Kendra: You’ve got this sound that feels very now, but also reminiscent of someone like Sade. Being that you were about 12 when she dropped her last record, I’m wondering what artists you did grow up listening to that made you want to go down that music path? 

Syfr: To be honest, I’ve never heard of her before but now I will be doing a deep dive into her music catalog, so I want to say thank you for putting me on to her. 

Honestly, looking back at my childhood I don’t know what made me go down this music path. I’ve just always loved the concept of it. But my top three artists during that period of my life were John Legend, Sam Cooke, and Mali music. 

Kendra: Again, you were a legit ‘90s baby having been born towards the end of the decade. Do you ever think about what it would’ve been like to try and be an artist back in the day before the internet was part of our everyday lives?

Syfr: I think about that all the time comparing the ‘90s to now. How hard they had to work to get to where they were compared to the present day. You had to actually want it back then there was no TikTok or Instagram at their disposal you had to fight for your dreams. They helped pave the way for all of us. And I look forward to paving the pathway for the next generation to come.

Kendra: With your style, you’ve taken the foundations of R&B and given it this 21st-century makeover. I’ve noticed that genres sort of started to intertwine more and more in the past decade or so. Why do you think that artists are less inclined to stick with the, we’ll say, traditional ways of genres now than ever before? 

Syfr: Each generation is becoming more progressive straying away from traditional things. 

Kendra: You started dropping singles last year and to date have dropped three singles. Are you working towards a whole EP or LP, or do you like the freedom that dropping singles at your own pace gives you? 

Syfr: I love EPs. I love making bodies of work. I’m working on my first EP, and I’m excited. 

Kendra: Your latest single of the trio is “Scars.” This song explores the story of a woman who hasn’t had the best of luck in life and to make matters worse, her partners never quite know how to give her the emotional support she needs. Was this song inspired by anyone in your life that you have seen go through this? 

Syfr: “Scars” wasn’t written about a woman’s journey. It’s about self-love, “I need to learn to love my scars.” So it was written for anyone on the journey of self-love.

Kendra: Those in Florida may have heard this and your other singles live because you’ve been trying to stay busy performing. Do you have plans to do any showcases in places like Los Angeles or New York City in the future? 

Syfr: Eventually, that’s the plan first. I have to get my name on the map in Florida or at least Orlando first. Then I’ll work on branching out.

Kendra: Now it’s time for a side note – with it being May, I always think of the end of the school year and all those memories of field trips, parties, and yearbooks. With that, I’d love to know what your fondest end-of-the-school-year memory was? 

Syfr: My fondest end-of-the-year memory would be saying goodbye to everyone I knew in high school. I moved away from home shortly after graduating. I was excited to see what life had to offer.

Kendra: Lastly, with “Scars” out now, what else can fans expect as we continue towards summer?

Syfr: Moreeeeeeeeee music!

The post From Sade to Scars with Syfr  appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You’ve been together for more than a few years now, but were you friends before music came into the picture? Just curious as to how you two came to be Little Lazy…

Little Lazy: It’s funny, we actually didn’t know each other at all…We were set up on a “blind date” of sorts by Kevin’s roommate at the time who saw Brendan’s post on Facebook looking for a drummer. We figured “screw it” and met one afternoon for an innocent jam session. And boom, the next thing we knew, we had already fleshed out a skeleton of our first single “Daytime Shakes” within a couple of hours of meeting. 

It was a very natural experience, and the chemistry was strong. In a weird way, it was like we already knew each other musically. It wasn’t long after we decided to turn this project into a full-time thing.

Kendra: Which, you have this hashtag, #staylazy, and also a mascot of sorts – a sloth. However, you two are quite busy. How do you balance that lazy day afternoon lifestyle with being very active musicians? 

Little Lazy: Little Lazy started as a relaxed, after-work hangout type of thing. We just enjoyed chilling out and playing some simple tunes. Of course, when we decided to really pursue this project, it ironically became the opposite. We love the grind and everything we do for this band, and we wanted to hang on to that “Lazy” mentality. We still work full-time gigs, so planning and scheduling is a huge priority. It’s definitely a second job for us, but we truly enjoy every bit of it. “Work hard, play hard” is the way we roll.

Kendra: You’re playing pretty often in and around Orlando, your home base. Are there any plans this year to tour outside of the south? 

Little Lazy: We love Orlando and all the amazing venues here, but we’ve definitely been building our presence all throughout Florida in the last couple years. We finally “broke out” of the Sunshine State this month with a solid run up to Georgia hitting Macon and Atlanta, which we were insanely stoked about! We’re now focused on expanding our bubble, hoping to hit the rest of the southeast region by the end of 2023.

Kendra: Fans outside of the south sure hope so because they want to experience your new live EP, ‘Breakout,’ even more live and in person. Having recorded both live and in the studio, which do you think is the more stressful process?

Little Lazy: Good, because we’re coming for ‘em. We definitely thrive in a live environment because we’re all about putting on a show. As far as the recording process, I’d have to say the live method is a little more stressful because we’re all tracking everything at once, and you reeeaaally don’t wanna be the guy to f*ck up on a four-minute take. It’s not like we can really go back and “comp” or “punch in” takes like you would in the standard recording process. On the flip side, it’s way more fun to all record our parts as a band and it really captures the live energy and synchronization of what we do on stage. That’s what makes it so special; what you hear is exactly what you get on a show night. No special effects or studio magic, just the true, raw performance.

Kendra: Are there plans to release any other live records this year? 

Little Lazy: We are currently producing another EP set to release sometime in September of this year. We’ve decided to experiment a little more for this one and we’re tapping into our punky and heavier influences and it’s been so much fun. We can’t wait to unveil the latest flavor of Lazy.

Kendra: Time for a side note – So Easter is my favorite holiday. Don’t ask me what the holiday is actually about because it’s only my favorite. After all, I love Spring and the candy is top-notch. With that, if you were to receive an Easter basket, what sweet treat and album on vinyl would you hope was in said basket? 

Little Lazy: Brendan is a sour patch guy, meanwhile Kevin will tear up a chocolate bunny from time to time. As far as vinyl go, we’ve been vibing to Gary Wilson lately, and it would be fun to have his “Mary had Brown Hair” in the collection. We do mini-listening parties as a band, and that one would be a banger for sure.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Breakout’ out now and a handful of shows already booked, what else can people expect as we continue into Spring and soon into Summer?

Little Lazy: This summer is gonna be a busy one, we’re full-on promoting ‘Breakout’ and dropping new videos of the live album every Friday on our YouTube channel. On top of that, we’re recording our next EP mentioned above. The shows don’t stop either. We’re pretty much booked through summer and announcing more Florida dates as the weeks march on. Don’t worry though, we always find the time to Stay Lazy.

The post Breaking Out with Little Lazy appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Who were some of your early influences that got you interested in making music and eventually led you to pursue a career?

Kayshli: Mainly the bands I listened to growing up around my early teens like Paramore, Bring me the Horizon, Falling in Reverse, and many more pop-punk, and post-hardcore bands that gave me a whole new feeling about music. It was empowering, and it influenced my sense of style. 

I have always had a wide variety of tastes in music because I find music inspiring and see it as the path to people’s minds. A big inspiration at least in the Reggaetón scene was Wisin y Yandel. I have been listening to them since their album, ‘De Otra Manera,’ which was released back in August 2002. Another big inspiration in my strong personality would be Gloria Trevi. Her powerful voice reflected strength in a way that I too, wanted to obtain. A certain sense of confidence that simply shone on me and motivated me to become confident in my own craft.

It wasn’t until 2018 that I attended a concert and got to spend time with some of the band members that played in the venue. Being surrounded by people that I had been listening to for over 10 years, and seeing the interactions between the teams, producers – light crew, and soundcheck crew really changed my life. I said to myself that if they could do it, I could too. 

It was a realization that artists are normal humans with extraordinary dreams, and a willingness to pursue those dreams. It was the moment I began composing, which is why my first song was in English, and not Spanish. From composing melodies from the only four chords that I had learned on YouTube for my ukulele, to going to studios and recording professionally has been a blessing and an incredible journey for me as I took it upon myself to make music without even knowing how to do it, but having my family’s support was the main motivation to pursue a career. 

Kendra: Your style shines bright with Latin flare and Reggaeton. How do you feel those genres – overall – are implementing themselves in the mainstream music scene?

Kayshli: I feel that the industry is meshing well with the mainstream music scene as we’re seeing more bilingual collaborations like Drake and Bad Bunny, Pop Smoke and Karol G, and Billie Eilish and Rosalia.

Something that a lot of non-Spanish speaking people that have seen me performing my songs live or listened to my music have told me that although they might not understand what I am saying, they felt the energy in my songs, and loved it which is why now artist collaborations are more common because it’s not about language anymore, it’s about connection, and energy.

One of my favorite artists, Chris Brown, collaborated with Rauw Alejandro, and that gives me hope to be able to collaborate with recognized artists like Ozuna, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, The Weeknd, and many more that I would love to work with. It has always been a part of the culture to do crossovers between English and Spanish, but now we are seeing more acceptance of it.  

Kendra: You’ve dropped two singles so far this year, “Consciente” and “In a Dream.” Each showcases a new side of your artistry. Are you the type that doesn’t like to get comfortable, like you enjoy pushing yourself in new directions with your craft? 

Kayshli: I like challenging myself to do something new and fresh. I really do think about the message I am trying to portray, which is based on real emotions. My music is my gateway to the real me, and a window to my deepest emotions, because I want to express them, not repress them, so I do it in a creative way within my music. I always think of my music as a lesson to be learned, or a story to be told. I have many ideas, and many projects that allow me to be as creative as I want to be. In my mind, there are no limitations to what my craft can become, as the idea can always evolve into something like “Consciente” which I composed back in 2020, but evolved into what it was released as, now in 2022.

I am open to any genre and have composed more than just Reggaetón. I compose anything that comes to mind, but I just do not release all those projects as I have been focusing mainly on Reggaetón, and the Latin Music genre since 2018 when I began my journey. I believe the electricity, and my vibrant sense of style makes me stand out and allows me to represent Latina talent, which to me is the main inspiration. Being able to represent Puerto Rico, and our culture positively.

Kendra: On the Latina side and representation, I’d love to get your take on representation. In the past few years, we’ve had some amazing TV shows with great characters that repped Mexican-Americans, people from the Dominican Republic, and Cuban-Americans that were all canceled. I often think of how many Black people came out for ‘Black Panther’ and how many Asian people sold out theaters for ‘Crazy Rich Asians.’ Why do you think we don’t see that same fervor for Latin representation in pop culture? Why aren’t these shows trending as hard when premiering? While on the flip side, I do feel like we see it with Latin artists like Bad Bunny. He is selling out huge venues! 

Kayshli: I think that things are slowly changing for the Latin community, especially the movement of Reggaetón upcoming females. There’s a wave of new Puerto Rican artists that are showing their craft which reflects our culture, putting Puerto Rico on the map as the home of Reggaetón.

Artists like Jennifer Lopez, Daddy Yankee, Mark Anthony, Cardi B, and Bad Bunny have opened many doors for Latinos not just in the music industry, but in every way. They have done things that hopefully inspire others to pursue their dreams no matter what limitations society might portray for the Latinos.  

As far as Latin representation in films, I believe that with such influences collaborating with other recognized artists will inspire other Latin talents to keep pushing toward more recognition in cultural influences and embrace diversity of any kind, and not just in music. I believe we will continue to see more upcoming Latino success in film, music, and all the entertainment industry as we are seeing more support from all over the world, although it might seem like baby steps, Latinos are definitely continuing to excel in a new era of acceptance. 

Kendra: Now back to you and the music, you’re in Kissimmee which is pretty close to Orlando. Do you have any favorite Orlando spots for live music? 

Kayshli: I love going to Downtown Orlando. There’s always something going on there. Many venues always offer the opportunity to have live music, but the best spot I have enjoyed the most is The House of Blues in Orlando. They definitely allow local bands to perform, and I always enjoy discovering new artists and vibing with different types of artists from upcoming independent artists to more recognized local bands.

Kendra: Side note time – with September being a Back 2 School month, I’d love to know your favorite field trip or just school memory.

Kayshli: I always loved school, and really enjoyed being part of the art club. I truly don’t remember many school trips, but I do remember during my Senior year in 2013, I decided to run for “Most Creative” for the school yearbook. I remember in high school wearing handmade bows I made out of Skittles Candy wrappers and acquiring the nickname “Skittles.” 

I ended up being chosen for “Most Creative,” and it sparked a lot of confidence within me. I always said, “I dress to express, not to impress” and that mentality has always carried me through my music career, and my sense of fashion while having the liberty to always allow myself to confidently be my most authentic self.

Kendra: Lastly, with two singles out now – what are your plans as we head into the fall?

Kayshli: Fall is the beginning of my favorite time of the year. I have been working on a lot of projects which I will be announcing sometime by September. I don’t want to give out too many details, but I am working on my first E.P! I have been working on it and dedicating most of my time into this, but also been working on various collaborations with other local artists.

“Consciente” and “In a Dream” were only a sneak-peek of what’s to come from Kayshli, baby. I have been working on my merch, which I have some handmade, custom designs, and continue expanding my brand as I keep getting opportunities to show who Kayshli is while continuing to grow in every way while enjoying this journey. 

The post The Always Expressive Kayshli appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Piano lessons as a kid are pretty normal, but were you the one to request them, or was it more you had to and then fell in love?

Micheal Lazar: It was definitely by my request. So my brother, who is six years older than me, was already studying violin at the time using the same Suzuki method I’d come to use. I was first introduced to the piano at his recitals, which I attended regularly with my mom and dad. But it wasn’t so much the violin or cello that spoke to me – it was always the piano. I remember feeling envious of the kids up there playing and I can distinctly recall wanting more than anything to learn how. And that’s what encouraged me to ask for lessons.

Kendra: From piano lessons at eight to NYU. Now, some don’t take the educational route with music, but for you – what did that experience give you that you don’t think you would’ve gotten otherwise?

Micheal Lazar: Well, for one, it gave me structure and discipline. These are difficult qualities, in my opinion, to cultivate on your own without formal education of any kind. Sure, in a lot of ways, a good work ethic is something you’re born with – it’s tied to drive. But it can also be learned.

The repetitive nature of studying one thing over and over, day in and day out, with a trained professional who is (typically) your senior really does have long-term benefits on an artist and their craft, in my opinion. Passion and a deep-seated desire to do whatever it is are fundamental, but without discipline, you’re just treading water.

I think, too often, super huge talents get lost in their minds or in their own way. They have all the ingredients of success, but can’t put the recipe together and prepare the meal. Education helps with that when “good luck” or that “big break” just aren’t happening.

Kendra: You’ve been writing and making music for almost two decades now, and are just about to drop your debut, ‘51/49.’ Did the weight of the pandemic make you want to start seizing the day more like, okay – it’s time to put this out?

Micheal Lazar: That’s a really good question. I think what it was was that I wasn’t going to work every day at the gallery anymore because we were in total lockdown. Suddenly, I had all this free time! Before, I was squeezing my writing sessions into train rides to and from work five times a week; recording and producing had to be done either after work late at night or on my weekends. Having all of this time to focus on my music and my art gave me no excuses. This was my time to sh*t or get off the pot and I knew it.

Kendra: Before we touch on the wonderful lyricism on this record, I want to talk about the music. When I read electro, I didn’t expect layers! “Good Bad & Crazy” gave me a ‘90s industrial feel while “Few Breaths Away” was like a sweet indie-pop song. Are you the type of person that just goes with what feels right for the lyrics, or do you construct your songs around compositions first?

Micheal Lazar: Another great question! The answer is both, haha. I’d say more often than not, though, I’ll write the melody first – either by getting an idea and humming it into my phone on a recorded voice memo or by sitting down at my keyboard and just laying it out there. Once I get the chords cemented and the piano hook developed, the lyrics typically follow suit.

On the other hand, sometimes I know what I want to write about going into it (typically a word or line), and that ends up guiding the entire process from start to finish. “Lightning” is a good example of that. I knew I wanted to write a pop song about lightning – I just didn’t know exactly how it would turn out or what it should sound like. So, I sat down at my Mac and opened up a new project in Logic and honestly just took it from there.

Regardless of how I compose the song, the hardest part for me is always writing the first verse and chorus. Once I get those down, the second half takes a fraction of the time.

 Kendra: You’ve noted that “Good Bad & Crazy” was meant as motivation to not give up, but I also heard that in “Few Breaths Away.” Both of these songs will inspire listeners, but what song has inspired you growing up to keep on going when times got tough?

Micheal Lazar: “Stronger” by Britney Spears.

Kendra: In “Few Breaths Away” you sing, “Give me room to be messy / I’m trying every day.” I think this is one of the best summarizations of life since March 2020. When life got to be too insane in the past 18 months or so, other than music – what helped you with your own personal messy situations?

Micheal Lazar: Well, I feel truly blessed that in addition to writing and producing my own music, I’m a visual artist as well. So, when I’m in need of something to help me through a rough patch, zoning out and making a piece of art can be incredibly therapeutic and exactly what I need.

In addition to that, I’d say spending time with the love of my life Chris and my three smushy face cats really takes me to that Happy Place. And gardening. I love love plants and have them scattered all over the house and on the balconies outside. The last thing that always helps me through difficult times is exercise. Staying in shape is critical and second to none, in my opinion. I couldn’t do anything without my health.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘51/49’ out in early October, what else can fans be on the lookout for from you as we wrap up 2021

Micheal Lazar: To be honest, I’ll be promoting ‘51/49’ all the way through the end of the year! It’s a big album – 15 tracks in total – so I’ll be releasing videos relating to the record sporadically on my Instagram and Facebook profiles, as well as posting some upcoming live performances I’m really excited to share with everyone!

Specifically, you should visit my Instagram account and check out the IGTV page where I’ll be expanding my “51/49: Breaking It Down” Series as often as possible. Other than that, who knows!

The post Micheal Lazar: The Good, The Bad, & The Crazy appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Do you feel you would have found your way to music eventually even if you’d never joined a choir when you were younger?

Flo: Absolutely! I grew up in an incredibly musical family. Which meant I was dancing before I could walk and I was humming melodies before I could talk. My parents are very passionate about music, so it has filled our home my whole life. That is part of the reason I love music so much; because it has played such an important role throughout all of the stages of my life. That is all to say yes, I believe I would’ve discovered my love for singing and writing one way or another. In my case, I think falling in love with music was pretty inevitable.

Kendra: A handful of years after that your family relocated to Singapore. Were you nervous that your newly found craft was going to get lost in the move?

Flo: On the contrary, music is what kept me grounded and made me feel comfortable about the move. It also made it exciting as I got to learn new styles of music and collaborate with musicians from around the world. I always believed music would be the reason I made new friends, and that it would be my way of learning more about the culture of the new country I was living in. So instead of worrying about my craft getting lost with so many moves, I let it guide me. It was and always will be my compass. What a great question!

Kendra: Which, speaking of the move – you’ve lived in several places and are still in between Nashville and Miami. What is one aspect of each place you’ve called home that you carry with you always like are you always thinking back on the food, the nature, the music scene – what?

Flo: I absolutely love that I’ve been able to live in so many different cities and countries. It’s offered new and different perspectives on everything! It’s helped me view life in different ways, which is really inspiring in terms of songwriting. It is part of the reason I love traveling so much! When it comes to Singapore, I always remember the food – specifically the dumplings at Din Tai Fung. Also the fashion! When it comes to Canada, I miss my best friend there the most and of course, I think back on maple syrup and beaver tails. Chile is where my family is so I miss my grandma, who lives there currently, the most. Miami is easy, I carry Latin music with me and I always think of the dancing there! And finally, what I most adore about Nashville is the love for storytelling and good music.

Kendra: How do you feel being so worldly has helped shape your artistry?

Flo: Having grown up in different places around the world has really helped shape me as a songwriter. I’ve been able to listen to so many different musical styles and genres. So of course it’s inspired me tremendously.

Kendra: Nashville really left a huge imprint on your heart and continues to do so, which is why you’ve said “In My Mind” is so special to you. Where in Nashville would you say the overall tone of this song represents?

Flo: I think this song represents the heart of storytelling that can be found in Nashville.

Kendra: Listening to “Talking to Myself” and then to “In My Mind,” you can hear so much growth in your performance. Are you someone who trains your voice the same way an athlete trains their body?

Flo: One hundred percent. To me practice is everything. I train my voice five times a week, and the only reason I don’t train seven times a week is because of the importance of rest days. I think discipline is crucial to growth. And that way when you’re on stage, you don’t have to worry about getting things right. Because after so much practice it usually happens naturally. Which allows you to enjoy the moment and the feeling.

Kendra: Well, “In My Mind” is just the tip of the iceberg because you have an EP that’s coming out. When can we expect that to drop and what would you say inspired the majority of the album?

Flo: Yes! I’m so excited about it coming out! Whenever we have a date you’ll be the first to know. My songs are usually inspired by events that happen in my life. And the songs in the EP are no exception!

Kendra: Your style sits right on the fence of country and pop. Which isn’t a bad thing as we’ve seen with everyone from Shania to Taylor. Are these some of the country-pop artists you’ve listened to and admired?

Flo: Oh absolutely! I adore Taylor and Shania. I adore Carrie and I adore Kelsea Ballerini. I think these country-pop artists are amazing! I love pop, and I love country.

Kendra: Again, you’re between Miami and Nashville at the moment, but are you thinking of relocating for the music to Tennessee permanently?

Flo: Perhaps! But even if I did relocate to Nashville I would be traveling back to Miami very frequently. Some of my favorite people to collaborate and write with are in Miami. So I couldn’t be away from it for too long.

Kendra: Lastly, it’s getting a little easier with the vaccine rollouts, but it’s still kind of hard to have a definite answer when it comes to future plans given the current state of everything, but as far as what you can control when it comes to your career and creativity – what do you have planned in the coming months for yourself?

Flo: Yes, it’s definitely difficult to have a definite answer, but writing new music is always in my plans. I’ve been writing some of my favorite songs lately and I love where my music is headed, so I can’t wait to share that. And I love performing with my whole heart so hoping my plans to be on stage soon become a reality!

The post Flo: On Everyone’s Mind appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: On top of being a musician, you’ve spent a good amount of time writing about them as an author. Do you feel researching and penning books about other musicians’ lives and careers helped drive you to new creative heights?

Atria: I think it was the opposite. The musicians who moved and inspired and influenced me were the ones I wanted to write about. Curtis Mayfield changed my life musically. The music came first. Then I wanted to read more about his life and couldn’t find a book, so I decided to write one. But in a way you’re right.

As I researched ‘Traveling Soul,’ or ‘Better Days Will Come Again’ (my book about Arthur Briggs, a hugely influential trumpeter from the Jazz Age in Paris who spent four years in a Nazi prison camp during WWII), I couldn’t help but be introduced to artists, and movements, and all kinds of things that I had never heard of before. I guess it’s all part of the same journey. Music is endlessly fascinating. It’s one of the few things about humanity that is purely good.

Kendra: Speaking of being an author and whatnot, you’re a fan of Kurt Vonnegut. Did you pull from any of his works for inspiration when crafting ‘Moonbrain?’

Atria: Not consciously, although he had this kind of dreamy fatalism that you will also find on ‘Moonbrain.’ One of the things that drew me to his work was his ability to hold the terror and brutality and pain of life right next to the beauty and joy and ecstasy. I mean, we’re in the middle of the sixth great extinction, and it’s our fault. We know that we might not make it through this as a species. That’s some dark stuff. But at the same time, there’s a tree blooming in my neighbor’s yard right now, and it’s covered in pure white flowers, and it’s so beautiful you can’t even speak when you’re looking at it. ‘Moonbrain’ is my attempt to grapple with the fact that both of those things can be true at the same time. It’s a mindfuck, life is.

Kendra: You did draw inspiration from the Beatitudes, which is not a band (what I thought) but rather something more Biblical. You’re not a religious person, so I have to ask what drew you to these or rather – how did you know of them?

Atria: I was raised Catholic. As a writer, I often go back to the Bible and immerse myself in the language of it. The King James Bible was written by poets living in Shakespeare’s time. It can be astonishingly powerful, and it is the genesis (no pun intended) of most Western art. There’s a lot of wisdom in it and there’s a lot of bullshit in it too.

I don’t subscribe to the religion anymore, but I suppose it still shapes me nonetheless. The Beatitudes is one of the most famous speeches in literary history. It’s the part a lot of American Christians like to ignore because it’s basically the communist manifesto, spoken by Jesus. It’s also a series of very naive, almost childish beliefs. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” I want it to be true, and nothing about life suggests it is even remotely true. I find that terribly difficult to accept.

Kendra: You looked to those for your single, “Lucky,” a song that kind of breaks down life as a string of luck-based incidents, right? Can you expand on that notion just a bit?

Atria: For me, there was a painful sense of betrayal as I grew up and looked at the world around me and realized that these beautiful sentiments were just that: sentiments. You’re taught to believe it as literal truth, but life simply doesn’t work that way. This song was a message for my niece and nephew, who are now seven and five years old, so maybe they won’t have to go through that sense of betrayal.

These are nice ideals to fight for, but if you want to survive in this world, you’d better also understand the rules. It comes down to power, and so much of that comes down to things you have no control over. I mean, think of the facts of your life: gender, race, birthplace, parents, health, stature, attractiveness, physical and mental abilities, etc. Did you choose any of those? No. Do they define the quality of life and access to wealth and power for you and nearly all of humanity? Yes. It’s a weird thing to write a song about, but I write songs about weird things sometimes.

Kendra: This song, and others, were written with your niece and nephew in mind. I’m also an aunt and this past year especially, I’ve been worried sick about my nine-year-old nephew, his mental state, and his future. To you, what are some clear-cut things our generation can do to ensure they will have a decent future moving forward?

Atria: I made this whole album for them. We’re in dire straits. I just couldn’t ignore it. I felt I had to try to sing about something of importance, or else be a coward and abdicate my responsibility to these innocent little goofballs who are going to have a very hard road ahead. We are far beyond the point where individual action will save us. Our generation needs to pass some sort of Green New Deal. We need to treat solving the climate crisis the way we treated WWII or the Space Race. We need drastic, immediate, global action on a scale we’ve never seen before. This is not my opinion. These are the findings of NASA and the Pentagon and the IPCC and Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.

All of these massive, global powers have released reports in the last two or three years outlining in terrifying detail how much danger we are in. Not only have we not responded, but we have also actually gone backward in some ways. It might be impossible to solve, but that’s no excuse for not trying. On the musical side, I couldn’t understand why no one was writing about this. I mean, the last person I know of to sing about ecological collapse was Marvin Gaye, and that was fifty years ago (literally, “What’s Going On” came out in May 1971). In times like these, what’s the point of being an artist if you’re not paying attention? Why sing a song if you have nothing to say?

Kendra: It’s getting a little easier with the vaccine rollouts, but it’s still kind of hard to have a definite answer when it comes to future plans given the current state of everything, but as far as what you can control when it comes to your career and creativity – what do you have planned in the coming months for yourself?

Atria: I wrote a murder mystery during the boredom of quarantine. Maybe I’ll try to get someone to publish it. I’m also working on another album, a completely different project from Moonbrain. And later this year, I’m going to do a remixed/remastered 10th-anniversary edition of my band Morningbell’s fifth album, ‘Basso Profundo.’

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“I don’t try to outdo other bakers, I try to out-do myself.” – Melissa Neyor

Seems as soon as she was old enough to reach the countertop, Melissa Neyor has been in the kitchen whipping up something to make mouths water. Savory or sweet, she was on it but as she got older, her creative ways led her towards the sweet side and later to opening The Sweetery Miami in her hometown. We talked about her staying close to home and a beloved food scene, how baking has evolved with the rise of technology and how busy they’ll be until we ring in the new year.

Kendra: Today you can boast about having over 25 years of baking under your belt but where did you start? Where did the fascination and drive to create delicious and beautiful deserts come from?

Melissa Neyor: My passion for baking came at an early age. I started with both of my grandmothers, probably around the age of 10. In my teens, I started experimenting with family recipes and adding my own twist to them. Seeing the joy in my parents’ faces when they took the first delicious bite was so gratifying! I had always loved to cook and bake, but I knew I had found my calling when I took cake design classes that my husband purchased for me as a birthday gift almost 12 years ago. Using my God-given creativity and my love of baking all rolled up into one – it was almost like a light bulb turned on and everything became clear.

Kendra: Being that you’ve been baking for some time, you came up in a time before we could Google recipes or YouTube how to ice a cake. How do you feel technology has sort of helped evolve baking?

Melissa Neyor: I grew up in a time where recipe books and cards were the norm. I used to love watching cooking shows on TV like the Frugal Gourmet, Julia Childs, and my idol, Martha Stewart. I would take notes on the ingredients they used and the process they would take to make these amazing desserts.

Since the internet became so paramount with apps like Pinterest and YouTube, I use them for inspiration and to continue to hone in on my skills and to find more diverse recipes to work into my own. It has helped me to evolve into a baker that still appreciates the old way of doing things, but with modern methods and ingredients that create an amazing end result.

Kendra: Another aspect of tech in consideration to baking is how we share just about everything. If it can’t go on Instagram, what’s the point – is what most people think. Do you feel that’s added pressure to bakers to go all out with the design of their desserts? Especially wedding cakes?

Melissa Neyor: The honest truth is, that if you don’t have a social media presence or a website – you don’t exist! Before I began baking professionally, I worked in the advertising and marketing industry since I was 19. I use my knowledge of that business to my advantage when promoting myself and my cake artistry. For some bakers, I can see where that would be added pressure. To put your designs out there for people to see, and be followed by other bakers that may critique your work or try to copy it, I’m sure can get frustrating. Personally, I love putting my stuff out there. I get a lot of great critiques on my work, as well as some awesome suggestions from my followers. It helps me to continue to up-the-ante.

Kendra: Did you always know you wanted to start a business in Miami? Because you’re a native there, right?

Melissa Neyor: Being a native-born Miamian is definitely the reason I began a business here. I’ve lived here all my life! The best thing about it is being part of such an amazing and cutting edge social food scene. Everyone here expects to be wowed by the food. Not just the flavor though. It has to have allure and sexiness! It has to be big and bold and yell out, “Hey! Come eat me…I’m amazing!” That allows me to experiment with flavors, textures, and designs that are not your typical cakes. I love the fact that I can be extra creative and flashy and my clients love it too!

Kendra: Miami is known as one of the best places for parties, and that’s something The Sweetery Miami also does; party and event planning. How has it been to fuse baking and event planning?

Melissa Neyor: Part of being a creative soul, means that you can be creative in so many ways. Cakes and desserts are the centerpieces of most major events, but so is the ambiance! Taking my creativity past the cake design, I began offering decorated dessert tables all matching the theme of the event. My clients were so pleased with the overall look and feel, that eventually it grew to a more complete solution.

Now I offer party planning and day of event coordination. I’ve had several weddings and corporate events that I have planned throughout the years and they have been awesome. Having been in the private catering business, I’ve met other caterers, lighting techs, Bands, DJ’s, photographers, and florists. They all make up the amazing team of people that come together to help me pull off some grand events with amazing results.

Kendra: What do you and The Sweetery Miami have going on as we head deeper into 2019?

Melissa Neyor: Coming into the end of 2019, we are almost completely booked with weddings, and huge events every week! We have also been invited back to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival event and have some other exciting partnerships through YouTube coming up! It’s so exciting to be able to say that.

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While he spends a lot of his time doing amazing photo sessions Orlando with Chas Captures, he’s also in, wait for it, medical school. Yes, balancing photography with a future career as a doctor, that’s Chas Rachel’s reality and for a brief moment, we captured a second of his time to talk about it.

Kendra: Can you remember back to the first picture you took that made you realize that you could make photography more than a hobby?

Chas Rachel: It’s hard to say. I think my journey from “photography as a hobby” to “photography as a business” was more of a gradual process that resulted from a particular sequence of events. As I began playing around with my camera, taking shots of flowers or other things in nature, I would share my photos and the responses would always be unanimous: These were great shots. This led to an opportunity to do my first photo shoot for a college graduate where I really got to test my skills and build my own confidence.

As time went on, I began networking with other paid photographers, gleaning knowledge from them while simultaneously receiving much praise from for the work I had already done. There was this assurance for me that photography wasn’t just something I could do, but something I was already doing.

Kendra: Unlike many photographers, you’re actually in school for something completely different; medicine. You’re working on being a heart surgeon. How, if ever, do those two worlds coincide and play off one another?

Chas Rachel: It’s almost crazy thinking about it when you put it that way. My only explanation is that both medicine/surgery and photography involve people and stir my passions for helping others and making an impact on the lives around me. I could also say that perhaps both medicine and photography aid in defining my purpose in this life. They aren’t connected in any obvious way because I didn’t choose them, they were chosen for me; that I might go and bring glory to God through my talents.

Kendra: I’m going to guess that you’re amazing with details. Which comes in handy because you don’t have just one style or type of photography you do. With everything from portraits to weddings to headshots, is there one style you find more freeing than the rest?

Chas Rachel: Definitely portraits. Portraits capture some of the greatest details. Every line, every mark, every imperfection is captured and celebrated. In a portrait, the image of you is what defines attractiveness and/or beauty. In a portrait, a person gets to display themselves to the world, up close and personal, as perfectly imperfect as they are.

Kendra: What I really appreciate about you is that your pricing is affordable. Was that a conscious decision so that more people could be able to get their hands on great shots?

Chas Rachel: Yes I would say so. I offer a variety of packages so that I can be the most accessible to the photography needs of others. I also value self-care so I am sure to offer the most I can give for a certain price at this stage in my photography career. Ultimately, however, I don’t believe money should be the barrier that stops people from capturing their special moments. Life’s moments are too priceless for that.

Kendra: Your whole thing when it comes to photography is “Moments Captured.” Looking back, what is one moment from your life you wish you had captured in a photograph that’s not already?

Chas Rachel: If only. My mother passed when I was 12. I have very few photos of her. Any photo capturing a family portrait with my mother and siblings, or of my mother and me, or just simply my mother in all her radiance.One more moment capturing her existence and beauty on this earth and in my life.

Kendra: Can you let the people know what you have going on in the next coming months?

Chas Rachel: I’m currently working on upgrading my photography equipment to increase my effectiveness and quality of work as a photographer. Additionally, I’m working on turning my business into an LLC and starting my own photography studio. In the meantime, I’ll be shooting a few new models and currently have a few photoshoots scheduled in the coming weeks. I’m always looking for more opportunities to work with others and expand my photography experience and knowledge. To anyone interested in learning more about what I do and why I do it, please don’t hesitate to check out my website or hit me up.

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