INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS
All my work for The Untitled Magazine: https://untitled-magazine.com/author/jason-levy/
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: “REBEL” ISSUE EXCLUSIVE: DRAG QUEEN SASHA VELOUR IS TAKING ON THE WORLD WITH HER VERY OWN DRAG “MANIFESTO”
"Just as drag queen Sasha Velour’s style is dead-set on breaking the boundaries of gender identity, so too is her view on the concept of uprising incredibly nuanced. After starting out in the Brooklyn scene, Sasha’s growing profile gained enough traction to get her cast on RuPaul’s Drag Race’s ninth season, where she would claim the top prize. From there, Sasha raised her groundbreaking drag stage shows to a whole new scale, starting with the acclaimed ensemble project Nightgowns. From Nightgowns came the world-acclaimed one-queen, autobiographical show Smoke & Mirrors, an 87-performance tour around the world seen by almost 100,000 patrons.
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: DRAG QUEEN CHARITY KASE FORGOES ALL FORMS OF GENDER, CONFORMITY, AND SYSTEMATIC RULES TO CREATE ONE-OF-A-KIND ART
"When hearing artist Charity Kase discuss her philosophy behind drag as an art form, her otherworldly, over-the-top, alternative style begins to make perfect sense. Focusing predominantly on non-human forms, Charity’s drag exists in a realm of the surreal, sometimes inspired by pop culture and media figures, but more often of her own twisted creation. Charity is also a constant creative force, exploring more permanent art by painting, and designing fashionable one-of-a-kind pieces for her online collection, bycharitykase."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: PRIYANKA CAPS OFF HER STUNNING “TASTE TEST” EP WITH THE WEST INDIAN-INSPIRED “SNATCH” MUSIC VIDEO
"Few drag queens have managed to crack the popstar code like superstar Priyanka. With the release of the music video for “Snatch,” the final track on her successful debut EP Taste Test, Priyanka caps off her inaugural music era with a bang, and a tour! Featuring videos for four of its five tracks, the saga of Taste Test follows Priyanka in her very own cinematic universe. In the videos, she can be seen fighting to become the leader of the free world against a corrupt government that forces its residents into the brutal “Cake Games,” all while navigating double crossing ex-boyfriends and killer clowns"
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: ACTOR KIT CONNOR BRINGS MUCH NEEDED AUTHENTICITY TO CHARACTERS QUESTIONING SEXUALITY ON NETFLIX’S BREAKOUT HIT “HEARTSTOPPER”
"Despite growing media representation for LGBTQ+ people over the last decade or so, it is still increasingly rare to find a robust representation of bisexuality or questioning sexuality on television. What’s even rarer is representation that is not only healthy and poignant, but also not particularly interested in the trend of queer trauma porn, as is the case with the overwhelmingly wholesome Heartstopper. Focused primarily on high school rugby star Nick Nelson, played convincingly by breakout star Kit Connor, and his newfound infatuation with openly gay classmate Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), the Netflix show follows Nelson as he explores the many complicated milestones that come with discovering and coming to terms with one’s own sexuality as a young person."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: ACTOR NATHAN KRESS ON SEASON 2 OF “ICARLY,” FATHERHOOD, AND HIS NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
"Watching Nathan Kress as Freddie Benson all grown up on iCarly, the Paramount+ revival of the Nickelodeon sitcom of the same name from a decade earlier, should be a somewhat surreal experience for someone who grew up watching the show. But in all honesty, watching Freddie, along with the familiar faces of Miranda Cosgrove as the titular Carly Shay and Jerry Trainor as her wacky older brother Spencer, feels just as fresh and enjoyable as it does nostalgic."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: INTERVIEW: DESIGNER ASHER LEVINE ON HIS AUGMENTED REALITY FASHION AND CREATING UNIQUE LOOKS FOR LADY GAGA, GRIMES, AND MORE
"It is truly difficult to come up with a name in fashion more synonymous with innovation than Asher Levine. After launching his eponymous label in 2009, Levine went from a leather jacket line to making a huge name for himself with elaborate, larger-than-life, high technology-infused, and most of all time-consuming costumes for the world’s biggest music stars like Lil Nas X, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, and most recently, Grimes. Even since early client will.i.am first requested a jacket with lights in it, Asher took on the challenge and then some, diving deep into his fascination with natural word, and combining it with the technological one to create an identity all his own."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: RISING BRITISH ARTIST CODY FROST INTRODUCES HER CHEEKY AND GRUNGY STYLE TO THE WORLD WITH DEBUT EP “IT’S NOT REAL"
"It’s a fairly difficult task to introduce yourself as an artist in just four songs, but rising British artist Cody Frost has accomplished just that with her debut EP It’s Not Real. Inspired by a host of personal experiences like mental demons, her upbringing and loneliness, the EP serves as a clear and concise introduction to Cody as an artist with massive talent and a huge willingness and desire to evolve."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: MICHAEL JUDSON BERRY MAKES HIS FEATURE FILM DEBUT FOLLOWING THE TIKTOK SUCCESS OF “QUARANTEATIME WITH MOIRA ROSE”
"It’s been a tough year for us all, and like an overwhelming many of us, actor Michael Judson Berry took solace in the ray of light and positivity that is Pop Network’s Schitt’s Creek. So after popping on a cheap wig from a Halloween costume for an improvised video impersonating the ever iconic Moira Rose, the viral hit “QuaranTeaTime” was born on TikTok."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: PREMIERE: WILLA AMAI’S NEWEST SINGLE “NOT A SOLDIER” RE-EXAMINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOVE AND CONTROL
"At 17, you’d be hard-pressed to find an artist as young as Willa Amai with as much high profile experience. After being introduced to multi-platinum songwriter and producer Linda Perry at only 12 years old, Amai has spent the last five years under her wing, honing her already natural talent into the dynamic performing force evident in collaborations with the likes of Dolly Parton and Brandie Carlile. Now, two months after the release of her single “Ocean” comes “Not a Soldier,” a beautifully haunting take on love and control. The track is the newest single for her upcoming debut album, I Can Go to Bed Whenever."
THE UNTITLED. MAGAZINE: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: HAYLEY HASSELHOFF ON BODY POSITIVITY, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND HER JOURNEY AS CURVE MODEL AND ACTIVIST
"Kicking off her career at age 14 as a curve model, the now 28-year old Hayley Hasselhoff has since evolved to encompass so much more. A model, actress, activist, and public speaker, Hasselhoff has not only expanded her platform, but used it to accomplish so much in the realms of women’s health, body positivity, and mental well-being awareness. Always selective about the work she takes on, at the core of each endeavor is an ever-present philosophy of self-worth, with an understanding that not every day will be perfect."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: LAUREN PATEL EMPHASIZES SOUTH ASIAN REPRESENTATION WITH HER FILM DEBUT IN “EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE”
"When Lauren Patel attended an open call for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, she thought she was just going for some early career audition experience. Little did she realize she had just walked into the room that would award her with her screen acting debut, and on the big screen no less. With limited acting experience and little exposure to the world of drag, Patel charmed director Jonathan Butterell with a nervous, but controlled energy that was perfect for her debut role, Pritti Pasha."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: MARTINS IMHANGBE MAKES HIS TV DEBUT IN THE HOTLY ANTICIPATED NETFLIX DRAMA “BRIDGERTON”
"For stage actor Martins Imhangbe, the realm of television is a whole new world. Branching out from his past roles on the stage like in Death of a Salesman and The Tragedy of King Richard II, Imhangbe is making his small screen debut this year in the highly anticipated Shonda Rhimes creation Bridgerton. The show, based on the series of novels by acclaimed romance writer Julia Quinn, follows the titular Bridgerton family during the height of Regency-era London as they play the socio-political game of high society. The series is Rhime’s first foray outside of her comfortable home at ABC, and Imhangbe is part of the delightfully diverse ensemble cast which includes Julie Andrews, Jonathan Bailey, Adjoah Andoh, Ben Miller, Julian Ovenden, and Polly Walker."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: EMERGING UK ARTIST BELLE SCAR TAKES US ON A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND SPACE ON NEW SINGLE “THE EERINESS”
"If we could briefly describe the philosophy that embodies the work of London-based singer-songwriter and performance artist Belle Scar, it would be the old adage “its not about the destination, but the journey.” The Canadian-born artist, real name Geeta, has just as much of a visual identity as sonic one, crafting elaborate and avant garde stage shows to match the ambiance of every song in her catalogue. Obsessed with space and time, Scar ruminates on our relationship with the universe as humble humans, and our constant yearning for meaning in the world around us. Nowhere is that sentiment more apparent then on her newest single “The Eeriness,” the first from her upcoming second album in 2021."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: EXCLUSIVE: KENDRA ERIKA ON MAKING MUSIC DURING THE PANDEMIC, HER NEW ALBUM, AND SOULFUL NEW BALLAD “AVALANCHE”
"Dance music artist Kendra Erika has been a mainstay on the Billboard Dance charts for the last couple years, scoring five top ten hits in just under three years. One of those tracks, her cover of Laura Branigan’s 80s hit “Self Control,” hit the top spot early last year. And just last month, after premiering the music video for previous single “So Fly,” the video has racked up over 500k views, becoming her most watched project to date. Simply put, Erika is on a roll, and has managed to hit every milestone with almost completely independently."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: PAAPA ESSIEDU CAPTIVATES US ON SCREEN THIS YEAR IN “I MAY DESTROY YOU” AND “GANGS OF LONDON”
"Despite the pandemic, actor Paapa Essiedu has had quite a prolific year. Right off the heels of the critically acclaimed I May Destroy You, on which he played the understated yet complex Kwame, Essiedu is on our screens again, this time in a completely different role. Diving into the seedy underbelly of London, Essiedu's newest project, Gangs of London explores the violent and rivalrous workings of the city's most prominent gangs and organized crime organizations.
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: KIIARA CONFRONTS HERSELF ON DEBUT ALBUM LIL KIIWI
"Most would be hesitant or embarrassed to use words like “reckless,” “unpredictable” or “ignorant” to describe themselves, even in the past. For electropop singer Kiiara though, those flaws of her past self helped shape herself into what she is today, and inform her music on a deeply personal level. On her debut album lil kiiwi, Kiiara presents the titular character as an early version of herself, documenting her mistakes and hardships that ultimately lead to the catharsis of her songwriting process. “I made a lot of mistakes and through the process of making this album I learned from a lot of those mistakes,” Kiiara says. “I learned not to take love for granted, I learned to love, I learned not to push away the people who genuinely care about me.”
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ICONA POP STAY UPBEAT DURING LOCKDOWN WITH NEW SINGLE “FEELS IN MY BODY”
"In mid-2013, barely a year after the release of their smash hit “I Love It,” from critically acclaimed LP This Is… Icona Pop Swedish electropop duo Icona Pop sat down with us at The Untitled Magazine for an exclusive interview to talk their newfound success and working relationship with each other (you can read the full-length interview in 2013’s The Music Issue). Seven short years later and the duo of Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt are still their devastatingly cool selves, just with a ton of new memorable experiences and quite a few more tours and tracks under their belt."
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: UK NEWCOMER REGULUS RED PUTS QUEERNESS FIRST ON UPCOMING EP “RED PRINCE OF THE NIGHT”
"‘80s throwback is in, just ask up-and-coming international electropop singer Regulus Red. The half Welsh, half Italian artist takes huge inspiration from the over-the-top energy and colors of the era, and infuses it all with an unabashed sense of self and authenticity. Uniquely international and unapologetically extravagant, Red is not afraid to throw out the rulebook of the pop star persona and replace it with his own gender-bending guidelines. Exuding masculine and feminine energy in equal parts, Regulus Red’s music is by queer, for queer. Check out the full exclusive interview"
THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE: CANADIAN ACTOR JAKE MANLEY GOES ALL-AMERICAN FOR HIS GRITTY ROLE IN “INFAMOUS” OPPOSITE BELLA THORNE
"Actor Jake Manley’s filmography has ranged from the adorable likes of A Dog’s Journey, to comedy-horror Netflix gem The Order, to all-out war epic Midway. With his new film, Infamous, out on streaming services and select drive-ins now, he can cross “heist-thriller ” off his list. Though he’ll tell you himself that the film is far harder to pin down than that. Check out our exclusive interview with Jake Manley."