Posts tagged with "musical artist"

STUNNA GAMBINO

STUNNA GAMBINO ANNOUNCES DEBUT ALBUM

VULTURES DON’T KRY

SHARES NEW SINGLE “WARZONE”

FEAT. A BOOGIE WIT DA HOODIE

VULTURES DON’T KRY DUE AUGUST 18TH VIA RCA RECORDS

It feels like most if not all major and even minor outlets still have yet to catch wind of the Washington Heights bred rapper.” – Fashionably Early

“Stunna Gambino is a New York City artist who marries melodies and bars… His voice is so distinct you can instantly tell when he’s on a track.” – No Jumper

“As he continues to show that he’s the hottest coming out of NY, Stunna stands out as an old soul unafraid to speak his truth.” – ELEVATOR

“New York’s buzzy newcomer.” – RESPECT

20-year-old rising star from Washington Heights, Stunna Gambino, announces the release of his debut album Vultures Don’t Kry via RCA Records. The announcement arrives alongside a new single and accompanying music video, “Warzone” featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Produced by AndyR, Stunna’s rhymes are reflective and cathartic. Sliding over emotive guitar strings, he makes a stirring dedication to the neighborhood that raised him, “I’m from that war zone, I made a promise to myself I’ma represent the trenches til we on.” Listen to “Warzone” HERE and watch the music video, directed by jmo productions, HERE.

On his debut album with RCA Records, Stunna merges expressive vocals with unfiltered honesty. Vultures Don’t Kry plays like a motivational street survival guide laced with melody, menace and the lessons he learned from the streets of Washington Heights. The album will include previously released singles “Demons” and “Man Down.”

About Stunna Gambino:

Stunna Gambino’s made a career out of speaking up. Merging expressive vocals with unfiltered honesty, the 20-year-old rapper creates gripping trench tales of triumph and heartbreak to explore his emotions, and in the process, he’s giving others the courage to raise their voice, too. Raised on the sounds of Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Green Day, Mariah Carey, and more, Gambino wrote his first rhymes at around the age of 9. By age 12, he began saving money to hit up a recording studio in Harlem and record his first solo tracks. When he was 14, the songs he uploaded to SoundCloud regularly eclipsed 80,000 streams. In 2021, after releasing his glittering Underrated project in 2019, he continued building his buzz when he tapped in with The Kid Laroi and Polo G for “Not Sober,” a melodic rumination on escaping pain through self-medication. With spurts of emotional transparency and slurred crooning, the track earned over 105 million Spotify streams, making it his biggest appearance yet. Riding the momentum of Vultures Don’t Cry, Gambino wants to collect platinum plaques while diving into the worlds of art and acting. From there, who knows? “There’s so much shit I wanna do, and I got one foot in the door right now,” he reveals. “This isn’t even the beginning.”

A rising star Stunna Gambino via RCA Records for use by 360 Magazine

Follow Stunna Gambino:

Watch/Stream/Buy “Warzone”:

All Partners: https://stunnagambino.lnk.to/warzone

YouTube: https://youtu.be/R0TcKuLwZwo

Hotel Ziggy Grand Opening

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The Sunset Strip just got a bit brighter with the grand opening of Hotel Ziggy. Located conveniently in West Hollywood, the brand-new hotel celebrates the longstanding music scene renowned in the area. A newly renovated space, Hotel Ziggy is ready to stun guests with four levels of entertainment and exquisite bars/restaurants to indulge in.

Before kicking off a night full good music and even better entertainment to honor the grand opening, Hotel Ziggy began with a ribbon cutting ceremony held by West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister. The hotel owners, executive team and Chamber of Commerce began early celebrations with Pink Floyd’s very own Scott Page while entertainment was provided by food critic Sophie Gayot as she sabered champagne with a sword blindfolded!

Inspired by West Hollywood rockstars, Hotel Ziggy’s commencement party followed the hotels’ theme to a tee. Performances throughout the night were given by icon Haley Reinhart and Pink Floyd’s Page. Mingling throughout the event, it was easy to find legendary musicians amongst the guest lists. Nine Inch Nails’ drummer Alex Carapeti was found deejaying the festivities while Guns N’ Roses Matt Sorum, rock icon Scott Weiland’s widow Jamie Weiland, were in attendance, as well as Madonna’s stylist B. Akerland, influencer Alana Hadid, DIRT star Rebekah Graf, Billions’ star Malin Akerman and recording artist Rudy Mancuso.

Upon arrival, attendees were welcomed with Jell-O shots and boozy popsicles before making way into the stunning, newly refurbished music themed hotel. Extravagant 12-foot LED palm trees and a 5-foot-tall guitar ice sculpture adorned the entry way. Beside the stunning leading saltwater hotel pool in all West Hollywood sat yummy bites including pretzel carts, cheese and charcuterie boards, dessert tables and Hotel Ziggy’s very own B-side Pizza.

Guests were pampered with top-notch cocktails crafted from celebrity alcohol brands including Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston’s Dos Hombres Mezcal, the Chainsmokers’ JAJA Tequila, Ciara’s Ten To One Rum, NEFT Vodka, Brother’s Bond Bourbon by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, and Mulholland Gin. Further available refreshments consisted of Heineken beer, Bon Jovi’s Hampton Water Rosé, Malibu Rocky Oaks Wine and BEV Canned Fizzy Wines, while attendees hydrated with Liquid Death. Throughout the night, popular entertainment consisted of neon painted dancers that intermingled while presenting guests with bites and shots. During the course of the night’s festivities, guests had the opportunity to get their own airbrushed Hotel Ziggy tattoos, tarot card readings and partake in vintage 80’s games.

Created by Springboard Hospitality, Hotel Ziggy now resides in the former location of The Grafton Hotel. Set in the heart of West Hollywood along the iconic Sunset Strip, the hotel honors the rich musical history that adorns the area. Suites are artistically reimagined with a rockstar ambience, with the hotel giving off the vibes that everyone loves of the lush Hollywood music scene.

For more information, visit HERE or follow @hotelziggy on Instagram and Twitter.

Hotel Ziggy Grand Opening Press Images shot via Jesse Richmond for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Vertex Consulting Group – Examining an Innovator

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Always reflecting on the up-and-coming leaders of the industry, 360 had a chance to connect with Vertex Consulting Group on their methodology, ethos, and results. After digging further into their company identity, their slogan, “innovative & quality solutions,” is by far an understatement of what they are capable of. With a 4.8/5 Trustpilot rating based on hundreds of reviews, Vertex Consulting Group is one of the most promising agencies, or ‘power houses’ as they call it, of the latest generation. Read on to learn more about Vertex.

The History of Vertex

Let’s backtrack a bit – Vertex Consulting Group was initially founded in 2020 in Denmark by a merger of several other agencies based out of Europe, the United Arab Emirates & The United States. This global context has allowed Vertex to retain its unique point of view

When the previous firms merged & Vertex Consulting Group was created, the founders of the old firms covered each segment of their previous specialties in this new powerhouse. The secret behind their success could be their incredible resume, featuring consistency and clarity in their vast amount of previous project experience. For example, 360 learned every senior partner has at least six years of experience in their respective field which obviously creates a decent foundation for building an empire of success. With an experienced team, Vertex has been able to pivot their individual talents into a cohesive picture

Vertex Today

In particular, 360 found Vertex’s unique approach to their Spotify Management to stand out. What we are privy to witnessing here is the remodeling of music marketing as we know it. They reinvented the regular ads strategy by adding several elements from manual scraping. This is on top of the different aspect of targeting; the reach stays the same as in any other ad, but the specific targeting or the type of people that see their ads are much more likely to find it interesting. After looking further into Vertex’s behind the scenes, we are seeing an interest & a click rate with up to 500% higher than before they implemented their own strategies to the manual targeting. In an industry that is constantly shifting and where consultants can find it difficult to stay afloat, Vertex, with their singular strategy seems to ride the wave.

All in all, what Vertex Consulting Group is accomplishing is revolutionary for the music industry. It eliminates the old school playlist marketing by outnumbering it by far, while making it far easier to navigate whether musical streams are real or botted – a main issue of discussion regarding marketing in the music industry the last few years. The results their Spotify Management has had on their clients are beyond incredible. Several have expressed the belief that “This is the best service for any artist! Shout out everyone at Vertex!” and “This is definitely THE best investment I’ve ever made for my music career” proving that the right investment for up-and-coming artists can make all the difference.

From record deal signing to world tours – Vertex navigates the industry with grace. It is safe to say that Vertex Consulting Group elevates their artists’ careers on an incredible level.

Jack Savoretti × Nile Rodgers – Who’s Hurting Who

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UK singer/songwriter Jack Savoretti debutted the video for his irresistible new single “Who’s Hurting Who,” a disco-fueled pop track featuring the legendary Nile Rodgers. Watch the video HERE.

In creating the video for “Who’s Hurting Who,” Savoretti worked with famed director Giorgio Testi (The Rolling Stones, The Killers, Gorillaz, The 1975, Amy Winehouse, Adele). Complete with flashy vintage sports cars and a bombshell femme fatale, the wildly colorful video follows Savoretti on an adventure through the Italian Riviera and features a cameo from Rodgers. “Nile brings groove, glamour, and chic that is everything that Europiana is,” says Savoretti of his collaborator.

“Who’s Hurting Who” is the first release from Savoretti’s forthcoming album Europiana, due out via Capitol Records on June 25 which is available to pre-order now.

Co-produced by Rodgers and Mark Ralph (Tove Lo, MARINA), “Who’s Hurting Who” arrives as a gloriously upbeat piece of soul-pop, perfectly showcasing Savoretti’s alluring vocal presence. With its dance-ready grooves, glistening guitar riffs, and lavish string arrangements, the song fully embodies the elegant escapism of Europiana, an album Savoretti describes as “the music of my childhood summers, remade for today.” But despite its undeniably fun spirit, “Who’s Hurting Who” also bears an intense emotional power. “It’s my take on the great Kris Kristofferson’s song “Nobody Wins,'” Savoretti reveals. “About behavior I’m all too familiar with, but hopefully is behind me. It’s a serious song in shiny packaging.”

The seventh full-length from Savoretti, Europiana serves as the follow-up to his gold-certified album Singing to Strangers: a 2019 release that marked his first #1 on the UK album chart and earned praise from such outlets as The Telegraph, who hailed its, “heady love songs mixing lush orchestrations with a tight, electric band.” This time around, Savoretti recorded at the famed Abbey Road Studios with leading producers like Cam Blackwood (London Grammar, Florence + the Machine), approaching the album with more confidence and imagination than ever before. “Singing to Strangers was my first album that wasn’t all about me, which I loved,” Savoretti says. “Europiana pushes that further. There are more characters and bigger concepts. I’m looking out at the world, not inwards.”

Monster Energy × Post Malone

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Monster Energy is giving 10 lucky grand prize winners an exclusive virtual fan experience with Post Malone and 15 first prize winners the new Xbox Series X console. Entries may be submitted now through August 31, 2021 by uploading Monster Energy receipts HERE.

“Monster Energy is excited to welcome Post Malone to our team,” said Monster Energy’s CMO Dan McHugh. “Post Malone is the perfect addition to our team of award-winning talent. We look forward to growing together through our partnership.”

At 25 years old, multi-platinum recording artist Post Malone has already had multiple No. 1’s on the Billboard charts and recently became the youngest artist in history to earn three RIAA Diamond Certified singles. This is on top of his nine Grammy nominations and nine American Music Awards including “Top Artist.”

“I am pumped to team up with Monster Energy and look forward to continuing to kick ass and having fun together,” said Malone.

Powered by the company’s unique energy blend, Monster Energy continues to fuel the music industry’s biggest names. For more information on Monster Energy, click HERE.

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by music artists, athletes, sports, believers and fans.

Rémy Martin × Usher

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Rémy Martin and Usher team up to celebrate two cultures of excellence:

Music and Cognac

“Team Up For Excellence ‐ The Film” Imagined in collaboration with FRED & FARID New York Brings to Life the History of Harmony Between these Cultural Entities Through a Musical Journey

Rémy Martin announces a collaborative new campaign with multi‐Grammy award winning musical artist, Usher to celebrate the harmonious blending of two cultures of timeless excellence: Music and Cognac. “Team Up For Excellence – The Film” highlights the cultural connection between Cognac and American music since 1917 in France, and how the two have been synonymous ever since.

In the Film imagined in collaboration with FRED &FARID New York, Usher narrates a story spanning the decades from the 1920’s to present day, which pays tribute to the multi‐cultural connections, celebrated styles and rhythms of the past. From Blues to Hip‐Hop, Swing Dancing to Break‐Dancing; Usher and Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal travel through decades in France and the US, to honor these cultural figures; both rooted in a shared philosophy of aiming for the stars.

“Music doesn’t need Cognac to exist, and Cognac doesn’t need Music to exist,” states Usher, “but what is beautiful is that they were meant to meet and when they did, they created cultural harmony.”

Teaming up with Usher and Rémy Martin, are globally recognized creatives including Raphael Saadiq, world‐renowned musical composer; Marci Rodgers, Academy‐Award winning costume stylist; Aakomon Jones, award winning dance choreographer; and director of the production; Jake Nava.

“I was really inspired by creating the historical music scenes in a way that felt true to the spirit of that moment, but also relevant and eye‐catching to a young contemporary audience,” states Jake Nava, “This dual priority informed my direction of all the music, dance and Usher’s performance.”

The heart and soul of cultural movements throughout history paved the way for future artists to innovate, while paying homage to their roots and the musical styles that came before them. The same respect for heritage is honored by Rémy Martin and Cellar Master, Baptiste Loiseau, who has inherited the savoir‐faire of the House from previous generations of cellar masters. Through this transmission of knowledge, Rémy Martin®1738 Accord Royal continues to encompass the spirit of celebrating depth of character and the excitement of indulging in moments of collective success.

“Rémy Martin has been at the center of celebration for centuries, and the celebratory nature of Music is synonymous with our history of honoring communities and culture,” said Amaury Vinclet, Global Executive Director of Rémy Martin “Acknowledging this collective success has been at the heart of Rémy Martin since 1724.”

Historically, Rémy Martin and Usher teamed up during his 2010 “OMG” world tour, where the Cognac brand was the official sponsor of after parties across the United States, Canada and Europe. Additionally, Usher co‐hosted the launch dinner for Producer Series with Jermaine Dupri in 2018.

“Team Up For Excellence – The Film is a monumental artistic achievement stemming from our collaboration and long‐standing relationship with our trusted creative global agency, FRED & FARID,” said Philippe Farnier, Chief Executive Officer for The House of Rémy Martin. “We celebrate this performance between our brand, creative agency and artist Usher. At Rémy Martin, we team up with those sharing our same quest for excellence, rooted in our values of people, terroir and time.”

For almost 300 years, the story of Rémy Martin has been one of family, partners and collective success. Teamwork has always been at the heart of the brand, passing the spirit of collaboration on to younger generations. The desire to team up with others in a quest for excellence has been a part of the Rémy Martin ethos since 1724, with the constant dedication to creating premium Cognac. To continually go further and aspire to achieve more is a reflection of the Centaur, Rémy Martin’s brand figurehead for 150 years. Following the launch in the United States, the short film will be screened and showcased globally.

CREDITS:

Brand: Rémy Martin

Title of ad: Team Up For Excellence ‐ The Film

Agency: FRED & FARID New York

Music: Raphael Saadiq

Costume stylist: Marci Rodgers

Dance choreographer: Aakomon Jones

Director: Jake Nava

ABOUT RÉMY MARTIN

Since 1724, Rémy Martin has produced premium spirits that consistently appeal to the world’s most discerning connoisseurs. A profound love of the land, a continuity of family ownership and a passionate commitment to excellence has sustained Rémy Martin for nearly three centuries. As a result of its masterful production and generations of tradition in Cognac, Rémy Martin today produces Fine Champagne Cognacs, including Rémy Martin® XO, Rémy Martin® Tercet, Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal and Rémy Martin® V.S.O.P For additional information, visit the website.

ABOUT USHER

Challenging himself creatively, testing musical boundaries and being on the creative forefront of new and developing trends are characteristics that have defined Usher throughout his 20-year career. Usher has been ranked by the Recording Industry Assn. of America as one of the best‐selling artists in American music history, having sold over 65 million albums worldwide. He has won numerous awards including 8 Grammy Awards and was named the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 #1 hits and 18 Hot 100 top‐10 singles. His career in TV and Film includes 2 seasons as a coach on NBC’s The Voice as well as starring roles in films such as “Hands of Stone” and “Burden”. 2021 continues to be a busy year for Usher with an upcoming new album release and the launch of his much-anticipated Las Vegas residency at Caeser’s Palace. In the past year Usher’s two singles “Don’t Waste My Time” and “Bad Habit” both hit #1 on the Billboard R&B Charts. He also released “I Cry”, a powerful and emotional song about the social and racial injustices of our time. Usher is currently in the studio recording his 9th studio album which will be released late 2021.

ABOUT FRED & FARID New York

FRED & FARID is a purpose-driven company producing meaningful ideas, grounding brands into culture. Based in New York, Paris, FRED & FARID New York’s culture is a peculiar mix of the French sense of craft and taste, the Chinese sense of tactic and digital, and the American sense of vision and strategy. The agency focuses on creative consulting, brand strategy, branding, content & social activation, and has produced 1800+ creative campaigns for 250+ brands in 33+ industries, winning 950+ awards and 25+ industry titles – including the AdAge Small Agency 2020 Gold Newcomer of the Year, and Best Integrated Campaign of the Year.

Rapper Dom Kennedy

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LOS ANGELES RAPPER DOM KENNEDY
ANNOUNCES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FORTHCOMING

STUDIO ALBUM “FROM THE WESTSIDE WITH LOVE III”

One of Los Angeles most sought out rappers, Dom Kennedy announces his release of “From the Westside With Love III” which follows the success off of his first and second release of From the Westside With Love.

“From the Westside With Love” originally dropped as a mixtape in March 2010 and later in June 2011 came “From the Westside with Love II” which is the debut studio album for Dom Kennedy. The album features artists from Asher Roth, Mikey Rocks, Polyester, Big K.R.I.T., Casey Veggies, and Schoolboy Q. The album charted #19 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #15 Billboard’s Independent Albums.

Dom Kennedy has taken over the rap game by storm by working with acts such as Kehlani, Big Sean, Hit-Boy, Nipsey Hussle, and more. With a forthcoming album set to release this Spring, Dom Kennedy is set to dominate 2021.

“When I decided to release the first From the Westside with Love in March 2010, I wanted to prove to myself that I could make a body of work that would reach way beyond just my neighborhood in Los Angeles,” says Dom Kennedy. “It was a gut check for me to show my love for the genre of rap and what I could possibly bring to it. A year later we dropped “From the Westside with Love II” which many believe to be one of my best efforts. At this point in my career, I’m still in love with making great rap music. I decided to cement my true legacy with another gift, From the Westside with Love III.”

About Dom Kennedy:

Born in Los Angeles, CA, Dom Kennedy is an artist with a fiercely independent streak. With a style that pairs simple lyricism with a knack for narration, Kennedy took inspiration from rap legends such as DJ Quick, Tupac, and the Notorious B.I.G. Kennedy made his debut in 2008 with “25th Hour”, “From the Westside With Love” in 2010, and “The Original Dom Kennedy” in 2011. By this point, he had begun touring across the U.S. and internationally, playing a show in Djibouti, Africa. Not being able to find a fair deal to suit him, the talented MC instead started his own label, The OPM Company (Other People’s Money), which he has used to release his own albums as well as for others. “From the Westside With Love II” arrived in 2011 and was a success, hitting the top 100 of the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Kennedy shortly after released “The Yellow Album” with the lead single “My Type Of party”, this mixtape is regarded as an all-time favorite worldwide. From Kennedy himself, “my music has always been about evolution, results may vary but I have tried to remain responsible to what I was feeling at the time. I wouldn’t have lasted any amount of time without the fans, so I thank them. OPM till it’s over.”

Follow Dom Kennedy:

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Rising Star, Lumane

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Switzerland native Lumane is not your typical pop artist. Much of her inspiration stems from her mother playing “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven on the piano when she was just a toddler. At four-years-old, Lumane put her foot forward to be like her mom learning to play different instruments throughout the years to come. In the mix of that was learning to use her vocal gift in hopes of expressing her creative side.
Lumane had the opportunity to audition her talents at the age of 13 in front of superstar judges in Germany on a show called “Das Supertalent”, which is similar to America’s Got Talent. She sang her heart out only to be left with no invitation back. Lumane was determined to grow. Years later with thousands of hours put into vocal lessons and practice, she auditioned for The Voice in Switzerland making her way through 3 rounds. This progress wasn’t enough for Lumane.
Lumane did not give up. With the support of her family, she pushed further to achieve her dreams. She bought a plane ticket to New York to continue her studies in the city that never sleeps. While being in school 6 days a week to study Musical Theatre and Acting for Film & TV she continued writing and producing her own songs on the side. After finishing the two-year program she realized that songwriting and pop music was her true passion, not musical theatre. This lead her to audition for the Berklee College of Music in Boston and started her studies there only a couple of months later. Being surrounded by like-minded musicians was exactly the inspiration Lumane needed. After only two semesters at Berklee, an opportunity to finally take the first steps in using her talents to professionally create and record her first set of songs presented itself.
She packed her bags, returned her apartment keys, bought a plane ticket to Nashville, TN to start actively working on her dream instead of just learning about it in class and books. Lumane finished her degree from Berklee online while writing songs with award-winning producers and writers. This first true experience in the music industry left her thirsty for more.
In her music, Lumane wants to tell her story and experiences – moving to a different continent at 18 years young by herself, being an immigrant in the US and meeting the love of her life, as well as empower people to stand up for themselves and for what they believe is right. All of this comes wrapped in powerful vocals and beautiful melodies, accompanied by explosive beats and heartbreaking piano parts.
Lumane worked with a Grammy-nominated producer on songs like “Taboo”, “Letters”, and “White Lies” which are three recent releases from this electro-pop artist. Her next song titled “Poison” is a story we all have – the feeling you get when you find the right person for you after only meeting toxic people and seeing right through them. Sounds like a good song, right? You can hear for yourself on all streaming platforms.

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Q×A With Griffin Matthews

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By Justin Lyons

360 Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with actor, Griffin Matthews, to discuss his successful career. Matthews has been able to work on shows such as Dear White People, Ballers and The Flight Attendant, as well as co-writing a successful musical. We were able to discuss his future career plans as well as his activism in the community.

Among acting, writing, directing and other creative positions, which one do you like the best, and which one allows you to best express your own creativity?

I love acting. I love writing. But I ultimately think I’m a director through and through. The responsibility of guiding the entire vision is so exciting to me. It’s such an honor when I get to direct because every story is a little baby that needs to be nurtured properly and guided along her way. And guess what? I’m such a dad.

How has working with streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max changed the way you address your audience?

When you work on Netflix or HBO you get to really find your unedited voice. You get to be risky, controversial, imperfect, fabulous, complicated, political…I’ve been so lucky to get to work on Dear White People, Ballers and The Flight Attendant because I always felt like I could fire from all cylinders on day one. I did not need to ask for permission. I got to bring my entire self to each role. I got to curse. And kiss boys. And wear g-strings. And travel the world.

How do you use your experience acting in productions like The Flight Attendant to inform and influence your ideas on the stage?

I will always go back to the theater. I’m a theater kid. It’s where I honed my talent. So every experience that I have, I think about how I will translate that to the stage. I was lucky enough to travel the world and meet incredible people and see exotic places while we were shooting The Flight Attendant. I spent afternoons alone rummaging through the Bangkok market and got lost in the streets of Rome. I made friends with strangers and made peace with being a grown man and also homesick. As a writer, I’m a sponge. I soak up life and then look for an opportunity to let the water run out all over the stage.

How do you approach the assembly of a theatre show differently from how you approach the direction of a concert?

I approach concerts the exact same way that I approach theater. When I directed Shoshana Bean and Cynthia Erivo’s holiday concert at The Apollo, we had endless conversations about story and themes and vulnerability. All of those things make for an exciting night in the theater! I think a lot of concert directors only think about pyrotechnics, but I like to think about the heart of the performers. The message. The mission. And let all of those things spill out…and of course, we add some pyrotechnics, too!

How does your activism influence the projects you choose to be involved in or choose to create yourself?

Activism is such a sexy word these days. It seems like everyone claims to be. For me, my personal pledge is to be an activist when everyone’s looking, but more importantly when no one’s looking. That pledge always checks my motives and my ego as I navigate projects and stories that I want to be a part of it. Every time I sign on to a project, I bring my whole self, my whole truth, the parts that are great and the parts that are ugly. That’s what I’ve learned running a nonprofit for over 15 years. So much of the work is tough. It’s messy. But it’s real.

What are you most excited about with your career in the near future?

I’m currently developing a musical series with Ester Dean that will center black queer voices. It’s really exciting because I’m a fan of Ester and her work (Pitch Perfect, songwriter of Katy Perry’s “Firework” and Rihanna’s “Rude Boy”). She’s broken many ceilings in this industry as a songwriter, actor, musician, and host. We both want to create a show where young people (who look like Ester and I) will see their truths accurately and joyfully reflected on screen. I’m also directing a film called The Amish Project by a playwright named Jessica Dickey. When I tell people that I’m working on it, it can raise eyebrows because people don’t often hear about black directors working on pieces that don’t center black narratives. But here’s the thing: black directors want to direct EVERYTHING. And we can. And we will. And I’m excited to finally get my shot!

What is a creative role you haven’t taken up that you’d like to at some point in your career?

I really want to direct for TV. For some reason, the thought scares the hell out of me! There’s so much to manage: logistics, people, locations, safety, technology, performances, but I’m fascinated by it. It’s time for me to tackle that fear and get behind the camera ASAP.