#if it wasn’t for the fan artists and very few youtubers I follow I would not go to that hellsite again

[randomshipperhere]

I hate twitter I hate twitter I hate twitter

[rei-caldombra]

My Start with Anime- Looking Back

The first anime I believe I ever saw was Pokemon on TV. 

But that was before I properly understood how anime was different. As a kid everything that wasn't real people was just “cartoons”. It wasn’t until I came across anime on Youtube some years later that I started to recognize anime as its own area of animation. Before Youtube I didn't happy any perception of anime and would have just came across whatever was playing on the popular kids channels like Disney and Cartoon Network. I didn't watch many shows other people around my actual age did when they were younger, such as Dragon Ball, Naruto etc. And my family didn't have any interest in Japanese pop culture outside of a strong love for Godzilla. I can really only remember Kirby Right Back at Ya!, Sonic X and Pokemon as ones I significantly liked.

Most of the anime I initially watched were mid 2000s shows. The first ones I remember getting super into were Lucky Star, Ouran HSHC, the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Death Note, and Clannad. This was when I properly became an anime fan. These early shows were definitely influential on Slice of Life becoming my favorite genre. I still like all of these shows and Clannad remains one of my absolute favorites. Once I got hooked on anime, I never really stopped.

Now that I have said the above, I must confess that the actual first anime I watched on Youtube was Girls Bravo. It's true quite a few of the earlier shows I saw were lewd in nature, like To Love Ru and Macademi Wasshoi. But these were not the important and influential ones, I promise!

Back then being an anime fan was a lot harder than now. It wasn't quite as bad as people a bit older than me, but you still didn't really want to talk about it casually. It was weird and different, so even if you didn't get harshly bullied over it, it still felt natural to hide what wasn't truly mainstream (which was very few). I remember slamming my laptop shut when I heard someone walk by my room at home and being ready to lock my phone at a moment's notice when someone walked by me in school. Thankfully nowadays anime is much more mainstream and more widely accepted.

Anime has been a significant part of my life- it has inspired me and has had a big impact on my way of thinking, it fostered a strong appreciation for the art process and artists, it got me interested in cosplay (I still need to make a cosplay of Dark Flame Master, he is the first character I genuinely planned to cosplay), and was a common interest that helped me make many friends over the years. It's tough to resist pressure to conform and not hide your passions that don't fit the mainstream, but I will always say to be proud of your interests. Don't let people stop you from liking a harmless hobby. There are other people out there who also like it that you'll be able to connect with. That was very important for me. The internet has its positives and negatives, but at least now finding good people who share in your passion is much easier than it was when I was younger. Making friends who liked anime and joining anime clubs had a big impact on me. If anyone is reading this and needs anime friends, I recommend giving your local anime club a shot. It can be scary to enter a new place and the thought of being seen as part of an anime club can be scary too, but you may very well find your safe space and make lifelong friends. I'm very thankful I did.

Now after more than a decade of watching anime, I still love it. I've been following the seasonals consistently for many years now and have a completed list on MAL of a bit over 400 lol. I may not watch as many each season as I used to, but I don't plan on stopping!

Thank you for reading my first proper post! I hope you enjoyed learning about my anime journey!

[numberth1rte3n]

TH1RTE3N'S TR4V3L5: In The Shadow of the Dragon-God

BY NUMBER TH1RTE3N

I have been playing video games my whole life. Since I could pick up a controller with my grubby little toddler hands, the medium has never been far from my grasp. From my first adventures in gaming where I would watch my older cousin play the original Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2, to getting my very own PS2 for my fourth birthday and playing Jurrasic Park: Operation Gensis well into my childhood nights (yes, I DID let my dinos run loose and eat my park-goers, thank you very much). In all my years of playing games across countless genres and developers, there have been few times in my life where playing a game has made me gasp, drop my jaw, make my breath catch in my chest, let a “wow” spill forth from my lips.

Climbing the western edge of the Gerudo Highlands for the first time in Breath of the Wild was one of those times for me. I was following my red pin towards a Sheikah Tower that I needed to unlock. Kind of. I was sort of aimless, wandering the rolling hills of Hyrule, doing that thing I do best when I play massive open-world games like BOTW. That thing being, wandering aimlessly towards the loose direction of my initial objective. I love to lose myself in games. To explore every corner of the map, to drink in the scenery, admire how the score compliments the situations I encounter, and I ESPECIALLY read every bit of lore I can find. Well, at least I try to (looking at you BioWare!) As games get bigger and more grand, and with the apparent renaissance of the open world genre across the industry, I am very grateful for lore journals and notebooks becoming a standard practice.

Wandering through the Great Hyrule Forest for the first time certainly made me say “wow”... sometimes out of frustration!

It was on one of these wanderings that I crested a hill in the Highlands, not even sprinting and using up my stamina, but more slowly and with care, in a strange pseudo-reverence to the talented artists and engineers that built the world that I was wandering in. I remember stepping over the hill with my game camera pointed to what was behind Link. I turned the camera to a gorgeous view of Lake Hylia at sunset. It was a stunning sight, one I decided I would stop and admire for a few seconds. Many real people with real lives and real love for  the Legend of Zelda series spent many real hours of their lives on making sure that the wind blew through the grass on the Highlands at just the right speed, and that the crickets chirped at the right pitch and volume. Someone had to make sure the sunset was the right shade of orange, and I intended to be the one to make note of its hues.

I noticed something right then, out of the corner of my right eye. How long had it been there? My reaction was to turn my camera quickly. Was it an enemy that I hadn’t encountered? Some new form of Guardian? Heavens forbid… what if it was another keese swarm?! My eyes adjusted as the motion blur from the camera pan settled. What I saw wasn’t a new enemy; guardian, keese or otherwise. It was… wait… what is that? Is that a dragon? OH MY GOSH THAT’S A DRAGON!!! And a dragon it was. Snaking its way out from beneath Lake Hylia, was the yellow-green visage of Farosh. 

My first experience with a Zelda game was in 2013, playing Wind Waker HD on the WiiU. The admittedly charming themed console was pre-loaded with a copy of Hyrule Historia, Nintendo’s attempt at weaving a cohesive narrative from the notoriously incohesive franchise. Like I said, I am nothing if not a lore nerd. At that point, I had been a bit-more-than-casual Zelda fan, and had taken some forays into the “Zelda timeline” YouTube holes, where I spent a bit (read: many dozens of hours) of time.

Seeing the Temple of Time in Ruins after fighting Ganondorf within its halls in Wind Waker HD was jarring to say the least.

It’s moments in games like these that I find myself reflecting on what gaming is to me as a medium. I could have experienced a serpentine dragon-god rising from a lakebottom in a fantasy novel, sure no problem. Heck, I probably have already, who knows these days with all these dragon shows and their houses and stuff! But it wasn’t in a novel. My meeting with Farosh wasn’t planned or scripted. Someone hadn’t written it, published the scene, edited that moment with flowery language until it fit their perspective of what the author thought a mighty creature being revealed might look like. It was my wanderings, a beautifully blank canvas left to uncover built with the love and attention of the people that made Breath of the Wild a reality, that allowed me to cross paths with the dragon. Watching Farosh ascend to light up the skies above Lake Hylia was something I will never forget. I will admit, when starting Tears of the Kingdom this past week, I was nervous that my breath would be measured, that my footfalls would be quicker, that I would press the sprint button more and the camera button less. Thankfully, I can say that is not the case, and I cannot wait to pick my jaw off of the floor once more.

Image Sources: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[musicarenagh]

Exploring the Emotional Depth of Alan Dreezer's Latest Hit Eastbourne, East Sussex native and award-winning electro-pop singer-songwriter Alan Dreezer has once again enticed his fans with a new song, “(Love Didn’t Hurt Me) IT WAS YOU,” which was released on August 16, 2024 and precedes the third album titled *NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES* to be released in the summer of the following year 2025. From the emotionally charged lyricism to the cinematic sound design, Alan skillfully weaves pop with hints of R&B and Soul with influences from George Michael. Dreezer began his music journey in 2017 with the *LONDON E12* album and has never ceased to come up with unique ideas from then on. His most recent released song, featuring interesting vocals and fantastic lyrics is a pure work of his talent, created together with Elliot Richardson who is also well-known as his mate and co-author. This interview allows us to discuss with Alan more about his creative approach, his new material, and what he has in store for the audience in the new album. Let’s get deep into the mind of an artist who is still making waves on the electro-pop scene. Listen to (Love Didn't Hurt Me) IT WAS YOU https://open.spotify.com/track/37DVKeLioNLs01QyObt5IQ?si=023754c3c0e84879 Follow Alan Dreezer on Twitter Spotify Soundcloud Bandcamp Youtube Instagram What is your stage name? Alan Dreezer Where do you find inspiration? Many things inspire me but usually it is a single word or phase seen in a book, magazine or online that sparks an idea. I then usually ask myself “What does that word or phrase mean to me?” and then start to jot down stuff in my notes app. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? I was always into music from a young age but never really thought about performing until my best friend suggested starting a band when we were 18. We were awful for the first few years but by the age of 25 we had a management deal and had toured with some top bands which was really exciting. Are you from a musical or artistic family? None of my family are musical at all but they are all very supportive of my journey. I honestly don’t think I would have ever become a songwriter if it wasn’t for my best friend Russell Aylett. He brought out something in me that I wasn’t looking for or knew was there and I am forever grateful for that. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? Listening to George Michael sing “A Different Corner” inspired me to try and write songs more seriously. The song was so well crafted and beautifully performed with such raw emotion that it made me want to try and dig deeper into myself and work harder at my craft. How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I am a lyricist, melodist and vocalist but I’m not a great musician as such so I rely on collaboration to enhance my ideas. I have collaborated with Elliot Richardson my producer for 13 years and he is a big part of all aspects of my music. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? It was The Police at Milton Keynes Bowl in 1980. It rained the whole day so it was like a mud bath but the concert was incredible. How would you describe your music? I would say it’s Pop with tinges of RnB & Soul too. However I do think it is very difficult to define exactly what genre you are as I have taken inspiration from so many different types of music over the years. [caption id="attachment_56701" align="alignnone" width="2000"] However I do think it is very difficult to define exactly what genre you are as I have taken inspiration from so many different types of music over the years.[/caption] Describe your creative process. I always start with a lyric because I have to have something to say first of all. Then I find a melody/top line that fits the mood just by humming it to myself. Over a few days sometimes weeks if the melody keeps coming back to me then I pursue it and record it with a drum loop or click track. I then take

that to the studio along with some musical references that I feel suit the vibe and we build from that framework into a song. How has your style evolved since the beginning of your career? As a solo artist my first album was very much influenced by 80’s music and retro pop. My second album took more inspiration from people like Justin Timberlake and early 2000’s music. With this 3rd project I’m leaning more into things like disco and classic soul music much more so it’s constantly changing and evolving. Who do you see as your main competitor? I don’t see music as a competitive thing. I firmly believe everyone should “JUST DO YOU!” and if people gravitate to what you’re doing then great! I also believe everyone should support each other and try and help each other grow. I have mentored a number of younger artists starting out in the business and it’s something I’m really proud of and get a lot from. What are your interests outside of music? I’m a huge film buff and also enjoy watching most sports. I enjoy hiking too as a live near The South Downs and I play tennis from time to time. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? I was a retail store manager in my early years and would probably go back to that if I had to. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? If I’m being transparent I have encountered ageism as a solo artist. I started this part of my journey in my late 40’s after being in bands for years and there have been a few snubs when age has been mentioned. Naively I thought the quality of the music should outweigh things like that but some radio/promoters/managers seem more comfortable selling a twenty something artist in my experience? https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wUPEi8IzA5uUvVhAWVL7o?si=64otaPNQToW9MdfnB5FG4A&nd=1&dlsi=0687c1f3bb6e427a If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? The percentage of streaming royalty payments paid to artists are scandalous. Music has been devalued massively in recent years in my opinion. Why did you choose this as the title of this project? The title of my 3rd album is going to be called “NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES” and we have been using that quote as motivation in all aspects of our process to get out of our comfort zones and try things that we haven’t tried before and it’s been really liberating! What are your plans for the coming months? To promote this new single and then continue work on the 3rd album which should be ready in the summer of 2025. Do you have any artistic collaboration plans? I’m in talks with a couple of other artists at the moment but there is nothing concrete just yet. What message would you like to give to your fans? Thank you for your continued support and I promise this 3rd album is worth waiting for!

[qnewsau]

Get to know First Nations queen Chocolate Boxx

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/get-to-know-first-nations-queen-chocolate-boxx/

Get to know First Nations queen Chocolate Boxx

First Nations queen Chocolate Boxx answers our questions about themselves, doing drag and the local scene. 

The first time I did drag was...

Back in 2014. I decided to go out on a Monday back when clubs were open on a Monday, I looked like a troll, but you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t the only girl in the world that night. 

I chose my drag name because…

I chose chocolate to keep it close to my First Nations heritage and look, who doesn’t like a bit of chocolate. I chose Boxx because it had two Xs so my tagline could be  “My name is Chocolate Boxx, that’s Boxx with two Xx, it would’ve been three, but I’m not that kind of girl on paper.”

My family’s reaction to me doing drag was…

Mum bought me my first wig so my drag is her fault! No, but honestly I’m so lucky they are all so supportive

First Nations queens are…

Some of the most powerful and empowering performers I have ever seen on any stage and needs to be seen on more stages around this country. 

RuPauls’ Drag Race is…  

In definite need of some more First Nations and Brisbane representation.

The Brisbane drag scene is…

Incredibly diverse, hard-working and loving. 

My best skill in being a drag performer is…

My performance ability and dancing really, although in the nine years I’ve been prancing about I’ve kind of become a jack of all trades. 

My favourite song to perform is…

It changes all the time but at the moment it’s King Of Hearts by Kim Petras.

The best thing a fan has done for me was…

My good friend and regular patron Pistol has painted a few pictures of me which really was incredible. 

The worst thing someone in the audience did was...

Try to get on stage while I was performing and then tried to take my microphone. Two very big No-Nos!

My favourite performance ever was…

My New York/Tiffany Pollard mix from the Finale of Miss First Nations Supreme Queen at World Pride 2023.

The best experience I’ve had in drag is…

Doing the acknowledgment of country at the Sam Smith concert. 

The drag performer who deserves more attention is…

Me! No, I’m kidding ummm, Lola Eclipse and Skinny Napkin, they’re ones to watch. 

The drag performer I’d hate to live with would be…

Myself hahaha!

The most important skill you can have as a drag artist is…

Versatility in your craft and to be personable. 

Something people don’t know about doing drag is…

How expensive it can be once you start doing it and how much perseverance it takes to make a name for yourself.

One message I have for our community is… 

You don’t know how much of an effect you have on someone just by being nice and polite, so always lead with kindness as just a simple conversation can have the biggest effect on someone.

You can follow Chocolate Boxx @chocolate_boxx_ on Instagram. 

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

[0613magazine]

221028 MTV News

Jin's Journey As 'The Astronaut' Has Just Begun

The BTS member talks working with Coldplay on his latest solo single

For almost a year, debates about whether or not BTS should be exempted from South Korea’s compulsory military service have raged. However, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago when the group members and their label, Big Hit Music, confirmed the group’s forthcoming conscription, after conquering the city of Busan for their Yet to Come in Busan concert. The statements said all members would enlist once their respective individual schedules have been completed — starting with BTS’s oldest member, Jin.

But what also stood out from the statement was the announcement of Jin’s highly anticipated solo project. On the tail of the successful energy-boosting 2021 solo single “Super Tuna” — "I hope many people don't know this song!” he said on rapper Lee Youngji’s YouTube Show No Prepare. “It's very embarrassing.” — the Korean superstar has gone from land to sea to, now, space in his musical journey. In what can be seen as the ultimate passion project, Jin’s artistic path comes full circle with his brand-new single “The Astronaut,” out today (October 28).

For over nine years, Jin, whose real name is Kim Seok-jin (known to fans as Mr. Worldwide Handsome), has made history and left his mark alongside fellow BTS members RM, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. But despite their outstanding global recognition, Jin is still grounded and yearns to do more. On “The Astronaut,” Jin connected with his longtime favorite musical act Coldplay as co-writers on the track. (Their song follows last year’s chart-topping, certified platinum BTS/Coldplay collaboration “My Universe.”)

Following the themes of space, Jin uses “The Astronaut” as a sonic metaphor for his own story, as he blasts into an uncharted new chapter of his life. The song also serves as a love letter to ARMY when he sings, “When I’m with you, there is no one else.”

Just days before his debut performance of the track in Buenos Aires for Coldplay’s live broadcasted concert, we caught up with Jin to break down his solo project, his journey, and his artistry.

MTV News: How did this all come about? Because you were always a fan of Coldplay, then you got to work with them last year. Was it from the moment Chris Martin gave you his guitar then?

Jin: When Chris gave me his guitar, I was honestly just too happy to think of anything else at that moment. As you know, I am a big fan of Coldplay! I wanted to write a song with the theme of space, so I reached out to them. The first time BTS and Coldplay were collaborating, I just felt unreal. This time feels a bit different as we wrote the song together. And it’s very meaningful to me.

MTV News: How does it feel to become a successful fan?

Jin: It’s usually hard to even imagine yourself doing something together with your idol, right? That’s why it felt so unreal at first, and I thought to myself, “Oh, I’m pretty big now.” [laughs]

I feel that we became closer with each other during this project as I was more involved, compared to our previous collaborative work as BTS. But seriously, I still can’t believe that this is actually happening!

MTV News: Can you describe the process of co-writing?

Jin: To me, writing lyrics is not easy. Even if I had a specific message I wanted to get across, writing the lyrics that blended in with the melody was hard. Nonetheless, I had so much fun because I was firm about the message I wanted to portray and show my love towards ARMY.

MTV News: For times in which you’ve co-written or assisted in arranging and producing your own projects, how do you cope with creator’s block?

Jin: I’m a very simple person. I like straightforward expressions, so I don’t try to make it hard. For instance, I write about something I saw earlier in the day just because it briefly caught my attention. So I don’t think I’ve experienced a serious creator’s block up until this point.

MTV News: Do you feel like there’s more to prove about you every time you release a solo song?

Jin: For solo tracks, there is indeed some pressure that comes from me having to lead the song from the beginning till the end. I’d say it’s more of proving to myself how much I’ve improved over the years rather than having to prove something — skills, creativity, etc. — to someone else. Of course, whenever I release new music, I always hope that our fans will enjoy it. I’m so grateful that our fans can resonate with me through our music.

MTV News: What was the feedback from the BTS members once they heard “The Astronaut?”

Jin: When they first heard the track, some of the members told me that this would be a great track to release in fall. That music also has seasonality. Our members have good taste in music.

MTV News: An astronaut is someone who is on a journey to get to a specific destination in space. In your career, where are you on your journey? Have you found your destination? If so, what is it?

Jin: I don’t think I have any specific destination in mind. Rather, I always dream of performing onstage with our members and staying with our fans for a long time.

“The Astronaut” talks about an astronaut who accidentally lands on Earth, but decides to settle down to stay with his loved ones — ARMY. Anyone can face an unexpected situation just like the astronaut in the song. I believe if I go with the flow even in those unexpected situations, I would get closer to the desired destination one day.

MTV News: You’ve released a handful of solo tracks in the past: “Tonight,” “Moon,” “Epiphany,” “Awake,” “Abyss,” and “Super Tuna.” Which song is your favorite, and why?

Jin: If I had to pick just one, I’d say “Moon.” I love the mood and I actively participated in the making of the track — writing the song, the lyrics, and designing the concept. I love the song! And I just realized both “Moon” and “The Astronaut” portray my love towards ARMY.

MTV News: You wrote the lyrics with the fondness for fans. As the year is about to come to a close soon, is there anything else you want to say to ARMY that you haven’t had the chance to relay in the song?

Jin: I always have so much to say to our fans. Though I try to convey how much I love them and care about them in the lyrics, it’s always never enough. ARMY makes me a better person and my life happier. Love you, always. [makes a heart with his hands]

MTV News: What’s next for you?

Jin: I want to try so much more as an artist, and as an individual, Kim Seok-jin. You will get to see what I can show you more! And my everyday goal is to live a fun, happy life!

MTV News: Last question, Mr. Worldwide Handsome Jin. What would you like to be remembered as?

Jin: WWHF! Worldwide Handsome Forever!

Source: MTV News

[musicarenagh]

Blossoming Sounds: An Interview with Jordana Delgado Jordana Delgado is a Vancouver born pianist, composer and singer songwriter who is making quite a stir through her poignant yet classy tracks. She followed various genres right from her childhood and the combination of the emotional style and the romantic prominence was the key to her music. Her most famous album is “Rainy Times” and many people were touched with the stories that she tells in the songs. The visuals of the album earned the short film over 430000 views on YouTube, showing Jordana’s side of creativity. Some of her successful releases include “Somewhere in My Memory”, “Autumn Leaves”, and “The Cradle” which got airplay on CBC Radio. Now, Jordana is ready to amaze her fans one more time with “The Dancing Pink Flowers”, the leading track from the new EP “Seasons”. The track is based on Bossa Nova with the original piano tune represents spirit of spring in a gentle, tender music. According to Jordana, the feeling when it comes to music is like ‘cherry blossom dancing gently through the soft spring breeze’. It has been quite a ride for the veteran artist who still has the capacity to leave audiences in awe of her depth and range. It is now time for Jordana to take us through her various pieces, her sources of inspiration and the meaning behind these profoundly touching pieces. Listen to The Dancing Pink Flowers https://open.spotify.com/track/6SaDoiKpQzjUqHv2ACUvBt Follow Jordana Delgado on Facebook Spotify Youtube Instagram Tiktok What is your stage name Jordana Delgado Is there a story behind your stage name? It’s just my real name ;) Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration mostly in nature. There’s so much beauty around, it’s magical! I also find inspiration in live music. Seeing other talented musicians perform is very inspiring. Are you from a musical or artistic family? Yes, when I was born both my parents worked in the music industry. My dad was a touring musician and my mum was a booking agent. I grew up around artists and live music because of their jobs. What was the role of music in the early years of your life? Music has always had a prominent role in my life. My parents always had music playing at home and they brought me to lots of live shows. We would go to see my dad play if they played nearby. My dad also brought me to some of his band rehearsals. My mom, because of her job, brought me to every show for children in the city: music, puppets, theater, circus... It was only natural that I showed interest in music very early. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? It happened naturally. It wasn’t a decision that I made one day. I guess it was the musical environment I had since I was born. How did you learn to sing/write/to play? I started singing when I was around 3 and asked my parents for piano lessons when I was 4, but they thought I was too young. At that time, the only music education available was the old-school Conservatory of Music. They knew how hard that can be on young kids, so they let me experiment and have fun with music by myself. I sang, played the recorder, a little keyboard and the guitar. I picked up songs by ear. Those were a few years of experimentation and learning mostly by myself. When I was 13, my parents saw that I was really serious about music and signed me up for piano lessons and formal music education. I went to the Conservatory of Music and got my degree in piano performance in classical music. After that, and because I also wrote music, I got interested in jazz harmony, so I went to study with a private teacher. I also learnt a lot from playing in many different classical ensembles, world-music bands, pop bands… the more variety the better. Overall, one has to find the balance between experimentation and education because both are very important. What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? Since I was exposed to live music from a very early age, I couldn’t say. It probably was one of my dad’s bands.

How could you describe your music? At first sight, people say it’s neo-classical music. I can see why they say that: it’s mostly piano solo music. However, I think it’s descriptive music. I tell stories with music and I use any musical element I need in order to serve the story. That means that I can have piano pieces that sound classical, others sound jazzier, others more Brazilian, others more pop… I use any musical style I need to tell my story better. I also write songs and I love to custom-make the piano part so the accompaniment describes exactly what the lyrics say. [caption id="attachment_55984" align="alignnone" width="1108"] I tell stories with music and I use any musical element I need in order to serve the story.[/caption] Describe your creative process. My creative process looks different every single time. However, there’s a common element: the storytelling. Music brings stories to my head, I see them! The process could start with an improvisation, or with me wanting to explore some music theory element, or trying to express a feeling or emotion. It could also start with a title, or a word in mind, or a specific story. The spark could be anything! Once the process has started, the story comes to mind and then I just follow it and see where it brings me. Sometimes the story requires me to do some research and sometimes the music just unfolds before my eyes in real time. What musician do you admire most and why? Regina Spektor. I fell in love with her songwriting many years ago. At that time, I only wrote instrumental music, and she’s the reason why I started to write songs. Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? Of course, totally! I’ve played so many different musical styles: classical, world-music, pop, a cappella, singer-songwriter… and I enjoyed immersing myself in each of those genres for a while. I think that, in my music right now, you can hear little hints of everything I’ve done in the past. Your style keeps changing and evolving as reflection of yourself. Who do you see as your main competitor? Myself! I’m not here to compete with anyone. Everyone has a unique path and a unique voice and one should not compare themselves with others. I only compare myself with my past self. Am I improving? Am I moving forward? How can I do this better? That’s all I care about. What are your interests outside of music? I like to be outside in nature as much as I can. However, I also like reading, knitting and going to my ballet classes. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? I’d still be involved in the arts for sure. I’d probably be working in the theatre world as a production designer or stage manager. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? How to balance the personal life with the artistic life. As an independent artist, you’re by yourself and you have to do all the work that usually requires a team of people full-time. But you’re alone trying to do everything which usually means that you end up working 12-15 hours a day. And it’s still not enough. It is very challenging to put limits to that so you don’t end up with massive burnouts every so often. Another big problem is smoke-sellers. Nowadays is easier to release music since we don’t need record labels anymore. However, there are many many people out there trying to take advantage of musicians’ dreams, asking for your money for services that achieve nothing and trying to scam you. There are also very good professionals that actually help you, but one needs to be very careful. If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? Musicians shouldn’t play for free, ever! We actually spend more time and money in our training than a doctor or a lawyer. In addition, we need to buy expensive equipment, pay for studio time and a long list of other things. If you wouldn’t ask a doctor or a lawyer to work for free because you value their training and expertise, why would you ask a musician to work for free?

Why did you choose this as the title of this project? My new single is called “The Dancing Pink Flowers.” It’ll be included in my EP “Seasons” as a representation of the spring. When I sat to write it, the theme was clear: spring! And what is more representative of spring than the gorgeous cherry blossom? Pink flowers everywhere, dancing with the wind… so: “The Dancing Pink Flowers” https://open.spotify.com/artist/4i3QxmcySa4wHvj5tvj6GL?si=RD_46tUSTfOUjjG9JS3IhQ What are your plans for the coming months? Right now, I’m working on the release of my EP “Seasons” that comes out on July 26th and also on its release party. For the fall I have plans to finish a project I started in 2022: “The Rainy Times Story.” For those readers that are new to my world, “The Rainy Times Story” is a 9-episode short film that develops through the tracks of my debut album “Rainy Times”, and that has gained so far over 430k on YouTube. It is a very special story about the pass of time. I released 6 episodes between 2021 and 2022 but for personal reasons I had to stop it. Now, in 2024 is time to bring to life the last 3 episodes! Do you have any artistic collaboration plans? I do collaborate with other musicians in the Vancouver community but they are usually one-time collaborations for a specific gig. They’re usually very spontaneous. Right now, I don’t have any serious collaboration in mind. By “serious” I mean recording and officially releasing a song. What message would you like to give to your fans? I want to express my eternal gratitude to them! I do what I do thanks to the fans that support me and cheer me on along the way. I wouldn’t be here without them! THANK YOU!!