Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“I remember being in my living room on our group chat, I saw the [Lollapalooza] offer come in,” said Kim Theory’s Audrey Cymone. “I was so excited. I told my dad about it and then he started losing his mind. We are so grateful for the opportunity.”
“I think travel is the best way to hold a mirror up to yourself, because you get out of your comfort zone,” said saxophonist Dave Koz. “You realize that the way my culture does things is not the only way to do it, and it expands you as a person.”
“Don’t Say Good Luck” actress Scarlett Estevez says her favorite destination is the place she has yet to visit.
“If I’m being honest, l didn’t know exactly what to expect when starting to pursue life as an idol,” says Michi, who hails from Hawaii. “I knew what an idol was, but it was difficult to imagine what a realistic daily lifestyle would be like. One thing that was different from what I had pictured was how many people work behind the scenes to assist the team to become who they are. There is so much effort and planning that goes into every song and stage.”
WHIB’s second mini-album “Cherry Pie” – out August 5 – continues to showcase their fluid blend of sweet vocals with intense rapping.
NPR invited me to talk about BTS’ decision not to submit their music for Grammy consideration on their “Here & Now” podcast.
In my latest for Rolling Stone, I report on BTS removing themselves from Grammy contention in 2027, and what all of this means.
Named after a trio of awesome alt-rock Kims, Kim Theory is making lots of noise before graduating high school. My latest exclusive for Rolling Stone magazine.
“Space makes Earth better,” said astronaut Aisha Bowe. “Every new place still fills me with even more curiosity. What changed after space is how I see Earth. When you look down at this planet from 100 kilometers up, every destination looks impossibly precious. If anything, space made me want to explore more of this world, not less.”
For New York City-based activist and model Ava Dash, traveling is less about an itinerary than it is about embracing the moments she never planned for, like “watching the sun set over the ocean with close friends, discovering a tiny restaurant you found by accident, or getting completely lost in a city and ending up somewhere even better than where you intended to go.”
“We are always in a beautiful part of England for ‘Bridgerton,’” Oli Higginson said. “I’ve filmed wonderful scenes at the Bridgerton house in Greenwich and at Hampton Court Palace near Richmond. We used to film a lot in the English city of Bath, but now they have built this incredible backlot set out at Shepperton Studios, which is truly a feat of artistic engineering. It is stunning. And given that, it does indeed always feel like the locations are another character. They totally inform how we carry ourselves and how the scenes play out.”
The Korean American author offers a fresh, modern take on “Chunhyangjeon.”
“Travel has taught me that people are more similar than different,” said country singer Travis Yee. “Whether I’m in Tennessee, California, South Carolina or somewhere else entirely, people experience the same things – love, heartbreak, self-doubt, family struggles and perseverance. Those shared experiences often find their way into my songs.”
Tony Award-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico said she remembers being unsure at first when she was asked to join the cast of “Les Misérables.” “I had to drop out of Yale to do it [which] sounds more dramatic than it was,” she said. “I was cast as Cosette on the national tour while still a student. Suddenly, I had a choice between the life I was planning and the life that had come knocking at the door.”
“One thing I’ve always said is that I want to perform in all of the members’ hometowns, and of course in the Philippines,” said AtHeart’s Katelynn, who is Filipina. “I’d also love to perform at iconic music festivals and stadiums like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Wembley Stadium someday.”
Ask him about stalkers, Wattpad, and Mr. Jigglypuff, and the Thai idol Prince Vatani will reply with humorous clarity.
“Traveling creates an energy that spurs me on to write,” said “Dreamt I Found You” author Jimin Han, who also teaches at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. “I notice more things than I do when I’m home. Right now, I’m sitting on a terrace in a hotel in Myeongdong in Seoul. Already, I’ve written on the flight and [wrote] earlier this morning working on the new book. Fingers crossed I have another novel [published] soon.”
In her debut comedy special “Rosalee Mayeux: Model Mom,” the former high fashion model-turned-standup comic shares stories about her life as a model, actress (“The Lawnmower Man,” “Blast from the Past”) and mother. “My first gig was at the World Famous Comedy Store [in West Hollywood] in the famous Belly Room,” Mayeux said. “It was such an honor and I had a blast! We had a fire audience, courtesy of one of their resident producers, comedian Jimmy Shin. So it was a very cushy beginning!”
Megan Lawless stars as Sarah in the hit horror film “Obsession.” “My character is one of four in the main friend group,” the Los Angeles-based actor said. “Sarah acts as a foil to the toxic relationship between Bear and Nikki and is fundamental to the theme of this cautionary tale. She is representative of the loss that comes with obsessive, toxic attachment and how one person’s actions can affect far more than just themselves. I love this character and am so glad to play such a fundamental part of this story.”
Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Robert Margouleff has worked with music legends such as the Isley Brothers, Jeff Beck and Depeche Mode. In his new memoir “Shaping Sounds: Stevie Wonder, DEVO, The Synth Revolution, And My Life Behind The Music,” the author shares stories about working with these stars. It wasn’t his intent at the time, but his work helped create an eclectic musical time capsule.