Zadak Rice

Tags

artist, model, modeling

  HOW DID YOU GET YOUR START IN MODELING? I was asked in Boston, MA to be Kush Groove’s beginning model. It was a great time! The first shoot I did it for free cause I was happy to see Boston people getting out there and being proactive.
Maybe a year or so down the road I decided to move to San Francisco, CA. An interesting chain of events occurred when I arrived to the Bay Area.. I winged it.. had nothing but a backpack and $100. All I knew was that I needed more out of life than the snow and Boston.
I walked into Swig on Geary street one night in SF. I remember the DJ was playing a Jay-Z song. Not a popular one either. I remember spitting word for word the entire track. The DJ abruptly changed the record and I put my arms in the air directing towards the DJ booth like, “What the Fuck!!!”. I looked to my right and one other cat felt that disappointment when the DJ changes your jam, and that cat was Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba and I got to talking.. Not the typical bar talk neither, more real life stuff. Ultimately he asked me, “Zadak have you ever thought about doing what I do?” That meant the world to me that the dude from BOYZ IN THE HOOD asked me that question. Cuba didn’t make any phone calls for me or anything like that, but he put the idea in my head that this could all be a reality.
About 2 days later I went to visit my friend from Somerville, MA at a SOMA bar cause he was a bartender there. When I arrived to his bar he quickly said to me, “I got some people I want you to meet!!” One of those people worked for HBO and said I looked perfect for a series they were currently filming in SF called, LOOKING. I told that particular person, “That’s crazy! Cuba Gooding Jr just said the same thing to me!!” She looked at me funny and said, “Did you just say Cuba Gooding Jr said the same thing???” I simply nodded my head in a YES motion.
From there it was a situation of putting a portfolio together and submitting to the best SF agencies. Luckily, I grew up with a photographer that also moved to the Bay and he helped me get my portfolio situated.
I’d say about one month later I was offered a 2 year contract for an agency and quickly booked clients such as HBO, HP, SAMSUNG etc.

  WHEN ARE YOU MOST CREATIVE?
I love when the photographer and I are a team. I recently did a National commercial for STUDY.COM and that may have been the funnest job so far. I was asked to skateboard. I love skating.. I grew up skating Boston and NYC. So when I booked the skater role they had no clue that I was a skateboarder first and foremost.. I’m a model 2nd by profession. So I brought my own board on set. My scene was last. The other actors and models shot their scenes first, so I was just skating flat in the street waiting for my scene and the director was like, “Damn!! Like you do tricks??” Thats changed everything.

  
The director and I jumped in his jeep and we starting scouting out smooth ground and proper sunlight to film my scene.. That was dope!! Felt like a jewel thief or something. We left the cast and crew and just starting bouncing ideas off eachother. Such a creative experience! Truly got paid to be me.. when it came time for my scene I was hella ready! 360 flips and nose mannys with movie film quality equipment. Such a good crew! Shout out to Oskar and Jelly Donut Media for a great day of work.
They shot the following scene in Africa lol. Hella bummed I couldn’t roll with.

 
 WHAT KEEPS YOU INSPIRED? 
This might sound crazy, but not going back to the snow is a big inspiration. Cuba really inspires me too. He let me know some things about keeping myself in check as a black man in this world and in this industry. I’m also heavily inspired by the people I’ve met in my journey. I stayed with a group of people in the Richmond District in SF. They were all so motivated and inspired. They got on my case everyday til I got my contract. They’re great for that. Shout out to my 46th Ave Family. 

  
 Email : zadakrb@gmail.com 

IG : zadak_rb

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I love my Fiends : ThaTown and Cokeboy-P

Tags

hiphop, music, rap

THE TOWN photo by Jaymes Leavitt

In Dudley Square Boston, an old commercial building basement hosts a crowd of artists who come together to share the mic http://ilovemyfiends.com/ Micro Fiend show, is produced by Jason J-Hops Collins.  The Micro fiend showcase provides local entertainers with the dream and desire of entering the music industry a platform to fully display ones talent.  It creates an environment that allows an artist with the passion to win to groom him or herself while practicing stage presence and crowd command.  It is an outlet for music lovers that live in a city that suppresses it HIPHOP culture. It serves as a dwelling where those that love the rawness, realness of a genre of music that speaks to the core of the inner city struggle….. with  performances including THA TOWN,  Roxbury Rell, Minnie Clay and Cokeboy P aka Peterbeatz, this was an amazing show!   These artists all share a mic for an incredible show! Mixture Magazine interveiws PeterBeats and ThaTown.

ThaTown, your performance was amazing tell us about your set and your music.

ThaTown – So our set went well, what we did was introduce a few original songs and, some of our hottest mixtape songs. Whats behind our music is our stuggle, our lives, our experiences over a beat. We work hard everyday for this. We write everyday and make sure we are prepared for any and every show. We make sure we set the standards high when we rock out. ( perform) We in it for the long haul so get used to these faces. 

Make sure you guys swing by the page to get updates for more shows and interviews. http://www.thatown.com  

We are also working on a couple films for this summer. Can’t say much about it, but were working everyday towards the goal of becoming successful. Thank you Mixture Magazine for the opportunities, thank your whole photography company for always taking great shots. God bless…

ITS THATOWN, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. 

WWW.THATOWN.COM

Peterbeatz is a producer from Boston that currently lives in New York is an in house Producer /Engineer /Rapper,Singer Song-writer for the Cokeboys. 

Cokeboy P Your set was phenomenal.  Your singing is amazing!  Tell us what makes you creative?

Thank you and shout out to Mixture Magazine for coming through and helping support.

I’m a producer, first and foremost, then I’m an engineer and then I’m a rapper as well.  I make beats, engineer them put some vocals on there and pretty much, I have an ear for the music.  I connect with the artists I work with because I understand rap, and I know how to rap too.  Not to knock other producers, but if you are a producer working with rappers you should know how to do it.   To see where the rapper is coming from, realy understand where the rapper is coming from, and to know where to leave the spaces and when to work in a beat.   For example, if the beat is 75% then the rapper has 25% to rap.  If the beat is 25% then the rapper has to do 75% and you wouldn’t know that if you were not into rapping and producing this kind of work.  It gives you way more insight into the artists you are working with.

Cokeboy – P Photo by Jaymes Leavitt

See a clip from the performance here ——> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEXdjqND1Io

CHAMP CHUCK

Tags

DJ, hiphop, host, interview, music, Radio, rap, show

Champ Chuck

In a small bed room, where CD covers, vinyls, and cassette racks cover the walls, a dresser is topped with trophies, a Boombox and tapes, Champ Chuck clears the remnants of an earlier Dab session to interview with Mixture Magazine about his inspiration with hip hop and his radio show, OverDogRadio on WEMF internet radio.

Champ how did you get into radio?

Two things happened actually, I was at a stage of my life where I was just beginning to record. I was doing music, and I was rapping, Making tracks and just being in the studio for the first time. You know, it was just someones bedroom with a mic and a laptop and all… and this dude got me an interview on UnregularRadio.com. It was awesome! I went on the show, I gave a good interview; I rapped and they loved it!  They were like “Yo come back next week” and sure enough, for like eight months, I was on that show every Wednesday night. Eventually I went on 4 other shows, after that I ended up getting my own show.

What got you into Hip Hop?

Overdog Radio Show

Actually Beats got me into Hip Hop. With Hip Hop I could understand what those cats were saying. With Rock there is just too much gong on for me! I could understand what DMX was saying.  It’s just too much gong on for me!   I could understand what DMX was saying and I liked it. I really like every type of of music in some way or another, its just that Hip Hop really does it for me. 

Where do you find inspiration for your shows? 

 Actually it’s being in the city and seeing young cats making amazing rap. Everything has been local for me. Listening to music is like a drug to me! Sometimes its bad (Used as a crutch, or a numbing agent)… but I think its a great thing! I would never want to be without it. I’m at a lot of shows nowadays, honestly I like  seeing the bigger names but I’m more excited to see the new up and comings. My man Seti threw a show a show called “The Art Of The Cypher” at Oberon. We had the local DJ Vet, DJ Reel Drama, live cyphers, live artwork and burners from Brian Life and another artist. It was REAL Hip Hop, DOPE for the culture. 

When did you last sing to yourself?

 I’m not gonna lie this one’s for my ex… she took my heart and I wrote a song for her. I sang to her and it was the first time I ever wrote a song for someone I thought that was pretty cool but I sing to myself all the time. I love that shit. I love free-styling and all that.

When in life do you feel most grateful?

I feel most grateful when my family is doing good. You know, when my niece gets good marks on her report card (She is actually a grade A student who inspires me every day of my life) , or when my nephew rode his bike for the first time. I get to reward them for doing something awesome. When I see someone smile that makes me smile.

Is there something you have dreamed of doing for a long time?

Champ Chuck and Uncle Sam of http://livefreeordieradio.com/

Man I give so much respect for women because they see long term so much better than guys. Guys suck at that! My dreams change constantly… I once wanted to own a club. There is so much going on all the time for me that it is hard for me to pin down one thing. 5 years ago or ten years ago I couldn’t even tell you what I wanted to do… I didn’t know I even wanted to rap or have a radio show. I have always wanted to own multiple businesses and have my good friends working with me making lots of money! To be able to put people positions where everyone eats is the dream.

Would you rather play a game with someone who is more talented than you and would it matter who’s watching?

No, I love doing any type of exhibition or sport where the opponent is more skilled than me because I get to learn things from that. It doesn’t matter who’s watching. If folks want to clown me step right in! If you think you can do it better than me…first wait till I’m done than step up and try. At the end of the day I don’t give fuck who’s listening, I’m not shy at all.

Have you ever disliked someone for being better or more successful then you?

Yea… when I was in wicked and weak mind-state! Now you know we’re all one energy under the sun and Karma balances me now. I try to look at it like yea some people are born into money and some people are not but you know… I’m on my own path! If I don’t got the girl I’m not going to go chase her I’m going to so make it so she will just fall into my lap! We all have our own lane, and I should never compare myself to anyone else, and I don’t.

Are there people you envy enough you would want to trade lives with them?

No, because when I meet someone who has something appealing to me I look at it like how am I going to put myself in that position. How can I add his arsenal of weapons to mine. When I met these dudes at the radio station it was like the first time I was on I said to myself “I want my own show!” I’m a sponge, that soaks up the knowledge around me. I learn from my mistakes and triumphs, and yours as well.

What would constitute a perfect evening for you?

Champ Chuck

One where I get paid, make sure my bills get taken care of and my family is safe, secure and ready for success.. One where I know that I have money coming in the future, go host OverDog Radio and then go see a show. There is no place in this entire world I feel more at home then a Boston Hip Hop show/event because I consider the people in the scene to be family. Big shout out to the boss Mark Merren for providing the city Motivate Monday. That’s also where I first performed with N.B.S. When they asked me to perform “The Come Up” with them. Dorchester legend Akrobatik dapped me up and said I did good right after too (I was ecstatic.)

Who do you admire? Who inspires you?

Champ Chuck

I couldn’t even tell you… I look at a cats like DJ premier doing his thing and being just the greatest of all time I really look up to a cat named Scram Jones he’s phenomenal he’s one of the best MCs of all time, plus he DJ’s great and has produced grammy nominated records. He wears many hats but wears them well. But in all honesty, my mother and father have inspired me more the I could ever say. I do everything I do, with them and their legacy in mind. I go by Champ Chuck, but I just see myself as the son of Thomas Welch (R.I.P.)

OverDog Radio is LIVE from 9PM til 11PM every Tuesday night on WEMFRadio.com, hosted by Champ Chuck.

Carolyn’s Inspiration

Tags

arts, hostess, inspiration, writing

Carolyn is the Hostess at Club NAGA in Cambridge MA.  One of the hippest clubs in Boston, amazing food, and great atmosphere, Carolyn shares some inspiration on what creativity means for her.

What gives you inspiration?

I think from a early age both music and being outside gives me inspiration for everything.  I go crazy if I’m not able to explore outside or do anything outside.  I wouldn’t be able to write if I were not outside at all.  I do mainly creative non-fiction.  I’m very wordy and verbose.  Dancing also gives me inspiration.  A lot of times solitude gives me inspiration.  I’m really a secret introvert and people would never suspect that.  That’s why I always live near an ocean.  I grew up in a land locked state so I enjoy the ocean a lot.

Are you a musician?

I used to play piano a lot when I was younger and I quit cause my mom forced me to take lessons but I wish I never stopped cause I was so stubborn! I still have a huge appreciation for music

What brought you to Club NAGA?

I really love to dance and I love house music so I came here about a year and a half ago and I thought I would really love to have a job around these people and to be a part of something cool and what I like to do.  To be in a place where I can meet different people and creative artists so I had applied and I got the job!  I really love everyone here and It’s amazing working at NAGA.

Can you give our readers anything inspirational thoughts?

I think the key thing for me to finding any kind of inspiration, when its for writing or anything I want to pursue in the future, is meeting strangers.  I think I meet 4 to 5 new strangers a day.  Even on days where I’m off work.  I really get life from having those vulnerable and very raw conversations with strangers and its always unexpected.  My father was always like that, my mom would have to drag him through stores so he wouldn’t talk to strangers.  He was always very personable like that.  Even though I can be introverted and in solitude at times,  I really get life from hearing other peoples stories if they are comfortable enough to share them.

Fernanda Presa – Graphic and Web Design

Fernanda Presa is a Graphic and Web Designer in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Her range of style and capability is amazing.  Fernanda combines visual cues with whimsical illustrations, and a bold use of color, typography, and interesting design.  The Editors noticed Fernandas work and were inspired to uncover some insights and inspirations behind Fernanda’s Work.

What inspired you to be a creative artist?

Since I can remember I always enjoyed the arts and communication.
My dad has a theater for children since 1978 in Argentina (La Galera
Encantada) and that brought me to the creative world. The theater and
the visual arts were a very important part of my childhood. I was
seduced by this universe and surprised by the creativity of human
beings.

How do you keep your inspiration up in a very competitive Industry?

I’m very curious, never stop looking, I always try to be aware of what
is happening around me, there are so many stimulation all the time
around us that nourish the creativity of the designer. I think the key
is encouraged to do anything beyond the pre set, look for
alternatives, think outside the box, not to keep it safe, but also do
not forget to respond to what the customer needs.

Who are your heros? Who do you look up to and who are your mentors?

I studied at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA. FADU) and I was
lucky to have very good teachers who approached me to design in an
interesting and motivating way.
I have many heroes and I’m still discovering new ones, I think there
are very talented and creative people around the world. Today internet
brings us and lets us know designers work from everywhere.
If I have to name some references could be Javier Mariscal, Paula
Scher, Saul Bass, Stefan Sagmeister, Michal Batory (among many more!)

 What gives you the most inspiration for creativity?

I think it’s a set of things, music, art, literature, film, theater,
illustration, design, architecture, technology, nature, people,
travel, culture … is a whole which includes all these things …
what I try to do is be alert, with a notebook and pencil always close
to me so that when the ideas come up not let them escape.

Any advice for young creative?

My advice would be to never lose the curiosity and desire to learn.
Keep moving, discover new things, do not lose the sense of wonder and
play and above all enjoy what you do.

Check out Fernandas Work at the link to her website below

Diseño y comunicación visual / estudio: 2061-3046 / cel: 115 958 4058
contacto@fernandapresa.com    http://www.fernandapresa.com

Ya tenés tu ejemplar de Isla, un cuento para dibujar?
Conseguilo en www.facebook.com/islauncuentoparadibujar

Fernanda Presa

 

 

Big Polo – The Fur King –

Tags

designer, fashion, fur

 

Polo, also known as ‘The Fur King’ is a dominate trendsetter.  He has single-handedly built three companies from the ground up.  Polo is the CEO/Founder of Exclusive Fashion and Furs, Dessalines Clothing, and Bosses that Meet Bosses music group.  Polo and his his designs have been in multliple magazines, including E2K , 5 Star magazine, Against The Grain www.againstthegrainmag.com, Looters magazine (in stores now), Rapfanatic , and most recently  featured as one of the most influential designers in Obvious magazine .
Polo the fur king,  aka. “The fashion Mogul” ,  has partnered with several major companies to expand his brand. He also has a sneaker deal with Game-Time athletics.  Polo, along with Chase Million, has produced back to back fashion shows in Providence Rhode Island where he showcased several of his furs.  He has dressed the R&B group Metro-city for their opening performance at Keyshia Cole’s show at the Roxy in Boston.  Polo has been known to be called “P Diddit” and often has been compared to P. Diddy, whom he greatly has respect for.
Polo also credits Chase Million (Chasemillionent@gmail.com), President of the company with being an instrumental and major contributor in its success.  In addition to Chase Million, the team consist of Ms. Prina Jackson (PR), Fallon Seaborn (stylist), The beat makers Billy Blass & Maggbeatz, Stephanie Renee’, Mr. Keys, Prolific, and Ray Blass.  He would also like to give a special thanks to Steve, Mike Jr, & staff of Fur Warehouse. Exclusive Fashion and Furs is not only a clothing label it is a movement. Often you will hear the mogul say ‘If you are exclusive, rock with the best, if you can’t do it big, rock with the rest and If it is not exclusive, it is not fashion.’ Fashion and Furs provides clothing for a lifestyle.
They have all of the Fine Furs, Minks, Fox,Chinchilla furs, whatever suits your individual taste. The clothes speak for themselves.  To place an order call 617-444-9547. Serious inquiries only….

Free and Elevation Theory

Tags

Elevation Theory, inspiration, music, musician, Original Band, R+B, rock

Free in the rehearsal studio warming up on the drums. Photo by Jaymes Leavitt

Free is the founder of the Elevation Theory band.   We met up to talk about inspirations and insight into the beginnings of what has grown to be one of the most talented leading bands to come out of Boston.

MM:  Free, How did you first get into music?

FREE:    Amazing question,  I was introduced to music of course though as every great music legend well… lets not say every but close to it,  started playing in a church band when I was 7.  I got my first drum set when I was 7 too so that was cool too.     I was playing on pots and pans so much my dad just decided to do it before I tear up the whole house so he got me a drum set.    Upon getting the drum set I was able to not play in church.  from 7 going on to 9 I didn’t have a lot of patience.  I  thought that if you weren’t learning you weren’t growing so either you are playing of you are not.

Photo by Jaymes Leavitt

MM:    Where do you get your inspiration from?   Who inspires you?

FREE:    My inspiration comes from John Roberts who is by far the biggest musical inspiration in my career.  I met him at the age of twelve   I was able to go to Atlanta and He was playing in a church.   To actually meet him was something.  One thing he told me…”Never forget your identity, never compromise your sound, and believe when no one else does.”   From that day, that inspirational speech has forever stuck with me.   I pay homage to him every day.

MM:    When did you first start elevation theory?

FREE:    I started Elevation Theory in March of 2007.  The idea came in around  2007 before I got into Boston I was in South Carolina.  The name of the band was B Free and it was me, my best friend Brandon Williams.  I knew it was kind of weird because B was for Brandon and Free was because everyone calls me free so it was a little weird. I was telling him I was planning on moving to Boston and in 2008 I had gotten accepted to Berklee College of Music.    I knew I had to change the name of the band, and Believe it or not I came up with the name of the band from watching ET the movie.   Its true!  A lot of people don’t know that but its true.   I was sitting home with my Brother watching ET the movie so I was watching it,  from top to bottom because I had never seen it.  And I thought…. ET… Extra terrestrial and I was moved by the whole theoretical part of the movie.  Part of me knew I was going to Berklee and I was about to study the theory of music and that’s where the word Theory came in.   I saw ET and I thought of the word Elevation.  When I thought of Elevation thought to be big to be higher to be stronger and above the norm.  When I put the words together Elevation Theory it just stuck.   The logo,  I have to give credit to my room-mate Robert Jordan, My Marketing Director who came up with the UFO thing.  Everyone looks at it like “Yo! That’s a crazy logo!” .. and it just spring boarded.   Right off that movie.

MM:    How do you warm up for a practice session?

FREE:    Its a matter of coming in with a mindset.  Having mental preparation is the first thing I do.  Coming into the studio with the right frame of mind is important.  The first part of rehearsal is getting the programing part of the show together.   Then we get into the records and putting the arrangements together.  then comes the practice part.     Learning the material and retaining it are huge factors.

I don’t do anything particular with my hands, but I do a technique I learned from a good friend.   Its a technique of stretching while holding the drumsticks in your hands.  From your right hand to your left hand, you stretch your arms around the sticks.  That’s a real good start up.  I tune the drums making sure the drums sound right and I go from high hat, to toms, to snare, and the rest of the kit.   One by one, all the time carefully making sure the sound is right.

MM:    Whats a typical rehearsal; like?

FREE:    Hell!   Really.  H-E-L-L And I mean…  We say ET Boot Camp.  And when we say that Be prepared for 12 hours of just hell.  Blood, sweat ,tears and cuss words, just everything!    I say that with so much sincerity.  I  give credit to my band member my bass player Keithen Foster.   I call him the anchor of Elevation Theory.  He came in as my musical supervisor and just anchored everything in together.     Keithen sets the tone and is consistent which is the best part of elevation theory.  Keithen brought in my music director Mathew Johnson he’s really the sergeant.   Matt is more like a coach than anything.   He puts together the show and we have a phrase we say before every show.  He says  “When Matt presses pay on the pro tools, we’ll see you at the end!”   See  you at the end means I don’t care what happens or what you do I will see you at the end.  Meaning If you make a mistake, make it big and keep moving on.

Elevation Theory’s website…   http://elevationtheory.org/

Kayla – Breaking into the world of Modeling

Tags

inspiration, model, modeling, teen

Kayla, How did you get into modeling?

I started modeling just as a hobby.  I was about 13 years old and it was my father that suggested I go into modeling. I have always been on stage singing and acting since the age of six doing local community theater and singing at nursing homes for one of my former voice teachers. Everyone used to tell me how I would light up the stage and had great presence . I started doing photo-shoots with local photographers in somerville, and then progressed on to other photograpers. Once my braces came off at 14 I went to Barbizon to learn modeling. I was invited to go on the Barbizon Passport to Discovery Cruise which is a big competition and includes runnway, talent, jeans, swimsuit, cold read and commercial competitions. The cruise has many representatives from different agencies and once all the competitions are over, the agencies that are interested in you send you notification for callbacks. I did really well in the competitions I placed top five in my age category for the Jeans and the Swimsuit competition. I signed with one of the agencies from NJ called Drakebook.

Photograph – Ilona Szwarc

I came to do some work with Ilona Szwarc and The American Girl Doll project by my mother and I responding to a casting we saw on-line for a photographer doing a series about the American Girl Look-A-like Dolls. We did a photo-shoot that took place in my house. Ilona Szwarc is a photographer from Poland and she had moved to New York a few years ago. She was doing a project on American Girl Dolls. She was fascinated with the dolls which are made to look like the owner. A looks-like-me doll. My mom helped me submit my photos for the project with my personal story about myself, that I have a language based learning disability and even though I perform and sing and model, socially I have a very hard time when it comes to socializing amongst my peers so I do not have many friends. I was selected for the project and she came to my house and took pictures of myself with my doll. It was amazing. I was standing by my radiator, above me was a picture of my grandparents, and I was holding my doll. She noticed that I played with the dolls eyes a bit, and then told me to do the same thing over again. That was the image that was selected for the world press photo of the year award. The selection was in Amsterdam and it was amazing to see the judges comment on my image. It won 3rd place out of 100,000 photso submitted!

How do you find pojects and photographers to work with?

So far a lot of my modeling has been either through various networking sites like Facebook and Model Mayhem. As I have been getting more experience, as more and more photographers have been contacting me for shoots.

Who do you look up to in modeling?

I like Tyra Banks because she is a good business woman and I like heidi Kloom because she worked so hard to get where she is today.

What are some of the challenges getting into modeling?

The biggest challenge I had was mostly my height. Agencies are concerned about height and in my age range it calls for taller girls so I wish I was a little taller. It’s much harder to get represented without the height they require. It also seems like my age range, 15-17 is very hard to get work, a lot of the castings are for 18 and over.

Where do you find your inspiration for modeling?

I like doing my hair and makeup. I love looking beautiful! I especially like the comments on the photos when people say things like … “Kayla you look so grown up!” It is gratifying to do something creative and get a lot of good response from it. What inspires me as a model is seeing how creative everyone involved is. It is amazing how the Hair, Makeup Artists and photographers come up with so many different types of inspirations.

Johnny Voltik

Tags

art music, hip hop fusion, jazz rap, Johnny VoltiK, music, musician

Johnny Voltik is a hip hop artist in NY who has been recognized by the underground music scene as one of the most innovative performers in his league. Constantly pushing the edge in music, Johnny Voltik has made an incredible mark in his field with boldly crafted songs, a highly unique style and powerful, energetic performances.  Johnny currently has been re-inventing himself and is putting out a new release called THE LEGENDARY MISFIT.  We met Johnny at Video Producer Roman Bodners apartment and spoke about his work.

Johnny tell us… How did you first start getting into music.

Well ever since I was a little kid, music has always been a part of me.  Before I could play instruments, I imitated and acted like I could.   My sisters bed room was where I started.  I used to get on her bed, take all her stuffed animals and put them around the floor.  I would pick up a baseball bat and a belt and that was my guitar! Then I would play her cassette tapes and imitate the artists.  My pops got me a guitar when I was 8 or 9.  From then on, I knew I was going to do music.

How do keep yourself inspired?

I think changing locations has been really inspiring.  I moved from Boston to NY and that has been a real inspiration.  I get inspired by everyday things, sometimes small stuff.   Lately I have been sampling and I have not done that in a long time.   I have been inspired by watching youtube videos and I would be inspired by the music that I hear and I would sample that.   I think the person I am now, Is that the music I do is authentically real.   Every song I have on the THELEGENDARYMISFIT has something real about it and if you ask me something about any of the songs on that project I could tell you something that is real about it.   I get inspired about all types of stuff.

How do you prepare for a creative session?

It just hits me.   I don’t even know how to prepare because I just write music whenever I have time it is not just a preparation thing.  Sometimes influences just come.  I prepare for shows by practicing…I mean to write songs.   Life just happens and I create songs around that.  That’s how I prepare.

Who are your heroes?

I look up to prince, Bob Marley, and Hendrix.  I look up to a lot of artists.  I think one of my favorite artists is Bruce Lee and he’s not even a musician.  To me he has the ultimate discipline.   I think that as a musician I want to approach my work with the same caliber as Bruce Lee.   Us doing this interview right now has me inspired!  I look up to a lot of film-makers.  I look up to people who are doing things that go above and beyond .

Whats in your CD Player right now?

My own new project!  I have also been listening to a lot of Bob Marley right now.   Ive been listening to Thundercat, JJ Doom, J-Tronius, Sky James,  I listen to all types of music.  Vince Guaralde is one of my favorite Jazz artists.  I like to start my day listening to jazz and that starts my mood off right.  I listen to all types of stuff.  I listen to old school stuff all the time as well.

What makes you creative?

I’m just doing me.  Unapologetically!  I try to bend the mind musically.  One day I tweeted  “Anything could happen within the drop”.  (Clapping rhythm)  Any thing can happen within these notes.  So in between the rhythm, I like to stretch things.  Say you have a 4/4 beat which goes into a certain pocket, people will say you have to quantitize your music.  Sometimes I don’;t like to quantitize the music because I like to have that pull.  That helps people expand their minds.  When the fourth beat happens, your back at the beginning again and anything can happen between that moment.  Inside that constant rotation, that’s how I make music.  I can do something within the beat and it might not be right on that beat but it makes sense creatively.  That’s what I like to do.  I want to challenge the listener and myself to think.

Are there any other artists you have been working with?

I’m looking forward to working with a lot of cool people… I don’t want to say just ye!  I work a lot with Oa IM   I am working with J-Tronius and hope to work with Nick Brewer who is in the band By The Bull.  He is a close friend and I look forward to working with him.  I am currently doing a lot of collaborations and I am not going to say anything yet until those projects are completed.

http://www.johnnyvoltik.com/

http://johnnyvoltik.bandcamp.com/

twitter @johnnyvoltik

instagram screen name – voltikgram

Ramona Taj – On Starting A Career in Modeling

Tags

actress, artist, model, modeling

Starting a career in modeling is one of the most challenging, exciting, and exhilarating career moves anyone can take on.  The process is chock full of pitfalls and hurdles, and with hundreds of thousands of new models each year, it may seem impossible to break in.  Unless you have the right combination of looks, ambition, business savvy, self esteem and social intelligence, the modeling arena can be extremely difficult to navigate.  A model can be at the right place at the right time and their career can literally explode.   Make a critical mistake, and it can come crashing down just as quickly.  To some, it is just an unobtainable status only the “Lucky Ones” can get.   Modeling can actually be an obtainable, well paid career if you are willing to take on the challenge.    We spoke to Ramona Taj, a working model to get a sense of how she started her career and to relay any advice on how to be a professional model.

Ramona Taj

How did you get into Modeling?

I got into it through acting.  It was, for me, being in front of the camera practicing my craft, honing my skills and getting experience.  I do lifestyle, commercial and advertising for products and services.  Some of my jobs have been for insurance brokerages and medical tools manufacturers, I once did a job for Sealy Matress!  There is a broad range for modeling and I fit into the “Real Life” category of models.  I appeal to casing agents who are looking for “real life” people .

The process I took for getting into modeling was first going out and looking for an agency.   I found out about agencies who were legitimate, there’s not a lot of them, and I started contacting them.  I found Image Makers Agency in Boston and they represent a lot of actors and “Real Life” types of models.   Casting agents appreciate models that have an acting talent.  A lot of photographers want to have a real interaction to happen and a genuine look in an image.   Actors are great to work with in that respect and it is one of the the biggest strengths for actors working in the modeling arena.

What is working with an agency like?

Most agency contracts are exclusive and you have to be very careful who you sign with.  You have to evaluate how the agency is going to market you and establish how many go-sees you will be doing within a certain time.   Find out from others what their experience working with the agency is like.     Agency relationships can be tricky… the best thing is to do your research and to speak to people.  There is a lot of online castings happening now, and it is good to see who is putting out the castings and what types of jobs are coming up.  Then you can make a choice of what type of work you want to do and which agency will be right for you.

Any tips on being a successful model?

Be knowledgeable about the job you are doing.  Know the product that is being advertised.  Prepare well for your gig and research the purpose of the gig well.    Establish how you are going to make the product,service or whatever it is really shine.  Models have to remember that they are not always going to get the jobs they want and you can’t beat yourself up for not getting a certain gig.  You don’t know the reasons why you were not chosen, it could be a million different things.  Just be prepared for rejection.   If there is no pressure on yourself and if you know there is a chance you are not going to get the job, just being comfortable on the casting calls will actually help you.  Don’t stop being yourself and showing your personality.   Relate to people and be authentic.  That will help get you gigs.

Ramonas website can be seen at this link – http://www.ramonataj.com