Isis Nicole
I interview cool people and obsess over nails. I pretty much find inspiration from creators and positive thinkers. You can get an idea of my interest by viewing my blog, as well as stories and interviews composed by me. To any online editorials or glossy publications looking for someone new, take a chance with this gal right here.
"Tell him I’ve been too fucking busy or vice versa"- Dorothy Parker
I'd love to hear from you so make yourself known. All interview inquires send to gigi.mag.support@gmail.com
xx
@isisnicole
I think it’s super fly when Traphouse get recognized.
“THE CAVE IS RARELY SILENT.MUSIC ALWAYS BLARING.SPEAKERS EMITTING SELECT SOUNDS.MANY OF THEM COMING FROM ZAK-MATIC.ZAK-MATIC IS THE BOY GENIUS FROM LAS VEGAS LIVING IN LA.HE’S A MEMBER OF THE ‘TRAPHOUSE’ COLLECTIVE, OFFICIAL CAVE DJ,GREAT PRODUCER AND PLAYING THE SICKEST PARTIES WITH MUSICAL PIONEERS BEFORE HE’S OLD ENOUGH TO GET IN”—- VIA KESH LIVES
By Isis Nicole
Every year there comes a point in time where I overdose on the internet. Like I take it too far with the finds, and Rollz Royce is by far one of the most addictive HTTP cravings. Not like I want to virtually eat him up or anything but I just can’t get enough of his, and fellow Traphouse’r Zak-matik, cleverness. Put it like this. They pick songs to remix. Zak-matik takes care of the beats, Rollz Royce blesses the visuals. Btw, we did this whole interview via Facebook and Twitter. Where there’s a will there is a new age way. Enter his haus, feed your virtual soul.
△ $ $ [ᶻ△KM△TIC Edi✝] TRAPHOUSE ! Rollz Royce v!deo edit NICKI MINAJ BIG SEAN from TRAPHOUSE on Vimeo.
Name Royce William Russing
Hometown Vegas
Age 22
Blog ttauritraphouse.com
Favorite Blogs BADLANDS777 but most blogs piss me off now (laughs).
Most Known For My videos, I guess (laughs).
Unknown For My video I guess (laughs).
Trillest adventure? Driving to LA from Vegas, when I was 18 to see M.I.A show at The Wiltern and the Murakami exhibit. It was crazzy I can’t believe I survived to tell that I did that.
How did you get the name Rollz Royce?!
I don’t really know how I got that name, It just kinda stuck.
I was introduced to your music videos after seeing your take on Maluca’s ‘Lola (Ging Danga’) then my girl Helen Koh put me onto the Traphouse Vimeo [which for the longest time, I thought was spelled ‘traphaus’]. What is Traphouse? And when and why did you start to make your hypnotic ass visuals?
Traphouse is a blog that got started in the spring of 2010. We wanted to do posts on music, videos, and art we are obsessed with but not just post about them in a boring way. We wanted to add a trippy little spin on it, for example we would take a press shot of the artist, invert it and add trippy graphics to it. Or I will make a video for a song we love, or Zak would remix it. We also have t-shirts and clothing too. I’ve always loved movies and music videos and that’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life. So when the blog got started I immediately started making videos from there and just kept growing.
How did you and zAK- MATIK end up working together?
For his first remix which was an edit of that Nicki Minaj and Christina Aguilera ‘Oh Nani Nani’, that was the first video I did for him…We met when I was in high school and he was in middle school though.
I like the way you play around with different infrared emotions in your remixes. Sometimes they’re like mad sexy and spellbinding and other times they’re like a fiendish secret society. How do decide between the two (or whatever more you pull from) which is appropriate?
Well the whole traphouse vibe is like sexy, dark, and hypnotic. Kinda like we want to brainwash you. And that’s something we wanted to do since the beginning like the whole hacker internet thing. But that just got so trendy.
Have any of the music videos of yours been recognized by the artists you remix?
Yes, traphouse videos have been recgonized by Maluca, Blaqstarr, Munchi, Heartbreak, and I did a video remix for Rusko’s song everyday which premiered on the Spin Magazine website.
I know the remixes are still very much a creation of your own, but have you ever directed a video from scratch behind the camera?
I just did a behind-the-scenes video for a clothing line called Capture. But to be able to actually direct a music video behind a camera would be a dream come true!
I’m always hoping that a DJ will spin you and zAK-MATIK’s ‘A$$’ remix out in Chicago. I’m still waiting! Oh yeah!? Well, if any djs from chicago read this please play that remix!!!
Does your work get play at parties or clubs?
Yes there is this Moombahton party in LITHUANIA that @BOYFRIENDLT throws they always play the trpahouse vids . Oh my gosh I owe him a video! (laughs)
Who do you consider to be an inspiration? What has been your biggest accomplishment, as well as challenges, since Traphouse?
Omg, I feel like there are a lot of inspirations out there! Obviously all the djs from LA really inspire us, parties, David Lynch, the internet! Honestly, it always feels like we’ve accomplished something whenever an artist we really look up to shouts us out on Twitter (laughs)!
Any upcoming projects/collaborations you got going on you care to share? Yes, I just did a video for Sticky K for a crazy song called ‘Persian Algebra’
Do you take remix request? Yes! As long as it’s dope!
Who is your favorite breakthrough artist of 2011-2012? Hmmmmm I don’t know cuz all I listen to is mixtapes and DJs so I guess all the DJs I listen to!
Where are you hoping to see Traphouse take you this year? Hopefully Traphouse will be traveling this year. We really need to get out of the country!
@rollzroyce_
Songstress/Songwriter Charlie Vox’s New Journey
Written by Isis Nicole
Singer/songwriter Charlie Vox, by way of Jersey City, N.J., is making her big break this year from behind the scenes and onto the front stage. Having opened for Destiny’s Child, as well as penning songs for artists like Rihanna and Melanie Fiona, Charlie is finally letting her own voice be heard. In this interview, she discusses her start in the music business, why it’s easier to “lie instead,” and her commitment to music.
GlossMagazineOnline (GMO): How did you get your start in the music business?
Charlie Vox: Funny enough, I began performing my own material and fell into songwriting. Songwriting found me. I was working on my demo, and the first song I wrote got placed. I never stopped performing while writing for other artists.
GMO: You wrote for Rihanna and Melanie Fiona, and even opened for Destiny’s Child! What was that experience like?
Charlie: It was surreal performing alongside major acts, and songwriting for other artist was amazing.
GMO: What is it like being so involved with music magic behind the scenes?
Charlie: I feel blessed to be able to give artists a voice. Everyone is not able to draw the picture for others to color it. I feel lucky to be able to do that. It’s an honor to share my stories through song for others to enjoy.
GMO: When and why did you decide to transition your voice from songwriter to singer?
Charlie: I always knew I was supposed to be an artist, and I never gave up that dream as I continued to write for other artists. Now when everything else came along, the songwriting and producing, I had no idea that would be apart of my journey. I could’ve never lived with the regret if I had given up on my dream along the way.
GMO: Is it ever a challenge to balance the two?
Charlie: No, it’s not difficult. I can flip the switch on and off between artist and writer. It’s like being two different people. It’s kind of cool.
GMO: What’s your most prized accomplishment(s) to date?
Charlie: Last week, we shot my video, and I dreamt of that day all my life. That was truly an accomplishment. It was definitely a day to remember!
GMO: Since you are an established artist, do you feel like you pretty much know the ropes or are you at times outside of your comfort zone?
Charlie: No, I feel like everyday is a chance for me to learn something new. Even though I’ve been doing this for a while, I feel like I’m finally getting my artist career off the ground. So, I’m learning new things everyday.
GMO: What was the inspiration behind your song “Lie Instead?”
Charlie: Fresh out of a relationship where I wasn’t sure if we were together or apart. Friends and family would constantly ask if we were still together and I decided to “Lie Instead!” It was much easier to lie than explain our status.
GMO: When is your album Things I Never Said scheduled to release?
Charlie: Spring 2012
GMO: I read in an article that you will be exploring the ups and downs of relationships. Is love and heartbreak a subject you’re all too familiar with?
Charlie: I’m a little too familiar with heartbreak in relationships (laughs). What can I say? I love “love,” and I love hard. But what I’ve learned is that the nature of all relationships, whether they are romantic, platonic or even relationships with your family––they all have the same core. It begins and ends with respect.
GMO: These days, do you write most of your songs or do you have a favorite songwriter to help you out a little?
Charlie: I love collaborating. I enjoy incorporating my point of view with someone else’s. Together we can paint a picture from different perspectives. I often collaborate with Curtis Richardson, my longtime writing and production partner, the writing team Jackson/Croft, and Angelique Cinelu.
GMO: How do you set yourself apart from other R&B artists?
Charlie: I am committed to doing things my way. I don’t look to other artist to set the pace for my career. Lastly, I am honest with my lyrics and won’t sing a song if I have not experienced whatever the lyrics are conveying.
GMO: What music trends would you like to see disappear?
Charlie: Nothing in music really bothers me right now.
GMO: What Internet trends would you like to see disappear?
Charlie: I’m not sure if this counts as a trend but I know “e-bullying” is a huge issue. I’ve worked with youth groups, so I’m very passionate about issues affecting the next generation.
GMO: What is the craziest thing that happened to you while on previous tours?
Charlie: While performing, there was a power outage. The drummer kept playing, the horns never stopped, and I kept on singing! It was great!
GMO: Any future music videos, tours, or projects you care to share with us?
Charlie: I’m excited for the world to see my video “Lie Instead,” please stay tuned! It’s gonna be amazing! And of course my album is due out spring of next year.
GMO: What can listeners expect to hear from you as start your new chapter as an artist?
Charlie: Along with great music, I’m excited to kick off my after school mentoring program for teen girls. I just want to be an inspiration to anyone who has ever had a dream. It took me a minute to get here, and I want to inspire others to go for it.
GMO: Any advice to aspiring artists?
Charlie: Never, ever, ever, quit.
Bad Bitches Bomb First by Gun$ Garcia
If you’re one of those girls who can appreciate boss bitch anthems then Gun$ Garcia new live mixtape Bad Bitches Bomb First will do your ears and booty some good. It features an all female cast of artists including Maluca, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Lady, and M.I.A. I haven’t heard it on full blast just yet because my roommate is a lil party pooper. But from the volume it’s at now, I can tell with a few drinks and the music turnt up louder I’ma be gettin it in the mirror (I like to get hype before class). I wonder if Gun$ Garcia is going to do a part II of this. There’s just so much girl grind going on in all styles of music right now.
OUT NOW!!!! (Click my face for FREE DOWNLOAD!!!)
Reminisce With M.I.S.S. Aaliyah By Isis Nicole
The early 90′s midway through the new millennium was all about songstress Aaliyah. From the swooped left side bang to her tomboyish wear (baggy pants and midriff tee), the Brooklyn-bred/Detroit-raised petite figure danced and sang her way into our hearts. I was only four years old when I first heard Aaliyah’s single “Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number” and I am certain that at the time I couldn’t fully grasp exactly what she was talking about! But her voice replayed constantly in my head, and at that moment, she was officially my favorite singer. As her career grew, I grew, and as her lyrics matured, I fantasized more about love. When I was supposed to be playing in a sandbox somewhere, I was listening to “4 Page Letter”, “I Care 4 U”, and “One In A Million” —all are which I consider to be R&B classics. Reminiscing about this now, I believe Aaliyah’s music was my first lesson in love: having the best of something that at any moment, can easily be taken away…
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Meet Up-and-Coming Artist Tanya T6
By Isis Nicole
It’s no secret that body and beauty can go a long way in the entertainment industry, but for singer and model Tanya T6 (T=Tanya, 6=six pack), success and respect means much more than looks. Dedicated to keeping her music versatile and fun, Tanya explores R&B, pop and hip hop as a way to keep listeners on their toes and to express her love for melodic sounds. She credits Bone Thugs & Harmony as her number one inspiration in music, taking what she learned from them to perfect becoming a sort of smooth singer and rapper.
In some ways, Tanya is like “one of the guys,” except she comes with a lovely voice, six pack and breast.
After spending a lot of time in the studio with rappers, she became aware of the negativity that is attached to being a woman of color in the entertainment industry, but this hasn’t stopped her shine.
“Being pretty and around guys, people always want to know why she [T6] is down. I’m not being out there and everything is straight business. I proved myself, but there is still more work to do,” says Tanya.
Aside from some of the drama that comes with being a star, Tanya takes pride in being an inspiration to people of any age group through her music and personal blog (thebestoftanya.com/blog)—both of which are used to offer advice. They include encouraging pieces and some of Tanya’s learned experiences.
“I try to post a lot of things to inspire,” she says.
Currently, Tanya continues to work on expanding her fan base, setting future tour dates and releasing more music. Her latest EP, “Pieces,” is now available on iTunes. However, she always updates her Twitter (@Tanyat6) feed with free, new music.
Ultimately, Tanya would like to collaborate with artists such as Prince, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Drake and Nicki Minaj. But for now, it’s all about hustling hard and enjoying life.
“No matter what anyone tells you, if you’re hot, you’re hot. Stay focused,” says Tanya.
Find out more about Tanya by visiting her website: TheBestofTanya.com and check out her promo video for the single “Fly Away” and listen to the single “Silhouette.”
Isis Nicole’s Facts: Isis Nicole is a Cincinnati native majoring in Journalism at Columbia College Chicago. She can be contacted at Isis@glossmagazineonline.com and on her blog, isis-nicole.tumblr.com.
