Tag: art

Highlighter Series Interview: Voyage Austin

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Note: This interview was published by Voyage Austin in the Highlighter Series of December 2025.

Good morning Nicolette, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?

Daydreaming and writing can often compel me to lose track of time, yet simultaneously rediscover myself. Since I was little, daydreaming has been a joy of mine. The same applies to writing: if I begin my mornings with writing and I do not set a timer, I can lose track of time. Someone once advised me to allot time for daydreaming, the same way I plan time for any other habit like exercise, sleep, or meditation. Now, on the one hand, I think this is great advice to help keep me grounded and focused. But I also believe in giving your imagination permission to wander freely, to daydream naturally, without limits or timers. Regardless of how one daydreams, writing is so cathartic and evocative; it’s one of the only times I feel that I can truly be myself without hesitation. Writing it out—whether I share it with a friend, publish it, or keep it in a diary—helps me release everything that I’m bottling inside. The power of writing helped me find my voice, and that allowed me to speak my truth.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?

Yes, my artist bio is a great introduction to my career: Nicolette Mallow is an artist. Her journey began in performing arts and athletics, but her love for writing led to a career! Since college, Nicolette has covered numerous press events as a (dyslexic) writer. Her portfolio reflects a vast array of creative content, and she’s obtained 110+ publications in the US and Europe so far.

Mallow has interviewed an extensive list of diverse talent that inspired her along the way, including Greta Gerwig, Jimmy Chin, Bob Roth, Dr. Travis Stork, Joan Lunden, Jay Roach, and Roc Chen. She’s collaborated with companies and PR teams from Texas Monthly, National Geographic, Prevention Magazine, HBO Films, The Hollywood Reporter, SXSW, The David Lynch Foundation, The University of Texas at Austin, and more. Presently, her portfolio entails 12 national awards or scholarships, including both individual and group projects. Working with press and publicity teams from companies like Sunshine Sachs, Fons PR, Frank PR, and CW3PR — Mallow can liaise with publicists, entrepreneurs, and their brands.

Her career transcends many industries like AI content engineering, jewelry, publishing, sales, customer service, fashion, A&E, fine dining, and tech. But her focus always returns to the arts. Obtaining two degrees from the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Nicolette has a Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration and a B.F.A. in Writing.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?

Lack of trust, lack of boundaries, and lack of communication break the bonds between most people, because it’s hard to respect someone that you don’t trust. And once that trust begins to deteriorate, it’s hard to move forward. We can restore trust by being honest with ourselves and transparent with others. We can restore trust by taking accountability and admitting when we are wrong. Likewise, we can heal broken bonds by opening our hearts to healing. Pride and ego destroy a lot of bonds as well; a lot of people would rather burn bridges than admit they were wrong or accept they’re a flawed human being (like the rest of us). But people often lie to themselves, and that leads me to another quote I love: “Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” —Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?

In the past, I somehow thought you could plan milestones and goals (success) like a to-do list. Alas, success does not operate on a timeline, and failure taught me patience. Life is not a grocery shopping list that you can check off and complete all at once. Think of it like booking a vacation: you can plan months or a year in advance, but the weather or illness might still cancel the flight and cause delays to your destination. Unlike travel insurance, where you can get your money back, there’s no such thing as insurance when it comes to your time. If life blows up in your pretty little face, there isn’t a number you can call to file a claim and get your time back. So I had to learn patience and adaptability. Failure forced me to learn how to show grace and compassion for myself when things don’t go to plan. Failure taught me that if things don’t work out, it wasn’t the right path for me, and instead of resisting failure, accept it and alter course.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?

We have all heard the phrase “love is blind,” but it took a lot of unnecessary heartache for me to believe that true love does not conquer all. I wouldn’t relay any of this to little kids or teenagers, but past the age of college, we should start to embrace the stark reality that chemistry and compatibility are not the same. We can love someone who is all wrong for us, and therefore it’s not a healthy love. In the past, I based a lot of my choices in relationships upon the chemistry I was feeling instead of looking at compatibility and character. We should not only want someone we share chemistry with, because passion and excitement are important. But I didn’t use to consider the bigger, long-term realities: Is this person safe? Is this person kind? Are they trustworthy? Do we share the same values? Can they regulate their emotions when angry? Are they emotionally mature? Do they have a strong work ethic? Are they honest? Do their actions match their words? Do they take care of themselves and have healthy boundaries? Etc… This fanciful, romanticized idea that “true love conquers all,” solely based on the chemical dopamine hits we get from falling in love, is incredibly naive, self-destructive, and foolish. I now seek chemistry and security (instead of simply chasing my passions, because the word “passion” has both negative and positive connotations). The truth is, there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship, and love won’t keep the lights on. Having said this, I’ve never had a relationship that was solely based on security because without passion it’s lifeless and boring like a dial tone. Finding that balance of passion and security is lucrative to your peace! There’s a quote from the movie How to Make an American Quilt that I adore: “Young lovers seek perfection. Old lovers learn the art of sewing shreds together and of seeing beauty in a multiplicity of patches”.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?

My body will tell me when I am out of my element, and I’ve pushed my boundaries too far. We all have intuition, but some people are more naturally in tune with their instincts (a skill that we can all learn or enhance). Years ago, I was guilty of ignoring my gut instincts, and I used to rationalize my anxiety or trepidations around a person, place, or thing. Like I just needed to take a deep breath and let it go, or I kept making excuses for other’s bad energy. Even with all the rationalization, the angst in my gut never really went away in certain environments; I simply became masterful at disassociating from it. After learning the hard way one too many times or making myself physically sick from stress—I now know that if my nervous system is lighting up like a pinball machine, it’s not cutesy “butterflies in the stomach,” and it’s not something to be ignored. Because that is my instinct warning me that something is awry, toxic, or dangerous. If something feels wrong in your gut, listen closely and honor your body

https://voyageaustin.com/interview/story-lesson-highlights-with-nicolette-mallow

Photography : Steve DeMent
Make-up/Hair: Summer Edwards
Jewelry Head Piece: Adrian Nichole Amiro

Inspiring Local Stories – Voyage Austin

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Note: This interview was published by Voyage Austin in July 2025.

Hi Nicolette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

My artistic journey began in performing arts and athletics, but my passion for writing led to a career. Ultimately, I feel that SCAD and Texas Monthly were the foundations of my professional path as a writer. Since those roles as student versus employee, I’ve covered numerous press events as a (dyslexic) writer. Over time, I’ve collaborated with companies and PR teams from National Geographic, Prevention Magazine, HBO Films, The Hollywood Reporter, SXSW, The David Lynch Foundation, The University of Texas at Austin, and more. I’ve also interviewed an extensive list of diverse talent beyond my years, including Greta Gerwig, Jimmy Chin, Bob Roth, Dr. Travis Stork, Joan Lunden, Jay Roach, and Roc Chen. My portfolio reflects a vast array of creative content. I’ve been published in the US and Europe. And my career transcends many industries like jewelry, publishing, sales, travel, customer service, fashion, A&E, fine dining, and tech.

Presently, I work as an AI Content Engineer. But I’ve known I was an artist ever since I was little, so that has always been part of my identity, with or without my career. Art and athletics are two of my greatest loves!

As a kid, I always adored sports and performing arts, and my family could see that joy within me, too. I knew from a young age, even around pre-k, that the arts were my true calling in life. Throughout childhood, I focused on music/vocals, theater arts, dance, swimming, and volleyball. Other hobbies and athletic activities came and went, like soccer, gymnastics, modeling, ballet, piano, church choir, Girl Scouts, tennis, or tumbling. But it was abundantly clear when I lost interest in something that didn’t align with me or felt forced. Looking back, I was fortunate to have a family that encouraged me to explore my interests and sponsored such diverse sports and hobbies! I wish I had stuck with piano, but I wasn’t officially diagnosed with dyslexia until college. Learning to read music the traditional way was giving me headaches and anxiety. The instructors didn’t believe my dyslexia struggles, so I memorized keys and melodies instead, but I couldn’t read music.

Early in my junior year at Lake Travis High School, I applied for the Media and Performing Arts (MPA) program at SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) and was accepted that summer. I graduated early from high school in December as an Honor Thespian and went straight to SCAD after winter break. I attended their campus in Savannah, Georgia. Halfway into my sophomore year at SCAD, I switched my degree from MPA to Writing. Secretly, I could not bear another moment of being on stage pretending to be another character. I was so internally conflicted because my life dream was to be an actress, a movie star, but my spirit felt otherwise. So I paused my undergraduate studies and went home for six months. During that break from SCAD, I trained with a Masters Swim Team at St. Stephen’s in Austin, Texas, and worked at a marina, but that’s an entirely different story… Once I returned to Savannah and switched majors, I wrote for the District, an award-winning student newspaper. It was cool watching my grades shift after I changed my focus from theater arts to writing. I went from mediocre grades, mostly B’s, to qualifying for the Dean’s List five quarters in a row. My art was shining in a whole new way! Sometime later, the Georgia College Press Association awarded my co-writer and me second place for Best News Article: Objective Reporting. After that, I became the first SCAD student ever selected to serve as an editorial intern at Savannah Magazine and soon completed my B.F.A. at SCAD.

Following graduation, I left Georgia to begin an internship with the Editorial department at Texas Monthly magazine. While serving as an intern, I was additionally hired as a contract employee to work in their Custom Publishing department for the Texas Tour & Meeting Guide Magazine. I also wrote three stories for the Texas Monthly website, which was special and exciting! That’s how it all launched and how I began my professional journey as a writer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Overall, no, it’s not been a smooth road. For instance, being a dyslexic writer with colorful grammar is a lifelong struggle. Depending on the time or phase in my life I’ve been interviewed, I share more (or very little) about my personal and professional struggles. However, the journey has been rewarding, humbling, scathing, beautiful, and exhilarating. I am so grateful for all the highlights and the blessings! And I’m proud of myself for chasing my dreams despite all obstacles. But I would like to return to media and performing arts, dance, and music. I’d like to create a podcast. And I’m interested in broadening my skills and getting into radio, TV, sports, and film. Plus, I need to finish my memoirs and a magical realism book. Ergo, I have a lot more work to do!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

After Texas Monthly, I was hired as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the copy, mail, and print department at The University of Texas at Austin. I worked there successfully for a couple of years, and I obtained several awards on behalf of the company. I even landed a public speaking gig at a national conference because of a portfolio I created, winning the IPMA In-House Promotional Excellence Award for the second year in a row! Eventually, I realized that I terribly missed the arts. Copy, mail, and print weren’t my passions, even if I was excelling at them. Sadly, I felt something was missing. I will always be very grateful for my time and the opportunities at UT Austin, but I felt in my heart it was time to rekindle my relationship with the arts. As a result, I went back to grad school to get my Master’s degree. It was tough to decide where to enroll, because I was also accepted to Richmond University in London, England, but I accepted SCAD’s offer. Based on a thesis paper I submitted to SCAD Admissions about Ancient Greece, that paper awarded me academic scholarships to help with tuition. Since I realized that I could not juggle both UT Austin and SCAD— I took a voluntary demotion and resigned from my corporate, salary job with benefits at UT, and I started to work hourly with no benefits in the service industry in order to focus on my studies.

During graduate school, I was not only a student. In that time, I also completed two internships, on top of working at a waterfront country club, as well as freelance writing. In hindsight, I was juggling too much! Grad school was an intense time, even for me. However, when I finally graduated after two years of calamity and controlled chaos—I was relieved and proud of my accomplishment! Yet, I was also confused and astonished that after graduation, I had such difficulty getting back into the corporate world. Suddenly I felt stuck and invisible in the service industry. Although I loved many aspects of the service industry, and I think everyone should work in it at some point, that wasn’t my long-term goal. Or I wouldn’t have enrolled in graduate school.

Suddenly, I wondered if I should’ve played it safe instead of chasing my “silly” passions. I started to doubt my decisions. Growing up, I saw a lot of my elders sacrifice or abandon their dreams for duty, responsibility, and financial security. Since I wasn’t married, and I can’t have kids—I seized my moment and rationalized my decision to pursue my heart over my head. And I’m glad I did! Despite not knowing how difficult it was going to be to return to the corporate world after completing my Master’s degree: I now have zero regrets that I went back to the arts. I learned so much in that tough time, and I came out a stronger, more resilient, emotionally intelligent person from the challenges of starting over. Nevertheless, the truth is that pursuing my artistic desires came with a heavy price because I got stuck in the service industry much longer than I anticipated, and some people enjoyed watching me struggle. However, during this prolonged season of professional exploration, uncertainty, and angst, I never lost sight of my goals. Even if at times I temporarily lost hope or momentum in the future. At the end of the day, I kept looking up, I continued freelance writing, and I focused on my dreams—kind of like a slow-motion personal and professional glow-up.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

I recommend gravitating towards people who are smarter, stronger (mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, etc.), and more experienced in skills than you are. Allow others to inspire you to grow, to flourish, and to become an optimal version of yourself. As we grow professionally, it’s important to emotionally mature, too. We need to train our mind and heart to be flexible, powerful, and resilient, the same way we train our body. I have learned so much from interviewing talent beyond my years and observing the masters of their craft! Reading is another powerful learning tool.

Keep your eyes open and trust your gut to find the right, healthy people who want to be a mentor or guiding light to you, and be willing to ask them questions. Mentors may come and go like seasons, but their valuable insight or impressions last a lifetime. Also, it’s lucrative to remain open-minded to listening and learning from people that think, act, and feel differently from us. Even if the lessons they teach us are what not to do. We still learned something valuable.

Be willing to put yourself out there and face rejection or criticism. Remember that mistakes are opportunities to improve. And be kind to yourself, especially when you fail.

https://voyageaustin.com/interview/conversations-with-nicolette-mallow

Bold Journey Interview

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Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicolette Mallow. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation:

Nicolette, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

From a very young age, I was fortunate to know my life purpose: to be an artist. However, that is not always a secure or stable journey. Even in high school, when I told people I was enrolled at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) for my undergraduate—many adults looked at me like, “Oh, that’s cute, but what are you going to do for a real job after graduation?” These remarks were constant, and it felt condescending, hurtful, and often ominous, like, “You’re just a foolish kid chasing a childish dream, and it’s only a matter of time until you fail and join the real world”… True, the arts do not always pay well. You must be open-minded to accepting jobs outside of the arts. (I discussed some of this in my first interview with Voyage Austin and my second in your Canvas Rebel series.) But I pursued my dream and didn’t let others take that vision away from me.

Do not let other people steal your light or your love for life. I’ve explored many other forms of employment to support myself financially. Regardless, I’m a published writer with over 110+ publications in the United States and Europe (including 12 national awards/scholarships based on individual or group projects). I’ve had the privilege of working with companies and media outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, HBO Films, SXSW, Prevention Magazine, National Geographic, Texas Monthly, and more. So clearly, these naysayers weren’t totally correct. Admittingly, I wasn’t prepared for how arduous the journey would be, but I didn’t give up on my dream. Even if I sometimes felt lost at sea and as if the arts were drowning me rather than smooth sailing to exotic beaches. I remember this particular awards event many years ago, interviewing Hollywood talent as a member of the Press. Standing there waiting my turn to ask questions on the red carpet: I felt so unseen, undervalued, and disrespected by the Hollywood talent I was interviewing–I almost wanted to quit red carpet events for good. I was tired of working hard to help other famous people shine while being invisible and unappreciated. And for a while, I took a break. I only worked on my personal portfolio instead. Then I returned with an even better press gig, and I got to interview Greta Gerwig on the red carpet for the debut of her film “Lady Bird” at the Austin Film Festival. So, if you get burnt out, take a break. I personally love to seek out the water when I need to heal or decompress, which is why I recently explored San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, and more. It’s healthy to relax and give yourself recovery time. It’s O.K. to set boundaries and know your worth. Even if you’re an underground writer/performing artist – and nobody in Hollywood knows or cares about me – we all deserve to be treated with kindness and respect!1F14E3

Resilience is crucial to survive in the arts. As a published writer, the amount of rejections I’ve received compared to publications is startling! You must develop a tough exterior, like python snakeskin, in order to continue thriving in publishing or entertainment. I have vulnerabilities like any human, but I am resilient, fierce, and empowered. For instance, editors and critics are going to tear some of your writing projects to pieces—or simply ignore you altogether because the project wasn’t deemed worthy of their time – and you’ll need to be tough to learn from these experiences without letting them break your spirit. Ask for feedback if you’re ghosted. Ask the uncomfortable questions about why you weren’t selected or rejected – so you can work and excel at your craft to improve for the future. Accept that everyone won’t appreciate your artwork. It’s O.K. to be different. Find your tribe! But above all, stay loyal to you.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

In my previous two interviews with Voyage Austin and Canvas Rebel, I delved deeply into my artistic background, story, and purpose. It would be repetitive to rehash all that once more, but those links are still live, and my Artist Bio on my website is a great reference point.

However, I am creating a digital space for my music and dancing and to feature my publications, other than my website. My business website is strictly publications and editorial. I am in the process of launching a social media page that is more expansive and showcases all my artistic talents beyond the workplace. I’m also really anxious to partake in podcasts! That’s all I wish to say until I bring a few more loose ends together.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self-confidence/self-love. Speaking my truth. Thriving after disappointment/ failures.

Self-confidence and self-love go hand-in-hand. Loving others is part of self-love, so the more (love) we give out, the more (love) we get in return. I know many people from all walks of life, not just artists, who possess gigantic (fragile), grandiose egos. Yet they do not truly love themselves. They just put up a good front to the world, like wearing a theatrical mask and being nice to people in public but hiding a dark persona behind closed doors.

Loving yourself isn’t the same as holding high regard for your talents, vanity, or God-given abilities. Self-love comes from within, not from awards, accolades, popularity, beauty, money and achievements. Finding that healthy balance of confidence and humility is challenging to master. On the other side of that coin toss lies fear (insecurity) and arrogance, which aren’t constructive to optimal success. Sometimes, we must learn to swallow our pride/ego and think beyond ourselves. Other times, we must use our voices to speak the truth and fight for what we believe in! Balance is an obstacle I’m still learning, like a dancer staying grounded at all times or else you’ll fall down.

Beware of never making yourself smaller or minimizing your light/skills/talents in order to suit others’ comfort levels; it’s another form of self-betrayal that will steal joy and distort your truth. Stand in your truth! Know that not everyone will like you, nor will they support you. You must accept that some people will desire to see you fail, some won’t be your advocate, and you do not want those people in your corner. Some people won’t have your back, even if they love you, whether it’s an employer, family member, friend, or lover. Because they don’t love themselves… Be your own number-one cheerleader! Quit waiting for someone to come to your rescue – quit seeking the approval of others – be the champion of your dreams! Move at your own pace. Find the people that love and support you. But most of all, be sure that you love yourself. Cliché but true because, in life, we don’t always like ourselves, but do you love yourself?

Lastly, do not be afraid to ask for help if you are struggling, whatever it may be. Keeping that burden a secret will eat you alive from the inside out. True, many employers will not hire people with disabilities or ailments. Even though it’s illegal, they lie and save face by advertising it’s a safe work environment, even when it’s not. Safeguard your private information until you can trust someone, do not overshare because manipulative people use that personal intel like ammunition to destroy you. But also make sure to have a support system where you can speak your truth! There is no shame in asking for help. Even kings/queens had people at their side to support their empires. We cannot do it all on our own. There are good, humane employers out there that are more concerned with your work ethic, work experience, and proven ability to excel – as opposed to whether or not you’re “perfect” outside work in your personal life. We all have a work persona and a personal life – don’t be fooled – everyone is facing their own inner demons, so don’t be afraid to be human. You are not a machine. Emotions are not a sign of weakness. I know athletes that are physical powerhouses but are so messed up in the head & the heart. Being healthy and whole – mind, body, and soul – is demanding, and if it were easy. We would all be healthy. Ergo, don’t be afraid to showcase the fact you’re imperfect. It doesn’t make you a failure. It means you’re human. People can relate to someone with an open, loving heart.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Out of all these closing questions – the number one obstacle or challenge I’m facing in my present life: People often see you how they want to see you, based on their beliefs, experiences, or life perspectives (often programmed from their childhood). You cannot control this false narrative, even if it’s inaccurate. Seeing ourselves through other people’s harmful, critical eyes can be scathing and disheartening. Often, as a woman, people will not take your intellect seriously if you also partake in modeling, the arts, music, etc. People often see me and make snap judgments from afar, like my rose-colored glasses, my love of Hello Kitty, my dyslexia (grammar errors), and my tender heart for animals, and think they have me all figured out. To many outsiders, I’m just a silly, daft airhead with s*x appeal who dreams of being talented and only obtained her success through luck or privileges. But I know I’m very smart and gifted, despite being dyslexic and having colorful grammar. I worked hard for my artistic achievements because I had zero connections to the publishing world. Regardless, I’m most empowered by my inner emotional/spiritual tenacity and all the things I’ve overcome behind the curtains when no one was watching. I grew up with mostly all males and generations of family in the military, which toughened me up from the get-go. I was sent to etiquette school for three semesters as a child, only so I would embrace my femininity. At heart, I’m a wild tomboy that can hold her ground and speak her mind: I just like wearing the costume of a fashionista, girlie-girl.

Shakespeare is not my favorite writer, even if a brilliant one. Still, it’s good to remind ourselves when it feels as if society wants to demonize you, falsely portray who you are, or change your identity to suit their conformity: “To thine own self be true.”

To view the original interview please visit: https://boldjourney.com/news/meet-nicolette-mallow/.

West Coast artist Raven Felix will perform at 2017 Euphoria Music Festival in Texas

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Raven Felix. Photography provided by 740 Project. 

Born in The Valley of Los Angeles, Raven Felix is an artist best known for her music. This year she will be performing at the 2017 Euphoria Music Festival held at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas. A Latina from the West Coast, she began her exciting music career at a young age after being signed-on by Snoop Dogg at 18. Raven was discovered after posting music videos on World Star hip hop and that’s when Snoop Dogg took notice of her talent while he was in Amsterdam. Raven Felix is also a member of the entertainment company Taylor Gang, as is Wiz Khalifa, and the two artists will both be performing (separately) at Euphoria Music Festival in Texas. Even more exciting for us all, even though this isn’t Raven’s first rodeo in the spotlight or on stage—it will be her first time to showcase her music in Texas. Ravens’s performance at Euphoria on Friday, April 7, 2017, marks Raven’s first-ever show or festival in Austin, Texas.

Before my phone interview with Raven, I did not get to meet her in person. But through the photographs and music videos on social media: I noticed her strong voice, dark brown hair that resembles silk, luminous skin, big brown eyes and how she always seems to have a chic manicure. Raven Felix is facing a successful future and a vivacious career in music, and she’s off to a great start. She is not only talented at rap and hip hop, modeling and music videos—Raven is also a writer and you can find some of her poetry online. Writing is something she has been doing since she was a child and holds very dear to her heart.

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Photo of Raven Felix’s hands from her music video “6 in the Morning” feat. Snoog Dogg.

Nicolette Mallow: Here in Texas, we have an area called The Valley near the border and it’s much different than LA. I heard on a radio interview with Power 106 that part of what motivates and inspires you to excel in your career is to pave the way and make a lane for younger girls, especially the young Latinas back home in The Valley… Giving back to the community is essential, and I am also a Latina. So I am curious to hear about The Valley and I was wondering if you’d tell me more about life in the valley for young girls?

Raven Felix: Everyone in The Valley is super close and it’s a tight-knit community. It also encompasses a large portion of the Hispanic/Latino population in LA. There is a lot of backyard parties and a lot of shows. It’s a really interesting place to be and I certainly grew up partying, too. A huge part of the culture in The Valley is community, art and entertainment. 

Mallow: The music video for “Hit The Gas” with Snoop Dogg and Nef the Pharaoh looked like it was a lot of fun for the cast and crew to film… I also saw the video “6 In The Morning” … Will you tell me about how you came to sign and work directly with Snoop Dogg after he found you on World Star at the age of 18?

Raven: It all happened fairly quick. I think I started putting out videos on World Star when I was 17. And when I was 18, he was in Amsterdam and saw me online and thought my tracks were dope and wanted to be involved. So, he found me and my people, and I feel very lucky. After that, all of a sudden we are making music a month or two later.

Mallow: What was it like touring with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa during “The High Road” tour in 2016?

Raven: I think for me it’s just a blessing to even have these huge artists that are insanely talented as my friends and colleagues. They are monsters of artists with amazing careers and to be involved with me. It’s definitely cool. And we all bring different songs and styles to the mix. Tour was amazing in general. 

Mallow: I read one of your poems on Instagram. And I liked your line in the track “Me” when you say, “Tell ‘em kiss it like I was your Bible”… How long have you been writing?

Raven: Well I’ve been writing since I was a kid, really ever since I could write. I wrote. But I think middle school is when I really started being interested. I had notebooks in drawers and boxes of handwritten notes. I still really very much want to branch out into writing novels, poetry, screenplays and scripts. Poetry, for me, is something that is a completely different outlet than my music. I keep it separate and I think its something that relaxes me. If I am having a road block. I think poetry can be my outlet. Writing is important to me and I seek to become a multifaceted artist as I move forward in my career. I can do much more than rap and sing on stage, which is dope. Writing is just one of many things like modeling, acting and other art forms I would love to explore in the future. 

Mallow: I read the interview with VIBE that stated your top female artists are Eve, Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj. I recall listening to “Love is Blind” a lot as a teenager, dancing to Missy Elliot in college and playing Nicki’s track “I Lied” a lot while I lived in Ireland… Will you share a little about how these artists inspired you and your musical craft?

Raven: Nicki Minaj is the biggest inspiration to me out of all three women. I am 21 and so when I was in high school. I think I was in 9th grade. I had a mixed tape of hers and it was so hard and so dope. I fell in love with her then because I had never really heard an artist like her during my era, growing up. I heard a lot of rock and alternative stuff as a child because of my mother. So when people turned me onto Nicki and opened up doors for me to discover others like Eve and Missy Elliot, it’s amazing to hear all these talented women.

Mallow: I read Southern Comfort was your first drink. What’s your poison (choice of alcoholic beverage) these days?

Raven: I usually switch back and forth between Bombay and Hennessy. Wiz and them from Taylor gang really like gin. At first I hated gin, but like now I really enjoy it. 

Mallow: So when you aren’t touring or traveling for work, which sounds like a lot of fun. What do you do for fun and leisure with such a lively schedule?

Raven: I love being able to travel and do all this stuff for work. But I was just in London for Christmas for leisure. Just for me. Just for fun. So yeah, I love to be on the road and being on tour, but when I get to be home. I spend a lot of time with my mom and it centers me and keeps me grounded. She is my best friend and spending time with her is important; being near my mother relaxes me. I also like to keep in touch and be around my west coast friends that I grew up with in The Valley. The ones that cared about me from the start. Because often we got lost and lose track of time out on the road. Coming home, back to your roots, my friends need to know that I’m still the same person they always knew and loved—and they’re just as important to me as always.

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To purchase tickets to the 2017 Euphoria Music Festival to hear Raven Felix and 70 other artists in Austin, Texas please visit www.euphoriafest.com. 

Euphoria Music Festival releases line-up for April 2017 featuring 70 artists

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euphoria music festival

Photography provided by Euphoria Music Festival.

Euphoria will be hosting its sixth annual music, camping and community festival at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas from Apr. 6-9, 2017. Founded by Mitch Morales, the 2017 festival includes headliners like Chromeo, Knife Party, Moby (DJ set), Oliver Heldens, Post Malone, The Disco Biscuits, Wiz Khalifa, Zeds Dead and much more. Bringing the sum total of the line-up to 70. Recently a public relations member of Euphoria contacted writer, Nicolette Mallow, to share the good news about the upcoming music festival. 

*** For Immediate Release ***

Austin, Texas –  Following two dynamic phases of artist announcements, Euphoria Music Festival has revealed the third and final phase and completed its lineup for the sixth annual event on April 6 – 9, 2017 and with it, the Official 2017 lineup movie. Already earning considerable buzz with its first two phases for 2017, Euphoria is closing out the year strong with what promises to be the best lineup yet, including new additions: Chromeo; Knife Party; Moby (DJ set); Oliver Heldens; Post Malone; Auto Body; Bakermat (Live); Lost Kings; Russ; Chet Porter; FKJ; Minnesota; Prince Fox; Turkuaz; Eric Dingus; Forgotten Space; Magna Carda; Melvv; Montu; Abe Masaryk; Resonant Frequency; Thoreau; and Whereisalex.

With this latest announcement, Euphoria now boasts a lineup of over 70 artists from around the globe and it’s own backyard, including headliners: Alesso, Pretty Lights Live, Wiz Khalifa, Young Thug, Zeds Dead, The Disco Biscuits and The Floozies. Additional artists announced include: Alan Walker; BadBadNotGood; 2017 GRAMMY nominated artist, Bob Moses; Chronixx & Zincfence Redemption; The Knocks (Live); Mija; Papadosio; Spag Heddy; Yotto; CID; Codeko; Dr. Fresch; The Funk Hunters; Ganja White Night; Grum; Ill-Esha; Manic Focus; Petit Biscuit; Poolside; Raven Felix; Slaptop; Tennyson; Unlike Pluto; Asadi; Blunt Force; Brede; Capyac; Carlyle; Craetion; Evanoff; Flamingosis; Henna Rosso; Lemurian; Jamiroqueen; Maddy O’Neal; Medasin; Psymbionic; Sip Sip; Slice Gang; The Widdler and Willgood.

“From top to bottom, this is Euphoria’s most amazing lineup to date,” says festival producer Mitch Morales. “We have major players, institutions, exciting up-and-comers and even a GRAMMY nominee – all of which cross a multitude of genres, yet still reside within our euphoric musical vibe. I cannot wait to host our festival family, both new and old, again this April.”

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As the region’s largest independent music festival, Euphoria attracts over 50,000 fans each year, all while maintaining the qualities that land it on many annual Top 10 lists. Conveniently located just minutes from Downtown Austin, the multi-stage music and camping festival will return to Carson Creek Ranch on the banks of the Colorado River and offer world-class visuals, unique stage designs, artist workshops, interactive experiential installations, enhanced camping options and much more. In addition to the previously announced camping enhancements, direct shuttle service and added greening initiatives deemed “Ecophoria” – the festival will also be offering wedding ceremonies. Tapping into the power of music and community to evoke emotions and forge connections, Euphoria is creating a beautiful space for couples to celebrate their union. Full details can be found at www.euphoriafest.com/weddings.

General Admission passes are available now for $149, plus fees for a 3-Day festival pass and $249 for a 3-day festival pass with camping. 3-Day “Fly Life” VIP packages with preferred viewing areas, private bars, VIP restrooms and showers, concierge service, luggage drop off, and express entrance are available starting at $269 (without camping) and $419 with camping. The Early Entry pass, which allows Wednesday access for up to 2,500 fans is available for $30. Price will remain frozen, until December 16th. Euphoria will be continuing its partnership with Affirm, offering clear, simple financing to split Eventbrite orders into 3 or 6 monthly payments. This offers patrons the most flexible option yet for affording festival passes. Tickets are available online at www.euphoriafest.com. Euphoria is an ages 18 and over event.

Euphoria Music Festival is produced by Vivid Sound Entertainment. Visit www.euphoriafest.com for the most up-to-date information. Stay connected on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EuphoriaFest and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EuphoriaFest.

Official Euphoria 2016 Recap Video

Photography provided by Euphoria Music Festival.
Photography provided by Euphoria Music Festival.
Photography provided by Euphoria Music Festival.
Photography provided by Euphoria Music Festival.

 

Příliš hlučná samota: Production crew raises funds for film about Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal’s novel “Too Loud A Solitude”

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“My education has been so unwitting I can’t quite tell which of my thoughts come from me and which from my books, but that’s how I’ve stayed attuned to myself and the world around me for the past thirty-five years. Because when I read, I don’t really read; I pop a beautiful sentence into my mouth and suck it like a fruit drop, or I sip it like a liqueur until the thought dissolves in me like alcohol, infusing brain and heart and coursing on through the veins to the root of each blood vessel.” – Bohumil Hrabal

An imaginative production crew seeks to fundraise resources to launch a full-length feature film about Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal’s novel, Too Loud a Solitude.  Directed by Genevieve Anderson and starring Paul Giamatti as the voice of Hanta, Too Loud A Solitude (Příliš hlučná samota) is a feature adaptation of Bohumil Hrabal’s beloved book made with live action puppets, animated sequences and visual effects.

This globally famous novel is about a book crusher, Hanta. Watching the trailer of Too Loud A Solitude is like entering a magic portal to another dimension where Bohumil Hrabal’s book takes place in a world of puppetry.  An intimate, sneak peek to Hanta’s daily life and his private love affair with the books and their stories. A mirror reflection of Hrabal’s writing voice and how each book he created almost seems to be a personal letter written to each individual reader as opposed to the masses. As the camera soars in over the skyline of the town and we see gears grinding, scraps of papers tossed about and a city that seems to be very cold and quiet. Characters bundled up in many layers, speaking to each other without speaking as they go about daily life. The music is hypnotic and dreamy with its romantic yet haunting tune of a melancholy violin. 

“Too Loud a Solitude is the story of a waste compactor, Hanta, who was charged with destroying his country’s great literature in his humble press, and who fell so in love with the beautiful ideas contained within the books that he began secretly rescuing them – hiding them whole inside the bales, taking them home in his briefcase, and lining the walls of his basement with them. It became one of the defining books in Czechoslovakia’s history for its unsentimental, humorous, painfully relevant portrayal of humankind’s resilience. The story of Hanta’s quest to save the world of books and literature from destruction is often cited as the most beloved of Hrabal’s books. Too Loud a Solitude has a global fan base and an active community of support has emerged for our feature film project. The book has been translated into 37 languages and sold over 70,000 copies of Michael Henry Heim’s English translation alone. Bohumil Hrabal wrote the novella as an unsentimental account of what happened to him during the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia during the 40’s and 50’s. Many of Hrabal’s books were banned by the Russian regime and other great books by many authors were physically destroyed, an act Hrabal characterizes in Too Loud a Solitude as ‘crimes against humanity’… Our team has been committed to bringing Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal’s beloved novella Too Loud a Solitude to the screen since 2004. With the assistance of The Rockefeller Media Arts Foundation (now the Tribeca Film Institute), Heather Henson and Handmade Puppet Dreams, and The Jim Henson Foundation, we completed a 17 minute sample of the film in 2007. The film has been playing nationally and internationally in the Handmade Puppet Dreams program, and in 2009 was awarded an UNIMA-USA citation of excellence. We are currently working on financing the feature project, first through a Kickstarter start-up funds campaign and then through partnership with other financing and production entities. Our intention is to enlist the support of the book’s global fan base and expand its already impressive audience. We’re down to two weeks left in our Kickstarter fundraising campaign and are continuing to do outreach work to drum up more support for our project. We seek to raise $35,000 to cover the costs of puppet design, armature creation, motion exploration, character development, costume design, and visual effects.”

For more information about the film, please visit www.tooloudasolitude.com.screen-shot-2016-10-19-at-8-16-58-pm “For thirty-five years now I’ve been in wastepaper, and it’s my love story…I am a jug filled with water both magic and plain; I have only to lean over and a stream of beautiful thoughts flows out of me.”screen-shot-2016-10-19-at-8-16-25-pm

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“I felt beautiful and holy for having the courage to hold on to my sanity after all I’d seen and had been through, body and soul, in too loud a solitude.”

Darren Fung is one of Canada’s most accomplished music composers

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Darren Fung. Photography provided by CW3PR Inc.

Based in Los Angeles, Darren Fung is a talented, award-winning music composer. Born in Canada with strong Chinese roots, Mr. Fung’s music is a medley of the East and the West. His love of music began at the age of three and led him to become an accomplished composer. After a lifetime of living in Canada, Darren Fung moved to the United States to create music for film and TV in a new location.

Fung has a colorful, diverse, and nostalgic music style with a powerful yet gentle effect on the viewer’s senses. “With over 100 composition credits to his name, Darren Fung is seminally gifted and a highly influential composer who is well-respected in the TV and Film scoring worlds. Fung is one of Canada’s most accomplished composers, thrice nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. Most recently, he scored The Great Human Odyssey, a mini-series that explores the roots of humankind. The project opened to widespread critical acclaim in Canada, winning the 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best Music and receiving a nomination from the International Film Music Critics Association. (The Great Human Odyssey premieres in the U.S. this fall on PBS.) Darren utilizes an epic, large-scale orchestra and choir to bring this special’s score to life, replete with memorable melodies and unique musical colors. His diverse credits also include a recreation of Canada’s second national anthem (the beloved Hockey Theme) for CTV and TSN and the theme music for CTV’s flagship morning news show Canada AM. Additionally, Darren scored Bell Canada’s Orchestra advertisement spot (for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics), which was voted as Canada’s top commercial by readers of The Globe and Mail. Darren’s feature and short film scores have been heard at prestigious film festivals around the world, including Toronto, Cannes, and Sundance. After Fung studied at McGill University and worked full-time as a composer in Montreal, he moved to Los Angeles and is represented by Maria Machado of Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency and CW3PR.”

In 2016, Mr. Fung spoke with local Texas writer, Nicolette Mallow, to discuss the bird’s-eye view of his life lived in music and how he came to be in California with his wife and daughter after many years in Canada.

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Darren Fung and orchestra. Photography provided by CW3PR Inc.

Nicolette Mallow: Will you please tell me a little about when your love for music began and when you learned to play an instrument?

Darren Fung: I started playing piano when I was 3. Music has always been part of my life. After piano, I dabbled a little in violin and then the saxophone. I loved trying new instruments and playing the music in my head.

NM: Yes, I read in other interviews that you tend to create music with a large-scale orchestra. That makes sense, given you learned to play so many instruments… What number of instruments (musicians) entails a large scale orchestra?

DF: A large scale orchestra can be 40, 50, 60 people. Even 90-100. For me, that means anything over 40. Over 40 is a pretty big orchestra…Now, do I prefer to work with a recording group? I also like the challenge of not having a large scale orchestra and doing other things that are not orchestral.

NM: Your online biography states that you “caught the composing bug at age 15” when you wrote a piece for Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composer Project … Did you always know that music was your life calling?

DF: Yes, and no. I always loved music, but at the age of 15, I knew I wanted to be a composer. But it was hard for my family at first to accept that I am good at this, good enough to make a career of it. My mother is a Chinese tiger mom, and she wanted the best for me growing up. She had a preset idea of what my future looked like. She wanted me to pursue something more secure than music. Music or a creative career was too risky. So, when I first began music school instead of pursuing a life as a lawyer… it was hard for her. Culturally there were some conflicts and it would’ve been easier and more accepted had I chosen to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. My mother is very supportive now and she is very happy for me that I chose music.

NM: I understand the family and cultural aspects of what you just said. My Latina mother was most displeased, if not furious when I said I was going to Savannah College of Art & Design 12 years ago instead of Barnard or Stanford to be a psychologist or doctor. But she, too, is now very happy for me that I chased my artistic dreams.

DF: Yes it can be hard at first to choose your own path.

NM: In regards to music composition, what are some of the most distinct differences between Canada and the US?

DF: The most significant diff between the two is that Canada is more comparable to the Indie film scenes—the budgets are not that big. The AFM calls them low-budget films because we are lucky to get around a $3 million budget. We are supposed to do more with less. However, since we are so close to the states, we have a lot of similar musical influences.

NM: Reading about your career, I saw the phrase “musical colors” mentioned in writing. Can you tell me a little about what musical colors means to you?

DF: Instruments or sounds are our palette. Composers (and musicians) can kind of make whatever we want out of it. Musical colors are why I think I love orchestra so much because there is so much available—so many colors and moods to portray. Not to say other genres of music don’t have that. But I am a classically trained musician, and to be able to take that stuff and play away. It’s endless and I never know what will happen and I love it.

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Darren Fung and orchestra. Photography provided by CW3PR Inc.

NM: Were you nervous or excited to recreate the 2nd national anthem for Canada?

DF: Both. When I recreated the 2nd national anthem for hockey night in Canada, we wanted to pay homage to the original, but with a whole bunch of orchestrations and differentiators. For the longest time, it was a really iconic song in Canada. Everyone knows the song and it’s equivalent to Major League Baseball’s classic tune “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”…At the time I was working with CPC and they wanted to make it their own. I was 26 at the time and I didn’t want the country hating me as the guy who guy who f*cked up the hockey thing… However, I was thrilled to be part of the project. And at 26 I got to work with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and specific members who the company hired to play. So to be given that budget and content for a major broadcast was amazing.

NM: The Great Human Odyssey sounds amazing. What was it like writing for this TV show?

DF: It was 85 minutes of music in 7.5 weeks. There was material to score but we didn’t start writing till 7.5 weeks before we recorded… Niobe Thompson (Producer and Director of The Great Human Odyssey) sort of talked about bringing me on board as he was shooting. Almost two years before he started editing, I saw some raw footage. And I have to admit that when I first met up with Naobi, there was not a lot of money and I was not really sure the resources were available to create what he wanted with an orchestra and choir. But then he showed me the first warrior of this man jumping across ice flows. Drone shots across ice flows, and the backdrop was spectacular. The costumes, everything was visually stunning. And I realized we needed to get the music to match the greatness of the film… Fast forward in time and he then needed trailers. Then suddenly later on I am going to Prague so I can record a couple of cues to cut… Fast forward to the final count down where we are talking frame by frame, intentions, character and motivations; figuring out the music for each character and each scene.  

NM: Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy to keep you balanced outside work?

DF: Hockey and rowing are my two hobbies. Often I get up at stupid-o-clock in the morning around 5 A.M. to go rowing before work. What I love about hockey and rowing is that it’s two completely unrelated things to music. I meet people who aren’t in the business and it’s not a sedentary job. I get to move around and I get to blow off a lot of steam. I keep biz cards on me, just in case, but I like that it’s totally separate from work. Honestly I worry about the day where I might have to give one or both of them up… I find so much sanity and comic relief in hockey and rowing. Im horrible at both… but trying to get physical activity is necessary. And it’s fun to go have a beer with the guys sometimes. 

NM: Are there any genres in film or television that you would like to write for that you’ve yet to work on? 

DF: I’ve been lucky so far and enjoyed all my projects. But I would like to write for sci fi or opera. I haven’t yet had the chance to do either. Also, Animation is something else I am interested in. I like changing things up and I just finished up on an installation work for a gondola ride in Banff. So long as it’s a great project with great music: count me in! I am always looking for new projects and I came to LA to establish myself here.

For more information about Darren Fung please read his online bio. And to hear many songs or tracks from Fung’s music portfolio, please check out his SoundCloud page.

Aetheria, Death, Beauty and Masquerades: Three exhibits revealed at ART on 5th

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“Masquerade Series – The Void” created by Chris Guarino. {Photo by Nicolette Mallow}.

June 2016—ART on 5th revealed three exhibitions by artists Brandon Snow, John Breiner and Chris Guarino. Each artist creates a unique style from the heart. However, Brandon Snow’s pieces can be recognized by his bold use of the colors black and red, butterflies, roses, matches and a balloon. The works of John Breiner are a bit more playful and extensive with bright colors, including images like an eagle, a Native American and an owl. The collection by Chris Guarino reflects a fantasy world of magic, darkness, nature and masks. All three exhibitions and all three artists displayed by the gallery are listed below in fuller details.

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  • “Life, Death, and Beauty”: The strength of Brandon Snow’s work stems from the simplicity of his imagery. Each piece is conceptualized by photographing an everyday object. These are then translated from film to canvas via a large-format silkscreen printing method which he has developed through years of experimentation. This will be the artist’s first solo exhibition in Austin. “Brandon Snow is an Austin-based self-taught artist. Out of a desire to infuse his work with a new type of energy and excitement, Brandon began merging lo-fi film photography and silkscreen printing. When Snow discovered that he could print his photographs using large format silk screens, he immediately began the tedious process of teaching himself through trial and error. This silk screen method also allows room for unique and unplanned characteristics to develop in each piece during its creation”. Snow’s works are on display until July 7, 2016. www.brandonsnowart.com
  • “Aetheria”: John Breiner’s work revolves around the reuse of found paper, including book covers and old maps. By utilizing a unique print transfer method, Breiner combines photographs and original drawings. He finishes the image with a myriad of techniques, including acrylic, spray paint, and collage. The result is an ephemeral surface which transcends traditional print media. John Breiner is from New York, and this will be his second exhibition at ART on 5th. “John Breiner’s love of the ephemeral surface has kept him painting and illustrating for close to two decades. While the focus of his personal work revolves around the reuse of found items (specifically old paper, books and book jackets), John has also painted large-scale murals, numerous illustrations, and album covers over the years”. Briener’s works are on display until July 7, 2016. www.johnbreiner.com
  • “From The Unknown & The Masquerade Series”: Chris Guarino, the winner of our 2015 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Contest, is currently the featured artist at ART on 5th. Guarino’s sculptures and digital photography are no longer on display. For information about prints, please contact ART on 5th. “From the Unknown is a solo exhibition of work by internationally recognized sculptor and digital media artist, Chris Guarino. Chris was also the winner of our 2015 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Contest. His work has been exhibited in Chicago, Miami, and Berlin. This show will feature original cast resin sculptures as well as prints of his digital photography work.” “From the Unknown” ended on June 18, 2016. Viewers can still see artwork by Chris Guarino at the gallery, however the full exhibit is no longer up in its original form. www.chrisguarino.com

Additionally, please bear in mind that ART on 5th is encouraging a Call for Entries from artists that have yet to be featured at the gallery. “ART on 5th will once again be hosting the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. The Artisan Series is a national search to find the next big name in visual arts, and offers under represented artists a national platform to showcase their work. Artists residing within 150 miles of the city center will be considered for the Austin semi-finalist exhibition to be held at ART on 5th this October”. For more information regarding hours, location or upcoming exhibits at the gallery of ART on 5th: please visit their website at www.arton5th.com or call (512) 481-1111.

 Note: This article was originally published on Examiner.com in June 2016.  

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Composer Kerry Muzzey talks about writing the score for ‘The Seer’ at SXSW

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Kerry Muzzey. Photography by Simon Whiteside.

World-renowned modern and classical composer, Kerry Muzzey, wrote the musical score for “The Seer: A Portrait of Wendell Berry”, a documentary directed by Laura Dunn and executive produced by Oscar winner Robert Redford and Oscar nominee Terrence Malick. “The Seer” held its world premiere on Mar. 12, 2016 at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Composer Kerry Muzzey and the crew of “The Seer” hit the red carpet several times to promote their newly released, award-winning documentary. The SXSW Music, Film and Interactive Conferences and Festivals is celebrating its 30th year. And this year “The Seer” was awarded the ‘Special Jury Recognition for Cinematography’ for SXSW 2016.

Music is a key element within the world of cinema and Kerry Muzzey knows how to set the scene, musically, with his innate gifts of sound and music. The score for “The Seer” is absolutely lovely and befitting to the story without dominating or overpowering the documentary. On Mar. 15, 2016, Kerry Muzzey consented to a phone interview with Austin Examiner, Nicolette Mallow, to talk more about creating the score of “The Seer” and his musical background that lead him to Hollywood and SXSW.

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A little more about the synopsis of the film in preface to the interview: “The story of ‘The Seer’ revolves around the divergent stories of several residents of Henry County, Kentucky who each face difficult choices that will dramatically reshape their relationship with the land and their community… Henry County, Kentucky, like many rural landscapes across America, has become a place of quiet ideological struggle. In the span of a generation, virtues of simplicity, land stewardship, local economies and rootedness to place have been supplanted by a capital-intensive model of industrial agriculture characterized by machine labor, chemical fertilizers, soil erosion and debt—all of which have frayed the fabric of communities. Writing from a long wooden desk beneath a forty-paned window, Wendell Berry has watched this struggle unfold, becoming one the most passionate and eloquent voices in defense of agrarian life… Filmed across four seasons in the farming cycle, ‘The Seer’ blends observational scenes of farming life, interviews with farmers and community members with evocative, carefully framed shots of the surrounding landscape. Thus, in the spirit of Berry’s agrarian philosophy, Henry County itself will emerge as a character in the film – a place and a landscape that is deeply interdependent with the people that inhabit it.”

Nicolette Mallow: When did you begin playing music? Would you mind telling me a little bit about your artistic background?

Kerry Muzzey: When I was 10 years old I started learning on classical organ. By the age of 11, I began writing music. But really it goes back even further than that because when I was 6 or 7 years old, I recall going to see “Star Wars”. Sitting there in the theater as a kid, when the film started rolling and the music came out of the speakers: it gave me goose bumps. I’ll never forget the feeling, even now. The music blew me away and all I could think about the rest of the day was “Star Wars” and its musical score. I have extreme reverence for John Williams. And I believe many composers can say that John Williams’ music was and is a true inspiration. Right after that movie I went out and bought the soundtrack on vinyl and listened to it on those giant headphones from the 1970’s. The music sounded like classical but it was more specific and inspiring. It was very intense and evocative for a child because it was focused and in conjunction with the picture… As a child I wanted to be a composer, a spy and an airline pilot. I dreamt of becoming many professions just like any little kid would. Yet I always kept coming back to music. My mother raised me entirely on classical and she told me that when I was in her womb: she played classical music for me and held the headphones next to her belly for 30 minutes a day for nine months.

NM: It seems as if you were destined to be a composer.

KM: Yes, and even though I started writing at the age of 11. It wasn’t until I turned 16 that my mother’s friend moved away and gave us their piano. I remember getting that piano and my family could not pull me away from it… Just the sound of a piano allured me. Complex piano compositions resonated with me so deeply even then. Because when you are playing a physical instrument: you can feel the hammers and strings inside its giant wooden case. It resonates in your heart and your hands. You can literally feel the sound as you’re playing music. It’s very powerful. That is around the time I began writing solo piano stuff. Playing the orchestra I heard inside my head. At the time, technology for music was not yet available to create an orchestra inside of a computer. So, it was a little different back then.

NM: I listened to the score you composed for “The Seer” in its entirety, twice. You wrote such beautiful music that compelled my mind to travel through time and feel nostalgic. The song “Daughter” struck a chord with me, in a good way… Was the music meant to be evocative? What is the biggest difference between writing music for a narrative feature versus writing a score for a documentary film?

KM: That is an awesome question. Writing music for a documentary was a challenge that took me quite a few tries to overcome. A narrative film is a completely different process than composing music for a documentary. Writing music for a documentary has to be subtle. The music cannot overpower the picture and it has to stay out of the way of the picture. The score cannot be traditional. For instance, a narrative feature film has a soundtrack of very specifically engineered music. It is written to make the audience feel something at that moment, so when the hero saves the world or the couple finally gets their big kiss: you expect the soaring strings. When making music for a documentary, if you’re too on the nose, or if you’re trying to punch it up too much, it can become a distraction. The audience that attends documentaries and is loyal to documentaries is also a highly intelligent crew. And you cannot use music to try and manipulate the audience into feeling a certain way. The music is simply there to beautify and assist the story as it unfolds in its own natural state.

NM: If you had to pick one song from the soundtrack of “The Seer”, which track encapsulates the spirit of the film? I’m curious to know which song is the beating heart of your composition.

KM: Yes, I can pick one. I believe it’s the sixth track and it’s a song called “Forty Panes”. It’s also the Director’s favorite (Laura Dunn). It’s a song about Wendell Barry and it has piano and cellos in the melody. It was magical to write and it kind of came out of nowhere. I was so in love with it that I actually got my cellist to record it before I even played it for Laura. Which is kind of dangerous because I am paying the cellist for his time. But I loved this cue so much. The way it resonates with the picture and how it struck a perfect balance… It’s the crux of everything and it’s beautiful… I sent the piece out to the Director and I was stalking my email waiting for Laura’s response. Two hours passed by and I feared the worst. And then her email arrived with a response, “I keep watching it over and over—and I kept crying every time I felt the music—and I don’t know why.” Right then, I knew that I got it right… The Director of “The Seer” is not only a good person, but she’s extremely smart and talented. She’s amazing and cool and I wanted her to love the soundtrack. Talking to her the other day, we spoke of that piece in particular as it being the high point in the films soundtrack: simple and quiet, but against the picture it can’t be anything else but exactly that… This wasn’t my first project with Laura Dunn, either. About eight years ago, Laura made a film, “The Unforeseen” about over development in-and-around Austin. The core of it predicted the housing crash a year prior to the fact. At the time she had licensed a few pieces of mine to use. Years later we reconnected and in this case she wanted me to score the entire film. Obviously I said yes and it’s been an amazing project. Laura and her team are so great at what they do.

NM: Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to?

KM: Yes, I do have future projects. Presently I cannot say much because it hasn’t been formally announced yet. What I can say is that I am writing a full-length ballet for a full orchestra. And it premieres in London next May of 2017. This job sort of came out of left field. It’s a very heavy lift for me, it’s a huge challenge, but I am so excited to work with this choreographer and their innovative team. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.

For more information regarding Kerry Muzzey or the movie, “The Seer: A Portrait of Wendell Berry”: please visit www.kerrymuzzey.com or www.theseerfilm.com.

Note: This article was originally published on Examiner.com in March 2016.