the
rundown with joey graceffa
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each photo sesh with the talented joey graceffa, where we hit the waves in Orange County and capture some awesome moments with Joey. We couldn’t get enough of his daily vlogs and collab videos so we had to share with you all, how freaking talented he is and how he inspired so many people from all over the world. You might be familar with his infamous sayings from his videos, the current Los Angeles resident shares his adventures with his viewers. So you better read on to find out more about our cover star, Joey Graceffa!
CONNECT// www.youtube.com/user/joeygraceffa www.twitter.com/joeygraceffa www.joeygraceffa.tumblr.com www.facebook.com/joeygraceffafans
N O VEMBER
+ autumn fever +
+ N O VEM b e r t u n e s +
Besides the fact that California weather is about to be dropping temperatures, so obsessed with pumpkin spice everything. It’s become a habit for me to drink a cup of pumpkin spice coffee with a splash of hazelnut creamer. Very good stuff. Lots of stuff going on with this issue, can’t believe we got to work with some individuals across the pond to the east coast bound. This month’s inspiration is basically how much Tumblr has taken over my life even when midterms are officially here. Get inspired.
+ reflektor FLASHBULB EYES // ARCADE FIRE + ANYTHING IN RETURN SAY WHAT // TORO Y MOI + ALONE TOGETHER MECHANICAL HEART // JON D + BETTER TOGETHER WHO ARE YOU // FIFTH HARMONY
Cathrine Khom
Flying somewhere,
FOUNDER + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
+ major thanks + Special thanks: Charlie Jay Hepp, Chris Nervgna, Dan Croll, Fidlar, Half Moon Run, Handguns, Harrison Fletcher, Jc Caylen, Joey Graceffa, Joshua Chomik, Lexxi Saal, Mayday Parade, Megan and Liz Mace, New Years Day, Oli White, Rachel Epstein, Sarah Lay, Sirah, The 1975, Taking Back Sunday, The Neighbourhood, The Struts. the team at Wildflower Cases: Michelle, Dave, Devon + Sydney Carlson. Thanks to our photographers, graphic designers and rad writers who helped with this issue. Much love to our wolfies from the moon and back!
issue ten // november twenty thirteen
joey graceff a founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom copy editor sophia khom graphic designers fiona yeung / isabel ramos diy director madison bass-taylor beauty department allyn bernardo / katelyn rikel contributing writers allyn bernardo, rachel d’arcy, amanda ferrarese, jessica goldman, gleann ignacio, shawn mulcahy, alexis march, katelyn rikel contributing photographers llexie alley, philipp ammon, hannah branigan, chris coe, kelly hamilton, amanda harle, sarah hoffman, gleann ignacio, alice isidore, clare kim, rachel kober, chris lampkins, sophia li, alex ljubinovic, carolina londono, lhoycel marie, maria monge, dunja opalko, amanda ramirez, elisa rodriguez, eman el saied, priti shikotra, madison bass-taylor, katie thompson description local wolves magazine, an online and print publication based from southern california, usa. we focus on embracing the local scene. we combine forces with talented folks from different cities to organizations, sharing stories about their favorite local places. between the pages in our issues, we stick to our main focus by showcasing local favorites. do us a favor and go explore delicacies in your area. connect http://localwolvesmag.com http://facebook.com/localwolves http://twitter.com/localwolves http://instagram.com/localwolves http://localwolvesblog.tumblr.com inquiries localwolvesmagazine@yahoo.com purchase issues not sold in stores, available online only
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the wolf pack O UR W O L F I ES c h a t a b o u t t h e i r f a v o r i t e THANKS G I V I N G t r a d i t io n
alex ljubinovic
+ photographer, california Gathering at my dad’s house and eating an entire table full of Western European food. + TUNE OF CHOICE + Alcoa // Cab Rides & Cigarettes
katelyn rikel
+ photographer, georgia Waking up to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, getting together with all of my family and loved ones to eat a ton of food and fellowship, and then partaking in the Black Friday madness later on! + TUNE OF CHOICE + Garden // Noah Gunderson
dunja opalko
+ photographer, london As I grew up and lived in Europe, I never got to experience the feeling and traditions of Thanksgiving. But I can imagine that it’s a great day to spend time with family and friends. + TUNE OF CHOICE + Balkan Beast // Gypsy Hill
rachel kober
+ photographer, new york Watching all of the football games, eating mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and playing street hockey with my family after dinner. + TUNE OF CHOICE + Team // Lorde
gleann ignacio + writer, california
My family and I gather up and just be thankful for everything we have, bask in each others company. I especially love when we are able to take long trips out of state just to be with our other relatives. + TUNE OF CHOICE + Settle Down // The 1975
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content 54
chris nervegna + yo u t ub e a n d p i z z a ta l ks f rom o u r fave , b rob r e e z y
18 SIRAH
36 megan & liz
+ t wi n n i n g wi t h t h e m ac e s i st e r s i n n e w yor k c i t y
+ g o i n g wi t h t h e f low a n d wi t h s i r a h as s h e s p i l l s s o m e sto r i es a b o u t h e r h o m e town
8 9
beauty november favorites + katelyn rikel
munchies nautical spirits bar + grill + chris lampkins
22
fidlar
continue:
+ gleann ignacio + lexie alley
46 // oliwhitetv 50 // joshua chomik
24
wildflower cases
32
dan croll
+ shawn mulcahy + alice isidore
56
retrospect
62
joey graceffa
jc caylen + shawn mulcahy + rachel epstein
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shutterbug
11
discovery
34
lexxi saal
72
gallery
12
the struts
42
autumn list
77
recap
sarah lay + including her photos
breakaway music festival + lexie alley
+ gleann ignacio + priti shikotra
+ shawn mulcahy + alice isidore
+ gleann ignacio + sophia li
42 // charlie hepworth 44 // harrison fletcher
+ gleann ignacio + lhoycel marie
+ collection of photos from recent tours
+ elisa mo rodriguez + amanda ramirez
beauty + our november beauty favorites, add these to your checklist. + words: katelyn rikel
Mario Badescu Whitening Mask - $24 This hydrating and gentle mask works amazing to brighten uneven skin tones and reduce the appearance of acne scars. Contains natural ingredients such as Licorice, Mulberry, and Kojic Acid, and works great for all skin types! MAC Lipstick in Media - $15 This fall, add a gorgeous, reddish-purple to your lips with this satin finish lipstick. Perfect to wear with a neutral eye, and is very long-lasting. Looking for a dupe? Try Wet n’ Wild Megalast Lipstick in Cherry Bomb! NARS Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross - $29 Add a beautiful glow to your cheeks with this soft, sheer pressed powder blush from NARS. This highlighter adds a light, golden sheen, beautiful for any skin tone!
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Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - $9 Apply cream or liquid foundation flawlessly with this synthetic bristle, cruelty-free brush. It’s a 10 Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin -$20-40 (size varies) This miracle product does ten amazing things for your hair! Its A 10 acts as a heat protectant, adds hydration and shine, and gives your hair strength with its keratin protein. Lush’s “A French Kiss” - $9 Relax in a hot bath with this luxurious, herbal bubble bar, which is topped with a sprig of lavender. $9 OPI - “My Vampire is Buff” - $9 A perfect neutral shade to wear on your nails, very opaque + creamy formulation.
C.O. Bigelo Rosebud Salve - $6 A true, holy grail and multipurpose product. The rose extract in this salve provides moisturization for your lips, cuticles, and any other dry patches. Has a sweet, warm, and rosy scent, which adds a calming touch. Lorac CC Cream - $28 This six-in-one color correcting cream is perfect for moisturizing, brightening, priming, and neutralizing. Not only is it formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, but it is super lightweight! Tweezerman Slant Tweezer - $14-22 Grab every hair every time with Tweezerman’s stainless steel accurate precision. The great thing about these is that they are warranted with free sharpening any time!
munchies
+ time to grab some delicious food at nautical spirits bar and grill + words & photos: chris lampkins
N
autical Spirits is a relaxed restaurant located in Central Florida. Most of the diners travel by boat and park in the marina. Anything from wings and chicken tenders to Seared Tuna and fish tacos can be found on the menu. And for desert the Reeses Chocolate Pie. The restaurant is a good place to go relax and enjoy a football or NASCAR game and eat some delicious food.
+ nautical spirits bar and grill + 2700 harbortown drive // merritt island, florida sun-thurs 11am-9pm // fri & sat 11am-10pm www.nauticalspirits.com
local wolves magazine // 9
shutterbug talk Name: Sarah Lay Age: 16 Residency: Melbourne, Australia Current obsessions: Instagram, a track called “Hunting Season” by Joe Knott + Beau Taplin, The 50th Law by Robert Greene + 50 Cent, editing photos and sausage rolls, that is all. What is currently in your camera bag? SL: Right now, I have my Canon 50D, 50mm f/1.8, 17-40mm f/4, 270ex II Speedlite (which I rarely use), a ton of memory cards, earplugs and batteries all packed snug in my lil’ Karachi Outpost camera bag by Crumpler! Where did you learn how to shoot? SL: In the dark. The first time I shot with my DSLR, I literally shot in the city at night. I taught myself to use manual mode through observation of the camera’s live view mode and aid from the Internet. It’s kind of ironic because now, 90% of the pictures I take are in the dark, at concerts. What do you love most about concert photography? SL: In concert photography, I love so much being surrounded by such an energetic vibe. I love being so close to the artist and their fans all at the same time, and watching both ends of the spectrum collide in concert. It’s the best part about my job, seeing in true form the amount of love the fans have for the band and vise versa. That’s the kind of stuff worth documenting. What are your favorite things to shoot? SL: Live music. Ever since I spotted photographers in the photo pit for John Mayer I knew from that second onwards, I wanted to be right where they were documenting music and capturing timeless images, like the images Dirk Mai had produced of The Maine. I also love to shoot landscape. A few months back I went overseas for the first time to Turkey and naturally my camera was attached to my neck the whole time, so in those two weeks I feel in love with landscape photography. I would love to travel the world and photograph every beautiful landscape under this sun. How would you describe your photos and photo style? SL: I keep getting told that I have a style but honestly I have no idea what that style is! My thought process when proofing final edits is pretty much, “does the color in this picture make me marvel?” or “is this black and white dirty and gritty enough to be a stand alone black and white image?” So I guess that would be my style? Colors that make people marvel and dirty black and whites. Tell us about some of your favorite local spots in your hometown: Melbourne, Australia. SL: If y’all ever get the chance to visit Melbourne, make sure you check out a show at The Corner Hotel for great local bands or Festival Hall for the best of both local and international bands! Also be sure to stop by Chapel St. in Prahran for your fix in thrifting, delicious food and the best strip of retail in Melbourne!
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Got any advice for budding photographers? SL: Make shit happen for yourself. No one is going to do it for you, no one is going to come to your with all your dreams on a silver platter. You’ve got to go out there and make it happen, chase your dreams and do the best you can with all that you have. You’ve got to learn to rely on yourself and trust that your talent and passion will help you get to where you need to be. It’s all you and you have the capacity to make it all happen.
discovery + breakaway festival // at columbus crew stadium in columbus, ohio + photos: lexie alley
local wolves magazine // 11
12
LONDON BOUND WITH
the struts + words: gleann ignacio + photos: priti shikotra
local wolves magazine // 13
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local wolves magazine // 15
W
ith influences from the like of the Beatles to Oasis to Queen and AC/DC, comes Derby rock band, The Struts. Each member had been playing and writing music from an early age, “it’s something that we’ve always wanted to do,” says lead vocalist Luke Spiller. It was with Addo Slack, the two would bring in the addition of Jed Elliot and Gethin Davies to create a band with a “glamorous indie rock and roll” sound. The guys aim to create music that will send a positive message, “It’s okay to be happy again. We want to make people smile in a time where no one’s smiling!” They have caught the attention from the likes of MTV, having been on one of MTV UK’s MTV Rocks play list, “it was amazing, but we also feel it was about time,” says Spiller. But let’s say music wasn’t the path they chose to follow. What would The Struts be pursuing in? Perhaps an acting career? “I’m sure we’d all be involved in the entertainment industry somehow,” they reveal. Back home in Derby, UK, the band recommends visiting what they call the best venue to play in, The Victoria Inn, but personally they love to head out to The Shakespeare, “it’s got a good atmosphere,” Spiller comments. The live performances are something the band takes excellent pride in, “it’s good to get nervous, we channel that into our performance.” It is something that makes them feel is their key to hold that certain quality of their band that sets them apart from all of the other artists. They want their audience to “leave with a melted face and shaking knees.” The band begins their production with Luke and Adam writing, makes the rough demo, and records it with Jed and Gethin in the studio. Their current release, “Could Have Been Me”, had received generally positive reviews from fans and all over. They even hope to someday collaborate with Alex Turner, “he’s a real talent” added Spiller, and The Vaccines. The Struts enjoy this lifestyle. They love every minute of it on stage, in the studio, in different places with new people, “the coolest thing of all is being allowed to do what we love doing [writing music and performing music].” It is clear that they have worked hard for everything they have accomplished and know things do not just happen quickly. Fans can look forward to brand new singles, videos, and an album all on its way from The Struts in the future.
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local wolves magazine // 17
18
keepin’ it low key surreal with
sirah
+ words: amanda ferrarese + photos: lexie alley
local wolves magazine // 19
Based on the magazine’s message, how do you feel your hometown of Long Island, New York has impacted your development as a musician? SIRAH: I’m currently wearing a “This is Hell” sweatshirt whilst doing this interview so I’d say I’m very impacted by Long Island artists, reppin’ LI deep in the Midwest right now. I’ll always love Taking Back Sunday and Brand New equally even if they fight. When I get writer’s block, I go back to their songs for inspiration, to pull up those feelings of being 15 and alive. I’ll forever shame Billy Joel with my rough attempts at “Piano Man,” during karaoke; I’ll never forget how high the stakes are because of De La soul. I feel like people have forgotten that Mariah Carey was actually birthed because she is such a magical creature but she also hails from LI. My early raps were often being labeled as the girl version of R.A. The Rugged Man which was such a compliment because I was such a huge fan. Public enemy will forever be immortalized in my mind; new age pioneers. I’ll always attempt to rap along with old Busta Rhymes, I know Method Man at one point was LI based and we all know WuTang will be here forever. I feel like I could go on and on, because I was shaped and molded in Long Island I think these artists will always connect with me more so. The music that you listen to as a kid always sticks with you the longest and hits you the hardest. These artists were with me when I needed them the most.
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When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music? SIRAH: I don’t know if it ever occurred to me that I wanted to pursue it as a “career,” that’s such a big word saved for things like accounting. I think I knew at seventeen, I wanted to do this every day and hopefully become good at it. Do you have any preferred environments to be in while you’re working on material and where do you find inspiration? SIRAH: I think life inspires music and music inspires life, at least for me. Driving in a van on this tour, watching the headliner, meeting new people, all of that is so inspiring to me. I’ve written a bunch of words in my phone on this tour that will probably become songs, I almost can’t keep up. I don’t really have a process, I’m always writing. I just pay extra attention to life, the girl who I talk to online, who feels alone, the kids bugging out at shows, whatever I’m feeling or seeing gets turned into something. When do you feel that you really discovered yourself, both as an artist and an individual? SIRAH: Art is forever changing for me, and it’s hard to keep up. I think I’ve known myself for quite some time, I had to know myself to survive my life because for a long time I was the only one I had.
Looking back at your evolution as a musician and your humble beginnings, you’ve achieved a lot at such a young age. What has been the most surreal part of this entire process for you? SIRAH: I think every day is low key surreal, I would probably have to say the Grammy’s because of course that’s something you can’t wrap your mind around. Honestly though, a lot of days feel like that for me, when I meet fans and they say they listen to me my mind is blown, something I made is playing out of speakers in your house, that’s surreal. Is there any advice you’d give your younger self? SIRAH: Not to be so hard on myself, so much anxiety. I would’ve still made it to the same place I am right now no matter my level of anxiety; a Ramada Inn in the middle of America. Life’s going to happen the way it’s going to happen regardless, whether I worry the whole time or enjoy where I currently am. How do you feel “Inhale” has differed from your previous records? SIRAH: I think it’s different but it’s the same me, it came from a whole lot of different places hence my previous answer. I was living in a lot of feelings during the whole process. The title track was written because I wanted to feel that same youthful naivety you feel when first falling in “love.” “You Know You
Want It” was about my life as a teenager and how the music industry has somewhat forced me back into that mindset at times. Icarus was about my father and my best friend Tom, both of whom passed away from overdoses. I’d recorded First Impressions in bed two days after winning the Grammy. I think before I was more focused on cohesive projects, but this phase of my life has been very up and down, very bittersweet so that’s what Inhale is, everything at the same time. Are there any particular tracks on the EP that you’re especially fond of? SIRAH: I’d definitely go with Icarus; it was dedicated to my best friend Tom who passed away this year. I’d originally written it somewhat about my father and my uncle Bret who’d both passed away of heroin overdoses, Tom’s story the same. Playing it, and people connecting with it makes me feel like they live on. I can share this success with them and this pain with fans because I’m not the only one out there going through this. Describe your perfect day. SIRAH: Waking up, that’s very important, Dunkin Donuts hazelnut coffee, doing a show, movies, absolutely in that order, nothing happens before coffee.
local wolves magazine // 21
fidlar
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eckless abandon – can be used to say the least for FIDLAR. In early 2009, a group composed of guitar and vocalists, Zac Carper and Elvis Kuehn, Kuehn’s brother Max on drums and along with bass player Brandon Schwartzel would form the skate punk, rock band, FIDLAR. The quartet dubbed itself after the skater acronym ‘Fuck It Dog, Life’s A Risk,’ “it was just a saying that skateboard kids use to say with regards to doing a trick they weren’t sure about,” says the band, “we just kind of a needed a name and thought that “FIDLAR” was cool.” The mantra was more than just a common phrase used in the skating world, the band would adopt it as a lifestyle and motto for their music and life. Home Sweet Home – FIDLAR is based from the city of LA. It is not only where they met and formed, it is also a huge benefactor for them, “LA means everything to our band.” Much like the attitude of FIDLAR, the band’s sole driving force was to write songs and create music based on their surroundings and importantly just to have fun doing it. The guys do not aim to follow what most artists fall a victim to in the typical pathways to success, “that’s what kind of the whole thing with our band is, that we didn’t have a direction nor wanted one, and also didn’t want to think about it too much.” Despite the overwhelmingly influence from various types of alcohol, the band obtain a majority of their inspiration from Creedence Clearwater Revival.
“There has never really been another option for us,” - they grew up with it. In fact, brothers Elvis and Max are the sons of keyboardist punk legend, Greg Kuehn of T.S.O.L. When asked if they could perform with any artist, dead or alive, they answered with “Ol Dirty Bastard, “because that would be so fucking crazy!” In an alternate universe, if the guys were not pursuing a career in music, things would have turned out a little interesting with impersonating famous celebrities to giving lectures on cult classics such as 1986’s “River’s Edge.” And aside from it all, the guys enjoy little things such as tacos, magic, the Lakers, fantasy movies, drinking at home, and walking around Home Depot. The band is signed to Mom + Pop Records after being discovered after a headlining gig at The Echo in LA, “it didn’t feel like much when we signed, but they’ve supported us a lot and definitely having someone put out your record nationally just takes you to that next level that’s really fucking hard to get to without help.” Also, FIDLAR puts on a wild, crazy, energetic, lively performance for the crowd creating a carefree, let-go atmosphere. Currently on tour with the Orwells, they have been enjoying it especially in Fort Worth, TX, highlighted with the memory: “we had our first ever completely naked stage dive!” What does the future look like for FIDLAR? “Not dead.”
Music was always something the guys in FIDLAR had with them and knew it would become more than just a hobby. It played a very significant role in each household.
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+ words: gleann ignacio + photos: lexie alley
wildflower cases + words: shawn mulcahy + photos: alice isidore
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ildflower Cases – a company based out of Los Angeles whose one driving motivation is to create quality hand crafted iPhone cases that posses their own flair and uniqueness. The idea to turn this crafty project into a full-fledged business came during a family dinner at a restaurant. “My girls got up to use the restroom and they ended up meeting Miley Cyrus while they were in there. Miley came back with them to our table because she wanted to meet me and ask where she could get more phone cases,” says Michelle Carlson, founder of Wildflower Cases. At the time, the company didn’t even exist except making and selling cases to local friends, and had no means of selling the cases to the masses. That night, Dave Carlson went home and created a website, and Wildflower Cases was officially born. A lot of inspiration for ideas comes from Michelle’s daughters, Devon and Sydney, and their love for fashion. “We’ve always loved to follow what’s new and trending but also try to push the boundaries with new ideas that we’ve yet to see out there.” As far as the process for creating the cases, Michelle has worked hard and invested a lot to constantly improve the quality of the cases, and that the company actually filed for a patent for this process. Some prominent figures in pop culture have been seen with Wildflower Cases, from the likes of Lucy Hale to Hillary Duff, and even Seventeen magazine. “It makes us feel great that they like our product and style,” says Michelle, “the fact that they post images on their social media is beyond our wildest dreams.” Social media is a pivotal part of the company. “We were born on social media and plan to stay on social media.” With every case comes a signed postcard insert and a message telling you to post a picture of your new case with the hashtag “#wildflowerlove.” In just 16 months, Wildflower Cases has had over 6,000 posts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook combined. Michelle says, “We are beyond thankful and that’s why we are happy to engage with everybody as much as we can on social media.” Currently, the company has cases for the iPhone 4, 4s, 5, and 5s up for sale, but has announced that this holiday season, cases for the iPhone 5c and Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4 will also be available. Some social media themed t-shirts are also available for purchase. They’ve also announced that they are planning a huge collaboration. Michelle says “we’re currently working on our first major collab with a very large apparel brand designing a complete collection of apparel/cases for a 2014 retail launch. We’re soooooo excited about this, stay tuned!”
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At Wildflower Cases, they strive to create unique quality cases that stand out from the rest. To this, Michelle says, “there is a hand crafted art quality to our cases that people really appreciate. We believe they are more of a fashion accessory than just a phone case. They are not mass-produced and it takes a lot of time to make just one case. We produce limited editions and with limited quantities also making them collectible.” A lot of time and effort goes into each case and they definitely believe in quality over quantity. In a year, Wildflower Cases plans to be in retail both nationally and internationally. They are already in Paris, New York, and LA, and hope to greatly expand from there. “Our apparel collab will be released in 2014 and distributed nationally and internationally so we plan having increased brand awareness as well,” says Michelle. However, those plans are just the beginning. Wildflower Cases hopes to expand beyond phone cases, as Michelle explains. “We would like to branch out beyond phone cases into apparel, accessories, shoes and hand bags. We have plans to be in key national and international fashion retailers and we’d love to open two unique US retail boutiques (NY and LA) that offer a totally new experience to shopping.” With so many plans and passion for what they do, the only way to go is up. To wrap it up, Wildflower Cases puts tons of effort into creating quality cases with their own unique flair. With tons of great ideas, you’ll definitely be seeing more of them!
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dan croll + words: amanda ferrarese + photos: eman elsaied
“G
enre-hopping” is something that musician Dan Croll is extremely familiar with. The UK native creates an interesting meld of acoustic and electronic tracks. This unique sound and tendency to dabble in various musical styles can probably be attributed to his stints in previous bands. While attending the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Croll explored different genres by playing in a handful of groups. However, despite these varied collaborative efforts, Croll always knew he would end up doing his own thing.” I always knew I wanted to start my own solo music, but first I wanted to experience playing in different bands and playing different genres.” As of 2012, Croll signed with Turn First Records and has since released his EP “From Nowhere” under their management. Though he is a solo artist, Croll’s music still reflects the influence that past joint efforts have had on him, as well as, his naturally eclectic taste. There’s no definitive way to describe his musical approach and that’s due, in part, to the fact that his songs generally echo whatever he’s currently listening to. “I listen to all genres, and usually when I’m writing a song it subconsciously tends to be in the style of genre that I’m listening to at that time.” As a result, fans are presented with quirky, invigorating tunes that are difficult to tire of. His musical style may be ever-evolving, but one thing chiefly remains common: his lyrical subject matter. Typically, Croll meditates about relationships and life experiences in his songs. Songs like, “In/Out” and “Compliment Your Soul” are some good examples of the romantic content and atmosphere that seem to pervade much of his work. Croll’s unique sound and performance as a solo act benefit him well.
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However, despite his preference of working on his own, there are plenty of other musicians he’d love to be able to collaborate with. Patrick Watson, Bonobo, and Deerhoof are a few among this long list. The young musician’s fresh sound mirrors his newness to the industry, but that hasn’t shielded him from the sometimes daunting aspects of life under the media’s spotlight. He’s already gotten to experience the perplexing and slightly batty fan behavior. “Not long ago, a fan tagged me in an instagram photo of her printing her friend (also a fan) a life size canvas print of myself for her birthday. It was a strange sight.” Experiences like this have failed to deter him; in fact, Croll fears little as an artist in the industry. The extent of his concern might just be the nasty YouTube trolls that have made the videos of many artists their breeding ground for surly comments. Even so, their unwanted input is likely not enough to deter him. All jokes aside, Croll has found little reason to feel vulnerable and anxious in an environment that has been so kind to him. As of recent he has been able to go on tour in the United States and was delighted by the reactions of fans. His music has turned out to be just as well received in America as it was at his home across the Atlantic. Both locations’ crowds have proven themselves to be “bloody brilliant” and that’s certainly reassuring enough to avert any doubt he may have about his place in the music world.
In addition to realizing that he has some pretty awesome fans, he’s also found that American hash browns and very different from English hash browns- a fact that may quite possibly be more bewildering than the instagram incident. Croll no longer has to worry about unfamiliar breakfast foods now that he has returned to Europe to tour more. It’s obvious he’s accomplished plenty and has gotten to visit a magnitude of places, but there’s still more in store for the young musician. Besides plans for another album release, there’s one location he’s dying to play at. “Is NASA a venue?”
local wolves magazine // 33
lexxi saal + words: gleann ignacio + photos: sophia li
A
t only the ripe age of 15, New York native Lexxi Saal is well on her way to the top. She was eleven years old when she sang for the first time and from then on she knew that the entertainment business was for her. It meant everything to Saal who says, “I would like to inspire my listeners with my lyrics and hope they find strength in my writing.” Saal’s music is heavily relatable and can connect with plenty, “when I write songs, they are written from my heart with hopes of moving the listener.” She is radiating with a burst of positivity and encourages it to her audience. Some of her influences include many among the likes of Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, and many more all for their beautiful ballads and lyrics, genius songwriting, and their unique voices. In fact, she someday hopes to be able to share the big stage with Bruno Mars and maybe play with his live band. Saal has already shared the stage with pop sensations, Cody Simpson and Austin Mahone,
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“those experiences were so much fun and I am so happy I was able to make friends with such great artists,” she comments. She is also no stranger to Digifest, whichshe was able to be a part of this past summer, “I had so much fun with my YouTube friends and I love the energy that is in the room when we are all together,” she recalls. Saal will be performing again in December for Digifest in LA. Recently, she performed at one of her good friends, O2L’s Sam Pottorff’s 18th birthday bash. Adding to the list of her accomplishments, Saal has been given the opportunity to perform on some of New York’s greatest stages such as the Apollo Theatre, “when I look back at my performance opportunities that I had, I am blessed to be able to enjoy that experience and share my music at such a young age,” says Saal. She one day hopes to be able to perform in even greater venues like notable arenas: Barclays, Madison Square Garden, and the Staples Center.
Looking back at it all, Saal points out that one of her favorite memories is receiving an award from Pop Explosion and the OTA (Outstanding Teen Award) as well as being recognized for her foundation, which she only started at eight years old! “LexxiLoves.Org provides love and support to children in foster care,” describes Saal, and it has grown all throughout her hometown to the whole country. The foundation has teamed up with other organizations such as 1-800-Flowers and created a new one called the Sweet Dream Pillows, “it feels like I am doing exactly what I have always wanted to do in life,” she admits, and she takes pride in her work when the foster families send their regards. Inspiration is not foreign with this teenager. She loves to help and be there for people who are down on their luck or cannot see what they are worth, “I get inspired by letters written to me, others telling me their stories,” she says on finding inspiration and
added, “I will always be there for my supporters for without them, I would not be here writing to you.” She wants everyone to be happy every day and continue on making a difference in the world. At the same time, Saal’s impressive background does not completely set her aside from being a normal teenager. She enjoys writing and shopping as well as spending time with her friends and family. She especially loves the shops around New York, “New York has styles for everyone,” she noted, and enjoys being in Times Square. Saal is excited to write more and is currently working hard on her upcoming EP and hints, “2014 will be a good one!” Maybe the world will be able to see more of Saal when she makes her way across America, “I love the touring and it is so cool to go to different places and meet new people,” says Saal. Fans can get updates and connect with Saal through her own app! She is very thankful for everything that has come her way and loves hearing the feedback and responding to them, “thank you for everything you do. I love reading your letters you all write to me!” With that, she leaves us all with yet another inspiring message: “You are all beautiful in your own way, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t give up on what you believe in because you are capable of everything.” Saal could not be any more thankful and promises to always be there for everyone and lastly stating, “Stay Beautiful, Stay You.” + Fans can write to Lexxi on the following address: Lexxi Saal P.O. Box 74 Deer Park, NY 11729
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he two infamously twenty-year old twin sisters, Megan and Liz with amazing talent have greatly showed the world you can pursue anything regardless of how old you are. Their journey began through YouTube with their first video “This Note” which they wrote themselves when they were only 15 years old. Since then, not only have they written their own but also performed many musical covers, which has led them to make their mark leading to their success in the music industry. Both Megan and Liz’s desire to pursue their dreams, music all began when they started to create covers and posting their own before they even graduated high school. Even though they now have over 1,000,000 subscribers on YouTube, they definitely worked hard to where they are now. After years of trying to make it, it’s finally led them to create their first album, “Look What You Started,” getting not only their YouTube viewers ecstatic but the two sisters more than excited. “I think we need to invent a new word for excited. This album is like our child!” We’ve been working on it since we were 18 years old and just moved to Nashville. Now we’re almost 21 and living in LA. Life has changed a lot in three years, and we’ve been writing about it the whole way.” Over these last few years, both Megan and Liz have covered and written many songs uploading them on YouTube and performing them all over the nation. The book, The Mortal Instruments, inspired one of their recent singles they wrote, “In the Shadows Tonight,” “I’m actually a huge fan of the books. I came up to Megan and was like “Hey Megan, wanna write a song about Shadows?” She wasn’t thrilled at first but once I explained the concept of using the book as a metaphor, she went along with it.” said Liz.
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Though Megan and Liz have shared with the world many of their music endeavors, many viewers are wondering what is to come out from the album. From the words from Megan “We put so much time and effort into every song on our album. From 4AM vocal sessions to 12 hour songwriting days, it was a lot of work!” As for what to expect from the album, Megan says, ”The fans can expect some organic Megan and Liz as well as some more “roll down your windows and jam” songs. We thought about making it a pop album or making it a country album, but then we realized that as artists, our sound is country and pop. So that’s what the album is!” In addition to creating their music and growing through their YouTube videos, headlining their first tour, even winning Macy’s iHeart Radio Rising Star 2012, Megan and Liz have also grown as young gorgeous ladies learning about life as well. “In life we realized you kind of live 8 different lives” For example, the girls singing in their kitchen was one “life” while the girls singing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was another “life.” We’re still the same girls with Midwest hearts; we’ve just been so lucky to experience so much and live life as much as we have. The most important thing we’ve learned is that life really is a journey. If you keep waiting for something to happen, you’ll be waiting forever. There is no “destination” so just get out there and do it. That’s what life is about!” They may they gone a long way from winning Macy’s iHeart Radio Rising Star and headlining their first tour, but these girls will always stick to their roots.
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Besides making and posting videos on music online, Megan and Liz also have a separate channel posting some of their beauty favorites and makeup tips. “NARS Bronzer in Laguna has become our new best friend because its winter and we’re getting pale again!� Not only do they have an interest in beauty, they also like to share advice to inspire others to go for their dreams and be successful as well.
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“It’s all about your mindset. If you think you want to do something, but your mind says, “No, I could never do that!” Then that’s what you should be doing. Simple as that! Challenge yourself and don’t take no for an answer. Megan and Liz maybe working overtime, especially with a new album coming out soon, these girls still make time for themselves. “We love to cook, bake, and do Soul Cycle!” They may have just recently moved to the city of LA but they already have a local favorite they love to visit. “We love this sushi place called “Hara” on Wilshire. It’s seriously amazing!” Besides getting inspiration to write songs based on books, these girls also do love to read. “I’m personally a sucker for love stories. I love the realistic ones with a little bit of drama. The Hunger Games series is my current obsession though!” says Megan. “ I love books like “The Fault In Our Stars” books with meaning and that make you question how you live your life, how you love someone, or how you can be a better person,” says Liz.
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Even though both Megan and Liz are just in their early 20’s, these two twin sisters definitely have started from the bottom and getting to where they belong from uploading music and beauty videos, becoming Macy’s iHeart Radio stars to finally releasing their first album, there is no turning back. “We’re so excited for you guys to finally hear “Look What You Started.” We’re so proud of it and we really hope you guys will love it. Thank you for waiting all this time for it! We love you so much and to Pluto and back!” + words: allyn bernardo + photos: rachel kober
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charlie hepworth + words: shawn mulcahy + photos: priti shikotra
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Describe yourself in five words or less. CH: Cool as ice. You’re relatively new to YouTube. What was the reason you decided to start making videos? CH: I uploaded a video to Facebook on Halloween of me dancing in a mask as a joke because me and my friend were talking about it, it got something like 18K likes and my friend said I should upload it to YouTube so I made a YouTube account on November 19, 2012 and uploaded the video there. By chance, people like Pointless Blog, Marcus Butler, Bertie Gilbert were in the suggested channels at the side so I watched their videos and was introduced to the YouTube community and decided I wanted to make vlogs for myself so I did it with the camera, I had which wasn’t very good quality and it went from there. I bet you weren’t expecting that (laughs). What makes your YouTube channel different from all the other channels out there? CH: To be honest, I don’t think I’ve got the most “original” channel and people just subscribe to my channel because they like my personality or content as it’s just me being me and I don’t have a separate “YouTube personality.” If you had to choose a music genre to describe what your videos are like, what would it be? CH: Rap because they’re sick. How long, on average, does it take you to make a video? How much work goes into it? CH: For just a normal vlog, I sit talking to the camera about an hour to film, 1 hour and half to edit but some videos I have to film little extra scenes so that could take up another hour or two, just for little five second clips. Do you ever find it hard to come up with content for your videos? CH: Sometimes, I struggle for new ideas which no one else has done which I always like to try and do but when I get an idea I save it in my notes on my phone so I usually build up a collection of video ideas in my notes on my phone and choose one to film! Where do you see your channel going in the years to come? CH: When I started my channel, it was purely because I wanted to make vlogs and hopefully, people would watch but now I’ve got into it I’d love to be able to pursue YouTube as a career but I don’t feel my channel is unique enough to do that so I will just carry it on as a hobby and see how it goes. Also, I have other plans and would love to become a DJ/Producer. Is there anything else you’d like to say? CH: Thanks for asking me to do the magazine and I’m looking forward to seeing it and people will now know a little bit more about me and if you didn’t know who I was, you will now and hopefully also enjoy my videos!
harrison fletcher + words: jessica goldman + photos: priti shikotra
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What is your inspiration behind these videos? HF: I find my inspiration from my own life experiences, because I think if people can relate to this in their own lives they will understand the humor that I try to get across. Tell us how you got started in comedy. HF: I have noticed that from a very early age I have enjoyed making people laugh, and entertaining. I’ve always been into comedy ever since I can remember. Making people laugh daily eventually made it clear that I wanted to study the art of comedy more and improve my basic natural skill. What drew you to make your first video? HF: YouTube was new to me at the age of 13 when I first started. I had seen Charlieissocoollike’s YouTube channel a thought because of my previous acting experience it was something I thought I would be good at and enjoy. Previously, I had been on a few British TV Shows such as Shameless, and had been in a number of stage shows, such as Brassed Off, which I got recognized for in the local newspaper. What are some of your favorite topics to talk about? HF: I cover my everyday life experiences and simply moan and rant about the life of an everyday Yorkshire Teenager. Occasionally I have covered serious topics such as self harm, which have been very helpful towards younger teens as my responses tell me. As well as being interested in comedy in YouTube, I also have a sensitive side - I like to help people who are in need of it, and tackle serious issues that affect teenagers too. What do you think attracts people to your videos? HF: I like to see myself as a down to earth Yorkshire lad, who is unpretentious and just wants to make people crack a laugh and also, my rugged good looks! Tell us about your hometown, Rotterdam and some of your favorite local places you frequent. HF: The people here are down to earth and hard working and have the great British sense of humor that we’re famous for! I also frequent Sheffield and Leeds which are larger Yorkshire cities and have a great urban scene. Also, I like to go to the cinema with friends and eat your typical junk food. With that being said, I like to go to the gym, to keep up my fitness too. Until recently I enjoyed playing Rugby Union where I played Blind Side Flanker for Rotterdam Clifton and South Yorkshire.
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+ words: jessica goldman + photos: dunja opalko
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i do work hard but when I’m not working my mind is still thinking about what I could create next. it’s really hard to switch off.
lthough there was not really one specific category that fit the type of videos he wanted to create, for YouTuber Oli White, it didn’t really matter. White just began to upload whatever he felt like, and so far, it’s been working. With hundreds of thousands of views on each of his videos, and over 55,000 followers on Twitter, you can say he’s established himself in the social media world. White was even was able to go on a YouTube date with Nickelodeon’s Jennette McCurdy, all with the help of Twitter. “Social media has been one of the most important things in my life,” said White. “I think it’s really hard now a day to collect an audience and to know I have over 50,000 putting up with my tweets is incredible.” White’s videos on both his main channel to his second channel range from funny clips with his brother, like a sibling test, to various how-to’s, to sketches with friends. Although there is no specific theme to his videos, they all relate to his life in some way. “I try be provide as much entertainment from different categories to suit everyone’s interest,” he said. “I do include sketches into the vlogs and occasionally do some challenges with other YouTubers. My second channel is just a fun place to go to see more from me.” White enjoys collaborating with other YouTubers. Past challenges have included the blindfolded tin can challenge that White did with Jason, a fellow YouTuber, as well as the 10 Things Girls Like About Guys, White did with YouTuber MusicalBethan.
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“It’s always great to know that I have something in common with them,” said White. “You always get an insight on what they are up to and what plans they have for the future which is really interesting.” The life with YouTube started after White watched videos from other vloggers. It was as simple as making some videos and uploading them, but soon enough, White turned vlogging into a weekly thing. Having to consistently come up with clever ideas can be challenging, but for White it is also just as rewarding knowing people comment and are entertained. “Sometimes I will be really stuck for ideas, then suddenly you will have loads of ideas. I think it’s all about exploring the world and meeting new people,” he said. Being a successful YouTuber takes more time, effort and hard work than it might seem. It starts with an idea, but creating a successful channel takes work, and White knows that too well. “I do work hard but when I’m not working my mind is still thinking about what I could create next. It’s really hard to switch off and I can’t really seem to do it. I guess I’m just so passionate about making videos,” he said. White may still be young, but he refuses to let that stop him from always moving forward and always thinking ahead. “I never want to stop thinking about [making videos]” he said. “The world that I’m now in has made me grow up fast, but it’s good because I know so much more about the industry and the world.”
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k i m o h c joshua “I bring to life all the whacked ideas that formulate in my head.”
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wenty-one year old joshua chomik is a central new Jersey native with a knack and passion for making people smile. The comedic YouTuber has managed to gain over one million subscribers, and that’s no surprise considering his videos are just as outrageous and goofy as he is. “I bring to life all the whacked ideas that formulate in my head.” Josh’s unpredictable imagination was what inspired his very first parody music video “Sham Wow Now,” a comedic twist on “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas. “I can recall sitting in my car listening to all these crazy songs on the radio and hating every single one of them. So because I always had to entertain myself, I started singing random lyrics to the beat of the song that I thought were funny. I did this all the time and then when I started making YouTube videos, I decided to try it out for a video.” Soon after, Josh began making more parody videos that have since earned him millions of views. However, the numbers are only a small part of what makes filming so great for Josh. The ability to do whatever he wants to bring his ideas to life is an exciting prospect. “There are no rules when filming a video. I love doing things people would never expect.” It’s a good thing his restrictions are limited, because trying to tame his boundless imagination would certainly be an issue. However, not all obstacles can be avoided and there are still some video ideas that would be difficult to make a reality.
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+ words: amanda ferrarese + photos: rachel kober
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“I would love to make a “How to Exercise” tutorial video on top of the Great Wall of China with my grandpa, Dido Tolik. That would be hilarious and beautiful.” Although Josh can no longer film a video with his late grandfather he aims to continue filming other videos that will make the people around him smile. “[I want to] continue spreading love in this dark world. Somehow I believe that’ll take me somewhere.” Josh’s light-hearted YouTube sketches and parodies weren’t the first videos he recorded. When he was younger he used to beg his mother for a camera after seeing her film home videos of him and his siblings. As he got older he learned how to use his family’s camcorder to create his own videos, simply for fun. Eventually, he stumbled across a fairly new site at the time, YouTube, and flipped when he discovered he could share his videos with the rest of the world. “One day, I posted a video of me playing my favorite video game ever, Guitar Hero 3, and beating the hardest song in the world on expert 100% (Through the Fire and Flames). This video was my first video to ever hit one million views and it blew up. I continued making videos as much as possible after that.” Since joining YouTube, Josh has posted close to 300 videos. Though it may seem like much of his life revolves filming and editing, that’s certainly not the case- some of his favorite things to do include playing drums (he’s been in several bands since high school) and snowboarding. It’s clear that Josh is an extremely positive person with a wide range of interests, but he admits he did previously struggle with trying to find himself. Looking at the change in his videos over time it’s clear he’s grown immensely since his first video, not only in terms of quality, but personally, as well. “I really learned how to be happy. My eyes were really opened over the past few years. I realized that this is my life and I can do whatever I want. Living a life society wants you to live is ridiculous. It’s your life. Do what you want. Believe what you want. Don’t take anything from anyone. Do what makes you happy. Once I realized that, I became the person I am today.” Josh hopes that in realizing this for himself, he can ensure his fans always stay true to themselves as well. “Do what you want and you’ll find true happiness.”
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a n g e v r e chris n + words: alexis march 54 + photos: rachel kober
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hris nervegna is your average 18-year-old central New Jersey pizza delivery driver, but with one small difference. He is also a highly talented YouTuber with a huge fan base. With the help from a friend and fellow YouTuber, Josh Chomik (aka thecomputernerd01), Chris felt motivated and inspired which led him to pursue making videos. With some borrowed courage, Chris gained enough confidence to post videos. Chris, now enjoys posting videos as a hobby and creative outlet for his ideas. When the delivery driver isn’t posting videos, you can either find him napping or watching Netflix - possibly even both at the same time. YouTube videos are a whole different process for each YouTuber, it’s just that napping so happens to be a huge part for Chris. Spontaneity is also a big part for Chris, which is also a big part on how he makes his videos. Each video is inspired by different aspects in his life, and will most likely never be thoroughly planned out by sitting down and thinking on what to do next. Chris hopes to continue making videos for the upcoming year, but hopefully start up his rapping career along the way. Why work a 9-5 job when you can be out living your dreams? Chris reminds us to always listen to the kid in your heart and make the most out of life. Also, he reminds us not to take what strangers say to heart. With 14 thousand subscribers, there will be a few critics but he never let what they say affect him on a personal level and now, former high school bullies are begging to be in his videos. Not too shabby, right? Stay true to yourself, and with staying true to yourself, Chris would like to give a personal shout out to Philippo’s Pizza and their Buffalo Chicken Pizza. Maybe you can split pizza with Chris, and he can have coffee with Tyler, The Creator. Possible future collaboration on his new channel “Must Be Nice,” anyone? You can check out Chris’s new channel he made with his friend, Stephen Hirsch and learn more about Chris, like his bucket list! But lucky for you, we got the inside scoop from Chris himself. He’d like to go to all 50 states (with five more to go), skydive, go on a cruise with his bros, become “Pizza Delivery Driver of the Year” and have an album go platinum!
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n e l y a c jc T
his summer, youtuber jc caylen who is known to be one of the six of a popular collab channel, Our2ndLife moved to the sunny LA, California. Since the big move, Jc has had tons of awesome opportunities and has been faced with a lot of success. He attended DigiTour in New York, Toronto, Philadelphia and Chicago and soon Teen Hoot in the UK. He was also invited to attend MTV’s VMAs this year. His YouTube channel has also reached over 500,000 subscribers. Caylen gave us an amazing opportunity with photographer, Rachel Epstein who got a chance to visit his Los Angeles home for an exclusive adventure through the fan-crazed city. Stay tuned to Jc because he’s only going up from here.
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J O E Y
GRACEFFA Daily. Random. Fun. Weird. Cute. – Those are some words that could describe YouTuber Joey Graceffa. Who exactly is Joey Graceffa? It is safe to say he is more than just a YouTube sensation. You know his sayings, he is a vlogger, gamer, and more – a rising star.
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“Coming up with music video ideas has always been one of my strong parts. I love coming up with fun ideas and creating storylines!”
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ver six years ago, among the many other viewers and some of YouTube’s sensations, Graceffa was initially inspired from channels such as Brookers and Smosh. “I saw YouTube as an amazing outlet to post my video creations online and maybe grow an audience.” Graceffa’s main channel is a daily vlog based on his life and taking on popular challenges from everyone on YouTube. His big break was his involvement with the Hunger Games remix of “I Wanna Go” by Britney Spears, which has over four million views to this day! “That video took off so fast! I really wasn’t expecting it,” Graceffa recalls, “I was just a guy who loved Hunger Games and wanted to somehow make a video on it. It just so had happened I only made music video parodies at the time so it fit really well!” He started up that music video parody channel with good friend Brittany Joyal, under the name WinterSpringPro, in his early YouTube days. Later on, he branched out on his own and created his own channel, JoeyGraceffa. “I had no idea YouTube was going to become my job!” he says.“I would have ended up staying in college and graduating with a film degree.” He mentions on the topic of where he would be without YouTube and added: “I don’t think I would be nearly as happy as I am now though.” Since then, all parts of Joey Graceffa are now all over YouTube! He now runs his own vloging channel, gaming channel (JoeyGraceffaGames), and collaborates with other YouTubers. “It’s so crazy because I always knew I wanted to do something that included entertainment!” Growing up, he had other professions in mind, “mostly I always wanted to be an actor or director,” Graceffa shares. Who is to say he will not achieve those two next? In fact, he is working on a new YouTube series called Storytellers. “Storytellers is a concept I came up with over a year ago,” Graceffa reveals. Various sources online have been describing Storytellers to have a Skins-esque feel. Skins was one of the United Kingdom’s popular teen drama programs, but the series would mostly have an Are You Afraid of the Dark? vibe. Are You Afraid of the Dark
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was a 90’s Nickelodeon program that had a group of friends, The Midnight Society, who each told a scary story in each episode. Graceffa hints: “there is a lot of drama and some horror aspects to the show as well.” The series follows the struggles and points of views ofsix teens living in a supernatural world, “each episode follows a character more closely while still including the other 5 characters,” Graceffa included. Alongside one of his best friends, Whitney Milam, the two worked together progressively, “she was able to take my vision and bring it to paper!” noted Graceffa. Soon enough the six-episode “web-series” was all set in paper. Does that sound like a director in the making or what? Graceffa is also very well along his way to other screens than of a laptop or desktop computer. Graceffa can be seen on another tube – television. On July 1st, Graceffa was featured on an episode of one of Nickelodeon’s TV shows, AwesomenessTV hosted by, Victorious cast member, Daniella Monet. “I played a guy who is hiking in the woods and keeps running into some bizarre things” Graceffa continues to explain his role, “every time he tries to take a pic on his phone he’s interrupted by a call from his grandma. It’s a cute video.” Graceffa had also finished in 5th place on the 22nd season of The Amazing Race alongside partner Meghan Camerena (aka Strawburry17 on YouTube). The two were the youngest and second pair of YouTubers to be featured on the show after father-son-duo Kevin and Michael Wu (KevJumba and PapaJumba). “I really just wanted to go on a crazy adventure with my best friend. The experience was AMAZING! I seriously had a blast and grew so much as a person,” he recalled. When asked what TV show he would like to be featured on Graceffa responded with: “I would love to be on Pretty Little Liars or The Vampire Diaries! Any teen drama show.” How about if the opportunity of taking Storytellers to the small screen presented itself? “I would love to take the show to bigger and better places. Having a bigger budget would be amazing!” With the help of his supportive fans, they were able to help produce Storytellers in the first place by >>
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cont’d contributing to his overly successful Kickstarter. “I could do so much more with the series!” Aside from working on his new project and maintaining his other channels, he has done countless of collaboration videos with other YouTubers with the likes of Shane Dawson and iJustine. “I usually collab with people I am already friends with, just because it can come across a bit forced in the video if there is no chemistry” Graceffa comments and adds, “since they were my friends before the collab it’s easy to just say, “hey, let’s shoot a video together!” Graceffa even shared with us his favorite collab, which is with SprinkleOfGlitter. “She had me laughing the whole time!” says Graceffa. “Coming up with music video ideas has always been one of my strong parts. I love coming up with fun ideas and creating storylines!” Graceffa comments on his projects of making music videos, such as “Call Me Maybe” and “Kiss You” by Carly Rae Jepsen. If his videos had an intro song, “I think Ellie Goulding’s new song “Goodness Gracious,” would be the one. Many people dream of moving out to the west coast, having to leave home and everyone else behind, to pursue a dream. “My family was really supportive of me moving away.” Coming all the way from Massachusetts, he was very much welcomed to the city of Los Angeles in California by his fellow Tubers, “it made it so much easier knowing I already had friends there waiting.” Since moving to California Graceffa feels blessed to be surrounded by talented and inspiring people as well as making more friends along the way. His favorite place in California is the Getty Center, “OMG! It was so beautiful! I loved it there!” Graceffa gushes. He even shared his favorite place back in Massachusetts, “probably Newberry St. in Boston.” Graceffa attended one of the world’s largest video conferences, Vidcon and Summer in the City this year. “Vidcon was a lot bigger than Summer in the City. It was great getting to meet some of my UK viewers!” He recollected.
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With over nine million views, how does he keep it alive for the viewers? “I try to post something new and exciting every day.” Nothing on Graceffa’s channel is repetitive. “People never know what to expect on my channel. I like to surprise them each day!” It is quite clear that he has a super dedicated fan base, what with their major contributions to Storytellers and especially the fans on Tumblr, are very devoted. “I think it comes from posting videos every day. I’ve built up a relationship with my viewers and it’s gotten to the point where they feel like they know and care for me.” Graceffa responds. There are even fan fics of Graceffa himself with friends like Shane Dawson and he comments, “I think it’s funny! Although, a little bit creepy!” Recently, his channel had reached two million subscribers. “It’s unreal,” Graceffa lets out, “It still doesn’t fully register in my head that many people have subscribed to my channel.” He thinks back and shares with us: “when I created the channel, I was simply a lonely guy in college.” Graceffa feels that he has found happiness from YouTube. “I celebrated with a glass of champagne!” He added. Joey Graceffa has accomplished a lot in over a few years, what is there left for him? Only time can tell, “I’m really excited to see where I’ll be at this time next year!” Despite it all Graceffa could not thank his fans enough. He wanted to say to them: “thank you for watching and following me every day!” As for the rest of 2013, Graceffa continues to play Minecraft, jam to Lana Del Rey, read Attack On Titan and Sword Art Online. Also aside from the production of Storytellers and the daily vlogs, Graceffa hopes to do another Hunger Games parody for Catching Fire in the future. With that we sign off with the infamous closing line: “May the odds ever be in your favor. Goodbye!” + words: gleann ignacio + photos: lhoycel marie
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HALF MOON RUN RUN 10. 13. 13 + a + r music bar // columbus, ohio photographs by lexie alley
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mayday parade baltimore boundstage + baltimore, maryland // clare kim
the 1975
black cat + washington d.c. //74 clare kim
taking back sunday
newport music hall + columbus, ohio // lexie alley
handguns
epic problem + tampa, florida // carolina londono local wolves magazine // 75
the neighbourhood observatory + santa ana, california // cathrine khom
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remembrance of:
mitch lucker
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ovember 1, 2013 marked the one year anniversary since Suicide Silence front man, Mitch Lucker, passed away. The band and his family invited fans to once again meet at the scene of the accident in Huntington Beach, California for a night of candle lighting, sharing memories and music. Around 7pm a good amount of fans had gathered at “Mitch’s Pole,” a light pole directly across the street from the accident, where most candles/ gifts/photos have been left for the past year. The night officially began once a Suicide Silence fan, Yama Shaalemi, arrived and began to play ‘You Only Live Once’ on a boom box in the middle of the street. He also did a mimic of Mitch’s stage performance to leave his tribute to the musician. Mitch’s family as well as the Suicide Silence band showed up a few minutes later with boxes full of candles for all the fans. Once they arrived the crowd relocated across the street to the scene of the accident. The night continued with music, memories, and tears. Around the time of the accident Yama began to play “Roger Rabbit’ by Sleeping with Sirens, and everyone raised their candles high in the air for the entirely of the song. The night was truly beautiful. Most fans arrived as complete strangers, but throughout the night they were hugging, and crying with each other as well as sharing their memories of Mitch with each other. Rest in Peace Mitchell Adam Lucker. You will forever be missed. If you would like to visit Mitch’s grave site or the scene of the accident, please visit Suicide Silence’s FaceBook for locations and directions. + words // photos: elisa mo rodriguez
soundcheck with:
new years day
I
n 2007, I came across a band on a side stage of Warped Tour and now, seven years later, I watched the self-proclaimed “haunted mansion core” band, New Years Day, own the stage. The front woman, Ash Costello, belted out the lyrics and poured her heart into the performance. The crowd went crazy for “Angel Eyes”, which features Chris Motionless, from Motionless in White. I met up with the band after their set and spent a few minutes with them at their merch table. The band was so excited to be out on tour and, even though this was the first night of the tour, they could tell that it was going to be an amazing seven weeks on the road. They spent the entire night talking to fans about tour life, tattoos and Beetlejuice. The Inner-Galactic Tour has come to an end, but keep New Years Day on your must see list!
+ words // photos: amanda ramirez
local wolves magazine // 77