You may imagine the soundscape of London as an ambiance of taxis, busses, the echoes of the tube, the pitter-patter of rain, and of course, new music from the thriving music scene. We’ve been listening to Assemble, an a capella band based in London known for their futuristic, experimental electro-pop sound. Fusing together elements of synth, jazz, and pop, Assemble’s new single “Blue Monday” is a vocal experimentation that pulses with human-meets-machine energy. We sat down with Assemble to hear more about the recording of “Blue Monday” (done completely remote!) and to learn more about their efforts to give back to multiple causes over the past year. Please continue reading for our exclusive interview with the a capella group of the future, Assemble!
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Call it infatuation, charming captivation, or perhaps even a crush. Can you blame our obsession with WomxnCrushMusic? Started by Ashley Kervabon-Stoyanov, this non-profit is making bold moves in the music industry. Ashely started her music career as a singer & songwriter (previously going by Ashley Xtina) in NYC where she was born and raised, but it wasn't until moving to Portland in 2015 that she realized what her real mission was: helping artists advance their careers through education and collaboration. She turned her dream into reality by starting #WomxnCrushMusic, a non-profit aimed at closing the gender gap in music. By providing educational workshops, scholarships, and collaborative opportunities, #WCM is sending womxn and non-binary artists to the top of the charts. We’re excited to share our exclusive interview with Ashely Kervabon-Stoyanov with our readers and show just how much amazing work WomxnCrushMusic is doing in the music industry. Continue reading below!
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Defining what makes an “X” factor or “star power” is nearly impossible, but we’re pretty certain that Raffaele Cupuano definitely falls into those categories. With a palpable stage presence as a runway model and a growing career as a rapper, is there any audience that won’t be enraptured with his performances? However, there’s much more to Cupuano’s journey. Under the stage name, South RC, Cupuano challenges model behavior on two levels — first as a runway model turned rapper and second through his rap lyrics that call out unjust police harassment. His single “Fresh Zone” explores the realities of bias and injustice when it comes to who and what are policed and how. As a voice for change, South RC uses his songs to shed light on the cracks in broken systems. In our interview with Cupuano, we get to know more about the story behind his music and how he is giving back to local and global communities. Continue reading for our exclusive interview below!
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You’ve heard the idiom “the cat’s meow” but did you know it could make you go viral? That’s the charm of Meredith Bull! Inspired by the mundane sounds around her, Meredith uses her musical talents to create memorable and even viral sounds for TikTok. Have you heard the relatable “meowing cat” sound? Or maybe the popular “Hank Green Explaining Candle Wax” sound? That’s Meredith at work! Aside from creating content for TikTok, Meredith is also a musical artist and she has built her unique indie sound from her TikTok experimentation. In our interview with Meredith, we talk about her creativity and inspiration for music (spoiler alert: there are cute cats involved!). We also discuss her journey with sobriety and how being sober has changed her life for the better. She is now an advocate for sobriety, and works to help others recover from substance abuse. Please continue reading for our exclusive interview with Meredith Bull.
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Welcome to L’Freaq’s Dark Synth-Pop Kingdom —where darker lyrics, inclusivity, and the power of poetry reign. As if that doesn’t sound bad-ass enough, wait until you hear L’Freaq’s new single “Showgirl”, which is a real demonstration of powerful lyrics backed by intentional artistry of sound. As a master of metaphors, L’Freaq uses her music as a mode of critique of the facades of the music industry and society at large, and that’s exactly what you get in “Showgirl.” As an ally of everyone on the spectrum of gender and sexuality, bullies, racists, and sexists are not allowed in L’Freaq's kingdom. She is a supporter of the Ally Coalition and frequently advocates for mental health awareness. We got to sit down with L’Freaq to dive into her songwriting process, her advocacy work, and what keeps her inspired. Continue reading for our exclusive interview with L’Freaq below!
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Want to know the secret to living your best life, bettering your daily routines, and being your own Superstar? That’s what Steven Benedict is here for! Benedict is an athlete of merit, having elite-level status as a Track and Field athlete. Now, he’s turning to coach individuals in the gym and people (like us) at home through his new book Good Morning Superstar. While we are all about self-care and self-betterment through strengthening our bodies and minds, what we love most about Steven’s work he consistently gives back through being an all-star foster care advocate. As a former foster child, Benedict wanted to provide support for the foster care system through starting his own foundation, “Fostering Success.” The organization works to restore hope, encourage growth, and oppose the abandonment mindset of foster children by providing genuine guidance, opportunities for sports and arts, and a strong voice for advocacy and systemic reform. For our exclusive interview with this superstar, please continue reading below:
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Meet Kerry Korentang, an eleven-year-old non-profit owner who has donated over 900 pairs of shoes to Ghana natives. Kerry’s mission to provide comfortable shoes to children in need was born after a trip to Ghana when she noticed children in rural areas going barefoot to school. Not letting her age or experience stop her, Kerry worked alongside her family to start the Kerry K Foundation. Since its inception, the Kerry K Foundation has not only focused on Kerry’s first goal of providing shoes for children, it has also branched out to include clothing and advocacy. In her spare time, Kerry is a pageant queen who uses her platform to spread awareness for her cause. We love the work that Kerry and her team are doing and we are excited to share their story with you! Continue reading for our exclusive interview with Kerry K below
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A CEO behind a non-profit is often the driving force behind the business. As the CEO of Artists for Trauma, Laura Sharpe is more than the driving force —she is the living mission statement. Laura started the foundation after a personal tragedy and came to see a need for attuned rehabilitation efforts for survivors. She started AFT with the aim to expedite recovery through artistic expression and human connection by pairing civilian and military trauma survivors with established artists. Her non-profit specifically targeted loneliness during the pandemic, and now with vaccines rolling out and restrictions lessening, AFT’s calendar is back in full swing. We are so excited to share our interview with Laura Sharpe. Her story is inspirational and her cause is steeped in passionate purpose. For more on Laura Sharpe, AFT and how to get involved, please continue reading our exclusive interview below!
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You may know Alexandra Park as the posh princess on The Royals, but get ready to meet the girl beneath the tiara. In her new memoir, Sugar High, Alexandra dives deep into her life, specifically her journey with Type One Diabetes and her acting career. In a personal story of life’s highs and lows, Alexandra’s book is a sweet and honest depiction of re-learning how to take care of yourself in the face of diagnosis. In our interview with Alexandra, we touch on life post-Royals, and her debut as an author, and where she’s going next.
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Strong Bestie Energy is the best way to describe the actress-turned-singer-songwriter, Laura Marano. Known for the role of Ally on Disney Channel’s Austin and Ally, Laura Marano has always been known as the best friend, the girl next door, and overall, a down to earth star. All of these qualities are manifested in Laura’s EP You. This past month, Laura released the Deluxe EP of You, featuring duets “Honest With You” with Alextbh Duet and “Can’t Help Myself” with Poe Leos and Jean Deaux. Jejune got the opportunity to sit down with Laura in a live listening session of the album from Laura’s cozy home (via Zoom of course) and learn all about the album’s new sound.
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The power of a single story becomes stronger when that story becomes a movement for change. That is what the #MeToo Movement is about: survivors sharing their stories of harassment, assault, and violence in order to promote awareness, change, and empathy. In using music as a catalyst for storytelling, Mischa Suemnig organized the #MeTooMpls project, a songwriting collective of Minnesota Women/Femmes/Trans/Non-Binary Folk. The mission of #MeTooMpls is straight forward: It is aimed at creating songs to raise Minneapolis Women/Femmes/Trans/Non-Binary Folk voices; Supporting sexual assault survivors; And raising funds for Planned Parenthood. All the songwriters involved were asked to write and record an original song on the subject of #MeToo. Without any further guidelines, the artists delivered songs ranging from heartbreaking songs about surviving sexual assault to inspiring songs about feminist icons and their influence on their lives. The album that they created is at once polyvocal and unified —it is a a mixture of lamentation, hope, and demand for change. It is the music of #MeToo.
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Sophie Reynolds was forever impacted by her best friend, Cameron Boyce. Losing a best friend at a young age is devastating, but Sophie and Cameron’s family and friends choose to remember Cameron’s legacy in a beautiful way through the Cameron Boyce Foundation. Cameron was a light in people’s lives and a passionate activist, ergo, his foundation was created to continue the positive energy he put out into the world. After all, a legacy is not what you do for yourself, but what you do for others. Sophie joins alongside the Cameron Boyce Foundation to find ways to eliminate Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), raise funds for epilepsy research, fighting gun violence, and so much more. In our interview with Sophie, we catch up on her acting career, life on set, and how she is giving back with the Cameron Boyce Foundation. Please read our exclusive interview with Sophie Reynolds below!
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While there is a lot to be said about the ethos of instant gratification when it comes to shopping for the latest trends, we are also living in a time when consumers also want to shop guilt-free and responsibly. Many people are on the search for brands that are fashionable, sustainable, ethical, and of great quality. Consumers want companies and brands that align with their values. The only problem —How do you find these brands? The process takes time, research, as well as a little more patience than adding something to your Amazon cart. Enter Fashinnovation. Founded by Jordana and Marcelo Guimaraes, Fashinnovation is a platform created to help consumers find the sustainable brands of the future. As a growing and global network, Fashinnovation is paving the way for making positive changes to the world of fashion and technology.
Beyond helping you shop more responsibly and create the guilt-free closet of your dreams, Fashinnovation is (as you probably guessed from its name) a platform for innovation. Fashion, like all other businesses, is experiencing an immediate and urgent demand for innovation in all business models. Jordana and Marcelo bring together community voices to challenge the industry to do better and to dream of future that is more viable, inclusive, and sustainable. Through panels, conferences, and content creation, Fashinnovation is able build a diverse community of like-minded individuals in intersecting industries, allowing for industry professionals and the public to see exciting new ideas and trends in innovating production and creating more transparent supply chains. Ready to join the conversation? We were too! In our exclusive interview with co-founder Jordana Guimaraes, she explains her goals for Fashinnovation, tells us all about new brands they are partnering with, and how to become a more responsible fashion consumer. Continue reading our interview with Jordana below!
Renowned vocalist, pilot, best-selling author, psychologist and theater producer — what a career! Judy Whitmore has an inspiring story that will remind you to chase your dreams. After putting her music career on hold to raise a family, Judy finally took the leap into singing in 2014 when she co-founded the cabaret group, ACT THREE. The trio brought timeless standards to life at legendary venues including Carnegie Hall and the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Their journey to Carnegie Hall was chronicled in the award-winning documentary film, Once Upon a Dream. Through all of those accomplishments, Judy always felt that something was missing. She knew it was time to get that magical box of dreams she had stored away all those years ago, embrace that music career she’d always dreamed of and soar on her own. In 2018, Judy ventured onto the stage alone with her show-stopping, cabaret-style vocal act. Judy just released her enchanting cover of Great American Songbook classic “Moonlight in Vermont,” which is a part of her mission to keep the songs of the Great American Songbook alive. We also love that Judy continually gives back to her music community by serving on the Board of Directors of Pacific Symphony. We’re excited to share our exclusive interview with Judy Whitmore below.
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As an actress, media entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sarah Podemski is making her mark in Hollywood and in her local community. Most recently, Sarah has a recurring role in the new sci-fi mystery comedy-drama series Resident Alien airing now on Syfy. She also brings her passion making room for Indigenous perspectives with her new project, Shine Network, which is the first-ever digital platform celebrating Indigenous content from a female perspective. Outside of acting, through her business Totem Designs, she designs unique dreamcatchers which give back to her Indigenous communities. This past year, she was able to donate over 100 dreamcatchers to raise funds for charities including, Black Food Toronto, The Regis Korchinsky Paquet family, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and the Navajo nation. Sarah is truly a shining star as a professional and as a person. We’re so excited to share our interview with Sarah with you. Continue reading below!
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Say hello to Oliver Trevena —the man who is known for his interview and hosting skills. We’re flipping the script and sitting down with this famous British host turned actor (alongside his adorable pup Georgie) to catch up on his latest projects. Here’s what you need to know: Oliver making moves and is working to make the world a better place. Between shooting several movies (Rising Hawk, Embattled, The Reckoning, Out of Death) in the past couple of years and growing his new business Caliwater with his partner Vanessa Hudgens, Oliver is using his talents to help spread awareness of forced child marriage in India. Serving as producer for a docuseries entitled Unmuted, Oliver hopes to produce content to unmute the voices of girls and young women in India who were forced into marriage too young. He also works closely with the Not For Sale Campaign, which provides resources to end human slavery and trafficking. Inspired? We are too. For more on Oliver Trevena, please read our exclusive editorial interview below.
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What does it take to create the right aesthetic for super heroes, post-apocalyptical villains, and pop culture icons? As a costume designer for shows like Flash, Arrow, and The 100, Beverley Huynh knows how to make costumes stand out in binge-worthy media. We were excited to speak with Beverley and get her perspective of costume design in relation to representation. Beverly’s main focus is using her her platform to tell her story about needing to have more women of color in entertainment in front of and behind the camera. In all of her career as a costume designer she has always been one of very few minorities in "the room" making decisions, which is where the real power of Hollywood is. Until there are more people of different cultural backgrounds holding power there will always be an uneven balance in the industry, and that is what Beverley is fighting to change. For more on Beverley, please read our exclusive interview below.
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rIVerse is the viral, multi-racial, LGBTQ+ and body-positive pop group that is breaking the internet. An independent Canadian pop and R&B group, rIVerse is a band known for making international waves for their high concept art pop and inclusive messaging. The group is comprised of band members Dizz, Monroe, Khadija and Zak. rIVerse recently released their newest music video for “BaeBeeBoo” off their critically acclaimed album, Poison IV. The album has been heralded for its innovative, genre-bending aesthetic and inclusive messaging which tackles themes ranging from body positivity, self love to systemic racism. We couldn’t wait to talk to the members of rIVerse and share the impact of their music and creativity. Please read our exclusive interview with rIVerse below.
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There has been a rise in virtual therapy since March 2020, but did you know that you can do breathwork classes virtually, too? Enter Ana Lilia. Ana is a certified breathwork teacher and healer leading thousands of people to intimately connect with their breath as a pathway for transformation. Ana channels her intuition and seamlessly blends active breathwork, intuitive guidance, and curated music to create personalized and healing journeys. She creates safe, supportive, and loving spaces for participants to connect with deep parts of themselves, access their intuition, and unleash creativity. Want to learn more and sign up for a free class? Then you’re in the right place! Please continue reading for our exclusive interview with Ana Lilia.
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Kazy Tauginas is an actor and an athlete. You may recognize him from his work in John Wick, Dolomite is My Name, The Broken Tower, and most recently, as Ari in the box office smash The Equalizer 2, starring Denzel Washington. Kazy has a passion for bringing awareness to Lupus in film, a cause close to his heart. After writing several short films (and starring in over 20 of them), Tauginas drew inspiration from his mother who’d been diagnosed with Lupus and his own boxing experience, and decided to write “Standing Eight,” a short about a boxer who is forced to retire and contend with life outside of the ring after being diagnosed with systemic lupus. During the spring of 2015 he oversaw two successful Kickstarter campaigns to fully fund the film. Since its completion, “Standing Eight” has won ten festival awards including Trinity International Film Festival’s Best Short Film, and is currently nominated for another four. Tauginas advocacy for the disease is driven by passion and rooted in art and we are excited to share his interview with you. for more on Kazy Tauginas, please read out exclusive interview below.
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