Kendra: You started behind the drums, fell enamored with House culture and started DJing, and then found your voice as a singer. Do you feel there are still musical layers of yourself you’ve yet to uncover?

Ori Kawa: I do! There are a few instruments I’ve always wanted to play. If the timing is right, you can pick up something and it will feel natural. That’s how you know it is a good thing to pursue and practice. Also, the musical landscape is always expanding and coming up with new movements, so you don’t always know what you might come up with as a reaction.

Kendra: How was the transition from being a drummer and DJ to being center stage as a singer? Did you have any initial nerves utilizing your voice in a new way?

Ori Kawa: The kind of drumming I was most heavily involved with growing up was taiko. Groups I have been in are open to incorporating contemporary flair alongside the traditional movements. In this type of performance group, drums are the dominant instrument, and there are lots of opportunities for solos, probably a lot more than for a set drummer in a traditional band. I definitely hammed it up when I could, sometimes throwing in some poppin’ style for fun. So, I’d say a good portion of my drumming upbringing was already center stage. This made certain aspects of the transition smooth, but there are other angles with vocals that did bring new challenges.

Adding words to the mix adds another dimension of meaning. Especially when writing as well. It’s like, you want people to be able to interpret lyrics themselves, but you don’t want to be misunderstood. Flubbing a note/pitch can be distracting, but flubbing a word can change the meaning, mood, and/or message (for better or worse). This is partly what makes me believe that we all start out musical because as kids in school, we sing. Meaning and message mean less, and we just sing together for the sake of the musical experience. It’s the closest thing to the whole dance like no one is watching this type of thing, but with a group. Along the way, we unlearn this ability because of the other things we learn that can cause us to be hesitant.

As for the DJing, there are a couple of DJs that I saw frequently that would sing during their sets: Chuck Love and Colette. They blend the two so well that to everyone, especially the audience, they exist nicely in the same space. Witnessing their sets helped quite a bit.

Kendra: While DJing you came to believe and respect the three pillars of dance music Tim Armstrong stated which are the venues, DJs, and the music. With that, what do you believe are the three pillars of The Entals?

Ori Kawa: Ooooh good question! This is the first I’ve been asked this, so the answer is subject to adjustments…I have been thinking of these prints I want to make for my home “dojo” that are personal definitions, and there just so happens to be three of them, so let’s see how they apply to our band:

INTEGRITY – “Say what you are going to do, then do what you said you were going to do.” The way this applies is to collaborate on a professional level. If we are in the habit of delivering on what we promise to each other during production, then it sets a foundation for delivering on stage to fans and venues.

DISCIPLINE – “Do what you know you should be doing, and don’t do what you know you shouldn’t be.” There is a saying about bands, creative groups, and even sports teams about the total being greater than the sum of the parts. Well, what if you start out with really awesome parts? This pillar addresses the respect that a player should have for his/her craft as an individual. Being a student of your instrument is eternal.

POISE – “Maintaining behavior that is up to your personal standards when reacting to both success AND adversity.” There are a lot of ups and downs in the music industry and life in general. This is often easier said than done. But that is why I need to print it and hang it on my wall because with all the craziness going on these days, I could use a constant reminder!

Kendra: You and The Entals have managed to work well together with some in Phoenix and others in Chicago. How blessed do you feel musicians are today with things like Zoom and having that ability to create art with so much distance between them in an instant?

Ori Kawa: Glad you mentioned this because the resources we have these days were essential to the completion of our EP. One of the innovative platforms that we relied on heavily is Splice. It integrates the major DAW’s and makes collaboration so smooth. Basically, they host your project files (for us it was Logic, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools) on a cloud and when any party makes a change to the project, it updates.

It also saves backup versions, so you can update without fear of permanently re-writing the song. This eliminates the need for bouncing, uploading, downloading, notation, and all the things we used to have to do to progress a project any time there is even a slight change. So then, it progresses much more naturally. Having to do all that stuff before you can record can really kill creative energy. I also like the ability to comment on a timeline, so you can be like, “Hey, this part is dope!” or “play that one lick here”, etc.

And there are even more resources for us now too, more so in the service/technical marketing realm. SoundBetter and Airgigs are these awesome communities of creatives that put their services up for hire. I was able to enlist the top-notch musicianship of backup singers, horn players, and engineers that added spice and professionality to the project.

Kendra: You four managed to come together and create your November release, ‘Draw 4.’ With so many styles going on in just four tracks – was the recording process ever chaotic?

Ori Kawa: Surprisingly, the recording process for ‘Draw 4’ has been the least chaotic that I’ve ever experienced in my 15+ years of haunting recording studios.

Kendra: I always feel like yeah, great musicians are always going to work well together and manage to create great things but you have to bring amazing personalities and skillsets to the table as well. What do you feel Oscar, Todd, Myron, and yourself bring to the group outside of music that has made y’all work so well together?

Ori Kawa: Well…thank you! And, you’re right about that feeling. If you get a bunch of very technically advanced professionals (in any field) together, their interaction is going to be great. But what puts their creations out of this world is the ability to really talk to each other, in their respective language, about their life experiences. I believe that a major contributor to our band’s synergy (btw, can’t stand the corporate ownership of this word, haha. But it’s such a good word!)—is the study of Pillar ii, discipline. And this ties into why the recording process went smoothly for us.

Oscar, Todd, and Myron all pursue excellence with their instruments on their own, but also, they make a point to keep up with music technology. We were only able to collaborate efficiently because they each have their own high-quality rig and know how to extract their best performance with it. This was so important, especially during lockdown. We were able to pass our project back and forth and keep it moving. I would say I’m the least technically knowledgeable of the bunch when it comes to music theory, improvisation, and skill, but they provided a comfortable space where I was able to contribute what I could with lyrics, arrangement, and sonic quality.

Chicago also has a lot to do with it, I can’t let that go unmentioned. Roots run deep in that city. You cannot spend any extended amount of time there and not become intertwined with those roots. Wow, what a city!

Kendra: So let’s talk about ‘LIES.” I’m glad you mentioned zombies because as soon as I pressed play I was like, okay…this is spooky, but also a little funky. So my head went more towards Elvira, but if you had to pick a classic horror character to star in the “LIES” video, who do you feel would fit the aesthetic of the song best?

Ori Kawa: Nice. Elvira, I like that. She would definitely have this song on her playlist. I can see her chillin on the couch with her earbuds in when she’s taking a break from a long night of feeding and soul-damning.

It’s hard to choose just one! I would say Count Dracula. Or wait, are you a fan of the ‘Underworld’ franchise? “Lies” would be if the vampire-werewolf hybrid from ‘Underworld’ got bit by a zombie on acid and then went surfing.

Kendra: With the album out in November, are you planning on playing any dates before the holidays, or are you holding off until the new year?

Ori Kawa: Holding off until the new year. We are looking to crank out a few more originals with our current process. Ideally, we want to have a nice steady flow of releases lined up. If they are consistent in quality, then it will be time to start planning some shows based on the response to our songs. It will be nice to perform them in front of a crowd, as we are a band born of the pandemic. Thank you very much for your interest in our music, and we hope to play in your town soon!

The post The Pillars of Ori Kawa & The Entals appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Over the past year, I’ve encountered dozens of creatives who’ve walked away from their day job to do what they do now whether it’s fashion, art or photography. You though, you’ve kept the day job as a chemist after all these years. Do you ever think one career path will win out or do you feel like you’re going to continue to thrive and kick ass in both for years to come?

Natalie: This is an interesting question for many reasons. When I first started my business, it was mainly a creative outlet for me; I didn’t imagine it as something that would ever make money. Then as my business started to take off, it became a challenge to see how far I could grow it. I never thought of it as a profit center.

As Grammatical Art became more successful and I was starting to weigh whether or not I could do this full time, my life became more complicated with my daughter’s autism diagnosis. What that meant was a lifelong commitment to her progress and success, and most importantly: medical insurance.

I could not walk away from my corporate job for the simple fact that I could not afford the level of insurance my daughter required on my own as a business owner. Do I wish that hadn’t been the case? Perhaps, but it did end up pushing me to continue to develop both the business and my career as a chemist at the same time. This is something I do not regret in the slightest.

Running a business and having a career is a challenge to say the least, but it has taught me to be very purposeful with my time, and both experiences make me better at the other. In my day job, I look at how a large corporation manages their bottom line and processes, and I leverage what I’ve learned and apply it to my business. In managing Grammatical Art, I see how decisions I make directly impact profitability and the happiness of my staff, and I take those back to my day job. It has made me a better decision maker, a more creative problem solver, and a more effective manager of people in the process.

Kendra: Grammatical Art has been going strong on Etsy since 2012, but have you ever ventured into the craft fair circuit?

Natalie: I have done some in-person fairs and comic cons, and I absolutely love doing them. I truly enjoy interacting with my customers in person. There’s nothing better than witnessing a customer get a kick out of your work in person. Because I operate online, I miss these opportunities, and the fairs really do provide them.

Kendra: As a whole, I enjoy so many of your products because I was/am a nerd. I grew up in the honors classes and was the outcast of my family for loving school. For me, summer vacation was pure torture. Did you feel any backlash growing up as one of the smart kids?

Natalie: I don’t know that I felt any backlash per se, but I am still a bit of a weirdo who’d rather vacation seeing the world’s libraries than the beaches. Plus it’s a bit easier these days as being a nerd is kind of a cool thing to be.

Kendra: Let’s talk about the team for a second. Jess is a librarian and Kate is a copy editor with a biology background. How did you three come together? A Grammar Loving Facebook Group?

Natalie: I lucked out here! Jess and I went to college together. We went to a small liberal arts school where the science people were forced to take writing classes and the English majors had to take some science classes. Our paths crossed back then and we’ve been fortunate enough to remain friends throughout the years. When she decided to stay home with her kids, we both benefited. I got some part-time help, and she was able to keep one foot in the working world. Kate is Jess’s sister, and she stepped in when Jess took a leave after she had her second son. Even though Jess has been back, Kate helps out when we’re slammed or need her writing skills.

Kendra: What I love and appreciate most about Grammatical Art is that you and your team are all very intelligent women pushing the power and importance of education through fashion. Since I was younger, it’s gotten better but women still face some backlash in terms of science. How do you feel we as a whole can stop science and math from being a total boy’s club?

Natalie: I think this problem starts young. We need to encourage more girls to go into STEM fields and we need to preach that message early. We need to continue to support them as they explore these fields. I truly believe in the adage of, “You cannot be what you cannot see.”

As a female scientist and business owner, I work to be an example not only for my daughter, but for those around me as well. I would like to be able to talk to more classes of young girls and to host events where I can answer specific questions about what it means to manage a lab or to run your own small business. I would challenge other women in STEM to do the same. We have to lead by example and show young girls what they can be when they grow up. They don’t have to be a scientist, but they should have the example so they can see if they’re interested in the field. I think that’s something people in my position can specifically do.

Kendra: To wrap things up, let’s talk about what’s coming up for Grammatical Art as we finish up 2019 and start 2020. Are you adding new products in the new year? Lines?

Natalie: We are always creating and adding new designs and products. We like to listen to our customers in what they want and what they would like to see and give that to them. I’m really into hand lettering and calligraphy, so I’m hoping to expand more into that arena with fun, custom designs for our customers.

2019 has been a year of a lot of changes for both of my jobs. At Grammatical Art, we’re in the process of recapping the year and moving forward for 2020. One of my strengths is not being afraid to try new things and learn from them, so there’s definitely more to come.

The post Grammatical Art: Fashion with All The Right Marks appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: The art of crochet boggles my mind. Perhaps the coordination one needs with the needles? Nevertheless, is this a skill you picked up as a child?

Erin Hansen: Oddly enough, I did not. Both of my grandma’s crocheted, but for some reason, I never learned! I taught myself about eight years ago after becoming a stay at home mom. I read a lot online and watched many Youtube videos.

Kendra: You’ve been on Etsy since 2011. Is that when Simply Made By Erin all began or was that just when you embarked on the online world?

Erin Hansen: I jumped online almost as soon as I started crocheting. I didn’t think it would go anywhere, but to my surprise, a few months later, while on vacation, I heard the Etsy cha-ching (meaning I had an order) come through on my phone, and then another one, and another. It pretty much took off after that. My original Newsboy hat design is what brought in my first rush of sales, and it’s still my most requested item today.

Kendra: What were you doing before all this? Were you holding down a 9-5 you grew tired of?

Erin Hansen: I was, I worked at my families company processing the payroll and benefits and was in banking before that. My husband had a great job opportunity which took us away from our family in Arizona all the way across the country to Connecticut. I had a three-year-old son at the time that I wanted to stay home with, so I decided not to go back to work after the move. We are now back in Arizona and loving it! I’m still working from home, but my son is now 11 and in school full time.

Kendra: This time of year must be your busiest. Do you spend the warmer months creating and then the fall/winter fulfilling orders?

Erin Hansen: It’s so busy! I do a lot of pattern designing in the warmer months, and then it’s down to the grind in the winter months, making all the things! My items are typically made to order, but I do stock up for a local boutique I’m a vendor at called The Farmhouse in Kingman, AZ. They offer a winter market that I’ve been working on building stock for.

Kendra: As time goes on, will you look into adding crochet clothing like sweaters?

Erin Hansen: It’s always been a dream of mine to start making garments. I’d love to, but unfortunately, they are very time-consuming. I try to keep the items I sell down to an hour or less of labor, otherwise, it’s a bit hard for me to fit them into my schedule. I do occasionally write more time-consuming designs that I sell as a crochet pattern only and not the finished item.

Kendra: Alongside the wonderful headwear you have available, you also have a lot of home decor. How do you pick and choose what type of home decor items you’ll take on and add to your store?

Erin Hansen: The first item I ever crocheted was a basket, but hats were big sellers back when I started, so I switched gears a bit. Years later I needed something to occupy my slower months, so I went back to baskets. They sold well, so I’ve slowly added new designs such as planters and hanging baskets. I typically make what I like to use in my home. I’m all about the modern farmhouse style right now!

Kendra: As we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020, what can people expect from Simply Made By Erin?

Erin Hansen: Wow, what an exciting year this has been, full of some great successes!! Next year (around March) you can expect to see me featured on The Make and Do Crew Blog with an exciting new crochet design! I have some really cute planters coming up for Valentine’s Day, and I always try to come up with a few new hat designs for winter. I have nothing set in stone yet, but once the busy season starts to die down, my mind will start to open up to new ideas.

The post Simply Made By Erin: Crocheting New Possibilities appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Was photography always something you were passionate about? Were you one of those kids in high school that was never without some form of a camera?

Chris Kuzman: I got started taking pictures a few years ago when I bought my first drone, believe it or not. It was when 4k camera drones were first getting affordable, so I bought one out of curiosity. I started taking video of landscapes in Arizona, and pictures as well, but I was much more focused on making videos.

It was the first time that I felt that I could use a camera as a tool to create art. This was followed shortly by purchasing my first real Nikon DSLR on a Black Friday sale and started taking random pictures of everything. It quickly became an obsession, and before I knew it I was getting hired to do graduation pictures, portraits, and event videos. It’s all history from there!

Kendra: On top of photography, you also handle video production. Do you feel you pull from one of your skills to help enhance the other?

Chris Kuzman: I make most of my living from video production, but photography holds an equal amount of importance to me. I find a lot of overlap between photography and video, especially in the majority of stuff I work on. At the end of the day, we are telling mini-stories with any visual art medium. Video often relies heavily on audio to properly convey the message, but photography only has one visual moment to do the job.

So you learn quickly with photography to focus on imagery that communicates lots of complex ideas with just one single frame. You can’t include fluff, only the important things. In my opinion, a good picture is one where the subject(s) in the frame gives you just enough information to get the message, and nothing more. So to answer your question, photography has enhanced my perspective on making videos, by forcing me to focus on minimizing unnecessary images that don’t serve my narrative.

Kendra: You deal with a lot of varying subject matter in your photos from traditional portraits to landscapes to events. Out of them all, what’re the most on-point for who you are when step behind the lens? What allows you to be the most like yourself when shooting?

Chris Kuzman: I really like shooting things that are happening, regardless of me being there or not. Doing portrait sessions and editorial work is fun and all, but I truly enjoy capturing things as they happen naturally, whether it is an event, a musician on stage, a landscape, people on the street, animals, buildings, whatever. I like being able to observe things and capture the raw, honest moment as it was going to happen, without my input. Whenever I pose a model, or light a set, no matter how cool the picture ends up, it never feels as authentic as something that I captured from a distance, unnoticed and uninvolved.

Kendra: Your landscape and travel photos are immaculate. So crisp and clean. What I like about them is that when you do feature someone in the travel shots, they aren’t necessarily the entire focus. It’s one of my pet peeves when people vacation and all their photos are close up selfies. Like, where’s the place you went? Do you feel people travel more for the photo than the experience nowadays?

Chris Kuzman: Yeah I completely fall into the camp of people who focus too much on the documentation of experiences, and can sometimes forget to sink into the moment. My rationale is that my memory is a pretty terrible way to relive experiences, and pictures are much more effective at that. So I like to take pictures that capture the vibe of wherever I am at and edit them to accentuate that feeling. The better the picture I take, the more likely I’ll be to look back on that moment and relive it for years to come. That’s my motivation.

Kendra: When it comes to travel and photography do you ever feel there are places with understated beauty photographers are missing out on?

Chris Kuzman: I think people over analyze the amount of “beauty” a place needs to have in order to justify going there and taking pictures. Most popular places to take pictures are super crowded and have a massive amount of pictures taken there already. It’s pretty easy to get a good picture of horseshoe bend, or Niagara Falls, but it’s much more difficult to bring out the beauty of a place that no-one thinks to take pictures of. My advice is to go and take pictures of neglected parts of the world, and if you can make those things beautiful, then you just accomplished something meaningful.

Kendra: Have you ever showcased your work in galleries? If not, is that a future goal?

Chris Kuzman: I have not, but it is something that I am considering doing soon! My little brother has artwork in galleries and it has really inspired me to one day do the same thing.

Kendra: What’s coming up for you as we head deeper into 2019 and soon into 2020?

Chris Kuzman: I’m continuing to refine my abilities and focus on the basics. I think that becoming more consistent in producing the results I’m visualizing is definitely my main focus. At the beginning of my photo/video journey, I feel like most of the good work I’ve produced has been a product of luck, so I’m focusing on learning how to get lucky more often.

The post Chris Kuzman: Minimize the Unnecessities appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Every artist has their thing and yours just happens to be birds. What first drew you towards these creatures of the sky? Were they something you were interested as a kid or was it an interest that came with time?

Frank Gonzales: It was definitely an interest that came in time. It was a result of a lot of playing and experimenting. Trying to find my own voice in my work. It was really general at first and became much more specific as my interest grew. Lately, botanical elements have been at the forefront and I’m much more selective with birds.

Kendra: You’ve said that you often look at pictures and do your interpretation. Do you ever take a sketchbook to the park or the woods?

Frank Gonzales: Oh, I’m always taking a sketchbook with me. I don’t work in it as much as I would like these days. I try to make it habitual to carry around, but truthfully the sessions are a bit farther and few between. Life can be a bit demanding with full-time work, studio time and family life. It’s not an excuse, but now that you asked the question I appreciate the reminder to work in it more. Haha!

Kendra: How do you feel that your way of approaching your subjects varies from those who sit at like the zoo and sketch animals?

Frank Gonzales: I appreciate both approaches. There’s nothing better than drawing from observation. However, working in the studio from references allows you to take more time to build up the subject.

Kendra: Was there any other route you wanted to travel besides art, or did you always have your heart and mind set on art school and being an artist?

Frank Gonzales: I was pretty set on art. I’m a big music head so maybe something involving music for sure. I also sometimes think I should go back to school for horticulture. I would love to have my own desert natural habitat on my property. That would be dope!

Kendra: I was so happy to see your art is at the Children’s Hospital in Orange County. As someone who has spent a lot of time in a hospital (not for me, but my fiance), the art does really lift the spirits. How’d that come about, getting your pieces in there?

Frank Gonzales: Oh man! I was happy as well! It’s quite an honor to have work in a place of healing and in an institute that does so much good for children. It was purely luck on my part. The person who manages the hospital’s collection reached out to me which made the experience much more spectacular!

Kendra: What are your plans as far as the rest of 2019 is concerned? Will you be doing any shows, showing in any new galleries? Let the people know what you have going on.

Frank Gonzales: I’m going to be in an upcoming group show by Hashimoto Contemporary from San Francisco hosted in Portland by Antler Gallery. I will also be including some works with Visions West Gallery in Montana. It’s amazing how opportunities pop up. That’s all I have scheduled at the moment. We’ll see how 2019 progresses!

The post Frank Gonzales Soars to New Heights appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You came from Argentina to the US when you were a pretty good age, around 10? What provided the biggest culture shock; the food, customs, pop culture?

Nathan Jude: The biggest culture shock by far was the change in social tendencies. In Argentina, we spend hours at a time talking over dinner with friends. Or relaxing outdoors while sharing a yerba mate (the national drink of Argentina). When we moved to the US, I noticed that most get-togethers tended to revolve around an activity such as movies, video games, shopping, etc. It took me some time to get used to this change and find friends who still enjoyed just sitting around and talking.

http://soundcloud.com/nathan-jude/just-too-sweet?in=nathan-jude/sets/unafraid-2017

Kendra: Being bilingual, it made me wonder…when it came to music, in what language was the music that first captured your heart?

Nathan: English! Every country has their own celebrity bands and acts, but music in English is also incredibly popular almost everywhere around the world. When I was growing up in Argentine, so much of the pop music that was played was from the US, so naturally, almost all of my early favorite songs were in English.

Kendra: Can we hear your Argentinian roots reflected in your latest, Unafraid?

Nathan: Absolutely! Throughout my album, there are many little guitar and percussion parts that are rooted in Latin music. This is particularly obvious in the song “Just Too Sweet.” The song is written in English, but the entire mood, rhythm, and notation of the song is Latin-influenced.

Nathan Jude’s Favorite Place in Argentina: La Plata

Kendra: Are there any artists from there that you keep tabs on?

Nathan: One Argentine artist in particular that I’ve loved for some time is called Axel. He is a singer-songwriter and has written many incredible songs. I really love his song “Celebra la Vida.”

Kendra: What does 2017 have planned for you right now?

Nathan: With Unafraid being my debut album, 2017 is all about introducing my music to as many people as possible. I will be playing shows throughout Arizona, touring the Southwest and continuing to write songs. Another plan for 2017 that I’m particularly excited for is the release of my first single in Spanish! I am currently in the studio recording the song titled “Ella Sabe Amarme” which is a bachata song set to be released in late 2017.

The post Nathan Jude’s Argentina Foundation appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: An artist, producer and educator. What came first of the three and did you expect the other facets of your career to follow after that?

Qais Essar: Artist at inception, so I feel that I was born equipped with a set of special satellites that makes me more sensitive to things in the air. Everything else followed when I learned how to dial in and listen- trying to channel it, to recreate and arrange it, and at some point, to try to share what I have learned whilst listening.

There were no real expectations when I began formal musical education as a young boy, nor do I have any real expectations now as a grown man. I do have however, have hope, that what I am doing resonates with a few other people. That would be neat.

Kendra: Now you create traditional Afghanistan music, but live in Phoenix. How often have you headed overseas to the place itself?

Qais Essar: Though I perform internationally; providence hasn’t seen it fit for me to perform in Afghanistan itself in a professional capacity as of yet, though it is a labor of mine that will soon come to fruition. Until then, I will continue to work from, and work in, areas where there is not adequate representation of people of minority.

Kendra: It’s obvious that the cultures here and there are vastly different, but what’s the biggest that stands out to you?

Qais Essar: Deeper roots. America is not even two-hundred years old, whereas Afghanistan has a deep enriched culture spanning many hundreds of years. Everything seems heavier. I think we are very attached to our past. Parents often speak of those who came seven generations ago as if they were here today. We carry our ghosts.

Qais Essar’s favorite place in Afghanistan: Bagh-e Babur

Kendra: After nearly three decades in this business, what do you still hope to accomplish?

Qais Essar: I just want to be able to learn as much as possible, to perfect my craft to the best of my ability, and to be able to share my adventures in aural exploration with people far and wide.

The post Qais Essar’s Avant-Afghan Style appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: With the ability to sing in both English and Spanish, do you write in both or just one language?

Nathan Jude: I write in both languages. I find that each language has particular strengths. English is wonderful when you need to describe a complex situation concisely. Spanish is such a romantic language that it is great for expressing passion and emotion. Lately, I find myself beginning to write songs that include both English and Spanish lyrics.

Kendra: Did you grow up speaking Spanish or was that something learned as you got older?

Nathan: I was lucky enough to grow up speaking both languages. My Dad is Argentine and my Mom is American. While growing up in Argentina, the household rule was “speak Spanish outside the house, speak English inside.” This kept me well connected to both languages.

Kendra: Was there a local music scene that influenced you when you were growing up – or were you more inspired by the landscapes that surrounded you?

Nathan: Growing up in Argentina, I was not very connected to the local music scene. Instead, I found myself being inspired by the way that music seemed to control me. When I listened to love songs, I found myself overwhelmed by deep emotion. When listening to sad music, I instantly felt a sense of sad comfort (weird, I know). Music’s ability to completely overwhelm me is what led me to dedicate myself to it.

Kendra: What made you want to be a bit more alternative than mainstream when it came to your pop style?

Nathan: I am a strong believer in prioritizing the melody when writing. I never really set out to write in a particular genre, I just knew that whatever melodies I wrote had to really flow well with the chords and rhythms that I was using. This meant that, at no point, was I focused on current trends or styles. I think that my tunnel vision about melodies is what lead my music to be more alternative than mainstream.

Kendra: Right now fans can hear that sound on Unafraid, which just dropped in January. Was there anything you were fearful of during recording?

Nathan: Absolutely. We were 3/4 finished with the album and I began experiencing pain when singing. After a visit to the doctor, I learned that I had swelling throughout my throat and vocal chords, and I needed to rest my voice until it healed. This meant that, during the last few months of recording, I could not sing. I was afraid that we wouldn’t’ be able to finish the album. Luckily, the vocals I had already laid down were strong enough to keep in the final cuts, and my brother and co-producer, Micah, was able to step in and record the harmonies that I hadn’t finished.

Kendra: On a broader scale, what’s something you’re irrationally fearful of? Like I am terrified of gorillas – even though I will probably never run into one.

Nathan: My biggest irrational fear has to be germs. I was diagnosed with OCD many years ago, and I find myself constantly going out of my way to avoid germs of all types. Intellectually, I know that germs are everywhere, and our resilient bodies are usually able to cope with them, but I can’t help living on the defensive in an attempt to somehow avoid them.

Kendra: Back to the music, you just dropped your new single, “Have You Now.” Can you remember the day you recorded that one? Anything out of the ordinary happen that day?

Nathan: Very interesting question! Because we were recording while working full-time jobs, that song was actually recorded over a period of several years! One interesting thing about the song is that we originally recorded it as a piano-lead song, but it didn’t feel right. After months of editing and trying to make it sound right, we finally ditched most of the piano parts and re-recorded the song with guitars. As soon as we played it back, we knew that we had finally found the right sound.

Kendra: Going back even further. You had about five years between your latest and last album. What was going on during that time?

Nathan: Back in 2011, after releasing my first EP, I was really struggling with my OCD. It was so strong that I found it difficult to do shows. I finally decided that I needed to focus on my health, so I actually got on a plane and flew across the country to receive treatment. I thought that this process would take a few weeks, but it ended up taking a year! After my treatment, I moved to a new city, met the woman that became my wife, and simultaneously recorded my new album. Between the treatment, multiple moves, and a wedding, the new album became a 5 year project. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a single day of that process.

Kendra: Will you be playing any shows soon?

Nathan: Yes! We are preparing to announce shows throughout Phoenix! Once I’ve had the time to connect with fans here in the valley, we will begin planning a Southwest tour.

Kendra: Lastly, here at ZO we’re all about the arts. With that I wanted to ask you to either draw or submit a piece of art that you feel best represents your sound?

Nathan: I have to go with the image that is on the inside of my album. To me it represents innocence, the struggle of being stranded, and the idea that even when we can’t see it, our complexity is beautiful.

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