JAN. 2018 16 JESSIE PAEGE
on turning her struggles with mental health into a book
04 ESTHER POVITSKY
20 CODY SIMPSON & THE TIDE on writing and performing music they’re passionate about
on the current state of hollywood + her role on once upon a time
06 LOGAN HENDERSON
26 DEVIN DAWSON
48 MARCUS SCRIBNER
on what to expect from her new series, alone together
38 ADELAIDE KANE
on taking time to find himself + his new music
on his path to country music + his debut album, dark horse
on the stories he hopes to tell on black-ish
12 IN REAL LIFE
30 SHARNA BURGESS
52 MAINLAND
on becoming best friends + their goals of longevity
on her pre-dancing with the stars journey
on letting their live show influence their album
36 LOGAN SHROYER
on being a part of a television phenomenom CATHERINE POWELL
publisher, editor, photographer, designer, writer
SAMANTHA BAMBINO writer
CARLY BUSH writer
SHELBY CHARGIN writer
AUTUMN HALLE
NICOLE MOOREFIELD
MARISSA JOHNSON
VANESSA SALLES
BRITTANY LANDAU
OLIVIA SINGH
writer writer writer
writer writer writer
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POVITSKY
Words by VANESSA SALLES Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
ESTHER
Securing a spot on Forbes’ 2018 “30 Under 30” list, 29-year-old Esther Povitsky is undoubtedly one to watch. The Illinois-raised actress co-stars on Freeform’s upcoming series, Alone Together, which she also co-created. “It’s been a really long time in the making,” she reveals. “Originally, Benji [Aflalo] and I wrote a short film; we knew that we wanted to make something together for a long time and we knew that doing nothing wasn’t doing anything for us. We did the short without knowing what would come from it but that’s how Alone Together came about. We wrote the short in 2014, pitched it to networks in 2015, got it picked up as a series at the end of 2016, and we were renewed for a second season at the end of 2017 – right before our 2018 premiere.” Recalling her childhood, the actress explains that she’s always felt empowered in her family. “My parents kept me safe but I wasn’t really ‘parented’ in any way,” she says. “I was always brought up as an equal; there wasn’t much of a divide between adults and children. Since we never had any family game nights, I spent a lot of time watching TV – that’s how I found my love for comedy; Saturday Night Live and Clueless were big sources of inspiration for me.” Though Esther was always a fan of comedy, she was originally set on becoming a dancer. In fact, she even majored in dance through college. “I thought I was going to become a professional,” she says. “Then, one day, I realized it wasn’t really for me. I remember being at the ballet barre and thinking that this wasn’t all there was to me and I decided that I should be doing something else. I realized that the only reason why I loved the class so much, aside from the endorphins, was showing up and being funny for my friends.”
Eventually, Esther made the decision to drop out of school and pursue what she really wanted to do. “I was at a big-time school and it just wasn’t really a fit for me. I didn’t fit in and I remember thinking, ‘This isn’t what I want. I want to go be myself and learn what I want, when I want.’ My parents had lost their job and family had no money and here I was spending all this money in college; I didn’t know why I was doing it – there’s no guarantee that something would come from it. So, I quit school and moved to L.A. to start doing stand up full-time.” The move, of course, paid off. Esther landed a role on The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2016 and now that she’s shifted gears to becoming a show creator, she’ll be sharing more of herself and her life experiences with fans and viewers. “I’m both excited and nervous,” Esther says about the Alone Together premiere. “I feel like there are a lot of subjects that we cover that I don’t think I’ve really seen before. Personally, there’s a lot of me in it; there’s an episode about wanting to freeze my eggs but not being able to afford it so, instead, I donate my eggs to be able to raise money for the procedure. That’s something that’s actually true for me; I did want to freeze my eggs but I couldn’t afford it so I considered donating my eggs to make money. I’m excited to share that stuff with people and have people relate to it. “ The series, already renewed for a second season, will find Esther and the rest of the writers back in the writer’s room sooner than later. “As soon as we wrapped Season 1, I had started a list of things I would want to do and see in the show if we got renewed,” Esther says. “I’m so excited to get to do more episodes because I have all these ideas that we didn’t get to go through in the first season; I’m so eager to get together
with the writers and share my ideas and see what we can do with it.” With a project that’s so close to her heart, Esther hopes her audience connects with the show in a way that lets them know that they are not alone. “I hope that people watch the show and feel like they saw someone like themselves on TV,” she shares. “That’s all I ever wanted when I was watching a show so I hope this does that for someone. I hope that there are people out there like me who can see this and see that we are alike.” When she’s not working on Alone Together, Esther hosts the female-centric podcast, Glowing Up, with Caroline Goldfarb. “Caroline was a writer on the show and we just hit off right away,” Esther says. “We would just hijack the writers room with our crazy antics and be so excited about random things. We realized that we were both obsessed with 1. Make up, 2. Celebrities, and 3. Food. At the time, I was looking to start a new podcast and I really wanted a show where the format was just two friends talking; it was a no brainer for Caroline and I to do it together.” With every episode being different than the last, the variety of the show is what keeps the listeners coming back. “In some of our episodes, we interview people or bring in an expert or someone that we think is really cool so that our audience can get to know them,” Esther describes. “Other episodes are just us talking about our lives or reviewing products.” Esther and Caroline, who have recorded the podcast live on both the east and west coast, hope to take the show on the road a few more times in this new year. “It’s so much fun to do it live,” Esther says. “It’s different but it’s so cool to be able to meet the audience and the fans. It’s actually a very nice marriage of podcasting and standup; we definitely want to continue this.” NKD NKDMAG.COM
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LOGAN HENDERSON Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
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REAL IN LIFE Words by SHELBY CHARGIN Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
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With boy band In Real Life, the word “humble” is almost an understatement. Take five boys who entered a competition show (Boy Band) solo for the entire purpose of being paired with other boys to make the ultimate boy band. You’d suspect drama, and a decent amount of ego, but for In Real Life, it’s anything but. Comprised of Brady Tutton, Chance Perez, Drew Ramos, Sergio Calderon, and Michael Conor, this boy band is a reminder of what makes young people so passionate about good hearted young men, who are happy to share their gift with the world. “The show itself was about 10 weeks, we worked for about 10-11 hours a day and on our off days we had a new song to learn. So there wasn’t really an off day,” Brady commented. They boys slowly got to know each other as each week went on and new groups were formed, and in the end wound up getting to know one another extremely well. According to Chance, “You know, in most singing competitions there was only going to be one winner, but in this one we knew there was going to be five. So we all tried to get along… The competition was about being the best at your vocals live.” And while the competition itself was a challenge, there is a definite pay off for the quintet of kindness that is In Real Life. “It’s actually really crazy,” Drew explains, “Because you never actually
experienced the fans. I mean, we did during the show; there would be fans that came out to the show, but it wasn’t until really we started traveling from state to state we saw the crowds that we’re showing up.” The craziness though, doesn’t leave a bad taste in the band’s mouth. “It’s a really good feeling,” Drew continues. “People really care about the music that we’re putting out.” Beyond their vocals, the music they put out is truly from the heart. “We’ve been recording nonstop since we got together,” Sergio confesses. “That’s been very special to us because each song is very unique and we’re looking forward to putting an album out next year.” It’s hard to imagine anything but uniqueness as each one of the boys personalities shines so brightly through their spoken word, as much as their singing. Each one brings a different element to the group that you may not be able to place, but understand. “We’re very involved in the process, it’s all us,” Sergio continued. And although the first couple songs were a bit more put together by the label, as the boys truly got to know each other, they were able to insert themselves much more into the music. “The songs are very us,” Sergio insists. And a part of being an “us” is recognizing that individuality in the band. When they won, they felt like they won both individually and
as a band. “Honestly, you go through the process just wanting to have that chance. We were all solo artists before this, and we just wanted a shot,” Michael says. For each member, it was a cool experience getting to know a different group of guys every week, but they ended up with the right group, according to Michael. “Like, my life has changed, but I get to experience it with four of my best friends, he says.” And the rest of the boys completely share the sentiment. “After the show it’s kind of just like… there’s no way you felt like it was a solo thing. You’ve been through everything together,” Drew says. For example, their performance at Universal CityWalk which drew about 1,300 fans when their debut single “Eyes Closed” had just been released the day before. “We didn’t have any idea what we were doing. Everything we’ve been doing we’ve actually been doing together and figuring out together,” Drew adds. “Whenever people talk to us, they always ask us if we’re looking to be as successful as One Direction, and that’s not really a thought of ours,” confides Brady. “We’re just trying to do all we can. We’re trying to make the music we want to make and have fun making it. So it’s not really like we’re trying to be any other boy band that has come before us.” And what does In Real Life do… in real life? According to NKDMAG.COM
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jessie paege Words by BRITANY LANDAU Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
There’s no doubt that YouTube has taken the Internet by storm in recent years. With just a click, you can find anything from makeup tutorials to DIY projects to comedy sketches. On Jessie Paege’s channel, you can find a mixture of it all. “Growing up, I was always very shy. I was also in special education classes from preschool up until the second grade and I had an aide with me all the time. It was very hard for me and very isolating, especially as I got older because people started to realize why she was there,” Jessie says of her childhood in New Jersey. Soon, Jessie found herself developing friendships with more outgoing people. “I was able to rely on them and only talk to them. I would cling onto them and it was very unhealthy all throughout elementary, middle, and even into early high school,” she says. This behavior also affected her after school choices. “I did the play because all of my friends were in the play. I did hand bells because all of my friends did hand bells. I struggled a lot with my own personal identity. I never had any extra curricular [activities] that I did just for myself,” she admits. Then, Jessie had to suddenly make the switch to a private school after her brother was
bullied. Being in a private school introduced Jessie to a class size of only six girls and she found it hard to get along with any of them. “It was a very new experience for me because through elementary school, middle school, and high school, I basically went to school with all of the same people and I already knew the people I clicked with. Since I was very introverted and shy, I wasn’t used to having to make new friends,” she says. Because of her school situation, Jessie turned to YouTube. “It was kind of like coping for me. It was a conversation that I felt like I could be a part of without having to actually be part of a conversation,” she explains. “I really loved that and really loved YouTubers growing up, but none of my friends did. That was probably one of the things that I did have for myself.” After switching schools, Jessie became very lonely and decided to pursue YouTube. “I actually started my channel the day after I met the YouTuber, Bethany Mota. In her videos, she was very confident and always talked about how she was shy when she was younger and when I heard that, I was like, ‘Wow, it is possible to be shy and to find confidence.’ It seemed so difficult and abstract to me at the time that I didn’t even think
it was a possibility. That helped me a lot. I was a huge fan of hers,” she says. Jessie tried to emulate Bethany’s channel but didn’t feel like the content she was producing was authentic to her, and she thinks her audience could feel that too. So she switched gears. “The summer before sophomore year, I dyed my hair pink, went out to my family’s beach house, and started making videos that were a lot different and portrayed my personality more. That summer, I went from like 20,000 to 300,000 subscribers,” she recalls. Having blown up on social media, going back to school was definitely different for Jessie. “My school slowly started to get less supportive of my YouTube career, so I switched to online school, which was great for a period of time. I’m an introvert, so it was a really good way for me to learn, but it was kind of lonely. I still needed to find creative people that I could really get along with,” she says. In 2016, Jessie got the offer to embark on a YouTube tour called “Girls Night In” with YouTubers Alisha Marie, Niki and Gabi, and Alyson Stoner. “I had rehearsals all the time, so I moved to Los Angeles to pursue that. It was supposed to be an apartment that I had for just one week a month, so I could have my own NKDMAG.COM
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cody simpson & the tide
Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
devin dawson
Words by SAMANTHA BAMBINO Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
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Country and soul, with a touch of death metal rock and roll. In a nutshell, this is Devin Dawson – a musical jack-of-all-trades who once upon a time performed to crowds of moshers and circle pits. Now, he’s bringing that unique edge (along with some killer tattoo sleeves) to the country music world with his debut album, Dark Horse, available Jan. 19.
the close proximity was “cool as hell”, he didn’t truly appreciate its impact until years later. “You don’t gain that perspective until you move away,” he says. “You look back and realize, ‘Wow, I was really lucky to grow up in the energy of that place.” Whether it was due to living in the shadow of Folsom or because it’s in his blood, Devin caught the musical bug
for the next three hours. His neighbor was so impressed he gave it to Devin free of charge. A few weeks later, he, his twin brother and two best friends decided to form a band. With Devin on bass, his brother on drums and his friends on guitar, the four jammed every day after school in the garage, teaching themselves how to write songs and
“You don’t gain that perspective until you move away. You look back and realize, ‘Wow, I was really lucky to grow up in the energy of that place.” While country vibes and creative storytelling are central to Dark Horse, the album strongly hints at the plethora of musical influences that shaped Devin’s artistry, one of which came from his childhood hometown. Devin grew up in Orangevale, California, directly next to the subject of a popular Johnny Cash hit – Folsom Prison. Though he now admits
at the age of 12. He was wandering through piles of disregarded household items at a neighbor’s garage sale when he saw it - a red Stratocaster. Devin had just finished watching Back the the Future, in which Marty McFly performs an epic guitar solo complete with a knee slide. Devin wanted that to be him. So, he picked up the guitar and didn’t stop jamming
play their respective instruments. “We kind of just learned together. Nobody took lessons. We just challenged each other and learned all at the same pace, four people at the same time, which is, looking back, kind of beautiful,” Devin says. The band’s initial sound leaned heavily toward classic rock as they played Creedence Clearwater Revival
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sharna burgess Words by CARLY BUSH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Hair by J ZILKEN Make-Up by MALLORY JO HUNTER Styling by NICOLE VOLYNETS
logan shroyer Words by NICOLE MOOREFIELD Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
Life has been a whirlwind as of late for 18-year-old Logan Shroyer, whose role as teenage Kevin Pearson in NBC’s hit show This Is Us catalyzed his rise to television stardom. Born in Torrance, California, Logan moved to Oklahoma when he was 5-years-old. In elementary school, Logan was “the kid in the back who was quiet and weird”, he promises. Aside from a school play, acting wasn’t on Logan’s radar until he moved to Los Angeles six years 36
later. From a creative family, Logan had his first acting class at 12 and loved it despite initial hesitation. He found an agent and started booking roles the next year. “I kind of snuck in through the modeling entrance,” Logan jokes, “And crept toward the theatrical department.” His earliest jobs were commercials, where he learned about the casting process and became more comfortable in auditions. As a young teenager, Logan landed recurring roles in children’s
shows like Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans and Amazon’s Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street. At age 17, Logan booked the part that would change his life: joining the cast of This Is Us in 2016. At first, he was billed as a guest star, and only a few episodes had aired, so he didn’t anticipate how influential the show would be to his life and career. “Milo [Ventimiglia] did, but we didn’t believe him,” Logan recalls. Upon meeting Logan and his television sib-
lings, Niles Fitch and Hannah Zeile, Milo implied that the trio would be part of the This Is Us family for years to come. When Logan was promoted to a series regular, he realized Milo’s welcome had been genuine. Because of the drama’s popularity, This Is Us scripts come with intense non-disclosure agreements. As the show has progressed, the pressure to keep secrets has amplified. A limited number of copies are printed, which are then hand-delivered to the
cast. It’s exciting to be part of such an important show, Logan remarks, but that comes with responsibility. “I could ruin my whole career if I wanted to,” he laughs. Embodying Kevin Pearson is a challenging task for such a young actor, but Logan has embraced it wholeheartedly. The show relies on a complicated series of flashbacks to tell a story spanning decades, meaning Logan must balance Justin Hartley’s performance as an adult Kevin with his own while still giving a unique perspective to the character. “It’s a line that you have to toe,” Logan comments. At first, he would prepare by watching Justin act. “I looked at his mannerisms a little bit, studied what he was doing, brought that into it, and then just let it go,” he says. While the portrayals need to be similar, it is equally important that Logan make Kevin his own. “People are actually so different in these times of their lives,” Logan mentions, which allows for more creative freedom. So far, Logan feels his portrayal of Kevin “seems to manifest pretty well” with viewers. “The writers are very confident with cutting back and forth between us, which I think is really cool,” he adds. The material is often very heavy, but Logan views it as an opportunity to excel. “You get a shot to step up to the plate,” Logan says. “What else could I really ask for as an actor?” When a script is especially daunting, the cast and writers support and encourage him. Although he loves the challenges his character provides, Logan’s favorite episode of Season 2 to shoot was the twelfth because it was “one of the first times that I’ve been able to be — not funny – but not be crying.”
Not only has the show developed Logan as an actor, he has also learned about camera angles and lenses from director Ken Olin. Understanding that the takes can have nothing to do with you “gives you a lot more freedom,” Logan states. “[Directors] like options, they like when you give your own input and ideas” during filming, he adds. Logan has also used his experience behind the camera in a supernatural short-form project called “The Relic” that he is co-directing and writing with friends. As a child, Logan loved to learn and always expected to attend college, but with the takeoff of This Is Us, he was tied down after graduation. “I was the kid out of all of my friend groups that would do the [schoolwork] and never ended up using it, which was really funny,” he remarks. But Logan has not given up his dream of higher education and hopes to enroll full-time once his tenure on the show is over. “I’d like to sit down and take some writing classes and English literature classes and then apply that to film,” Logan says. The show’s dual narrative means Logan only works with one subsection of the cast. It can be difficult to see the other actors, he mentions, adding that “I wish that we could all be in the same scenes.” The smaller cast size allows for closer bonds, so the on-screen Pearsons have become like family in real life. Logan is extremely close with Niles and Hannah as well as Milo and Mandy Moore, who play his parents on the show. He attributes the cast’s intimacy to “the emotional journey that you go on” during especially raw scenes. “There’s definitely a special connection I think that we’ll always have because of what we do on the show,” he remarks. NKD NKDMAG.COM
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ADELAIDE KANE Words & Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Hair & Make-Up by EMILY DAWN Styling by AUDREY BRIANNE
LOOK 1: Tops by TRIBE KELLEY + NOISY MAY Pants by SANCTUARY Choker by NISSA Chain by 21HM Shoes by CHARLES DAVID LOOK 2: Top by TRIBE KELLEY; Jeans by IMAGE DU IMAGE; Jacket by BOSTON PROPER; Earrings by NASHELLE + NISSA LOOK 3: Jumpsuit by ENDLESS ROSE; Jewlery by NASHELLE LOOK 4: Top by CURRENT AIR; Shorts by LINE & DOT; Earrings by NASHELLE LOOK 5: Jacket by AQUA COVER: Bodysuit by RONY KOHO Shorts by TRUE RELIGION Shoes by CHARLES DAVID Choker by 21HM Earrings by NASHELLE
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marcus scribner Words by MARISSA JOHNSON Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
At only 17-years-old, black-ish star Marcus Scribner is making major moves as a lead on one of TV’s biggest shows. Growing up, Marcus was completely infatuated with academics. He loved reading and falling for the characters and stories in his favorite books. His parents were very invested in him and his sister achieving academically, which only added to his total devotion to his school work. However, after encouragement from his parents to find a hobby and a brief stint on his school’s football team, Marcus decided to try an acting class. He immediately fell in love, admitting that it was the Christmas theme and getting gifts in class that captivated him and kept
him coming back for more. Marcus’ newfound passion for acting lead him to audition consistently until, at age `4 he landed his first role as Junior on ABC’s black-ish. When he first signed on, Marcus had no idea what to expect, all he knew was that they had something that he really enjoyed and he hoped others would like it as much as he did. Although black-ish faced a lot of backlash from the media because of its title, audiences seemed to agree with Marcus and by the airing of the first episode began to understand the meaning behind the controversial title. Four seasons in, he’s fully gotten to know Junior as a character and the writers have allowed him more freedom to NKDMAG.COM
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mainland Words by AUTUMN HALLE Photos by CATHERINE POWELL
For Mainland, discovering their sound has been the journey of a lifetime. The band, comprised of Jordan Topf (Vocals/Guitar), Corey Mullee (Vocals/Keys) and Alex Pitta (Bass), found each other through chance and discovered a chemistry that laid the groundwork for their unique brand of energetic pop rock. Jordan, the founding member of the band, grew up with a smattering of influences from Michael Jackson to Jimi Hendrix. The latter of which became the jumping off 52
point that inspired him to pick-up the guitar and chase a dream of becoming a rockstar. “I was 15 when I started my first band, The Vox Jaguars, a garage punk band that eventually got signed and toured California,” he says. His first experience touring the West Coast led him to leave his small town California roots, and his first band, for New York City. He met Corey by chance at a party and they found their musical inspirations really jived. Corey’s musical education started at an early age, playing
piano at 7, and picking up a guitar a number of years later. “Rock music became a part of my musical identity at a young age, it really inspired me to pick-up a guitar and start learning,” Corey reflects on his early days. Despite consistently playing music throughout high school it was meeting Jordan that finally convinced him to start playing in a band. From there, fate stepped in again, when Alex and Jordan met while working at the same restaurant in New York. The two quickly bonded over their love of music
and interest in the same bands. “I was always kind of around music,” says Alex of his upbringing. “My grandmother first taught me to play the piano and I began taking classical lessons when I was 8.” His musical experimentation continued with a plethora of different instruments, including the alto saxophone, clarinet and guitar. Like Jordan, Alex put his musical abilities to work touring the West Coast with his first band, before setting aside his musical aspirations to move to New York, where he focused on academia at NYU. When it came time to replace Mainland’s bass player Jordan immediately thought of Alex. Though he had never played bass before he was dedicated to becoming part of the band, and set to work learning the instrument. Mainland, as fans know it, was born. “We started as a garage band and got more polished over the years,” Jordan says of their early beginnings. “It really started working when we signed to 300 Entertainment and toured extensively.” Between touring, and a constant cycle of writing and recording new music, the band worked hard to evolve their sound into what it is today; a hyper-intense infusion of pop hooks, rock energy and punk instrumentation. Their newest single, “I Found God”, is a perfect introduction to who they are. “It’s a love song about connecting to another person and how that can be transcendent,” Corey says of the song. The track is a testament to the effect love has on all of us, dictating our decisions and emotions in a positive and uplifting way, ideally making the
world a better place. It’s a timely message that resonates deeply with their fans. “We get a lot people who want to share their love with us and their excitement about the changes they’re seeing in the world— like the fact that Australia just passed their gay marriage law,” Jordan continues. “There’s energy from people after shows, they want to hug us, they feel relieved that we wrote a song they connected with emotionally.” “We wrote ‘I Found God’ in the spring and then it kind of spawned the rest of the record,” Jordan says of the bursts of creativity that inspired the project. “We’d write two or three songs a month, take a break, and then write two or three more.” New songs comprise most of the new record, but the band couldn’t ignore the popularity of one of their older tracks. “Beggars” is one of the tracks that has stood the test of time for them and will have an appearance on the new record. “We recorded that one and we loved it,” Jordan expands. “It has some similarities to the new material.” The sporadic process of writing and recording has given them plenty of time to test songs out on the road. “Obviously, we want these songs to be really fun for us to play live,” Corey says. “We played a lot of them for the first time on this last run and found that they connected.” “You know, if it doesn’t go over well with the crowd, we know that maybe it’s not going to work,” Alex expands. Touring with pop star Melanie
Martinez on the 2017 Crybaby Tour gave the band an opportunity to test their music in front of new audiences; most of which were experiencing a live show for the first time. “Those kids were really open. For a lot of people seeing this tour was the first concert they’d ever been to so they were like sponges,” Jordan says. It was this audience that first connected to their single, “Beggars,” inspiring them to hit the studio mid-tour to push the song out to hungry fans. Touring has been the bread and butter for Mainland, who find that connecting with fans of different genres and demographics has helped to grow their own fan base. “The younger fans are so engaged,” says Alex. “They post on social media and share our music more than the typical rock fans would.” With over 100 shows behind them in 2017 alone, it’s safe to say that Mainland has worked hard to build a following and craft music that is true to who they are, and what the fans want to hear. The New Year brings with it even more growth both creatively and professionally. “We’re going to try and finish the album in between tours,” Jordan says of their 2018 plans. “We don’t know when it will come out, but we’ll definitely be touring and promoting ‘I Found God’.” For a band on the cusp of major airplay, they have even bigger hopes for the future, including playing festivals and headlining their own tour. But for now, Mainland has realized their creative dreams and watched them evolve into a sound they’re proud of. NKD NKDMAG.COM
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