Q&A with David Heartbreak
DAVID HEARTBREAK. This Brooklyn-bred electronic dance music (EDM) artist has his eye on the prize. What's the prize exactly? To make music? Sure. More specifically, he wants to contribute to the art form known as music. He doesn't want to be a humble musician. He wants to be an artist, to make art to last a lifetime. To be a legend. Despite the lofty goals, he is down-to-earth. Given the opportunity, Mr. Heartbreak could eat a Double Double from In N Out on any given day. He realizes perfection isn't attainable & likes those little quirks which make us human. My interview with David Heartbreak was pretty fun. He's cool, chill, & kind. You'll see that too. Read on, friends. Read on.
Name: David Heartbreak
Age: 28
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current Location: Los Angeles, CA
What is the music making process like? Walk me through how a track is made.
Honestly there's not enough paper, but in short it's different each time. I write a lot of different music that most people would never imagine I do, but I'm pretty all over the place. It's different each time. I use a lot of different DAWs*. If it's a melody based track it's logic. If it's some choppy shit it's Ableton. It's different each time. I also don't force myself to make music. I only write when I'm inspired, and that can be on a plane, on the couch or sitting in my backyard. It all depends, ya know?
Editor's note: *DAWs = digital audio workstation
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
Editor's note: *DAWs = digital audio workstation
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
You deal with it and move on. I think the beauty is in the imperfections. Everyone wants to be perfect. I like the gray area. I think you have to capture the crowd's emotions and sometimes that comes from playing in the moment thinking ahead, and having happy accidents.
Which artist would you like to collaborate with & why?
I like a lot of artists, but I like to work with people that are as passionate and as crazy as I am. I'm not really into the names, I'm more into the passion that people put into their music. That's how great songs are made, from vibes, relationships, and visions. This is why sometimes two dope artists collab and make a whack tune, because the vibe isn't right and it's forced.
How did growing up in Brooklyn affect your music style?
How did growing up in Brooklyn affect your music style?
Brooklyn taught me the grit of everything. Brooklyn was always the grimy shit for some reason. The dirtiest reggae, the dirtiest acid, the darkest house music. Beautiful but weird place, even though it's changed now. But Brooklyn made my music aggressive, and other skills I learned made it soulful and ambient, so now everything is a mixture of that, I guess sexy aggressive music, with a splash of dub.
What are you most pumped about for HARD Summer?
I'm just ready to rage and have a good time. I love LA, and I love the crowd. The crowd at HARD appreciates different shit, and that's what I bring, different shit, so it works.
What is the best snack for munchies?
What is the best snack for munchies?
Haha, that depends on what city you're in and what you're doing, and why you have the munchies, but honestly the answer regardless is In N Out, Double Double once a day homie.
Do you think any kind of afterlife exists?
Yeah I'm sure it does. We're all forms of matter if you really think about it.
What did you do for your latest birthday?
What did you do for your latest birthday?
Last birthday I don't remember. It wasn't anything too big or I would remember, but this year I'm going hard, no pun intended.
Where do you most want to travel, but have never been?
I want to travel to Tokyo and Australia, those are the two places I have yet to experience and I want to sometime in the near future.
List 5 goals on your life's To Do List.
I don't really live off goals to be honest, but if I have to have a goal, it would be to live forever, and that's why I put so much passion in my music, because I want to be remembered for contributing to the art form we know as music.
David Heartbreak has come a long way from Brooklyn. LA is pretty far right? He still has dreams & ambitions to keep moving forward. His music is energetic; it cannot be defined into one genre because his tunes contain traces of trance, dubstep, dancehall, electro, & more. It tells a story. In time we will see how the story plays out.
Find David Heartbreak:
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Check me out on:
David Heartbreak has come a long way from Brooklyn. LA is pretty far right? He still has dreams & ambitions to keep moving forward. His music is energetic; it cannot be defined into one genre because his tunes contain traces of trance, dubstep, dancehall, electro, & more. It tells a story. In time we will see how the story plays out.
Find David Heartbreak:
Website
Check me out on:
Q&A with The Chainsmokers
THE CHAINSMOKERS. But first let me take a #Selfie. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We've all heard the song. #Selfie is the tune that put the New York-based DJ/producer/songwriter duo on the map. It's everywhere, which is precisely why I didn't bring it up (until this moment). Why rehash the same news when you can just read about it all over the internet? I wanted my interview with The Chainsmokers to focus on something else, something that we're all wondering. Mainly, who takes care of their eyebrows?
The Chainsmokers includes two members, Drew Taggart & Alex Pall. They kind of look like brothers, or is that just me? They are witty & handsome & successful & down-to-earth. Their fame has not yet gone to their head, due in part to their unawareness of just how famous they are. You'll see what I mean once you read the interview. But I like that. You will too. Now let's get to the good stuff, what you've all been waiting for... interview with The Chainsmokers!
Photo by Spread House |
What do you think the other person brings to the duo?
We just complement each other very well. We both have our unique strengths and weaknesses to the table and we seem to have a great balance with that all in mind. Two heads in our case are greater than one, and it's just been hella fun doing this all with your homie. Plus, one of us can use the bathroom when we DJ.
Where do you find musical inspiration?
Everywhere. Literally everywhere we look, every mood, every other artist. We are the product of our environment, for better or worse. Inspiration is fleeting though, so when we find ourselves in the midst of it, nothing feels better.
Now that you're insanely famous, how has your day-to-day life changed?
First off, we are definitely not famous by a long run and with that, our day really hasn’t changed dramatically. We are more busy and travel more, but it’s the same shit for us. We love to eat, we love to sleep, gym, be whipped by our GFs, talk to our parents and sisters, and so on. We definitely feel more confident and comfortable about the future but with that comes the other side of the same coin, which is maintaining it and continuing it.
You were just touring Asia, where are you right now & what do you see?
Asia was amazing. Such great people, so much history and they party their faces off as well. Had it not been for all this who knows, we may never have ever seen Asia, it's almost surreal. As for right now we are in SF working in our hotel rooms getting ready for the night.
What are you most psyched about for HARD Summer?
It would be easy to answer what we aren’t psyched about since there are far far too many things we are psyched about. We aren’t psyched about LA traffic. That is all. HARD is any performers dream come true, the lineup the crowd, the energy, the history, it’s the coolest of them all… them being festivals.
You both have some powerful eyebrows, what do you do to maintain them?
These bad boys are not to be touched.
Physically & mentally, what do you find attractive in another person?
Confidence, their ambitions and passion to achieve them, a bubble butt, nice lips, being able to have good banter, long hair, supportive and informed.
It's time for bed. What's your nighttime ritual? How do you wind down?
Netflix on the road is so key. We both have our favorite shows which we watch religiously. Also one last run through Instagram.
In the news story of your life, what would the headline say?
The Chainsmokers Dicks’ are HUGE
What do you do when you're not making sweet sweet music?
Eat, work out, dabble in porn, creep on Insta, read all the negative remarks on our FB, take naps.
The Chainsmokers, despite #Selfie making it to the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Dance Chart, are not consumed by their rankings. Instead, they aim to pursue their accomplishments further. You're only as successful as your last song, or something like that. Stay tuned because this is only the beginning for Alex & Drew aka The Chainsmokers who don't even smoke.
Find The Chainsmokers on:
Q&A with Etnik
Etnik. Fun fact: Etink is both his stage name & real name. It's kind of like getting to know him & his music on a personal level. "Oh hey! Etnik is playing at HARD Summer." I mean, it sounds pretty casual. My interview with Etnik (also seen ETИIK) was short. The German native is a man of few words. Brief. Concise. To the point. Instead he lets his music do the talking. He even described his music as simply Etnik, a man twisting knobs on stage. Well, let's see what he had to say.
Name: Etnik Zarari
Age: 22
Hometown: Hamburg, Germany
Current Location: Hamburg
What is a typical day like for you? Having breakfast when others have dinner.
Where do you gather inspiration? It depends on the mood actually, but I'd say mostly from clubbing.
What do you do right before you go on stage? I take a quick look at the crowd & then I decide what the opening track should be.
How would you describe your music style? It's hard for me to describe my own music. It's just me being me while twisting the knobs.
What are you most excited about for HARD Summer? It's my first time playing in L.A., gonna be cool to play there, and I'm really looking forward to hang out with my good pals from Owsla & Pilo.
Photo by Björn Jonas |
What did you have for breakfast this morning? Kellogg's Toppas. One of the top 10 on my cereal list.
Where's the coolest spot to hang out in Hamburg? Maybe it's just me, but I think Hamburg's coolest spots are changing weekly - so you are basically always kinda busy finding them.
Can you dance? Haha. Yes. Back in the days before I even started making music, I used to be in a dance school locking & popping.
It looks like you have your logo/branding tattooed on your chest, kind of like a superhero. How many tattoos do you have & who is your favorite superhero? It's my first and only tattoo. There's no superhero I can identify with.
What do you do when you're not making music? Listen to my favorite music or read books on how to improve my sound.
In case you were wondering or didn't know (like me), Kellogg's Toppas are the American equivalent of Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats. Mind blown! But at least we know one of his top favorite cereals. Etnik is a dapper young gentleman with cool hair & a unique style. His modern twist on techno will be a hit at HARD Summer. Check out one of his music videos here:
Find Etnik on:
Facebook
SoundCloud
Twitter
Website
Bloglovin // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
Find Etnik on:
SoundCloud
Website
Bloglovin // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
What to Wear to HARD Summer
It's time! Ah yes. The trap & bass runs vigorously through your veins. The pulse of the music beats through your body. The crowd is jumping up & down from the start of the set to the finish. Hey chica, I'm Carmen! You must be wondering what to wear to HARD Summer. Don't worry, I've got you covered!
What I'd Wear to a Rave (HARD Summer) |
I'd wear this. I would rock this look from head to toe. I'm heading to HARD Summer in August. I went last year with the boyfriend, so I have a good idea of what to expect. Let me do some explaining.
It's going to be hot
The festival doors open at 11 a.m & end at 11 p.m., so you'll be spending many hours in the sun. With that said I always load up on sunscreen as well as some lip balm to stay as safe as can be. Sunglasses are a must! The sweltering heat is caused by the hot California summer sun, but it's also due to the crowd. A light kimono helps as well.There are masses of people
This is another reason to dress less. Everyone is heaped together. Walking. Dancing. Moving. Twerking. A light, flowy crop top is the way to go. It's not tight or sticking to my body. Pair it with Bart Simpson shirt or shorts or hat (my favorite television character).Party, party, party
Since the stages are absolutely packed & kids are moving about frantically, I commit to wearing close-toed shoes. No cute white ASOS platforms for me unless I want a broken toe & a rolled ankle. I wanna dance. I wanna get to the front row, so sneakers are necessary. Plus, I'm on my feet for 12 hours give or take. I don't want to carry a purse.I'll opt for a small wristlet to keep my phone, ID, tickets, & money in. I want to be able to stash it in my pocket or put it on my wrist without the risk of losing my valuables. I'll go for dainty jewelry to accessorize my look. I'll wear a few light rings paired with a simple necklace.
Check out my interviews with some of the previous HARD Summer performers:
Are you heading to any music festivals? What's your must-have item? :]
Follow me on social media for more style, music, & California happenings:
Add me on Snapchat: carmenvarner
Q&A with ETC! ETC!
ETC! ETC! Who is the man behind the music? Well, from what I can gather via our interview, ETC! ETC!, is a father first then a musician. Although his life revolves around music & touring, it's crystal clear that he adores his two children, Olive, 4, & Isaac, 1. On Father's Day Sunday, he posted the classic fridge photo of he & the kids. Cue the ooh's & aw's.
ETC! ETC! also known by his real name, Jose Guerrero, has a large following throughout his social media presence as well as in real life. His music is energetic, fast-paced, & bass-heavy. I mean, that's what you would expect from a trap & bass, moombahton artist. What is moombahton? It's a beautiful mixture of house music & reggaeton.
Who is he? What's he like? Who is he rooting for in the World Cup? Most importantly, does ETC! ETC! prefer tea or coffee? You'll see.
ETC! ETC! also known by his real name, Jose Guerrero, has a large following throughout his social media presence as well as in real life. His music is energetic, fast-paced, & bass-heavy. I mean, that's what you would expect from a trap & bass, moombahton artist. What is moombahton? It's a beautiful mixture of house music & reggaeton.
Who is he? What's he like? Who is he rooting for in the World Cup? Most importantly, does ETC! ETC! prefer tea or coffee? You'll see.
Name: Jose Guerrero
Age: 30
Hometown: Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles
Where do you find inspiration for music? In everything. Other people's songs, vibes, my city. Just depends on the day and how I'm feeling that day I guess.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals? I like to go to the club early to feel it out, see how the night is going, and prepare myself mentally.
What's it like to be on tour? Going on tour is amazing, but it is stressful. It's fun because you get to be in different cities, meet tons of amazing people, see everyone's cultures, and try things you normally wouldn't in your city. Stressful because you miss your fam, it's hard to work on music on the road, and if you are alone it gets lonely.
How do you define success? Man, success is what you make of it. What you want to accomplish in your mind, heart, and soul. I feel like the only way to feel true success is to be happy with what you have accomplished, in your goals, etc.
What are you most excited about for HARD Summer? Playing on home turf. I was fortunate to be added to HARD Summer last year last minute and it was beyond amazing. Best festival I played. So this year now that I know what to expect I'm going all out.
How many languages can you speak? Two. English and Spanish.
What's one of your favorite family traditions? Hmm really don't have any. I should start some I guess.
If you were immortal for a day, what would you do? Make fun of everyone who was mortal, and do tons of stunts.
Are you a coffee or a tea person? 100 percent coffee. Tea is for old people. Coffee is my addiction. Makes me feel good.
What do you do when you're not making music? Spending time with my two kids.
Tell me something I don't know about you. I have a collection of soccer jerseys that I've never worn but one day I will.
Perhaps he'll get some use out of his soccer jerseys as he watches the World Cup. Who's he rooting for? "Obviously I'm rooting for USA. It's our team. Come on." Well I had to ask. When I informed him that I preferred tea myself, he quipped with, "Stop being old and drink coffee."
Find ETC! ETC! on:
*photographer unknown. please tell me if you do.
Q&A with Cut Snake
CUT SNAKE. They're tan & blonde & good looking, pretty much what you'd imagine a stereotypical Australian/San Diegan hybrid to be. But the boys are also funny & friendly. Let's just say these two gentlemen are not to be taken seriously. They've got a very rampant sense of humor, more so Paul, what with his dick surfboard and all. But one thing is perfectly clear: Australia has the best waves. Sorry California, you just don't cut it for these lads from the Land Down Under.
Cut Snake's music can be best described as chill wave techno. Their jams are the kind of thing you tap your toes to, nodding your head & swaying slightly to the beat. The duo will be playing at HARD Summer on August 2 + 3, their first festival in Los Angeles.
Cut Snake's music can be best described as chill wave techno. Their jams are the kind of thing you tap your toes to, nodding your head & swaying slightly to the beat. The duo will be playing at HARD Summer on August 2 + 3, their first festival in Los Angeles.
Paul (left) & Leigh (right) |
Names:
Leigh Sedley & Paul Fisher
Age:
Leigh: 30
Paul: 28
Hometown:
Leigh: Sunshine Coast (Australia)
Paul: Fuck knows
Location:
Both: Los Angeles
What do you think the other person brings to the duo?
Leigh: Fish brings nudity, bad breath, and A LOT of noise.
Paul: Music, picks his nose a lot, always scratching his ass too. He also brings a shit smell with him.
Where do you find inspiration?
Leigh: I find a lot of inspiration in old music, I try to be open and listen to everything. I dig almost all styles of music, and so listening to a wide range helps me bring different elements into whatever we're working on.
Paul: The beach.
What's the music-making process like?
Leigh: Normally just us sitting in the studio for 10 hours with a carton of beer. By the end we emerge thinking we have made THE BIGGEST TUNE EVER.
Paul: Fun. Loud. Repetitive. Slow. Fast. Grooving. Dancing.
How did you two meet?
Leigh: We met when we were 12. We had to stay together for 3 days to film a small TV surf documentary. He was an absolute animal. To this day, I don't think I'll ever see a looser 12 year old than Fisher!
Paul: We met at the beach competing against each other. From there we travelled the world, surfing, and partying having the hell time.
What are you most psyched about for HARD Summer?
Leigh: This is our first festival in LA, so I guess just getting to play such a big festival amongst so many of the artists we look up to.
Paul: Just to play in front of a crowd that loves house music and is there to go crazy and have fun. Also watching other amazing artists from everywhere going mad! I also just wanna get right amongst it and have a boogie.
What's the best television show ever created?
Leigh: The Simpsons.
Paul: Breaking Bad.
How would you describe your perfect day?
Leigh: Wake up to a big healthy breakfast in bed, followed by a long surf with good mates in perfect waves, a few beers in the afternoon watching the sunset, then hit a Jimmy Buffet concert in Hawaii.
Paul: Getting barrelled all day, coming in with all ya mates and just having beers, listening to good tunes while the sun goes down.
What's the San Diego surf culture like compared to Australia's?
Leigh: It is very similar but the waves in Australia are way better.
Paul: SD waves break once a year. Australia breaks everyday.
Do you dream in color or black & white?
Leigh: Colour of course!
Paul: Colour. I love colour.
What do you do when you're not making sweet sweet music?
Leigh: Surf, eat good food, and travel. It's a tough life.
Paul: Surfing my brains out. Hanging with my girl, friends, and family!!!
Leigh & Paul's personalities & tunes showcase their style effectively. You don't have to be best friends with them to know that they're cool kids. From Oz to U.S., from The Simpsons to Breaking Bad, from the Sunshine Coast to "fuck knows," Mr. Fisher & Mr. Sedley are good guys, good vibes. Stay updated. Stay cool. Stay positive.
Find the boys on:
Facebook
SoundCloud
Twitter
Website
Read more of my Q&A interviews. :]
Bloglovin // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
Find the boys on:
SoundCloud
Website
Read more of my Q&A interviews. :]
Bloglovin // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter
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