Issuu

ISSUE #89 - NOVEMBER 2018

by Catherine Powell

NOV. 2018 04 MOLLY MCCOOK

24 JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY on playing nora west-allen + the advice she’d give her younger self

on growing up on screen + his new series, origin

06 VIOLETT BEANE

28 KAYLEE BRYANT

52 DANIELLA PERKINS

on understanding the business + her two latest roles

42 TOM FELTON

on her new show, god friended me + advicating for animals

on taking things step-by-step + the first season of legacies

on following her dreams + her latest show, knight squad

10 KATELYN TARVER

30 NICOLE MAINES

56 MERRITT PATTERSON

on growing up + her latest ep, kool aid

on her struggles growing up + joining the cast of supergirl

on traveling the world for work + unbroken: path to redemption

14 MADISON ISEMAN

36 SPENCER SUTHERLAND on evolving his sound + his first national tour

62 ATTICUS

on writing, fame + the dark between stars

20 PATRICK DRONEY

40 LUXTIDES

64 NYCC: CLASS OF 2018

on prioritizing her happiness + goosebumps 2

on finding inspiration in different cities + his debut EP

on releasing “shadows” + her goals for her new project

featuring the casts of gotham, the gifted, the 100, siren + more

CATHERINE POWELL

publisher, editor, photographer, designer, writer

SAMANTHA BAMBINO

RACHEL HILL

CHRISTINE O’DEA

CARLY BUSH

STACY MAGALLON

LOUIS OPRISA

ELIZABETH FORREST

NICOLE MOOREFIELD

VANESSA SALLES

writer writer writer

IAN HAYS writer

writer writer writer

OLIVIA SINGH writer

molly mccook Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Glam by EMILY DAWN using ORIBE & MARC JACOBS BEAUTY

Molly McCook has been surrounded by show business her entire life. Growing up in Los Angeles, both of her parents had careers as actors. Her father, John McCook has starred on The Bold and the Beautiful since the ‘80s and her mom, Laurette Spang, appeared on shows like Happy Days and Battlestar Galactica before fully dedicating her time to being a parent. “I grew up literally in my dad’s dressing room and on the sets, and really being around it my whole life.” Molly says. “My parents didn’t really know I was interested in it until I got into singing and I immediately wanted to be in the spotlight.” Molly says that her parents were cautious of her “following in their footsteps” because “they know that kid actors can be led into some scary paths in the future.” Instead, she was encouraged to do theater, sing, and join acting classes – which she gladly did for a while. “I continued to fall in love with theater and musical theater and acting, just plain and simple and as it is, which was really important I think because I think a lot of kids now are falling with the idea of being an actor, and the idea of fame, which is so scary,” Molly says. “But I really fell in love with what it means to me and how it makes me feel before I really started getting into the professional scene when I was about 15. But even then, it was a very slow process.” At 15, Molly booked her first audition, which turned into a guest-starring role on Monk. Being on the show “was an incredible experience,” but Molly “didn’t work for a handful of years.” “I just kind of began the difficult career of a struggling actor,” she says. Molly went on to land roles on series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and

Modern Family. Now, she’s found a home on FOX’s Last Man Standing. The sitcom originally aired on ABC, but was canceled after six seasons. When it was picked up by FOX, actress Molly Ephraim (who played Mandy Baxter) chose not to return. With the part available, Molly was immediately drawn to the show. “The fact that I get to be in front of a camera and have an audience laughing and applauding, it’s definitely a combination of the two loves of my life,” Molly says. “That alone has always been one of my dream jobs.” “It seemed that what the show has to tell is important,” she adds. “I learned since being on it that the show covers real issues and real political views and what it’s like for a family to have different views and how they continue loving each other and talking through those views.” Prior to Season 7 airing in late September, Molly noticed that fans were voicing their opinions about her playing a role that was previously done by someone else. “It’s a matter of comfort and what we’re used to and a lot of us just don’t like change and I totally get that,” Molly says. “But I think in order for people to really enjoy what’s coming up, they’re going to have to accept that change has happened and I think they’re really going to like what we have planned.” Molly adds that her version of Mandy is going to be different, and the show will also introduce some new characters and new actors. “I think after a while, all the changes of the whole show in general will grow on everyone,” Molly explains. “But that’s just what’s real. Families grow and they change and people grow up a little bit and I think that the fans will be excited to see all

the new stuff that they have planned.” Molly will also star on The Fosters spin-off Good Trouble, which premieres in January 2019. The show focuses on Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana’s (Ramirez) new lives in L.A. as “adults in their ‘20s.” Molly plays Rebecca, a conservative lawyer who works alongside Callie as a clerk. “I auditioned for Good Trouble in a really good week,” Molly says. “I was having a really rough year of auditions leading up to this one. So I wasn’t feeling that great about where I was at.” When Molly heard about Good Trouble, her then-boyfriend and current fiancé encouraged her audition. When she went in, “it just felt right” and she got to discuss the character more in depth with the writers, producers, and casting directors. “Rebecca is hard to understand because I think a lot of people will love to hate her at first,” Molly says. “What’s important as an actor with those kinds of roles is finding why someone is like that, why she’s unlikable, and why she’s misunderstood.” The following day, Molly got engaged. The day after, she was at Disneyland when she found out that she got the part. “Good Trouble will always be special to me for so many reasons,” Molly says. With two shows that she’s thrilled for fans to watch, Molly is pleased with where her career is at. “I think I’ve struggled for enough years and I’ve lost enough jobs and I’ve had enough bad auditions to know that where I am right now is a really big deal for me,” says. “I also am aware that in this crazy industry, I can lose it any second. So all that I can do is work hard and make a good environment for the people that are working with me and appreciate where I’m at.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

violett beane Words by NICOLE MOOREFIELD Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

For nearly a decade, Violett Beane has told all kinds of stories — she’s played a superhero, a cancer patient, a demon-tormented teenager, a school shooting survivor, and now a journalist seeking to explain the supernatural on CBS’s God Friended Me. While Violett is excellent at delivering someone else’s voice, she is still finding her own. When Violett was 10, her family moved from Florida to Texas. “That’s what sparked the creativity inside of me,” she remembers. 9-year-old Violett had yet to find her passion, “but when I moved to Austin, every single type of art opened up to me,” from acting to sewing to building furniture. Violett began taking acting classes at her performing arts high school and got an agent shortly after. Even while balancing a burgeoning acting career, Violett was still a normal teenager. “When I was in high school, I had the brilliant idea — as high schoolers do — to ride on the back of a car,” she recalls. The first trip went safely, but “on our way back, the driver sped up, and I got scared, so I jumped off.” She landed on her heel (the thickest bone in her body, says her Instagram bio), cracking it in half. “I had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance,” she says, and spent two months in a wheelchair and on crutches. Senior year, when Violett’s classmates were applying to col-

lege, “something in me just clicked” that the traditional academic path wasn’t for her. She stopped applying and focused wholly on auditions. Her first big role after graduation was reenactment documentary Tower “about the first mass school shooting in America that happened 52 years ago at [The University of Texas],” she explains. Violett played Claire Wilson, who survived but lost her boyfriend and unborn child. “The documentary tells the story of a few of the survivors, and how people deal with something so tragic,” Violett says. “It was just a really special project to be a part of, especially in the world that we’re in now. This being one of the first ones, no one even knew what was going on,” Violett adds. Her new role on God Friended Me is much more hopeful. “The show is just a really uplifting, positive hour of television,” Violett shares. “I think in the world that we’re in right now, people need something like this.” God Friended Me is unlike other shows on television right now “that you walk away from and you don’t feel necessarily good about the world or yourself,” she notes. “I hope that people can watch it on a Sunday and just feel a little bit better about what’s going on in the world and feel a little bit more connected to the people around them.” The show follows podcaster Miles Finer (Brandon Michael Hall) who

strives to debunk the existence of a God. In the pilot, Miles is friended on Facebook by an account claiming to be God. “Being the atheist that he is, he denies the request a bunch of times,” Violett explains. When Miles eventually accepts the request, he starts receiving friend suggestions who then appear in his real life. As these strangers are thrown into his path, Miles helps solve their problems. Violett plays Cara Bloom, one of the friend suggestions. Journalist Cara moved to New York to reconnect with her mother, who left when Cara was a kid. Miles asks Cara for help unmasking the God account and discovers how intertwined their lives really are. As the debut season progresses, Violett shares, the audience will see Cara’s relationships grow. Not only will she and her mom let go of old grudges to strengthen their bond, “you’re also going to see a little bit of some romance brewing in various ways,” she hints. Violett’s favorite things about working on God Friended Me are her castmates and filming in New York. “Cara is a New Yorker,” Violett adds. “She moved here to find her mom, but she has a life here now.” Even though she has yet to brave a winter, “I personally love living here so far,” Violett shares. “There’s something for everyone.” For Violett, the best part of acting is the opportunity to live a thousand NKDMAG.COM

katelyn tarver Words by CARLY BUSH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Five years ago, Katelyn Tarver was a bubbly blonde Nickelodeon star. Now she’s a serious artist with something to say. The journey began 15 years ago, in a suburb of Savannah, Georgia. It was 2003, right on the heels of the finale of the first ever season of American Idol, and the show’s producers had announced the launch of an upcoming spin-off series exclusively for children called American Juniors. Katelyn was 13. After impressing the judges at her first audition in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Katelyn progressed steadily in the competition and ultimately secured a spot as a finalist in the top ten, alongside Memphis-born Lucy Hale, who went on to achieve success in Pretty Little Liars and on country radio. Though the competition, much like American Idol itself, was grueling, Katelyn recalls it as a time of intense excitement and thrill in which she became addicted to performing. She began fixating on what

now seemed like an attainable dream. Her success on American Juniors opened doors for her, most notably “access to people who worked in TV and film.” Young and eager to learn as much as she could about the industry, when she was encouraged to pursue acting, she said yes without hesitation. “I just kept exploring it, because I enjoyed it, and I wanted to see where it would go, and was getting lots and lots of opportunities,” she says. She maintained roots in Georgia throughout her teenage years, which allowed her a sense of normalcy even as more and more industry executives approached her. She balanced her studies with music and acting while living at home during high school; it was inevitable that she would make the move to Los Angeles upon graduation, but she was surprised to find that the industry took notice even while she was living the small-town life. “Even from being home, and doing auditions that way,

I started getting callbacks.” Katelyn actually managed to land the fan favorite role of Jo Taylor on Nickelodeon’s smash hit Big Time Rush, before she had moved westward. “I had gone out to L.A. to visit while I was starting to plan my move,” she recalls, “I think that was when I had auditioned the first time, and at the beginning, it was, like, a little unclear what the role was throughout the whole show.” The writers of the show had not initially intended to make the character of Jo a permanent fixture, and even now Katelyn is admittedly a bit baffled by the development of her character. Though she had originally auditioned with only one line for a single appearance in an episode, the writers began inserting more and more Jo storylines. Seemingly, fans had latched onto the relatable, peppy, girl-next-door persona that was Jo Taylor. Katelyn’s onscreen chemistry with Kendall Schmidt, who played boy band heartthrob Kendall Knight on the series, NKDMAG.COM

madison iseman Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

patrick droney

Words & Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Location: THOMPSON NASHVILLE

Patrick Droney is an adopter of cities, and his songs are mirrors to his time in them. Patrick’s affection for music started early, thanks to his father, who was a session guitar player. He grew up watching his dad play blues music and that love trickled into Patrick’s veins. While sports were engraved into the East Coast culture Patrick grew up around, a blood clotting disorder meant he couldn’t participate – so he

named the Best Young Blues Guitarist in the U.S., which led to him meeting and touring with the legendary B.B. King. “He kind of championed me and my first show was with James Brown. All of a sudden I was this little white kid playing blues with all the guys that really played blues,” he recalls. That was Patrick’s life from 12 to 16, and upon reflection he finds that time in his life rather strange. “Playing with my heroes, doing that at a young

and crossed the bridge over to New York City to attend NYU to study music. “Life hit me like a ton of bricks,” he recalls. Patrick went into school with only a “quiet context” of his triumphs known among his peers, and Patrick himself looked at his time in New York as life and not school. Growing up in the shadows of Manhattan, Patrick always romanticized the city and looked at it as a safe haven from his not-so-great high school expe-

“Playing with my heroes, doing that at a young age, was really interesting and tough at the same time.” followed in his father’s footsteps and picked up the guitar when he was 6-years-old. “Guitar seemed like a pretty safe thing… relatively,” he says. Shortly after his family moved from Lancaster, Penn., to right outside Atlantic City, New Jersey and Patrick started playing in bands and opening for artists that would come play at the casinos when he was only 11. Things picked up quickly for Patrick: at 12 he was

age was really interesting and tough at the same time, because you’re still really young and it probably isn’t your time to be doing that yet,” he says. Then came the realization that Patrick didn’t just want to be a guitar player – and especially a novelty kid that would one day be forgotten. So, he picked up a pen and starting writing songs. By 18 he had released a record and experienced his label folding, so he opted to go live some life

rience. Once he actually made the move, he made a strong effort to make the most of his time there and cast aside partying in lieu of absorbing what he was learning – which is not on par for typical college kids. “I’ve always felt a good 40 years older than I really am,” he jokes, “I always struggled with being a kid.” Towards the end of his time at college, Patrick got the opportunity to go to Los Angeles and play for a publishing com-

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JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY Words by LOUIS OPRISA Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Streaking through the multiverse, CW’s The Flash has returned, to much fanfare, for a fifth season for more super-family high-stakes drama dipped in delicious science fiction. At the center of this latest season, however, is the emergence of Barry and Iris West-Allen’s child, Nora, who’s managed to propel herself backwards in time to meet the younger versions of her parents. As her father, Barry, can attest to, the implications of traveling back in time to alter events can have disastrous consequences. As such, the role of Nora West-Allen, also known as XS, represents a pivotal turning point for a wildly successful TV installment of an already classic franchise. Filling the shoes of that role is established CW veteran, Jessica Parker Kennedy. Born in October of 1984, Jessica grew up in Calgary in the Canadian 24

province of Alberta with her mom and dog. Her mother took her to plenty of plays a kid, planting the initial seeds of a love for theatre and performing that would blossom later on in her life. Awarded with “Best Actress” honors in both junior high and high school, she says that the 1996 version of Romeo & Juliet was a pivotal inspiration point for her. “As soon as I saw Romeo & Juliet, I wanted to watch everything with Leonardo Dicaprio in it. I’m a massive fan of his and I really followed his career from all the stuff he’s done when he was young,” she says. Noting her admiration of the deliberate and certain nature of his acting style, her other inspirations include Cate Blanchett and Michael Shannon, who as she puts it, “is a beast of an actor, and I would give my left foot to work with that man.”

Despite a seemingly idyllic upbringing, Jessica’s experience in acting education wasn’t always easy, especially at the outset of her college career at the Mount Royal Theatre Arts program. In fact, she’s quite quick to point out her growing pains. “It was pretty traumatizing at first. I think school is a strange place. I remember in my first semester, in my voice and diction class, I was doing the best I possibly could, I was trying. I remember getting a ‘D’ in my first semester and not being able to understand why,” she explains. In addition to taking five acting classes, she was also enrolled in three electives on the side, spending most of her busy and free time on campus. One of the five acting classes was actually called ‘Acting’, while the other four were more mechanically focused on stretching, movement, yoga and voice control. While somewhat awkward and uncomfortable for her at first, Jessica grew to like the supplemental technique classes more than actual Acting class: “My least favorite class actually was the Acting class. I really liked doing everything else because everything else came from this organic place, getting to know how to manipulate your body into different characters. It’s the kind of stuff I found really, really interesting and rewarding,” she says. Jessica’s first-ever professional role was as Lucy the Elf in the TV movie Santa Baby (2006) and in the time since then, she feels more comfortable about her craft than at the start of her career. “Like anything, you’re more settled in your own skin when you’re comfortable in an environment that was new

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kaylee bryant Words & Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Make-Up by MAGDELENA MAJOR

The year was 2009 and vampires were the coolest thing in the world. After the massive success of Twilight, the creatures of the night moved to the small screen and The Vampire Diaries premiered to 4.9 million people – making it The CW’s biggest series premiere. Only in middle school at the time, Kaylee Bryant soon became a huge fan and followed the Salvatore Brothers through eight seasons. Now 21, Kaylee stars as Josie Saltzman in the third installment of The Vampire Diaries franchise, Legacies. Kaylee was born in Florida but moved around a lot as a child – mostly being raised in Las Vegas and Hawaii. She was a self-proclaimed “shy and awkward kid”, and had a love for watching movies. She always knew she wanted to be like the characters on the screen, but she didn’t necessarily know what that meant at the time. After a family photographer noticed Kaylee enjoyed being in front of the camera, she decided to explore that further. Too shy to dive right into acting, Kaylee started modeling when she was eight. After four years in front of a still camera, Kaylee took the first step towards her now-realized acting dreams and began acting in theatre productions. “It really brought me out of my shell and helped me become the obnoxious person that I am today,” she jokes. From there, she made the eventual move to television and film. “I feel like I’ve been gradually working since I started,” Kaylee reflects, “It wasn’t something that came very easy to me. I stated with extra work, to co-stars, to guest stars, to reoccurring to now, [a series regular] on Legacies.” Because of the slow but steady rise of her career, Kaylee has never felt underprepared to take on a role and feels she is currently at a level where not only is she confident in herself, but the people around her are confident in her abilities as well. Always a fan of the supernatural,

Kaylee loved The Vampire Diaries’ ability to tell emotional, grounded stories with the heightened excitement of mystical creatures. As soon as Kaylee heard they were creating another spinoff (following the success of The Originals, which concluded this summer), and that creator Julie Plec was attached to the project, Kaylee knew she wanted to be a part of it. She didn’t even see a script until she officially booked the role, but had faith in the people involved that it was going to be great. Legacies will follow the lives of the students of the Salvatore Boarding School of the Young & Gifted in Mystic Falls – a school for vampires, werewolves and witches to hone their powers and be amongst more of their kinds. It’s a different take on the town Vampire Diaries fans became used to, but a fresh one. The show will take a procedural approach and each episode will feature a monster of the week – but don’t worry, there will still be plenty of angst. These are teenagers, after all. “I was walking in expecting that same breath of that very dark, very dramatic, harsh world, and it’s so different and it’s so funny,” Kaylee says, “It’s a lot lighter and it’s way more about friendship than anything else.” Josie Saltzman is the daughter of Alaric Saltzman (Matt Davis) and Caroline Forbes (Candice King) – a title she shares with her twin sister, Lizzie (Jenny Boyd). While Vampire Dairies fans will remember the twins as children in the show’s later seasons, Legacies will show them as full-fledged teenagers with dynamic personalities. “The twins’ dynamic is interesting. Josie is very kind and soft-spoken, and goes out of her way to make sure everyone else is in their place and doing what they need to do, which definitely harms her in a lot of ways,” Kaylee says, “Lizzie is the outgoing, kind of crazy one that is willing to say anything and everything without

thinking.” The absence of the twins’ mother (which will be explained sooner rather than later) will weigh heavy on the two of them, and in turn they will need to lean on each other. “They just really miss their mom, and that’s a big thing looming this season,” Kaylee says. The first episode of Legacies is in place to introduce both old and new fans to a new world of characters, and the second episode will bring forward the first monster that the Salvatore students must face. “They started off strong,” Kaylee teases. The monsters throughout the season will be nothing like what viewers have seen in Mystic Falls before, which Kaylee finds extremely exciting. “The monsters get better and better every single week,” Kaylee says. While the school is exclusively for mystical students, to the town of Mystic Falls is it a snotty prep school – and that opens the door for an old-fashioned high school rivalry between the Salvatore Stallions and the Mystic Falls Timberwolves. “We just see how nasty these kids are,” Kaylee says. With additional episodes already ordered by the network, Legacies is poised to be a monster (pun intended) hit. Kaylee teases that Episode 5 is one to look forward to, but is mum on the details of exactly why. “It’s for the people that enjoyed The Vampire Diaries and The Originals formula, because it’s way more in that vein,” she says. Coming into this magical world has been nerve-wracking for Kaylee, but she’s excited for people to finally see what her and her cast have been working on. “We want to do right by [the original fans], but there’s also a level of needing to let go and be our own thing,” she says, “You can get really wrapped up in your head about what people want for your character and your show, but when it comes down to it, we are creating a new show.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

Coat by MORGAN CLIFFORD

NICOLE MAINES Words by STACY MAGALLON Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Styling by AUDREY BRIANNE Hair by REBECCA AMPLAYO Make-Up by NICOLE BLANCO

If you ask Nicole Maines a question, you’ll never be disappointed with the length of her answer. The actress and trans activist calls me from Vancouver where she’s currently filming season four of CW’s Supergirl. “I’m doing a whole lot of nothing right now,” she says, while putting off some packing before she heads to Los Angeles later in the evening. Nicole, who was previously featured in the HBO feature The Trans List and Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family, by Amy Ellis Nutt, might need that down time. From leading a social crusade in one life to portraying a superhero in another, doing a whole lot of nothing seems reasonable. “If I had a transgender superhero growing up, that would have been a complete game changer,” she says. Nicole speaks slowly and with indisputable conviction — she knows that her words hold a lot of weight. The momentousness of her role as the first televised transgender superhero, and the responsibility of getting it right, helps manifest her conscientious

attitude. Nicole was born as an identical twin and adopted by Kelly and Wayne Maines in 1997. It only took her a few years to recognize that she didn’t identify with the gender she was assigned at birth. One of the few moments Nicole remembers where she felt comfortable in her clothes was during a day of playing dress-up. Nicole recalls memories she shared with her grandmother, who crafted eccentric costumes with staples and a hot glue gun. “I really got to express my gender however I wanted to,” she says. That freedom of creativity and self-expression lead to the twins’ discovery of drama club in middle school, where they actively participated in school productions. “My first ever role was Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Nicole says, laughing. There’s a lot of pride in her voice. “I beat out a bunch of girls for that role. Some of them are still bitter about it.” By the time Nicole was a toddler, she began to feel misaligned with her assigned gender identity, and wondered if every child felt the same way. She wondered if her

experience was normal. That worry was perpetuated by the times she would look over at Jonas, her twin, and see a sense of security. “I was very blunt to my parents about it,” Nicole says, adding that a 4-year old’s honesty knows no bounds. “I was like, ‘Yeah, this whole being a boy thing? I’m not really feeling it.’” Her parents’ reactions were mixed. Wayne Maines was raised in a working class family with inflexible traditional values, and he prioritized the neighbor’s opinions more than his children’s gender expression. In contrast, Kelly Maines’ beliefs were more structured around acceptance and safety, despite the dearth of information on how to raise transgender children at the time. “My dad didn’t know how to react to his son wanting to be a girl,” Nicole remembers. “He never loved me any less. He just didn’t know how to deal with it. So he ignored it.” When the Maines’ parents recognized that Nicole’s feelings about her gender identity contributed to her internalized anger, the outbursts that soon followed, and her anxiety and depressive episodes, they agreed it was NKDMAG.COM

spencer sutherland Words by RACHEL HILL Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

An American on the United Kingdom’s The X Factor? Isn’t that against the rules or something? Not when head honcho Simon Cowell has his assistant summon you to come audition. Spencer Sutherland was the exception to the rule. Simon wasn’t the only TV singing competition producer to chase after Spencer. The Voice and America’s Got Talent have both reached out in the past. But what made this opportunity different was the obvious nationality anomaly. Inevitably, Spencer was voted off during the first live show of the 2017 season, but The X Factor did wonders for his international exposure. The Ohio born-and-bred singer/songwriter got his start playing restaurants as a teenager compared to having a job like his friends. This isn’t one of those ‘Oh, I happened to stumble upon musical artistry’ stories – for Spencer knew he wanted to be a singer as a young boy. He grew up surrounded by the works of Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley and Marvin Gaye. It doesn’t take a highly trained ear to notice their influences woven throughout his own creations. Those who knew Spencer as a kid more than likely witnessed one of his often Elvis impersonations, which he used as a form of immersion for learning to play

guitar. Around this time he began listening to Green Day and other rock music, which combined with his established music tastes, he claims led him straight to where he is now. Spencer first threw his hat in the official songwriting ring five or six years ago, but he has regarded himself as a poetic soul ever since childhood. He recalls a fifth grade assignment in which his class had to write about where they would be happiest. While a majority of his classmates mentioned the beach, Spencer depicted a scene at Elvis’ ‘68 Comeback Special. “I wrote about the lights, the crowd, and how everyone was anticipating,” he says, “I just remember that was the first time my mom was like, ‘Woah, you can write.’” However, refining his craft as a songwriter took lots of hours. Around 10,000 to be exact. He points out, “It’s funny because a lot of people say you have to put 10,000 hours into things before you can call yourself a guitarist, a singer, a writer, and I think that’s the truest thing ever. Especially for writing, for me.” His denotes his first work released in 2014 as ‘poppy,’ also divulging he didn’t write that much on it. Fast forward four years and a few thousand scrapped lyrics later, Spencer feels as though he’s finally gotten the rhythm of it. “It’s not about a girl and trying to

get a girl, like how it used to be. It’s kind of just about like real and raw things that I’m going through and that I think people can connect to,” he says, “If you’ve got a line that’s real, then it’s right.” As far as his ideal creative process, he fancies a collaborative setting where various ideas are tossed around. “I actually love to collaborate. I feel like I’m better at melodies and someone may have the better lyric. I think if everyone uses their strengths, then the song comes out the strongest,” Spencer adds. Of course an ideal environment to link up with and work alongside musically minded people is on tour, which he hopes he can pull off by the end of it. Throw in a scenic overlook (his tour route passes through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado) and you’ve got some potential magic. Spencer’s currently on the road opening up for In Real Life, the quintet formed off the ABC show Boy Band. He actually befriended the lads naturally, as his manager works with them a bit as well. They often all meet up at Spencer’s favorite L.A. spot for coffee, Crave Café. As tour plans were solidified, In Real Life’s team extended the offer to him. “Their manager asked if it would be cool with me jumping on. They were like, ‘Oh, we would love that. That would be awesome,’” he recalls, “So next NKDMAG.COM

luxtides Words by VANESSA SALLES Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Primed for stardom, Danni Bouchard is a name you want to get familiar with. Known professionally as LUXTIDES, the singer-songwriter isn’t afraid to be vulnerable when it comes to making music. “I decided pretty early on that I wasn’t going to hold back,” she says. “I want to be able to talk about the things that are in my head and in my past because I think there’s something healing about that. It’s important for the people listening to know that someone else has dealt with the same heavy situations that they have.” Refusing to let her struggles define her, Danni’s new sound is one of self-exploration. “My musical journey has been a roller-coaster,” she describes. “I toured the country with my old band, Oh Honey, played The Today Show, watched my song be covered on Glee and so many other milestones. However, I’ve also had to deal with a lot of disappointment and hard goodbyes. Creating and releasing music as LUXTIDES has felt like the most ‘me’ thing I’ve done in my entire life.” Recalling the moment that she reinvented herself as an artist, Danni reveals she was dealing with a tough time in her personal life. “LUXTIDES was born out of one of the darkest periods in my life,” she reveals. “It was the end of 2016 and Oh Honey was fizzling out. I remember feeling like I had no idea where to go or what to do next. I sat at my keyboard for the first time in so long and this song just fell out of me. It was called ‘Shadow’ and it was about my ongoing struggle with anxiety, OCD and depression. I’m a work in progress and the music industry is not always the

kindest career path for someone with severe anxiety. People are finally starting to talk about and address the mental health issues which I think is very important and is something I want to carry on doing as well.” Once the song was officially on paper, “Shadow” took on a life of its own. “I couldn’t get it out of my head,” the singer says. “I showed it to my boyfriend, Steve, who plays drums in the band Young Rising Sons. He loved it and suggested I should reach out to the band’s lead singer, who’s also a producer. We went over to his house to finish writing the song and he started adding all of these dark synth sounds; I think that was the moment that I realized this might actually be something. Around the same time, I was connected through a friend with his new producer, Jonny Fung, who had just moved to Brooklyn. We clicked right away and I knew he had to be involved in whatever this project was. After he added all of his crazy, weird, dark sounds to ‘Shadow’, I had my first song baby.” Born in New York and currently based in New Jersey, Danni merged her love for both worlds to create her moniker. “I was born in a small town in Upstate New York called Halfmoon,” she explains. “Now, I live in Asbury Park, NJ, just a couple blocks away from the beach. The tides are like the love affair between the moon and the sea. ‘LUXTIDES’ just fit perfectly.” Three single releases later, Danni’s found success and a newfound confidence to match it. “For this project, I want to be honest and tell my story in my own words,” she shares. “My writing style is very

poetic and I love that I’m ultimately able to be authentic and make my own choices because it’s all mine. So many people have been connecting with lyrics and the outpouring of love and support is what pushes me to release more music.” If Danni’s accomplishments in 2018 is any indicator of her future success, it’s safe to say that the singer’s going nowhere but up. “My No. 1 goal for this year was to sign my first publishing deal,” she notes. “In April, I signed with Rough Trade, who just got me my first LUXTIDES TV placement, on Netflix’s Terrace House. I also got my first radio play for this project: Sirius XM The Pulse played my song ‘Fragile’ on their show. This year was also the year of my first live performance as LUXTIDES. I was crazy nervous but I was on such a high when I finished it – those types of experiences are all things that every artist lives for. I’m so thankful for my band and all the people who have helped me make it possible.” As for what’s up next, the singer reveals she has a few projects in the works. “There are some really exciting things happening that I can’t quite talk about yet,” she gushes. “I have a few shows coming up and I’ll be releasing another song before the end of the year – it’s probably the most important one I’ve ever written so I’m excited for people to hear it!” With a list of goals for 2019, Danni’s got a lot of things she’d like to cross off her bucket list. “I would really love to release an EP because I have so many unreleased songs just floating around,” she says. “There are also a lot of ‘witchy’ shows coming out next year so it’s also a major goal to get my songs placed in one of them.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

TOM FELTON Words by IAN HAYS Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Grooming by FAYE LAUREN Styling by DANI MORALES

daniella perkins Words by SAMANTHA BAMBINO Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

In February 2018, 18-yearold Daniella Perkins became something of a hero for children, tweens and teens everywhere. Her character Ciara was unveiled to the world during the premiere of Knight Squad, an all-new Nickelodeon series that chronicles the lives of two high schoolers who are hiding major secrets from their magical peers. Ciara is unlike anything young Nickelodeon viewers have seen in a leading female part. Curly-haired, sassy and incredibly smart, she exudes an unshakeable sense of strength and determination as she sets out to become a knight, all while protecting her identity as a princess. What those viewers may not realize is that the actress behind the character shares an almost identical journey (minus the royalty part) of defying the odds and never giving up until her dream becomes a reality. During her years growing up in Orange County, California, Daniella wasn’t always the outgoing, bubbly person fans have come to know and love. In fact, she admits she used to be pretty shy. Though Daniella began to break out of her shell in middle school, she maintained a certain reservation while out in public. But at home, it was an entirely different story.

“In front of my family, I was very outgoing. I would put on plays for my grandmom, my grandpop, my mom. I’d make them hold flashlights so it was like a spotlight against me,” she says. “I’d sing for them and I’d just put on plays with my animals and stuff. So I was always interested in performing arts, I just wasn’t open to doing it publicly.” At 13, Daniella decided to further emerge from her comfort zone and give musical theater a shot. She ended up loving the experience and stuck with it for a while, but quickly realized she wanted more. She wanted to showcase her talents on a larger platform than what musical theater could provide. She wanted to act. “I was like, oh my gosh, I could actually be on TV. I could actually be an actress,” she says. “I was very determined. I was like, nothing can stop me. I’m going to book something, I’ll do it. The whole time I had it in my head that I was going to make it.” With the unwavering support of her family behind her, Daniella dove headfirst into the cutthroat entertainment industry. Though she was still in her early teens at this point, she had the confidence level of someone far older. And it paid off. Daniella soon landed a spot in

a fashion commercial, and while she refers to the gig as “not a real, real thing,” she credits it as the job that helped her prepare for her first-ever Nickelodeon audition. Daniella’s big break came in 2016 when she landed the role of Sophia in the channel’s series Legendary Dudas. “She was very girly and she had a boyfriend on the show,” Daniella says of Sophia. “It was weird though because I auditioned and the character was supposed to be 12 and I was 15.” At first, Daniella was convinced she wasn’t going to get the role. Thankfully, she’s always had a knack for appearing younger than she actually is. Reflecting on that stressful time of uncertainty, she expresses gratitude toward the show’s casting director, who saw something special in Daniella and sent her through to the producers. Since then, the studios of Nickelodeon have basically become a second home for Daniella, who has gone on to star in its made-for-TV movie Blurt and most recently, Knight Squad. “Nickelodeon is really my starting point, which is such an amazing opportunity,” she says. “Sometimes for a lot of people, it takes years in acting to get their big break and I was lucky enough to find my spot as early as I did NKDMAG.COM

merritt patterson Words by ELIZABETH FORREST Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Make-Up by AMY STROZZI Hair by DAVE STANWELL

Words by CHRISTINE Oâ€™DEA Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

ATTICUS

“That was the first poem I ever wrote,” Atticus says of the moment that led him to his career. “I was in Paris and I saw something I thought was quite beautiful, so I took out my phone and I wrote some really simple words about it.” The beauty and romantic backdrops of Europe have inspired countless authors and artists, but none quite like Atticus, whose writing career gained a following of thousands after sharing his poems anonymously on Instagram. People around the world share his posts, read his words, buy his books, and even tattoo their favorite lines permanently on their bodies. With last month’s release of his second book, The Dark Between Stars, Atticus recalls what it took for his thoughts to be placed in the hands of so many. “I posted it online and I chose to do it anonymously because it would remind me to write what I feel and not what I think I should feel, and to be true to myself,” he explains. Though he never expected that the words he put together for his own love of it would resonate so well with strangers, he remains humble and chooses to write anonymously. At book signings and events, he even wears a mask. “I continue to wear the mask because I’m not interested in being recognized in streets or restaurants,” he says. He was a trendsetter and one of the first to bring poetry to Instagram, but Atticus may also be setting a new trend when it comes to the search for happiness. He quoted Bill Murray, who said, “I always want to say to people who want to be rich and famous: ‘Try being rich first’.” “[Fame] can bring a huge amount of awareness and power and acclaim,” he says. “And on the other end, it can change you and it can change your art. It can really make you do things for

the wrong reasons.” Atticus believes in searching for fulfillment and worth in his own passions rather than through someone else’s validation or approval, and it’s a theme he continues to share with readers. “I’m tired of their stories, let’s write our own,” he writes in one Instagram post. The authenticity and individuality in Atticus’ writing encourages young people to move more toward human connection. The contrast and irony between the fact that he uses Instagram as a platform but reminds people to be human and imperfect is what makes Atticus intriguing beyond the anonymity. “One of the beautiful things about social media is that you can connect with a huge amount of people. However, one of the problems with it is that your connections might be somewhat superficial,” he says. In search of balance between his message and his outlet, Atticus began his book tours – but not without a mask, of course. “I really wanted to connect with people personally,” he explains. Wearing a mask allows him to be there and to meet people, shake their hands, and hear the stories he has inspired. “I’ve really appreciated the connections I’ve had with the humans that follow the book. It’s one thing to read my poems online, but the book has allowed people to hold it and have it.” Readers around the world take Atticus’ books everywhere, from their couch to the tops of mountains, on beaches and while relaxing in bathtubs. He even encourages people to write, draw, scribble, and doodle within its pages. He calls this the “tangibility” of his work, and he is moved by it. The human aspect that Atticus represents in his writing and as an author is what readers didn’t know they needed. “Maybe it’s a lot of writers, maybe it’s a

lot of humans, or maybe it’s me,” he says with a laugh. “But I consistently doubt myself.” Though he has been writing for years, Atticus never considered writing a book out of a fear most people can relate to: not being “good enough”. With time and trying, a book deal with Simon and Schuster came through and Atticus successfully released two books in two years. Love Her Wild made him an international sensation, and The Dark Between Stars made him a New York Times bestselling author. “Everyone celebrates how beautiful the stars are, but they don’t really talk about how beautiful the dark space is between them,” he explains. “You need that duality to find beauty in both of them.” The salute to life and people in Atticus’ writing is loud, and he compares every person’s quirks and idiosyncrasies to that of the dark between stars: they are celebrations. In an age where so much value is placed on the number of likes and follows, Atticus finds that the simple ease and ability that readers have with relating to his words is what is truly rewarding. Fans have come forward to tell him true stories about how his poems inspired them during hardships, got them through breakups and depression, and inspired them to use writing or poetry as a form of expression. During book tour events, he is often asked to write his poems, so the stencils can later be used for tattoos. “It’s a scary thing because I have terrible handwriting!” he admits. Regardless of his handwriting, Atticus’ words are being shared with people across the world, to inspire more creation and growth both independently as people and humanity as a whole. It’s safe to say that it is just the beginning of Atticus’ journey in the search for what’s meaningful. After all, he says, “The best muses inspire truth over imagination.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

NEW YORK COMIC CON class of 2018 Photographed & Interviewed by CATHERINE POWELL

Amy Acker

Allegra Acosta

The Gifted “Kate’s trying to get Andy back and tha’ts all she’s thinking about. That leads to wanting to rally the army to fight The Inner Circle and bring them down. She finds a partner in crime with Eclipse.”

Marvel’s Runaways “The most important moment for Molly is her epiphany that she wants to be a superhero. She wants to have this double life, she wants people to recognize her and she wants to inspire.”

Coby Bell

Camren Bicondova

The Gifted “Jace’s life has fallen apart. This year he’s a man with a mission but has no one to help him with that mission. He loses his wife, loses his house, loses everything.”

Gotham “The first Comic Con that I went to, I was so nervous and I had no idea what to expect. But there was so much support from the audience, even though they hadn’t seen the show yet.”

Grace Byers

Chris Chalk

The Gifted “This is Reeva’s first journey as the one that’s going to be leading an operation that could very well be successful, and very well change the scope of the entire world.”

Gotham “I came in at the end of Season 1 and I was like, ‘Coming in at the end of a season is going to suck.’ And [the cast] was the nicest, and so welcoming, generous and loving.”

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Jamie Chung The Gifted “My character has a really strong relationship with Thunderbird currently, but with everything else going on and falling apart, I think she eventually really questions where she truly belongs.”

Josh Dallas Manifest “The idea of these interupted lives. It wasn’t just about this high-concpet idea of the plane disappearing, but it was this really grounded family drama and the complexities of that.”

Emma Dumont

Fola Evans-Akingbola

The Gifted “Lorna’s journey is being a mother. It changes her whole world, as most people who have their first child find out. Everything changes; what she finds valuable and important changes.”

Siren “I think to sum up Season 2, especially for Maddie, it’s about exploring what is worth fighting for and all of the characters are kind of exploring that.”

Rhenzy Felix

Donal Logue

Marvel’s Runaways “We got to watch the first episode for the first time at New York Comic Con last year, and to me, that was such a stand-out moment as a person and a human being.”

Gotham “All the really memorable moments were the human ones that have very little to do with what’s in the script or what we’re shooting. Just becoming really close with everybody.”

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Billy Magnussen

Bob Morley

Tell Me A Story “Nick is a deceptive figure. It really takes a study into the depths of insanity, almost. I think Kevin Williamson has created a weird, crazy playground for these characters to play in.”

The 100 “I think we’ve gotten used to our abandonment issues, because we lose people so quickly [from our show], but there’s a core group of us that are still really tight.”

Lyrica Okana

Sean Pertwee

Marvel’s Runaways “We are truly runaways now. We are on our own and we don’t know what we’re doing, and Nico is kind of in that headspace of trying to make sure that everyone is doing okay.”

Gotham “Being allowed to join the list of great actors that have played [Alfred], and to be involved in something like that and to actually meet the fans and see their real passion has been really memorable.”

Eline Powell Siren “Ryn is being pushed very much [in Season 2]. She’s being pushed both as a mermaid learning to be human, and just as a mermaid. She’s kind of on her own.”

Alex Roe Siren “Ben’s wallowing in his own self pity is going to be quickly halted. He’s going to try and figure out how to make himself better and get more control over his brain.”

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Melissa Roxburgh Manifest “It’s a perfect balance of this crazy mystery, balanced with these complex characters going through these things in a way that you can’t help but relate to.”

Cory Michael Smith Gotham “The first day that I tried on the green suit was pretty badass, seeing Ed’s apartment, the first time I fired a gun on the show was the first time I fired one in life. It’s all memorable.”

Eliza Taylor

Robin Lord Taylor

The 100 “Clarke is not doing too great. It’s a lot for a young lass. But this season she’s going to be coming to terms with the things she’s done. It’s a lot of her trying to make amends.”

Gotham “I made some of the best friends I’ve ever made in my entire life and I work with some of the most commited artists that I’ve ever met. These people have made me a better actor and a better person.”

Sean Teale

James Wolk

The Gifted “A lot of Eclipse’s stability stems from his relationship with Polaris, and also this future child that he’s going to have. This family that he didn’t know he wanted. He’s trying to keep it together.”

Tell Me A Story “We get to the root of good storytelling. It’s a really dark, psychological thriller that rips the stories from fairytales and sets them in modern day Manhattan.”

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