NKD Mag - Issue #96 (June 2019)

ISSUE #96 - JUNE 2019

JUNE 2019 16 LOOTE

04 QUINN LEWIS

on the success of “no promises” + their upcoming ep, lost

06 CIARA RILEY WILSON

on good trouble + the rise of asian american roles in hollywood

10 BREANNA YDE

on being a band for over a decade + their new album, phantoms

on his time in college + his songwriting style

on what she learned on la’s finest + her role in kim possible

on her nickelodeon days + her new project, malibu rescue

30 FRANCIA RAISA

20 KEN KIRBY

on her struggles as an actress + her current role on grown-ish

22 MARIANAS TRENCH

on growing up with a musical father + his recording process

28 HELEN HIGHFIELD

on highlighting their harmonies + their debut ep, magic

40 BILLY RAFFOUL

44 FAIRGROUND SAINTS

on doing things she’s not supposed to + season 2 of i ship it

CATHERINE POWELL

publisher, editor, photographer, designer, writer

SAMANTHA BAMBINO

ELIZABETH FORREST

VANESSA SALLES

writer

writer

OLEVA BERARD

IAN HAYS

LEXI SHANNON

writer writer

ANNIE CONDODINA writer

writer

writer

OLIVIA SINGH writer

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quinn lewis Words by ANNIE CONDODINA Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

2019 has been a big year for rising star Quinn Lewis. From getting signed to a new record label, dropping three singles in four months, and touring North America, this 23-year-old Australian singer-songwriter is more than ready to take the music scene by storm.

“I absolutely love being on the road,” Quinn gushes, on route from Montreal to Toronto. “The goal is to always be doing something.”

His spring tour with Kevin Garrett kicked off in early May and Quinn is clearly having a blast. His acoustic sets and soulful voice are making their way into the hearts of crowds everywhere.

Quinn is barely a stranger to this nomadic lifestyle. He was born and raised in Brisbane, but his teenage years saw a big family move to the U.S. They lived in North Carolina before moving out to Los Angeles for his dad’s job, all the while going back and forth to Australia. It was a time of uncertainty and instability.

And arguably, it created the perfect storm for inspiration.

In Los Angeles, Quinn found his passion for songwriting in loneliness. “I didn’t know anyone at school, so when I came home all I would do was write,” he recalls.

Quinn cites Sam Smith’s album In The Lonely Hour as one of his favorites at the time. “I was listening to it like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in my lonely hour.’ [Sam Smith is] a massive inspiration,” he says.

While songwriting became an important hobby, heading to school for music was never on Quinn’s agenda. But his friend convinced him to apply Belmont University in Nashville – a school notorious for its competitive and prestigious music programs. Once Quinn fell in love with the music studios, the migration to Nashville began.

“I was so intimidated by the other music students who were so much better than me. It was an eye-opener. I would be sitting in a dorm room watching someone play guitar better than anyone I had ever seen,” he says. Quinn quickly realized he was going to have to find his “thing”; something about him that wouldn’t get him lost in the crowd. It was his lyrical talent. “I thought, ‘What can I say that no one else can say?’ When I found that, that’s when people started giving me more credit,” he says.

Quinn saw his success grow after dropping out of Belmont two years in. He had opportunities to write with big names in Nashville such as Super Duper, who helped him produce his lovelorn electro-pop single “Slipping” in 2017.

This January, he signed with Arista, helping to propel him even further. Quinn cites the release of his three singles already this year: “They helped me make big jumps that I didn’t think I would achieve in the time period that I did.”

His most recent single, “Only Everything”, is a bit different for one big reason: it’s not sad. “It’s one of those songs that I’m not necessarily feeling right now,” he admits.

“It’s really lovey-dovey.” Quinn draws most of his inspiration from pain. “It’s easier to capture those feelings. Being single and having all of my friends being in relationships, that’s when it’s easier to write those songs.” He references his early 2019 single “Hanging On” as an example. “I was straight up in that emotion while I wrote it,” Quinn says.

When Quinn began songwriting, he divulges that his songs weren’t as honest. “Originally I thought, ‘I’m just going to write a bunch of hits and it’s all just going to happen right away,’” he says.

“Writing now for me is the process of figuring out what I’m going through, getting into the room and saying, ‘How can we say this so that everyone can relate?’ It’s more introspective.”

That’s evident from his heartfelt March release, “Pushing All My Friends Away”. Quinn begins by talking about how he never got to sit at the cool table when he was younger. “I still don’t feel like I have a spot there. I think every time you hit one cool table, there’s another one in front of you,” he says.

But there’s one thing Quinn is sure of: “I feel a lot cooler now than I did in middle school.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

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ciara riley wilson Words by ELIZABETH FORREST Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Ciara Riley Wilson’s love for acting ignited at an acting camp at the age of 11. While there, she fell in love with the passion of the craft and quickly decided that acting was where she wanted to devote the majority of her time. Shortly after completing the program, Ciara made the transition to Los Angeles from her home state of Oregon with her parents to pursue it professionally.

Ciara grew up as a dancer.

Because both art forms often cross paths, her background in dancing made the transition into acting smoother than expected. “A lot of people don’t realize how actors have to use their body, have body awareness and that there are a lot of different roles that require dancing or stunt work,” Ciara explains.

What really pushed Ciara into acting over dance was the psychological aspect of it. “That’s what I find incredibly interesting,” she says, “So, when I get an audition, I always really dive deep into the character and the journey they go through or the way the character is feeling.” She has a very academic

approach to it. When preparing for a new role, Ciara starts with writing; she has a journal and begins a new page in it for every new character. There, she writes down the basics, like their age, parents and background, as well as things like how they see the world and their favorite food. “With myself, I know my favorite movie and color, so if I were to portray a character, they would know off the top of their head those things about themselves too,” Ciara explains, “It just really helps me envelope myself into this new person that I have to portray.”

After her move to Los Angeles and signing with an agency, Ciara booked a few roles on TV shows.

One of her first major roles came when she was cast as Athena in Kim Possible. The movie revamped the popular original series, and although that was before Ciara’s time, she knew the movie would be a huge deal and loved the concept.

“It was incredible to have these two different fan bases,” Ciara remembers. “The fans of the original series were really curious to see

how the movie would come out, and then it was a really cool thing to also introduce these beloved characters to an entire new generation who have no idea who Kim Possible is.”

The movie was filmed in Vancouver, and as soon as Ciara came back home from shooting, she went right back to auditioning.

One of the first shows she auditioned for upon her return home was LA’s Finest, a spinoff series of Bad Boys. Ciara was cast as Letti Ramirez, and the show and role were about as different from anything on Disney Channel as can be. “I really wanted to expand my horizons and do a dramatic role,” Ciara explains. The entire process had a different dynamic than anything she had done before.

“The vibe is more serious, but I loved having that different world and getting into a different mindset and having a more mature role under my belt,” she says.

Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba both star in LA’s Finest. “It’s really cool to see them on set because they have so much expeNKDMAG.COM

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rience, they really know how to command their space and they know exactly what they’re doing,” Ciara says. She learned from them just by sitting next to them between takes and discussing their past jobs and roles. It really made an impact on her that they took her and the other newer, less experienced cast members under their wings. “In the future, I want to be that way to people who are starting out,” Ciara says.

Although Kim Possible and LA’s Finest seem to be completely opposite shows, they both share an imperative link that Ciara values above all else when choosing a role: girl power. “This is the era of girl power right now, and I’m so glad that the direction of television and movies are showing these really strong female characters just doing the things that they set their minds to,” she says. Ciara hopes her next roles will follow suit.

Ciara is still mostly able to slip under the radar when out in public, but sometimes at movie theaters or restaurants, people approach her to ask for a picture.

Ciara is still always surprised that people actually recognize her.

“They’re always like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, can I get a picture?’

And I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh you recognize me, that’s so cool,’” Ciara laughs. She loves when fans come up to talk to her; she appreciates the chance to talk, meet them and follow them on Instagram.

With over 121,000 followers on the platform, Ciara has a sizable following on Instagram. When she signed onto Kim Possible, she knew that there would be some sort of online backlash because her character, Athena, wasn’t part 08

of the original show. However, she was surprised to find that there was an incredibly supportive group of fans there for her. “That kind of love overrides any of the hateful comments and anything negative that comes my way,” Ciara says.

She also had another experience that allowed her to connect more deeply with fans: Disney Channel’s Fan Fest Cavalcade. There, Ciara had the opportunity to meet with those that had seen Kim Possible face-to-face for the first time, rather than just through social media.

“That was a really cool thing, just to see what their favorite moments were and what they thought of the different characters and to be able to hug them,” Ciara remembers.

As a host of the festival, she also had the chance to interview other Disney Channel actors. She was most excited to speak with Raven Symone, who voiced Monique on the original Kim Possible. Ciara was also excited to speak with Dove Cameron and Sofia Carson.

“They’re so sweet and such great role models,” Ciara says. They were filming Descendants 3 at the same time and place that they filmed Kim Possible, so Ciara used to run into them at the hotel and had already met them.

In the future, Ciara hopes to act in more movies. Being able to spend more time on each scene, line and moment during Kim Possible made it easier to really get in character, so she’s like to explore that aspect of acting more. Most of all, Cara is just excited for what’s to come. “I just recently turned 18, so I feel like it’s a new chapter in my life, being an adult and seeing where the future takes me,” she says. NKD

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breanna yde Words by SAMANTHA BAMBINO Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Glam by MEGAN LANOUX Styling by FRANZY STAEDTER

We never forget the moment when our life’s purpose - our calling - is revealed to us. For Breanna Yde, this powerful revelation happened at the age of 6.

At the suggestion of “Mama Yde,” Breanna’s older brother not-so-willingly let her tag along on his date to see Lady Gaga.

Standing beside her sibling and his girlfriend, Breanna was mesmerized as she watched the pop star captivate the audience with her unmatched vocals, spot-on choreography and intricate, overthe-top costumes. By the end of Gaga’s set, one thing was clear to Breanna - she wanted to be an entertainer.

Today, the 15-year-old Sydney, Australia native describes that show as the “catalyst” for her love of performing.

“It was quite the concert, and I realized that anybody can do this for a living,” Breanna says.

That childhood realization was, in fact, correct. Over the years, Breanna became a familiar face on Nickelodeon, starring as Frankie in The Haunted Hathaways and Tomika on School of Rock. Now, she’s embarking on the next chapter of her career as Gina in Malibu Rescue - a Netflix movie, which premiered on May 13th, and follow-up series, which debuts on June 3rd.

Appearing in simultaneous productions on one of the world’s leading streaming services is a huge deal for Breanna, who embarked on her journey to stardom in her second hometown of San Diego, California.

Following that unforgettable Lady Gaga concert, Breanna expressed her newly-discovered 12

dreams to her parents. She told them how she wanted to sing, dance and be on TV. Though the Ydes knew the odds of “making it big” were a longshot, their daughter’s passion, even at 6, was infectious.

Each day after her regular school hours, Breanna attended a performing arts program for three hours, learning everything from singing and acting to hairdressing. During the program’s annual talent show, Breanna met the person who would soon become her agent.

“That’s basically where it all started,” she says.

Breanna quickly began booking auditions, with her dedicated parents driving her back and forth between San Diego and Los Angeles nearly every day.

Eventually, the commute grew to be too much and the family relocated to L.A. Once the Ydes did so, Breanna landed her first big break - Frankie on The Haunted Hathaways.

The series, which follows a human mother and her two daughters living in harmony with a ghost father and his two sons, ran from 2013-2015. While filming, Breanna adapted to the fastpaced actress life with ease. She knew this was her destiny rather than a typical 9-to-5 job.

“I think because I started at such a young age, it was almost like the norm,” she says. “I felt like everybody else, except attending school from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., I was going to auditions and doing school with a teacher for three hours. It was just a different schedule. I didn’t really think of it as anything too dif-

ferent from what everybody else was doing.”

When The Haunted Hathaways ended, Breanna didn’t have to wait long for her next major opportunity. In addition to lending her voice in 2017 to the character of Little Mariah in the holiday animated film Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You, which included a version of the classic song by Breanna. She then portrayed Tomika on School of Rock from 2016-2018, a role she truly earned.

Only 11 at the time, Breanna bravely called the executive producer of Nickelodeon after hearing about auditions for the new musical comedy. Not only would she get to remain a part of the Nick family, the role would let her utilize her vocal and instrumental talents.

The exec agreed to meet with Breanna for lunch, but the young star quickly learned that School of Rock was at the end of its audition process. Still, something special was recognized in Breanna.

“She gave me a chance and I was so grateful for that opportunity and I ended up getting the role,” Breanna says. “From there, I think my musical interests grew and developed even more because every Saturday, we would go to the studio and work on music and practice, and that was probably my favorite part - just getting to work on music. Ever since then, I’ve just completely fallen in love with music.”

In 2017, Breanna was nominated for a Kids’ Choice Award in the “Favorite Female TV Star” category for her time on School

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of Rock, a two-time Emmy-nominated series that’s based on the 2003 film with Jack Black.

Once again, after the Nickelodeon series ended, Breanna’s next project was waiting right around the corner. This time, it was Malibu Rescue. In contrast to School of Rock, booking this job didn’t require any phone calls and lunches. In retrospect, Breanna admits it was almost too easy.

“I walked into the audition, and I immediately knew three of the people in the room, so that made me feel at home and at ease,” she says, explaining how she previously worked with the director and executive producer during her years on Nickelodeon. “So the audition went pretty smoothly I would say, and I got the callback literally the next day.”

In the Malibu Rescue movie, viewers are first introduced to the motley crew of fun and lovable teens who aspire to be junior lifeguards, and must compete against a group of snobby Malibu locals. While this crew may not be as familiar with the beach as the local kids, viewers see them work together to complete the program and claim the most coveted lifeguard tower on Malibu Beach.

In the series that follows, the crew realizes that earning their tower is just the beginning. Now that they’ve completed the Junior Lifeguard Program, they’re ready to serve as official Malibu Junior Lifeguards, where every day holds another adventure.

“In the movie and in the show, they’re pretty naive as to

what’s going to happen. They’re all thinking, ‘Oh, it’s going to be great. We get to go to the beach every day, we get to be lifeguards,’” Breanna says. “But everybody hates them. Nobody wants them to win. They play the underdogs in the show. It’s a bit of a struggle because they need to learn to work together.

Everybody else is trying to tear them apart, so they need to make sure that the core and the fundamentals of themselves is strong.

They’ll have a grounded family by the end of it.”

Breanna’s character of Gina is a tough 13-year-old who must learn to shed her rough exterior and let her friends see her sensitive side.

“What drew me to the role is Gina’s athleticism and her personality and how strong she makes herself appear to be, but how emotional she is on the inside,” Breanna says. “Through the show, you see that she continually turns away from her vulnerable side, and she doesn’t want to be emotional because she feels she has to live up to the expectation of being strong-minded. So there’s a lot of character development in the show as she goes through those struggles and tries to open up with herself and the people around her. I’m just really excited to play her and allow her to evolve over time.”

Starring as Tyler in Malibu Rescue is Ricardo Hurtado, who appeared alongside Breanna in School of Rock as Freddy.

“I didn’t even know he was auditioning for the role, and this was at the very end of School of Rock,” she says. “We’re both really

excited to work on a show again, see each other in different roles and evolve a different kind of chemistry.”

As Breanna promotes Malibu Rescue this summer and looks for her next big acting gig, she isn’t forgetting about her second longtime love that was kick-started

by Lady Gaga once upon a time: music.

“Right now, I’m working on music, just creating and doing what I love,” she says. “Hopefully, I’ll have music out by the end of the year. We’ll see.”

So what exactly will it sound like? Breanna admits she isn’t too sure at the moment, and that’s perfectly OK. For now, she’s on a mission to create something truly unique for her fans, utilizing her capabilities on piano, guitar, bass, drums and ukulele.

“I don’t really want to categorize it just yet. I feel like music is something that’s all about feeling,” she says.

But one thing is certain - she despises when people tell her, “You have to make songs, not sounds.” When it comes to her artistry, Breanna isn’t one to play by the rules.

“Music is one of those aspects where you can make sound that relates to people with feeling, rather than just sheer logic. And so I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with that,” Breanna says, adding how she’s testing everything from jazz sounds in pop songs to tracks with alternative and indie vibes. “Just seeing what I can do. Pushing my limits and pushing the boundaries of thinking conventionally and going outside of my comfort zone.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

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loote Words by OLEVA BERARD Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

An assignment for a songwriting class at Suny Purchase College brought Emma Lov and Jackson Foote together. With some encouragement from their professor, the pair formed a legitimate songwriting duo and soon signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group under the name Loote, a combination of their surnames. The pair struck gold and have been behind some of the boldest songs on pop radio in recent years. From penning hits like “No Promises” by Cheat Codes and Demi Lovato and Zara Larsson’s “Ruin My Life” to crafting remixes for artists like Mike Posner and Shawn Mendes the pop duo has nailed their formula to crafting pop songs that are heartbreakingly relatable and keep listeners hitting replay.

They began by writing constantly. When they were not in class or with friends they were writing new songs. While they had dreams of becoming performers in the back of their mind, they were not afraid to work to become the best at their craft first. “I didn’t even know

that writing for other people was a thing that I wanted to do until I started doing that,” says Emma. “It just really made me a more creative person because I got the opportunity to write things that weren’t necessarily something that I would say, but they were things I could just pretend and be super theatrical and get away with it basically because I didn’t have to be the person singing it in the end.”

“I’ve always felt like you see a lot of incredible artists that are lacking the perfect song, never the perfect song that is lacking the artist,” says Jackson. “We wanted to build our resumes as songwriters first because we had to prove to everybody, but more than that, prove to ourselves that we could write stuff that could really do something and gain traction.” Ultimately, their hard work in songwriting sessions paid off.

With “No Promises” peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard chart, Loote saw the green light to pursue their passion outside of the writing room. They soon signed with Island Records and just last year released their

debut EP, Single, which includes a handful of tracks that show just what Loote has to offer as artists in their own right. The lead single, “High Without Your Love”, is an EDM-pop crossover that playfully explores the way love can feel like recreational drug usage.

Much of their music is based on painfully relatable lyrics with misleadingly upbeat production. One of Loote’s signature methods to creating a relatable song is putting themselves in the situation they are trying to write about. “Being in the environment where people enjoy the music that you’re making, that’s something I always refer to,” says Jackson. “Am I going to want to shout this in a bar and grab my friend’s hand and be like, ‘We both know this part of the song!’ Is it that moment?”

Their dedication to crafting songs that people connect with is part of what has helped them draw attention from trending artists such as Joe Jonas and Gnash who would each make appearances on Loote tracks “Longer Than I Thought” and “85%”, respectively. With a NKDMAG.COM

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specific vision in mind for their artistry, Loote has been able to curate a very cohesive collection of songs that are resonating with listeners on a personal level.

The pair attribute their successful working relationship to the tight bond they have formed over their time together. “The fact that we trust each other with a lot of the most personal stuff that we’ve ever done or put out or made is very important to me,” says Emma. “Jackson is one of the most important relationships in my life because of how closely we’ve worked together for so many years.”

Their relationship began as partners in pursuit of a dream, but they have formed a bond that is crucial not only in their songwriting process but in their personal lives. “Our friendship was kind of born from working together but now it’s kind of surpassed work,” Jackson says.

“It’s nice because our brains are like merged where we spend so much time together that we think the same way a lot of the time.” Their tight knit relationship allows them to dive deeper into what they’re feeling and put it directly into their music, and the end product is a connection that music fans are looking for.

Since their premiere as artists, Loote has fortified their efforts to craft music that showcases not only their growth as studio producers and songwriters, but as artists with their own vision. Their sophomore EP, Lost, is due out June 14th and promises new tracks that encapsulate what Emma and Jackson 18

have experienced in the past year. “I think we focused more on getting across a big piece of our personality and what’s going on in our lives on the EP,” says Jackson. “Something that we’ve prioritized a little more was just emoting what we want to get across and really the composition of the songs from a lyrical standpoint.”

The lead single “tomorrow tonight” is a sleek departure from the boisterous production of their previous work.

While their new music may be a step away sonically from what listeners found in Single, Emma and Jackson maintain the smart lyricism that fans find relatable. Emma says, “it’s less about every song being a ‘single’ and more about the cohesiveness of it together and what we’re saying.”

Leading up to the release of Lost, Loote will be joining Betty Who on tour through the first half of June. They’ll be making their way across the U.S., giving them the opportunity to visit places they have not had the opportunity to play before, including one of New York City’s most active venues, Terminal 5. “I’ve never even seen a show there and I grew up here,” says Emma. Their premiere performance at Terminal 5 marks an important milestone as the New York based pop masterminds will relocate to Los Angeles at the end of the tour. Though this season offers much change in Loote’s career, there is no doubt that the duo will deftly navigate whatever challenges come their way. NKD

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ken kirby Words by LEXI SHANNON Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

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For Vancouver-born actor and comedian Ken Kirby, being an Asian-American man in America’s Hollywood has not come without it’s challenges.

Moving between Vancouver, Canada, and Hong Kong during his childhood, Ken ultimately settled in Vancouver at the age of 13.

“I got put onto the basketball team because they want to assimilate the immigrant child as fast as possible,” he laughed. “But it’s like I wasn’t that good at basketball.”

By eighth grade, Ken had found himself in drama classes, where he first found his passion for acting and comedy. Joining the improv team in high school, he says “really helped create my persona to make friends. That was the purpose. Not survival, but it really shaped who I became friends with and it all went from there.”

Throughout the years, Ken has noticed a huge shift in the way Hollywood views non-white actors and actresses - a feat he attributes to younger generations pushing for more diversity. “[In high school], you just tried to do the plays that would be given. As an Asian American boy, I was never going to be Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in 1998.

Back then it was a little more old school,” he says, “I’d come in, do these comic relief parts, get a bunch of laughs, then I’d be out.

If you get the whole crowd to lose it laughing, it’s always a good time.”

During his high school years, Ken was fortunate enough to compete in the Canadian Improv Games, in which his team

was one of over 300 teams to be invited to the national finals in Ottawa.

From a young age, Ken’s passions for acting have led him down a path with a dream of making it as an actor - one he fulfilled most recently with his role as Ben on Freeform’s Good Trouble. To make his successes even sweeter, his parents have always been right by his side in his journey. “[My parents] supported it, but I think there is that safety net thing you want your kids to have.

Chasing something like acting is such a low percentage rate,” he says, “Now that they see me on TV… You just have to show them that it’s happening. It’s a tough love thing that also pushes you to it, especially in Asian culture, it seems to be heightened.”

Since moving to Los Angeles from Vancouver in 2011, Ken has noticed a huge switch in the way Asian American actors are viewed on the big screen. From what was once a predominately white-faced field, roles are popping up left and right for everyone.

“These roles are being written for Asian American men and women, and there’s more of them.

They’re not just blanketed roles, they’re specific,” Ken says.

His role on Good Trouble as Ben tells the story of an immigrant Harvard graduate. “He is a very specific, crafted and written character. He’s written as an immigrant, not just a Harvard graduate. When it was written, they wanted an Asiam American man for that role,” Ken says.

Like many shows before, Good Trouble tackles hard, heartfelt

issues, but in a new, modernized way. Ken says “[the writers] write great stories and they aren’t afraid to tackle hard issues.” Whether it be police brutality, the struggles of coming out to a traditional family, workplace harassment or mental health, there aren’t many tough topics that Good Trouble hasn’t covered.

The Fosters’ spinoff took on a new cast to continue the story of Callie (Maia Mitchell) and Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) as they navigate their adult lives. For Ken and many other cast members, their new family welcomed them with open arms.

“I can’t say enough good things about the team there. Obviously, it was kind of an old family that had come together from The Fosters, but it felt like a new family was born with all the love from the old family,” Ken says.

The Fosters and Good Trouble have become known for tackling and talking about tough situations. As the first season wrapped up recently with the heartfelt scene of lead character Alice coming out to her parents, the fans are left waiting for what issues will be tackled in the coming seasons.

“The groups that are really appreciative are those groups that [we] are talking about,” Ken says, “The show is important to them because there aren’t many shows out there that are telling those stories in such an out there, unadulterated kind of way. We’re going to talk about the things that are great about those issues and the things that aren’t - we’re going to let the audience learn and grow.” NKD NKDMAG.COM

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MARIANAS TRENCH Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Marianas Trench – comprised of lead vocalist Josh Ramsay, guitarist Matt Webb, bassist Mike Ayley, and drummer Ian Casselman – has been a band since the early 2000s and the release of their fifth album, Phantoms, shows that Canada natives have no plans of slowing down.

The earliest iteration of Marianas Trench began with Josh and Matt, who attended the same high school and were in band class together. At the time, Ian and Mike were in different groups that later broke up. After a shuffle in the lineup, Marianas Trench established its core four members that would release debut album Fix Me in 2006.

“Since then, we’ve been just working our butts off,” Mike says.

He’s not exaggerating. Marianas Trench followed Fix Me with Masterpiece Theatre (2009), Ever After (a 2011 concept album that revolved around a fairytale crafted by Josh), and Astoria (their 2015 album that was inspired by ‘80s adventure movies, namely The Goonies).

Throughout that time, Marianas Trench went from performing at a 150 capacity venue in Granville Island, Vancouver with a stage that Mike describes as “probably the size of Ian’s drum kit right now” to playing sold out shows in New York City and Nashville, miles away from their hometown.

“When you’re traveling around the world, and you’ve never been to Sydney, Australia or Chicago or London, England and the show’s sold out and there are people singing every word to your songs and we haven’t even 24

released music off of a label there – it’s just whatever they found online – I think those are probably some of the coolest victories if you want to call them that,” Mike says.

For Mike, one of the standout moments in his career was when he had to ditch his regular job so he could give the band his full attention.

“I remember we were going away too much for touring and I was still a waiter, but we kept having to book time off and finally the restaurant was like, ‘Look Mike, you just need to quit. We just can’t have you keep booking off all this time.’ I said, ‘You’re right and I can actually afford to do it.’ That was sweet, when it becomes your real job.

That was probably one of the cooler moments,” he recalls.

After working together for years, they’ve also figured out where their strengths lie and what aspects of the band they can best contribute to.

“Josh definitely does the writing,” Mike says. “We give our input when he’s looking for feedback on a lyric or different part options. And then when we’re tracking our own instruments, we add our personal touches.”

“With the whole band operations, we are actually a pretty independent band,” he adds. “From the beginning, we’ve all really been very hands-on so each person seems to have their own strengths when it comes to that stuff. I’m good at business related stuff. Ian’s really good at getting people, delegating tasks to the label and figure out what needs to be done. And Matt gets a lot of

business relations done. It’s really, really cool that this lineup is quite compatible with each other, but diverse enough that we can divide and conquer quite well.”

Similar to the previous albums, Marianas Trench’s latest one follows a distinct narrative structure and theme. For Phantoms, which was released in March and is comprised of 10 tracks, they honed in on the concept of being haunted by the memories of former lovers. The idea was born out of a day off that was spent exploring New Orleans, Louisiana, a city associated with voodoo, spirits, and darkness.

“We were walking around soaking up the vibe and culture and thought it was really neat,” Mike says. “It was like a voodoo-y vibe. And it’s kind of creepy, but also, it’s neat, because it’s got a sort of optimistic, hopeful twist on the parting of loved ones.”

“We set the album in a haunted house because it was a cool metaphor for a relationship,” Mike adds. “The residual effects of the haunting are a really good metaphor for how relationships can linger and you feel like something’s just still.”

Prior to the release of Phantoms, Marianas Trench released “I Knew You When” to give fans a taste of their new music. They considered having “Only the Lonely Survive”, which Mike describes as reminiscent of “early era” Marianas Trench, as the introduction to the album. But ultimately, the band agreed to release “I Knew You When.”

“I thought [it] was a really,

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really good introduction to the theme of the album in general,” Mike says. “I really like the song.

I think we did a really good job with that one. It’s funny because when we got that one mixed, it just came to life and I like, ‘Wow, it’s so good.’ The details musically and the lyrics are really visual and relatable.”

Each song on Phantoms flows into the next, beginning with an a capella track titled “Eleonora” (inspired by a short story written

by Edgar Allan Poe of the same name) and concluding with “The Killing Kind.”

Marianas Trench is currently playing the songs on their Suspending Gravity Tour, which includes dates in the US and a few in scheduled for the UK in November.

“The new music’s going over very well,” Mike says. “It’s really good to see such strong support because every time you put out a new album, you never know if people are still interested or not.

Not only are they still interested, but a lot more people are coming. It’s really, really exciting.”

For Mike, two of his favorites to perform live from the new album are “The Killing Kind” and “Don’t Miss Me?” “It’s a little different than what we’ve done on a lot of the songs,” he says of the latter song. “It’s fun to play live and it’s good as a recorded track as well. It’s nice when you can do that, have a song that’s a little bit different than our other stuff and have it really translate live as well.”

Their loyal followers, who Mike says are “the kinds of fans that still listen to whole albums,”

also seem to have taken a liking to “Eleonora.”

“We do the first three songs off the album as the first three songs of the set and they get all fired up during those ones,” Mike says.

While plenty of bands have come and gone since Marianas Trench was formed over a decade ago, the group has managed to avoid burning out or losing sight of their genuine love for music.

“It’s pretty crazy that it’s the same guys since the first album,” Mike says. “We do our best to maintain a balance of work and personal life, so you don’t just lose your identity or your purpose, or your mental health because you’re on the road.”

“When the album comes out, it’s kind of half and half of home and away,” he continues. “We respect each other. When you’re on the road, we give each other space. We also have a lot of fun and honestly, I think the main thing is we’ve kept a sense of humor, because the business is pretty fickle and challenging and there are hurdles that come up all the time that aren’t really fun things to deal with. And that’s just life, but in the music business, it seems magnified and we always just find a way to laugh it off or find the light side of all situations.”

Mike adds: “We have a really good road crew that comes with us and that definitely makes being on the road a much more pleasurable experience because it’s like a second family.”

The five albums released so far by Marianas Trench feature tracks that were arranged in a

specific order and meant to be a “listening experience,” but Mike hopes that fans will consume their music “in whatever way they want, whether that’s listening to their favorite song over and over or listening to the whole album as a complete piece.”

“I love that our fans do that and then they get all the range of what we do, but I just want people to have a good time and let it mean to them whatever it means to them,” he says. “It doesn’t really have to be literally interpreted to Josh’s perspective and his lyrics.”

“A lot of fans will say things like, ‘Oh my God, your music helped me through some hard times,’ and I remember having those bands and I love that,” Mike adds. “I don’t actually think the music is what gets people through. I think it just helps them feel understood or like they’re not alone. I love that our band could be that for some people, as long as they realize that they’ve still got that strength and it’s been inside them the whole time.”

In addition to touring in 2019, Marianas Trench will release “Glimmer” as a new single, drop a music video for the song, and continue pursuing their longterm goals.

“We’re just trying to keep hitting the road and introducing music more to people and to have fun while we’re doing it, because it’s a lot of our life and it’s cool that we can do something we love for work and see so much of the world while we do it,” Mike says. NKD NKDMAG.COM

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helen highfield

Words by SAMANTHA BAMBINO Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

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There are a lot of things Helen Highfield wasn’t supposed to do.

For starters, the Ithaca, New York native wasn’t supposed to go against the grain of her “small, hippie town” and attend an acting conservatory instead of Cornell University, where the majority of her peers enrolled.

She also wasn’t supposed to audition for that new Yulin Kuang series on The CW, which her friend was originally scheduled for.

But this ability to march to the beat of her own drum (not to mention her innate acting chops) is what carved Helen’s niche in Hollywood as Ella on The CW’s I Ship It, which premieres its second season later this summer.

For Helen, whose passion for performing began at the age of 7 when she attended a Shakespeare camp, landing the role of a female lead on a major network series has been a long time coming.

Though Helen admits Ithaca isn’t the largest area, reflecting on how it used to have its own currency, her hometown’s appreciation for the arts is unmatched. Throughout her childhood, Helen was granted opportunities to perform in school musicals, attend vocal lessons and participate in acting classes.

Still, the idea of pursuing an arts-focused career was practically unheard of.

“Most of my high school just

moved up the hill to go to Cornell.

But I just loved acting so much that I decided instead to move to New York and go to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre,” Helen says.

The aspiring actress dove headfirst into building her resume, hiring an agent, landing roles in plays, and going on countless auditions for television shows, including Law & Order. In 2015, the role that would change the trajectory of Helen’s career unexpectedly fell into her lap Ella on the musical comedy I Ship It. “I actually stole that audition from a friend. Well, ‘stole’ makes it sound worse than it is,” Helen says.

“She knew the casting director, they had gone to college together and she got called in. She isn’t a singer, so she very generously was like, ‘Hey, I think you should see my friend Helen instead.’”

The casting director obliged, and Helen soon after booked the role.

“The cool thing about this project was the weird kind of serendipity of it. I had, like a year prior, fallen down a YouTube hole and found the creator Yulin Kuang’s channel, and I had watched all of her stuff, and I loved everything that she had made,” Helen says. “They didn’t give me any details of what this project was. They just said ‘web series’ initially, but it reminded me of this thing I had seen on YouTube and at the callback I met

Yulin and put it all together.”

Season 1 of I Ship It premiered digitally on The CW Seed in 2016, with the second set to air on the network later this summer. According to Helen, the seasons take place in alternate universes.

“In Season 2, Ella is a fangirl who is a superfan of this show called Superstition. She writes fan fiction and she desperately wants to be a part of that world, and she somehow finagles her way into the writer’s room and gets this dream job of writing for her favorite show,” Helen says.

The show is also a romantic comedy, as Ella navigates her relationship with Tim, played by Riley Neldam, and a musical. Basically, it’s a little bit of everything, and Helen is thrilled for viewers to see what’s next for the pair.

“Season 2 was just a dream come true because you never know if you’ll get to do it again. You always hope you do,” she says. “Now this is just icing on top of a really wonderful cake that we get to go on The CW.” As Helen awaits the return of I Ship It, she has a number of projects in the works. The short film Diva, in which Helen portrays a pop star whose life turns to shambles, is currently on the festival circuit. Additionally, she can be heard on The AM Archives, a sci-fi narrative podcast created by Lauren Shippen that’s available on the Luminary app. NKD

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FRANCIA RAISA Words by OLIVIA SINGH Photos by CATHERINE POWELL Make-Up by ETIENNE ORTEGA Hair by ASHLEY RUIZ Styling by COURTNEY WELCH

Francia Raisa stars as college student Ana Torres on Grown-ish, a spin-off that premiered on Freeform in January 2018 following the success of ABC’s Black-ish. For years, the Los Angeles native was focused on finding her next project. But now, she’s learned to enjoy where she currently is in life, both professionally and personally.

Francia’s interest in acting began at 5-years-old when she frequently watched novellas (Spanish soap operas) with her grandmother – or at least that’s how the story goes according to her mom.

“I’m sure it’s true because I was such a huge soap opera freak,” Francia says. “I watched like 10 at a time. And I remember saying that as I was growing up, like, ‘I really want to do that.”

Although Hollywood has made advances and greater pushes for diversity in film and TV in recent years, looking back, Francia recognizes the lack of representation when she was a child.

“I didn’t realize it until recently, but growing up, other than Spanish soap operas, there weren’t a lot of Latin actresses,” she says. She looked to stars like Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, and Rita Moreno, but felt like the industry was limited at the time.

“It wasn’t so much a possibility and I was so stuck on Spanish soap operas, because I was like, ‘Well, that’s my lane.

That’s what I’m going to do.’

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People would tell me, ‘You’re not going to make it in Hollywood,’ because that wasn’t really an option for Latin women or Hispanics,” she recalls.

She credits the 2003 drama Thirteen, which starred Nikki Reed and Evan Rachel Wood, as one of the driving forces behind her desire to act.

“It showed me why I wanted to do it,” Francia says. “I really wanted to tell stories that spoke truth. That movie really changed my life and it made me realize what a responsibility I had being an older sister, so I wanted to create content or be in content just like that.”

Francia’s family was supportive when she decided that she wanted to be an actress.

Her father was a radio DJ and the entertainment industry “was very familiar in my home.” But Francia’s friends “did not understand it.”

“Most natives don’t enter the industry,” she says. “It’s kind of a, ‘What are you doing?’ type of thing, and ‘that’s stupid,’ so it was hard at school. I lost a lot of friends when I decided to do this.”

Francia’s parents encouraged her to learn different skills as a child, including martial arts and ice skating. Dance and cheer also came in handy when she booked her first acting role ever in the 2006 movie Bring It On: All or Nothing six months after deciding to pursue acting.

“I was 17-years-old,” she recalls. “I was just excited to be in a movie and I couldn’t believe that I was a part of a

franchise that I was absolutely in love with.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Francia continues.

“I didn’t know how to read a call sheet. I didn’t even know what a mark was. I was really nervous and I think I just had fun.”

Now, more than a decade later, Francia knows the ins and outs of the industry much better than she did as a teenager.

“I understand the work that goes behind it and all the hard work that the crew does, and it’s just a different mentality now,” she says. “It was definitely a good learning experience, but back then I was like, ‘This is great. This is easy.’ It was six months after I started auditioning, so I thought, ‘Wow, this industry is easy. It’s going to be always like this,’ and it so wasn’t.”

She booked a few more roles after Bring it On before landing the role of Adrian Lee on The Secret Life of the American Teenager a drama that lasted from 2008 to 2013. At that point, Francia was 19-yearsold and had a fair share of rejections, but she was still determined to keep auditioning for roles.

“I can kind of compare it to when you’re a child and you don’t know any better, and it doesn’t matter what anyone says, your imagination takes the best of you,” she continues. “But then when you start growing older and people start becoming a little more negative around you, they start

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feeding you negativity, then you’re a little more self-conscious. By the time Secret Life happened, I still wasn’t self-conscious yet. I was discouraged, but not to the point where I wanted to quit. It was after Secret Life that I was like, ‘This is too hard. I don’t want to do this anymore.’”

In 2012, it was announced that Secret Life was canceled and would conclude with a fifth season, which aired the following year. For the cast members like Francia, the news was “unexpected.”

However, she thought that it wouldn’t be too difficult to book another job considering that she was an established young actress in Hollywood.

That wasn’t the case.

“It was, ‘OK, you’ve been on this show for so long that no one knows you anymore,’ as far as casting directors or producers, and I had to start over and getting in rooms and meeting people for the first time, even though I had been working,” Francia says. “It was definitely a tough transition. Also, because I had been playing the same character for so long, I didn’t know how to let her go.

I had to go back to acting class and kind of relearn myself and relearn the craft again because I was stuck in such a routine.”

In the years after Secret Life, Francia worked on a few films an appeared on some TV shows in an effort to “level up.”

At the same time, she also got new representation and had to figure out how she wanted to present herself.

“I just felt like no one really got me and I knew where I wanted to go, but I wasn’t guided very well, and it’s not [her old representations’] fault,” she says. “I didn’t realize back then that there weren’t so many opportunities for us.

And I was very limited.”

When Modern Family premiered on ABC and Colombian-born actress Sofia Vergara became the show’s breakout star, Francia was encouraged to emulate her in some ways so she could also achieve success.

“I started dressing kind of differently and acting differently,” she says. “And I was trying to figure out how to do an accent because that worked, instead of being myself. I started getting a little lost in my own identity and the purpose that I had for even entering this business in the first place.”

During that tough period, Francia went to therapy, attended church services, read articles from other women who were standing up for themselves, and realized that she “was so desperate to make it that I was losing myself.” She also got new representation and a manager that worked with Francia to figure out branding and a feasible strategy to work toward her goals.

Francia auditioned for Grown-ish two weeks after having kidney surgery (she donated one of her kidneys to close friend Selena Gomez in June 2017 and they shared the news with fans three months later on social media). The series follows Zoey (played

by Yara Shahidi), the oldest Johnson child, as she begins her college years at Southern California University and gets her first real dose of adulting.

She’s joined at Cal U by her new group of friends: Ana, Nomi (Emily Arlook), Luca (Luka Sabbat), Aaron (Trevor Jackson), Vivek (Jordan Buhat), Jazz (Chloe Bailey), and Sky (Halle Bailey).

Francia was a fan of Blackish and Yara, but she was hesitant to jump from playing a high schooler on Secret Life to playing a college student on Grown-ish. Although there was no script for the show, she had an idea of what they were aiming for because of a Season 3 episode of Black-ish, which functioned as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off.

Francia was drawn to Grown-ish because of the people attached to the project. She met Yara for the first during a chemistry read and recalls the actress immediately greeting her with a hug as if she already knew her. It wasn’t until later on that Francia found out Yara was a big fan of hers from Secret Life.

“Because she gave me such a big hug and she was so warm, it actually made me calm down,” Francia says. “Auditioning is so nerve-wracking. I was so nervous.”

Francia found out that she landed the role of Ana, a devout Catholic and an outspoken conservative of Cuban decent, on her 29th birthday.

After signing on, show creator Kenya Barris told Francia that NKDMAG.COM

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they opted for “a whole different route” for the character and needed her help to develop Ana. “What I had to do on my end, the only thing I could do, was really research the Cuban culture, because I’m not Cuban,” Francia says. “And I personally am not Republican, so that was research that I really had to understand, because obviously, Ana is very strong about that. I just had to respect where she was coming from, that’s what I took away from it.”

Ana’s political views were the subject of debate among her friends during an episode of Season 1. After they found out that Ana agreed with conservative views, she immediately felt judged by them. It wasn’t until later when Zoey listened to Ana’s perspective that they were able to move forward.

“They have differences in opinions, but they are still friends, they still love each other, and they look past it,” Francia says.

“You can not agree with someone, but you can respect their opinion and be like, ‘OK, this is a healthy little debate,’” Francia adds.

Season 2 saw Ana forming a relationship with Aaron (who previously had a romance with Zoey). Throughout the season, they flirted before secretly hooking up. In the season 2A finale, Ana decided that she wanted to tell Zoey about her and Aaron. But Zoey was a bit preoccupied after being 38

put on academic probation for cheating on her chemistry final. After admitting that she “hit rock bottom,” Zoey ran into Aaron, who assumed that she was distraught because she found out about his relationship with Ana. The second half of Season 2, which premieres on June 5th, will pick up after that revelation and will address the topic of girl code.

“What I can say is the other girls do get involved in the conversation,” Francia says.

“And it’s interesting to see their opinion and take on it.

You think it goes one way and then it goes another.”

One of the strengths of Grown-ish is the way the show is able to showcase different perspectives through Zoey and her friends. They address topics that are relevant to young people, like “enthusiastic sober consent”, drug use, and mental health (which fans will see on Season 2B).

“What I appreciate about Grown-ish and Black-ish is they really use humor to speak truth,” Francia says. “I really hope that people hear it and really have that ‘aha’ moment, or it opens conversation, not just having a good time watching a TV show and enjoying the relationship drama, but it brings up topics that people should talk about and be more aware of.”

Grown-ish has already been confirmed for a third season and until it begins production, Francia will be keeping busy by exploring more behind-

the-scenes roles. She recently shadowed a director on a TV show called Family Reunion and hopes to start directing in the next year. She also producing a movie about a court case known as Mendez v. Westminster, which centered on segregated schools and equality for Mexican-American students like Sylvia Mendez.

Aside from that, Francia is just going with the flow.

“We have dreams, but dreams never go according to our plans,” she says. “Our dreams happen, but not on our time. I have the dream – I want to direct, so I’m putting the work that I need to do to be able to accomplish that dream. And once I’m doing the work, then the doors will start opening to be able to accomplish that dream.”

She adds: “My boyfriend always says, ‘low expectation, high reward.’ And so I’m doing the work, I don’t have any expectations, and then I’ll enjoy the reward.”

“I’m just kind of trying to enjoy life a lot more and not be so caught up on working, which I did most of my life, and enjoy time with [my boyfriend] and with my dog and try to travel and kind of appreciate the position I’m in because even when I was on Secret Life, I was like, what’s next?’” Francia says, “And then I didn’t really get to enjoy the time that I have there. I’m just enjoying my cast and being on the show right now and having fun and enjoying all the perks that we get.” NKD

billy raffoul Words by IAN HAYS Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

The world is a hectic place. Modern life means no time for silence. Mania gets its grip on you with a societal encouragement to go, go, go.

And all too often we accept this as our new norm for what it means to be a person in pursuit of success. So, when you come across someone cool and collected, patient with their words and feelings, it rings fresh on the ear. Enter in, Billy Raffoul. The Canada-born and currently Nashville-based singer-songwriter has a calming aura. While often manifested in his music, its most notable in not only the way he discusses his music, but the process of making it as well.

Music is in his blood - in fact, he lovingly calls it the “family business”. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a typical kid growing up. Doing his country proud, he played hockey for about ten years, into his early teens. When he was little, he had Legos; as he got older, he graduated to comic books for escape. Music was always around. His father is a professional and touring musician, so music saturated the air like a hearty Sunday supper.

But while he appreciated music deeply, growing up, Billy had little interest in pursuing the

life of a musician.

“Everyone around town knew my father and knew what he did. It was really cool growing up, seeing that admiration.

People loved his music. We got to see him perform all the time. It’s definitely instrumental know with my music, but at the time, I just didn’t have much interest,” Billy admits.

There wasn’t a demystification. But they did see every side of it; it didn’t begin and end with shows. Touring means being away from home often. While Billy loved his father’s job, to him, that’s just what it was: a cool job that also took a lot of dedication. The saving grace of course being that when he did decide to pursue music, he knew what to expect.

Then, as a young teen, a family friend gifted him some recording equipment. His father always had gear around the house, but this was Billy’s.

He had begun experimenting with songwriting and this solidified his desire to write and record his own music.

“I started not going to bed at night, staying up, work on concepts and lyrics; trying to work on singing. I was always intimidated by learning other people’s music,” he says, “Even

if it’s perfect, the imperfect way that they play it is what makes them, them. So, I shied away from learning covers and when I started playing in public, I played my own songs.”

The recording equipment made the music tangible. It provided instant feedback and alerted Billy that this was what he wanted to do. For Billy, his biggest self-critique was and still is his voice. His robust baritone is making waves now, but it takes confidence to be different. While finding a voice that is your own is a goal for singers, when you’re young, trying to find your voice when there aren’t many like it on pop radio stations is challenging.

Luckily for Billy, he had his father’s voice he could turn to. While unique, he heard all the various influences his father picked up along the way.

Billy was able to apply this to his own voice. He looked to the lyrics, compositions, and songwriters that stood out to him. It’s an ongoing process for Billy to this day. Needing to adapt, see what more your voice can do as you progress as a singer and songwriter. But nothing is forced. Even when a lilt appears in his voice as he discusses this, there’s still his placid acceptance of taking it NKDMAG.COM

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one step at a time.

“It’s always changing. I’m always looking for new ways to use my voice, to try and treat it more like an instrument; explore the different parts of it. I’m going to be doing a lot more of that as I start releasing new music,” he says.

When it comes to writing his songs, Billy is a creature of habit. While his early years were spent with his recording equipment at home, he still finds himself attracted to the little hideaways for truly focusing on his writing. Over the past few years while signed, Billy took advantage of one particular room in one particular studio to work on his songs. He confirms he wrote several hundred songs in that room. Since moving to Nashville, his new spot is a bathroom in his house. He sits in the big tub and has written several dozen songs in there already.

But its when a song truly fits live that he knows he has something special. When you record a song, eventually the recording is set, there is no changing it. But live, the recoded version is now just the base and you go from there.

With the amount of touring Billy has done over the years, he has gotten to consistently showcase and try out new songs live. If he’s able to recreate the song night after night, finding something different and new to highlight, then he knows he has something for keeps.

But that doesn’t mean the 42

recorded version is any less important; its just its own category. Growing up with a father who opened for Joe Cocker, the records Billy was raised on were often recorded with single, live takes of the tracks.

There could be late add-ons and patches here and there, but majority of the songs were done live, as many takes as needed to get it one fell swoop.

While Billy has songs that are recorded in parts and layers, his natural pull is to record live.

“It’s not about perfection.

Perfect records have nothing to do with how many times they do a take,” he says, “Ultimately, it’s all about the feel of it. Sometimes, a song wants to feel a certain way. To achieve that you have to do a million takes.”

But then you have moments like the title track off his new EP, Running Wild. The vocals and guitar were recorded live in one take. Production added some strings and a hit was made. But the key here was the approach. Its not about trying to get it done in one take but having the patience to do what it takes to bring that music to light. While out on the road promoting his latest release, Billy is performing fully solo with his guitar and drum pedals. An intimate take that encourages the audience to truly listen to a bourgeoning musician still finalizing his debut album. This is only the tip of the iceberg for Billy Raffoul.

The power beneath the calm waters is ready to be known. NKD

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fairground saints Words by VANESSA SALLES Photos by CATHERINE POWELL

Having already made quite the impression on the country music scene, Fairground Saints are on the rise to the top. With the release of their recent EP, Magic, the trio – consisting of Meg, Mason and Elijah – have proven that their unique style and sound are worthy of topping everyone’s favorite summer playlists. “The writing and 44

recording process of our Magic EP is something we’ll never forget,” Megan says.

“We had an absolute blast making it. The most memorable moments we have are singing and recording together around one microphone; we really wanted to capture the synergy in our harmonies so that the record would feel and sound similar to what fans would

experience at one of our live shows.”

Recalling their time in the studio, Meg describes their creative process as incredibly collaborative.

“The songwriting process is a pretty organic process for us,” she says. “Most times we’ll all throw musical riffs out until one sticks. From there, we all craft it together. Typically, we start

EP that holds a little more significance than others. “’Somewhere Down the Line’ holds a very special place in our hearts,” Meg explains. “It was one of the first songs we wrote after selling almost everything we owned and moving from California to Nashville. We didn’t really know what was going to happen when we got here but we had faith that it would all work out somehow. ‘Somewhere Down the Line’ is about getting up and going. It’s about following your heart and chasing your dream and it captures a really special part of our story.”

Describing their on-stage presence, Meg reveals that a lot of their inspiration comes from their former tour-mate, Kip Moore. “We were out on the road with him and his incredible band last year and we found ourselves in awe of his honesty and energy, both on and off stage,” she says. “He’s always so present in the moment, giving everything he has to his fans and that was truwith music and then the ly inspiring to witness. We lyrics follow. For a year or always want to connect with two, most of our time was our fans and have our show dedicated to songwriting and performance be a sort so we’ve been able to learn of an escape for them; we where each of us is strongest definitely think about that and we know when to lean and try to make it the best on each other. I think that’s experience for everyone made the process a very fun that’s a part of it.” one.”

As for how Magic has Though the five-track been received, country release is special in its enmusic fans have welcomed tirety, there’s a track on the it with open arms. “We

couldn’t be happier about the way fans have reacted to our new EP,” she gushes.

“Ultimately, for us, music is about community; we want to create a strong sense of community with our fans and continue to share our love of music with them. It’s been so fun to see people line dancing to it, blasting it on their road trips and sharing it with all their friends.

During the time that it was released, we were performing in the UK at the C2C Country Music Festival and it debuted in the Top 10 on their UK Country Music chart! It’s been incredible to release the project and just watch it take off more than we could have even imagined it would.”

When it comes to dream collaborations, Fairground Saints have a few ideas up their sleeves that they would love to make a reality. “It would be such a dream to collaborate with Brothers Osborne,” Meg says. “We’ve opened for them a few times and they are just so much fun to be around. We love their sound and are huge fans of the music that they write. It would be really fun to see what we could all come up with together.”

As for what’s up next, the country trio’s been hard at work in the studio. “Fans can expect some new releases very soon,” Meg says.

“We’re so excited to share even more of what we’ve been working on!” NKD NKDMAG.COM

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