because they're my homies. Carlos - he's this dude I just met on tour, he's probably the coolest human I've ever met and he's doing the same thing, just taking photos of his travels, sneaking into abandoned buildings and stuff.

You take some pretty amazing photos yourself - what does your editing process look like? Or are they just come-as-you-are?

Well on tour I usually take the photos with my camera, then use the wifi to connect it to my phone, edit it in the photoshop app, then post it. Usually. Otherwise, I'll put them on my computer, edit them with Lightroom or Photoshop, and Dropbox them to myself. It just depends. 

If you could go photograph on tour with anyone, who would it b-

Reliant K.

Really?

Yes. They were my first concert in like the eight grade. I did three weeks in public school, came home and said "I'm never going back" and I didn't. I started online school, and for like three years -my brother had downloaded all their discography ever, so like all their albums, singles, everything - that's all I listened to. Three years. It never got old. I waited three hours after their concert to meet them and get a signature. I have signed drum sticks! Other than that - Five Seconds of Summer, Bieber, anything like that I'd really enjoy, because when I shoot a concert, the thing that will make the photos is the lights.  If there's really good lights, and a lot of them, I can get the coolest pictures out of it. Those massive tours have lights everywhere, it'd be great. Justin Bieber's tours are insane, the stuff they do.

Have you been?

No, my brother and I actually went and saw his second movie on Christmas, and it was awesome.

Well that's a another thing - people seem to skate on your brother (Crown the Empire drummer Benn Suede), but you guys do different stuff.

It's half and half. I'm as well known as I am because of him, he's the one who brought me out on tour. I don't think it's a bad thing. I'd be stupid to be like "Oh I don't want to piggyback off my brothers success, so I'm just not gonna do anything". So it's an opportunity, and I view it as that. We have a great relationship, and it's a perfect situation.

Was there a tour stop where you felt like you took the best photos?

California was just cool - we had a buck of dates, but LA was sick, we ended up having two off days, and we shot a music video, so that was a lot of fun. Other than that, Boston, Houston, New York, those we my favorites.

Do you have a favorite place in LA?

I wouldn't say I have a favorite place, just all the people, artist, musicians. It's just cool. I'm not comfortable in public usually, just in like crowds and stores and stuff, but in LA there's just so many weird people that I don't feel weird about myself. You could be the weirdest person, and you're still normal there, because there's so many people weirder than you. I like that.

TRUE.

Lightning round:

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

It wasn't really spoken advice, but just from watching my brother do his thing, he's inspired a lot. If there's something you want to do, just do it, work as hard as you can, be positive, no excuses.

I like that you two work together so well because you do separate things.

 Yeah, we're a really good team.

What is your hair routine like?

Zero. I literally don't do anything. Once in a while I'd man-bun it, but it's too short now.

That's unfair.

My brother is usually in there with like the blowdryer and stuff and I'm just like nah

What's your favorite place in the world?  

I'm a traveler, so I'm all about going everywhere I can go, and seeing everything I can see. Honestly, I probably haven't discovered my favorite place yet. I went to Belize for three weeks, on a mission trip, and fed people and lived with them and that's probably one of my favorite places. Or just on a mountain, with a gorgeous landscape, and the quiet, looking out at creation. That's my favorite place.

You might almost convince me to go camping - I haven't been since I was eleven.

That's sad. That's an outrage.

We have a camper van and everything too. 

See, I have a little hammock and I'm all about that, I just take my little hammock and hang it up, sleep in it. Those are the best places. No cell reception, no people. It's amazing.

You're a pretty positive person. Any Oprah-esque tips?

I used to meditate a lot. I spent a lot of time in my head being chill and just clearing my mind. I used to have a lot of anxiety, and now I have this mentality that whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen, so it's no use worrying about it. I'm gonna be dead one day, and nothings worth not being happy.

Final one: Cheese Its or Goldfish?

Regular cheese its, but flavor blasted Goldfish.

  
Adventure into Danny's world via instagram  (@danny_suede) and twitter (@danny_suede). You can also order prints of all his work on his website www.suedephotography.com/. 

x J



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justina + michelle | interview

When you think YouTube, what person comes to mind? If you're one of her 7 bajillion followers, and even if you're not, it's probably Michelle Phan. I'm couldn't name every shade on a Naked palette, but I'm not immune to the powers of the beauty vlogger, and she's the queen.

At the very end of last year, I had the chance to ask her a few questions, and they turned into the first interview of 2015. Read on for a solid what-to-pack list, a moment on video games of the youth, and a serious eyeliner question.

Justina: You wake up in the morning and have fifteen minutes to get ready - what’s the routine look like?

Michelle: If I only have fifteen minutes to get ready, I’ll find ways to take care of multiple things at once. I do this by reading emails and getting a little morning fitness in, like pushups. When it comes to skincare, I like to think ahead. I always keep a cool eye mask in my fridge or have depuffing pads like Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels close by so I can multitask– I get rid of under eye bags while I’m brushing my teeth or doing my hair. Also, I’ll use an all-purpose cleanser like Philosophy Purity for these specific mornings when I can’t spend much time on my full skin care regimen but still want to cleanse, tone and hydrate.

When it comes to my make up, I’ll apply only the basics. Foundation or bb cream, mascara, and lip-gloss will allow for enough coverage to get me out the door without looking like a complete zombie. These three items also even out my skin tone, widen my eyes, and give my lips a blast of moisture and sheen. If I need a bit more color to further brighten and polish my look, I’ll apply when I’m in the car (passenger seat only) or once I get to my destination. I always keep a beauty essential bag in my purse with my favorite shades or eyeliner, lipstick, blush, concealer, and shadow.

Lastly, I embrace a messy mane. I usually prep my hair the night before by braiding it or throwing it into a loose bun. This way when I wake up in the am, I run my fingers through it, toss in some product or dry shampoo and go!


Beauty trends come and go, but is there one you’ve stuck with in your everyday routine? 

 Flawless skin. For me skincare is so important! I use at least six products on my face every night.

You travel a lot for work, which can be harsh on ~mind and body~ - what do you always have on you in carry on? Do you have a “airplane routine”?

Since I do travel frequently, it’s important that I have my pre-flight routine down.
I pack my carry-on bag with goodies that will help the hours pass and prevent me from hauling more bags than necessary onto my next flight. Depending on the duration I might throw a neck pillow and scarf into my bag, but no matter what, I always take the below travel essentials with me.

• Passport Cover – I use a bright colored cover to protect my identification, and so it’s easily accessible when I’m walking through TSA.
• Wallet – I pack a large wallet to carry my money, credit cards, and any paperwork or IDs needed. I also use my wallet to hold my phone, preventing it from rolling around loose in my bag.
• Cosmetic Bag - If I’m meeting that special someone at the airport or I’ve taken an overnight flight, I’ll want to freshen up before getting off the plane. I bring a cute cosmetic bag to carry my beauty essentials. If you need tips on how to get a refreshed glow post-flight, watch my video Travel Friendly In-Flight Beauty Tips!
• Socks - If I’m wearing sandals or heels, I might struggle with cold feet on the plane, so I pack a pair of socks to warm them up and allow me to better relax sans shoes.
• Toothbrush – Similar to freshening up your face, I have a toothbrush and toothpaste handy for after I’ve been snacking and/or sleeping on my flight.
• Eye Mask - Some people will stay awake and let their overhead lights beam throughout the plane on overnight flights. I bring an eye mask to create total darkness and get the rest I deserve!
• Headphones – So I don’t have to pay for bulky in-flight headphones, I bring my own to listen to music or watch videos.
• Reading Materials – A good book, a couple of your favorite magazines or an iPad are wonderful to have while flying.
• Travel Tote – The best travel bag around is a sturdy tote in a neutral color. The neutral tone will go with anything I wear, and the large size will not only carry my must-haves, but also transport my work laptop once my trip is over.
• Reusable Bags – I use reusable bags for any liquids, snacks, keys, or jewelry I have on my flight. They help keep me organized.
• Snacks – To avoid overpriced plane food and a grumbly belly, I bring my own favorites to grub on throughout the flight. 

You were one of the OG’s of YouTube - how do you feel like it’s changed since you started?

YouTube has helped developed me as a business person. Now more and more people are turning to YouTube regularly for content and its online niche is well-defined.

Well let’s talk about your work with Nintendo, because that's a new project for you.

I recently teamed up with Nintendo to record videos for a new Nintendo 3DS ad campaign! The portable system allows gamers to play incredible games on the go, with a top screen featuring 3D capabilities and a bottom touch-screen working together for a unique gameplay experience.

Do you have a ~nostalgic Nintendo memory~?

I’ve been a massive Nintendo fan since I was a little girl. It defined my childhood. When I was going through hard times, I turned on my Nintendo console and was transported into another world.

Speaking of another world - lighting round questions:

Important: Cats eye or wingtip eyeliner? Is there even a difference?
I love a cat eye!

I loved your "Daenerys look" video - who is your favorite Game of Thrones character?

Daenerys is actually my favorite character! I love her transformation into a strong leader.

What’s the best career advice you can give in five words?

Have unwavering passion for what you do.


This is usually the part where I'd expound upon how fantastic Michelle is and where to follow her, but you already know and already are, so I'm just going to go practice eyeliner flicks and DS tricks. (couldn't resist)

x J


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interview // justina x sabrina

PHOTO via INSTAGRAM

My new favorite Sabrina Carpenter blew into the music industry with a fun EP, a bigger voice than you'd expect from such a small person, a chiller attitude than you'd expect from...well, anyone, and FANTASTIC hair. She blew onto this blog by picking the right Avenger (this is a very important fact, and you should ask anyone before you consider being their friend)

Justina: You're a new artist, and people are just now discovering you. If you could say one sentence about yourself or your music to every new person who heard one of your songs, what would it be?

Sabrina: Oh gosh, that's a hard one.

I thought I'd get those out of the way first.

Definitely, it's a good question for sure. I want them to relate to it, that's the most important thing to me, because I think once you can emotionally relate to a song, there are no limits. That's what I love about music, that when I'm feeling sad I can listen to a song, or when I'm feeling happy. That's just what music does for you. It changes emotions and really inspires people. 

..gosh, that wasn't even a paragraph, that was like a research paper.

 It's all good, we can just make it a couple of run-on sentences. Speaking of music making you ~feel~, what's your favorite song to listen to when you're happy?

Oka, so I'm obsessed with Hozier's whole album, but "Jackie and Wilson" is a really good one off it, and I've always loved the song "Paris" by Magic Man. Off my EP....see, I have to perform them, so I try not to listen too much because I never want to get sick of them. But "Middle of Starting Over" always gets me going. 

Thank you so much for admitting that you would be over it after a while. I feel like no one wants to say that but we all know it's true. 

I used to listen to them all the time, like in the car and stuff, but now I'll listen to it more when we're rehearsing, so that's when I get my "listen time" in.

If you could make a song with anyone, dead or alive, your music style or not, who would be your pick?

Yeah, well, you know I've said Adele is like a vocal goddess to me.

Amen.

Yesss! So I would do one with her, and as a boy, I've absolutely fallen in love with Hozier's voice, and doing a duet with him would just be so beautiful. 

I am praying for the day Adele comes back to us.

She needs to come out of hibernation, because I NEED my Adele.

How would you describe your musical style and your personal fashion style, and how those sort of mix together?

Well to someone who doesn't know my music: it's very organic, it's very raw, which is almost the same thing, but you know, it's got different feels to it. I'm a huge fan of a lot of different genres, I like to listen to alternative, indie and classic rock, so on some songs, you may hear R&B, others you may hear a little bit of country, in some it's a little alternative. I think the best way to describe it is that I sort of blend everything I like into one. I'm very passionate about it, so I hope that people love it.

I do! So you know for sure there's one in the corner.

Haha yeah! My personal style changes a lot, I like to try just new things, but I would definitely describe myself as a classy, sophisticated edge, if that's not weird. If I can just wear a band tshirt and ripped jeans, I'm down with that too.

I wore a nice dress and Dr. Martens for the Teen Choice Awards, it was great.

You are too cool for anybody.

I try. I really do. But your music videos have me beat, they're awesome. How long did it take to shoot "Can't Blame a Girl For Trying"? It seems intense - laborwise.

One day, actually. 

One day?!?

 Yeah, it was actually simpler than it looks. We were only there from the morning until like 4 or 5 in the afternoon. You can't tell, but it was like the rainiest day in California when when filmed, but it's beautifully sunny in the video, because of the lighting, which was brilliant. We filmed in this small little house, and we didn't have to go anywhere, so it was fun, and not too hard at all.

I really liked it because it was a little different, and that's what I need, something I haven't seen.

Oh my gosh I know, that video definitely wasn't like my everyday style, which was fun, because it was a style for the song. It matched very well, and was bright, colorful, and almost dainty in a way. 

*I have, at this point, completely lost track of where I was on my question list *

I'm sorry, I just completely lost track of where I was on my question list.

It's okay, I literally woke up like twenty minutes ago. 

Dude SAME okay we're in this together.

Hahahahahah

*finds where we rambled off from*

OKAY we're back. What would you say is your biggest source of ~inspiration~ in general?

I would say definitely more random things inspire me, because if you stick to one thing, you're going to run out of topics eventually. I take inspiration from anything in everyday life, whether it's a relationship with a boy, or a favorite book. When something comes at me and I can't stop thinking about it, that's when I know it's a good writing topic. Especially visual things, like movie plots or photographs.

 What's your favorite social media platform?

If I was stuck with one for the rest of my life - instagram. I love twitter, but instagram moves faster for me. I love that you can see so many different lives.

I will follow you RIGHT now. And now, because I know my time is ticking, FINAL QUESTION:

What is the one question you have always wanted to answer but no one has ever asked you in an interview?

Oh my gosh. That is so hard. Well, fun fact about me is that I've always wanted to do an action movie. I really want to play that kick-butt, super tough girl superhero. I think that'd be super fun.

Superheros are my not-so-secret favorite thing. Don't even ask my friends about prom. Who is your favorite Avenger? 

Again, HARD QUESTION. I'd have to say...Ironman? 

CORRECT ANSWER. 

Sabrina has an album coming soon, but her EP Can't Blame A Girl For Trying is out now, so get on that.

 You can also follow her on instagram (her hair game is too real) and twitter.

 *cough*
 you can also follow me 
or not whatever it's fine 

Can't blame a girl for trying

x Justina 

ps. listen to that hozier album

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