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10) Lucy Schwartz - "When We Were Young" 9) Michael Kiwanuka - "Home Again" 8) Jackie Wilson - "To Be Loved" 7) Jordan Mackampa - "Teardrop In A Hurricane" 6) Ray LaMontagne - "You Are The Best Thing" 5) The Lumineers - "Flowers In Your Hair" 4) Jimmy Cliff - "Wild World" 3) Alabama Shakes - "Don't Wanna Fight" 2) The Mamas and The Papas - "California Dreamin" 1) Andra Day and Common - "Stand Up For Something" What songs or music artists are in your current rotation right now? Let us know in the comments section below and on Instagram: @nicolederosalifestyle with the hashtag #MusicWithNicoleDeRosaLifestyle

10) Excitedly waiting for Vinny the Postman. 9) Making the squirrel outside my window a spectator sport. 8) Having a special relationship with my YouTube video exercise trainers everyday. 7) Deciding which color sweatpants to wear today. 6) Running offense with my wife and daughter while they play defense for the contents of the refrigerator several times a day. 5) Taking a shower is now a tropical experience. 4) Folding the laundry is now a zen experience. 3) Watching game shows is the most exciting thing I will do each day. 2) Excited to leave the house to take out the garbage. 1) Finally able to take a deep breath knowing things will get better soon.

I'm looking forward to the day when exploring this beautiful world and getting to know more people from other cultures can resume in a safe fashion. Until then, I've put together this blog post for you! It's always exciting to get a new stamp in your passport! And while you may already have a passport from the country you were born in, I've been researching how you can also get another — if you have a grandparent (or in some cases even a great-grandparent) who was born out of the country. Your family ancestry is more than just interesting dinner conversation, it’s a way to open the door to new places around the globe. So whether you want to explore with fewer visa worries, take advantage of shorter customs lines, or simply feel more worldly the next time you’re at the airport, it may be worth your time to look into your right to obtain a different passport. Your ability to obtain a second passport and citizenship is an important benefit, thanks to your family tree and recent ancestors. So-called “citizenship by descent” laws in your ancestors’ country of origin may qualify you for a second citizenship and a passport as a matter of right. A second passport also grants the right to live, work, and do business in the country. It might be the ideal place for a second or retirement home. The easiest and quickest way to acquire second citizenship is through your bloodline: citizenship resulting from the nationality of your father, mother, or grandparents. Most countries go back only one generation, meaning at least one of your parents must be from the country in question to be eligible for citizenship. But in a few countries, grandchildren can qualify. Genealogical research and a search of your own family records can open the door to a past that can influence your future. Information about ancestry citizenship laws can be found on the internet at the official websites of one of the country’s embassies. (Beware of the frauds rampant in this area.) Nations that grant citizenship based on a blood ancestry basis, if your parent or grandparent was a citizen, include Ireland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Luxembourg, Hungary, Greece and Armenia. Six of the named countries are European Union member states, so their citizenship gives the freedom to live and work in all the member states of the EU. For Jews, religion under Israel’s Law of Return permits citizenship in Israel. Below are several countries in which you’re in luck if you have a grandparent — or in some cases, any ancestors — who came from there. Greece If you have a parent or grandparent that was born in Greece, then you may be able to claim Greek citizenship through descent. Article 10 of the Code of Greek Citizenship states that any Greek- born in another country can apply for Greek citizenship. To obtain your Greek citizenship by descent, you’ll have to prove your direct lineage to a Greek ancestor. The first critical document you’ll need is a birth certificate of your ancestor that was registered with the local authority (either a Municipal Register or the Male Register of Greece). It is important to note that the Greek government is very strict about documentation. Only certificates issued by Greek municipal authorities are accepted. This means your ancestor must have been registered at the municipality of a town or village in Greece. This certificate needs to include a municipality number, and will be proof that your ancestor is Greek by birth. Next, you’ll need birth, death, and marriage certificates for all subsequent ancestors, whether in Greece or abroad. Any foreign certificates must be translated and certified by an Apostille. Ireland Even if you were not born in Ireland, you are eligible for Irish citizenship if one of your grandparents was born on the island or was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, according to the Irish Foreign Ministry. In order to get a passport, you have to apply for Foreign Birth Registration, which can take up to a year to process. United Kingdom Applying for British citizenship through a grandparent is a three-step process that takes several years. If you can prove one of your grandparents was born in the U.K., you first have to apply for a U.K. Ancestry visa, which allows you to stay in the country for five years. After those five years, you can then apply for permanent settlement, or indefinite leave to remain. Once you have had that status for a year, you can apply for citizenship. Italy In Italy, descendants of Italian citizens are often eligible to become citizens themselves — and there is no limit on how many generations ago your ancestors left the country as long as they maintained their own Italian citizenship until they had kids of their own, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. You can prove this lineage through things like birth and marriage certificates. Southern Poland, photo courtesy of: Trip Advisor Poland Just like Italy, Poland’s citizenship laws are built around the idea of “uninterrupted lineage.” That means you have to make sure that no Polish ancestor in your lineage renounced their Polish citizenship at any time. The good news is that Poland is generous with how far back you can trace your ancestry. If you have a great-grandparent who was born in Poland, then you could claim citizenship through descent. The bad news is that despite the country’s complicated war history, Poland is very strict with respect to documentation. This is true despite the nation’s complicated war history. The burden of proof is on you and the problem is that many family histories were destroyed by war. Unfortunately, no matter the circumstances, no matter how tragic the family history, the Polish government will demand proper documentation. Officials see everyone’s war history as more or less equally tragic. It is recommend getting professional help by someone who’s very familiar with Poland’s citizenship by descent procedures, such as a law firm or professional genealogist. Spain You can apply for Spanish citizenship if one of your grandparents was originally Spanish themselves, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain. But in order to do so, you have to first live in Spain legally for one year. Hungary Hungary considers most people with Hungarian grandparents to be Hungarian citizens, so all you have to do is apply to verify your citizenship (and it doesn’t matter if you speak Hungarian or not). If your grandparents lost their Hungarian citizenship — which tends to come up due to different peace treaties that followed WWI and WWII — you can still apply to be a Hungarian citizen through the simplified naturalization process, but you do have to speak Hungarian. Germany If your ancestors lost their German citizenship because of religious, political, or racial grounds from 1933 to 1945 — which applied to a lot of Jewish people and other persecuted groups who fled Nazi Germany — you may be eligible to have that citizenship restored. In order to claim this, you have to be able to say that if your ancestor had not been deprived of their German citizenship, you would have acquired it by birth. Photo courtesy of: Full Suitcase Lithuania You may be eligible to obtain Lithuanian citizenship if one of your grandparents or great-grandparents (who had citizenship before 1940) left Lithuania before 1990 or was a deportee or political prisoner. In order to prove this lineage, you have to submit things like birth certificates or documents concerning studies or work prior to 1940. Sources: Sovereign Man Travel and Leisure Have you obtained a second passport based on your family's roots or did this post inspire you to look into doing so? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Fifth Harmony is an American girl group, composed of Camila Cabello (who departed the group in 2016) , Normani , Lauren Jauregui , Ally Brooke + Dinah Jane . The group signed a joint record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco Records + L.A. Reid's label Epic Records after forming + were the last contestant eliminated in the second season of the American singing competition series The X Factor in 2012. The group released their debut single " Miss Movin' On ", preceding their extended play Better Together . In 2015, the group released their debut studio album Reflection , which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned the singles " Boss ", " Sledgehammer " + " Worth It "; the latter of which was certified triple platinum by RIAA + reached the top ten in thirteen countries. In 2016, the group released " Work from Home ", the lead single from their second album 7/27 , which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 , making it the first top five single by a girl group in a decade on that chart. In 2015, the group contacted a music lawyer that helped transfer the Fifth Harmony's trademark from Simon Cowell to its members, becoming the total owners of such. In 2016, journalist Hugh McIntyre of Forbes , declared "It's safe to say that Fifth Harmony doesn't have any real competition worth speaking of in the girl group lane". The Daily Trojan stated that: "Fifth Harmony established themselves as the most popular girl group of the new generation — a void that desperately needed to be filled after the dissolution of the Pussycat Dolls and Danity Kane. The girls found their niche: empowered women of color who didn't shy away from sexuality, feminism or achievement. Their songs echoed with dynamism and fierceness, and their vocal talents shined through in every hit". They released their self-titled third album in 2017. The group went on indefinite hiatus in March 2018, allowing its members to pursue solo projects. Fifth Harmony has sold nearly 15 million RIAA certified units + are one of the best-selling girl groups of all time with a reported 33 million copies sold. They are known for their vocal range + songs with themes of female empowerment , self positivity, confidence + unity. As of 2016, they have earned 1.6 billion on-demand streams, according to Nielsen SoundScan . Billboard named them the biggest girl group of the 2010s. In 2017, TIME magazine referred to them as arguably "the biggest girl group in the world". Fifth Harmony have been referred to as "the current standard-bearers for girl group success" by Gold Derby + "the biggest girl group in a generation" by The Recording Academy . Fifth Harmony's success was compared to the impact Spice Girls made in the 1990s, with MIC dubbing them as " The Spice Girls of the 21st Century ". Fifth Harmony have also been referred to as one of the best girl groups of all time by US Magazine, in 2022. Fifth Harmony have earned the most top ten albums on the U.S. Billboard 200 for any girl group in the 21st century. Their accolades include an American Music Award , three MTV Europe Music Awards , three Guinness World Records , four MTV Video Music Awards , four iHeartRadio Music Awards , the first ever Billboard Women in Music Group of the Year award, a record five Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (the most for a girl group) + ten Teen Choice Awards . In March 2018, the group made their decision to take an indefinite hiatus to pursue solo projects. Before their hiatus, the group completed a final run of shows + released a music video for their song " Don't Say You Love Me ". As of January 2019, all members have released solo singles. In 2022, MTV credited Fifth Harmony for challenging several of the stereotypes associated with girl groups, pouring their voices into their music + speaking out against misogyny + abuse of power, stating that "Fifth Harmony were also inheriting the low retention rate of girl groups in American popular music, which has long been driven by the misogynistic belief that multiple women couldn't function on a collaborative level without falling out with one another in a fight for the spotlight. It wasn't a fair hand to have been dealt, but it gave them something to prove. After spending their formative teenage years being compared to one another while filling in pre-shaped pop molds, Fifth Harmony looked inward on their third and subsequently final album Fifth Harmony and restored the confidence in their voices that had been hidden beneath years of being kept quiet". Fifth Harmony was involved in a long-time confliction with their ex-label for alleged mistreatments + the ownership of their music, in an interview with Billboard member Lauren expressed that: "We'd put blood, sweat and tears — and birthdays and funerals we missed — into this thing, it's our livelihoods and our families, this is the train, and now you're like, 'Is the conductor going to come through with the coals, or are we left here to die?" The FIFTH HARMONY ladies took some time out of their very busy schedule for a fun Q&A with All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa.  Enjoy their interview below! You ladies all met on the second season of The X Factor where you performed Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Could Happen,” which was described by L.A. Reid as “a finals-caliber performance.” And Britney Spears called it, “Magic.” What was that whole experience like? How did you ease your nerves performing for the millions of people watching the show? NORMANI: I definitely believe that it was the biggest transition for all of us . We all grew up singing in our rooms or at a local event but never in front of millions of people . This was our once in a lifetime opportunity so we kinda just took that leap of faith and rolled with it. I personally suffered with my confidence throughout that process but I most definitely learned a lot and took away the tools that I needed to prepare myself for my career and I have gained the confidence ! It was a process that was necessary and made me stronger than I ever thought I was. Using one word, how would you each describe your band mates? NORMANI: Ally – sunshine, Lauren- artistic, Dinah- athletic, Camila- corky What was the inspiration for your single, “BO$$,” from your debut album? What does that song mean to you? CAMILA: We wanted to make a song that was all about girl empowerment and about being the BOSS of your own life. To me, it’s a fun and sassy way of showing that it’s good to love who you are. Speaking of, the video for ‘BO$$” is pretty bad a$$! It was directed and choreographed by the very talented, Fatima Robinson. Any memorable stories to share from the set? CAMILA: Working with Fatima was such an honor. We all felt so inspired to see how she worked and how determined she was to carry out her vision.. She had so many ideas and worked with us to make sure we felt comfortable and loved what we were doing. We all had guacamole and chips after the video was done. What was it like going on tour with Demi Lovato? Camila, didn’t you cover “Skyscraper” in your room a while back before you met her? CAMILA : I always say if i told my 15 year old self that I’d be on a tour with Demi Lovato, that would’ve been it. I would’ve just lost it. It wasn’t a dream come true, because I didn’t even imagine that could happen in my wildest dreams. The wildest it ever got was to meet her, but we got to go on tour with her, and i had covered her songs on youtube just two years before. She’s one of the most genuine people we’ve ever met and she’s just as kind as she seems. Speaking of the tour, what are some things you have to have on the road with you? LAUREN: I have to have blankets, an extra pillow, my stuffed animals and my phone and earbuds and a book and my laptop. If you had the opportunity to work with any act/artist from the past, present or future, who would it be and why? If you could spend the day with them, where would you go…and what would you do? LAUREN : I have four. I would spend the day with Lana Del Rey, Matty Healy, Bob Marley and John Lennon. I feel like the conversation that would transpire would make me cry of happiness and appreciation. I would just got to dinner with them or some place we could sit and talk about a bunch of things. What was the first song you fell in love with growing up? DINAH: Growing up , one of the songs I really fell in love with was listen by Beyoncé. Who are some of the new artists who inspire you? Who is in your current playlist? Any “guilty pleasure” songs or who would we be surprised to find on your playlist? DINAH: The current new artists that have inspired me lately have been Birdy and Sam Smith:) surprisingly in my playlist I don’t think anyone would’ve known I love classical music . It makes me immensely happy. Fifth Harmony supports a number of charities and organizations which focus on underprivileged teens and promoting youth empowerment. You ladies launched a very cool self-esteem campaign in partnership with “Do Something’ called #ImABOSS. Can you tell our readers a bit about what that is about and why it is important to you? ALLY: It’s a campaign that encourages people to empower one another. On a template you write what your friend is the “boss” of (for example Normani is the boss of creativity) and you give that template to your friend and have her take a picture with it! It's important to support one another. This interview was in partnership with All Access Music Group, Malibu, CA https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-the-lovely-ladies-of-fifth-harmony

From the remote tundra of her Alaskan youth to the triumph of international stardom, JEWEL  has traveled a singular road as an acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, actress + painter. The three-time Grammy nominee, hailed by The Times of London as "the most sparkling female singer-songwriter since Joni Mitchell", nevertheless remains a unique + authentic artist, exploring fresh musical avenues for more than a decade that have taken her from the simplicity of acoustic-driven folk to the embrace of rock, pop, country, blues, jazz + classical influences. To date, JEWEL has sold over 30 million albums worldwide (as of 2024), enjoying a career longevity rare among her generation of artists. Whether alone with her guitar or fronting a band of ace musicians, Jewel has always been a charismatic live performer, earning the respect of other singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan + Neil Young , who have invited her to open their shows.  A native of Payson, Utah, raised in Homer + Anchorage, Alaska, Jewel (born Jewel Kilcher) was the descendent of homesteaders: her mother's family old-guard Mormon, her father's side Swiss futurists who immigrated before World War II. Both of her parents, Atz + Nedra, enjoyed making local records + performing and, along with her brothers, Jewel (a moniker taken from her mother's family name) accompanied her parents on tours through native villages. At six, “I remember singing for Eskimos and Aleuts in remote places, taking dog sled rides through frozen tundra,” she says.  Heartfelt songwriting became not only an emotional outlet, but a means of survival. During Spring Break one year she took a train + hitchhiked in Mexico, earning money as a street-corner minstrel. "I made up lyrics everywhere I went + eventually it turned into a very long song about what I saw around me, she recalls. I made it back to school two weeks later with an unformed song called “Who Will Save Your Soul?” She was sixteen at the time + had no idea that that song would, a mere three years later, become the first single from her first album, offering not just a days meal ticket, but meteoric success. Kilcher was raised near Homer, Alaska , where she grew up singing + yodeling as a duo with her father, Atz Kilcher , a local musician. At age fifteen, she received a partial scholarship to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she studied operatic voice. After graduating, she began writing + performing at clubs + coffeehouses in San Diego , California. Based on local media attention, she was offered a recording contract with Atlantic Records , which released her debut album Pieces of You in 1995. One of the best-selling debut albums of all time, it went 12-times platinum. The debut single from the album, " Who Will Save Your Soul ", peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 . Singles " You Were Meant for Me " and " Foolish Games " reached number two on the Hot 100 + were listed on Billboard 's 1997 year-end singles chart , as well as Billboard's 1998 year-end singles chart . Kilcher's sophomore effort, Spirit , was released in 1998, followed by This Way (2001). In 2003, she released 0304 , which marked a departure from her previous folk-oriented records, featuring electronic arrangements + elements of dance-pop . In 2008, she released Perfectly Clear , her first country album, which debuted atop Billboard's Top Country Albums chart + featured three singles, " Stronger Woman ", " I Do ", and " 'Til It Feels Like Cheating ". In 2009, Jewel released her first independent album, Lullaby . In 1998, Kilcher released a collection of poetry + the following year appeared in a supporting role in Ang Lee 's Western film Ride with the Devil (1999) which earned her critical acclaim. In 2021, she won the sixth season of The Masked Singer as the Queen of Heart s. Kilcher's thirteenth studio album, Freewheelin' Woman , was released in April 2022, via her own label, Words Matter Media . The album was co-produced by Kilcher + Butch Walker + was developed with the intention for Jewel to create music that she felt connected to + excited about rather than creating in order to meet expectations. April 9, 2024, Kilcher joined Olivia Rodrigo to perform "You Were Meant for Me" at her fourth show at Madison Square Garden for her Guts World Tour. All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had the pleasure of catching up with JEWEL in between shows on her current Picking Up The Pieces Tour. Enjoy Nicole’s chat with Jewel below!    I understand you are currently traveling on your ‘Picking Up The Pieces’ Tour! Where does our interview find you today? What’s on the agenda besides our interview? I am in Delaware today, where I have a show tonight! You released the aptly titled, Lullaby (2009) which you described as “not just for children, but also adults” and features “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and a second children’s album: The Merry Goes ‘Round (2011) via the Fisher-Price brand. Would you like to release another lullaby or children’s album in the future? I was really pleased with Lullaby from an artistic standpoint, as it let me create a record that I was very passionate about. I had written myself lullabies since I was sixteen, having moved out so young, I had really bad anxiety and sleeping problems, so I wrote myself lullabies.  I finally had a chance to compile them completely independently, and licensed to Fisher Price’s brand. I sold over a half million records, which felt incredibly successful given today’s market and the fact that it had no radio support and no traditional sort of album launch.  After that, I did “The Merry Goes Round,” which is really for the whole family, and wrote it for my son while I was pregnant. I would love to make more of that style record, it’s something I really enjoy. You have collaborated with a variety of so many great artists such as John Rich of Big & Rich, R&B singer, Tyrese (“Make It Last”), Kelly Clarkson (“Foolish Games”) and Pistol Annies (“You Were Meant For Me”) for fresh renditions off your 2012 Greatest Hits album and Blues Traveler (co-writing the song, “Hearts Still Awake”). Who would you love to collaborate with next? On my album I was very proud that I got to collaborate and write and sing a song with Rodney Crowell.  And then to have Dolly Parton sing on a song that I wrote called “My Father’s Daughter” was incredible.  Honestly, for me right now, those are my dream-come-true collaborations, so who knows what will happen next! Jewel, besides being a singer-songwriter, guitarist, author, poet AND producer, you also act! Do you have any plans to do more acting in the near future? I just signed on with Hallmark to do a Mystery Wheel movie, and I’ll be starting that in October of this year.  Acting is really fun as a mom, because it lets me do something that’s family-oriented and family-friendly with my time.  It only takes up a month, my son can come with me on location, and then I work five days a week and have the weekends off to spend with him. Who have been your inspirations (be it movies, artists, musicians, person) growing up that also inspire you today? I tended to gravitate towards artists that didn’t use their art as propaganda to make themselves seem more perfect than they were. I like the authors that lead with their flaws, like a Charles Bukowski novel. Musically, I love Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell.  I liked people that had the courage to be themselves, unapologetically. As a young child growing up in Homer, Alaska, you fell in love with music and earned a living by singing in bars and taverns with your Dad. To strum, you even employ a unique self-created finger-picking technique or “hard pick”.  It was from these experiences you learned to yodel (which you do in many of your songs). That must have had a great impact on you, seeing so many musicians play at such a young age? What was your favorite memory from that time? I started singing on-stage when I was five at my parent’s dinner shows at a local hotel for tourists.  What I remember from that time is I really loved practicing. I didn’t perform because I wanted to be on stage or be applauded, I was actually very shy, but practicing felt like a puzzle that I had to get all of the right pieces for.  I had to learn to sing, how to harmonize, how to yodel.   My biggest influence was my dad – my education was watching my dad winging a setlist, interacting with a crowd, and singing a lot of cover songs.  I didn’t learn to play guitar until I was 16 when I moved out on my own, but that’s what got me writing and developing my own guitar style.  I think being raised with music from such a young age was really important, because by the time I was eighteen, I did have a good skill set and was able to hold my own in a really difficult environment as I began to tour.  If I didn’t have that early experience and known how to command a crowd, I wouldn’t have done as well. Nowadays, everything is so instant…you push a button and it’s yours a la Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes etc. What was the first album you saved up your money as a kid and bought for yourself? “The first record I can remember ever buying was Pink Floyd. I was six and I think I thought it was Pink Panther – something about the pink I liked!  For a large part of my childhood I imagined the Pink Panther singing every song on “The Wall”! Pretty heavy.” Two of my favorite artists growing up were Cole Porter and Ella Fitzgerald.  Ella’s voice was a revelation, how agile and how much of an instrument it was for her.  And Cole was just so clever in his lyric style. What was the first song you fell in love with and why? I think the first song I wanted to emulate was Leonard Cohen’s “Famous Blue Raincoat”.  It just had such an unrequited melancholy and a poetic feel to it.  I remember thinking, back when I was in eighth grade, that I wanted to try to recreate that feeling for one of my own songs.  And then when I sat down at 18 and began writing “Foolish Games,” that was really the song I had in my head.  It’s just a very potent, angry, emotional song with vivid visual metaphors. Who is in your current playlist? …Any “guilty pleasures” in that mix or any genres we would be surprised to find in there? Jason Isbell, on a singer-songwriter front, is really talented.  When I first listened to Ed Sheeran’s second record, I was really blown away by it and knew it was going to be a master smash. I also love Selena Gomez’s record, I think it’s a great pop record.  What’s on tap next for you, Jewel? What are you most excited about for this year? It’s been fun to tour and bring my son on the tour and bring my book to life.  I will be doing a movie in the fall and hopefully will get a break in between. I am also working on a website to accompany my book.  So many people have asked me if I did certain things to help myself to overcome negative thought patterns and retraining my brain to create change in my life.  So, I am going to create a website where I share the exercises that I created for myself, in the hopes that it might help somebody else who is dealing with the same sort of things I was. Keep up with all things JEWEL by visiting her socials below: Website This interview was in partnership with All Access Music, Malibu, CA https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-jewel

Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy + Jess Carson of MIDLAND MIDLAND is a country music group that was formed in 2014 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The band includes, Mark Wystrach (lead vocals, guitar), Cameron Duddy (bass, vocals) + Jess Carson (guitar, vocals). These men are bringing back the best of what made 1970-80’s country most renowned. Their catchy ballads, honky-tonk, + self-reflective songs are classic country. Through Big Machine Records, the band has released two EPs, their self-titled EP and The Last Resort. They have released three studio albums, On the Rocks and Let It Roll, both which have accounted for five charted singles on the Billboard country chart: "Drinkin' Problem", "Burn Out", "Make a Little", "Mr. Lonely" and "Cheatin' Songs". All Access Music writer, NICOLE DEROSA had the pleasure of catching up with MARK WYSTRACH, CAMERON DUDDY + JESS CARSON just before they played at STAGECOACH. Enjoy their chat below... Hey Mark, Cameron & Jess! How are you today? What’s on the agenda besides our interview? Cameron – Nothing crazy for me, just enjoying the calm before the storm that is going to be Midland’s 2016! My wife and I live on a small farm in a little town called Dripping Springs, TX. I’m watching our dogs harass our herd of goats through my office window at the moment. Mark – Doing well, enjoying some pretty incredible weather here in Austin. Just ran to the store on my Harley to grab dog and cat food and now running out to Jess’s ranch west of town to write with our friend’s Liz Rose and Trent Willmon. How did you guys all meet and what was the catalyst for you to start a band with one another? Cameron – Back in LA, I played in bands with Mark and Jess separately for years. We all ran around the same circles and shared band members and a rehearsals space (next to a topless bar on Santa Monica Blvd). The catalyst may have been my wedding a few years back (of which both Mark and Jess were groomsmen). I actually just found footage of the first time we sat down, just the three of us and played on my mother in laws front porch. There is something special that happens when we play and sing together, so after a few more miraculous circumstances we all moved to Texas (where Jess was living) and took a chance on Midland. What was the inspiration for your new single, “Fourteen Gears”? Did you also help come up with the treatment for the video? Cameron – Jess wrote the breadth of “Fourteen Gears”, which was another one of the early moments that defined and solidified the creation of this band. “As for the video, I’ve always loved Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz. The scene where they play “The Weight” on that soundstage with the Staples Sisters… it’s so heavy. We basically wanted to do a Midland version of that. Minimal lighting, dolly moves, zoom lenses, cross fading transitions, in camera light cues … it really puts you in a time machine.” Mark – Jess wrote the breadth of the song, I wrote the bridge and we all helped arrange it when we cut it back out at The Sonic Ranch in El Paso…I think Jess was writing from the point of view of a character he had created who was clearly a truck driver…the song is like that character’s theme song that’s keeping him sane while he’s out on the road away from who he loves. You guys are bringing back the best of what made 1970-80’s with your classic country ballads, honky-tonk, and self-reflective songs. What have you learned from previous bands, collaborations and playing live that you felt you wanted to infuse into your own music? Cameron – I grew up on Rock and Roll and soul music. Country music came to me through the California filter so it wasn’t until I met Mark in my early twenties that I was exposed to “classic” country. Jess is also an audiophile, so just when you thought you had heard it all, he drops something obscure in your lap. We were just in the studio recording with Shane McAnally. “Whilst working on tones and “intentions” we were referencing Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” , The Stones “Tumbling Dice” mixed with the storytelling of Steve Earl's “Guitar Town” and the harmonies of Eagles. Right there is a slice of Midland’s influences and the bar we have set for ourselves.” ~ Cameron Mark – That you simply have to write and play songs from an authentic place that affects you, that makes your soul stir. With Midland, we are writing and playing songs that do just that, which is what makes this project so special to us. You are all talented in your own right with other various projects. (Cameron Duddy directed Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” video) What have you learned from your other professions that have helped or inspired you with MIDLAND? Jess – I never finished college but I went for a while as an English Literature major. Songs are like short stories so I probably was able to take something from there by creating a narrative in three minutes. I also designed clothing and jewelry for a short time. I think music is very visual and closer to aesthetic design than some people realize. Mark – Just to be the guy having the most fun with the best attitude and the hardest work ethic…I try to draw perspective everyday and remember just how lucky I have been and how amazing it is that I get to create and perform music for a living. I’m living the dream and that is not lost on me! If you could hang out with a legend, living or dead (musician, artist, actor, etc.) who would it be? Where would you go and what would you do? Cameron – I just want to hang with Tom Hanks all the time. Is that too much to ask? I would love to have met Glenn Frey and ask him a million questions. I believe he is my single biggest inspiration. Jess – I would hang out with Gary Stewart. We would just sit in a dive bar somewhere because that was his natural habitat. He’s my musical hero. “I would hang out with Magnum P.I. on Oahu in the 80’s and help him solve a case or two while taking in the joys of the island in his Ferrari GTO.” ~ Mark Nowadays, everything is so instant…you press a button and it’s yours ala Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes etc. What was the first album, that you can remember saving up your hard earned cash and purchasing for yourself? Cameron – Van Halen’s, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. “I know the first cd I bought was a Jimi Hendrix greatest hits cd. I also remember going in and trying to by Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” but they wouldn’t sell it to me because I was too young.” ~ Jess Mark – It was a cassette of DEF LEPPARD when I was probably around 8 years old. My brother and I were already really into music at that point as we had asked for and received a cassette boombox for our 7th birthday. Up until that point, we just stole cassettes from our parents and our older sisters. I remember how cool I felt going to the record store with my Mom and picking out Def Leppard!!!! (laughs) What was the first song you fell in love with and why? Jess – “Winds Of Change” by The Scorpions. I think it was that whistling part that got me. Mark – For me it was a Townes Van Zandt song called “Pancho and Lefty” performed by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. It was my Mom’s favorite and we listened to it on repeat driving in our old stock truck hauling cattle from Arizona to Montana. That song’s emotion and melody truly captured my young imagination and I could see the characters living this tale as I gazed out the window and saw the ever changing majestic scenery of the USA roll out before my eyes…from that point on country music was sacred to me. Who is in your current playlist at the moment? Anyone we would be surprised to find in there? Cameron – There’s a singer songwriter named Steve Young (not the football player) that I just uncovered. His stuff has been difficult to find! Someone help! Jess – The only thing maybe surprising in my playlist is some stuff from the 1920’s and 30’s. I’m very into early American songbook stuff. Folks like Jimmie Rodgers and Hoagy Carmichael. Mark – I’ve been listening to a lot of Jerry Jeff Walker and Don Williams…the one that you may be surprised with is Jonathan Wilson…absolutely love this guy and would love to work with him as a producer some day. I think he’s a genius. What’s on tap next for MIDLAND? What are you guys most excited about for this year? Mark – We are thrilled to just get our music out there for people to hear and to tour! To stay connected with MIDLAND , visit their socials below! Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube Nicole DeRosa for All Access Music, April 26, 2016 https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-midland

Troye Sivan began his start in music by gaining popularity as a singer-songwriter on YouTube + in Australian talent competitions. Sivan was born on June 5, 1995 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sivan came out publicly as gay via a YouTube video in August 2013, three years after coming out to his family. He stated that he wanted the video to be out because he did not want his sexuality to be a secret from EMI Australia as he was in negotiations with them at the time for a record deal + had not yet discussed his sexuality with them. The morning after he posted his coming out video, he received a congratulatory email from EMI. Sivan released his third EP, TRXYE (2014), which peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200 . Its lead single, " Happy Little Pill ", reached the top 10 on Australian music charts. In 2015, he released his fourth extended play, Wild , followed by his debut studio album, Blue Neighbourhood . The album's lead single, " Youth ", became Sivan's first single to enter the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 23. In May 2017, Troye collaborated with Martin Garrix to produce the song " There For You ". In 2018, he released his song " Strawberries & Cigarettes " from the Love, Simon soundtrack + in addition accompanied Taylor Swift as a guest performer at a concert in Pasadena, California during her Reputation Stadium Tour. His second studio album, Bloom (2018), reached the top five in Australia + the US. Its lead single, " My My My! ", became Sivan's second number-one single on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. In October 2018, Sivan collaborated with British singer-songwriter Charli XCX on the single " 1999 ". A sequel collaboration, titled " 2099 ", was debuted in June 2019 at the two artists' LA Pride event "Go West Fest" + released as a promotional single from Charli XCX's album Charl i in September 2019. In 2020, his EP In a Dream was released. In 2023, he released his third album, Something to Give Each Other . The album's three singles, " Rush ", " Got Me Started " + " One of Your Girls ", all reached the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart + the ARIA Singles Chart , while both "Rush" and "One of Your Girls" charted on the Billboard Hot 100. For the track "Rush", Sivan received his first Grammy Award nominations, one for Best Pop Dance Recording + another for Best Music Video . The album's fourth single, "Honey", was released in May 2024. As an actor, Sivan portrayed the younger Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) + starred as the titular character in the Spud film trilogy (2010–2014). In 2017, he became the youngest recipient of the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award . In 2018, he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song for " Revelation ", from the film Boy Erased , in which he also had a supporting acting role. He has since starred in the film Three Months (2022) and the HBO series The Idol (2023). I had the pleasure of catching up with the uber busy TROYE SIVAN mid-flight + between shows + a special appearance in Austin at SXSW. Learn more about Troye with my chat with him below! Hey there Troye! Where does our interview find you today? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview? Hiiiii Nicole!  I’m actually on a flight right now from Miami to Dallas – have a couple of shows in Texas this week and I’m playing a couple shows at SXSW, too, which’ll be rad!   Between 2012 and 2015 you went from 27,000 YouTube subscribers to over 3.6 million (and counting)… that is pretty impressive! Does that weigh on your mind when you’re thinking of what to present on that platform? Thank you! I think it does to a certain extent – most of that pressure is self inflicted, though. I just really want to use that platform for good and to put up stuff that I’m proud of. Your first single, “Happy Little Pill”, debuted at number one on iTunes in over 55 countries! Then, your EP: TRXYE debuted Top 5 a week later. How did that make you feel? “It was all pretty mind-blowing at the time – I had no idea how the music was going to be received, and to feel that immediate love and support was so lovely and unexpected.” In 2014, Time named you one of the year’s “25 Most Influential Teens” … all this attention, how do you handle it?  What keeps you grounded? Being a part of that list was so unbelievably humbling. I like to go home and spend time with my family and friends which never fails to put things in perspective and remind me of the important things in life!   You’re quite the entertainer on stage and in film, not to mention your recording career.  Which area are you most passionate about? I’d say music is really where my heart is at the moment – performing live, and songwriting have really stolen my heart over the last few years. In 2013, you publicly came out.  This was three years after you came out to your family.  What was the pivotal moment that made you decide “this is the time to make the public announcement”? “It got to the point where it was all I could think about – I was proud of who I was, open to my family and friends, and felt like me sharing my story and identity could potentially help others. And it just so happened that my coming out anniversary was around the corner, and it felt a little serendipitous to do it that day.”  Who have been your inspirations growing up that also inspire you today? Amy Winehouse inspired me to write songs, Michael Jackson introduced me to music, Lorde showed me it was actually possible!   Nowadays, everything is so instant…you push a button and it’s yours a la Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes etc. What was the first album you saved up your money as a kid and bought for yourself? I saved up to buy Elephunk by the Black Eyed Peas when I was like 10. Still a great album! What was the first song you fell in love with (that you can remember) and why? First song I can really remember is “Like A Prayer” by Madonna. I loved the gospel choir and the drama of it all.   What’s on tap next for you, Troye? What are you most excited about for this year? Immediately, loads of touring – I’m just about to finish up the North American leg, take a couple of weeks off to write some songs and hang out, and then I’m heading to Europe. Plus, I’m so stoked with how YOUTH is doing in the US. A lot of exciting stuff in the pipeline for the next couple of months! Keep up to date with all things TROYE SIVAN via his socials below: Instagram Website This interview was in partnership with All Access Music Group, Malibu, CA https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-troye-sivan

Born and raised in New York City, actor, writer, director and singer-songwriter, DAVID DUCHOVNY emerged to become one of the most highly acclaimed actors in Hollywood. The star of Fox Television’s monster science fiction horror hit show The X-Files, David won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series for his role as FBI Agent Fox Mulder. His other long running comedy-drama series Californication ended its 7 year run this past summer for Showtime. The alcoholic, drug-abusing, womanizing novelist, Hank Moody marked another seminal character portrayed by David that has made its way into our pop culture lexicon and for whose portrayal he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy series. The press and the public both agree that Duchovny brings a fierce intellect, a quiet intensity and an acerbic wit to his roles on both the small screen and the silver screen. Duchovny’s in the middle of a very busy season: He’s riding the success of his new allegorical book Holy Cow (with another novel on the way next year), chasing Charles Manson as a cop in the new ’60s-set NBC drama Aquarius, premiering May 28, and reuniting with Gillian Anderson to bring a little under-the-radar show called The X-Files back to life for a six-episode miniseries which premieres on January 24, 2016 on FOX. In 2017, he decided to put his acting career on hold so he could focus on his career as a novelist and singer/songwriter. All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa recently talked to DAVID DUCHOVNY while in New York about his debut album, Hell or Highwater and lots more. Read more or LISTEN to their interview below! We all know you as FBI Agent, Fox Mulder on the science fiction horror drama series, The X-Files and of course the alcoholic, drug-abusing, womanizing novelist Hank Moody on the HBO comedy-drama series, Californication which have both earned you Golden Globe awards. For those not as familiar with your music, how did that whole chapter begin for you, David? Who or what was the catalyst for you to pick up a guitar, sing and put out an album? I picked up a guitar about 5 years ago. I always wanted to play an instrument and the guitar seemed like the most fun instrument because it’s mobile. (laughs) I was kind of inspired by the fact that I always tell my kids, you gotta practice something to be good at it and you can’t give up. It’s always frustrating in the beginning because you're no good at it and they look around at the adult world and they see adults doing stuff all the time, they don’t see adults learning stuff…so I thought it might be interesting if they saw me frustrated and incompetent at something aside from being a father. (laughs) So, that was kind of the impetus of doing it, aside from getting myself to do something that I like with music. I started playing for like five minutes a day and committed to it and within a few months, I started to throw a few chords together and I was able to play a few songs that I liked. Did you know you always wanted to make an album? All I ever wanted to do was play some classic rock songs that I grew up liking and then I started to notice that they were not that complicated in terms of chord progression. Rock and roll is really a basic and great music form and it’s all about the melody and the lyrics. I knew I had the lyrics because I’ve always been a writer, so I wondered if I had the melody too. So, that was really the question, once I found chords that I liked and certain progressions….wondering... can I hear a song over them? Can I hear a melody over those chords? And I guess, I could. A prodigy can sit down at a piano and just play. That’s not the experience of most people and that doesn’t make a prodigy any happier. It’s just something, that they can do. I think, in my life, I’ve learned a lot more at not being good at stuff than being good at stuff. When you’re good at stuff, you don’t learn much…you just kinda do it. Can you share with me what your inspiration was for your current single and title track, “Hell or Highwater?” Well, I mean, I think for me, songs exist for the person who is listening to it. I almost have a superstitious denial of wanting to explicate a song. Because to me, I get to make them what I want. “When you hear a song…and Paul McCartney is like, “I was eating an orange when I wrote this but I wish it was a strawberry…a strawberry field”. I feel like, I get to make a whole mythology about Strawberry Fields on my own, which is what makes music so great. Once you give someone a song, its theirs.” My lyrics come out of personal experience or observational experience. It’s not confessional or autobiographical. I intentionally wrote them in a way to be universal so they are open to interpretation and reinterpretation by whoever decides to listen to it. But I think, my songs all deal with very human situations. I would say the 12 songs on Hell or Highwater are love songs about the greatness and the difficulty of the finding and the losing and the finding again of love. And, I think that is what most songs are about. So, the fact that I think a song means this or that is almost inhibiting the song from it being more than it can be. Who are your musical influences? Well, the music that I grew up on influenced me in a way where, even before I could form a G chord….I liked hearing it, so The Beatles, The Rolling Stones (even though, I don’t write like The Stones…) and the later generation of classic rock like, Tom Petty and R.E.M. I also like a lot of funk and soul, even though I don’t write like that. It’s not even stuff I like, that I write like…I would assume, I write like folk music basically and when it’s produced it sounds more like rock music. That’s what rock music is…you add a little blues to the folk music and you electrify it and you got rock music. Do you remember the first album you bought for yourself? Nowadays everything is so instant with services like Spotify and the like where you just push a few buttons and it’s yours. What album did you save up your money for back in the day? Yeah, for sure. It's different now, as you say, because first of all, I didn’t have a lot of money and I certainly didn’t have a lot of money to spend on albums. There was a store called, “Free Being”…this hippie store (how good is that name?! …laughs) in Manhattan and I would go in there with like $3.99…this was back in 1971 or ’72 so it was about comparable to now. But, it was money that I didn’t necessarily have, so I would get $4 or $5 bucks together for an album. I couldn’t just get it, so I researched that album since I couldn’t sample it. It was like buying a car (laughs). It was that kind of pressure. And then I would leave “Free Being” and be like, “I don’t even know if I want it..” (laughs) Then there were things like a KISS album, that were a sure thing. The first album I bought though, to answer your question was Honky Chateau by Elton John. What was the first song you fell in love with or wish you had written yourself? Gosh, yeah, I mean there are so many songs that I wish I had written. For me, I’m just happy that people want to play my songs and sing it better than I can sing it. (laughs) Who is in your current playlist? You mentioned your kids. What bands or artists have they turned you onto? “My daughter listens to stuff that I would never get to…3 out of 10, I’ll say, “Hey, that sounds pretty decent.” And 7 out of 10, I’ll say “What the hell…?!?” (laughs) She’s turned me on to alt-J, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys…my daughter has good taste in music!” For those that don’t know, you also have a B.A. in English Literature from Princeton University and an M.A. in English Literature from Yale University. You subsequently began work on a Ph.D. that remains unfinished. Any plans to get “back to the books” anytime soon, since you have so much free time on your hands? If I thought I could, I would, but honestly…I would have to get in that mind set. And it would have to be a serious year or two where that was all that I was doing. It’s not really where my heart is right now. I wish I’d done it as I consider myself someone who finishes things. That’s something I didn’t finish and something I don’t think I’ll ever finish, so it’s a little out of character for me. So there it is…it happened, or it didn’t happen. (laughs) “I gave a talk to some students at Harvard as one of our first shows was in Boston and they gave me an honorary member diploma. It was an honor and a sweet gesture, so I consider myself a professor now, without a Ph.D.” Can you tell our readers & I a bit about your upcoming historically based cop drama, Aquarius? I love that project because it was really a cable project that NBC and the network decided to take a chance on and they decided to stream it when it starts on May 28, 2016 and you’ll be able to view it in its entirety. It’s the kind of show that doesn’t wrap up week by week. It’s a long form story type of deal. The original idea was to go 5 or 6 years and keep getting people involved in the story. “It’s really a story about America that goes from the 1960’s to the present with Charles Manson being the symbol of when the ’60s turned dark. We went from the summer of love to the Manson murders.” And after that, it was like, all these revolutionary movements like flower power and free love, black power, feminism…it all got colored by the fact that, “this is what happens when all these movements happen…murder happens and now we gotta shut it down.” And in a lot of ways, we’re recoiling away from the ideals of the 60s and as a country, it’s very interesting to see that this guy, (who had nothing to do with this) Manson who murdered people, became a symbol for what was wrong with the 60s. So, revisiting the 60s, this symbolic moment, was really fascinating. I think we as a country and as the world, there were worldwide revolutions during the 60s, it wasn’t just in the U.S. It was a very turbulent time, all over the globe. I think, in America, we keep coming back to it – whether it’s the styles, like the tv show, “That ’70s Show” or “The Goldbergs” or whatever…it’s like, oh, bell-bottoms! (laughs) …Aquarius is different. We keep coming back to the ’60s…it’s like we can never get the answer and I think this is another attempt to find the answer. Are you excited to get back to filming The X-Files? Yeah! The X-Files is only like a two and a half month commitment. I’ll be done in the summer and hopefully then I can still go out and do a little music tour. What’s on tap next as far as music goes? Are you planning a tour? The nice thing about music is we don’t have to get out there right away with it…it’s not like a movie, where if it doesn’t hit right away, it’s dead. I can let it breathe a bit. I’m sure I’ll play some shows soon. Update as of 2023: BOOKS Holy Cow (2015) Bucky F*cking Dent (2016) Miss Subways (2018) Truly Like Lightning (2021) The Reservoir (2022) Studio ALBUMS Hell or Highwater (2015) Every Third Thought (2018) Gestureland (2021) Recent FILMS David Duchovny can currently be seen in The Bubble (2022) and You People (2023) which are both available on Netflix now. Check out DAVID DUCHOVNY'S filmography on IMDB here. To learn more about DAVID DUCHOVNY, visit his website HERE My interview with David Duchovny was originally published for All Access Music, January 23, 2016: https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-david-duchovny-who-talks-about-his-debut-album-hell-or-highwater-the-x-files-aquarius-and-more

Margaret Cho is a stand-up comedian, actress, musician + activist. She is known for her stand-up routines , through which she critiques social + political problems, especially regarding race + sexuality. She rose to prominence after starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl (1994–95) + became an established stand-up comic in the subsequent years. She has acted in such roles as Charlene Lee in It's My Party + John Travolta's FBI colleague in the action film Face/Off . Cho was part of the cast of the TV series Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime Television, in which she appeared as Teri Lee, a paralegal assistant. For her portrayal of Kim Jong-il on 30 Rock , she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012. In 2022, Cho co-starred in the Bowen Yang starred film Fire Island , a portrayal of the LGBT Asian American experience in the eponymous gay village off the South Shore of Long Island. She has also had endeavors in fashion + music + has her own clothing line. Cho has also frequently supported LGBT rights + has won awards for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asian Americans + the LGBT community. Margaret has been developing brand new material over the last several months and said: “I’m so thrilled to announce that I will be back out on the road. This show is about insanity, and about the anger I feel about everything happening in the world right now, from police brutality to racism to the rising tide of violence against women. It makes me all so crazy – hence the title: “The psyCHO Tour” – there is no “I” in team but there is a “CHO” in psycho”. When men go off on something – they are “passionate” and “driven” and when women go off on something we are “hysterical” and “crazy”. I’m trying to bring some joy to the hysteria and insanity.” From singlehood to Boko Haram to Bruce Jenner’s transition to female empowerment, Margaret tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted. “It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.” Margaret Cho‘s powerful new music video “ I Wanna Kill My Rapist ”, which you can watch here . Margaret says about the song + it’s content: “I do not condone violence but cathartic rage has its place in art. I believe if you have been sexually abused, you must ‘murder’ your rapist in your mind. Abuse leads to self abuse, drug addiction, depression, eating disorders, suicide. I want to kill it before it kills me. I’m grateful to all the incredible artists who went into the creation of this song and video, especially the young people who lent their fierce fighting talents. I can see already that kids are building a better world than the one we are currently in.” Margaret Cho is very much linked into the music world as well. For her debut album, she  collaborated with many talented musicians such as Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Tegan and Sara, Grant Lee Phillips, Ani DiFranco + Brendan Benson to name a few. Cho has more music plans on the way, including her appearance in Peaches new video, " Dick In The Air " which you can check out here . All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with three time Grammy + Emmy nominee, comedian Margaret Cho who is currently on a national U.S. run in support of  The psyCHO Tour . Margaret between video shoots and gigs. Read or LISTEN to their chat here or below!   Hi Margaret! How are you? Where does this interview find you today? What else is on the agenda today besides our interview? I’ve been working on a music video with Peaches, so I’m going to go back to the set to continue shooting the video today. She’s wonderful. She’s one of my favorite recording artists and a really good friend. We’re having a really good time! That is fantastic! Peaches is great! So can you tell us a bit more about the premise of the video or is it to remain a surprise? I don’t think I’m allowed to talk too much about it…but I will say, it’s pretty spectacular! It’s for a song off her new record which should be coming out soon! We’ve been laughing the whole time during the shoot! She’s a tremendous visual artist and always has such a striking appearance. She’s really inspiring and beautiful. On the topic of visual artists and amazing costumes, let’s go from Peaches to Gwar shall we? (laughs) What is your connection to the band, Gwar? I love them. I love Gwar. They are the best. I did Bonnaroo with them! I also got to make a video with them and hang out with them. They are so sweet! When you see them in their dressing room and they have these big costumes on…they are just SO SWEET! They kind of remind me of muppets…like heavy metal muppets! (laughs) They are so cute! Speaking of music festivals, do you have any plans to do Bonnaroo again or maybe even Coachella? Actually, I don’t think Coachella has a comedy stage, but I’m thinking that would be a great addition! Yeah! I would love it! I mean, I would love to just be able to go and hang out. I love music festivals! Yeah, Bonnaroo had a comedy stage…but your right, I don’t think Coachella has one though. I think they should…that would be really cool. You are such a Renaissance lady! You perform at music festivals like Bonnaroo, you’re a fashion designer, an actress, director, author, singer-songwriter, AND of course a comedian. You released your first studio album, CHO DEPENDENT (which is your sixth album including your stand-up comedy releases). That album featured notable songs like, “Intervention,” “I’m Sorry,” “Eat Shit and Die” (laughs) and earned you a nomination for a 2011 Grammy award for Best Comedy Album. Any plans to release another music inspired album in the near future? Yeah, I have two records that are finished and I have to figure out how to put them out. I don’t have a specific plan that I do in comedy that I do with music. So, I’m just gonna be working on stuff over the summer. The new record will come out sometime in the Fall and it’s called, American Myth. It’s a really fun collection. I did it all with Garrison Starr, who is an artist I really love. She and I did a lot of stuff together on CHO DEPENDENT and she’s really great! You’re currently in the midst of your PSYCHO tour. How has that been going? It’s fun! It’s just a show about rage..the whole theme is there’s no I in team, but there is an Cho in PSYCHO. That is my whole title. (laughs) I love that! (laughs) You cover so much in your comedy and it’s so relatable and it helps to laugh about things that we can all relate to and go through. You have such wonderful fun commentary about the human condition and being able to laugh at life and ourselves is such a great release and outlet. Comedy is a great connection tool. For your debut album, you collaborated with many talented musicians such as Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Tegan and Sara, Grant Lee Phillips, Ani DiFranco and Brendon Benson to name a few. What was that experience like for you? I’m so lucky. It was so exciting and great…I’m so in love with music and all these different artists and it’s a dream. I mean, to go into the studio with people like Tegan and Sara and get into this really intense music space…it’s such a different world from comedy. There’s similarities where you both tour and you’re always on the go but other than that, it’s a very different art form. Who is in your current playlist? Who are you listening to right now and inspired by? I always mix it up. I always go back to like a solid New Wave sound like, 1981-84 with bands like Berlin or Missing Persons. That’s the sort of sound I’m always looking for…I would LOVE sonically, to get that Chrissie Hynde vocal down.  I’m close, but I’m not exactly there. There’s so much more warmth to her voice and I’m trying to get close to that. When I do my comedy show though, it’s very much a comedy show and I always like to put a little music in there for what I think would be good for the show but it’s always something different. Thank you so much for your time, Margaret. I love that you are constantly doing super fun projects and I love that I get to merge what I do working in music with what you do as well with comedy and music. I can’t wait to see you when the show come to The Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 14th! Awe, thank you so much! Say hi to Peaches for me! I will!  To keep up with all things MARGARET CHO , including her upcoming tour dates, visit her website HERE   + check out her YouTube as well! This interview was in partnership with All Access Music Group, Malibu, CA.