Nyota Issue 26 by NYOTA Magazine

featuring

Laura Dreyfuss Issue 26

CONTENTS Music The Music Issue 07

Bailey Coats 31

Laura Dreyfuss 09

Ashley Kutcher 35

MOONWOOD 11

Pepper Lewis 39

Haley Johnsen 15

Josh Andrés Rivera

Moxi 19

Anna Shoemaker 45

JAGMAC 23

The Velveteins 47

Callie Twisselman 27

Words of Wisdom: Robert Rositano

THE

TEAM

Editor in Chief Carol Wright is a graduate of American University. At a young age, she became interested in telling stories through photography which eventually led her down the path of creating NYOTA. Now, her passion for storytelling has given her the opportunity to pick the brains of musicians, actors, and influencers across the world.

Art Director Nicole Cox is a American University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She has always enjoyed the arts, from making pottery to painting and sketching in her free time. Thanks to her wonderful professors at school, she was able to explore her passion for the arts and further implement her skills in her professional career and hobbies.

FEATURES Laura Dreyfuss

Ashley Kutcher

MOONWOOD

Pepper Lewis

Haley Johnsen

Josh Andrés Rivera

Moxi

Anna Shoemaker

JAGMAC

The Velveteins

Callie Twisselman

Robert Rositano

Bailey Coats

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Sachar

EDITOR’S LETTER It is hard to believe 2021 is already coming to a close, mainly because I can barely separate this year from the last. If one thing has gotten me through the past year, it has been music. There is nothing like listening to your favorite song when you need to brighten your mood or discovering a new artist and playing their songs on repeat for weeks on end. That is why I am excited for all of you to read our second ever Music Issue. The artists and bands we have featured are all musicians you should have on your radar. After what has been a year full of peaks and valleys, it feels only fitting to end things on a positive note. With Love, Carol Wright Editor in Chief @_carol_wright

The Dress // Dijon Before Dawn // Men I Trust

Forever (Sailing) // Snail Mail

The Music Issue Playlist curated by Sophie Sachar

#NYOTAmusic

Proud Home // Lily Konigsberg

Yards / Gardens // Kate Bollinger

Perfect Wife // Tasha

Concrete // Orion Sun

Can’t Be Yours Forever // SALES

Jonathan // Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek

Luna // The Smashing Pumpkins

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Laura Dreyfuss Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Luca Venter

Laura Dreyfuss is a multi-talented performer who has been seen everywhere from the Tony® Awardwinning Once, to Broadway phenomenon Dear Evan Hansen, and Netflix’s The Politician. Now she is flexing her songwriting prowess with her solo debut EP Peaks. Dreyfuss talked to NYOTA about reconnecting with her love of music, her advice for aspiring musicians, and working on her EP. Growing up was it very clear to your family that you would end up being a performer?

Tell us about your song “Nose to Nose.” What inspired the lyrics?

Yes, I was pretty obsessed with performing basically from the moment I could walk. Music was a big part of my family and I always sang along to everything and put on little shows.

“Nose to Nose” is dedicated to my dog Banjo. She is an angel on earth and I thought she deserved a song!

After high school, you attended Boston Conservatory at Berklee. What skills did you learn there that you apply to your career today? I learned a very fundamental work ethic. It was a pretty intense learning environment but it was helpful for what’s required to be a professional performer.

During this past year and a half with the pandemic and everything slowing down do you feel like you’ve gotten the chance to reconnect with your love of music? Absolutely. I really missed gathering for a show- that feels like church to me, But music really helped me get through the feelings of loneliness. I also found myself creating a lot during that time.

Choosing a title for an EP or album can hold a lot of meaning. How did you land on the name Peaks? I’ve learned that life has ebbs and flows. Sometimes you feel like you’re on a peak and everything feels small, other times it’s like a valley. Both are necessary when you’re moving forward. I thought it would be cool to try and express that musically.

Take our readers through your time working on your EP Peaks. Do you feel like you grew as an artist while working on it? Yes. I would say there was a huge growth period. The first song on the EP was written in 2018 and the last song was written in 2021. I’ve probably done the most growing in my life in that four year period. The EP definitely feels like emotional bookends.

Your song “Pillow” is a departure from the more upbeat songs on the EP. Why did it feel like the right song to end the EP with? It felt like the slowdown I needed after a hectic time. I was dealing with so much change and then having so much time to reflect on it and it seemed right to honor that journey on the EP.

What was your collaborative process like with Michel Heyaca? We both like to say that there is no bad idea until you have a better one. It helps us stay inspired and he’s always very open to any idea. We’ve been friends for 10 years, so our process is very comfortable. He’s also very gifted musically so that helps!

The EP focuses on hope, love, and overcoming feelings of isolation. How much did the pandemic shape the songs on the EP? It shaped it a lot. Some of the songs were written before the pandemic, so they give a different vibe and energy. I think the themes of believing in yourself are very strong throughout. I’m a big believer in honoring your truth no matter what, so it felt important to include that lyrically.

What advice do you have for aspiring singers? Keep practicing and trying to do things that are difficult. I think people like to romanticize the flow of writing a song, and sometimes it’s really hard. I think giving yourself permission to do it even though you are scared is so necessary. Failing is a big part of creating art, but it is crucial for any kind of growth.

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MOONWOOD Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Tayla Coleman

MOONWOOD is a Sydney-based band made of five friends from Australia, the United States, and Canada that create slow-burning, euphoric Alt-Rock. NYOTA talked to MOONWOOD about their advice for aspiring musicians and their song “Sydney Lights.” Take us back to the beginning. How did MOONWOOD come to be? MOONWOOD started out as a conversation between Justin and myself (Jake) in 2016. We’ve been talking about playing music together for a long time and we finally got together to jam. After a few jam sessions, Justin’s older brother tagged along. We’d catch up once in a while to get writing and play, but it wasn’t until 2020 when Grant Konemann caught up with us one day to ask if we wanted to go on a writing retreat. We brought the whole crew and a couple of our close friends (Will and Paul) and for nine days we set out to write and record 11 songs. That was when we all knew that we wanted to take this thing seriously hence MOONWOOD was born. Seeing as the band is from all over the map (Australia, the US, and Canada). Do each of you bring in different musical influences when working on a song? Justin is the cornerstone to our sound. You can hear it in the way he plays that he is heavily influenced by Kings of Leon, the National, etc.. Setting the tone for the listener to be engaged in what’s about to be said/heard. Following along you have Aaron, and with Aaron he is all feel and all dreamy synth lines. Which in fact, he’s holding most of himself back sometimes because deep down he wants to whip out a Hiatus Kaiyote psychedelic synth line out of nowhere to blow everyone’s mind. And just like Justin, there’s Will the rock that backs our world class drummer which makes them a perfect dynamic duo that helps bring something special. Then there’s Paul.. love that guy. He honestly just whips something out of nowhere and just makes something magical. You can hear it in his lead line in “Sydney Lights.” Your song “Slow Down” tells a very specific story about a relationship. Were the lyrics inspired by a personal event? It wasn’t written from a personal event, but it does affect me personally when you see the ones you love going through relationship breakdowns. Although it’s talking about the struggles people go through in a relationship the song has a mellow feel that makes you want to literally slow down and take a moment to listen. What influenced the way the song sounds? I listened to a lot of the National while writing this song, and I wanted the listener to feel like they were going on a journey while listening to it. It almost feels as though I am talking directly to the listener and telling them to slow down and that I will grab your hand and just cry. That’s the thing that grabs my attention the most. 12

Through the process of working on your EP do you feel that you have grown as a band?

Who are some artists you all have been inspired by this past year?

We’ve all gone through a lot together. It’s pretty crazy but MOONWOOD has turned into a brotherhood, and we’ve grown close during the making of this EP Everything We Once Knew.

The War on Drugs, Future Islands, Silk Sonic, Parcels, Harry Styles, Sam Fender, Kings of Leon, and Radiohead.

Tell our readers about your song “Sydney Lights.” What story are you telling through this song? “Sydney Lights” is a melancholy track that speaks about looking towards the future and leaving the rest all behind. Touching on my own personal experience transitioning from America to Australia. The track touches on the weight of not being able to travel which for me that met finding an appreciation for the city I live in.

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Always move forward. Sometimes the things that you tend to run away from are the things you need and will help you grow and evolve. It will make you a better human to those around you, and who knows…maybe a good song might come out of it?

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Haley Johnsen Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: @pastelcreativestudio

Haley Johnsen is a Portland, Oregon-born musician with a knack for genrebending, whose music will transport you to the 70s. Johnsen talked to NYOTA about the role music played in her life growing up, going on tour, and her song “Goner.” When did you discover your singing voice? When I was about 3 years old. I remember realizing I could sing when I could sing every lyric in tune with Ariel from The Little Mermaid. You were born in Portland, Oregon. Did the music and arts scene play a large part in your life growing up? My dad was a drummer and would play a lot when I was a kid. I remember going to some of his shows, but mostly I remember my parents having a great love of music. Not bad taste either. We would always be rocking out to Bonnie Rait, The Doors, Annie Lennox, The Beatles, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Tell us about the process of creating “Goner” which was written in a bathtub in a vintage trailer. What inspired you to write the song at that moment? Haha actually the start of the song was written in the bathtub, and the rest was finished on a solo songwriting retreat in a vintage trailer. I was feeling pretty blue after a long year of the COVID-19 shut down and really feeling like I had lost the wind in my sails. I was about to turn 32 and felt like my youth and chances at any success were slippin’ away. The song is a reminder to myself to stay present and let go of all the worries of the past and future that cause me so much anxiety. It’s my journey in life to find that inner peace with where I’m at, no matter what the circumstances. The opening line of the song “Today I mourned my youth again” is such a universal feeling for people as they grow up and start to shed who they once were. Do you often pull from your own life and past experiences when working on your music? Oh yes, most of my songs are autobiographical. They are often cathartic for me to sing because most of what I sing about is my own inner struggle to be happy with who I am, so it’s very personal for me to share. 15

The song has a very 70s feel. Were there any specific influences for the way the song sounds? It sort of unraveled its own vibe as we started the recording process. The demo I made always had that washed-out guitar tone, and I think mixed with the dry treatment of the drums, made it sound very nostalgic of that era. “Goner” has a different feel than some of your past work like “Cinderella” and “Unfamiliar.” Are you in the process of taking your music in a different direction? I am ALWAYS experimenting with what I want my music to sound like. I have always struggled to really define my genre, because I always want to try everything. But I have more recently gravitated towards a more vintage sound, but I think I will always play around with my style and sound. In the past you have been able to tour with acts like Joseph and Big Wild. Can fans of your music expect a solo tour in the near future? I am headed out on the road to play a few shows with KT Tunstall this winter and a few solo shows of my own on the east coast. I am hoping to get more tour dates lined up for the release of my record in the coming year! What advice do you have for aspiring singers? Never stop exploring and experimenting with what your voice can do. Treat it like a fragile instrument and USE it, but rest it as well. Sing from your heart, and don’t just sing a style of singing that is “in” right now. Let it come from deep within you.

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Moxi Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Pastel Creative Studio

Moxi is a husband and wife duo hailing from Los Angeles that creates dreamy, atmospheric pop music. The musicians talked to NYOTA about their music-making process, the benefits of streaming services, and their song “Back to Me.” When did you make the decision to form Moxi and make music together? Was it something that you always dreamed of doing? We started Moxi in 2013 sort of by accident. I (Anna) had a solo “singer/songwriter” project that Andy was actually hired to play on. We became fast friends, we’d spend the weekends together recording cover songs for SoundCloud and YouTube. I always loved what Andy brought to the music. He took my folky melodies and ideas and made them more accessible and modern. Fast forward and I ended up getting hired to write and record a song for a housing development commercial. It was a super tight deadline and I remember calling Andy in a panic to see if he could help me. I drove to his house after work scribbling down lyrics on my drive and a few hours later we had “In My Dreams” which would become the title track to our first EP as Moxi. I remember thinking that “In My Dreams” was so different from anything I’d ever written before. We knew right away we had stumbled onto something special. The rest organically unfolded from there. Do you have a specific song making process or do you tend to work only when inspiration hits? We fluctuate in our process although we’ve been doing it for so long now that we’re really able to tap into the creativity at any point which is really exciting and special. It used to be more of an inspired thing but now we can sit down and write even if there’s tons going on, we’re in a bad mood, etc. etc. We’ve really

honed our craft and we trust each other so much at this point that we’re really able to fall into the writing rhythm pretty easily. Generally we’ll start with a track and add a top line from there but just yesterday I wrote a complete song on my guitar and brought it to Andy who then built off of it. It’s really freeing to have the flexibility and adaptability to write in a lot of different ways. I’m really proud of us for getting to this point. Your song “Back to Me” focuses on finding one’s true self which I think is something a lot of people are trying to do after this crazy year and a half. Did personal events inspire the lyrics? Yes absolutely. We wrote “Back to Me” last summer in the middle of the pandemic. The world was chaotic and the future felt so uncertain. We were holed up in our house in east LA with a lot of time on our hands. I had started to get really into meditation. I found that it helped so much with my anxiety and depression as well as with my overall outlook on life and the world. I wanted to write a song that embodied how I feel when I’m in a meditative state. The highest version of me, where I’m filled with light, connected to the earth and space simultaneously. The version of me that fully embraces my uniqueness, embraces my primal creativity, and knows her power. I think “Back to Me” captures that perfectly. We’re all on our own journeys back to ourselves and if anything I hope this song can bring some light wherever you might be on that sacred journey. 20

What influenced the way the song sounds? We love visual art, and the sounds we create are often inspired by photos, paintings or even movies we see. For our song “Wrapped Up” for instance, the instrumental music intro was inspired by a scene in the 1995 animated movie Ghost in the Shell (not the remake with Scarlett Johansson) where the main character is in free fall and the background is a blur of colored lights around her. I love the idea of taking visual art and making an instrumental track inspired by it. Your song “Save Me” went viral through Spotify. Have streaming services helped you gain listeners and have people discover your music who might not have otherwise? Yes 100%. We’re so grateful for the exposure that we’ve been able to get through our songs being placed on popular Spotify playlists. I have a love/hate relationship with streaming services because the songwriting royalties are so disproportionate compared to the money, time and heart that goes into writing and recording quality music, but I also see the benefit. You can now release music and you don’t have to be with a major label to get exposure and that’s really cool. So many people have heard about us because of the streaming platforms. Like with most things there are pros and cons but I know that we’re past the point of no return so I choose to embrace it and see the positive. Living in Los Angeles do you tend to be inspired by your environment and other California based musicians? I’d say more than anything I’m just inspired by the creative energy that exists everywhere in this city. It’s a city of artists and free thinkers. People who are pushing the limit, breaking out of the mold. It’s incredibly diverse and accepting. There’s a tolerance here that is really hard to find in other places. I get inspired just driving around the city, you know even just the street artwork inspires me. When you’re not making music what are some of your other creative outlets that help you unwind? I love being outside in nature. I try to take advantage of the fact that we live so close to the beach. I love reading. I also try to spend at least an hour a day on what I call “free creativity.” I don’t put any rules on it. Sometimes I write short stories, sometimes I’ll just play guitar, and sometimes I paint. I’ll write poems during these sessions. It’s really fun and freeing to me and it has led to a lot of really great songs actually. It loosens my brain up and allows things to flow more freely. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Be nice, lose the ego, and learn to develop some serious resiliency. Overnight success isn’t really a thing. Keep your blinders up, don’t compare and be yourself. If you’re called to it, it’ll be obvious pretty quickly.

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JAGMAC Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Cameron Laque

Sibling six piece JAGMAC — whose name comes from the first initial of its members’ names from youngest to oldest: Jared, Angelique, Gabriel, Manjo, Alyssa and CJ — deliver a sound with the power to resonate in every corner of the globe. The group talked to NYOTA about their Christmas song “Wrapped Up” and their goals for the rest of 2021. Growing up was creativity highly encouraged in your household? Yes, creativity was very important, and still is to this day! Our parents always encouraged us to be the best versions of ourselves. It’s so important, especially at an early age, to explore the creative self, whether that’s with music, art, or cooking, etc. The fact that we were homeschooled really helped in the creativity department because we were able to dedicate more time in certain areas that really allowed us to hone in on our talents and make them come to life. When did each of you discover your passion for music and what motivated you to form JAGMAC? Our passion for music has always been a part of us since we were really young, but it definitely cranked up a few notches once we formed the group. At that time in our lives, we were inspired by groups like the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Black Eyed Peas, and the Spice Girls. We just loved music and wanted to do what they did. It looked like so much fun! That whole era of music really played a role in motivating us to start our own band. As a group what is your collaborative process like? Is there someone who focuses on writing song lyrics and then things build from there? We all love being a part of the creative process! That’s what makes our music so unique and original because of how involved each of us are behind the scenes. Collaborating together has always been somewhat easy because we’re a family and know how our family dynamic works. Usually we discuss certain topics that we want to write about and then try to narrow it down to one specific idea. And when it comes to the writing, again, everyone loves to jump in on ideas, lyrics, and melodies and we just kind of build off of each other’s ideas. Tell us about your song “We Found Love.” What story are you telling through the song? We wrote this song in Miami, which by the way, is one of our favorite places!!! The story is about two people who aren’t necessarily looking for love, but when they meet, they instantly have a connection. It’s about love finding you! We think it’s a song that many people can relate to and is also a great song to sing/dance to with your significant other! 23

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#NYOTAmusic TikTok has allowed you all to post sketches and promote your music to an audience of over 900,000 people. Has the app played a large role in you finding new listeners? Yes! It really has! We are so grateful to have such an engaging platform like TikTok! Every day we are being exposed to new people, and most of them become new fans and listeners! So even if we post a funny TikTok or a martial arts related TikTok since we are all Black Belts, ultimately these posts still drive people to our music which is an amazing tool for us. One of the best parts of the holiday season is getting to finally listen to Christmas music with no judgment. Tell us about your song “Wrapped Up” and the accompanying music video. Well, it’s been five years since we released a new Christmas song of our own, so we knew we were way overdue! Lol. The song actually came about on our last trip to LA back in October. We knew we wanted to make a Christmas song but didn’t know if it should be an original or if we would cover a classic. However, once we got in the studio and heard our producer play the initial enchanting and pulsating Christmassy sounding chords, we knew we had something special and that it had to be ours!!! The throwback 90’s theme for the “Wrapped Up” music video was an idea we’ve always wanted to utilize, but just never had the opportunity to tie it to a music video until this one! So we are super happy with how it turned out and with how we were able to share some special memories of our childhood with our fans. Did all of you have creative input in the music video making process? Yes, we love bringing our ideas to life with our director Nathan Colby who shoots most of our music videos! He’s literally a video WIZARD and we love having him on our team! Every time we work with Nathan we just know the video will be EPIC!!! As this year comes to a close, what are some of your goals as a singing group for the new year? Well we still have some things to do before the end of this year first! Lol! Our goals for the rest of 2021 are to keep promoting our latest single/ video, “Wrapped Up” as much as we can. We are also preparing for a live in-person Christmas concert on December 19th, and we are making it a personal challenge to get to one million followers on TikTok by the end of the year! And lastly, even though we get so busy, it’s really important for us to keep the holiday season focused on our faith and family! In 2022, our goals are to release our first full album, do some major touring, create more great music and videos, and hopefully collaborate with some amazing artists. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Stay focused, determined, passionate, and hungry for your dream. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. Work hard, stay positive, and always be grateful for even the smallest achievements! Every step forward, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction. And lastly, always share and use your talents to bring joy to others whenever possible!

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Callie Twisselman Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Callie Twisselman

Callie Twisselman is a California-based singer/songwriter and true cowgirl who grew up on her family’s seventh-generation grain and cattle ranch. Twisselman talked to NYOTA about her song “Together” which can be found on the Netflix My Little Pony movie soundtrack and musicians she looks up to. Growing up did music play a large part in your life? Growing up, music was always a big part of my family. My mother was a singer in a local country band and I remember I’d always pretend there was a stage in our backyard and sing along to her karaoke tapes. Before you started songwriting did you write poems or short stories? Before I started songwriting I would write up these imaginary short stories. I still have some of them to this day. They’re not very good but that’s where my love for writing began. Who are musicians you look up to? I’ve always loved Shania Twain’s music growing up. And the way she was from the country and rode horses but still was this beautiful glamorous woman with an amazing voice. Dolly Parton is also someone I look up to. With her incredible songwriting abilities, sense of style and overall just what she stands for. I would love to have half the career that woman has had. Tell our readers about your song “Together.” What inspired the lyrics? “Together” is a fun catchy little tune that puts you in a good mood. It also has such a positive message behind it about unity and being better “Together.” When my producer brought it to me I just knew I had to record it. Your song “Together” was featured in Netflix’s My Little Pony. How did that opportunity come about? My publishing company had told me they were looking for a song for the movie and I was so excited because I grew up watching My Little Pony, so when my producer said I was going to get to have a song on it, it was such a full circle moment. 28

Would you hope to make songs for movie or television soundtracks more in the future? Of course! I’d love that! Was hoping Yellowstone would pick up my current single “Cowboy” haha, a girl can dream. Due to the pandemic causing the music industry to hit pause on live events for a while, how does it feel to be able to perform in front of a live audience again through Cirque Musica’s Holiday Spectacular? Performing live again has been so amazing. Being able to get out there and travel the world and share my music with people is the best feeling. I was set to release music in 2020 but had to wait because of the pandemic until 2021. So this whole year has been pretty good to me so far getting to release my EP and tour. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? The advice I would give is, love what you do and be patient. If you love what you do, patience won’t be hard. Good things happen in time.

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Bailey Coats Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Austin Bell @austin.bell

Bailey Coats is a rising pop singer/songwriter who aims for her listeners to feel understood, included, and seen. Coats talked to NYOTA about navigating through the pandemic and her song “Identity Crisis.” Growing up did music play a large role in helping you figure out who you are? Growing up, music has always been a part of my life. It wasn’t something that helped me figure out who I am, it was something that once it entered my life, I knew I couldn’t live without it. It was my first encounter with music that became the catalyst for awakening a dream and a passion that I have had placed upon my life since as early as I can remember. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Some of my biggest inspirations include artists like Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Earth, Wind & Fire, and even a lot of the artists emerging on the scene now. To be able to have music be so accessible these days, I also find myself being inspired by artists I discover through Spotify and SoundCloud such as Audrey Mika, Jvke, Abigail Barlow, and so many more. Tell our readers about your song “Identity Crisis.” What story are you telling through the song? When we wrote “Identity crisis,” unbeknownst to me, I was about to enter one of the darkest stages of my entire life. We wrote this record because, at this point, I was questioning and doubting every little thing about myself, my artistry, and my goals that I have had since I was young. The song simply reiterates the idea that sometimes we need to revisit ourselves to rediscover who we actually are and where we are heading. The pandemic got a lot of people into a strange headspace so you aren’t alone there. Do you think that rediscovering your passion for music during this time will lead to more introspective work? Absolutely. As devastating as this pandemic has been, there were several byproducts of it that I believe will eventually have positive effects upon the world in the years to come. One being the innovation to come out of these moments of isolation and an appreciation for life and its fragile state. Having gone through this dark period of my life during a dark stage of the world was challenging (like so many others faced as well), but I think by having to confront these adversities head on has reminded myself and others to pursue and do what we love and not allow societal constructs, perceptions, or self-doubt to prevent us from living and creating in the most real and authentic way possible. 31

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#NYOTAmusic You collaborated with Chase Coy on “Identity Crisis.” What did you learn through working with him? Any time you work with a new producer, you will learn about a new process or new way of creating. With Chase, I learned that I was fully capable of writing more than I realized. He empowered me to challenge myself and really dig deep with the thoughts I wanted to express and figure out a way to construct lyrics that reflected this in a genuine, rather than, cliche way. When it was difficult to write music during the pandemic did you turn to other creative outlets? During my time in quarantine, I found myself painting and writing and studying different creative mediums. I wish I had understood how valuable this time was going to be and I wish I could have explored other mediums more. However, this time of isolation definitely encouraged me to pursue different outlets even after the country started to open up. Do you have a particular songwriting process? I like to write a song from scratch in one day. No track, no lyrics, no melody, just hustle. I have experienced many different methods, but this is by far my favorite. The songs become more authentic and capture that moment rather than having to encompass all seasons of life. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Trust your gut and go for it. Believe enough in yourself to break past every social, physical, and personal barrier. You have got this.

Ashley Kutcher Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Lindsey Byrnes

Ashley Kutcher was pursuing a degree in nursing before her song “Love You From A Distance” went viral on TikTok and allowed her to write and create music full time. Kutcher talked to NYOTA about her EP One Eighty and her advice for aspiring singers. Was there a particular artist or song you listened to that sparked your interest in making music? There was never just one artist that sparked my interest. But I remember feeling so inspired when I was younger by artists such as Hozier, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, James TW, Ben Howard, Vance Joy and just a ton of other acoustic-based music. Before pursuing music full time you were getting your nursing degree. Was music always an interest of yours but you weren’t sure if you would be able to pursue it full-time? Music has been in my life ever since I can remember. My parents bought us little Yamaha guitars at a very young age, and at every family party we were singing karaoke. When we got older, my dad started building a music room in our basement, and my sister, dad, and I would play music there together whenever we could. In college, I started writing my own music with local musicians and DJs. I also started gigging around the area for some extra money about three to five times a week most weeks. I kind of stumbled into music becoming a career after years of treating it as a hobby. I feel very lucky that I was given an opportunity to pursue music full time. What motivated you to put your song “Love You From A Distance” on TikTok? I was seeing other musicians and artists on TikTok post their songs during the pandemic, so I just felt like “why not share mine?” I began building an audience for songwriting on TikTok and ever since then, it’s been so fun to share my music. When working on songs do you often pull from personal experiences to write the lyrics? Most of my music pulls from personal experience. I have written a few songs around other people’s stories and I actually really enjoy challenging myself to write from other points of view. What story are you telling through your EP One Eighty? One Eighty is a story of how my life has really transitioned and did a complete turn in the past year. Last year, I was about to get a nursing job and put music to the side. Today, I’m with an amazing label and team, moving out of my home state, and writing songs as my full time job. These songs really encapsulate me finding my sound as an artist and trying to discover who I am when it comes to style. 35

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#NYOTAmusic Tell our readers about the song “When You’re Not Okay.” What inspired the lyrics? This song is about relationships and when it feels as if a person only cares when they’re not doing okay without you. As in, they will only contact you when it’s convenient for them. It’s hard to admit, but I honestly relate to this song from both sides. I have been the one being strung along, and I have been the one being selfish. I definitely have been the toxic one in past relationships. I think we learn what’s right and wrong when it comes to relationships and grow from it. Online you share your love of books through an account called @ashleykutcherbookclub. Is reading how you unwind in between working on your music? Reading has become a huge part of my life. It’s inspiring as a songwriter to read other writers’ stories, sometimes their words even inspire my songs. It’s also a great way to unwind and take my mind away from the screens we all spend so much time looking at. Reading to me is an escape, but also inspiration. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? It may sound cliche, but just work hard and continue to create. I’m still navigating my confusing life as a songwriter and artist, but I feel good about myself when I create music that I’m proud of. As long as you do this, there really is no “failing.” Art is art.

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Pepper Lewis Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Noah Hellman

Pepper Lewis is a prolific songwriter who draws her lyrics, her desire to help and connect with others, and her incredible drive from life experiences. Lewis talked to NYOTA about her musical inspirations, writing her song “Same Stuff,” and honoring her mother through her EP.

Has music always been your go-to creative outlet? Yes, absolutely. I’m either making music or listening to music. It’s my way of processing my emotions too – kind of like working on a puzzle. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Bruce Springsteen, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Mac Miller, and Amy… Don’t even need to say her last name cause she’s THAT legendary. Tell our readers about “Planetarium.” What story are you trying to tell through the song? What I’m trying to say through the lyrics of “Planetarium” is that I REALLY want to be able to let my guard down and get to know a guy and enjoy the night, but my track record with relationships doesn’t let me do that. I’m working on it. Is songwriting cathartic for you? Songwriting is how I figure things out about myself, process emotion, and it’s the only thing I know how to do at the end of the day to blow off steam. It’s very therapeutic, like writing in a diary. “Same Stuff” touches on mental health and more specifically taking care of your mental health. Do you hope the song can be a part of a larger conversation?

Explain to our readers the significance behind the title of your EP She Told Me To Sing My Heart Out? SHE is referring to my beautiful mom, Lisa. Lisa was my biggest cheerleader. When she was going through her chemotherapy, she would ask me what I’m going to wear on tour. That’s the type of person she was. She was very alive. When I was 15, she passed away after a nine month battle with lung cancer. Before she passed away, she left me a voicemail that plays on the last song of the EP, telling me to sing my heart out. So, I am. Do you feel that you grew as an artist while working on She Told Me To Sing My Heart Out? I’ve grown tremendously. The songs on She Told Me To Sing My Heart Out are supposed to be explanations of why I am the way I am. Now that I know why, I can start to heal. I go to therapy and I’m working so hard to learn the coping skills I need to carry the loss of my mom with me. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? My advice for aspiring musicians would be to learn from your favorite musician’s influences and take the weekends off to keep your work ethic and energy sharp.

For sure. I wrote it to cope with the depressive state I was in, but the ultimate goal is that hopefully writing about it helps someone feel understood. 40

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Josh Andrés Rivera Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: TANAKABLANEY.com

Josh Andrés Rivera is a seasoned stage actor who most notably performed in the original company on the first national tour of hit musical Hamilton. He is currently making his film debut in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. Rivera talked to NYOTA about playing Chino and what message he hopes audiences take away after watching the film. Growing up, was performing always a passion of yours? Yes and no. I’ve been singing almost my entire life and have always really enjoyed it, but it was more something I did for my family up until I was a teenager. It never occurred to me it was something I would actually want to do until I was like 16. It became a serious passion when I was a sophomore in high school and I performed for the first time in front of my school with a couple of my buddies. After that I was just like, “dang, this is pretty cool, I hope I get to do this for a long time.” Working on a musical is not new territory for you but you are making your film debut through West Side Story. Initially what made you want to be involved in the project? The project itself is a cultural staple, so there’s very much some incentive there. Additionally, as probably with many others, I really wanted to work with Steven Spielberg. Who wouldn’t? That guy directed like half of my favorite movies of all time. Also, like you said, it’s my first movie! I’ve always wanted to try stepping into film and it was a terrific challenge that I was so thrilled to be able to take on. What did you do to step into Chino’s shoes? I analyzed the text in and out to get a feel for the way Chino speaks, his motivations, his perspective, and his disposition and I used that to build a character. Being empathetic to the character is critical. Tony Kushner is an absolutely incredible writer too so he made that journey much easier with his text. I really enjoyed stepping into Chino’s shoes and getting a feel for his perspective. 42

You got to have incredible scene partners throughout the film. Was it a very collaborative environment on set? Absolutely, something I love about Steven’s directorial style is that he put a lot of trust in his actors and that gave us a lot of freedom to build relationships with people in the cast and between the Sharks and Jets and watch how that ended up manifesting on screen. We’d hash out ideas with one another about characterizations or dialogue or staging and there was a relatively open line of communication with the creative team. When we had thoughts about this or that, we could communicate them with one another and we were listened to. This film has a bit of all of us in it creatively speaking. It was a very collaborative and inspiring environment on set. Do you have a favorite musical number from the film? I LOVE “Dance at the Gym!” It’s so much fun and the scene that follows between Tony and Maria is just so charming and incredible. Also “Dance at the Gym” was the first shoot for a lot of people, myself included, so I have a lot of amazing memories during that week of bonding with the cast and making the kinds of friends I will have for a long time. Remakes can be tricky territory but West Side Story has a message that can speak to all generations. Is there anything in particular you hope viewers take away after watching? Hatred and ignorance are just so useless to us as human beings. I think that gets portrayed pretty well in this iteration but I do hope people take that away. The consequences of hatred and ignorance are so heartbreaking and also avoidable. So why practice that? What did you learn from working with Steven Spielberg? Initially when I started, I carried with me a fair amount of imposter syndrome. I’d never worked on a film, especially one of that caliber, so it was difficult for me to convince myself that I belonged. But Steven believed in me, Tony Kushner believed in me, everybody was so encouraging and trusting. There was a point where I realized my selfdoubt just did not serve me at all and I needed to let it go. It was an amazing lesson and practice in trusting my abilities and letting the work speak for itself. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? The sooner you can isolate whatever quality or trait about you that makes you special or different, the better. That’s different for every person, and for every person, it is their super power. Whatever that thing is in you that makes you unique as a human being, you need to learn to embrace that all the way, because that’s what sets you apart, and that can’t be taken away. Also drink a lot of water, it’s good for your skin.

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Anna Shoemaker Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Tyler Borchardt

Anna Shoemaker is a singer/songwriter and producer whose pop melodies and honest lyricism are sure to put her on everyone’s radar. Shoemaker talked to NYOTA about pulling from personal experiences to write songs and the message behind her song “Change My Mind.” Before you started songwriting did you write poetry or short stories? Yes, I did! I used to write poetry when I was younger. I’ve also always kept a diary. Tell our readers about “It’s Depression.” What inspired the lyrics? I want people to be able to take from or whatever they want or need from the song. But, for me, I guess it’s about seeking validation in the worst ways. You collaborated with Middle Part on “It’s Depression.” Now that you’ve worked together frequently do you have a specific collaborative process? When it comes to collaborating with anyone, the most important thing for me is just being in the moment and feeling comfortable and safe. “It’s Depression” came together really seamlessly because we were able to just be open and honest in the moment. When writing songs do you often pull from your own life experiences? Pretty much always!! Even when I don’t think it’s personal, it usually ends up subconsciously about something going on in my head. Do you hope that your song “Change My Mind” can remind your listeners to be easier on themselves? Definitely, I tend to be really hard on myself and assume everything is my fault. “Change My Mind” is about letting go of that and learning to accept things as they come. 45

You said that writing the song really changed a lot for you. What about this song led to your change in perspective? For once it just felt like this song was for me and no one else. It felt like growing up and not trying to impress anyone. Did you have any specific inspiration when it came to the way “Change My Mind” sounds? The producer of the song, Andreas Stavropolis, had recorded me playing this guitar part and we just built the song over that. I wrote the song sitting on one of those bouncy exercise balls in his living room and I just remember we were literally in the middle of the song and he got up and made this like insane carbonara. I was like ok, I love you? It’s the first song we wrote together and it’s my favorite, so it definitely set the bar for the rest of the songs on my album. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? I’d say just tell your story and do what feels right! Trust yourself!!

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The Velveteins Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Evangeline Belzile

Returning to Canada inspired after living out of a camper van on the beaches of Australia, Stephen Morphy set out to create a band. After first bringing in Addison Hiller and then Dean Kheroufi and Danger Sedmak, the foursome became The Velveteins and began making indie rock that gave them a dedicated fanbase and the opportunity to open for Wolf Parade and Hockey Dad. The Velveteins talked to NYOTA about their song “Make It Through” and advice for aspiring musicians. Take us back to the beginning. How did The Velveteins come to be? Back when I was 18 I was going to local shows in Edmonton and started meeting people. I remember thinking “cool, yeah I wanna do this.” I ended up asking Addison if he wanted to be in the project and we just started writing songs. Your music has a psychedelic/ 60s feel to it. Are you often inspired by artists from that time period? Sonically I think, more so at the time of our first EP and gradually less as we get older. Still think The Kinks are sweet, and T.Rex and all that stuff, but it’s kind of cliché. Have you developed a specific song making process over time? Not really, usually compiling ideas and then getting together into a room and working them out. I think that’s like the classic songwriting scenario. I used to just try to remember the songs by ear, but now I bring my laptop, or we work near a tape machine and some mics so we can capture every little idea. Tell us about your single “Make It Through.” What story are you telling through the song? I wrote that song after I found out a friend passed away. The song is just a cathartic expression, lyrically it’s just about our everyday life, but in a way it acknowledges the suffering on the phrase “We [as in, you and I], didn’t make it, but we’ll make it through.” 48

“Make It Through” has a slowed down calm to it that makes you want to drive around with the top down similar to the music video. Do you often try to evoke a certain feeling through your music? I think music is the expression of feeling. To me it’s the emotional representation of ideas. Like if someone says the word ‘sadness’ to you, you think ‘Ok, yes I understand the concept of sadness,’ but if you listen to a sad song, you feel the sadness along with the artist. We don’t specifically try to evoke certain feelings, as much as the songs are the feelings directly from the source. The pandemic has been especially hard on the music industry. How have you been staying motivated to create and release new music? Honestly, it’s been so weird. Just trying to stay healthy and busy. Recently I started to kind of build my own studio in my apartment, to better work on songs. Are you starting to see a change when it comes to the number of opportunities artists have to perform live or interact with listeners face to face? Yeah, it’s always changing. It will be interesting to see how we come out of this pandemic in terms of audience interest. Right before COVID-19 we went to Europe and the USA and it was so great, we hope to go back. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Advice would be practice every day and read lots of books.

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Words of Wisdom

Robert Rositano Interview by Carol Wright Photos Courtesy of Robert Rositano

Robert Rositano created Fan Pass Live to address the difficulties and setbacks emerging artists face when dealing with revenue, recognition, and more. Rositano talked to NYOTA about giving artists more control through Fan Pass Live, working in the music industry, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Did you always envision yourself working in the music industry in some form? Yes, and thinking back to my early teenage years it’s easy to understand why…other than my obvious love for music and discovering new artists in general. Just a quick background, my brother (and now business partner) formed a band when he was in Jr. High, which included having our cousin as the lead singer. I was about 15 years old at the time and had the luxury of being involved in small productions, performances and eventually watching their band perform at some very well-known spots on Sunset Strip in Hollywood “The Roxy” and “Whiskey” and the entire band were all under 18! This experience led me to know I/we would always have music or entertainment of some kind in our careers, no matter what. Tell our readers about Fan Pass Live and what motivated you to create it? Fan Pass or Fan Pass Live is more than just a website or an app, it’s a Livestream platform that is also a true artist partner. Fan Pass has wrapped our platform with a service that embraces, supports and focuses on all aspects of what independent artists need as they seek recognition and success, without the confinements of being signed by a label. It allows both the artist and their fans to interact, perform, earn, and truly engage, whether they are an up-and-coming talent or seasoned/successful artist with a mass following in authentic ways. Not only that, but its features are tailored to both the artist and the fan based on their individual needs and wants. For example, fans can follow the specific artists and genres they love, while artists can provide behind-the-scenes access to their most loyal supporters. Fan Pass Live gives artists a level of control that they don’t often get within the industry. Do you think that artists having control over the distribution of their music, merchandise, and other areas is a big reason they’re eager to get involved? Yes, I believe this is exactly one of the pain points artists have and sometimes don’t even understand why. Most of them spend a great deal of time dreaming of their big break and feeling like they need to be signed by a label to do so, yet the label can’t wait to take ownership of their talent…front loading and advancing payments to build the promotions, tours etc., leaving the artist with an uphill battle to obtain any control or sense of the life they set out to create as a music artist. Of course, not every story is like this, but as the pandemic certainly had most of us putting our thinking 51

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caps on, it also shined a bright light on the need for livestream platforms, virtual venues and general turnkey solutions that will embrace these needs for EVERY ARTIST. And that’s what Fan Pass is all about. We are also expanding our services to include music distribution services and even custom curated artist playlists of which we will be offering placement in these playlists as another form of distribution for our artist. Think the “Anti-Label – Label” allowing all artists to maintain control yet leverage the services of Fan Pass to develop and launch their careers!

can only be positive for the future. The ‘no’ is what we have seen coming out of festivals like “Astroworld,” for example. We are not where we need to be as live shows are needed to sustain any career, so now it’s all about balancing the live with the virtual touring! The pandemic has spotlighted the need for services and platforms that can exist as the augmentation of live tour will forever be supplemented with live virtual performances and exclusive behind the scenes content that can be offered and viewed by an artist’s “Global Fan Base.”

Fan Pass Live also offers exclusive content on the platform. What type of content do users have access to?

What advice do entrepreneurs?

Fans have unlimited access to all artists, artist content and anything the artist has not separately ticketed for. Fans can visit our website at www.fanpasslive.com or download our mobile app from the Apple App or Google Play stores, based on their device type. Fan Pass offers a 7-day free trial, which provides the VIP ALL ACCESS PASS. After seven days, the free trial converts to a fee-based subscription of $2.99 per month…and one of the main reasons Fan Pass asks the fans for this monthly contribution is because of our revenue sharing agreement with all artists on the platform. Artists can earn up to 40% of the monthly subscription, building an exciting monthly income stream to support their career building and earnings. Artists also keep 100% of any ticketed event/content or performance and all merchandise is typically done at a 50% / 50% split – no inventory or financial commitment by the artist and Fan Pass fulfills all orders. Fan Pass also offers an “Artist Pro” service which provides the artist with custom merchandise creations, designs, and of course their very own storefront. The “Artist Pro” also includes fan data along with advanced analytics to assist in identifying areas of success and opportunity for future revenue growth. The music industry has taken some hard hits due to the pandemic. Have you seen a positive change these past couple of months as live events make a return? Yes and no would be my answer thus far. Yes, as it is great to attend live shows, and seeing artists’ excited to get back to the stage where fans can show their support, all of these are great and positive in my opinion and have also created new protocols and actionable items for live venue operators/venues that 53

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The cliché response would be…do what you love and what you are passionate about, and the money will follow, which is always the goal. But in reality, it’s never that easy! My best advice would be to stay flexible, know what you don’t know and continue polling your audience for feedback, pain points and what they need/want…and most of all TESTING, TESTING and more TESTING.

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Nyota Issue 26

Articles inside

Laura Dreyfuss