Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s `YouTube Wednesday` we’re going to talk about an AMAZING book series that y’all should all be reading. If you`ve never heard of the `TNT Force Cheer` then what are you waiting for? Seriously you’re missing one of the best YA series ever! Today I will review book 2 in the series, `Reaching The Summit` (and I was also fortunate enough to interview the series` author Dana Burkey and speak to her about very serious topics such as her inspirations, her cheerleading background, and of course ships, because the ships must sail. so please check out the interview at the end of this review). If you haven`t read the first book in the series `Learning To Fly’ then continue at your risk because there will be mild spoilers (btw you can check out my review of `Learning To Fly’ here:http://bit.ly/29AfDXA. So now let`s get to the review! Ready? Ok, let`s go!!!
When we last left everyone’s favorite tough as nails, tomboy protagonist Max, she had just entered the world of competitive cheerleading. Max discovered that, despite her previous assumptions, she really enjoyed cheerleading, and that she has an amazing natural talent for it. `Reaching The Summit` begins in the middle of the cheer season where we find Max less than excited about her team`s performance thus far. As the story continues, Max has to deal with preparing for a HUGE cheer meet called The Summit. Along with this stress, Max begins to notice that 2 of her best guy friends, Peter & Kyle have been acting strange around her (wonder what’s up with that right!?!). As Max attempts to deal with all of these changes in her life, she also finds herself at a crossroads when she decides that she wants to try out for the local softball league (a sport that she’s also AMAZING at…seriously what can this girl NOT DO!). Now Max has to learn how to integrate her new “girly” cheer life with her “tomboy” nature, as well as discover what world her heart really belongs to. After reading this book I was once again left with all the feels. It still amazes me that Dana is able to not only make Max a fun, likable protagonist that you can`t help but cheer for (not pun intended), but is also able to surround her with a cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with as well. Definitely a 5 smiley face read (because as you know, smiling faces are SOOOO much better than stars). Make sure you check out my interview with Dana below & while you’re there subscribe to her channel because she’s awesome and we all need more awesome people in our lives!
https://youtu.be/5VO4gaJMMj0
Keep up with everything Dana is doing!:
Website: danacburkey.wix.com/yaauthor
Goodreads:Dana Burkey
Twitter: DanaCBurkey
YouTube: Dana Burkey
Instagram: danacburkey
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Dana Burkey, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, all companies, individuals, corporations, managers, writers, producers, authors, publishers, and/or businesses that should receive credit for any book(s), mentioned in this blog post, all of the and all companies, individuals, corporations, managers, writers, producers, and/or businesses that should receive credit for anything mentioned in this blog post, and all original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I have the honor of sharing an interview I recently did with two-time Grammy nominee Lisa Loeb! You may know Lisa from her platinum-selling hit #1 single ‘Stay (I Missed You), her various voice-over roles in shows such as ‘Spider-Man: The New Animated Series’, ‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates’, ‘Doc McStuffins’, etc., her eyewear line, or the various other projects that Lisa has had over the past two decades. In this interview we discuss Lisa’s music, eyewear line, her charitable foundation ‘Camp Lisa’, her musical influences, and so much more!Also please keep an eye out for Lisa’s singles ‘3,2,1 Let Go’, and ‘The Disappointing Pancake’, which will be released on vinyl via Blacktop Records on July 8th, 2016. You can also pick up the records at any of Lisa’s upcoming shows:
June 21 – Wolf Trap Theater-in-the-Woods, Virginia
June 22 – Sundown Music Series, Haddon Heights, NJ
July 10 – Oakville Children’s Festival, Ontario
July 11 – Stratford Masonic Concert Hall – Stratford, Ontario (SOLD OUT)
July 12 – Stratford Masonic Concert Hall – Stratford, Ontario
July 13 – Adelaide Hall – Toronto, Ontario
So now let’s get to the interview! Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
Celinda: First of all I would like to thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview. Personally I am such a huge fan of your music, and I know that my readers are excited to hear about all of your new projects. Since we are on the topic of music, what/who would you say originally sparked your interest in music? Also, which bands/artists have influenced your music that would surprise your fans?
Lisa: That’s such a huge question. There are so many musicians and performers who inspired me. My family, the music around me growing up, my friends’ taste in music, the music I was played at school and the music we sang and played at school, music I learned in piano and later guitar lessons, music on the radio. Wow, so much music all around me. I usually think of The Police as the band that made me want to play guitar in a band and write music. I also loved David Bowie’s dramatic singing, writing, storytelling, and all-around aura. I’m hugely influenced by Led Zeppelin, Olivia Newton John, The Cure, and soft pop from the 1970’s like Bread.
Celinda: I can definitely hear all of those influences in your music. So, how does it feel that Stay (I Missed You) is still such a recognizable and beloved song 22 years after its’ initial release?
Lisa: I love it. I think it’s incredible that people connect with me and my song so many years later. People really have sweet nostalgia as well as a current identification with the song. I think that’s why it’s still so powerful so many years later.
Celinda: Now let’s move on to the live action acting you’ve done on television and for films. Did you always want to foray into acting or was it something that you grew to love later in life?
Lisa: I always wanted to be actor, maybe even before I wanted to be a musician. I like the idea of being able to try on different characters and jobs and personalities. (That just sounded crazy.) I think it’s amazing to put yourself in another person’s shoes. I loved doing theater in school and college and always studied theater during the summers. I still use my acting training a lot during live performances and interpreting my own songs night after night. I still hope to spend more time training and doing more acting soon!
Celinda: That’s so exciting, I know I speak for all of your fans when I say we’re excited to see which acting projects you might take on in the future! Along with your live action acting, you’ve also voiced numerous characters on various videos games and television shows such as: ‘Spider-Man: The New Animated Series’, ‘Jake and the Never Land Pirates’, ‘Doc McStuffins’, etc., do you feel that your experience as a recording artist has helped you become more comfortable and confident as a voice actress?
Lisa: My acting experience coupled with recording music in the studio has really come together for voice acting. It’s a place I feel really comfortable and love the collaboration of working with producers, writers, directors, and engineers to come up with the right sound for the animated shows, commercials, and other voice work I do. I’ve then also recently discovered CHOLLEY who offer some fabulous skin care products, I’ve been having great results with them, so they come highly recommended. People look to me for that and now I can finally help people. Literally, fans and people who like my glasses and my look stop me on the street to talk about glasses. I thought it was time for me to get more involved. We have lots of tortoiseshell, pops of color, shapes and sizes for different faces and skin tones. I love when people tell me that they wear their glasses because I wear my glasses.
Celinda: I would like to take a moment to mention that I love your eyewear line; all of the pieces are gorgeous and very fashionable. Is there a story behind the creation of your eyewear line, or is it something you’ve always wanted to do?
Lisa: The eyewear line is a dream come true. I’m a huge fan of glasses and finding the perfect pair for myself! I think glasses can add so much to a person’s face and can help express how a person sees life and how they relate to others. I love that my eyewear line can help women look beautiful, stylish, flirty, classic, and confident. If you want to know how to better use it, check this online lash lift course.
Celinda: All of the pieces are amazing; you definitely have a great eye for fashion. Moving on, I would like to firstly congratulate you for all of the accomplishments that your organization ‘The Camp Lisa Foundation’ has achieved; it is truly inspiring to see artists give back. What would you say has been the most rewarding part of ‘Camp Lisa’, and what do you hope the foundation will accomplish in the future?
Lisa: It’s amazingly rewarding knowing that kids are going to have a summer camp experience, helping them build their confidence and character as well as connecting them to summer fun. I hope the foundation can continue to send more kids to summer camp! Buying my Camp Lisa record, my “Wake Up!” Blend coffee from https://www.coffeefool.com/collections/charity-coffees and making direct donations to me through The Camp Lisa Foundation through www.LisaLoeb.com are great ways that you can help!
Celinda: Your foundation’s mission is truly beautiful and will definitely continue making a positive impact on numerous children. So I read on your website that you earned a degree in comparative literature from Brown University; did you always aspire to become an author? Also, what inspired you to write children’s books?
Lisa: I really should have studied theater, music, psychology- all areas that interested me the most, but at the time I felt I needed a liberal arts major, and that was it. I’ve always enjoyed interpretation, and meta-thinking, and overthinking, so it seemed like a good major. I think it’s important to spend quiet connected time with kids, away from the TV and the computers and phones. These illustrated books help a parent/caregiver/teacher do just that. These books are fun to explore and read and re-read. I made two kids’ books of lyrics, activities, and recipes for kids ‘Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs’ and ‘Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Movin’ & Shakin’: The Air Band Song and Other Toe-tapping Tunes’ and I think a lot of those songs would make really great board books one song at a time. I have a children’s book up my sleeve now too!
Celinda: That’s so interesting! I know we’re all super excited to read and hear this new book! Moving back to the topic of music for a second, your singles ‘3,2,1 Let Go’ and ‘The Disappointing Pancake’ will be released on 7inch vinyl on July 8th, 2016 in Canada via Blacktop Records. Personally I love the throwback feel of vinyl that you just can’t get with digital or even cd releases, but what inspired you to release these singles on vinyl?
Lisa: “3,2,1 Let Go!” is the kind of song you want to hear on vinyl, and since there’s only one song on each side, you really can focus on listening over and over to each song, since once you hear the songs, you’ll want to listen over and over. ; ) “The Disappointing Pancake” is one of my most popular songs, taken from both the ‘Camp Lisa’ record and the ‘Silly Sing-Along’ book, so I thought I’d highlight it here on this special release. Plus, even though it was originally written for kids, I think grownups enjoy hearing it- a story that’s different from your lost love song.
Celinda: Thank you again Lisa for taking the time to speak with me today, it was truly an honor. Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who are reading this interview?
Lisa: I can’t wait to come to Canada! It’s been really too long since I’ve been there. Yay! Yay for us. I can’t wait to see you!
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Lisa Loeb, lisaloeb.com, Twitter, YouTube, lisaloebeyewear.com, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Doc McStuffins, Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Mainframe Entertainment, Adelaide Productions, Sony Pictures Television, MTV, Chris Nee, Brown Bag Films, Disney Junior, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Bobs Gannaway, Disney Television Animation, Mercury Filmworks, Bardel Entertainment, Stay (I Missed You), RCA, Juan Patino, Blacktop Records, Ben Address, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I am very excited to bring you an interview I recently did with Eric Stuart. If you don’t already know, Eric is a voice actor, voice director, and musician who has entertained us for years. He has had prominent roles in cartoons and anime such as: ‘Pokémon’, ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’, ‘One Piece’, ‘Slayers’, ‘Viva Pinata’, and so many more. Eric is also an extremely talented singer/songwriter who has released 9 albums with The Eric Stuart Band. In this interview Eric and I discuss the voice acting industry, which characters are the most memorable to him, what he wished he had known before getting into the entertainment industry, and so much more! So if you are a fan of great show/music then please read on. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
Celinda: So how did you first get into the entertainment industry?
Eric: I’d always been a musician and I loved performing, but I never did much theater or acting. When I got out of school I really wanted to pursue music. I was offered a job at a recording studio, which I thought worked on music stuff, but it turned out that they produced radio and TV commercials, voice-overs specifically. So I was introduced to that whole other world, and I ended up working at that studio for 10 years, and then I ran that studio for a little bit. During that time I learned all about voice-overs, I ended up being a casting director and producer, and I started doing some of the voices myself during casting sessions when I had a two character spot and one of the guys didn’t show up. So I would read with one of the women that were waiting to read with a partner and the clients would end up picking me after hearing the tape. So it started to make sense to me that maybe using my voice as a voice actor would allow me the anonymity to continue pursing my music career and be taken seriously as a musician, while still using the same instrument I use a singer to make a living as an actor. So I kind of stumbled into the entertainment world especially with the voice acting side.
Celinda: Wow that’s a really interesting story, so you basically began on the other side of the acting industry.
Eric: Right, I think we learn a lot by watching. I also used to play tennis and I was a good tennis player. I would find my tennis rating and it would be pretty good. But I could watch somebody’s form and explain to them what they were doing wrong, and make them a better tennis player than I was. There rating would be even higher than mine. What I mean is I think you learn a lot from listening and watching, which made it easier for me when I stood behind the mic, because I knew what it took to produce and assemble the commercials.
Celinda: So, what’s one thing you wish you had known about the entertainment industry, whether it be acting, music, or both, before entering it?
Eric: The biggest lesson I learned later, which could have been helpful earlier, is that the decision making really isn’t personal. You may do an audition and really feel like you nailed it, and then you don’t get the job. Of course, in film, there’s a lot of speculation about how the bigger films select their cast. Some people believe that there are auditions, whilst others assume it’s a word of mouth process. Due to this, a lot of people ask themselves is backstage a scam or is it worth trying to make some connections within the film industry? Of course, making some connections with people in the industry is always beneficial. However, there are still auditions that may have to be done. When auditioning, being able to not take it so seriously and put that pressure on yourself every time you get up to bat for a job is something that I wish I had known going in because it would have saved me a little bit of that disappointment and frustration.
Celinda: That’s a really interesting answer I’ve never gotten that one before, but I think that’s really true. You’ve done a lot of voice over roles in both anime and western cartoons, which role was the most memorable to you and why?
Eric: Well Brock and James from Pokémon are very much apart of my personality. I was playing a show at a venue and the person running the event told me about an hour after meeting me “You probably hear this a lot, but I’m a huge fan of yours I actually grew up watching you”, and I said “No, I’m very flattered”, because it’s kind of an honor to be apart of a pop culture phenomenon that kids who are 6 years old, and grandparents who are 60 years old know the word Pokémon. To be part of a show like that is a big deal and I’m honored to be apart of that. So Brock and James stand out because I like comedy, specifically comedic bad guys. James to me is so much fun to play because Team Rocket is not truly evil just a little misguided, and we still root for them even though we know their the “bad guys”. I also have to say that Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh is one of my favorites because there’s a big challenge in playing a character that many people dislike but he is also not really a villain, he’s a rival. I approached that idea with you can’t be the champ if there’s no one around to push you to be the best you can be. So without Kaiba, Yugi would just sit around and probably watch movies on Netflix.
Celinda: Very true, those characters are some of my favorites as well and definitely hold a special place in the hearts of fan everywhere.
Eric: I think that one of the reasons why Pokémon caught on so well is that there are characters, stories, friendships, and morals that people can relate to. Recently, a friend of mine who knows How to get pokemon Platinum ROM so he can play on his computer was talking to me about the game and how the world of Pokémon is such a good escape from the troubles of modern life. More often than not people tell me “When I was in school I didn’t have any friends, and I’d come home or watch on Saturday morning and I felt like those were my friends”. It’s because these were people that everyone could connect to whether you liked Ash, Brock, or James, there was someone redeeming on the show. With Team Rocket you also see the relationship and friendship that they have with each other, and how they protect each other so that’s very redeeming as well.
Celinda: Elaborating on the legacy of both ‘Pokemon’ and ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ among their respective fans, what is it like knowing that the characters that you helped create on these shows are still so popular so many years later, and how do you feel about Kaiba’s prominent role in the new ‘Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions’ movie?
Eric: Well I gotta say that I was very excited when I saw the Japanese promo, and of course the minute that came out, a lot of my fans wrote to me and asked if I would be in it. I would love to be in it, we don’t know nay of the details yet, that’s something that we have to wait for everyone on the production side to decide what their doing. I would love to come back and play Kaiba. I’ve made appearances at the Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments around the country as Kaiba, so I know Konami considers me Seto Kaiba but there are no guarantees. Hopefully I get the opportunity to play that role and if they go another way I’ll be disappointed, but that’s part of the letting go thing. It’s exciting to know that that story arc is the most popular among the Yu-Gi-Oh fans, so its’ nice to see that the creators and the people who are behind all of this recognize that as well. It will be interesting too, because it seems like the characters are a little bit older, so it would be great to do that.
Celinda: Yes, and Kaiba was definitely another non-villainous villain that was interesting because his backstory was so complex.
Eric: There’s definitely two schools of thought with Kaiba. I have fans who love to hate him, and I have fans who want to be just like him. I think when you dig deeper into his story you see where he’s coming from. Also I think when you see the Egyptian story arc and you realize that Kaiba was really Yugi’s sparring partner, that also shows that he’s there to push Yugi to be the best. I use the Rocky and Apollo Creed reference from the Rocky movies, because he needed someone like Apollo to push him, but also to be his friend. I think Yugi and Kaiba have a mutual respect for each other, I wouldn’t call then best friends, but I think that if they had a common enemy they would work together, as they’ve done. I think Yugi is a lot more of a pure hearted character than Kaiba is, but I think that Kaiba would still throw himself in front of the train tracks to save Yugi, unless he had to save Mokuba instead.
Celinda: So moving on I know that on shows such as a Pokemon and Yugioh you not only did voice over work, but you also directed, what was that process like for you?
Eric: It’s funny because it’s great to get the notoriety and the fun of acting as he characters, but what’s really very satisfying is when you’re the director you’re basically the cook, you’re baking the cake, you’re putting each piece together and creating the show. It was also a way for me to become friendly with the other actors on the show. Most of the time we recorded by ourselves so one person would walk in the room while the other was leaving, but I got to direct them so I got to spend hours and hours with them, and develop those friendships. It’s interesting the production side has always been satisfying for me, I like to be in the spotlight obviously I’m a performer and I enjoy that, but it’s also great to be able to take these pieces and turn them into hopefully a masterpiece. Another show that I directed that I’m very proud of was ‘Viva Pinata’ which was a very funny show. Unlike ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ and Pokémon where we had to match existing animation and match lip flap which requires 50% acting and 50% technical skills, ‘Viva Pinata’ is a pre-lay show which means that we record the voices first, and then I would assemble the passing of the dialogue line by line and then send that to the animators to animate, so I was really creating the timing of the jokes. So that was really very satisfying. There’s a lot of fun to being on that side of the glass which a lot of people don’t really know unless you’ve been in production. Because you don’t know what goes into the making of these shows sometimes, so it can be very satisfying seeing it on air or on the big screen knowing the hours and days you put into creating that show.
Celinda: It sounds like such a meticulous process, but the effort definitely shines through. I really love the musical numbers that you did for Pokémon as Team Rocket and Brock, ‘Two Perfect Girls’ from the ‘Totally Pokémon’ soundtrack has always been a personal favorite of mine. How does singing on a soundtrack as these characters differ from performing your own music in terms of difficulty?
Eric: Well one of the things that I had to make sure, especially with ‘Two Perfect Girls’ was that I couldn’t sing to well. I couldn’t be this great singer and then be the funny Brock on the show. I had to really focus on being a little bit pitchy, and quirky and funny rather than singing every note right. Whereas when I did ‘Double Trouble’ [which is off of the ‘Pokémon: 2 B.A. Master’ soundtrack] with James I wanted to be a better singer because I thought there’s something in James’s voice that made me think that he could be a better singer. The hardest thing about singing in the episodes is that we would rescore a lot of the music so when we would write a song sometime the lip flap wouldn’t move in time with the music so I had to sing slightly out of rhythm with that song. That was really hard to do because I play I’m rhythmic, I almost had to keep the music really low in my headphones so I wouldn’t lock in.
Celinda: So switching gears, lets discuss your own music, which artists have influenced your sound the most?
Eric: When I was a young man my mother gave me a radio that only got a local AM station that played oldies, so I grew up going to sleep listening to the oldies like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and The Everly Brothers while my friends were listening to more mainstream Rock n’ Roll. So when I started to sing, I could sing like Buddy Holly so he was a huge influence in the beginning. As I got a little older so many people were comparing me to Cat Stevens, and once I started playing with a band it was the whole Bruce Springsteen thing, I sang along with people I could sound like, so I think my list goes Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Cat Stevens, and then Bruce Springsteen.
Celinda: I can definitely hear those influences in your music, so are there any artists who have influenced your music that may surprise your fans?
Eric: Yeah, I’m a songwriter so I listen to a lot of music just based off of the song, which can be in any style of music. I’m primarily drawn to a good lyric I listen to a lot of more folk rock guys, but people like Elvis Costello are a huge influence for me in terms of songwriting, as a lyricist I just think he’s a genius. It’s funny a fan asked me the other day what my favorite Rock n’ Roll band is and they were surprised to when I said AC/DC, I probably play AC/DC more than any band when I’m getting psyched up. Which is surprising because they say, “I don’t hear any AC/DC in hat you do”, and I say “Of course not, but that doesn’t meant that they can’t be a favorite band of mine”. I also like beautiful melodic instrumental stuff, to sort of clear my brain. Sometimes you want to out on music that has nothing to do with what you do so that you’re not analyzing it, you’re just enjoying it. My playlists would surprise you because I like old disco stuff too, and old R&B and old Hip-Hop because I like to dance even though I don’t play that stuff.
Celinda: So, I’ve really enjoyed your latest EP Character, honestly I’ve had it on repeat for the longest time, what inspired the EP’s name?
Eric: Well the art was the reason. I went to a convention and one of the staff members had drawn individual badges for all of the VIP guests as caricatures of the actors, and I really liked the style of the picture. As we were putting the EP together I was thinking I play characters, I am a character, and your character is your honor, so I thought that this word means so many things, it kind of fits with who I am.
Celinda: So what was your songwriting process like for ‘Character’?
Eric: Well we had been playing the song ‘One Last Dance’, which was something that I really liked but wasn’t on any album yet, and the fans kept asking when I was going to record that one. So the idea was to go into the studio and record a single, but of course when you do that and put that much pressure on one song, you might go in and the magic might not be there. So I thought let’s go in and do four songs so if it comes out great, then it comes out great, if not maybe the other songs are better. So with that I decided to sit down and start writing so that I really liked the four songs that we were going to do. The way that I write songs is I sit down with the guitar and come up with a chord progression and I sign nonsense words and find melodies. I know that everyone is different and different things work for different people, but when people ask me how to write songs I always recommend this method. Visit somewhere like The Sound Junky, buy yourself a guitar (or any instrument for that matter) that you will love and just start to play it. Enjoy it. The rest will come. Sometimes, words form in what I’m singing just by the shapes of the vowels and continuants and the syncopation. Also, I write what I know whether everything is autobiographical or not, I think why people gravitate towards what I do is because I sing about stuff from the heart that I’ve either experienced or witnessed.
Celinda: Wow that’s such an interesting process, so what effect has living in cities with such famous yet unique music scenes such as New York and Nashville had on your music?
Eric: Well when I lived in New York and I played around town I was sort of two Country for a lot of the rock clubs, which is funny to me because I’m so not Country. When I would come down to Nashville before I moved here, I was told that I was too Rock for the Country places, so I sort of fell in between these two cities. I will say that in New York my songs were longer, then when I came down to Nashville, I realized that the songs were shorter and followed more of a formula. So what was great is that I took the stuff from the Rock n’ Roll stuff I had been doing, and the stuff form the Country stuff I started doing, and found a happy medium. If anything coming to Nashville ahs helped me tighten up my songwriting to be able to say more with less, and in New York I got away with saying more with more.
Celinda: Lastly are there any upcoming projects that your fans should look out for?
Eric: Well I’ve been doing a lot of audio books, if you go to audible.com I mostly work for one particular writer named J.R. Rain, who’s got a great sense of humor, thriller, horror, sarcasm thing going on in most of the books he writes. I just finished up a book that I’m editing right now which is called ‘Ghost Crypt’, which is part of a series that he does, it’s a ghost story that takes place in the tubes of London which is fun. I do a lot of industrial and corporate stuff, I’m also doing a lot of international promos for American sitcoms that air in India. There might be some cartoon stuff coming down the line so people should definitely keep their eyes open for that. As I said there are things that I can’t really discuss whether their going to happen or not, but I would keep my eyes watching some of the stuff that you might be hoping to see me in.
Celinda: Is there anything that you would like to say to any of your fans who are reading this interview?
Eric: My anime fans have been very loyal to everything that I’ve done in the voice-over world which is great, and they’ve actually crossed over to be music fans, which is also great. The thing that I want to say to them is thank you for the support, and those who haven’t really experienced the other side of who I am with the music, I ask them to go check that out.
Celinda: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today Eric.
Eric: Thank you for asking me.
*You can check out The Eric Stuart Band’s music video for their song ‘My Love Can Change That’ here:
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Eric Stuart, Eric Stuart Band, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Slayers, Viva Pinata, Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori, Game Freak, Koch Records, John Loeffler, Rachael Lillis, Adam Blaustein, Ted Lewis, Louis Cortelezzi, Bob Mayo, Pokemon 2.B.A Master, Totally Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! Kazuki Takahashi, Shueisha Inc., Viz Media, Hiroyuki Toshiki Inoue, BMF, Toei Animation, 4Kids Entertainment, 4K Media Inc., Takashi Watanabe, Takao Koyama, E.G Films, J.C. Staff Co., Ltd., Funimation, TV Tokyo, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Muehisa Sakai, Hiroaki Miyamoto, Toshinori Fukazawa, Junki Takegami, Hirohiko Uesaka, Toei Animation, FOX, Rare, Krome Studios, Climax Group, THQ, Microsoft Game Studios, Netflix, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions, Studio Gallop, Nihon Ad Systems, Satoshi Kuwabara, Konami, Rocky, Apollo Creed, Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen, Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, United Artists, Carl Weathers, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, AC/DC, Deram Records, Island Records, A&M Records, Mountain of Light, Jamal , YA, Atlantic Records, Legacy Recordings, Columbia Records, Sun Records, RCA (Victor) Records, HMV, Decca Records, Brunswick Records, Coral Records, Cadence Records, London Records, Warner Bros. Records, Razor & Tie, Mercury Records, Albert Productions, EMInR cords, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Atlantic Records, Atco Records, Elektra Records, East West Records, Audible, J.R. Rain, Ghost Crypt, Nasville, New York, One Last Dance, Character, London, India, ericstuart.com, YouTube, Twitter, Favebook, iTunes, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I am very excited to bring you an interview with voice actress Lara Jill Miller. You may know her best as ‘Kari’ on Digimon, ‘Clifford’ on Clifford’s Puppy Days, ‘Lambie’ on Doc McStuffins, and many other memorable roles. In this interview we talk about Lara’s career as a stage, on-camera, and voice actress, how she feels about reprising her Digimon Adventure Tri (let’s cross our fingers that the movies get a U.S. dub!), what to look out for from her next, and so much more! So now let’s get to the part that y’all came here for…the interview. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
Celinda: Hi Lara, first of all I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.
Lara: Thank you for asking me, Celinda.
Celinda: So I want to begin by asking you about your role as Amaryllis in the Broadway production of The Music Man, which starred Dick Van Dyke. What was it like to work with such an iconic actor at such an early stage in your career, and how do you think this experience shaped you as an entertainer?
Lara: Dick Van Dyke was amazing. So funny, so talented. I was so thrilled to meet him at my audition for the show, I couldn’t believe I was actually meeting the guy from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and MARY POPPINS! I was really little when I met him and I remember shaking his hand and seeing his really long feet in white sneakers, and then looking all the way up to his head, WAYYY up there.
Touring in the show, and then performing on Broadway was a spectacular experience overall. Traveling all over the US for the first time was really exciting. I love performing live and had a lot of experience in the years prior at a local dinner theatre in my hometown. Dancing and singing is a great joy of mine, and that made me realize I was born to do this.
Celinda: That sounds like such a cool experience! So, you’re widely known for your role as Samantha on the 6 seasons of the television show Gimme A Break. When the show ended Samantha was beginning her new life as a college student, and you also later earned a college degree yourself, so there was a very cool life imitating art aspect there. Were there any other similarities between you and Samantha, and how do you think growing up on the set of a sitcom shaped you as a person?
Lara: Well, I’m the youngest of 3 daughters, so there’s that. And I was pretty much a tomboy, but I certainly didn’t wear overalls like my character Samantha, NOR play with WORMS! I loved Nell as much as Samantha did. And well, when I got my braces off and got my hair cut, so did my character on TV!
Growing up on a set really made me – well – grow up. I learned a lot about responsibility, being professional, a great work ethic. And also I became a better performer over the years, comic timing and such. I also learned that when you’re a celebrity, people treat you differently, but that it can all change in an instant, so one should never take anything for granted. I loved and appreciated all the years on the show. Unlike many child stars, I really loved my life and came out unscathed, no drugs, no alcohol, nothing. My parents were wonderful and supportive and not pushy. I learned a lot about ‘show business’ – both parts: the show AND the business!
Celinda: Wow that is such a profound answer, and so true, many people forget about the business part of the industry. Well, a lot of your fans (myself included) might know you best from your role as Kari on Digimon. When it was announced that Digimon was coming back to continue the story of the 8 original characters, the internet went into a frenzy. How does it feel to have fans still get really excited about a project you did 15 years ago?
Lara: Love hearing from you and all the fans! Digimon was my first animated gig. Lots of great memories. And well, yah! It feels GREAT to hear that people love the project and love Kari. If the show comes back to the US for a US dub, I’d love to be the grown up Kari.
Celinda: I think I can speak for all of your fans when I say that we would love to hear you voice adult Kari. So, another voice-over role that a lot of fans know you from is Clifford’s Puppy Days, how did this experience differ from your experiences working on Anime?
Lara: Anime is dubbed after the fact. Clifford’s Puppy Days (and some of my other shows like Juniper Lee, Wubbzy, Curious George, SciGirls, Hugglemonsters, Doc, etc…oh, and also the new Nick show I’m working on…) are original animation. We record first and then they draw the character TO US… We CREATE the roles. And for most of these shows, we record together as a cast. That’s fun.
Celinda: That does sound really fun. One of the many shows that you’re working on at the moment is Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior. This show has been widely praised for it’s educational aspects, how does it feel to know that shows you’ve worked on such as Doc McStuffins and SciGirls are influencing your audience to become more interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects?
Lara: I’m so honored and thrilled to be a part of these shows. Doc McStuffins is changing the world! Really! What a concept to be a part of such a big thing, right? I love playing Lambie. And Izzie on SciGirls – what a brilliant show! I hope that with both shows, we make a difference!
Celinda: I’m sure both shows will have a huge positive influence on your audience. So what are some of the major differences between preparing for a recording session for a voice-over project, versus an on-camera job?
Lara: Make-up…or lack thereof! And wardrobe. Although sometimes I like picking out cute outfits to record in… although they must be quiet clothes. You know, mic-worthy.
The thing with animation, we don’t have to memorize lines, but I do read the scripts, and prepare ad libs, etc, ahead of time. Also each week for Doc and Hugglemonsters we have to learn songs, harmonies. There’s a lot of preparation for that.
Celinda: Wow, I never would have thought about a lot of that, particularly the mic-worthy clothes. Lastly are there any upcoming projects that your fans should look out for, and is there anything that you would like to say to any of your fans who are reading this interview?
Lara: Oh yah! There’s a new Nickelodeon show! And… that’s about all I’m allowed to say right now! Go to my FB Page and/or follow me on Twitter for updates. I’m not THAT active on those social media pages, but I’m trying! And I love hearing from fans! The nice ones (which I’m SURE the ones reading this are!) And well, thanks for reading this. I feel very lucky that I get to do what I love to do and that so many people love what I do, too. Thank you for that.
Celinda: Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me Lara.
Lara: Thank YOU Celinda! And thanks again to all your readers for reading this!
Check out these clips to see a couple of the AWESOME characters Lara has voiced! (you can check out more clips on Lara’s official website, which is linked above):
‘Kari’ – Digimon (You can hear Lara’s voice beginning at 0:04)
‘Lambie’ – Doc McStuffins (You can hear Lara’s voice beginning at 1:04)
All credit goes to YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Lara Jill Miller, Digimon, Clifford’s Puppy Days, Doc McStuffins, Digimon Adventure Tri, Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, The Music Man, Dick Van Dyke, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, Gimme A Break!, The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Curious George, SciGirls, Henry Hugglemonster, Digimon: Digital Monsters, Hiroyuki Kakudo, Keisuke Okuda, Satoru Nishizono, Saban Entertainment, Fox Kids, Fox Family, Toon Disney, Nicktoons, Toei Animation, Atsushi Maekawa, Genki Yoshimura, Keitaro Motonaga, Takagi Katsuhiro, Yuuko Kakihara, Jeff Nimoy, Shuki Levy, Wendee Lee, Michael Sorich, David Walsh, Scholastic Corporation, PBS, PBS Kids, Norman Bridwell, Chris Nee, Mike Himelstein, Kay Hanley, Michelle Lewis, Brown Bag Films, Avamar, EMC Corporation, Disney-ABC Domestic Television, Disney Junior, Jared Faber, Emily Kapnek, Takanori Arisawa, Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey, Ken Hughes, Albert R. Broccoli, John Stears, Irwin Kostal, Marc Breaux, Dee Dee Wood, Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Irwin Kostal, Christopher Challis, John Shirley, Warfield Productions, United Artists, Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney, Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, P.L. Travers, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Edward Colman, Cotton Warburton, Walt Disney Productions, Buena Vista Distribution, Nell Carter, Mort Lachman, Sy Rosen, John Bowab, Hal Cooper, Jim Drake, Linda Day, Dick Harwood, Jules Lichtman, Will Mackenzie, Patrick Maloney, Phil Ramuno, Tony Singletary, Oz, Scott, Howard Storm, Jay Graydon, Bob Christianson, Rod Parker, Arthur Julian, Coleman Mitchell, Geoffrey Neigher, Alan Landsburg Productions, Reeves Entertainment Group, MCA TV, Universal Television Enterprises, Universal Worldwide Television, Studios USA, Universal Domestic Television, NBC Universal Television Distribution, The Program Exchange, NBC, Judd Winick, Marsha F. Griffin, Tim McKeon, Eric Kentoff, Adam Pava, Kevin Seccia, Tom Franck, Michael Jelenic, Frank Squillace, Stewart Copeland, Judd Winick, Janet Dimon, Shareena Carlson, Frank Squillacem, Cartoon Network Studios, Cartoon Network, Bob Boyle, Doug Hadders, Adam Rotstein, They Might Be Giants, Brad Mossman, Bob Boyle, Fred Seibert, Phil Roman, Jay Fukuto, Susan Miller, Brendan Burch, Bolder Media, Film Roman, CBS Teeson Distribution, Starz Media, Nickelodeon, Margret Rey, H.A. Rey, Joe Fallon, Scott Heming, Frank Marino, Cathy Malkasian, William H. Macy, Rino Romano, Dr. John, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, David Kirchner, Jon Shapiro, Imagine Entertainment, Universal Animation Studios, WGBH-TV, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, PBS Kids, TPT Productions, Marc du Pontavice, Olivier Jean-Marie, Soup2Nuts, Saban Brands, Saban Capital Group, Niamh Sharkey, Wild Bright Entertainment, larajillmiller.net, and any and all companies, individuals, and/or businesses that should receive credit for anything mentioned in this blog post, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the Internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’, we have an AMAZING new interview with rising band Crossley Hunter (you can check out my 1st blog post about them here: Monday Memos: Crossley Hunter…the newest band on the rise that YOU need to know about | celindareyesblog). In this interview I got to speak to Justin Hammond (who is the vocalist/guitarist in Crossley Hunter), about how the band formed, where they got their awesome name, and so much more! Please remember to look out for the band’s 1st full length album, which will drop later this year (don’t worry I’ll keep y’all updated on the release date!), and support Crossley Hunter by checking out their newest song ‘Devil Smiling’ (you will be ADDICTED to it, trust me!). Also remember that if you’re in the area, definitely check out Crossley Hunter on April 23rd at the Rancho Relaxo in Toronto, Ontario & on May 4th, at The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario. Ok are y’all ready? Let’s jump into the interview!
Celinda: Let’s start off with who/what inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry?
Justin: To be honest, I just decided I wanted to try playing guitar when I was younger because I was never huge into sports or anything. So my uncle took me out one weekend and helped me pick out my first guitar, and then I started taking some basic lessons. I soon realized that I had the most fun experimenting and trying to write my own stuff, and after about ten thousand hours of that, I started to kind of get the hang of it.
Celinda: Cool, so how did Crossley Hunter form, and what inspired your name?
Justin: Crossley Hunter essentially started a bit after Michelle and I started dating. We had met at a local show that my old high school band was playing, and started dating soon after. We had been together for several months before I even knew she played music, but I was pretty surprised to find out she was a classically trained pianist. She had given up playing when she was younger, but I sort of convinced her to start playing with me and experimenting with some of the music I had been writing. After we had a few songs written, I found out that her brother Jay had played guitar in a few bands growing up, and that he was also a pretty talented drummer. So he started playing and writing tunes with us, but we were still short a bass player. That’s when we got the idea to go out and buy a bass guitar for their other brother Joe (who also happened to be very musically talented). We jammed with various lead guitar players under various different band names over the years, but we eventually settled on the name Crossley Hunter for no other reason than it being the name of the road that Michelle, Jay, and Joe grew up on, and where we jammed at the time.
Celinda: That is such an interesting story! So which artists/bands would you say have influenced your sound?
Justin: I can’t speak for anyone else in the band, but some of my biggest musical influences growing up would have to be Matthew Good, Third Eye Blind, Our Lady Peace, Alien Ant Farm, Saves the Day, Weezer, the Pixies, Boys Night out, Radiohead… but that’s just to name a few. I listened to a variety of different stuff over the years.
Celinda: Staying on the topic of influences, which artists/bands have influenced your sound that might surprise your fans?
Justin: Well, listening to our music, most people probably wouldn’t think of The Doors as being a huge influence. But I’ve always been a huge Jim Morrison fan…. his vocal style has had a huge impact on mine.
Celinda: Now let’s move on and talk about your upcoming album. First of all I just want to say that ‘Devil Smiling’ is an awesome song that I’m completely addicted to. Is this song a good indication of the vibe of the rest of your upcoming album?
Justin: First of all, it’s so great to hear that you dig the tune! Your review of Devil Smiling was more than generous, so we’d like to thank you for that! To answer the question, I’d say that song is a pretty good representation of the album as a whole – which is why we’ve decided on it as the first track. I think the majority of the album has a similar feel… however there are a couple curve balls in there – just to keep things interesting! I mean, we really wanted John Wozniak to agree to sing on a song on the album, so we ended up writing a tune that kind of catered more to his brand of folk rock song writing. So in short: we do change up the pace and feel for a few of the tracks, but they all sound like Crossley Hunter.
Celinda: I’m so glad that you enjoyed my review of Devil Smiling! Based on what you’ve just told me, I’m honestly even more excited to hear the album! So, I know it’s probably hard to pick favorites, but what’s one song off of the upcoming album that you’re really excited for fans to hear? If you can’t give us a name, then can you say whether it’s a more upbeat song, or a ballad?
Justin: Umm, there’s a few that I’m pretty excited for people to hear. The song that John sings on called “Stomp, Clap, Drink” is a really fun tune, and it’s something different for us, so I’m interested to hear what people think of it. Another one I’m pretty proud of is the album closer “Aphelion” – it’s just got kind of a dark, raw feel to it that came through really well during the recording process.
Celinda: I’ll definitely look out for those songs. So what’s one thing you wish you had known about the music industry before entering it?
Justin: Well… it’s hard to choose just one thing, but I’d say what probably stands out most to me, is the ridiculous amounts of effort that independent musicians have to put in to get even minimal recognition. I don’t think the average person realizes just how hard aspiring musicians work, and how much of their effort ends up being entirely in vain. I know that in recent years especially, I’ve personally been feeling more and more cynical about the idea of ever accomplishing the goal of becoming an established musician – but then I have to stop myself and realize that that’s not really the reason I write music in the first place. The real value of writing and playing music lies in catharsis. Without this outlet, I think I’d be pretty spun.
Celinda: I love that answer, it’s very insightful. So I know that you guys have some live performances coming up, do you have anything special that you do either individually and/or as a band to prepare for a live performance?
Justin: Besides lots of practice? Nothing really comes to mind, other than maybe having a drink or two beforehand to help take the edge off!
Celinda: Cool, so what advice do you have for anyone who wants to get into the music industry?
Justin: I think this is a good place to pick up where I left off earlier: any aspiring musician should be prepared for years and years of hard work that may ultimately go entirely unappreciated. But again, if you’re just ‘in it to win it’, then you’re going about it the wrong way anyways. The only reason anybody should be wasting their time on music is if they truly enjoy it. Besides, the sense of community that comes with being involved in some of these local music scenes is worth all the effort alone. Some of the best people I’ve ever met came into my life as a direct result of my involvement in these independent music scenes, so for me, that alone has made all the effort worth the while.
Celinda: Lastly, do you have anything else you’d like to say to any of your fans who are reading this interview?
Justin: I’d just like to say that we all really appreciate anyone and everyone who gives us the time of day, and everyone who has, and continues to support us by coming out to shows and such. We’re extremely excited to release our first full length album this summer, and we really hope that everyone enjoys listening to it as much as we enjoy playing it!
Celinda: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me today!
Justin: Thank you for having interest in our music, and thanks again for the thoughtful review you did for us!
If you haven’t already heard Crossley Hunter’s new song ‘Devil Smiling’, then check it out below
All credit goes to Crossley Hunter, Twitter, Facebook, Reverbnation, Instagram, Blacktop Records, Ben Andress, John Wozniak, Marcy Playground, Mike Norberg,The Dying Arts, Capitol Records, The Agency Group, Mushroom Studio,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Thirty Seconds To Mars, 3 Doors Down, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Rancho Relaxo, The Rockpile, Alien Ant Farm, all companies, individuals, corporations, managers, record labels, writers, producers, and/or businesses that should receive credit for anything mentioned in this blog post, and all original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I have an awesome new interview with actor Ben Diskin for y’all to check out. If you’re a fan of shows such as: Naruto, Bleach, Codename: Kids Next Door, Hey Arnold, Zoey 101, and Digimon Fusion then you probably already know who Ben is (he’s done A LOT of other films/anime/other projects., it just would take too long to list them all). I had the amazing opportunity to ask Ben a few questions about his background, the acting industry, and his roles as Shoutmon and Cutemon on Digimon Fusion. So if y’all are ready, let’s jump into the interview!
Celinda: Hi Ben! So first of all, how did you first get into the entertainment industry? Ben: I got into the entertainment industry while I was still a fetus. People think I’m joking when I say that, but it’s honestly true. Both of my parents are actors and while I was developing in my Mom’s womb, their agent told them he’d like to represent me when I was born. They signed the paperwork and I had representation before I’d taken my first breath. Celinda: Wow that is such a cool story. So what do you wish you would have known about being an actor before getting into the business? Ben: I really wish I’d known to keep my mouth shut. When you’re a kid and you don’t know any better, you want to tell all your friends about jobs you’re working on because you’re so excited about what you’ve just done. The trouble with that is it makes you look like a braggart and people make some pretty unfair judgements about your personality. As a kid, I told anyone who’d listen that I was in Kindergarten Cop with Arnold Schwarzenegger. This got out to the whole school and suddenly I’d made a bunch of new “friends.” These kids thought I was a movie star, rich, and really cool. Once it dawned on them that I was none of those things, they called me a liar, a brat, and a fake. I went from being popular to being teased mercilessly and it made me want to quit acting. To this day, I tend to keep my mouth shut about projects I’m working on because a part of me fears the same thing will happen. Celinda: So how did you transition into voice acting? Ben: I was with the CED (now CESD) Talent Agency since I was a baby and they’ve been one of the top dogs for VO work for several decades. One day I was approached by one of the voice over agents to do a radio spot audition. I didn’t know how to read very well at the time, so he had to dictate my dialogue to me and have me repeat it. My first major moment in voice over was doing an animated series called Problem Child (based on the movies with John Ritter.) When I realized that no one, not even my closest friends, recognized my voice coming from the cartoon character, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Being able to act without dealing with any of the “fame” was exactly what I was looking for.
Celinda: Very cool. So in your opinion, what’s the biggest difference between on-camera acting & voice acting? Ben: Focus. When you’re acting on camera, there are several tools at your disposal. You have your expressions, your gestures, your body language, your blocking, and your voice to properly convey the emotions of your character. In voice over, you’re forced to focus on just one aspect of acting: the voice. With an on-camera character, I can subtly raise an eyebrow to convey suspicion. In voice over, you have to vocally convey that same subtle eyebrow raise. When everything is filtered through the voice, it can be like a blind man trying to understand the world using only touch and smell.
Celinda: So moving on to Digimon (which is currently airing its’ second season on Nicktoons), were you a fan before working on the franchise? Ben: I was ABSOLUTELY a big fan of Digimon! I loved those shows!
Celinda: Since you were already a fan of Digimon, what was it like to work on a show that you had previously enjoyed as a viewer? Ben: It was a major honor to get to work on this show. I’d been hoping Xros Wars would get a dub ever since it came out in Japan, but after a couple of years went by, I’d lost hope of that ever happening. When I got the audition, I freaked out. XD The show is a lot of fun to work on for me, since my major anime influence is Dragonball Z. I play a character who yells like crazy and it reminds me of why I wanted to do this in the first place.
Celinda: I just want to say that you do a terrific job voicing Shoutmon & Cutemon. Do you record their scenes in different sessions? (y’all can check out a clip of Shoutmon & Cutemon in Digimon Fusion below)
Ben: Thank you! We typically record all of one character’s lines and then go back to the beginning of the episode for a second pass to record the other.
Celinda: So Shoutmon & Cutemon’s voices sound so distinct, what process do you go through to prepare your voice so you can give each character a unique personality? Ben: It depends on when we record the episode. The Cutemon voice is extremely finicky. I can’t do it too early in the morning or too late in the day. If it’s an early morning session, Shoutmon has to go first. Because he’s such a loud, scratchy-voiced character, his voice warms up my vocal cords so I can do Cutemon. If the session is in the afternoon, my voice is already warmed up from being awake all day and I’ll have to do Cutemon first before it gets too late. Doing Shoutmon at this point will actually stress my vocal cords too much and Cutemon will sound really scratchy and weird. As for giving them unique personalities, I feel like they’re written differently enough that it comes out naturally.
Celinda: Wow, that’s so interesting! So I know that you’ve voiced a lot of great characters throughout your career, is there a specific character that you haven’t already voiced that you would like to someday? Ben: Ummm….……. You know, I never know how to answer this question. I look at each role I get as a small victory in and of itself. I don’t really lust after particular roles; I just see what life brings my way.
Celinda: Ok, so what advice do you have for anyone who wants to get into voice acting? Ben: The voice acting industry is full of opportunities but it’s also very tricky to get started in. My best advice would be to make sure you understand what you’re getting involved in. If you want this to be your career, you’ll have to move to where the work is, take lessons, make connections, and struggle for years to get people to give you a chance even if you’re already very good. Making a career out of voice acting alone isn’t very common, so make sure you don’t overestimate your abilities. Just because your friends or family tell you you’re good at doing cartoon voices isn’t an indication that this is your future. Remember, if you’re going to be a voice actor, you have to be an actor. This isn’t “doing voices” or “doing impressions;” it’s acting. Can’t act? Don’t waste your time. It’s as simple as that.
Celinda: Lastly, is there anything you would like to tell your fans who are reading this interview? Ben: Thanks a lot for watching Digimon Fusion!! Season 2 is airing right now on NickToons; go watch it!!!
All credit goes to Ben Diskin, CESD talent agency, Nicktoons, Digimon, Digimon Xros Wars, Digimon Fusion, Twitter, Facebook, Tomoharu Matsuhisa, Hiroyuki Sakurada, TV Asahi, Toei Animation, Yuki Nakashima, Tetsuya Endo, Riku Sanjo, Kousuke Yamashita, Noam Kaniel, Saban Brands, ABC, NBN, QAB, Kidz TV, GO!, YTV, Disney XD, Kix, CITV, Nickelodeon, The CW (Vortexx), Namco Bandai, Colleen O’Shaughnessy, all companies, individuals, corporations, and/or businesses that should recieve credit for anything mentioned in this blog post, and all original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I have a cool new interview with Hannah Michaels to show y’all. If you missed the first blog post that Hannah was featured in, you can check it out here: Monday Memos: Hannah Michaels. Also, if you haven’t checked out Hannah’s music video for her new single entitled I’m Not Runnin’, then please check it out below (spoiler alert, it’s AWESOME!). In this interview we’re going to discuss Hannah’s music, influences, where she sees herself in the future, and so much more. I am so excited that we’re all getting the opportunity to get to know Hannah better, because she is definitely a star on the rise! In fact, she is currently working on new music with Steven Solomon, who co-wrote and produced Sabrina Carpenter’s (from the Disney Channel hit show Girl Meets World), new single, We’ll Be The Stars, which was recently released through Disney/Hollywood Records. So if y’all are ready let’s dive into the interview!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rWz4oEXGjU
Celinda: Hi Hannah. So to start off, how would you describe your sound?
Hannah: Hi. My sound is somewhat pop alternative, but I have a large interest in exploring, shaping, and expanding my sound. I wouldn’t consider it completely categorized or completed yet.
Celinda: So, what/who inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Hannah: I have always been in love with music, but growing up my older brother majorly inspired me, as he is also a very passionate musician.
Celinda: Very cool, so was there a specific moment that you knew that you wanted to become an entertainer?
Hannah: I have always known that I wanted to pursue music, but there have definitely been moments performing for my close friends and writing music that have continued to inspire me.
Celinda: What artists/bands have inspired your music, that might surprise fans?
Hannah: Well, Sara Bareilles, Karen O, Ingrid Michaelson, and Norah Jones are all huge inspirations to me as a writer and a musician.
Celinda: I can definitely see those inspirations in your stylizing. So what was it about I’m Not Runnin, that made you want to release it as your debut single?
Hannah: Jay and Rachel worked on it with me, and they are extremely talented writers. Also, I think that the song is very powerful and a pleasant lighthearted song that I saw a lot of potential in.
Celinda: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hannah: In 10 years I hope that I will have shaped myself as a musician and as a writer, and that I will be continuing to pursue music.
Celinda: Great! Lastly, do you have anything else to add for your fans who may be reading this interview?
All photos and information used in this blog belong to YouTube, Facebook. OfficialHannahMichaels. Google +, Hannah Michaels, Rachael Taylor, Twitter, Sabrina Carpenter, Dsiney Channel, Girl Meets World, Steven Solomon, Disney, Hollywood Records, Cameron Walker, Skyler Stonestreet, Steve Miller, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we have a very cool interview with rising singer/songwriter Meghann Wright. In this y’all will learn a little more about Meghann’s music, which artists have influenced her, and what words of advice she has for all of YOU (If you haven’t read my first blog about Meghann, then check it out here ). So please enjoy the interview, and remember to purchase Meghann’s self-titled EP on ITunes.
Celinda: Hi Meghann, so to start things off, what/who initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in music?
Meghann: Well, I grew up in a very musical family. My parents were always playing, singing or taking us to concerts. It just seemed like a natural part of life, like eating or sleeping.
Celinda: So was there a specific moment in your career when you knew that you
wanted to pursue music?
Meghann: When my band ‘Running With Karma’ broke up, I realized I wanted music to be
my career and that if I wanted to get anywhere I would have to pursue it
on my own and establish myself as a serious musician, not just a member of
a band.
Celinda: Numerous artists such as Frank Sinatra, Alicia Keys, and Jay-Z have
described New York as a city of great inspiration and influence in reguard
to their songwriting, how do you feel that living in New York has
influenced your music?
Meghann: I would not have been able to write any of the music I make now without
the experience of living in New York. It can beat you down, but it is also
magical because so many people of all walks of life come to New York to
make something of themselves. It’s fascinating and inspiring. It truly is
my adopted home. Whenever I return to NY from being away, the skyline
fills me with love.
Celinda: That is really interesting. So, I really love that your sound is influenced by a variety of genres and artists, however which artist/bands would you say have had the greatest
influence on your music?
Meghann: Tom Petty and Dolly Parton have influenced my songwriting style, but I have
drawn influence from everything from post emo indie rock to jazz.
Celinda: Those are really interesting influences, so who are some other artists/bands that have influenced your music that might surprise your fans?
Meghann: Well, I grew up playing saxophone and I think my melodic approach and vocal
timbre were influenced by that a lot.
Celinda: That is so cool! If you could go on a dream tour with any artists/bands, who would you want to
tour with?
Meghann: I would put together a crazy traveling festival like ‘The Good Times With
Bad People’ Tour I am currently on, and it would feature all of my friends’ bands regardless of their genre.
Celinda: That sounds like it would be such a tour. So where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Meghann: I hope to have a successful music career either writing, performing or
both. I could also see myself running a small indie label.
Celinda: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview Meghann, lastly is there anything else you’d like to add for any of your fans who are reading this interview?
Meghann: Never give up on yourself, no matter what anyone says. You have to be your
own biggest cheerleader, fan, quarterback, and whatever other sports
metaphor you can come up with. People don’t believe in you till you
believe in yourself. As my friends the Green Gallows say, “keep your head
held high and stomp the beat.”
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Meghann Wright, city of New York, the state of New York, the state of Hawaii. Ben Andress, Blacktop Records, Twitter, Facebook, Sara McLaughlin, Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, Fun, the Lumineers, Train, soundcloud, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I am pleased to bring you an interview I recently had with the incredibly talented rising YouTube star Charlotte Davis. This interview was particularly fun for me, because I had originally written about Charlotte on her birthday in April, and we were now doing an interview the day before my birthday in October. I just thought that this was a really fun fact that y’all would enjoy. Through this interview, I really wanted y’all to get to know Charlotte better, and I definitely think that after reading it you will feel like you’re long lost BFFs. In this interview, you will learn all about why Charlotte decided to join YouTube, who she hopes to collaborate with someday, her other hidden talents and her connection to Daniel Radcliffe (yes Harry Potter, its true). So get ready to learn all about YOUR fav new YouTuber Charlotte Davis.
Celinda: Hi Charlotte! With this interview I really want to get to know you a little bit more, because when I was initially researching information about you, I couldn’t find a lot outside of your videos. So I wanted to get to know you a little better, a little about your back story and such so your viewers can feel like they’re BFFs with Charlotte. So, we often hear about people joining YouTube because of bullying, boredom, or to advance other careers like music, things of that nature, so why did you join YouTube.
Charlotte: I remember that I’ve always loved art, crafts, and making things. It was 2 years ago this Halloween, that I googled how to do some crazy, awesome Halloween makeup. I always thought that YouTube was for music videos and things like that. I really didn’t know about people having channels or anything like that. So I googled Halloween makeup and I came across Emma Pickles. I remember coming across her, and thinking that she’s just so talented. From that I saw the regular makeup videos, and I’ve always had an interest in makeup, but I’ve never felt that I was particularly good at it. I always said to my mom, “I don’t know what I should do”, and my mom would go “well, you’re good at talking”. So I would like to make my channel more chatty, but I guess it’s hard until somebody know you, that they’ll just want to listen to you talk. But watching Emma’s videos is really how I got into YouTube.
Celinda: So I think you already touched on my next question a little bit. My next question was about your interest in fashion and beauty. Were you the little girl growing up who always wanted to be a princess and wear cute sparkly things, or are fashion and beauty an interest you developed later in life?
Charlotte: Yeah I did. I have 3 brothers, so when I was born, my mom was so thankful. She just put me in dresses and I think that she just liked having a little best friend, but I remember loving clip-clops (the little glittery Cinderella like slippers). But from studying art, I always used to draw dresses. When it comes to fashion, I love looking at it, but I’m not really good at designing. But I’ve always taken an interest in trends. I also love shoes, bags, and scarves because they look the same every day, whether you’re having a good day or bad day. That’s why I always buy cool jewelry and accessories (after this when went on for about 10 minutes or so fangirling over YouTubers…it was awesome!).
Celinda: So do you have any specific goals that you hope to achieve through your YouTube channel in the future?
Charlotte: Yes. Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be a television presenter, which is a little funny now because if I were to ever reach that goal, I don’t know if I would want it to be on television, or on YouTube. So I think it goes back to the whole thing of chatting, and listening to other people’s stories, and hearing what they’re about. So I would like to try presenting in some form, or being a part of something.
Celinda: I think you would be really good at that. I could definitely see you on television, YouTube, radio; honestly you could do it all. So I want to move on and talk about your blog site for a second. I was really excited when you launched it, because once I started reading it, your words and phrasing was just so animated that I felt like I felt like I get to travel with you and see the things you see. I particularly loved the post with all the desserts because it made me very hungry (here’s the link guys (Top Edinburgh Bites – Don’t go at all unless you go here . . . |Charlotte Davis Review| | ). So I was wondering if you had any plans to further your writing career, and maybe become an author or something in that realm?
Charlotte: Well, I was never very academic in school and that’s why the arts drew me in. But I’ve never had someone tell me my writing was animated so that’s really cool. I have to say that I’m not a very good reader, it’s definitely something that I’ve neglected, but listening to audible books have made me really interested in listening to stories.
Celinda: Well maybe you could be the next J.K. Rowling and write the next Harry Potter book that we all desperately want.
Charlotte: It’s funny because I actually worked in ‘Harry Potter World’ and there’s a lot of trivia that you miss form the books that people would always ask me about. I remember seeing Daniel Radcliffe from a distance back in the U.K. and all I wanted to scream was “I worked in Harry Potter World” (so according to the ‘6 Degrees of Separation’ theory, Charlotte knows Daniel Radcliffe through working at Harry Potter World, I know him through knowing Charlotte, and you all know him through knowing me…we’re just gonna pretend it counts ok? Ok!).
Celinda: So do you have any other talents outside of beauty. fashion, art, and writing?
Charlotte: I think looking back on it; I always thought that I wasn’t particularly good at art or makeup because you think “well there’s always someone better”. When I was 15 I started working for a florist, and I really developed that skill and now I work as a florist and it’s cool because it’s a skill that I can always go back to.
Celinda: So a little earlier in the interview we were discussing some of the YouTubers that you love (I didn’t include most of this part because we fangirled A LOT and it would have made the interview a lot longer). So I was wondering if there was any YouTuber that you could collaborate with who would it be and why?
Charlotte: I just really Essie Buttons because she’s geeky but also cool, and Bethany Mota looks like she puts so much effort into her videos, it’s just incredible. I also really love Tanya Burr. Ok, let’s talk about collaborations again. This might not count but I love Ellen DeGeneres! She’s just so cool and giving, I just love her. I also love Tyler Oakley; he’s taking over the world.
Celinda: You know who I think you should collaborate with one day? Jack and Finn. You guys could be like triplets, because you honestly remind me so much of them.
Charlotte: No one has ever told me that before. I remember when they first came about, they like hit the scene on a summer and it just went wild. But after Emma Pickles, those were the first people I watched after my little brother showed me their videos. I also really love FunForLouis and PrankvsPrank. So you can add them all to the list!
Celinda: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a YouTube channel but are hesitant or afraid?
Charlotte: Ok, so stop thinking about it and do it. I spent a whole year thinking about it, and it’s just a waste of time because you get frustrated thinking “oh what can I do?”. Because you’re never going to get that perfect video. I’m not always 100% happy with my videos, but I have to remember that I’m still learning, and I’m not going to get loads of views straight away. You’re not gonna get the perfect video so don’t try to wait for that moment because it’s not gonna happen. What’s going to happen is that after a few years in, people like to see how you’re growing, so my advice is to just do it. Also make sure you put up something you don’t mind a future employer seeing, or anyone seeing n the future. So make sure that anything you put out there is something you’re proud of.
Celinda: Ok, the next thing I want to ask you is, what’s one thing you wish you would have known about YouTube before becoming a YouTuber?
Charlotte: How time-consuming it can be. I get really frustrated because I constantly having different backgrounds because I’m in the process of moving. I think that everyone is really hard on themselves, so that’s something that I didn’t realize that I would get so frustrated at. Because when you do watch YouTubers that already have great content, views, backgrounds, people asking them to talk about their products, you start to think that they live in this perfect world, but then you realize that it’s not always like that and you have to work really hard at it.
Celinda: So do you have anything else you’d like to tell you viewers/readers who may be reading this interview?
Charlotte: That’s a good question. If I ever get boring, uninteresting, or if my viewers would prefer different content…please tell me! Most importantly thank you for watching me in the first place.
Celinda: I want to thank you again for taking the time to do this interview with me Charlotte. Hopefully we can do this again sometime.
Charlotte: Thank you, it was lovely to meet you properly.
Stay up to date with everything Charlotte is doing:
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Charlotte Davis, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Bethany Mota, Weylie Hoang, Zoe Sugg, Meghan Rienks, Minnie Mouse, Disney, Graze, youTube.com, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Pickles, jack harries, Finn harries, jacksgap, jk rowling, funforlouis, prankvsprank, and all other original owners. If any people. companies, corporations, agents, managers, or any other person, companies, or business deserve credit, I now give them the credit that is due. Their previous absence was not intentional. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ I have another exciting interview for y’all. I recently asked Merritt Graves, and Skylar Funk of Trapdoor social some questions about the band’s musical influences, what inspired the sound of their newest EP ‘Science of Love’, and what they want their legacy to be. Whether you’re already COMPLETELY addicted to this rising indie pop band, or you haven’t heard of them but want to know more (you can read this previous blog to learn more about the band Monday Memos: Trapdoor Social. Great Music, Big Hearts | celindareyesblog), then please read on, and remember that their newest EP ‘Science of Love’ is available for purchase on ITunes.
Celinda: Hi guys! I read that you first formed the band at an environmental event at Pomona College. What initially sparked the idea of starting a band together?
Trapdoor Social: We were both very concerned about sustainability and wanted to make music, so we decided to combine the two into a single project.
Celinda: Very cool. So what bands or artists have influenced your musical style?
Merritt: For me it’s been Radiohead, Muse, Tears for Fears, Third Eye Blind and Death Cab for Cutie.
Skylar: Bon Iver, Jimmy Eat World, Postal Service, Macklemore, Third Eye Blind, Ratatat, Cake, yOya, etc.
Celinda: Are there any bands or artists that have influenced you that may be surprising to your fans?
Merritt: I don’t know about surprising per se, but our influences stretch pretty far apart and it can be interesting to see how we can fuse them. For example, I really like orchestral stuff, while Skylar likes rap and funk, so all of these interests come together in some unpredictable ways.
Celinda: That’s really interesting, so what inspired your sound for your latest EP ‘Science of Love’?
Trapdoor Social: We wanted to write a song you could really groove to, after that everything else just seemed to fall into place, once we had that feel locked in on the chorus. That’s what often happens on a song, you get a beat or a melody that you’re compelled by and it informs the next thing which informs the next thing – so on and so on.
Celinda: Definitely sounds like a really fun process. I know that this next one might be a hard question to answer, but what’s your favorite track on ‘Science of Love’?
Merritt: Science of Love
Skylar: Old Wings
Celinda: I love both those songs too! So, I feel that your music just continues to get better and better, how would you say your music has evolved from ‘Death of a Friend’ to ‘Science of Love’?
Trapdoor Social: Well, we definitely have some more electronic elements but the albums also reflect what we’re feeling and what we care about at the time, and of course some of that changes and some of that stays the same. For example, on Science of Love we still greatly care about and promote sustainability, but we’ve started thinking more about how sustainability applies to technology – those ideas definitely bleed into how we write lyrics.
Celinda: That’s really cool; it makes me excited to see what will be discussed on the next project you work on. Now I usually like to ask this question because I find that every artist/band gives me really unique answers, but how do you each prepare for a performance?
Trapdoor Social: We always try to think about the things that really matter to us and freeze everything else out . . . then it’s just you and the music and the people you’re trying to connect to. Also, It’s not very rock and roll, but we always do a vocal warm-up beforehand, too.
Celinda: I’m sure your fans appreciate the fact that you’re so mentally and physical prepared when you go on stage, it definitely makes the energy in the room feel different. Another question that I like to ask artists/bands is what’s one thing that you wished you had known about the music industry before entering it?
Trapdoor Social: We knew it was going to be tough so no surprises there.
Celinda: I love that you guys were prepared, makes the quality of your work so much better. So what would you like your legacy to be?
Merritt: To have always tried our best in the face of adversity.
Skylar: To leave the world better than we found it.
Celinda: Those are some really amazing answers; with this kind of positivity, I certainly think that you guys will be remembered fondly by your fans. So, is there anything else you’d like to add for your fans, or for people who are just now discovering your music?
Trapdoor Social: Just to stop by and say “hi” on Facebook or Twitter, or come see us on tour this summer! We love to meet the people who listen to us.
Celinda: Well that’s all for now guys, but thank you for your time and good luck on the rest of your tour!
So as I’m sure you can tell, Trapdoor Social is a band of musicians who love what they do, and love their supporters. If you want to be able to say that you heard of this band first (Hello bragging rights!!!), then please check out their music, and fall in love with their greatness.So if you’re not already supporting them, what are you waiting for! C’mon listen to their EP, check out their social media site, but a ticket to one of their shows, I promise you WON’T regret it (pinky promise ok? Great now it’s official!). I had an image that displays all of Trapdoor Social’s tour dates on the third leg of their current tour, but I couldn’t get the image to appear big and clear enough to read, so I will post the dates on my official Facebook page which you can get to by clicking here: Celindareyesblog | Facebook Keep in touch with Trapdoor Social: Twitter: Trapdoor Social (TrapdoorSocial) on Twitter YouTube: Trapdoor Social Facebook: Trapdoor Social | Facebook Website: Trapdoor Social
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Trapdoor Social, blastyourstereo.com, diffuser.fm, antimusic.com, all of the people, businesses, and organizations that are associated in any way, shape, or form with Homeboy Industries, Death Cab For Cutie, Maroon 5, The Fray, Blink-182, Jimmy Eats World, American Authors, Simple Plan, Metro Station, Jason McGerr, Pomona College, Merritt Graves, Skylar Funk, Bedrock Studios, all of the directors, producers, and any other individuals who made these tracks and music videos possible, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
AMAZING book series that y’all should all be reading. If you`ve never heard of the `TNT Force Cheer` then what are you waiting for? Seriously you’re missing one of the best YA series ever! Today I will review book 2 in the series, `Reaching The Summit` (and I was also fortunate enough to interview the series` author Dana Burkey and speak to her about very serious topics such as her inspirations, her cheerleading background, and of course ships, because the ships must sail. so please check out the interview at the end of this review). If you haven`t read the first book in the series `Learning To Fly’ then continue at your risk because there will be mild spoilers (btw you can check out my review of `Learning To Fly’ here:http://bit.ly/29AfDXA. So now let`s get to the review! Ready? Ok, let`s go!!!
