So, as some of you may know, I will be heading out to Ryerson University this upcoming fall to study Journalism. (I'm actually leaving BC in exactly one week today! Ahhhh!) So, as a little head start to my experience in Toronto, I have begun writing for a Toronto publication called FutuReale Magazine! You can check it out at www.futureale.com
I recently just had my first article published and it was a Top 10 Summer Songs list. Here are some pictures from the website but you can also read an online version at
On Saturday, July 24th, I went to English Bay to watch some of the finalists in Shore 104.3's Sounds of Summer song search competition. Afterwards, I was fortunate enough to have an interview with one of the bands called The Belle Game. Their song Tiny Fires was chosen as one of the top 10 summer songs so check out these videos from our interview and make sure to go onto http://www.shoresoundsofsummer.com/contestantdetailvote.cfm?autonumber=1758 and vote for The Belle Game!
[the sound isnt that great, so you should turn up your speakers!]
On Tuesday, July 20th, I worked as a background performer for a Nickelodeon television series called The Troop, starring Nick Purcell, Gage Golightly and David Del Rio. Malese Jow (from Unfabulous and The Bratz Movie) was also there for a few scenes, she's really pretty and smaller in person! Nick was really nice, funny, and not to mention, he got to ride a segway all over set :) I was an international student at a multicultural gifted student high school (called D.O.R.K)
Anyways, I just thought I'd share a couple photos of me in my traditional Asian wardrobe (which I happened to own (I knew they'd come in handy someday!)
Overall it was a great day, tiring but still fun! I was there for about 13 hours but I love the atmostphere of sets so it was all gooood.
So if you watch the Troop, try to spot me in an episode called The Triangle!
Hundreds of tweens, under the age of fifteen, lined up outside of Canada Place, hoping to become discovered as Canada’s next biggest singing sensation. The auditions for YTV’s ‘Next Star’ took place last month on Saturday May 22, and I had the opportunity on May 30th to chat with a previous finalist from this past season of The Next Star: Brock Zanrosso.
1. So When did you start acting and singing?
A: Acting was a little bit before singing. I actually booked my first job last May, early May. So I went to auditions starting last year, like October/November ish kind of time. And then I ended up booking a job around May. And then singing, I went to an audition for The Next Star. I’ve never sung in front of people before that, and then I went to the audition and sang there. And yeah that’s when I started singing.
2. Were you a fan of the show before auditioning?
A: Yeah I had watched the first season and I was just thinking to myself when I watched it like “I can do that” so then I did it and I went. And then I went and I did the audition.
3. How did you hear about the auditions for the Next Star?
A: Well, I watched the first season right, so I kind of was looking online and seeing when they were going to be settled and stuff like that, because I knew it was going to be my last chance to go, because the year after I’d be too old. So I was definitely looking it up.
4. How was the audition process?
A: Time consuming. It took a long time, but it was fun. It was an experience in itself, just the audition part of it. And I had a good time. I was there from 5am to 2pm so it was pretty long and then I had to go back the second day. And it’s a lot of rounds but people don’t see it on TV, the craziness of it, but it was fun though.
5. What was the best advice that you got from the judges?
A: I think probably...Suzie. Well it was never shown on the show, but after I left the stage and after the show was done at the finale, Suzie came up to me and she said “you know you’ve just got to keep pushing with what you have because people forget about you really fast if you don’t,” so she kind of just gave me advice to keep going and keep pursuing what you want to do or else you’re going to lose your chance. So I think that was the best advice that she could give me. 6. What was your favourite song to perform on the show?
A: I really liked performing “For the Nights I Can’t Remember,” and of course my own song as well. But yeah out of the covers I did, I really liked “For the Nights I Can’t Remember.” It was the best, it was really fun and it was kind of a challenge for me as well. So it was fun to do my own take on it.
7. What was the hardest part about being on the show?
A: The hardest part was probably the hours. I mean, it was every day, 10-12 hours a day. We sometimes got weekends off and we sometimes had to do the extra, or like 6 days a week. And then we finally got one week off in august, but it was pretty crazy, the schedule was really hectic. But it was fun, because we hung out a lot of the time, and there was a lot of waiting, but it was still really fun. We got to know each other and everybody’s really good.
8. What was it like working with Shawn Desman on your first single “One More First Chance”
A: It was really good! He made it really comfortable for me because I’d never been in a studio or anything and I’ve never written a song, so he helped me with that and then we went in the studio and just sang. I was pretty nervous in the beginning but it ended up working out, so it was all good.
9. How has your life changed since being on the Next Star?
A: I was actually just talking about this with my mom a little while ago. It’s changed a lot. Because now it seems kind of normal that I just have to get up and I have to go to an audition or the recording studio or something like that. But if I think about it from my shoes last year, I would have never thought I’d be doing anything like this. Because I wasn’t anywhere near that. And because of the Next Star, it gave me the opportunity to be able to do all this stuff, that not everybody can do. So yeah, it’s definitely changed a lot. I’m really busy!
10. What is it like when people recognize you?
A: That’s always fun. It’s kind of awkward for them...because I’ll just be like “hey!” and then that person would be like “yeah?” and they’ll be like “okay...” and I’ll try to start up a conversation or something because then it gets kind of weird, but some of them just walk away after they ask me. I think they’re a little bit shy or something because yeah, it’s interesting though, it’s fun always. Then they ask for a picture or something like that.
11. Any crazy fan encounters yet?
A: A couple of them chased my car once. And I went out for dinner and they waited outside by my car for me because they wanted a hug. But...it’s all good.
12. How do you stay grounded in such a crazy industry?
A: It’s pretty easy. I still go to school and stuff and I still see all my best friends and stuff like that. It is a different life but I’m still doing things I was doing last year and the year before that. And I’m still going to school and being able to hang out with friends and stuff like that. But I mean there are aspects of my life that have changed but I have those people around me that can keep me grounded in that sense.
13. So, you just had a show on May 29th, opening for Suzie McNeil, how was that?
A: It was really fun to be able to see her again. Because I hadn’t seen her for, what, like 8 months or something like that, so yeah it was nice to see her and talk to her about the show this year, the kids they’re seeing and stuff like that. And you know, being able to get an inside scoop on the new season and stuff like that. I also got to see Adamo, the host of the show and got to see some of the crew that I worked with last year, like every day 12 hours a day. So it was nice to be able to see everybody again and it was also nice to be able to do a performance for an established artist. Because I’d never opened for anybody before so that was my first real opener.
14. How would you describe your live shows?
A: That one was very acoustic; I just did a two song acoustic set, but actually a couple days ago I went to Langley and I performed with back up dancers and everything and it was really fun because I got to learn choreography and stuff like that and I performed. It just brought a whole new aspect to the show. Like when I was just singing just on stage, there were a couple people watching and then by the time I brought the dancers out, it was a whole new show. People started crowding around and started watching it more. It was more like a festival sort of thing so they could go to different places and different events. But yeah I really like doing the whole back up dancer thing because it just brings so much more to a show.
15. You’ve also put time into helping charities such as for cancer research; why do you feel that it is important for teens to get involved?
A: I think cancer is something that affects everybody. I’m sure that if you ask anybody if they’ve been affected by cancer, pretty much everyone says yes. I think that anybody should get involved, not only teens, not only adults, I think anybody should try and do all that they can to try to help because it’s hard for people. Nobody should have to go through that. I work with a lot of child cancer, and I feel like that is one of the worst things to happen to someone, to get that at such a young age and have to go through that. But yeah I definitely think it is very important to help.
16. Who is your musical inspiration and why?
A: That’s always a hard question because it kind of changes like every three days. But yeah I think if I have to say someone, I like to keep it Canadian. So I’d say Josh Ramsey because I think his vocals are pretty top notch on songs and he does some crazy stuff with his voice. And if you ever listen to his song called Masterpiece, you’d agree. He does so much and does some crazy stuff; he mixes and does quadruple harmonies and I really like how he does his stuff.
17. So your single Edge is coming out very soon, are you excited about it? And could you tell us a little bit about it and the process of producing it?
A: The vocals on it are kind of soft sort of phrasing and then the background music is very up tempo and upbeat. I really like the song. I worked with Hip Joint on it, which is a Vancouver based production company who works with Shiloh and Kreesha Turner. And yeah they did a really good job with it, I’m so happy that I got to work on it with them. It turned out really well. And I’m doing a music video for it on June 2, so I’ll be shooting all day from 4am in the morn to 12 am at night, so it’s going to be a crazy day. But I’m shooting that Wednesday and I’m pretty excited to do that because I’ve never shot a music video before. So I’m definitely pumped.
P.S. Check out some of my friends who are in this video! Go Vancity dancers![Sonny Claveria, Scott Forsyth, Jane Marlinga]
18. If you could work with anyone in the music industry, who would you choose and why?
A: That’s also another tough one. I guess I’d probably say him [Josh Ramsey] too. I’ve met him a couple times, he was on the show too and I’ve met him on Granville Street. He was a cool guy and I would love to sing on one of his tracks or something like that.
19. This is probably a tough question, but, which do you prefer, acting or singing?
A: I think singing a little bit more, just because right now it’s what I’m most focused on. But I really do like acting, I really like TV. It’s fun, the scripts are always witty and especially for comedy, the scripts are always really fun and upbeat. I love to do those kinds of things. But I also really like acting, for the drama sense of it, because if it’s something solemn, it’s fun to do that, to show a different side. But yeah right now I’m more focused on singing, so I’d have to say singing over acting at the moment. But they’re both really fun.
20. What advice do you have for other teens out there that have dreams of making it big in the entertainment industry?
A: I almost gave up. I didn’t really believe in myself at all and I kind of was like “Well I’m going to this next audition and nothing is going to happen and I’m going to go home and...” and I had this preconceived notion that it wasn’t going to happen for me. So I sort of gave up on it. I used to really think I could, like when I was around age 11, and I really wanted to have this life that I have now, so it’s kind of crazy that it happened. So if I had to give advice, I’d say don’t give up because you never know what can happen. And just keep pushing at it no matter what people say because this was crazy for me and it happened, so it might happen for them as well.
21. Finally, where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?
A: To be still around in the music industry and have longevity is a goal of mine. To be able to stay around and not just be that guy who is on the music scene for a year or so and gets really big and then goes away. I don’t want that to happen so I would love to keep going at it. And that’s a goal of mine so five years from now I’d love to still be around the music scene.
Be sure to check out his youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/brockzan & facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Brock-Zanrosso/148852345755?ref=ts & his official website: http://brockzanrosso.com/
He's on the path to stardom and will hit the world by storm with his fantastic vocals and his passion and determination for singing and acting!
Here's one of my favourite covers that he did:
It's been a while since I've last posted anything, but you know, with high school coming to an end there's lots to do. But I did recently have a chance to ask some questions to Greg Baja, a member of the crew called Heavy Impact from America's Best Dance Crew. He gave insight into his experience from the show, inspiration, and his future! Be sure to check out their bio and clips from the show: http://www.mtv.com/shows/dance_crew/season_5/crew.jhtml?personalityId=13384
1. So when did you start dancing?
A: I started dancing "choreography" when i was 17, but bboying and freestyling since about 15
2. What is your favourite style of dance?
A: I love doing hip hop, but I LOVE watching contemp/lyrical
3. Growing up, did you always have the support of family and friends to pursue your passion for dance?
A: Yes they were supportive. I think they appreciated the fact that I was being productive artistically as opposed to being rebellious and being wild.
4. How did you get started with Heavy Impact?
A: I danced with Isaac since about 2004 on Team Boogiezone BREED in Seattle. When he got the call to put a group together for ABDC, I was one of his choices.
5. Could you tell us the story of how you guys came up with the name of your crew?
A: It was actually Isaac, Leon, and CJ who came up with the name. It actually started as Heavy Hitterz, but due to copywright issues we couldn't use it. So the alternate to that was HEAVY IMPACT. Also I think the name really stood for who we were as dancers and what message we wanted to come across
6. How long have you guys been together as a group?
A: We've been a group since October 2009
7. So, before auditioning for America’s Best Dance Crew, did you have any expectations about what the show was going to be like? If so, was it different than you thought it would be?
A: I had no idea what to expect from the show besides the fact that we were gonna dance A LOT and that it was TV, so not everything was what it seemed on the screen.
8. Each week, you were given different challenges, so in your opinion, what was the hardest challenge?
A: I would personally have to say the Lady Gaga challenge was the hardest for us. There were a lot of stipulations to that challenge and we didn't get to work with our set very much throughout the week.
9. What was your favourite part about being on the show?
A: Meeting all the crews and being able to do what I love and share it with the nation/world! There were so many wonderful people on this season, we literally became one big family!
10. What was the most helpful piece of advice that you have gotten from the judges?
A: To stay true to ourselves
11. Do you have a favourite routine that you performed on the show?
A: Our regionals was probably our favorite. It was our first impression to everyone, so we tried to make sure it was as close to perfect as possible! Plus we were super pumped to perform on that stage for the first time!
12. So what were the benefits after being on ABDC?
A: The biggest benefit was inspiring others. We got a lot of emails and messages saying that we really touched them and helped them to get back into dancing when they gave up. Thats the best part. Being able to give back
13. Being a dancer myself, what advice do you have for teens out there who want to make it in the dance world?
A: Don't ever be discouraged. Keep working hard and keep your eye on the prize. The thing that will get you the furthest is a good head on your shoulders.
14. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
A: I get inspired by everyone who dances around me. My students, my teachers, my crew members, etc. We're all so talented amongst the dance community, it's hard to choose just one! But also anyone who has a passion (whatever that may be) and is pursuing it to the fullest.
15. Where would you like to see yourself in 5-10 years?
A: I want to be teaching all over the world doing what I love. As long as I'm able to do what I love for a living, I'll be completely content :)
16. So what’s next for Heavy Impact?
A: We're just trying to go everywhere and talk to everyone and teach everywhere and be friends with everyone!!! We love and support anyone who supported us, and we want to be able to give back to the world in whatever way we can. We're just normal people pursuing a dream just like anyone else!
Thanks, Greg!
Hopefully, I'll be able to come out to one of your classes one of these days :)
If you are an avid fan of the hit TV show Gossip Girl (like me), you will be aware of the candy store that is featured in New York City, called Dylan's Candy Bar. If you haven't heard of it, you'll definitely want to check it out, since it is now being sold here in Vancouver at Holt Renfrew! Last month, I was able to go to an in store meet and greet with the store's founder, Dylan Lauren (yes, that name is familiar, because she is the daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren!). She was kind enough to give me an interview in between autograph signings, and gave me insight into her life as a candy fashionista. I was fortunate enough to have visited her New York location on my trip to New York last summer, so it was fantastic to get to meet the face behind the famous candy bar.
1. So what sparked your interest in starting your own candy store?
DL: Always loved candy. I felt there was a need for a store that didn’t exist with candy that I had seen from around the world. And I just started traveling and seeing all this great stuff and thought it would be great to have a store that had all the stuff I loved and that other people loved.
2. How many locations do you have?
DL: We have 5 locations in America: Houston, Orlando, Roosevelt Field, East Hampton and New York. And then we have a lot of outposts like Holt Renfrew and W Hotels...
3. How involved are you in each of these locations?
DL: Very involved. I travel a lot. I design all the products with my team. I really get very hands on so it’s really important to me, because my name’s on the door, to make sure the staff is good.
4. So during the creative process, how do you decide what candy to sell?
DL: I go to all the trade shows and pick different candies that I like and that I think will sell in a certain market. People just love the Dylan’s candy bar brand as well as those popular brands like Mars and Hersheys and Nestle. So we carry so many different candies for different holidays, so it’s great.
5. When I went to your New York store, I notice your famous display case of autographed candy boxes...Who was your most memorable celebrity visitor?
DL: I’d say, I love all; just the fact that all different people come. But I’d say Oprah Winfrey and Janet Jackson.
6. How do you feel that being featured on TV shows, such as Gossip Girl, help your business?
DL: Hugely. People love that show and they think it’s super cool, so they are like, “oh it must be a cool store to get candy.” And then those Gossip Girl stars love the store; they come in on a regular basis which is nice.
7. I also noticed that you sell a lot of merchandise as well as candy. Do you find that that sells as well as the candy?
DL: I think candy is number one, but people love the idea that they can live a candy lifestyle and have clothing that looks like candy and accessories, and they also complement each other.
8. How do you bring together fashion and candy?
DL: The clothing we’re starting to do, the jewellery we’re starting to do...The idea of different colours for different holidays, and different seasons. You know how fashion changes (winter, spring, summer, fall) we have darker colours for winter, brighter colours for spring, in our candies and in our clothing and accessories.
9. Do you have any new and exciting promotions or collaborations coming up?
DL: We’re going to launch a line with Gwen Stefani, Harajuku Lovers, that’ll be big, it’s Happy Bunny. And I’m coming out with a book in October called Unwrap Your Sweet Life, so it’s all exciting!
10. Lastly, what is your favourite type of candy?
DL: I love everything. But I’d have to say...we have really good marshmallow items in New York and I love red gummy candies, so red gummy bears, red Swedish fish, all of them.
Sorry for the hiatus, I've been preoccupied by loads and loads of homework and studying so I had to sacrifice a bit of blogging. On april 11th, I attended an in store meet and greet with Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas at a store called L2. He was there to promote his new clothing line I.Am. Since I got there early, I was given a t-shirt from his clothing line :)
Entertainment Tonight Canada was also there filming, so I got to meet Erin Cebula, one of the hosts. She was really nice and gave me some tips about how to get into the industry.
As some of you may have known, Booboo Stewart (Eclipse) visited Metrotown earlier this year, and he did a meet and greet! He's great to his fans and such a fresh face. :)
Here is a quick Q&A with Booboo!
1. So how did you get started in the entertainment industry?
A: My dad is in the business
2. Were you a fan of Twilight before the movie?
A: Sure
3.How did you land the role of Seth Clearwater?
A: Regular audition
4. Did you have any special training or prep for the movie?
A: I read all the books and trained really hard5-really great
5. So how would you describe the character of Seth in the movie?
A: I dont discuss the movie but in the book he is really a happy nice guy
6. What was your favourite part of filming?
A: Sorry i dont discuss filming but to say it was fun and everybody was really nice
7. How did you like Vancouver?
A: I really like it there
8. So I understand your music career is also on the rise and you perform with your sister Fivel, tell us how that's going!
A: Actually its me and 2 of my sisters maegan and fivel--its going great we are writing and recording a lot of new songs
9. What is your favourite part of performing?
A: I love it all --the performance and the fans
10. So you got started in this industry at such a young age...what keeps you so down to earth in such a hectic business?
A: My family
11. So you appeared at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, BC for the George Caseres Foundation; why do you think it is important for the youth of today to get involved in giving back?
A: Me and my sisters are really lucky and we need to remember that everyone isnt and help however we can--it makes everyone better and the world a better place.
12. What has been your favourite project that you have worked on so far?
A: deff TWILIGHT
13. 1. So do you get to travel a lot? Where has been your favourite place that you’ve visited?
A: Probably boston there is just something about the town i really like
14. So when you’re in LA, what do you like to do for fun?
A: Hang out with my fam and friends
15. Have you had any crazy encounters with fans?
A: hha yeah--ive been pulled to the ground and my shirt ripped off and pulled off stage. lately girls have been driving by my house yelling
16. What advice do you have for other teens who hope to make it in the entertainment industry?
A: Never give up
17. Lastly, do you have any upcoming projects?
A: Well me and my sister fivel have an amazing project but I cant talk about it and I have a few films coming out along with ECLIPSE--SMITTY and LOGAN and maybe one called DARK GAMES--and we are booking concerts. Of course I hopefully will be doing a lot of the TWILIGHT conventions--I love meeting fans
Thank-you to Booboo and his father Nils!
Check out Booboo's twitter & myspace!
twitter: MAMMARAZZI1
myspace: myspace.com/actionbooboo
Hopefully you've all gotten to pick up a copy of the latest issue of Youthink (if not, go get one!) and my article with my interview with Pat K from the Stereos is in it!
There is the article!
And here is the full interview:
1. How long have you guys been together before the show?
As a band we were together for 2 years but, basically Dan, Rob and I were writing for a good year before that, just writing songs and stuff. So for this band, it was at least a three year process before we even got on the show. And those guys and myself have been a band since high school too so it’s probably like 10 years of working on being in the band before we got the TV show. But again, after the show, I guess it was kind of overnight, as far as everyone else is concerned.
2. So how did you guys end up on the Much Music TV show Disband?
The way that worked out was, when we started writing songs, we were sending out our demos to basically anybody in the Canadian industry we could get to listen to our songs. And one of the first people to actually like our songs was Greg Nori, who’s on the TV show, but at the time there was no TV show. But when the TV show came to him, he kind of put 2 and 2 together and got us on the show. So Greg was able to get us on that.
3. What was the highlight of the show for you?
I’d say the first time we played and got the thumbs up was probably one of the best moments of my life because up ‘til then we’ve always thought we were a good band but I guess every band thinks they’re a good band so when we finally had the industry professionals or whatever saying that they agreed with us, that we had what it took, was a really big push in the right direction I think.
4. So then what was hardest part of the show?
The hardest part of the show was not knowing, I mean you know, TV kind of chooses what it wants to show in terms of what makes the best TV show, so a lot of people think it was an easy ride for us but until we got the thumbs up we had no idea that we’d even get told ‘you have what it takes’ let alone the record deal or anything that happened after that. So I think the hardest part was just working so hard; I quit my job just to go out and film the show and possibly get a thumbs down just because I thought it was good to get the exposure. So not knowing whether or not it would even work out for us was really, you know, you question a lot, so that was difficult.
5. There was an episode where you guys were critiqued by Gene Simmons; what was it like to perform for such a legendary figure in the entertainment industry?To be honest this is like going to be the worst answer, but I didn’t care. I’ve never been a fan of KISS and I’ve never been a huge Gene Simmons fan either so it didn’t faze me at all. I think it was great to be able to get that opportunity, don’t get me wrong, like the guy is obviously a genius and so any feedback he gives is something you should listen to. But any feedback he gave was just ridiculous, and I think it was cool to say that I’ve met Gene Simmons, but Gene Simmons is about Gene Simmons and that’s it.
6. So what do you think set your band apart from the others in the competition?
I feel like we’ve worked so hard at this, to the extent that we’ve always known what we wanted to sound like and look like, basically what we wanted this band to be, that I think it came across that this band had its stuff together. Just when we put ourselves out there, I mean like, I’ve been working on writing songs since I was 15 years old so once we put the package together and put it towards people, I guess they made the decisions for themselves.
7. So since being on the show, I understand that you guys have changed the name of your band multiple times. How did you end up sticking with The Stereos?
To be honest, it was the first name that like really didn’t have a lot of opposition and it was simple and it wasn’t taken, so that was good enough for me because we had to change it twice and I was so sick...I think that the one thing this band is not good at, is choosing band names. So we had Stand By Me, which I loved, but for legal reasons wouldn’t work, then we changed it to Turn It Up, which is the worst band name ever, so they made us change that, which was a good thing. Stereos just stuck, so there’s no real...I could make one up, there’s no cool story about the name. It’s just, it stuck and it’s simple and we didn’t have to change it so it was the best name ever for me for that reason.
8. So you guys are from Edmonton. How has your hometown influenced your sound or your band in general?
You know what; I think it’s influenced our band immensely in the fact that Edmonton is so isolated and so far from everything else that I think... We go out to Toronto now and bands can play 15 different towns so close to where they live and I think the industry down there is so much easier to pull off there, and Edmonton is so much harder just to get out and you know, play shows. So it influences our work ethic and having to work that much harder, so now that we’re in Toronto...[interrupted by Dan and Robb]. That’s a really good question though...too bad they ruined that [laughing].
9. So your debut album was released earlier in October, how was that recording process?
It was intense. It was a blessing and a curse that the one single took off so well because when one song gets you that much exposure, like we were able to play all these festivals, fly across the country, flew overseas, which is great, obviously a dream come true, but at the same time we needed to put an album together and we had to record it. So it was great, we were busier than we ever thought we’d be, but at the same time, you know, you get one day off or two days off and you’re spending 14 hours in the studio on those days off, so it was really really, you know, it was tiring, but again, it’s like would I rather be working at Winners like I was? No. So it was tiring but very very good to be able to do.
10. What was it like working with Juno Award-winning producer Gavin Brown?
It was amazing. And that is probably the only way to describe it. It was amazing. It was awesome, it was frustrating, I love the guy to death, and I would definitely work with him again. He knows his stuff beyond anybody I’ve ever worked with and he’s a character.
11. Are there any songs on your album that you have any special connections to?Yeah definitely. I think that I always kind of put myself back where I was at the time when the songs were written because like 99% of these songs were all written on my days off from my day job and stuff. Especially Summer Girl, has a huge sentimental value because I remember that was one day off I had from work and I spent the day in my basement just trying to write the song. And so to know where I was at that point, just still struggling and working 9-5, and to see that song take off is huge. I think She Only Likes Me When I’m Drunk is one of my favourite songs too because I spent a lot of time on the lyrics and I’m proud of it. But I mean, they all mean a lot just because of where we were when we wrote them, you know what I mean? We had nothing and then to see them in stores all over Canada, I mean, that’s huge.
12. So obviously, you’re now on tour promoting the album. How has your tour been going so far?It’s been amazing. I’ve been like sick and got healthy three different times, which has been fun. But no, it’s been amazing. I mean, we’ve heard about all the people buying our singles and stuff like that and it’s great to meet them finally. To see the kids who are actually putting in the groundwork and supporting our band has been huge. And to go to a place I’ve never been in my life, like the East Coast and the Maritimes, and come here, places we’ve never been and be able to sell out some of the venues out there and have kids screaming the words back at you is insane. It’s a dream come true.
13. How would you describe your live performance?
It’s a party, it’s just good times across the board. I don’t know, I think that anybody who doesn’t like us must be really boring because it’s just so much fun. And if they don’t like our band, then the three bands we’re playing with, they’re also like the raddest bands so there’s something for everyone. So the live shows have been just fun every single night.
14. It’s great to see everyone getting into the holiday spirit by helping out charities and communities. Why do you feel that it is important to give back and take the time to volunteer?It’s very important because, especially with volunteering and stuff like that, my mom always made me do that, and I hated it at first, but I think when you do something that is for no other reason than to help other people out and not for personal gain, it builds character. So my mom had me doing that from a young age. I liked it. Then my mom got breast cancer and so then I ended up volunteering for a lot of that stuff after that happened for her. I just always feel better about what I’m doing, and nothing selfish, like I am every other day of the year.
15. So as an up and coming band, how does it feel to be thrown into success so early on?
I mean, again, the overnight thing took ten years for me, right? Because of the fact that how much work I’ve been putting in trying to be in a band, so I feel like I’ve been preparing myself to try and do this for as long as I can remember. But at the same time, we’re always hungry, like we’re appreciating this, we’re very thankful, but we’ve never wanted to be a band that had one big single and one album, right? I want to play music for the rest of my life. So I think that getting the success I guess at a point where the rest of the world didn’t know about us yet and then being thrown out is a good point that we’re setting ourselves up to have to back up a lot of big things that necessarily aren’t easy to achieve. But at the same time, I think that we’ve wanted this for so long that this is just a stepping stone for us, hopefully.
16. So what’s next for the Stereos? Do you have any upcoming projects?We committed to...If you buy the deluxe version of our album you get a song a month for a year, so it’s pretty much two albums for the price of one. So we had to keep writing and recording in between all this touring and we’re going to be touring with Hedley in the Spring, hopefully going down to the States a little bit too. And then when all that’s done, we release a new album. So I’m never going to see my mom again.
17. Did you guys collaborately come up with the idea that you wanted to do a song a month like for the Stereos?Yeah, it was an idea that came down from the label but I think it’s a great idea. People don’t really buy CDs the way they used to, so I think that anything you can do to separate yourself...You can either do things the way they’ve always been done and ignore the fact that everything is changing in the music industry or you can try to do something different and try to capitalize on the changing industry. It’s digital and it’s internet based and I don’t want to be stubborn children. I know how I go about getting my music and this kind of thing would suit me a lot better than having to buy a different album in stores. I think it’s a great idea.
18. I see that you guys have a lot of tattoos going on...Are there any in particular that are your favourites?Yes. I just got a Notorious B.I.G tattoo; it says ‘Mo money mo problems’ and that’s my favourite because it’s the newest one. It’s kind of hilarious. And I have a mom tattoo on my leg as well that I really like.
19. How many do you have altogether?That’s a good question but so hard to answer because they all blend into one, right. So I’d say probably 50 different pieces that now look like 2 big tattoos I guess...I’ll say 2...2 tattoos .
20. What is the strangest thing that a fan has ever done?
Oh dear, that’s a good one. Probably going through our garbage. Like we just moved before we left for tour which was very good because people had found out where our old house was and it was ridiculous. They’d be knocking on the door and we’d pretend we weren’t home and then we’d see that they’d be like taking photo shoots on our front lawn, then like going through out garbage. And it’s like ‘what are you doing.’ I don’t know what they expected to find. But yeah going through our garbage is probably the number one thing still.
21. With the Olympics coming in February, are you feeling particularly patriotic? Do you think that Canada suffers from a lack of pride at all? [this question was asked to be included as a quote in the January/Olympic issue]
No, I don’t think it does. I think that Canada doesn’t have the patriotic fervour that the States have, but I do not think that is a bad thing at all. I think Canada has just the right amount of pride. I know I’m patriotic but I’m not you know [pauses] I don’t think Canada takes its patriotic nature in making it, turning it into a huge negative. I think that those countries that get way too patriotic just look ridiculous. So I think that Canada has just the right amount of patriotism and doesn’t need to worry about competing with others. They do it just the right way.
Although he was not feeling very well that day, he still took the time to do the interview and gave great answers. Thanks Pat ! :)
-Christinaaa
After 2 weeks of secrecy, I'm finally able to blog about the Closing Ceremony :)
One of the most amazing experiences was being part of the Hip Hop Corps Cast of the Olympic Closing Ceremony. I was among over 300 other dancers who were the performers in the aisles during the K-Os performance, with the cool neon lights and crazy dancers. I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity because it allowed me to meet some fantastic people, perform for an audience of over a billion, and to be a part of history!
So here is my experience from the closing ceremony on Feb.28th through photos :)
The start of the day, outside BC place!
In the compound with Josh and Kendahl (our favourite co-ordinator!)
We're excited!
Nate, our hilarious Australian director :)
Anthony, a dancer in the Michael Buble "Made in Canada" performance!
Sochi section, my giant balloon!
Aisle dancers, vom 30! :)
Do you see my name ? :)
Overall, this was such an amazing and unforgettable experience!
Sorry for the hiatus during the Olympics, I was just so busy to keep up with blogging. So I'll do some posts regarding my experiences with the olympic winter games.
First off, I'd like to say how proud I am to be Canadian. We've definitely showed the world a great time here because our streets were full of happiness, excitement and tons of stuff to do! With free events at Olympic venues, such as the Richmond Ozone, Holland Park in Surrey, and LiveCity Vancouver, awesome concerts, and exhibits all around the city, Vancouver was buzzing and never seemed to sleep. The skytrains were constantly crowded and downtown was the centre of attention. It was so inspiring to see so many Canadians showing their support by wearing their red and white, painting their faces, and waving their Canadian flags. Olympic clothing was also becoming very popular and were flying off the shelves at the Bay and Zellers. I'm quite satisfied with my Olympic clothing that I picked up from Aritzia :)
As well, everywhere you went, you could see one of the most popular items: the Olympic red mittens. They are so warm and comfy and perfect for winter. Now, enough about the clothing, on with the games!
Although I didn't watch any of the sports events, I followed along with the medal count and I am so proud of Canada for not only winning the most gold medals on home soil, but also WINNING THE MOST GOLD MEDALS EVER! We ended up with the third highest amount of medals overall, but considering that we won 14 golds, it's such an achievement! Just a few of our gold medalists include Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Alexandre Bilodeau, the Women's Hockey team and the Men's Hockey team!
I'm sad that the Olympics are over, but don't forget that the Paralympics are starting soon as well! So I just hope that Canada still keeps its support and excitement throughout the Paralympic games! It has been such an amazing past few weeks and honestly, it's weird now that the streets are not as crowded and you don't hear people shouting and ringing cow bells!
The next posts over the next few weeks will be focusing on one of the most exciting events in BC's history...The Olympic Games! I'm so excited for everything coming up because it's such a great opportunity to get involved and there's so many incredible events each and every day! As a member of the Sharing the Dream team and a dancer in the Closing Ceremony, I'm so glad to be so involved.
Just a quick update...I received my CD from the lovely Laura Roy last week and it has been in my CD player ever since. I'm glad I got one now (with autograph haha) because she'll be big in the future! You can contact her for a copy of your own at www.lauraroy.ca ! :)
Here is the first dancer in my new "Dancer in the spotlight" feature. His name is Brandon Dumlao and I was fortunate enough to take one of his classes when I went down to San Fran back in 2008. He danced with Funkanometry SF and is currently dancing with NeverLand, a group branching off from the successful LostKids, created by Kyle Hanagami and Ellen Kim. Brandon was also recently seen on So You Think You Can Dance Season 6, as a replacement for another contestant in the top 20. Although he was eliminated off the first episode, Brandon proves to be an amazing dancer who doesn't take things for granted. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with this down to earth dancer whose hard work shows through his passion and determination.
1. When and where did you start dancing?
I started dancing when I was 8 years old in jazz in Concord, CA. I was pressured to quit by my father six months later and got into sports. I then picked up dancing (hip hop) in San Francisco, CA again at 17 under the direction of Funkanometry SF because I realized that it's something I really wanted to pursue and see where it takes me.
2. When did you start teaching?
I started teaching when I made Funkanometry SF in 2007. They allow their dancers to teach their weekly company classes to the public and I was given an opportunity to teach my "A Milli" piece in late 2007.
[I was able to take his "A Milli" class! Check out the video, find me! hint, blue t-shirt haha)
3. How long have you been with Funkanometry?
I was only on Funkanometry SF for the semester of 2007-2008. I am now dancing with NeverLand, a bigger company off The Lost Kids directed by Ellen Kim and Kyle Hanagami.
4. Have you been with any other groups?
I haven't had a long run with being on crews besides Funkanometry SF and now NeverLand.
5. What is your favourite dance style?
My favorite dance style is ballroom. I really want to get into that and getting a taste of it from SYTYCD made me want to get better at that. But overall, I love all styles of dance. It all expresses emotions, passion, and inspiration. That's what I love so much about dance.
6. If you could take a class from any choreographer in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could take class by any choreographer in the world that I haven't taken from yet, it would be Lyle Beniga. His style, execution and choreography is everything I've been trying to explore with myself.
7. So how was the audition process for So You Think You Can Dance?
The audition process for SYTYCD was very fun! I love auditioning. It makes you a better dancer and performer by challenging yourself mentally and physically. I can't go quite into the details of this particular audition, but it does challenge every ounce of your being if that makes sense... haha.
8. After being so close to being chosen for the original top 20, what was your reaction when you were asked to return to the show to replace Billy Bell?
After being cut, and then being called to replace Billy Bell, I cried. I've been auditioning for this show for awhile and I've gotten better each time, but seeing that out of all the cuts they made, I was the next alternate and that felt amazing to hear and to experience.
9. So how was working with your partner Pauline Mata?
Working with Pauline Mata was such a great experience. She's like one of my best friends from the show because we met in Season 5 when we both got cut right before Top 20. To continue our journey together for Season 6 from LA to Vegas to the SYTYCD stage was an experience that we'll never forget. We're hoping to collaborate or work together in the future outside the show.
10. And your routine was the smooth waltz, what was your initial reaction?
The smooth waltz was surprisingly very comfortable for me to get. I was glad I didn't get hip hop because the whole reason I wanted to try out for the show was to show myself and everyone that I can tackle other dance styles. I love challenges and I just took this one head on. It made me fall in love with ballroom because being a hip hop dancer, I hardly do partner work, and that was a great thing to learn to help me grow as a dancer.
11. So what was it like meeting the judges?
Meeting the judges was cool. I never see celebrities as celebrities, so I looked at them as regular people, like an audience. That's kind of a good mindset to have when you audition so as not to psych yourself out in front of the judges. =)
12. What was the hardest part about being on the show?
The hardest part about being on the show not originally being prepared to be in the Top 20 because I replaced someone. So the hardest part was doing all the interviews, learning the dances, getting into show mode all in a day and a half because that's as long as I stayed on the set, but it was the greatest experience I've ever had.
13. What was your favourite part about being on the show?
My favorite part about being on the show was dancing on that stage and spending my experience with the best group of people I've ever met.
14. So is there a possibility that we’ll see more of you in Season 7?
I am allowed to come back and audition for SYTYCD Season 7 and am planning to. Nuff' said haha.
15. What advice do you have for other dancers?
My best advice for dancers is to not let anyone tell or make you feel you can't reach your highest goal in dance. You are your own driver on this journey to getting what you want. Never feel comfortable, always push for your highest potential even if you aren't confident. From every experience, you learn, you grow, and then you achieve. =)
MY FAVOURITE CHOREO, I WANT TO LEARN THIS SO BADLY!!
Thanks for the great interview Brandon, we're rooting for you in Season 7! :)
In November 2008, my highschool senior dance team (Sullivan Heights Secondary) had the opportunity to perform as one of the opening acts for the original "America's Best Dance Crew" winners, the Jabbawockeez at a show held at our own theatre, The Bell Centre. It was such a great experience and we got to meet a lot of amazing talent that night.
Here's a video I found of our performance!
And here is a video I found of the Jabbawockeez! You can find more by searching "jabbawockeez at the Bell Centre" on youtube :)
As some of you may know, aside from journalism, I'm also very passionate about dance. I've been dancing for about 7 years now and I've been given the opportunities to be a part of amazing groups, shows and projects (I'm currently dancing with my highschool team as well as SickStylz Symphony). I haven't really incorporated very much dance related content to my site, so I'll be adding more really soon! (I'm starting a new "Dancer In The Spotlight" section and it'll feature various dancers from across North America) Keep an eye out for the first spotlight dancer: Brandon Dumlao (SYTYCD season 6, and currently with NeverLand)! If you are interested in being a featured dancer on my site, please feel free to email: christina.dun@hotmail.com
Hi everyone! I hope you all are off to a fantastic year! I just wanted to remind you all to check out the newest issue of Youthink Magazine that can be found in high schools throughout BC & Alberta as well as local libraries, stores, community centers, etc. This issue is a special Olympic themed issue which is great, since the Olympic Games are only 36 days away! The countdown is becoming reality and it's hard to imagine that in 36 days our province will be in the spotlight of the entire world. Think about it...the entire world! I also wanted to add that there is a picture of me in this issue, relating to my involvement in the Olympics. I am going to be a performer in the Closing Ceremony (which I am so excited for!!) and I am also a part of a webcast team called Sharing the Dream.
Check out our webcasts at: http://www.sharingthedream.gov.bc.ca/resources/webcasts/welcome.php There will be more content and interviews added to that site later on! Here are some photos of the team and I :)
Also, here is a scanned image of the page that I am on in the January issue:
6. What was your favourite song to perform on the show?
Autographed photo!
The start of the day, outside BC place!
We're excited!
Nate, our hilarious Australian director :)
Anthony, a dancer in the Michael Buble "Made in Canada" performance!
Sochi section, my giant balloon!
Aisle dancers, vom 30! :)
