the evolution of an artist's masterpiece.
Black Actress: Degrassi’s Sweetheart Andrea Lewis All grown Up
Jansport J on love and music
printedbyRW.com/ttr
TALES OF A TROUBLED ROMANTIC BY: JOEKENNETH MUSEAU --An anthology of poetry exploring themes associated with romance. Writings are the result of observations and experiences documented throughout a course of several years. --$55.00
contributors
brendan logan smith Brendan Logan is a St. Louis filmmaker and photographer, born and raised. Since his Polaroid, preteen days, Brendan has loved takinh photographs. He puts that same passion into his fashion photography and deep love of independent filmmaking. This issue he casts his camera on the lovely Ellie Kraus from Mother Model Management, in our Woman, Arrived fashion feature.
Loren Lee Loren Lee is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, Ca., but was raised in the Midwest. She has written for online publications MadameNoire and StyleBlazer. She also manages her personal blog, StylishDemeanor.com, with the intent to celebrate style in various forms through fashion, music, beauty and lifestyle. Never one to be labeled ‘the loudest person in the room,’ she’d rather let her outfits and written words speak for her. She visited Jansport J at his California studio for our cover story, For the Love of Music.
Justin Whaley Justin Whaley is a freelance writer whose works have appeared in GQ, NYLON and Flavorwire. When he’s not writing, you can find him digging through thrift store bins for fashionable finds or sipping Malbec at his neighborhood dive. He gushes about Michael Shead and his persona, Bridgette, in our SEW What section this issue.
what we’ve seen
table of contents issue no. 6
6 SEW WHat fashion designers are stitching their way to the top
9 ART BEYOND we've traveled to Argentina to get the scoop on a cool magazine
10 WOMAN, ARRIVED there’s no better time than now
16 marttise hill a filmmaker shooting for the big screen
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andrea lewis
what we’ve heard 22 FOR THE LOVE of MUSIC jansport j loves the music he's making and wants you to love it, too
what’s happening 26 COMING SOON cool things to look out for in the coming months.
We want to hear from you! Contact us at sculptmag@gmail.com.
on the web
Sometimes we just can’t fit everything into one issue. Head to our Tumblr for features that you didn’t see in the magazine.
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S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014
editor’s letter
Looking For What's Next This year will mark year four of s c u l p t magazine, and it’s amazing how far we’ve come. The publication started in 2010 with me simply wanting to feature my artsy friends and the cool things that they do. Now, we’ve come into contact with some of the coolest, on-therise artists of the 21st century. From New York to California, we are noticing our small imprint move across the nation. Lately, we’ve been musing over what’s next for us. As we reflected over this idea, we sought to find artists whom we’ve deemed the “New Next.” This group of artists’ popularity is not simply about the amount of Twitter followers or Facebook likes they have, but rather the fact that we see them as prominent game changers in their respective industries. Since it’s our fourth year, we’ve multiplied things x2. We released two issues with two separate covers bearing the profiles of Jansport J and Andrea Lewis. We also celebrated a long time coming with two parties hosted in St. Louis and Columbia, Mo. (where it all started). Focusing heavily on editorial pieces this issue, our features include a bevy of artists including to-be director, Marttise Hill, a profile on an Argentine arts magazine and our two cover stories, who both hail from California. Issue after issue we bring to life something that we truly believe in and something that our readers appreciate. What’s next on the map for us might include a dynamic website, an iPad app and maybe even some print issues for the traditional-reader in you. We can’t confirm it all yet, just know that we’re working hard to bring you something big and better. After all, bigger and better is the only way to strengthen the platform that our artists stand on. Continue to inspire, Rikki Byrd
what we’ve seen
SEW WHAT
dani nichole
The Midwest and the South might not be considered the most fashionable places, but these two designers are proving differently. Both Dani Nichole, a Southern Belle taking over NYC, and Micheal Shead, a proud Midwesterner in no rush to leave St. Louis, are showing why there’s no better time to take over the fashion industry than now. -CICELY HAIRE AND JUSTIN WHALEY
sister, who passed away in March of 2009. So when she boarded her flight to the Big Apple, she had just $150. “I cried on the plane ride,” Dani says. “I was sitting at the airport in Memphis and I said to myself, ‘This is what you want. I hope you’re ready.’” And she would have to be. On her first day at FIT, Danielle was already employed full-time, taking a seven-class course load and walking everywhere because she hadn’t anielle Evans is a bit of an anomaly in New York City. Her figured out the NYC subway system.“My teachers would embarrass me. easy smile, thick southern accent and humble spirit stick out People would ask about my accent. I got so skinny. I had so many breakamong the bustling crowd of straight-faced New Yorkers. But those things have gained her just as much opportunity downs,” she says. But she couldn’t lose focus. By the end of her first year, as her hard work, persistence and ability to sew with her eyes she was already hunting for internships. She landed a position with Bad Boy’s Derek Roche (personal stylist to closed. The 27-year-old CEO of Dani Nichole Designs has maintained Diddy). Her work ethic, intuition and transparency set her apart from her Memphis charm, even while working in fashion’s most cutthroat the other styling interns. One night, while working with Roche in Miami, market. Danielle insists that she was born with an interest in fashion. She she remembers taking a moment just to sit on the beach and cry. “It was worked at a fabric store, studied sewing in high how I could go from moving with $150 “When you’re good at unbelievable to doing this in a year. And I was only 23.” school and even accessorized her uniform as But even with the red carpet treatment she got on best she could. Still, her dreams of designing what you do, people Roche’s styling team, Danielle still felt out of place. were just too vast for small town Tennessee. come.” Her heart was calling her to create her own imprint. When it came time for college, she applied to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in By March of 2013, she was out on her own, designing under the name Dani Nichole. Months later, she was showing at Fashion New York City. Week. Her application process wasn’t easy. During the second part of her inHer client base now includes such notable names as Tisha Campterview with the Institute, she was asked to sketch on the spot with other bell-Martin, Tamar Braxton and Fantasia, and a working partnership applicants. After catching a glimpse at the skilled handiwork of the other competing students, her confidence was killed. She eventually balled up with Toya Wright. “When you’re good at what you do, people come.” her designs, threw them in the trash and ran out of the room into the city. While her southern drawl, sunny disposition and urge to help others set her apart from other New Yorkers, her story is actually very similar to That could have been the end of her story, but a semester later she had theirs. She is one of many who have packed up their bags and their bank been accepted. accounts and sought the American Dream in the city that never sleeps. A lot had happened since her first trip to New York City. The fashion student was forced to quit her two jobs to take care of her terminally ill
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S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014
michael shead
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ridgette is the envy of many and the friend He began creating and continued sketching, and of all. She’s a twentysomething gal about his skills only developed further from there. When town who works hard and plays hard. it came time for Shead to apply for college, he had Looking chic is her forte; she can shift her two in mind: the Fashion Institute of Technology and meeting-appropriate morning getup to a Parsons. Unfortunately, neither worked out –– finanfierce look for night with what seems to be the wave of cial reasons, mainly, as the top fashion design schools a magic wand. And though many envy her, that envy don’t come cheap. But after making a shift in his lies within aspiration – they want to be like her. She’s original plans of going to college, he decided to stick a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a friend, and that ultra with what he knew, study what he didn’t and build his classy style savant you’ll ever-growing clothing line. “I’d rather “My overall goal is to be the kid who is hands-on and can see in street style blogs. She’s also a persowork for a company and not have a be able to say that I’ve go na – as in she’s almost degree and prove myself,” Shead says. imaginary. But real in the dressed every woman in Since then, his career has sparked eyes of Michael Shead-in his own backyard. After interning every walk of life.” the young designer who under Jill Manoff, the former fashion created Bridgette as his editor and originator of St. Louis muse--she’s the driving force behind his design style Fashion Week at ALIVE Magazine, Michael has since and the direction in which he takes his personality as become a local design celebrity in St. Louis. He’s a designer. He creates for Bridgette. “I know where shown in St. Louis Fashion Weeks since, and he’s even she shops. I know where she lunches,” Shead says. launching his e-commerce shop in April 2014 for his “She understands fit and how a garment should fit her spring collection. “My overall goal is to be able to say body.” that I’ve dressed every woman in every walk of life,” he But before the Bridgette persona owned the catwalk says. “To say I can dress a woman in Uganda and dress and leapt onto the bodies of many St. Louis women, a mother who lives in Japan or some 17-year-old girl she had to be developed, just like Shead’s design skills who lives in south London, to me that’s success. In my and aesthetic. eyes, that’s legendary.” Michael Shead started sketching fashion designs for What truly will prove legendary for Shead is comic book characters when he was eight. As a comic Bridgette’s ascension from an ideal persona to the “it book fan, he hated what the characters were wearing. girl” ladies everywhere will want to model their styles So, he thought, why not dress them himself and make after. For now, it’s Shead and Bridgette taking St. Louis them to his liking? by storm, one chic look at a time.
art beyond
Meet La Curandera, an arts magazine in Argentina making major moves. Luckily, they stopped to give us the inside scoop on how they came to be and where they’re headed. We’re hoping it’s toward a friendship with us. -IESHIA MCDONALD
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ariel Breur really likes the color pink. It was one of the first things she complimented me on-- my pink laptop case. Contrary to her bright personality she most often wears black and subtly displayed her obsession of pink in bags, shoes or jewelry. Her hair is an asymmetrical bob with a shaven side, a perfect portrayal of her artsy nature. But what makes her different from the typical magazine editor is the fact that her professional career and personal life have been able to coincide successfully and not clash. Her intriguing personality and countless connections within the art community of Buenos Aires is what has allowed her own publication to thrive within its first year. She is a magazine editor and curator by day and stand-up comic by night; this woman is the definition of a quintessential queen of all trades. Mariel got her taste of the magazine industry while in college, back in 2008. She interned at Ramona Web, an online art magazine in Buenos Aires. Shortly after leaving Ramona Web, Mariel became the art editor for Revista Dada Mini, where she met her future friend and business partner Eugenio Palma Genovés. “I first met Eugenio while I was working at an art gallery,” Mariel says. “Some time later we ended up writing a piece together for Dadá Mini and the moment we finished, we knew we wanted to do more things together in the future.” And just like that, the seed for launching their own magazine was planted. It wouldn’t be until December 2012, that this seed would grow into La Curandera. The want for a more relatable appreciation for art is what drives La Curandera. Often featuring street art as opposed to compositional art, their magazine has become a haven for up-and-coming Latin American artists.“Step-by-step we took all kinds of editorial and design decisions and then the name La Curandera came up, and we knew that this simple word enclosed everything we wanted to say about art,” Mariel says. A “curandera” or “curandero” is a healer who dedicates his or her life to
creating remedies for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual discomforts. “We believe in the healing power of art and we know that in Argentina, to make a living with art, you need to make some magic,” Mariel says. Both Mariel and Eugenio wanted their magazine to change the conversation and discussion of art. “We wanted to talk about art like people talk about music, TV and other popular stuff,” Mariel says. Their publication is the platform for uncommon trends and pieces that are less commonly referred to as art, such as, graffiti and fashion. “Although its [La Curandera] main topic is art, it understands that art is an influence of so many other things,” Mariel explains. “The Latin American identity is also something no other art magazine has. Many publications in Argentina seem to look constantly to what happens in Europe and the US, and though we love their culture, we choose to look inside and search our roots--our own pop culture. La Curandera is one-of-a-kind.”
“... we know that in Argentina, to make a living with art, you need to make some magic.”
S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014 9
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Model Ellie Krause takes control in Michael Shead’s s/s 2014 collection.
oman,
Arrived
photographs by brendan logan smith collection by michael shead
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S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014
Marttise is the man in the chair.
On a cloudy day in St. Louis, he yells “quiet on set” in the hallways of his alma mater, Clayton High School. The filmmaker is working on his newest film project, Prom Date Blues. Surrounded by family and friends, and a dedicated cast and crew on the final day of filming, Marttise knows that it wouldn’t have been possible without them. This project means much more than what viewers will see on screen--it’s a representation of Hill’s journey in film. Especially since that journey started in the very school that he is standing in. by RIKKI BYRD
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LOVING WHAT YOU DO nding a relationship doesn’t come easily, especially when you’re in love. But when it’s to embark on a greater path and possibly a bigger vision, it’s sometimes necessary. That is where this story begins. “I was focused,” Marttise says when attempting to critique his growing body of work. When asked what he meant by “focused,” he responded that he had just broken up with his girlfriend when he arrived to Singapore, where he’s been studying film since 2009 as a graduate student in New York University’s Tisch Asia program. Per his breakup, the filmmaker had fallen in love with something else. Not with another woman, but a film that Marttise says he ate, drank and slept. He titled it, Love, Guns and Amy, a black-and-white western centered on a woman who has two men in love with her. The film has become Hill’s favorite thus far. “My girlfriend was my movie,” Marttise says. “The time and commitment that you put into a relationship was put into the movie.” No cable. No video games. No partying. Just Love, Guns and Amy. “24/7, 365, that’s where I was at.” His portfolio is a growing body of work ranging from short films, documentaries and music videos. In addition to Love, Guns and Amy, he has written and directed eight short films including Connection, Four Bar Blues, New Billy, Boom and his upcoming project Prom Date Blues. In addition, he has worked on 36 other film, commercial and music video shoots. “Collectively I look at them as a learning experience,” he says. The beginning of his experience with film did not begin in Singapore, however. It began at the age of 10 when he would assist his uncle with filming family functions. The hobby later evolved into a career for the aspiring director. In high school he participated in broadcast journalism courses and clubs where he says he shot on handycams. While attending Morehouse College from 2005 to 2009, he landed a position as the video production coordinator for the college’s football team. While at Morehouse, Marttise also met his best friend Julius Pryor. Since then, they have developed not only a long-lasting friendship, but have also fused together their love for film to potentially become the next generation of dynamic filmmaker duos since Spike Lee and Ernest Dickerson.
friendship between he and Julius. Beyond the obvious support the friends give each other, the two work hard to perfect their craft by investing what is needed to bring their films to life.
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PERFECTING HIS CRAFT arttise’s films tend to develop, taking a short turn to throw off the audience’s predictability, but still rendering a sense of believability, which is what he strives for and what he believes Hollywood has gotten away from. Although he calls himself a “simple-moviegoer,” Marttise still has his critiques as a filmmaker. “Hollywood is safe,” he says. He thinks that most Hollywood movies are predictable. What he looks for is structure. Getting to the point of the film has to make sense, while still entertaining the audience. It has to come full circle. Much like his favorite film, Mo’ Better Blues, by Spike Lee, who Marttise is most inspired by. He says Mo’ Better Blues is one of Lee’s most complete films. As we sat and traded interpretations of films at a pastry bar on the Delmar Loop in St. Louis, it is evident that Marttise is ready for the film industry. He can critique a film, talk about the pros and cons of Hollywood and name his favorite directors at the drop of a dime. While I called out film titles by Spike Lee, such as Do the Right Thing and Red Hook Summer, Marttise carefully and eloquently critiqued them. His passion was evident, pouring uncontrollably over each word and critique, you can tell that this is what satiates his appetite for film. The man knows his stuff. Spike Lee isn’t the only director on Marttise’s radar. The long list of directors that he is most inspired by include, Penny Marshall, the Hudlin Brothers and 12 Years a Slave director, Steve McQueen. Despite the heavy influence that these directors have on Marttise, that’s not to say that the aspiring director doesn’t have a mind of his own. In fact, his upcoming film, Prom Date Blues, sends the message of finding yourself and being yourself. In Marttise’s words: “Prom Date Blues is a coming-of-age comedy about a unique African-American teen’s attempt to find his mojo with the ladies before he graduates from high school.” The awkward high-schooler falls in distant love with the prettiest girl in school and makes an attempt to take her to prom. It’s a typical guy-getsthe-girl film that Marttise ensures all of us can relate to, but he’s written in a delightful twist. “The uniqueness about my story is this kid is an old soul in a young man’s body.” The main character is the son of divorced parents and lives with his mother. He’s a late bloomer, attempting to discover what exactly a man is, without the constant presence of men in his life. He’s smart. He’s quirky. He’s awkward. He’s human. Just like the rest of us. “It’s a personal story for me,” says Marttise. “The message is you love yourself for who you are, you be proud of who you are and then everything else will follow. The confidence you have for yourself, the love you have for yourself will exude naturally, organically.” Natural and organic, much like the love for film Marttise found three years ago while working on his first film in Singapore. Last summer, he returned to his hometown, St. Louis, sowing his roots, to not only give back, but to also give more, to himself and his craft. When asked how he continues to grow, producing more and better films, Marttise says it is about betting on yourself and investing in yourself. “That’s the great thing about film school. You have the opportunity to take a risk, and the bigger the risk the better,” Marttise says. For Prom Date Blues he has done just that. This film will be a marriage, of some sorts, to the love of his life. When he completes his film, which is also his thesis, he will graduate as a director from New York University. Through sickness and through health, to death do them part, Marttise and his camera will be hand in hand hopefully coming to a theater near you.
“The message is you love yourself for who you are, you be proud of who you are and then everything else will follow.”
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WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR ryor is present for Hill’s latest project in St. Louis. He’s the producer, and this is just as much his project as it is Marttise’s. “At the end of the day, nobody can do it by themselves,” Julius says, who attends New York University’s Tisch Program in New York City. “It’s something that’s genuine because it’s something that’s not based around work; it’s based around true friendship.” In their many collaborations, the two filmmakers often switch roles: when Marttise directs, Julius produces and vice versa. Prior to shooting Prom Date Blues, Marttise visited New York to produce Julius’s latest film Lovesong, which they are now wrapping up the editing process on and preparing to send to film festivals When asked what the two have to offer the growing world of film, the duo says “style and substance.” This is something they have been developing since 2006, when they shot their first film titled Noir et Blanc (Black and White), a five minute black-and-white thriller about a schizophrenic man who believes he has to kill his therapist. Julius developed the concept and the two entered it into Campus MovieFest, a student film festival that gave them the equipment needed to produce the film. Although Marttise does not consider it in his growing portfolio, it is still a project that he says he is proud of. Not only did it give him a realistic glimpse inside his long-awaited career, but it also sparked the withstanding
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S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014
At first glance, you’d probably say “Oh, yeah, Hazel, the black chick from Degrassi,” however, you would be doing yourself a true disservice not to take a second look. Canadian born actress and singer, Andrea Lewis has not only worked alongside heavyweights such as Diahann Carroll, Dr. Maya Angelou and Wesley Snipes, but she is also the creator of the newly debuted web series Black Actress that premiered in 2013. We caught up with Miss Lewis on her perspective on acting, self-image and what prompted her to create her very own show. -RANDI CAHILL
Andrea Lewis
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What do you love most about your new web series, Black Actress? AL: I love the fact that it’s out and it looks exactly like what I had in my head five years ago when the idea was sparked. It feels good to see a dream come to life. How do you personally relate to your character ‘Kori’? AL: Well, Kori is inspired by a time I had in my life. I was once very similar to her in terms of her insecurities and lack of confidence in herself as a person and an actress. And most of her crazy scenarios have happened to me or one of my friends in real life so I can definitely relate to that stuff. Do you feel your show will increase a dialogue about black-acting professionals? AL: I feel the show will open up viewers eyes to what it’s like for an actor of any color. A lot of the comments on the episodes have been from people who aren’t in the industry and didn’t know that auditions were so awkward or that casting agents can sometimes be your friend and sometimes your enemy. I also have gotten a lot of feedback from working actors/entertainers, who can completely relate to the story and feel like they are watching scenes from their own lives. We need to show the other side of the story sometimes, and Hollywood isn’t as glamorous as you’d think it is. What black actress inspires you? AL: Honestly, all black actresses inspire me, from the award-winning ones to the newcomers out there grinding. I love to see people who look like me working hard for something they believe in. Are there any actor(s) or actress(es) that you would like to collaborate with? AL: I would love to work with Nia Long. I’ve met her a few times at events and I think she’s great. I grew up admiring her so it would just feel awesome to be on screen with her. I would also love to do something with Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold. They are some of the first funny women that I can remember watching on TV. What is one of the most memorable moments you’ve experienced in your acting career? AL: Every project I’ve done from film, TV or stage has its own special memories. This past April I filmed a movie with Loretta Devine, and I had an epiphany that I was going to be the exact same way when I’m her age. She was singing and telling jokes the entire time and it was one of those moments where I realized I’m right where I belong. Do you think you grew up with enough positive, black female images via the media? AL: I grew [up] watching Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, House Party, Fresh Prince, The Cosby’s and a lot of Spike Lee movies, so I always saw positive reflections of myself on television. But a little after the 90s and early 2000s, there was a big shift and you didn’t have shows with an all-black cast, and when you did see a black woman on TV, she was more of an added dose of color on the screen instead of being a real character. I was fortunate, though, that I had a point of reference with all of the shows I had grown up on, but I longed for the good ol’ days. Those were the times when TV/films just made you feel good. Have you personally seen improvement over the past few years in regards to a stronger presence of black actresses in TV and film? AL: I have in TV with shows like Scandal and Sleepy Hollow and even Deception with Megan Good despite it being canceled now. We also have a ton of films with black actresses in it this [past] year from 12 Years A Slave to The Best Man Holiday so things are definitely happening, slowly but surely.
What advice would you give a young lady of color aspiring to be an actress? AL: My advice for any young girl of color pursuing an acting career would be to have a reason bigger than why you are doing this, a mission that you are trying to accomplish. It has to be more than just wanting to be famous or see your face on the big screen. This industry is so hard and you’re going to have a lot of negative energy coming your way while fighting through it so there has to be a positive motivation that keeps you grounded and persistent in your pursuit. You’ve played roles in TV/film projects that have ranged from Livin’ for the Love: The Natalie Cole Story to Down in the Delta to the popular Degrassi: The Next Generation. Which one has helped you grow the most as an actress and/or a woman? AL: All of the roles that I’ve had in some way or another have helped to shape me into who I am today, and I’ve been extremely blessed that I’ve worked with a lot of strong women. Down in the Delta I worked with Alfre Woodard and Loretta Divine and it was directed by Maya Angelou; it was like a dream come true. Ms. Angelou gave me a signed copy of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. She also gave me the best piece of advice when I was 12 years old: “Everything happens in it’s time.” Acting requires a lot of patience. When I was in Degrassi I had the comfort of being on a series and developing life-long friendships with my cast and crew, but being on that show made me realize that I wanted to do a lot more than just be “the best friend,” and I should never settle. What have you learned the most about yourself in creating Black Actress? AL: I’ve truly learned that I can do anything I want. I always wanted to write/produce/act/sing in my own project but I was scared, or I would let people tell me I couldn’t do this or that and let them limit me. I’m glad I finally got the courage and proved to myself what I always knew I could do. I was truly in my comfort zone with every step of this show and it felt like it was only the beginning of truly becoming the artist that I want to be. *THIS INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED VIA EMAIL.
Tune in and watch the first season of Black Actress every Tuesday at 4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST on Youtube channel: youtube.com/issarae written by and starring Andrea Lewis. Produced by Tatyana Ali, Brian Walker and Issa Rae.
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Music by loren lee
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osted in the office of Delicious Vinyl Records on Sunset Boulevard, music producer Jansport J unconsciously strokes his trademark beard as he reminisces about how he got his start in the music industry. The seasoned, creative-type has production credits for artists such as Snoop Dogg, El Prez and DOM KENNEDY, to name a few. He has also been busy in the studio with seven solo albums under his belt, including the Soul Provider LP set to drop on Feb. 18, 2014. Interested in finding out what it takes to make it in the music industry? Jansport quips, “Are you ready to work five or six years for free? Work every single day at your craft? It takes a lot to do anything in this industry and you must always work on your art.” It’s amazing to hear someone speak passionately about his profession, especially when the road to get there wasn’t easy. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Jansport J (whose real name is Justin Williams) eventually moved to Covina, Ca., where his love for music grew and was diversified. Just 25 minutes outside of Los Angeles, J embraced the laidback vibe of Covina, especially when it came to music. “When you grow up with white kids, Mexicans and black kids, you’re used to versatility and you kind of listen to different types of music,” says J. “It would be cool to listen to Westside Connection, then also listen to No Doubt or Metallica. All that was cool because that’s what your friends listened to. It influenced my music by giving me songs later down the road to sample and paved the way to keep my musical tastes versatile.” It wasn’t until he was about 11 that he even understood what a music producer was. “Today, I think a music producer is the backbone. You produce the music. You make the beat. You work with the rapper on the concept. You help build the record. You’re kind of like the power of molding the music. People always have these debates about being a producer versus beat maker, but I really don’t care about any of that. I think it’s all about guiding the record.” Before deciding to get serious about producing music, Jansport toyed with the idea of embarking on other professions, including becoming a rapper, professional basketball player and a marketing/advertising executive. His childhood raps about Thomas Edison to the beat of Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise” and his stint at Pepperdine University studying marketing and advertising proved to be no match to his true calling. “It’s funny,” Jansport J says. “I had to go to college to realize I didn’t want that life. But it was nice to know I could exist in that world, but even nicer that I realized I didn’t want to.” After mustering up the courage to share his dreams with the world, the hip-hop lover created a Myspace page full of his own beats. To gain a following, he visited artists’ pages he admired and would add people who commented on their work. Apparently, this method worked well. In 2008 he released his first album, The Carry On Experience, a project bearing a bevy of rappers, including one of his early supporters BE.Water. “I didn’t know what I was doing. I just knew I wanted to do it,” says J. “So, I emailed a bunch of rappers and was like ‘can you rap on this, can you rap on that.’ Put it together, pushed it out and kind
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S C U L P T Magazine | January 2014
of been running ever since.” Now, Jansport is sprinting toward his dreams faster than he’d ever imagined. After trading his books for beats, he even went on to apply the principles of marketing to defining his own brand. Now, people who are fans of his music can pick up on certain notes that define his self-proclaimed, soulful and organic sound. His latest collaboration project with rapper El Prez, Urban $treet Americana, was inspired by the tale of the real American story. “We have this Apple pie American dream that people feed you, but it’s really about people in the hood coming up sometimes,” J says. His latest solo LP, For Love, was obviously about love, but Jansport J delved a little deeper to express some of the negative aspects of the emotion: vices, addictions and heartache. Utilizing only instrumentals and samples, J intended to let this album speak to the listener sans lyrics. His heartfelt beats told a love story, but didn’t force you to forget your own. Genius. When asked about the biggest difference between working on collaborations versus working solo, J says that it’s a compromise. “You bring your ideas, they bring theirs, there’s greater potential for success, and then if they say something you never thought of then that raises the ceiling on what we can do. You’re feeding off their energy,” says J. However, J finds that working solo is more therapeutic. “I’m getting out exactly what’s been bottled up in my mind or heart for however long,” he gushes. “I can play any track and remember exactly what I was going through at that particular point in time. It’s just so much more of me.” Finding inspiration for an album is a varied process for Jansport. He likes to create in his little apartment by keeping potential samples playing in the background while completing mundane tasks such as washing dishes. He insists, though, that you must get out of the house, too. To create you have to look at art, go to events and shake hands. “I’d see someone I admire, go up to them and just introduce myself. Then it was on me to stay busy and create. That way when they hear or see my name again they can remember me,” J says. Although, he has made a name for himself in the industry, he has fears. He jokes about being afraid of dolls or dummies, but is seriously afraid of becoming complacent. “I am afraid of the mountaintop. Ambition is important to me. I want to be the best and work with certain artists, but I’m afraid of getting to the point of feeling like I’ve accomplished everything I want to accomplish. What do you do after that?” When you think about it, that’s such a hard question to ask yourself, regardless of your calling in life. For Jansport J, and for us all, only time will tell.
“I am afraid of the mountaintop. Ambition is important to me.”
Follow Jansport J on Twitter and Instagram @JansportJ and listen to his tunes and JansporTjmusic.com.
what’s happening
coming soon
The year 2014 looks promising for these artists. From books to mixtapes, we’ve got the inside scoop on the happenings of the year. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out.
transweight. dr. sharrell luckett Dr. Sharrell Luckett isn’t your common college professor. She’s fearless, funny and unapologetic about who she is. In her first book, Transweight (Poems from an Undercover Fat Girl), Luckett takes you into her experience of losing nearly 100 lbs. Offering poems on life, lust, love and loss, Dr. Luckett takes you on a journey with her as she discovers herself, and hopefully helps you do the same. It’s available for purchase on Amazon, so we don’t see why you’re not reading it right now.
10K Hours souls of liberty We think we’ve slowly entered a self-imposed best friendship with these guys. Souls of Liberty are the exact definition of evolution. Set to drop this spring, their upcoming mixtape, 10K Hours, will be released for the masses to hear. They’ve already given their dedicated followers an inside peek releasing two songs, “Family” and “Future Millionaires,” and a video for the former. Hear both tracks on their SoundCloud and prepare to have them on replay come spring.
Tailored pieces an online vintage boutique She’s written for us before, but that’s not the hunch. She’s written for InStyle, Ebony and Essence, as well (wait for it). She even launched her website, TailoredSilhouette.com, last year, but that’s not it either. Adding to her growing list of accomplishments, LaParis Hawkins, brings you Tailored Pieces, a new online boutique that had its soft launch in January, but is sure to reach heights by the end of the year. Catering to the likes of both men and women, LaParis does the thrift hunting for you, curating some of the dopest vintage pieces to add to your closet. Ready. Set. Shop.
before the war a game Mr. St. Louis himself just will not stop until he puts his city on the map. A-GAME is at it again, this time knocking down walls and barriers that no one will expect. Collaborating with Frathouse Productions, the rapper with sickening and memorable verses will release Before the War in February. With an already growing track list that we’re impatiently waiting to listen to, A-GAME has something else in store--in March he will release an album. Make space in your iTunes library now!
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