Fall Apart
Sometimes we have to fall apart in order to rebuild with a stronger foundation. It’s never too late to be who you want to be and live a life that you are proud of, even if that means beginning again. And you can always begin again.
Author: Cece in the City
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Interview with Reece Odum
Interview with Reece Odum
By: Where It Begins
Q. What else do you do other than acting and producing?
A. In 2017. I started my own production company GPS Productions, LLC. 2018 we facilitated several acting workshops under the series name “Connecting the Dots to becoming an Actor”. I look forward to creating films that help to educate, entertain, and empower my audiences.
Q. Why did you want to become an actress?
A. I love being a storyteller. From a very young age. I always had a passion for the arts. I feel most alive in front of an audience and a camera, it is truly my happy place. Breathing life into a character is one of the most fulfilling things I do as an actor, and even at times becoming a voice for the voiceless.
Q. What are some of the projects you worked on in Atlanta?
A. Well I have completed several television and film projects here in Atlanta. Some of the television shows include: The Vampire Diaries (CW) Saints and Sinners (Bounce TV) and most recently filmed Ambitions (OWN). Some of the films include: Mr. Right (BET), The secret she kept (TV One), The Last Time (Aspire TV) and so many more. My hometown, Atlanta has been very good to me and my acting career.
Q. Who or what inspires you?
A. My parents inspire me daily, they are true examples of how hard work produces success, and they instilled that in myself and my siblings from a very young age. They also encouraged us that we could do whatever we set our minds to do, and to always go after our dreams, for these reasons and more I love them dearly.
Q. What is your favorite album or song right now?
A. It’s an oldie but a goodie: DIVA by Beyonce, lol. This song actually made it back on my playlist recently. I was really inspired by Beyonce’s homegoing concert film on Netflix, so I have her live album from that concert on repeat right now. Love her old and new songs and her work ethic is amazingly motivating.
Q. What advice would you give someone that is interested in pursuing an acting career?
A. As an actor, you should think of your craft as if it is a muscle, the more you work it the stronger you become. All actors continuously get training, in classes or acting coaches, investing in your dream will help to keep you prepared for your big moments. And of course, Never give up!
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Interview with DBV
Interview with Dope Boy Von (DBV)
By: Where It Begins
Q. When you wrote this song, “We in the Trap” where was your mindset at?
A. I was in the trap meaning the studio that’s my trap. Playing some pool and I started writing.
Q. What or who inspired you to get into entertainment?
A. I had a best friend before I was doing music; she was a great singer: one day we had a block party in our projects in Brown subs, and she took a stray bullet to the head and 2 hours later she passed away. She inspired me so much on how hard she was going with her music that I wrote my first song about her.
Q. What kind of things can you try to remember or implement to keep you from burning out or letting your passion drive you opposed to pushing you backward.
A. Sometimes you want to reach a goal so fast but wonder why you’re not getting it. It’s because you can’t force it, you have to let it happen. I don’t force songs out, timing is everything.
Q. Who is one of your favorite artists that inspired you?
A. Rick Ross and Flo Rida.
Q. Do you think it’s enough pie for all the artists to eat?
A. It’s enough space for everyone to eat. Florida is the next biggest place for music that’s coming out. Kodak Black, Triple X, & Ferrari Fred. We got next, we them Florida boys.
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Interview with T.R.U.B Chef
Interview with T.R.U.B. Chef
By: Where It Begins
Q. What was the inspiration behind your song “She Fell in Love”?
A. I wanted to make this song creative, so I looked at it as if she fell in love with me. So, I flipped the concept of it so that it can be looked at from a hustler’s point of view that she’s a gold digger, or the fact that she’s just digging me.
Q. What does the name T.R.U.B. Chef mean?
A. T.R.U.B. stands for “Truth Real Unique Blessed”. The chef part comes in because I treat my music personal and perfect just like a chef treats his food. I am working on the cooking part though, lol.
Q. With you being in the industry from 11 years old until now. What avenues would you give to artists now to put themselves on a platform?
A. The platform that you need to get on right now in this time is social media. Start with the simple ones that you can do yourself like YouTube, which is especially helpful if you don’t have the money right now. Just invest in yourself the best way that you can now. Work your way up from there by letting people take your brand seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of people of importance.
Q. What is the music scene like in Memphis right now?
A. It’s coming up better, but there’s still not enough unity within the rap community.
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Women’s Equality Weekend
This what happened last weekend, Hotel Ziggy on the iconic Sunset Strip celebrated Women’s Equality Weekend which kicked off on Friday, Aug. 26th on Women’s Equality Day with a full program of events including a all-female music night live from their music venue Backbeat with performances by six artists (Rachel Siegel, Carly Butler, M. Maggie, Rora Wilde, and Chaley Rose) along with female deejays, a rockin’ pool party, speciality food & drink, and a Sunday night performance again from Backbeat, to benefit and support women’s equality organizations.
Women’s Equality Day celebrates the achievements of women’s rights activists and reminds us of the unique daily struggles that women face. To remind us of the struggles of the past, present, and future, Congress designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day in 1971. As a place for musicians to take a stand and celebrate the importance of experimental music on our culture and society, Hotel Ziggy is a nod to the ionic musician, David Bowie, a.k.a. Ziggy Stardust. Known for going against the norms and experimenting with music and identity Hotel Ziggy celebrates West Hollywood’s rebellious, progressive spirit and originality. The hotel pays tributes to the legendary artists that shaped the strip from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.Friday, Aug. 26th: WOMEN’S EQUALITY NIGHT live at Backbeat
Hotel Ziggy kicked off the weekend at their “Backbeat” – their versatile music venue that supports local musicians and invites them to perform.Hosted by female emcee, Anita Gohari, incredible female performances took place by Rachel Siegel, Carly Butler, M. Maggie, Rora Wilde, and Chaley Rose (Zoey in the ABC drama series Nashville), with a surprise song by Katie Welch and with music by DJ Hunny in between sets! The weekend featured El CristianoUltra Premium Tequila, and Backbeat lounge had everyone jamming past midnight and indulging in their late night cuisine and pizza offerings fromHotel Ziggy’s B-Side Pizza!
Saturday, Aug. 27th: FUERZA POOL PARTY
Featuring DJ Giselle Peppers, the pool at Hotel Ziggy was bumping with Reggaeton, Afro Beats, and Throwback Hip-Hop and R&B. Delicious Caribbean hor d’oeuvres were offered alongside specialty cocktails, including flowing El Cristiano Tequila. While many enjoyed the day by Hotel Ziggy‘s saltwater pool (the largest in West Hollywood), others found comfort in private, swim-up cabanas that included bottle service.Sunday, Aug. 28th: SUNDAY’S ON THE STRIP with Katie Welch
Women’s Equality Weekend wrapped up with live music by Katie Welch, a Ziggy resident performer in Backbeat for their “Sundays on the Strip” live music series which kept everyone dancing into the wee hours of Monday morning.About Hotel Ziggy: Fusing cocktail lounge, restaurant and pizza joint, music venue and lively lobby, Hotel Ziggy invites hotel guests to check-in at a sociable and engaging bar lined with hundreds of vinyl albums. A record player behind the front desk fills the communal space with music spanning every progressive genre. A retractable glass garage door partitions one end of the lobby, creating a versatile music venue called “Backbeat,” which supports local musicians and invites them to come and share their sound in a new space to rise above the noise. Hotel Ziggy boasts the largest saltwater pool in West Hollywood and a vibrant skyhigh mural, which is another platform to democratize music with live sets performed by the hottest DJs in town. Follow @HotelZiggy on Instagram for more programming updates! www.hotelziggy.com
Photo Credit: Jesse Richmond
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30 Day writing challenge (August 2022 Day 30)
30- Day Writing Challenge
Day 30
Q. Your last love?
My last love is myself. I have learned to love myself; I have got wiser, spiritually, stronger, and more. You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else. I love myself and everyday I motivate and inspire myself to do better. My last love is me. I am a very lovable person and I accept myself for me. I am not going to talk much about myself. Just to say I am my last love.
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30 Day Writing Challenge (August 2022 Day 29)
30- Day Writing Challenge
Day 29
Q. Something that made you angry?
I finally got out this weekend and went to the college game. We got there and we had lower seats. It just out of nowhere started raining. So, they delayed the game we had to move up to the upper levels so we would not get rained on. Then they came out, finally played for 20 min then went on another day and then did it again. I was angry that I finally got out and this is what happened smh.
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Interview with Mark Pain
Interview with Mark Pain
By: Where it Begins
Q. Give us the history of the song “All Alone”?
A. In the music industry, I noticed social media played a part in how you can feel alone when doing things. Everyone wants to be followed on social media, but you don’t feel like people are following and sharing your music. You get emotions and feelings like you’re doing it all by yourself and like you’re all alone. I dealt with individuals in my life who said they were going to be there with me, and then they never stuck around.
Q. So are you a producer and artist?
A. I started out as an artist. I love rapping. I am from the Bronx, and I would watch rappers and DJs. When starting off as a rapper, you’re always going to need a producer. Back in that time, you could not find as many people who could make music, so that’s how production came about. The first artist I worked with was Rob Base.
Q. How did you get up with Michael Bivins?
A. Michael Bivins was looking for an artist. Michael liked my writing and then I was like his road buddy and his mentor. I saw his capability to do great things. He is a genius and a great businessman. He started up Boys II Men and Another Bad Creation (ABC). Michael was great and he knew how to capture the culture and the industry. They went Platinum 14 times.
Q. Do you keep in touch with everyone in the industry?
A. Yes, I just did a track with Rickey Bell and his wife. They had a song called “Goal”. I remixed it and we released it for the tornado they went through. We were going to donate all the money to Puerto Rico.
