Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“Railay Beach in Thailand is a stunning car-free peninsula in the Krabi region in the south of Thailand,” said “Virgin River” actor Marco Grazzini. “Turquoise water, white sand, towering limestone cliffs – it’s the usual breathtaking landscape that Thai beaches have to offer, and that would drop jaws on film. I’ve been in and around Thailand numerous times over the past 20 years and Railay really stuck out to me for the serenity that it has.”
“In many ways, the internet has poisoned our minds and drained the lifeblood required for making music, but it has also granted listeners access to so many ideas and creative expressions that it’s possible our understanding of one another has been deepened and amplified,” said professor Alan Williams, who’s also a singer-songwriter. “Seeing my students listening to K-pop, Congolese street bands playing heavily distorted metallophones and Cambodian pop from the golden age before the Khmer Rouge gives me hope for the future.”
“Being a kid in Hawaii is like having a huge playground you can explore endlessly,” singer-songwriter Mikah said. “I used to hike to watch the sunrise, surf, bodysurf, dive, bike around the island, skateboard … the list just goes on. I always think back to my childhood and reminisce about how beautiful it was.”
“There was no version of media that could convince me or my sisters differently about the value of who we were, as defined by the examples we were blessed to see in our parents, grandparents and cousins, ” said “Reasonable Doubt” actor McKinley Freeman. “Having the courage to tell truthful points of view is important in storytelling, but having the courage to know and be who you are [is just as important].”
For westerners, K-pop has become the umbrella term for any artist performing songs in Korean (and usually dancing along). But South Korea has a long history of pop and rock artists who don’t adhere to that stereotype. Catch The Young is the latest band to showcase their musical dexterity as much as their singing.
“I always like to find a bakery and try something new – a cookie, pastry, cake. Anything that sounds interesting to me,” said “How My Neighbor Stole Christmas” bestselling author Meghan Quinn. “When I was taking a tour through the Highlands, we found a little bakery in a small town and purchased this jelly biscuit. I still think about it ‘til this day. So good.”
“Coming from Hawaii where so many different cultures influence one another, I was exposed to many different styles of music and have since built a grand love for all types and genres,” said “Moana 2” actor Hualālai Chung, of his burgeoning singing career. “My hope is to release music that can appeal to the masses.”
After Wonho completed his 21-month mandatory military duty in South Korea this past September, the pop star had intended on taking some time off before making his “comeback” – K-pop parlance for releasing new music. But when the opportunity came up to be a part of the iHeart Jingle Ball lineup – which includes a Dec. 9 concert at the Allstate Arena outside of Chicago – he got to work, quickly.
Voiceover actress Debi Derryberry is best known for voicing the cartoon character Jimmy Neutron. But she is also a musician. Her latest children’s album, “Gotta Go Green,” will be released on March 8.
“My travels have exposed me to a lot of new music and introduced me to some of my favorite musicians, including some of my collaborators on my new album,” said Jessica Lowndes, who splits her time between Los Angeles and Vancouver. “At one point, we were all working on the album over Zoom from different countries – Canada, United States, United Kingdom, (Denmark).”
Two decades after leaving his native California to launch his career overseas, musician and actor Van Ness Wu is celebrating the release of his first all-English-language album “Take a Ride.” Over the years, the multi-lingual artist has collaborated with singers like Beyonce and Bruno Mars, but Wu’s latest collection of songs pays homage to his childhood musical influences (Michael Jackson, Prince, A Tribe Called Quest), while putting a fresh spin on his unique sound that incorporates hip-hop, pop and rhythm and blues.
“My Northern Irish husband has yet to visit the Hawaiian Islands and I’ve been so excited to experience that place with him for his first time,” said “Virgin River” actress Zibby Allen. “The pandemic had different plans for us all. We’ll re-book eventually, though.”
“I love going down South to visit my mom’s side of the family,” said “General Hospital” star Sydney Mikayla. “My Grandma Tina always cooks up big meals. What can I say? I love to eat good soul food. It’s also nice to be around my extended family since my immediate family is just the three of us and my dog.”
“My parents took me to Yosemite at a very young age and I loved everything about it — climbing the rocks, finding sticks, looking at the stars and riding a very stubborn donkey named Chocolate,” said “City on a Hill” actress Keiko Elizabeth.
“Woodstock was a one-time event where people were civil and caring under the worst of conditions,” says Doug Clifford, best known as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s drummer. “They made the best out of a bad situation and that doesn’t happen anymore.”
Matthew Morrison’s already been on his dream trip. “It was my honeymoon and we went through Italy and Paris and then spent almost two weeks in Africa,” said the “Glee” actor.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, filmmaker Kulap Vilaysack traveled to Laos to search for her birth father. As a child, she hadn’t realized he even existed. She filmed her trip for her documentary, “Origin Story.” Vilaysack is also known for creating and executive producing the comedy series, “Bajillion Dollar Propertie$.”
“Friends from College” star Jae Suh Park is based out of Los Angeles, where she resides with her husband, actor Randall Park, and their daughter, Ruby. But she also spends a lot of time in New York City, where her Netflix series is filmed. “I would say that New York is the seventh friend in the show,” says Park, who portrays Marianne. “The energy of the city is so inspiring. I can’t help but bring it into my role on the show.”
As the son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy Marley grew up in Jamaica surrounded by music. “Jamaica is the root of my music,” says the Grammy Award-winning musician. “I was born there, I was raised there and Jamaica is always inside of me. It’s an impactful place in general for many people. For example, Ian Fleming wrote several James Bond novels in Jamaica at Goldeneye near Ocho Rios.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Luna Blaise has been juggling her burgeoning acting career (“Concrete Kids,” “Fresh Off the Boat,” “Surviving Theater 9”) with concert dates to promote her latest single, “Camera Roll.” One of the best parts of her job, she says, is getting to travel to so many different places. “I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to trying new food while traveling,” says Blaise. “I try street cart food sometimes. I love both sweet and spicy foods. I’m very open-minded.”