TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS: INTERVIEW

July 15, 2022

by isabel dowell

Finding a place within the scenes of many music festivals, the non-profit, To Write Love On Her Arms or TWLOHA for short, is a “movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. This organization exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery”.

TWLOHA.com is designed as a source of support for those seeking treatment options, self care, or ways to get involved — just to name a few. At Electric Forest, I was able to sit down with Chad, who has been with the organization for over fourteen years. His story pushed him to join TWLOHA and now he works to inspire others in their everyday lives. Read more about the organization, Chad’s story, and how you can help or find help below:

Tell me a little bit about To Write Love On Her Arms!

Chad: “For the uninitiated, we are To Write Love On Her Arms. We shortened that to TWLOHA. We are a non-profit organization that exists to find hope and find help for anyone struggling from things depression, addiction, self-injury, suicide, or really anything in the mental health sphere. If you’re walking through something that is feeling a bit too heavy, we’re there to build a better bridge to connect anyone looking for help to options for help. Ideally, something that is local and affordable, as well as consistent and intentional.”

You mentioned that you work to connect people to help that is local to them, how does that process work?

Chad: “As an organization, we are practically based online, that is how most people interact with us. We’re very present on social media and we are also highly mobile! [Electric Forest] is one of about fifty different live music and lifestyle events that we’re at this year. We try to meet people wherever people naturally come together. For these events, it doesn’t even account for the times we are able to speak to companies, schools, colleges, you name it. We’re always trying to engage in honest conversation around mental health, where it’s welcome. Our headquarters is in Florida, but we don’t really have branches anywhere. We aren’t the destination. We aren’t the counselors, the treatment centers, and that’s intentional. We want you to find something that is closer to home. If you go to our website, on the upper right hand corner you’ll find a bright blue button that says ‘Find Help.’ That is the main reason our website even exists, to give you resources by topic, by key identifiers, and if you scroll down you can find different levels of care by zip code! Within every zip code you can find options on an affordable scale in your neck of the woods.”

Even though you said you are present in every space, I feel as though this organization is so prominent in the music space, going as far back as being a leading brand at Warped Tour. Why this space?

Chad: “Everything is so unpredictable now with the internet to know when you post something who’s going to see it. It’s a bit more predictable when you’re showing up at a festival that’s sold out and you know that’s 40,000 tickets and you have an idea of where you’ll be or who will be there. We love coming to festivals on a big level because we know people will be there. We want to be where people are. On a smaller level, I come to these festivals because I need to see individual people. There are stories that I’ve been able to learn about over the years and I can’t wait to see what my friends are doing. I want to see how their story goes! The music space is probably our biggest intentional sphere for outreach and maintenance. There’s people that have known about us for all sixteen years of our existence and people that have just learned about us in the past sixteen seconds. It all matters to us!”

How could someone get involved with TWLOHA, whether it’s in a physical space or remotely?

Chad: “If there’s a silver lining to the past couple of years, it’s that we had to learn how not to be in specific physical spaces. Because of that, we really value and cherish the times people use their platform to talk about things like mental health. So to use the phrase that you used, ‘How can people get involved?,’ we actually have a tag on our page that says ‘Get Involved!’ That’s going to give you options on simple stuff. You can follow us on social media, you can interact with our posts, and that does more than you can ever know. You can apply to be a remote intern! We have opportunities for you to serve us from wherever you are. We’ve had interns from literally all over the world over these past two years that have been able to sync up with us and help us do good. You can see us at a festival, you can buy a shirt, you can download our app, you can keep track of us on our podcast, there’s no shortage of ways! We want it to be conversational and we want our stories to collide in whatever ways seem appropriate to you.”

What is your personal experience with the organization? How did you first get involved?

Chad: “Like I mentioned earlier, this organization began sixteen years ago. I’ve been a part of the organization for fourteen years now. I wasn’t there on day one but I got there not too long after. We’re here because these issues are real! All those words I mentioned, depression, anxiety, self injury, substance abuse, suicide, those are chapters of my story. I was able to navigate some deep values with the help of some friends that loved me despite the reasons I gave them not to. I reckon that to those listening, engaging, or reading this conversation, it doesn’t sound all together unique. I had to come to the realization that my story is not just my story, it includes other characters. There were people that I couldn’t push away, even if I wanted to. Through their grace and their patience, I was able to wake up from some really scary nights. With all that, I was able to find the bravery to take the steps to recovery, to healthy decisions, healthier spaces. It was about that time I learned about the organization. I read about the origin story. It was a group of friends just helping out one person navigate her personal struggles and I felt seen, and heard, cared for, and valued. I just thought, ‘Man, how cool would it be if the crap in my life could positively affect someone else?’ I didn’t need to hide from my pain in order to celebrate a life that is still going on. So, I sent an email and started volunteering and never left!”

Over your fourteen years, is there any person or story in particular that has stuck with you?

Chad: “So many. It will never get old having people come up to the booth and saying, ‘I’m here because you guys were on MySpace. I still exist because someone gave me a wristband at the right time.’ Bragging on this place, I’m reminded of my friend Shane who I met in the Forest. He is so generous with his spirit, his gifts, his stories, and his desire to bring more people together. He is a smile that I’ve missed, especially, over the last two years. I heard he’s onsite and I can’t wait to give him a hug and catch up. I don’t even know the ins and outs of his story and I don’t need to. He’s here and that’s enough.

We are actually sitting here in the middle of stories! We are here in our activation that we call RSVP, it’s an invitation and response. We ask people to write down one thing that they wish they could say and take one thing that they really needed to hear. Just feeling the weight of this, people are expressing hope and pain and just honesty. It’s all beautiful. I also have to brag on the festival. They’ve taken such incredible and proactive steps to allow us a long leash to engage with their supporters, their patrons, the people who make this place what it is. Not to cash in on any other festival, but the other 51 weeks of the year are made possible because of this one. The stories, the joy, and the love I get out of this are super sustaining.”

How in a mental health space are you able to stay so positive, even in the darkest times?

Chad: “I’m able to stay positive because I don’t ignore the parts that hurt. That’s one thing that we train everyone at our booth; it’s going to get heavy. When it does, you can take a walk. And when you take that walk, don’t take that walk alone. Ultimately, everything is worth sharing and that’s your celebration and your desolation that all of this is worth sharing. The Forest is about sharing! Just a simple act of giving and receiving changes everything. Not to get too philosophical or scientific, but you showing up here has changed how this place sounds. The way that the music coming from those speakers engages specifically with you, this place sounds different because you’re here. That’s the case for all forty thousand people that are here. This would not be the same without them. People are here for a reason. Some for a special treat, some for a retreat, and I don’t think it takes a ton of imagination to say that through the three years that this festival has not existed many of us are in the retreat camp. We all need a break. Life’s been heavy and we needed to bring that heaviness here. Not to ignore it but to share it, to lighten the load. A grief shared is a grief half as heavy. We get to share that with our family and hope for a better tomorrow.”

To reiterate the words of To Write Love On Her Arms: Hope Is Real. Help Is Real. Your Story is Important. TWLOHA.com.

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Victor Wan: Interview

September 29, 2021

by alexandra giffney

What once started as a joke with a friend led Victor Wan, mainly known as medicalquackery, into a social media frenzy of Twitch and TikTok, gaining him a strong platform on social media that discusses normalizing the medical field and speaking up on mental health. Of course, in this interview, we had to discuss K-Pop at one point though.

What started first for you? Was it Twitch, YouTube, or TikTok?

Victor: “I think it was Twitch. Basically what started it all was my friend put me on Asian dating and mentioned that I stream on Twitch. I actually never streamed on Twitch before, but I was thinking of doing so. So when the post blew up my Twitch account gained a lot of traction, so I decided to start streaming there. I wasn’t really sure of what I was doing, but I just started to roll with it. I then ended up on study streaming, which works because being a medical student. Also with our fundraising stuff on there, it started by — well, I guess by the first few streams on Twitch I started to realize I’m not doing that much. Like I’m just studying. I’m living quite a privileged position, I get free money from the government to study. I realized a lot more things and people out there need this money more than I do. Like if I run out of money at the end of my two weeks before my next payment, that’s my fault because I rolled too many wishes on Genshin or I bought something irresponsible. And that’s my fault. Basically at that point I was like, ‘You know what, let’s divert that money to something that it’s actually needed.’”

Was making a platform to speak up on mental health and other issues an idea you ever saw for yourself? Or did it just start clicking as you posted?

V: “I think it mostly started on Twitch, with what I said before and the whole idea of things out there that are bigger than any one of us that we can help out with. I kind of brought that out to my Instagram and TikTok as well. In a sense — through social media I found a sense of myself and what I stand for. In regards to mental health and specifically mental health, it was a very personal decision.”

Being a med student and juggling a social media presence, how do you balance it all to make sure you stay physically and mentally healthy?

V: “I’ve just now, this last month, come close to being in some very deep waters with my university. I’m still trying to find that balance because I am quite new to this. This all started at the beginning of this year, so I’m still trying to get used to it. But I do remind myself that with medicine it is one of the commitments I do have to keep doing, so I have to put in the hours of studying. Everything else is optional and I can continue on when I feel like it. Like if I feel like streaming today, I’ll stream today. If I feel like making a TikTok, I’ll make a TikTok. I am currently on a bit of a hiatus from my TikTok because I need to focus on my finals. I have learned to also let loose and let lax a little bit more. I have realized that I don’t have to post like four TikToks every single day, man I was not in a good spot. I was spending like six hours a day making content and then another four to five hours of studying. That was not too good.”

It’s a learning process.

V: “The way I represent the medical profession online, if I say I’m a medical student I am representing medical professionals in general. The things I say do reflect on medical professionals. Part of the reason I wanted to start this whole social media project was, the way that I see it, I feel like doctors are losing touch with the general population. They’ve kind of isolated themselves as like we are perfect or incredibly smart individuals, where we don’t really need to relate to you and you can’t relate to us. I think that that has perpetuated with the older generational doctors, and nowadays in the society we are raised in everything is much more individualistic. It’s all about the patient and how the patient feels, everything comes together in the patient. You then start to get patients talking about how they trust their nurse more than the doctor, because their doctor doesn’t talk to them or relate to them. You start to lose that trust in doctors and it’s easy to see doctors as ‘not human’ in multiple senses. I guess part of the reason to start this project is to show that we are also human. We make jokes and we make mistakes. I also have bad days and I don’t feel like I need to keep up with a facade of affection. I actually got shut down by my university for making a joke. It was, ‘Things you can say during sex and in an ambulance.’ I thought it was funny, they didn’t find it funny. So in a sense I’m still trying to find that balance between humanizing medical professionals and maintaining professionalism that is acceptable. The medical profession is mostly run by conservative individuals, the people in power are mostly the older clinicians that are holding those views.”

Do you ever think, obviously one day those people will have to be out of power, but with a new generation in power that shift will occur?

V: “Oh for sure! I think that’s how most changes in the world come about. People that are too old to change their beliefs die out and those with more progressive beliefs take place. Speaking from a political point of view, looking at the statistics, the younger you are the more progressive you are as a doctor as well. So statistically speaking, if that continues we will have more progression.”

With our generation we are opening up to the idea and topic of males struggling with mental health. Do you ever see yourself as being that important factor to that subject of normalizing it?

V: “I think personally I never thought of it as being a male speaking up on that stuff, although now you mention it, I do agree it is normalizing male voices normalizing mental health. Oh, what do I have to say about that? Let me think... I’m not too sure what I have to say about that. I guess one thing to note is that most of my viewer base is female according to my statistics. But you can make the argument that I am in some sense an influencer/online figure and normalizing it in general is a good idea. I believe no matter what gender you are, you face certain issues regarding mental health. I guess the main thing I’ve been thinking of is normalizing that conversation in general. Honestly, most of the discriminatory remarks I see are towards females, but that’s just my personal experience. I think the recent sigma male, you can say is another blatantly obvious movement that is like, ‘You need to internalize everything. Do not show weakness because you are a sigma male.’ In terms of toxic masculinity, I personally think that it’s a thing, but the people that believe in it are wrong. This is why I like K-pop, because it throws out the whole notion that men need to be hyper masculine super muscle figures. It shows that feminization of men is incredibly profitable and incredibly sexy. But I think that’s why I like the Seoul Movement, I mean I do have my issues with it, but that doesn’t count.”

You kind of answered it a bit, but do you see social media becoming more of a presence for these discussions over school, TV, or films?

V: “Yeah, for sure. The fact that you can express yourself on social media is one of the reasons why I think it will be one of the avenues for expression of mental health. As people probably know, I’ve talked about my own journey on Instagram and Twitch multiple times and as social media becomes more of the norm, it’s the natural avenue for it.”

This one might be the hardest of them all. Who is your ultimate K-pop bias?

V: “My ultimate bias, this one is easy. It’s Jae from DAY6. The reason behind that is he represents a lot of things that are good to advocate for. Advocating for influencers that make a positive impact on the world, because I know there are quite a few people that don’t. I feel like Jae is one of the good people, he uses his platform to talk about mental health issues and his own anxiety. In the interview for Mindset he talks about his own mental health journey and he talks about how the incredibly strict and dehumanizing K-pop practices have rubbed off on him as well. I personally found quite a lot of similarities in becoming a medical profession and being required to act in a certain way or silenced by supervisors, it’s similar to what he is going through. In that sense, that is why I am a Jae stan.”

Favorite anime to watch?

V: “Steins; Gate. If you like mystery, that is the way to go.”

Favorite K-Drama?

V: “My favorite K-Drama, this one is tough. I have a love-hate relationship with K-Dramas and the sense of unrealistic relationships and toxic masculinity, that kind of stuff. But I would say, it’s not perfect, but I like Extraordinary You, it has a lot of those K-Drama tropes but in the perspective of a strong female protagonist that gets with the nice guy that is supposed to be the second lead. I have some issues with the overall plot, but I like the main message.”

Lastly, your favorite game to play?

V: “If you count by hours, League of Legends, but it’s horrible so not much to say about that. But my favorite game that changed my life was Persona 4. It’s a role playing game about a guy that moves into a rural area and develops a relationship with people within a span of a year. There is a story about a murderer and how they work together but the main story is friends. I was playing that game during a time when I didn't have friends and didn’t know what friends were. I never went to a friend's house to hang out, I was ostracized from my high school very thoroughly. At that time I had no idea what it was like to live a normal life with friends that want to talk to you and hang out. That game, it feels sad to say, but they felt like my first real friends who I wanted to hang out with. By the time I had to leave them in the game, I felt a legitimate connection and something that really motivated me to go out and try to achieve that similar life to what I had in that game and connection with people.”

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Karen Gager: Interview

April 1, 2020

BY GABRIELLE WOJKOVICH

Born of Sierra Leonian and English heritage and raised in the West African nation of Nigeria, artist Karen Gager is the physical embodiment of “third culture.” Each of the countries she’s called home and every culture in which she’s embedded herself throughout her life have shaped her understanding of global perspectives and have molded her own self-image as an artist.

Today, Gager resides in Nigeria — the same country where her story began 25 years ago, when her English father and Nigerian mother met at university. From the very beginning, both Gager and her older sister were no strangers to the biases and discriminations that plagued their African home.

“Being in Nigeria meant I was cast as white,” says Gager. “I was ‘oyibo,’ or ‘white girl,’ to anyone there.”

Gager’s confusing social identity followed her from Nigeria to the UK, where she was sent to boarding school at the age of twelve. Here, though less an outcast for her biracial appearance, she was nonetheless ridiculed for her foreign Nigerian accent — to the extent that her young peers would direct “clicking sounds” her way in passing.

“Within a week, that very first week, my accent changed,” recalls Gager. “I made sure my already-existing British accent was perfectly posh. Then, when I went back to Nigeria, I had to become ‘bush’ again. I had to sound like the locals, as if I had never left, in order to fit in.”

Though a young school-aged child should never have to actively transform their own identity to avoid the isolation of otherness, such realities are emblematic of the social acceptance issues that continue to plague our societies — westernized or not. Gager developed her chameleonism out of necessity, establishing a balancing act between two contrasting worlds. As time went on, it was this metamorphic skillset — this constant push-and-pull between her African and Western heritages — that drove Gager to take her first steps into the world of art.

When school projects would arise in England, Gager would — at first by the recommendation of her father — utilize her unique Nigerian perspectives to stand out amongst her European-raised classmates. She would borrow “bits and bobs” from her Nigerian homeland and identity — pictures, sketches, leaves, flowers, bark — to be used as the starting point for her art projects in the UK.

Her work spoke for itself (as it still does), wordlessly articulating the many different aspects of West African life: the landscape, the flora, the tribal traditions, the fashion, the people, the languages. Now, Gager realizes that her work — besides allowing her to excel in the classroom — brought an understanding to her western peers about a world they had never known. Certainly that trend has not stopped, as every piece of Gager’s work that reaches her Western audiences continues to bestow ignorant minds with new perspectives.

Yet, despite the positive social impact of her work, Gager’s own internal desire to continue her artistic pursuits have much more to do with her own personal relationship with her projects.

“In high school, I was in an emotionally manipulative relationship and those times really taught me a lot about myself and not being so naive,” says Gager. “Art became a cathartic outlet. Coming out of that relationship, I learned a lot about how to keep on going.

Then, in my final year of university... I just felt depressed and really not okay mentally. I had friends but I felt alone. I had a boyfriend I felt unhappy and sad with. I did love him a lot, but I did not understand why surrounded by people, I felt so alone.”

It was Gager’s art that would help her finally face the difficulties she was experiencing. Not only did her projects present an outlet to focus and transform her negative energies, but they also allowed her to reach a new personal relationship with herself. Gager admits that some of her best works were also some of the most difficult pieces to finish, requiring her to dig deep into her inner self, exerting onto the canvas the physical manifestation of her darkest days.

“Those projects, though terrible at the time, made me realize that I really like what I am doing; I really like the concepts I work with. They made me ask myself: ‘Is it worth it? Should I be doing this?’ These were pivotal times. And they made me so much stronger.”

Today, Gager continues to create art in Abuja, alongside her day-to-day work as a teacher at the American International School there. Though much of her time to focus on art is now taken up by lessons, grading, and organizing school events, Gager finds that her divided professional and private lives — much like her split-identity in childhood — don’t necessarily need to compete against one another.

In the classroom, Gager realizes she’s in the unique position of sharing her own difficult experiences with her students — many of whom can directly relate to that same conflict she harbored as a child.

“I can see the change in my students from year to year in their perceptions of art and it's so rewarding,” says Gager. “I can see it with my older students that something positive is happening. That means, if I have some kids long enough, there will be a change.”

And while Gager finds teaching rewarding in its own way, it’s a career path she admits to falling into by sheer circumstance, and she doubts the idea of its permanence in her life. At the same time, she is still able to follow her creative pursuits, just in a more time-restrictive manner: this past year, she hosted her own exhibition in the capital city of Abuja, titled Womanish — a set of body prints and photographs taking a closer look at the non-western perception of female beauty.

Unfortunately, Womanish wasn’t exactly an overnight success. Gager partially chalks up the less-than-desirable turnout to the cultural constraints and understandings (or lack thereof) in a country like Nigeria. However, Gager also understands the vital role that her dedication of time to developing her vision and skills can play within the perceived success of such an event. Thus, Gager feels that she will eventually move on from teaching, down a more art-focused career path. But no matter the roads chosen or the route taken, Gager is committed to always being honest with herself and her talents. She remains driven to continually open the eyes of her audiences to a clearer understanding of the world around them through her own learning and expression of her unique identity.

Krista Stryker: Interview

February 28, 2019

BY KAT VISTI

Krista Stryker always felt that her hard work in the gym wasn’t giving her the results she wanted, so that pushed her to explore into other forms of working out. She discovered HIIT training that helped her to feel even better than before! She then launched her app and website “12 Minute Athlete” that is helping thousands to get fit without having to go to the gym. The app made a name for itself drawing in over 300,000 visitors, leading Krista to be named one of Athleta’s 100 Women to Watch in Wellness. Krista also released a book called The 12 Minute Athlete: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life in 12 Minutes a Day.

What inspired you to start working out?

KRISTA: “I grew up in an athletic family, and even though I played basketball and soccer growing up, I always assumed the athletic gene had skipped me. I never felt very strong or skilled playing group sports.

When I went off to college, I stopped doing movement of any kind. I gained the typical freshman fifteen and became more lost and unconfident than ever. I assumed I was destined to be a slightly out of shape, weak, and unathletic person for life.

One day my older brother challenged me to do a push up—I thought I was a person who could never do a push up, but I did three! In that moment my whole mindset changed. I realized that if I actually worked at it consistently, I could maybe actually become a ‘fit person’ one day.

I started running and working out more regularly, but I hated every second of it. Even after I became a personal trainer, I didn’t develop a great relationship with fitness until I discovered high intensity interval training and bodyweight workouts, which is the basis of the 12 Minute Athlete approach.”

You find HIIT workouts to be most effective, can you explain it to people who haven’t heard of it before?

KRISTA: “High intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts are an advanced style of interval training where you alternate periods of short, intense exercise with less intense recovery periods. Basically, this means you’ll be working as hard as you possibly can for a short amount of time, resting, then working hard again. An entire HIIT session should really only last no more than about 10 to 20 minutes, and you should feel pretty spent when you’re done.

One reason that I’m such a huge fan of HIIT workouts is that they essentially take your typical 30 to 45-minute workout and condense it into a shorter workout that’s actually more effective than a longer, moderate intensity workout. Since the main reason people use for skipping their workout is lack of time, HIIT workouts help you stay consistent with your fitness goals, no matter how busy you are.”

Your app “12 Minute Athlete” has grown quite quickly. How does that success make you feel?

KRISTA: “When I first created the app, I had no idea what I was doing, so I basically designed the app that I wished existed in the marketplace. It’s cool of course that it has over 245,000 downloads at this point, but what makes me happiest is when I hear people who use it on a regular basis and as a result have gotten fitter and stronger.”

Are there days where you don’t feel like working out? And if so what do you do to get yourself motivated and working out?

KRISTA: “Of course, anyone who tells you that they are always motivated to work out isn’t telling the whole truth. Even elite athletes have days when they’d rather be doing anything else than working out.

It’s taken years, but I’ve finally gotten to the point that I know how much better I’ll feel after working out, so I actually don’t want to skip it. If I’m not feeling up for something overly intense, I’ll at least do something light, such as a little jump roping and some simple bodyweight exercises. Even on my rest days I make sure to walk a lot because I’ve found that movement helps me keep my head clearer and energy levels up.

Even if you’re not feeling up for a full workout, try and get a little movement in. Go for a walk, take an easy bike ride, or play with your kids (or dog) at the park. It’s important to remember that something is always better than nothing!”

You have an app and a book out. ARE there any other platforms you’d like to extend into also?

KRISTA: “I’m very interested in the VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) spaces. I think they offer a whole new world of great opportunities to connect people with athletes and trainers they admire. The technology is still getting there, but I think we’re about to see a giant wave of this kind of thing in the next five to ten years and I’m currently working on ways to be involved.”

Speaking of your book. The 12 Minute Athlete: Get in the Best Shape of Your Life in 12 Minutes a Day, what was the process like for you to write it?

KRISTA: “Whenever I approach a big project like this one, I start by getting as clear as possible on the content and essentially write an outline, just like you would have to when you were writing a paper in school. Once I get the outline figured out, I find that filling in the content is fairly simple and is just a matter of sitting down and committing to doing it on a regular basis. Its taken me a while to learn this, but in my experience, writer’s block is less about not being able to write, as it is not knowing what you actually want to say.”

What are some goals that you want to reach in the future?

KRISTA: “When it comes to my business, I’m really pushing this year to be involved in more in-person events. As much as I love the app and blog world, really nothing can substitute for in-person connection. I’m also working on new programs for the app, as well as getting involved in new technologies like VR and AR.

In terms of my own personal fitness goals, I’m working towards a one arm handstand and have plans to compete in my first amateur boxing match later this year. I’m always working to get stronger, address my weaknesses, and become an overall better athlete.”

For people who want to start working out but don’t know where to start, what would you recommend?

KRISTA: “Start slow! The worst thing I see people do when they’re first trying to develop a fitness habit is to try and go all out at the very beginning and aim to work out intensely five or even six days a week. More often than not, this approach leads to burn out after a couple of weeks, and even worse, injuries.

If you haven’t worked out in a while, I always recommend starting to incorporate light movement like walking into your daily routine. Your goal should just be to get in the habit of getting your body moving on a regular basis.

Once you’ve got that down, try incorporating some simple yet effective bodyweight movements like squats, push-ups, planks, and burpees into your routine a few days a week. Only after you’ve established a baseline should you try and start working out more intensely with hard HIIT workouts three or four days a week.”

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Clinton Bopp: Interview

May 30, 2018

INTRO BY KAT VISTI

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Clinton Bopp and his beautiful works of art have taken over the city of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is going through a lot of change and Clinton's work reflects and preserves the different parts of each culture. Before painting a mural Clinton researches the history of the community and meets with the people who live in those communities. We interviewed Clinton to learn more about his art work and his projects.

Were you always interested in art growing up?

"Yes! As a child, I was constantly drawing and creating art. It was something I always inherently wanted to do. For me, it felt like a way to communicate. The more I drew, the better I got, and the easier it became to communicate my ideas."

When was the moment you realized you wanted to be a muralist?

"When I moved to Los Angeles the world of murals was exposed to me for the first time. After moving to East LA, a part of the city rich in mural history, I realized the power murals can have on communities. I saw first hand how powerful murals are because of the stories they tell. Once I witnessed that impact, I was hooked."

What do you love most about creating your art?

"I love all aspects. The excitement of taking on new projects, the process of creating the vision for the piece, and the application of actually painting the walls. When I’m painting I get lost in the work which can be very freeing. It’s then always a rush of gratitude and satisfaction when I finish a project."

How long does it typically take you to create each mural?

"It all depends on the scope of work and scale of the projects. It could be as fast as one day for smaller jobs and up to three weeks for larger projects. I tend to really push myself with each piece, spending time and attention to detail."

You recently painted a mural at a children’s school to help bring different communities together due to racial tension that was happening at the school. How did it feel working on this project?

"These kinds of projects give my work meaning and purpose. It was an honor to be given the privilege to tell such a rich and positive story that made so much impact in the lives of these students."

What piece of yours would you say you’re most proud of?

"I would say my mural about the conquest of The Aztecs. It was a journey, a project over 100ft long. Composing a story of such epic scale was a really interesting challenge. The hardest part was trying to fit everything in while maintaining the composition of the piece. The level of detail and rich symbolism really resonated with the community."

Do you have any other projects coming up that we can expect to see?

"Yes, I have a busy year ahead of me. Plenty of interesting projects are in the works."

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Cam Badder of DEAD & FINE: Interview

May 7, 2018

BY KAT H. WENTZELL

Cam Badder is a 25 year old graphic designer from Salt Lake City, Utah, and he is very different from the average young artist. Badder is the founder, CEO, and designer of his own successful clothing company, DEAD & FINE, a brand that offers apparel for everyone, from the “weirdos” to the Fleetwood Mac fans. Badder is a prolific artist, as well as a savvy businessman, and he is very proud of the up-and-coming company he built from the ground up all by himself.

How long ago did you start up “DEAD & FINE?” What made you want to create your own clothing company?

Badder: "I officially started and announced DEAD & FINE in October of 2016. I’ve always known I wanted to start my own clothing line since I was in middle school. I remember being so fixated on all the 'underground,' 'edgy,' 'unfamiliar' brands, the ones that none of the other kids knew about. I was the kid that was always wearing the clothing brands that none of the other kids had ever seen, and I loved the idea of that. From then, I had decided that I would want to create that clothing line. I wanted to create pieces that other people were going to see on someone else and think to themselves, 'Oh, I kinda dig that, but they didn’t get that at the mall. They must have gotten it online or from overseas.'"

What does “DEAD & FINE” mean?

Badder: "DEAD & FINE is the simple idea to remind [people] that everyone is struggling with something, whether it be a sickness, a loss [of a loved one], a breakup, depression, or anxiety….it is no one else’s place to tell you how you should feel."

What are some of the struggles of running your own brand?

Badder: "I’d have to say [organizing] the content and material that I come up with. Half of my work is set aside for pieces that’ll mesh better with [other] certain pieces of artwork, or they’re set aside because they are pieces I assume won’t gain much recognition from my brand’s following."

What are some of the rewards?

Badder: "In my opinion, the most rewarding thing is seeing people from all over share photos of themselves, mostly on Instagram, wearing their Dead & Fine gear using the hashtags #deadandfine & #deadandfinefam. That’s the most exciting thing for me to see, all these beautiful people from cities in the U.S. I have never even heard of wearing the designs and items I produced! They wear them proudly, and eagerly share photos of themselves wearing my work! That is more than just a reward to me. It has also been very rewarding receiving all customer feedback. I’ll receive personal 'thank you' letters in the mail and email, [as well as] direct messages on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, all saying how stoked they are with their new items. They thank me for my personalized letters that I include in all orders, and knowing they love those letters as much as I love writing them is so gratifying. To me, that is very, very rewarding."

How do you market your brand? What are some of your advertising strategies?

Badder: "Honestly...social media. As cliché as it sounds, I have built my following on the DEAD & FINE Instagram account (@deadandfine). I’ll share any news, new items, promos, flash sales, etcetera [on there]...and although many believe hashtags are a waste of time, I strongly disagree. I search so often on Instagram for specific things using specific hashtags. I know I’m not the only one, mainly because the hashtags I use make or break my posts. I’ll get a lot of attention using the right hashtags, and I’ll never use a tag that has no relevance to my brand or the post itself. I also use keywords on my website in the product’s description; those specific words used reach an audience as well. I’ve been told several times by my customers that they googled 'alien hat,' 'coffin shirt,' or just the word 'dead' and they stumbled upon my website. It’s great knowing these strategies have been working for me. I also get help through a good friend, Hayley Douglas, owner of Earth Play (@earthplay333), who is a marketing major. I’m sure that in the future, hoping that things progress, I’ll have more meetings with other marketing professionals that will help me reach my marketing goals."

What is your vision for the company’s future? What are some of your goals?

Badder: "Well, since it’s only me running the full show at the moment, I plan to continue working hard, making great connections, and meeting wonderful people. [I’m also focused on] getting Dead & Fine more recognized and gaining a larger following. I also have goals to get some backup support with the production of the products so that I can focus more on the main part: the designing process. It’ll be nice to have a little team to help me with the production of all DEAD & FINE items, especially since one of my biggest goals is to expand the variety and range of DEAD & FINE items. [Also, I want to] eventually be able to have so much content and designs to finally release an actual collection. I’m really pushing for this fall/winter."

What advice would you give to someone that wants to start up their own business?

Badder: "Don’t waste time holding back. I spent years [feeling] discouraged to [create] DEAD & FINE. Have a main focus, decide on your logo and brand name, and connect with others in the 'owning a small business' community to help inspire your ideas. Then start putting those ideas into actual production. Starting small is the only starting point. The quicker you start, the easier it gets to want to keep working towards your brand. I was driven 100% after the first five positive comments on the first shirt I made. Plan out products, have your back story, advertise anyway you can, but trust social media. It plays a huge part in spreading the word and getting your products out there."

Anything else?

Badder: "My story is no success story by any means, but if you are interested in starting your own business, I hope this article has given you enough information to understand my own personal experience in starting my own business, DEAD & FINE. It has been an amazing start to my brand’s journey, and I’m still driven to grow it and succeed."

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Kristin McQuaid: Interview

February 22, 2018

INTRO BY JENNIFER CHEN

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Meet Kristin McQuaid, the talented and accomplished dancer that has most likely choreographed some of your favourite dances. She has been dancing and choreographing for 15 years, with projects spanning from choreographing for So You Think You Can Dance and Dance Moms to appearing in music videos for big stars such as Cyndi Lauper, Britney Spears, Prince, and many more.

This love for dance began when she was just 11 years old and choreographing dances in her driveway, which eventually led to settling in Southern California, where her career truly took off. This started with her full-length professional sold-out show called Choosing Sin in LA, then McQuaid went on to win the choreographer’s TV show called Make A Move, and even more features in the Capezio A.C.E awards and TV commercials.

Kristin McQuaid’s dynamic love for her passions has entertained and inspired many, and as she branches out into designing her own clothing line (KraZe By Kristin) she will inspire many more.

When was the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a choreographer?

KRISTIN: "I think growing up in the dance studio I always knew I wanted to get into choreography. I would always be choreographing dances for fun and then one day I started to get recognition for my work. From that moment on I knew I had a career in the choreography world."

Do you think the way you grew up influenced your decision to be a choreographer at all?

KRISTIN: "Oh for sure! I was practically raised in a dance studio and lived at the studio 6 days a week! I lived for dance. I had the best mentor and still do to this day. Michelle Latimer broadened my experiences in the professional world of dance at a young age. You don’t get that at most studios, so I was very lucky and have her to thank for the career I have today."

You have appeared in music videos and live performances with major artists like Prince, Britney Spears, and Cyndi Lauper. What was it like working with these artists?

KRISTIN: "These were once in a life time opportunities! I remember each of those days so clearly. First off, Britney is so nice! I love her! Even though her and I are the same age she has always been someone I looked up to. Prince was Prince, ha! Very driven and serious on set. He was never one to joke around with anyone. Cyndi is such a sweetheart! My favorite song to date is “Time after Time” and when I found out I was working with her I fangirled just a tad."

Of all the dances that you have choreographed, which sticks out to you the most and why?

KRISTIN: "I would have to say it would be one of my group submissions for 'So You Think You Can Dance'. The dancers were in black and white checkers morph suits and there was a long couch that had the same matching fabric on it. It was so visually appealing and that dance is when my career really took off. I was called by Cirque Du Soleil in regards to the piece, mind-blowing."

If you could create a dance for anybody, who would it be and why?

KRISTIN: "Wow! Thats a tough question. I would have to say Ellie Goulding. I am obsessed with her music. There is something behind Elle’s voice that is so captivating and heart wrenching. Its as though you are experiencing the stories and experiences with her. She is on the bucket list as someone I would love to work with!"

You also designed your own clothing line called KraZe by Kristin. What made you want to start your own line?

KRISTIN: "I have a very unique style. I never match, I love to wear loud colors, and make a statement. I have always been asked “Where do you shop?” “Who designed your look?” The answer is always me! So I thought what better way to express my style than with a clothing line! More clothes will be coming out soon! krazebykristin.com."

Is there anything new that you are working on that you can share with us?

KRISTIN: "I have a lot going on right now. Some on which I can’t mention just yet, so you will have to wait and keep up with my social media accounts! I do travel with a dance convention, Hollywood Connection (hcdance.com), so if you are ever in a city where we attend please come take class and say hello! You can expect more Grace VanderWaal [inspired] videos, definitely more with Nia Sioux, and other great stuff!"

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Erman Baradi: Interview

February 17, 2018

INTRO BY KAT VISTI

INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY

Erman Baradi is a Hollywood networker and interviewer who started from the bottom and worked his way up to the top. Erman started everything as a way to impress a girl but it turned into something much bigger than that. Erman wants to help young talent find their way in the entertainment business. He's the co-founder of a Hollywood event series called MixKnowledgy that ranges across LA, New York City, Chicago, Virginia, Miami, and London with upcoming expansion in Toronto, Paris, and Berlin! The Huffington Post even named him as the Top Networker in Hollywood. We sat down for an interview with Erman to learn more about his success, multiple projects, and future endeavors.

How did you first get your start as being a networker and celebrity interviewer?

"It goes all the way back to 2012. I wrapped up my internship in West Hollywood and had come back home to Virginia. So, I had to figure out a way to strike while I still had some sort of heat. I looked up writing gigs on Twitter and came across an interview gig for a digital magazine. I had no interview experience prior to that but I submitted anyway. And it was a pro bono gig but I figured it was a chance to network with whomever I was interviewing. I got the gig and purchased an entertainment magazine to figure out how to interview. During this I was making a lot of friends on Twitter who were like me, trying to break into the entertainment business. I created the social media name @Erman_LA because it sounded cool. But then folks started believing I was in LA! Because of that I was getting DM's for LA-based events, conferences, etc. People wanted me to work for them. Every position I held whether it was pro bono, cheap pay, or whatnot, I leveraged who I met through it for the next endeavor."

You are the co-founder of the Hollywood event series MixKnowledgy. Can you tell us a little about this?

"Yes, I would hate to pigeonhole myself but I tend to be known as the event guy or the panel lineup go. I started producing these panel events in LA and NYC that I like to refer as "panel and party" events or "more than a panel." These are social experiences in addition to hearing speakers talk. Our bigger ones we do at nightclubs and have DJ's, the full experience. I did them for a few years solo and under different names before partnering up with folks. Before I would get names from big companies for other platforms and that was fun, but I wouldn't make a lot per the effort I put in. So, I started doing them on my own. My first one in LA had over 40 speakers. Mind you, I had no idea at the time what I was doing, but apparently I was okay at it. I'm talking speakers who actually had merit and are running the town. For my first event? Not bad. So I picked up steam from that, every now and then land meetings since my main goal is to write and produce. I met my current business partner Brandon when he and his wife attended an event of mine a few years back. We started MixKnowledgy which was coined by my brother. The play on words is mixology + knowledge since we combine mixers and forums. We have also done Chicago, London, my home state of Virginia, Miami, and looking to Vancouver this year."

Some of your side projects include Innovasian, Project Muse, and more. Can you tell us more about these projects?

"Innovasian is a spin off focused on Asian American speakers! I have to do it for my community. Project Muse is another side project catered to the music industry. Project Music would be too on the nose, so I chose Muse since guests impart knowledge and their creative process. I like helping cultivate talents and this includes musicians as well. My solo event series is Hollywood Chills which are more intimate and more in your face, more toned down from the partiee. From Chills, I do Holly Would Talk which is female-driven. I am a male but I love seeing women empowered. Brandon and I alsp host live phone conference interviews in which we interview special guests on our conference line. We also have The Film Empire for our series of Hollywood film and screenwriting mentorship contests. This is a big one for us because blossoming content creators get to meet leading industry pros face to face over coffee or lunch or Skype. They are getting firsthand knowledge from those making the moves! We are not doing it just for directors ir writers but everyone. Coming up we have a diversity initiative, a composers mentorship, an art design contest, a cinematographer contest, and plenty more! Think of your favorite show or movie, chances are we have had reps in past or upcoming lineups."

Last year The Huffington Post named you the top networker in Hollywood. Can you describe how you felt when you found this out?

"This was so cool because I spent years and years networking and I got to see it all come together. I was recognized for something I deserved. I could be at an office job or be a bartender or waiter - which I am by no means slamming whatsoever. But that was never for me. I would literally make networking a job for myself and sacrifice the money I could be making at something more stable. It really did mean a lot to be featured like that right before hitting 27."

Do you have any advice for people that are trying to get their start in the industry?

"That is such a tough question actually because there is no one path. Even me, I know a lot of people myself from reps to producers to showrunners, yet I'm still trying to make it myself. Stand out. Plain and simple. Figure out a way to stand out in this super overpopulated industry. Don't go the path millions have traveled before you. Use the internet to your advantage. Answers are everywhere. And if you can't find an answer, create an answer. No one will hire you? Hire yourself. Don't let someone else be in charge of your fate."

This year you are also looking into self-releasing a poetry book. Have you been writing poetry for a while? When did it come about that you wanted to publish a book?

"Actually, that was my first medium as a middle schooler. Wasn't always good, of course, but I think I got better over time! I always wanted to publish something growing up but had to make sure it was the right time and the right project. The collection is an anthology of works over time from early teens till now. Interviews like these back me into a corner in a good way. I say I am working on something so now that the public knows, I can't shy away from putting it out!"

What are some goals that you hope to achieve in the future of your career?

"Long term, of course we all want to win those Oscars and Globes and Emmys, but I just want to impact the industry first, whether it's telling stories through the eyes of an Asian American or a millennial. I hope to land representation soon as a writer. That would be amazing. I want to work both in film and television to be honest. I am writing pilots and features at the moment and am totally open to someone reaching out to collaborate. I recently got my LLC for BarCada. In Tagalog, "barkada" translates in English to gang or group of friends. Another play on words since my last name is Baradi. This is my solo endeavor, a chance to "do me." It's okay to be selfish sometimes. Since the beginning everytime I start something, other people want in. That's fine and I get it but this allows me to be me. After all, I didn't begin a brand and build a platform from scratch without personal agendas and goals. I'm all for helping others but, of course, my intentions come first."

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