The Daily Shuffle: November 2020

THE DAILY SHUFFLE

NOVEMBER 2020

NIKI KOSS

contents 5, bayardo de murguia 7, mary kate wiles 9, kiiara 11, niki koss 23, notd 25, noemi gonzalez 29, fiaa 31, makenzie moss 33, cali rodi

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CREATIVE DESIGNER

@xonessa

@karlas.jpg

Vanessa Salles

Karla Silva

Follow us at

@thedailyshuffle

November Playlist MONSTER shawn mendes & justin bieber PRISONER miley cyrus & dua lipa PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS jazmine sullivan MY HEAD & MY HEART ava max COKE & MENTOS salem ilese REGARDLESS raye & rudimental THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE james blake

letter from the editor Hey readers, Can you believe the holiday season is already upon us?

This year has been a total whirlwind and I’m so looking forward to getting cozy with some Christmas movies this month! I’ve loved putting together our latest issue and hope you enjoy all the interviews!

This month, our cover star is the gorgeous Niki Koss! It was such a treat to chat with her about her career goals, what she’s been up to in quarantine, and more! Check out her cover story to be inspired by it all!

In this issue, you’ll find our top picks for this month’s must-watch movies/shows and must-hear albums. Let us know what you’re excited about! As always, feel free to let us know who you’d love to see featured next!

XOXO

Vanessa Salles Editor-in-Chief

bayardo de murguia

Set to star on Netflix’s highly anticipated Tiny Pretty Things, Bayardo De Murguia talked to us about his upcoming role, behindthe-scenes moments and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by VINCE TRUPSIN

Tell us about Tiny Pretty Things! What is it about the show that drew you in and made you want to be involved?

When I was cast on Tiny Pretty Things, the first thing I did was read the original novel by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. I was immediately hooked. I was familiar with movies like the iconic Center Stage and Black Swan and the world created by Sona and Dhonielle and then by our show runner Michael Maclennan, who takes many of those themes presented and ups the ante. I was excited and ready to help bring Ramon Costa to life and to jump into a new adventure in a world that was completely new to me.

What can you tell us about your role and what viewers can expect?

Fire, passion, truth. You’re definitely going to have a love/hate relationship with Ramon.

His method of teaching choreography and instructing are non-conventional but you’ll come to see why. He lives to bring out the best in you, even if it means looking at your darkest moments.

Any behind-the-scenes moments from filming that you can share with us?

There were no dance doubles used on the show. Our head choreographer/consultant, Jennifer Nichols, spent every day with us— working with the cast to make sure the dancing was authentic and “en pointe”. At times, I would forget my lines because I was so immersed in watching everyone. Ramon was watching intensely for precision, while Bayardo was a little kid in awe.

How would you describe the vibe on set?

I could not have asked for a better cast and

crew. We became such a loving and close knit family. There was always someone singing, dancing, bringing positive energy, and making us smile and laugh. The entire environment was just fun and playful. That chemistry translates to what you see on screen.

When you think of your ultimate dream role, what comes to mind?

I love anything with action and movement.

Tiny Pretty Things thrust me into a new adventure by showing me the world of ballet.

If I were to think of a classic role, I’d do the Legend of Zorro. Action, charisma, swordplay, representing my Latinx roots, what else would you need?

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

Work hard, stay humble, and stay positive. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be on such an amazing show and know how quickly things can be taken away in Hollywood. We have to remind ourselves to stay grounded, stay positive and focused.

What are you loving on TV lately? What do you want to see more of?

Gentefied, The Boys, Cobra Kai, Umbrella Academy, and Kingdom were my favorites this summer. I’m excited to see more authentic Latinx and BIPOC representation on TV. Any special message for fans?

I can’t wait for you to see the world of Tiny Pretty Things and get to know Ramon Costa!

We’d love to come back and continue telling you more about what happens at the Archer School of Ballet.

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mary kate wiles

Electric both on and off screen, Mary Kate Wiles is a name you want to get familiar with! We talked to the multi-talented actress about her latest roles, life in quarantine and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by ERIC CARROLL

Tell us about The Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye! What is it about the show that drew you in and made you want to be involved?

Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye is a new digital series that is being told through traditional episodes and podcast episodes!

We shot it back in 2017 and I’m so glad it’s finally coming out and being seen. The show was written and created by good friends of mine - the Tin Can Brothers, who I first worked with on Spies Are Forever back in 2016 - so any time your dear friends ask you to come play, you say yes.

What can you tell us about your role?

Artemis is a very driven, very headstrong journalist. She is such a foil to her happy-go-lucky twin brother Paul, who’s constantly backing her up, but Artemis is 100% steering the ship.

She’s very fact-driven and super hungry to get to the bottom of a story and doesn’t really let anything get in her way.

Any behind-the-scenes moments from filming that you can share with us?

Oh, man. Being on set was just a blast. It was such a joy every day to come to work and get to tell a story with some of my favorite people.

I also got to work with Sean Astin, who plays Artemis and Paul’s boss, and as a gigantic Lord of the Rings fan, that was truly a dream come true for me. And he was such a delight to work with. That was a really special day.

What has life in quarantine looked like for you this year?

Well, I’ve been very thankful to have my life

partner, Sean Persaud, with me in a time that has been kind of sad and lonely for a lot of people. With so much of the film industry grinding to a halt, it’s made me very thankful that I’ve spent so much time these past few years investing in creating content on my own.

My day to day life really hasn’t changed all that much, and I think those of us who are self-sufficient have been able to carry on continuing to create content for our audiences as usual.

And that’s definitely been a blessing for me.

What can you tell us about your new podcast? What’s your experience been so far?

So I’ve been creating a sort of radio play of the Anne of Green Gables series for my Patreon for over a year now, and I recently began releasing the chapters publicly as a podcast so that everyone can enjoy them. I have different actors come in and read the various characters, and I add music and sound effects, just to create a new way to experience these novels. It’s been such a joy to create! Re-reading these books has really just re-ignited my love for this story. Anne Shirley is such a good heroine for this moment in time - her unfailing ability to see the wonder and beauty in life has been such a good reminder for me.

Any special message for fans?

I’m just so thankful that my audience has been so supportive of me for so many years. So much of what I’ve done these last few years is all due to the support that my audience and the audience of the various groups I’m involved in has shown us. So, thank you! I hope we get to continue to create things you love for a very long time.

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KIIARA

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With a sound and style that’s uniquely her own, Kiiara deserves a top spot on all your favorite playlists. We talked to the talented songstress about her latest album, mental health and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by DENNIS LEUPOLD

Tell us about your debut album! How long has it been in the works and what does it mean to you to be releasing it now?

I had spent 5 years working on my debut album “lil kiiwi”! It’s nerve racking because I have never been this vulnerable and transparent in my career. I am so grateful to share this project with my fans and I wanted to make sure I told my story the right way. Early in my career and up until now, I was very closed off and never really opened up to anyone.

I didn’t know who I was, so how was I supposed to let anyone get to know me ? With this album, I want to bring my fans in and let them get to know and understand me better.

What has the reaction been like from fans so far?

The reaction from my fans has been so positive. They’ve been so patient and kind. I’m very grateful for each and every one of them!

I consider them my family. I’ve been reading all the comments and trying to respond to as many DM’s as possible! I love them more than they know.

Is there a track off the album that resonates with you the most?

“Accidental” is the song that resonates with me the most. It’s an apology. The song is about me being the absolute fucking worst when this guy showed me nothing but love. He was patient, caring, genuine, and liked me for me.

I wish I would’ve handled my emotions differently. I was just young and overwhelmed by everything going on in my life at the time.

I was scared because I really liked him and those emotions were something I had never felt before. I knew if I started dating him, it would be serious and long term. Something I wasn’t ready for at the time. I wish I didn’t

push him away. If I could go back in time and take it all back, I would.

How would you describe your creative process?

My creative process is very go with the flow. I don’t like to plan too much when it comes to writing/creating music. I usually will go to the studio and write about how I’m feeling at that given moment. Authenticity is very important to me. I never want any of my projects to feel contrived.

When you think of your ultimate career goals, what comes to mind?

When I think of my ultimate career goals, I think of performing in stadiums all over the world. I think of having my own skincare line.

I think of having my own fragrance and I’d love to be in movies. I love acting! Oh, and a Christmas album! That’d be fun.

How do you make time for your mental health?

Running is one of the tools I use to clear my mind. Sometimes, when I’m really overthinking, I won’t even listen to music while I run. I’ll just go 3 miles in silence. Singing is the other tool I use to really get out of my head. I have severe anxiety so it distracts me from all that unnecessary brain noise. My brain misfires constantly and that’s one of my main coping mechanisms.

Any special message to fans?

I wanna tell my fans to not put too much pressure on themselves. We’re all human and we need to remember that, especially now with everything that’s happening in the world. We need to be kind and helpful to one another.

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niki koss words by VANESSA SALLES

photos by KIYANA TEHRANI

With a knack for telling stories that touch people’s hearts, Niki Koss is a name you won’t soon forget. As an award winning actress and filmmaker, the 26-year-old starlet has been busier than ever with several projects in the works. We talked to the Innocent Goodbye actress about her time on set, career goals, mental health and so much more! x Take us back to the beginning! What can you tell us about the moment that you knew you wanted to pursue acting as a career? What has the journey been like for you?

I’ve wanted to pursue acting for as long as I can remember. I actually told my mom I wanted an agent when I was three years old. I doubt I even knew what that was, but apparently I knew I wanted to be an actress from day one! I started seriously pursuing it towards the end of high school and have been diving into this industry head first ever since.

Talk to us about Innocent Goodbye – what can you tell us about the film and what viewers can expect from it?

Innocent Goodbye is a really intense story that explores a mass school shooting. My

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character faces off with the gunman, played by Darren Barnett, and does her best to essentially talk him off the ledge.

I was lucky enough to work on this and produce with one with one of my best friends, Theresa Picciallo, who wrote, directed and edited the film. It was so beautiful getting to go to the most vulnerable place I ever have acting wise alongside someone I trusted so implicitly.

This is such an important story and I really hope it helps bring the incredibly prevalent issue to light in some way.

What is it about your role that initially drew you in and made you want to be involved?

I always knew I wanted to work with Theresa, but when she presented me with the initial idea for Innocent Goodbye, I immediately got the chills and fell in love with the concept. I’ve always been incredibly passionate about advocating for the issue of gun violence and mass shootings so it only made sense to find a way to fuse that passion into my craft.

Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments from filming that you can share with us?

All the firemen, policemen, EMTs and swat officers were real, which was fascinating.

They’d actually experienced it before in the real world and had some really interesting stories to tell. I loved that we got to incorporate the actual heroes that deal with this issue daily into the film. It just made it that much more special.

You’ve won three “Best Actress” awards at different film festivals for this role – what can you tell us about that? What does it mean to you to get that sort of recognition?

I’ve never won any awards for acting before this so it was incredibly validating and rewarding. It felt really good to be recognized in that way for something I put so much heart and soul into! However, I just hope this film helps to bring even just a little bit more awareness and immediacy to the issue at hand.

Tell us about the feature film you directed earlier this year, Night, Night – how would you describe your experience with that project?

Shooting “Night Night” was hands down one of the best experiencing of my entire life. My cast and crew were so special in so many ways and made the whole shoot so amazing. Don’t get me wrong, it definitely wasn’t easy, but we walked away with memories and lessons we’ll have forever.

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I can’t wait for the world to see what we created.

What are some of your directorial aspirations? How would you describe being a female filmmaker in today’s climate?

I have to be honest, it’s difficult to be a female in such a male dominated industry.

Luckily though, the industry is working really hard to even the playing field and it definitely shows. However, I find myself having to dodge uncomfortable scenarios that only exist because of my gender time and time again. I’m proud of the work we’re doing towards equality, not just within this industry but in a plethora of others, but we still have a long way to go.

As far as directing aspirations go, I can’t wait to direct my next film. I’ve never produced a feature I wrote before so I’m really excited to explore that on the next one.

When you think of your ultimate dream role, what comes to mind?

Oh man, there are so many. I’d love to do a Winter’s Bone type film. I’m also obsessed with period pieces and am dying to do one of those as well.

What are you loving on TV lately? What do you want to see more of?

I’m really into Peaky Blinders at the moment. Also, the new season of Pen15 is out of this world good. I’d love to see more feel-good content this coming year.

I’m pretty sure we are all in desperate need of it these days.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

I was just talking to my good friend Rebecca Serle, who wrote “Famous In Love,” the other day about this! She said to me “The bar that we set has to remain fixed. We continue to move it around, lower and higher, adjusting it for specific people or scenarios- but the bar must remain fixed.” That’s a lesson that can take a lifetime to implement, but I believe it’s such an important one in order to maintain any semblance of self respect and just overall mental sanity.

With a growing social following, what’s the best way for fans to get your attention online?

I’m not the best at it, but I do check everything as often as I can. DM me!

What has life in quarantine looked like for you recently?

It’s actually been busier than ever somehow. I’m currently producing several projects and getting ready to direct my

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next film. They say when it rains it pours, it’s especially true these days. I’ve been doing a lot of writing and spending time with my family. This quarantine madness definitely gets a little bit easier with every passing day.

Working in such a chaotic field, what are some of the ways that you prioritize/ take care of your mental health?

That is a great question. I have a therapist that I love and have known since I was young. I think everyone should have a therapist in their life that they trust and can call if they are ever in an emotional pickle so to speak. Meditating via Headspace the app has been a godsend. Facetiming a lot with my mom and my friends. Oh, and baths. Lots and lots of bubble baths!

What piece of advice would you offer to someone who wanted to follow in your footsteps?

Work as hard as you possibly can because there is always going to be someone out there working harder.

Any special message for fans?

God I love you guys.

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NOTD

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We caught up with Swedish pop dance duo NOTD to get the inside scoop on their latest single, creative process and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by HENKEGUZTAV

Tell us about your new track, “Nobody”!

What’s the story behind the track? How did the collaboration with Catello come about?

‘Nobody’ is a song we worked on for a long time this year, and we’re super proud of it.

Catello sent us the demo early in the year and we knew right away that we wanted to work on it. The process on this one was slower than it has been on our other songs – it took a lot of back and forth with Catello to nail the right production, but we’re so excited that it’s out now for people to enjoy!

What has the reaction been like from fans so far?

The reaction so far has been good. The track is a bit darker than we tend to go so it’s exciting to see people react to something a little different from us. Catello’s sound allowed us to play with the clubbier, deeper sound that you hear in this record and we’re glad to see it being received well by our fans.

How would you describe your creative process?

Sometimes a song comes together in one session and other times, it takes time to nail the perfect vibe. What is consistent about all songs we make is that one of us will start working on something alone and then bring it to the other once there is some clear direction or specific idea on it that we’re happy with.

Also, we both play instruments! So we always start on guitars, keys, or a beat and then that translates over to the computer.

When you think of your ultimate career goals, what comes to mind?

We just want to stay creatively inspired and make music that makes us happy, and we hope that that same music will continue to connect with our current fans and new ones going forward. Of course, we have bucket list festivals (Lollapalooza is one) but we’re really focused on the music and our sound evolving right now. Also, having success and not ‘fame’ is kind of sweet too.

With a growing social following, what’s the best way for fans to get your attention online?

We do our best to reply to all DMs, and we’re on Twitter more now than we used to be haha. Tweet us! A good way to get to know us more personally is through the vlogs we post on our socials.

Working in such a chaotic field, what are some ways that you prioritize/take care of your mental health?

For us, the best strategy is not to force ourselves to be creative when it’s not coming naturally. Creativity comes in bursts and we focus on trying to capture those bursts rather than overworking ourselves.

Any special message for fans?

We’re so grateful for our fans – they’re the reason we get to do this for a living. We miss you and can’t wait to get back out there to meet you and play for you!

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noemi gonzalez

Set to star in the highly anticipated Selena: The Series, Noemi Gonzalez talked to us about what’s to come, filming during COVID, and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by VINCE TRUPSIN

Let’s talk Selena: The Series! Take us back to the moment where you learned you’d be apart of the cast – what was running through your mind?

It was one of the most profound moments of my life. I was stunned when I got the call from my manager and agent that I had the family’s approval. That whole day, I was so excited and humbled! I just celebrated with loved ones while thinking of Selena, Suzette, Abraham, and the drums. It was so much all at once and I took it all in because getting this role was so personal for me. I have always been a major Selena fan and I wanted to be part of telling her incredible story.

What did you do to prepare for taking on the role of Suzette Quintanilla?

I learned the drums- that really took a lot out preparation and it thoroughly shaped the character. I studied archives of Suzette and Selena y Los Dinos, both in interviews and in performances. I studied Selena as well to have the Quintanilla essence, I changed my overall appearance and cut and permed my long hair. I listened to her voice and watched her body language with dialect coach Esther Caporale that production so graciously provided. Lastly, I channeled any pressure of her being one of our EP’s into the drums and into the character to absolutely give it my all.

Are there any memorable behind-thescenes moments while filming that you can share with us?

I remember a special magic in the air the day

that we were filming Como la Flor. There was this excitement, this hype, this energy that was so inspirational and so Selena. Now specifically, I’ll never forget when they filmed my coverage of me drumming to the six and half minute live variation of the song. I had only started to learn the drums 2 and a half months beforehand. But, I remember feeling incredibly connected to the sibling bond that is Selena, Suzette, and A.B. I was connected to her music and the camera that I could feel every person in that sound stage and beyond. When I was done, I couldn’t sit still and I had to come out of the cage of the drum kit. I remember how me and our director and EP Hiromi Kamala hugged afterwards. For the rest of the day, people were coming up to me telling me that they had tears in their eyes watching, telling me that everyone was surrounding the monitors. It felt like a very special moment with the cast and crew that can never be relived again and it will stay with me forever.

How would you describe the vibe on the Selena set?

FAMILIA. Fun. Focused. Naturally, with such a beautiful story as Selena’s, we were all connected to her inspirational essence.

We filmed in Baja Studios with an incredible Mexican crew from both Tijuana and Mexico City. So, naturally, the magic of set was unique and dare I say better than any other set. It was an incredible time working together on this series.

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What are you most excited for fans to see/ learn from this series? What is your favorite Selena song?

My absolute favorite song of Selena’s has to be No Me Queda Mas. It’s poetry, musical elements, and Selena’s emotional, powerful delivery make this a classic for all time. I am most excited for fans to see the beginning of Selena’s story. We all love Selena’s signature look and time in the 90s, but I want to know how she got there, I hope you all enjoy watching her coming of age star story.

When you think of your ultimate dream role, what comes to mind?

I think of being a part of a dynamic, commanding period piece. I want to take you back in time or bring you into a whole different world. I want to play a strong female. I want more stages, and performances: I want to sing in a role. I want to act in different languages. I want many ultimate dreams to come true.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

How to be a light when the going gets rough.

We have all experienced a wild year through COVID and it has been challenging to say the least. Specifically, the production of Selena:

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The Series was shut down when the global pandemic hit the west coast of North America.

We came back to film after a 5 month break with very rigid COVID restrictions. The stress was overwhelming sometimes, especially with everyone being away from our loved ones on location. But instead of getting down, I knew I had to contribute to any good, fun, loving vibes I could give. I took a lot of care of my Suzette Squad- the crew members that became assigned to me because of COVID protocols. Now instead of the bummer vibes, we have a bond and beautiful fun memories of accomplishing Selena: The Series together and against all the odds!

With a growing social following, what’s the best way for people to grab your attention online?

I am very active on Instagram! Come say hi, follow and participate at @iamnoemigonzalez!

Any special message for fans?

Embrace who you are. Let the world see you.

Just be, and remember that although you might be in your head or second-guessing yourself, try to be kind to yourself because you never know who you are inspiring.

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FIAA

If FIAA isn’t already on your radar, it’s time to change that. We talked to the talented artist about her time on The Search, self-love, and more! words by VANESSA SALLES

Tell us about your experience on The Search!

What was that like for you?

It was amazing! The whole team/production, Little Mix, contestants, and Modest Management were a delight to work with and meet.

I am very humble and grateful that I got so far in the competition!

What kind of lessons did you learn with your time there?

More than anything, that I am not meant to be a pop star. I am a blues, jazz and soul vocalist and this show confirmed it for me; I admire everyone in the pop industry but my aura and spirit is made for a totally different direction, which I hope I’m about to show to people! It also gave me the inner confidence to let my personality shine and tell my story!

What can you tell us about your track ‘One Day’! What’s the story behind the song?

I wrote the song with two amazing friends, Ben Jackson-Cook and Rag N Bone man. It was originally created about a fall out that I had with a friend but when we developed the song even further, I realized it stood for equality overall - a message of hope for anyone that is struggling and, right now, I think most of us can relate.

Any memorable moments from creating the song that you can share with us?

The song was written very quickly but creating the arrangements had its challenges. We hit lockdown so we had to finish the song virtually! I had virtual calls with every musician

and singer on the track to create their part.

The process was collaborative but the musical director and I had to dig deep on leadership skills to make sure this happened smoothly.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

I was totally heartbroken earlier this year. I was experiencing very bad anxiety at the start of the break up and felt insecure, depressed and scared. When I took a look at the bigger picture, the pain stemmed from unresolved childhood experiences and the break up had just triggered them. So, I took some time out.

I worked on myself and am still working on myself. I cut a lot of negativity out of my life or just things and people that would hold me back from taking care of myself. I began to see good things and people come my way and taught myself boundaries. I was so scared that I would feel the same pain forever but it left like every other painful situation I have had to face, it was only temporary and greater things were arising for my personal journey.

Working in such a chaotic field, what are some ways that you prioritize/take care of your mental health?

Health is wealth. If I’m feeling a little blue, I take a moment for myself. I love a beauty treatment, writing a song, listening to my idols and surrounding myself with people that believe in my art.

Any special message for fans?

Simply put, I DO IT FOR YOU!

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makenzie moss

We talked to The Unicorn actress, Makenzie Moss, to get the inside scoop on season two, behind the scenes moments and so much more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by CHRISTINA TURINO

Tell us about The Unicorn! What is it about the show that drew you in and made you want to be involved?

When I first read the pilot, I was so moved by the show and the relationship my character, Natalie, had with her dad and sister. There were so many genuinely funny moments that I loved and I was obsessed with Natalie’s unfiltered and witty personality; I just knew this was a character I could relate to and wanted to play. The icing on the cake was the show’s cast; there are so many hilarious actors who’ve worked on some very funny shows and films in the past!

What can you tell us about your role as Natalie? What’s your favorite thing about portraying her?

I love playing Natalie! She has so much depth to her, mainly because she’s been through so much at an early age. She’s very funny but has a bit of a chip on her shoulder; she has no problem telling it as it is and I sometimes wish I could be as liberated as her! I think that’s my favorite thing about playing her… I know that, in real life, I couldn’t get away with half the stuff that she says and does.

What should viewers be expecting from season 2?

I think, overall, viewers should expect a lot of Wade (my dad) trying to navigate through the highs and lows of Natalie and Grace’s teenage angst. There’s a lot of comedy in that, as Wade is just having to learn as he goes. Between bras, ear piercings, boys and acne, this is all new territory for Wade, Natalie and Grace. At the same time, Wade has to navigate through his romantic relationships in hopes of finding someone he can fall in love with!

How would you describe the vibe on set?

It’s such a GREAT vibe on set and everyone is super close! It literally feels like family. The writers/producers/directors allow us actors a lot of freedom in making choices and improvising, when it makes sense to do so. But the greatest thing about our set is that everyone is there to help each other, which is all you can ask for when you’re working hard to put together a great show.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

Not to take anything for granted. Going through what we’ve all been going through this year makes you really appreciate what you have. We get so used to doing our daily routines that we don’t realize there are no guarantees in life. It makes you quickly appreciate family, friends and your life as a whole.

What are you loving on TV lately?

I really enjoyed Gossip Girl and Euphoria.

I know they’re two totally different shows but there are things about both that I really loved. I literally would binge-watch each show in a couple days!

Any special message for fans?

I have a simple message that I personally follow… Love yourself from inside out. Once you’re able to love yourself on the inside, it’ll show on the outside. Also, be kind to animals and treat them the way you would want to be treated. They have so much unconditional love inside them and they do not deserve to be in animal testing, abused, or neglected!

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cali rodi

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We talked to the talented songstress about her latest single, lessons learned in 2020, and more! words by VANESSA SALLES photo by EASTON SCHIRRA

Tell us about your new song, “blink-182 + u”! What’s the story behind the song? “blink-182 + u” is such a special song. I was reminiscing about being a kid blasting blink-182 songs in the basement while simultaneously processing a recent breakup. I was feeling nostalgic about the days when I didn’t have to think twice about heartbreak and had nothing to worry about other than if I did all my homework.

Any memorable moments while writing/recording it that you can share with us?

I usually start a song with a concept or title, but with “blink,” it seemed to fall out of the sky all at once. My co-writer Emily and I had notebooks full of lyrics and poetry and all these ideas we wanted to get down. She knew all the details of my relationship inside and out, so we wrote in this crazy telepathic way that was effortless.

How would you describe your creative process?

My creative process revolves around lyrics.

Words inspire me more than anything. If I ever get writer’s block, I read a rhyming dictionary, scroll through Pinterest, or call a friend and get her to spill all her juicy love life secrets.

I keep an ongoing note in my phone of potential ideas and song titles that I bring into the studio to feel prepared. If I’m collaborating with other songwriters, we’ll start messing with chords on a guitar or piano and have overly deep “TMI” conversations. From there, it’s a combination of mumbling melodies and talking out feelings until a song is born!

When it comes to stage presence, which ar-

tist(s) are you most inspired by?

Gwen Stefani, Hayley Williams, Katy Perry, and Halsey; all are powerhouse entertainers, world-class vocalists, and energizer bunnies.

When you think of your ultimate career goals, what comes to mind?

My ultimate career goals are to release a fulllength album that I’m proud of, sell out an arena tour, and connect with as many people as possible. Collaborating with Max Martin would also be a dream come true.

What would you say has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year?

This year has taught me to truly soak in every moment. I’ll never take a night out with friends or having dinner in a restaurant for granted ever again. It’s also taught me that a lot can be done on a laptop… And that bluelight glasses really work!

Working in such a chaotic field, what are some ways that you prioritize/take care of your mental health?

Every single day is such a rollercoaster, and there’s so many variables out of my control.

I definitely deal with waves of anxiety and stress, but I try to maintain a healthy balance of career, relationships, exercise, and rest.

Oh, and doughnuts. Can’t forget doughnuts.

Any special message for fans?

Thank you for listening to my songs and making them “our” songs. I feel like we’re in our own little world right now, and I’m so excited to grow with you as more songs get released into this world. *Cue High School Musical “We’re All In This Together”*

THE DAILY SHUFFLE 34

NOVEMBER 2020

What to watch

The Princess Switch: Switched Again, Netflix, 11/19

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, Netflix, 11/20

Shawn Mendes: In Wonder, Netflix, 11/23

What to listen to

Little Mix - Confetti 11/5

35

Paris Jackson - Wilted 11/13

Miley Cyrus - Plastic Hearts 11/27

TDS IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN PRINT!

THE DAILY SHUFFLE OCTOBER 2020

GABRIELLE MOONEY

www.thedailyshuffle.com/digital-magazine THE DAILY SHUFFLE 36

www.thedailyshuffle.com