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Introducing The Incredible K3 Sisters Band

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Described by Variety as an “All-Female Band Blowing Up on TikTok”, the K3 Sisters Band is a group of three Dallas-born sisters Kaylen (20), Kelsey (19), and Kristen (16) who have struck it big on the platform, amassing a quarter billion views and 36 million likes on TikTok alone! The musically talented sisters have found a niche performing harmonic melodies inspired by Harry Potter. They also write and perform their own music for a weekly Live show on their YouTube channel every Saturday at 11 am PT / 2 pm ET.

In just a year, the K3 Sisters Band has exploded across TikTok and social media, with Teens and Tweens alike falling in love with the girl’s beautiful songwriting and lyrics, funny original videos, and amazing cosplay costumes. But it’s not just Gen-Z who has taken notice, FORBES, GOOD MORNING AMERICA and VARIETY have all featured the girls, hailing them as the future of music for their fortitude to use TikTok and social media to release their own original content. Having performed LIVE at venues large and small for years, the girls were ready to keep their fans entertained when stay-at-home orders hit due to COVID19. They set up their own home stage and began streaming live weekly shows on their YouTube channel. Heavily influenced by folk-rock legends like Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, the girls have added their own ‘girl power’ twist to their music, with elements of folk-pop, Celtic, country, and rock. True hippies at heart, the girls released their most recent LIVE album “Earth Day 2020” in April which celebrates nature and Mother Earth with hits like “Cotton Candy Sky” and “California Redwood.” Most recently, as an ode to their Harry Potter-loving fans, they released the single “Queen Bellatrix”.

In the winter of 2019, they began doing LIVE performances across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Soon their TikTok blew up when people discovered that they were not only musicians but also cos-players and actresses honing their acting skills on short skit videos, especially ones centered around Harry Potter. This led to a quarter-billion international views on TikTok in less than a year! Now many international brands have reached out to them looking to book them for endorsements and campaigns, but the girls have made a conscious decision to remain true to their brand and only work with other brands that are an organic fit, such as the recent videos they did with K-SWISS who just launched a “Harry Potter” inspired line of shoes. The videos have already received millions of views in just a few days, a true testament to their rising influence.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with the three K3 Sisters, Kaylen, Kelsey, and Kristen, and here’s what went down:

How did you get started in the music industry?

Kaylen: Our families on both sides going back 4 generations were into music which included singing, playing instruments, and performing on stage. So, at every family gathering, it was a tradition to form a circle, sing, and play instruments. At the time, it seemed to us that we were the “stars” of these “shows” at 4 and 5 years old!

Kelsey: Our mom and dad met on stage, and formed a band for which we did hundreds of cameo appearances growing up. Also, all three of us began studying the violin when we turned 4 years old. We loved “charming the audience” when we 3 sang and performed fiddle tunes across Texas, Oklahoma, and on cruise ships with our parents and grandparents.

Kristen: For about 8 years we appeared weekly on several North Texas stages where we sang, acted, and performed hundreds of shows for children who were part of various homeschooled groups and church groups. We also created a “Power of 3” show with educational elements and performed it for 19 public school elementary-age assemblies in either their gym or cafetorium. What was so ironic is that there we were performing for public schools, but we never attended one day of public school in our lives! Our parents decided to home school us because they both have teaching degrees, and wanted to keep touring and playing music with us in tow!

How were you actually discovered?

Kelsey: Well, it was an “overnight sensation” that only took 11 years! You see, with all the hundreds of shows we did growing up, we caught the attention of everything from Americas Got Talent to ABC’s Good Morning America and Nickelodeon’s Americas Most Musical Family shows. But in a twist of fate, after performing for their producers, we always refused to sign the final contracts preferring to keep developing as a “do it yourself” operation where we keep control of all our music, merch, and brand. But all this exposure began to add up.

Kristen: We began getting coverage in various North Texas newspapers and invited to perform at some pretty big venues such as state and local fairs and festivals, Great Wolf Lodge, and Six Flags Over Texas to name a few. Each appearance and the promotion of it on our social media increased our reach throughout Texas and beyond.

Kaylen: The huge catalytic event that resulted in our international “discovery” as performing artists was our meteoric rise on TikTok. In less than a year we garnered 1.7 million followers and over 228 million views of us singing, acting, and basically cutting up! Besides our highly produced content, one reason we popped was that the Covid-19 pandemic forced us and just about everyone else in the world into the role of a captive audience. And, as fate would have it, we ended up being incredibly entertaining and popular with this global captive audience!

Can you tell us about your single Queen Bellatrix?

Kristen: Queen Bellatrix is a song that I developed overtime during the pandemic. In the process of blowing up on TikTok and our other social media platforms, we loved the attention and praise. But suddenly, we began getting hate comments out of nowhere from internet “trolls”. In particular, I was falsely accused and bullied on my anime/cosplay account. It really hurt me. So, after considering how Taylor Swift and others have written songs to deal with mean things like this, I ended up creating an original character modeled after Harry Potter’s bully character, Bellatrix Le Strange. The song became a kind of a release of the pain and frustration I was feeling. I made it end with this fictional bully getting what she had coming. Over time it has really helped me, but surprisingly Queen Bellatrix has become one of our most requested fan favorites at our live stream shows because I often get dressed up in a black dress, and lose myself during the song into a wild split-personality character in order to perform it. You can watch the original music video on our YouTube channel, or check out live versions on one of our weekly live stream shows.

What sort of people are most likely to love your two most recent live albums “Apple of My Eye” and “Earth Day 2020 LIVE”?

Kaylen: One fact about our K3 Sisters Band is that every concert is quite different than the last one. We constantly draw from dozens of songs we’ve written which include many different styles and genres. We have covered everything from pop to light rock, world, Texas swing, Celtic, ballads, instrumentals, and folk numbers. So, there is something in our shows for just about every age and liking. People of all ages and cultures really get into our love songs.

Kristen: Lately, we have been hearing us described as “a band that defies description.” We take that as a compliment because we have a love for so many different styles of music. As a result, we attract people who like variety in music. Of course, the fact that we are all multi-instrumentalists really keeps them guessing as we’re switching instruments every other song. I think the fact that instead of trying to do what we think this or that audience would like, we do what we like and see who wants to join our unique musical ride. So far it’s working.

Kelsey: Since our TikTok account blasted us onto the international scene earlier this year, we are totally amazed at how many teens from over 50 countries around the world come to our live stream shows and chat live with us during the shows. They are also flocking to our website where they can listen to our music for free, watch us perform live, and read our detailed biographical info. When we live chat during YouTube premieres, or before our YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook live stream concerts, it’s not uncommon to find all of us trying to read multiple languages, and finding out how many states and foreign countries are represented on the live chat with us. It’s incredibly exhilarating to be serving and sharing life with young people close to our ages all over the world. And the fact that we are willing to connect with them keeps them coming back to a meaningful relationship with us as well as with the other regulars that attend pretty much every premiere and live stream show.

What inspires you to be creative?

Kaylen: Our creative inspirations range from current events to personal joys and struggles that we have undergone or are currently experiencing. These situations are the food for thought that feeds our creativity. As I’m strumming an acoustic guitar, I never know what will suddenly pop into my mind or come out of the guitar. When it does, I often feed and develop it into a song or ballad that we all help shape, arrange, and enjoy performing. At other times it’s just plain old strumming!

Kristen: Sometimes it hits me like a bolt of lightning, and I record snippets of melodies or lyrics into my cell phone notes for further development. At other times, it is a more constructive, intentional, and thought out work process such as with Queen Bellatrix. It’s not uncommon for me to take up to 3 years to develop some songs, and less than an hour for others! I think it’s all about how I feel at the moment. Also, I’m not afraid to “shelf” a song unfinished, and be creative over a long stretch. Kind of chip away at it when it feels right. Quite unpredictable though! No deadlines either.

Kelsey: I believe that we got “creativity genes” from our parents and several older relatives who traversed the fields of creativity before us, and passed the passion on to us. Also, as part of our homeschooling, our dad had us researching all kinds of singer-songwriters from the ’50s, 60’s and 70’s, as well as watching all of the Rock Legends shows and giving an oral report on each artist or band. We spent our tip money and savings attending concerts from the greats such as One Direction, Five Seconds of Summer, Cheetah Girls, Dead & Co., Haim, Charlie Puth, and Twenty One Pilots to name a few. They added to our creative juices big time!

Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset?

Kristen: Sometimes I just need to release some emotions, and find myself writing music.

Kelsey: Well at times I’ve just been writing some poetry for fun, and suddenly thought, wait…this could be tailored into song lyrics. For instance, that’s exactly what happened on my song “Upside Down World” which you can still see somewhere on YouTube with us walking behind a kiddie train in a park for kids. The cameraman was sitting in the little caboose!

Kaylen: Definitely. When I’m practicing long or short hours on guitar or fiddle, as I said earlier, it quite often turns into a creative moment, but not always. Practicing is more than just practicing if you let your mind wander. And I’ve found it’s best to do this creative wandering in private.

What message, if any, do you try to put into your work?

Kristen: OMG! It turns out that all three of us embed a lot of double meanings and symbolism into our lyrics. Some of this stems from our analysis of lyrics as part of our homeschooling English lessons. Great songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Jerry Garcia use such colorful imagery in their songs that we have learned to do the same. So, it could be there is a simple meaning, as well as a much, much deeper message of hope, sorrow, or philosophy in our original songs.

Kaylen: We try to uncover the kinds of feelings that people we meet are experiencing. Then, we write and sing about it. It’s like this. Almost every girl I’ve met wants to be loved and needed, so my song “Apple of My Eye” shouts out the heart-felt hook lines, “Cause I love you and I need you. Do you love me, do you need me like that?” We also detest bullying of any kind, so we have written messages of staying strong into our songs such as “Sticks and Stones”, “Phoenix” and “Livin’ the Dream”.

Kelsey: We also write lyrics that suggest finding love or losing love. As an example, our song “Temporary Guy” explores the relationship of a guy who is only a temporary friend who will never be anything more to the girl than that. “Temporary guy, he can be a friend. He’s there to help you mend, but he’s gone in the end.” We all have had, will have, or know someone who has been involved in either side of these kinds of relationships, and that’s okay. I guess getting hurt and moving on is part of life, and it’s something we can all relate to in a song.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?

Kristen: The recent successes that we’ve experienced on TikTok. Topping 228 million views of our videos, and reaching a diverse, international audience with our music and content is a thrill beyond description. I will never forget this pandemic because of the silver lining it bestowed on all of us.

Kelsey: I will never forget hearing and “feeling” 3,500 kids clapping and cheering for us as we went out on stage in Garland, Texas to perform our “Power of 3” show. We had performed it in 19 different public school assemblies over two years. Then the school district funded us performing for dozens of schools all at once in an indoor arena. Watching the movie that was made of it so early in our career, it still gives me exciting chills. I kind of can’t believe it was me and my sisters doing that at such a young age. I guess the old saying, “fools rush in where angels fear to tread” is true!

Kaylen: I will never forget setting up at the Dallas Arboretum’s huge outdoor amphitheater last year for a Memorial Day show. It was overlooking the cool White Rock Lake, but we were sweating like mad in 102 degrees Texas heat with only a patio umbrella for shade on a huge flagstone stage which doubled for a frying pan! We were testing out our “large stage outdoor show set up” with full tilt amplification, and it went flawlessly, except…setting up and running all the sound ourselves, doing the two-hour show, and loading out with no help found me on the bathroom floor in my room at home sick as a dog wondering what hit me. It wasn’t a fond memorable experience, but I’ll surely never forget it. It’s okay to share some of the bad stuff that happened on the way up the ladder.

Who is your greatest influence?

Kelsey: Well in songwriting it would be several of the singer-songwriters from the last century such as Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead. But in our zeal to control our work and our “brand,” it would have to be female entrepreneurs such as Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Shakira. And, okay, Ed Sheeran and Charlie Puth too!

Kaylen: I absolutely love bands like Twenty One Pilots, Five Seconds of Summer, and other bands that value performing their original songs live. And, it’s not that I hate recording in the studio, it’s just that I am incredibly energized by performing and releasing our music in live settings with all the “flaws,” and without the high tech “safety nets” like auto-tuned vocals, hidden background tracks, and the editing out “unexpected variations”! Like Jerry [Garcia] once said, “making a record is like building a ship in a bottle. Playing live music is like being in a rowboat in the ocean.” I want to perform on that wild and open ocean. And, some of my songwriting is certainly influenced by Taylor Swift, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Crosby Stills & Nash.

Kristen: My dad. He has worked with me on learning how to play mandolin, guitar, and drums, in addition to teaching me a lot about songwriting. But, I’ve also grown to really appreciate the lifetime of works created by Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and The Beatles. I listen to or watch videos of these musical soul mates every day. And yes, I hear something new and awesome every time which influences and inspires me. You know, I am aware that I don’t create my music in a vacuum. I revere and study the great artists who came before me. That’s a good thing.

Do you feel that you chose your “passion,” or did it choose you?

Kristen: As the youngest sister I have always looked to my sisters as guiding lights in addition to my parents. My earliest memories are of watching them on stage from the front row, and intensely wondering, “Why am I not up there with them?” In fact, more than once I escaped from my babysitter and ran up on stage or in front of the stage to perform for the audience. As I’ve gotten older, however, I have realized that something mysterious is inside me that provokes me to perform. Call it the muses, call it the universe, call it God, or call it destiny it is a powerful force that I don’t fully understand, but I welcome.

Kelsey: Since I was 4 years old I have been singing, studying, and performing on fiddle, listening to crosstalk about the music business, and on long trips in vans, planes, and cruise ships to perform. So, in a way, a path was laid before me that I have followed in a very organic and natural way. In the process, I have evolved to accept the fact that being passionate about my role in the music business is to fulfill my dreams and goals, not other people’s dreams. Having said that, in order to make it happen with the K3 Sisters Band, it is essential to be surrounded by other passionate artists like my sisters, parents and extended family.

Kaylen: Our grandpa is fond of the saying, “You are what you were when.” The story about my dad and grandpa looking through the glass at the hospital nursery the day I was born in Dallas, and discussing whether my long fingers were those of a fiddle player or keyboard player is true! Before I turned four, my dad had me taking private fiddle lessons from a top Suzuki method violin teacher, and my mom, who holds a music degree from Texas Woman’s University was giving me voice lessons. I have fully embraced the life of a touring musician and entertainer as I have grown up. It’s all I’ve ever known, and I love it.

If you hadn’t chosen your field, what would your alternate field have been?

Kaylen: I have always liked meeting children of all backgrounds, and working with them while I was helping my parents teach and entertain hundreds of home school students and church youth groups. I would have been interested in either being a schoolteacher or a music educator.

Kristen: That’s easy. I would have studied acting, and gone to Hollywood to find work in commercials, movies, or television shows. Or, maybe headed to Broadway to perform in the bright lights. And by the way, I believe that all three of us have Hollywood, movies, and TV in our futures. It’s inevitable.

Kelsey: I could envision being in the culinary arts somehow. Maybe as a bakery owner.

What are your future plans? Inside your career and out of it.

Kristen: Well, as I’ve already mentioned, I believe we will be featured in a movie or television show very soon. But as to the immediate future, I am planning on writing enough original songs and generating enough worldwide fans to embark on yearly world tours once this Covid-19 thing comes to an end. I especially love Japan and am hoping to perform there. Maybe when the Warner Bros. Harry Potter studio opens there in 2023 we could perform in our Harry Potter costumes as part of the grand opening!

Kelsey: A great Rascal Flatts song says, “If life is a highway. I want to ride it all night long.” That sums it up for me. I want to keep writing, learning to sing and play instruments better, and go all the way to the top as an entertainer. By the way, I’m studying stand up bass as my newest instrument. Outside of my career, I have become quite the baker during this pandemic. My specialty is cakes. I can see cake baking will somehow become part of my future.

Kaylen: Wow! The future is kind of cloudy right now with this Covid-19 pandemic literally leveling the playing field for entertainers and the music business. I mean, who would have predicted that all of our many shows that were booked for 2020 would be canceled? So, I’m not as sure if our plans to reach people “on the ground” at shows and huge festivals will ever materialize in 2021 or 2022. But, I know that our online reach has been safely launched on several platforms so… that’s where we are headed…for now. Oh, and someday there might just be time for a love relationship. But for now, my career comes first.

LIGHTNING FAST Round Questions:

Last good movie I’ve seen:

Kelsey: Zootopia
Kristen: The Phantom of the Opera
Kaylen: The newest Jumanji film

What do you consider beautiful and why?

Kelsey: I find beauty in small things such as fan art, a letter, or a small gift that someone sends me which holds heartfelt thoughts and memories.
Kristen: I love to hike in forests, and feel strongly that California’s coastal redwoods are the most beautiful, ancient lifeforms on planet earth.
Kaylen: I look at a gourmet meal laid out on a huge table complete with a fantastic dessert to follow as a thing of beauty to look at and enjoy consuming with friends and family.

What haven’t you done yet that you wish you could?

Kristen: I wish I could drive a car. I don’t have my driver’s license yet. But trying to surf on a California beach is also on my list. You don’t need a license for that!
Kaylen: I would like to fly to London, and take the Harry Potter studio tour before taking the train to visit Edinburgh, Scotland where my grandmother was born.
Kelsey: I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like to be in a major glamour magazine cover photoshoot. I’d be wearing expensive diamonds, and decked out in an expensive designer dress both of which were loaned to me just for the shoot.

Complete this sentence: “If I had no fear, I’d…”

Kaylen: … try driving a race car over 100 miles an hour.
Kristen: … rent a huge theater in Texas, and do a free “social distancing” show for my friends and fans.
Kelsey: … be on the reality TV show Big Brother.

What is the one “flaw” you wouldn’t change about yourself?

Kaylen: I guess it would be getting really frustrated with my sisters when they don’t see things my way on a creative level. I’m kind of a perfectionist because I have perfect pitch.
Kelsey: I like hanging out in my room on my phone more than most. So what!
Kristen: Unfortunately, I tend to be a bit rough around the edges at times when I don’t get my way because, well…I’ve been called a “diva”. But try as I may, I can’t change who I am.

Spider-Man: No Way Home Review: Is It Worth Your Money??

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With the Avengers disassembled after the events of “Endgame” and a crop of new stars on the rise still too early to take center stage, few crossover events have matched the grandiosity and attention beyond “Infinity War” and “Endgame.” After successfully rebooting Spider-man with Tom Holland into the MCU, we finally complete his “home trilogy” with a third installment to ambitious enough to prove not all trilogies collapse once we reach Roman numeral number 3. “Spider-man: No Way home” is in many ways a culmination of all Spider-man films that came before it, while also providing a cinematic cap off to all 3 Spider-man franchises simultaneously in one wondrous, crossover package. Let’s dive into the Multiverse and see if it all pays off.

Picking up directly after the events of “Spider-man: Far from home,” the world now knows that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is the man behind the Spider-man mask. His life, his friends, his aunt (Marisa Tomei), and even his girlfriend (Zendaya) have their worlds turned upside down as the world refuses to give Parker one moment of peace. Desperate to undo this damage, Peter contacts Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell to make everyone forget Spider-man is Peter Parker. Unfortunately, Peter disrupts the spell and causes pleather of villains from other Spider-man universes to invade; including Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Dr. Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx), and more. Now Spider-man must send the villains back before his life and his reality are torn apart in the wake of his greatest mistake.

Many franchises juggle their characters defining actors around with a roll of the dice. With Batman having 6 different actors to portray him on film, 3 for Hulk and now 3 for Spider-man, it can be hard to keep track of which version of a character people are most familiar with. “No way home” solves this problem by combining them into one, cross-dimensional collision that brings heroes and villains from 3 separate franchises and not only finds a logical way for them to fit together but also to improve and expand upon their own mythologies and stories left unexplained from previous installments. Spider-man learns his hardest lessons thanks to the stars of the past films and figures that came before him and does so in an exceptionally beautiful way.

No words can properly describe the chills that went down my spine when I saw Holland duking it out with Doc Ock from “Spider-man 2” and Electro from “Amazing Spider-man 2,” it was a fan spasm moment I never thought I would be able to witness. The story perfectly brings the iconic suffering in Parker’s life to the forefront; having his consequences affect his friends, his family, and even his school life is a painfully realistic and natural causality due to his actions. It’s a darker side we never got to see this Spider-man go through and Holland’s incredible performance captured the emotional impact and significance of this dramatic turn perfectly. By far though, the most incredible aspect of this film to behold is the use and interaction of the villains.

We see the likes of Sandman, Doc Ock, Green Goblin, and Lizard interacting with each other, learning of their individual fates and how their lives have been changed by Spider-man. It collects so many talented names and faces under one roof and develops them beyond being big bads; learning what makes them tick and how they feel learning about their lives and possible future when dealing with Spider-man. This is far more than a fan service film or even a flashy comic book action movie, this is the ultimate form of appreciation and collaboration of everything Spider-man is and ever was throughout all previous 7 films; even more so than “Into the Spider-verse.” This is a jam-packed, stellar sendoff that wows your eyes, attacks your heart, and mixes all those feelings together in one unforgettable trilogy topper that does everyone justice.

Overall, “Spider-man: No way home” is a dream-come-true-film that felt far more impossible and unlikely to happen than even the first “Avengers” film. Every hero, villain, minor, major and side character delivers their best work throughout all 3 co-existing franchises. This is not only the ultimate Spider-man movie of all time but also the film of the year and one of Marvel’s best of the best. If things ended here for Holland’s Spider-man then he’d be going out on the highest of high notes, but even though I doubt this entry can be topped, I cannot wait to see what the future holds in store for Spider-man. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate, buy/watch this movie ASAP and be amazed.

I give “Spider-man: No way home” 4 stars out of 4 stars.

 

Editorial credit: Sarunyu L / Shutterstock.com

Get To Know Dancer, Model, Actress, And YouTube Personality Amelie Anstett

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Photo credit: Kenny Goldberg

Amelie Anstett is an American dancer, model, actress, and YouTube personality. She is a Florida native who started her career at age 7 as a professional dancer. She has shared the stage with high-profile celebrities like Justin Bieber during his Purpose Tour and has danced at The Playground LA with “Dance Moms” reality star JoJo Siwa. Amelie became a YouTube sensation after booking her role as Sade in Brat TV’s Chicken Girls and Chicken Girls: The Docuseries. She then went on to modeling and quickly landed a role in Ruby Rose Turner’s Handbag Launch, followed by being the face of Totto brands Sebastian Yatra line in their worldwide campaign. When not working she spends time supporting Elev8hope, a non-profit organization that focuses on bettering the community and helping anyone in need, no matter the circumstances.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Amelie to discuss her journey in the entertainment industry and here’s what went down:

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started as an actress/model?

My big break into the entertainment industry happened when I was 12 years old and danced on stage with Justin Bieber. That moment changed my life forever and allowed me to really see my true passion and calling. Justin taught me and is teaching me so many things, and he has truly made such an impact in my life. I’ll never forget him tell me to ‘always believe in myself, follow my dreams, and remember my roots. From this point on I started getting into modeling and acting as well.

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your profile?

My goal with social media is to be able to keep spreading that message to be able to connect with people. And as years keep going on, I hope to have a lot going on with acting and dancing,
which will be really cool. The future just takes us on a path, and we’ll see where it goes.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your personal brand’s awareness?

Instagram for sure! I really love how on Instagram I can bring such an awareness of positivity and self-love through Instagram stories, posts, dm’s, etc… It has really allowed me to have so many different ways to communicate with other individuals and grow my following.

Photo credit: Sydney Lau

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your personal brand?

To be honest my main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of my personal brand is consistency. I am very passionate about my motto and I am so grateful that I get to share that passion with other individuals, and show them that I support them, just as much as they support me.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

This is an amazing question and honesty as I have gotten older in this industry there are a lot of tough decisions that need to be made. I am a junior in High School, and you know it’s not always easy, especially at first trying to find time for school, and sometimes you have to make a choice. It took time for me to find the right balance of school and work…and it’s so amazing because it really keeps us focused and balanced.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

Man, it would be so cool to time travel, however, I honestly don’t think that even if I had the chance I would change anything in my journey so far. This is because I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason, even if it doesn’t always make sense at first.

Photo credit: Kenny Goldberg

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

When Justin and I talked backstage, he told me: “Remember who you are and how you started. And always stick to your roots and grow through that.” Which was really cool. And his advice has always stuck with me. Also, I feel so lucky to get to work with so many amazing individuals. Another piece of advice that has always stuck with me is: “Don’t be another little fish in the big pond. Find a way to stand out, and be and show who you really are.”

What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Oh, I love this question. With social media, we can’t help but compare ourselves to others. And I think the biggest piece of advice I would give, even though it sounds cliché, is that you truly are amazing as yourself. We live in these shells and there’s nothing we can really do but accept them. It’s about what’s on the inside what you can bring into the world and share with others. Work for what you want and do it for you. Go make your mark!

Photo credit: Sydney Lau

The Verdict On Cruella: A Grand Step Into The Right Direction

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Maleficent; that was the first thing that came to mind when I heard they were giving Cruella Deville her own live-action prequel/origin story. The unwatchable cinematic butchery that was Angelina Jolie’s “Maleficent” made it impossible for me not to dread what backward, hack story editing job Disney would perform on Cruella’s story in order to make her more likable, relatable, or some other totally inconsistent perception that has never been associated with the cruel fashion designer since her cinematic debut back in 1961. Cruella is an odd choice for an origins story and I never was her biggest fan, to begin with, but the unique setting piece and distinctive style gave this film an intriguing edge that I thought and hoped would work well.

At the young age of 12, Estelle suffers a horrid tragedy as she loses her home, her mother, and her school in one wicked night. After surviving off the streets for 4 years through thievery with her friends Jasper (Joel Fry) and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser), a grown-up Estelle (Emma Stone) finds herself stumbling into an opportunity to enter the fashion world and make an honest living working for the Baroness (Emma Thompson) as an up and coming fashion designer. As secrets become revealed, Estelle wishes to remake herself for this new life and get revenge on those who wronged her in the past. Now Estelle is making her big debut and becoming who she was destined to be; despite how many hearts and lives she has to ruin in the process.

Unlike Maleficent who lives in a fantasy world of dragons and magic, “Cruella” transports us to a very believable and, dare I say, understandable existence for the villainess-to-be to inhabit. We see her from the literal beginning all the way to her rise to power and fame. The fashion landscape provides a unique environmental structure to mold our hero/villain into the witch she will one day become, and I have to say, after watching this film I can actually see this young Estelle/Cruella turning into the bony, cackling witch from the original animated film down the line. “Cruella” constantly shifts our perception of the character; showing her violent, aggressive side as well as her lonely, ambitious side to make us neither fully support her but neither do we fully condemn her. In the grand scheme of grand schemers, Cruella’s evil ambitions are considerably smaller compared to the likes of Scar, Hades or Ursula. Therefore, this approach works well with Cruella’s backstory and makes it easier to connect with her.

They say the devil is in the details and there is no greater detailed devil than in the choice to have Emma Stone play the future, Ms. Deville. She is completely immersed in the character; diving fully into her personality, her eccentricities, and her outlandish presence. Stone plays Cruella like a living embodiment of damaged goods; longing to wish for a better life and yet twisting yourself into the deep end of the pool at the risk of drowning in the darkness you once stood against. We see signs of her worst behaviors bubbling to the surface as the film progresses, including towards Horace and Jasper, who become so much more 3 dimensional and personal to her backstory; it makes their inevitable devolution into hired goons in the future all the more tragic. As for our villain’s villain, Emma Thompson steals the show almost as much as Emma Stone does. She’s a perfectly cold, shrewd woman who rivals Cruella imperfectly in every way.

The use of fashion, both as a weapon as and as cinematic eye candy was the most impressive and surprising aspect of the whole film. Cruella’s style is perfectly embodied in the costume designs. They feel like living, flowing works of art; warped into numerous unique styles that even make trails of garbage dangling from a dump truck look fashionable. The few areas of weakness I felt needed enhancing fell with Cruella’s evil nature (this is a Disney film after all so naturally much will be held back) and also the soundtrack. “Cruella” is a 2 hour 60 and 70’s jukebox; blasting oldies from those eras almost every 10 minutes. Unlike “Guardians of the Galax” which used its soundtrack as a part of the film’s narrative, “Cruella” just bombards you with so many songs the movie cannot feel like it can’t breathe on its own. It’s like we get it, we know what era we’re in; just let the movie be and give the natural sounds some breathing room.

Overall, “Cruella” is a considerable improvement after the disastrous approach they took to Sleeping Beauty with “Maleficent.” Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are beyond incredible. Their performances truly break them both into new territories and the unique blending of trauma, adventure, heist themes, and fashion themes work surprisingly well together. The music can be a bit overbearing and I do wish Disney would take a bigger chance on keeping their villains’ roots black as their hearts but this is a grand step in the right direction. “Cruella” isn’t exactly what I thought it would be but it’s definitely something I want more of.

I give “Cruella” 3 stars out of 4 stars.

“Frozen 2″ Review: A Well-Matured Film That Doesn’t Try To Be Another Kid’s Movie

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Rating: 4/5 Stars

I remember seeing “Frozen” for the first time when it first came to theaters. I knew next to nothing about it thanks to very few witnessed advertisements so I went in mostly blind and was very pleased to see how everything played out. It was a beautiful, wonderful, elegantly scored film that felt like a real return to Disney’s classic film quality levels. Imagine my surprise at how quickly the film evolved into a massive phenomenon and then, Disney taking a whopping 6-year gap before finally putting out the sequel. Needless to say, the hype surrounding “Frozen” was obscenely high and left a great deal to live up to for “Frozen 2” to match.

Our story takes us back to Arendelle where Elsa (Idina Menzel) enjoys a peaceful reign as queen until she starts hearing a strange voice calling her to the enchanted forest; outside of the kingdom. Desperate to find answers to the origins of her powers, Elsa ventures into the forest along with her sister Anna (Kristen Bell) and friends Kristoff (Jonathon Gruff) Olaf (Josh Gad) and Sven the reindeer. What the group discovers is a new side to the sister’s parents, the king, and queen, and how their ties to the magic world are far more complicated and dangerous than Ana or Elsa ever imagined.

Topping a juggernaut like the original “Frozen” is no easy task for any sequel, thankfully, “Frozen 2” doesn’t just try to merely copy its original formula and instead treats the film’s story just like it treats its characters: allowing them to age. “Frozen 2” has grown up in every aspect compared to its “sister” movie; everything from the themes, morals, drama, music, and conflicts have all escalated into much bigger and more mature elements that I don’t think anyone was expecting. Gone are the catchy, Disney pop-ish musical numbers that can be easily lip-synched on sing-along CD albums and are now deeper, more emotionally meaningful songs that resonate with personal growth and the changes that come with age. Even Olaf, the goofy lovable snowman, sings about how he hopes he will be wiser when he grows older.

This new approach certainly appeals to the older audience members and it helps that most of the story really focuses on the character’s core motivations and developments. This maybe Elsa’s journey but there are so many other pivotal moments and lives involved here, it feels like everyone’s invested in this and the dangers and environments they encounters measure up accordingly with each bigger moment. The new environment expands the world of “Frozen” with new creatures, new mythology, and lore and it’s gorgeously rendered with spellbindingly beautiful computer effects and graphics. The world has never looked so wondrous before.

Kristen Bell and Indina Menzel truly go above and beyond their emotional capacities. Their bond and ties are truly tested here, pushing them to the limits and still managing epic songs that elevate Bell and Menzel’s talents to new heights. Sadly though, the music never becomes memorable or catchy enough that you’d want to say buy the soundtrack and listen to it over and over again like the first film. The songs are beautiful and expertly scored but just doesn’t make it replay value, with the exception, of course, being Kristoff’s song; a hilarious 80’s power ballad tune that is hilarious to watch and even better to listen to. It’s high time Kristoff got a real song this time around.

However, “Frozen 2” suffers from a few flaws; ones that are actually quite identical to the ones afflicting “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” Namely, “Frozen 2” delivers slim to zero new characters. The ones they do introduce are so paper thin and barely on screen, they feel more like cameos than proper roles. Another problem is nothing that new is brought to the table. Much like how “Ralph 2” just explored new levels of the same relationship we knew about before, “Frozen 2” gives us a few new neat tidbits about Elsa and her parents but it’s largely the same old story with just a few lessons about growing up. Kristoff’s relationship with Ana is one of the best new expanded storylines they’ve had but even that was handled fumblingly at times.

Overall, “Frozen 2” is a gorgeous, well-matured film that doesn’t try to be another kid’s movie and be something deeper and richer with heart and depth. The lack of new characters is disappointing and the rehashing of similar relationship problems/cues is unfortunate, but all in all, this is a beautiful movie that does take a few risks and tries something more adult-oriented and it works on many levels even if not all the way through every time.

Introducing R&B/Pop singer And TikTok Star Jaida Aneese

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Jaida was born in Canton, Ohio. Her passion for singing and songwriting came at a very early age, writing her first song in third grade.

Jaida wrote “F*** love” in 2017, and soon after, recorded it with her Uncle, Producer Thr3efourteen. In 2019 her great uncle, Jazz Artist, “Jimmy B” Baber introduced her to the Houston, Texas production team consisting of Eddie Ferguson Jr, Telford “Jaytel” Birmingham II. Jaida collaborated with this Houston team to finish her debut single, “Liquid.”

In addition to influences from her own musically talented family members, some of Jaida’s musical influences are; Alicia keys, H.E.R & Chris Brown.

StarCentral Magazine recently caught up with Jaida to discuss her journey in the entertainment industry and here’s what went down:

How did you get started in the music industry? How were you actually ‘discovered’?

Music has always been a part of me, but I got serious about a life in the music industry around 2 years ago. I was discovered by Billboard Jazz recording artist Jimmy B, who then introduced me to producer Eddie Ferguson and Jaytel Bethaford.

What do you like most about singing?

The thing I like most about singing is the songwriting process. Being able to create something off of a single concept and watch it grow and expand into something great. That is what I like the most.

Can you tell us about your upcoming debut single Liquid?

‘Liquid’ is a really fun, relatable, song about being in love. It’s about that feeling when you are so into someone, your body feels like liquid when they’re close. The effect they have on you when you just wanna melt, you know?

What sort of person is going to love this single?

I think anyone who’s ever been in love, of any age group, would love this single. It’s something everyone can relate to. I just feel like it’s a light, happy, love song that stays with you, and you’ll be singing it all day.

What inspires you to be creative?

To be honest, I am most creative when I am in the middle of the feeling. When I’m heartbroken, feeling frustrated, or even in love, I just feel like I need to get it out on paper. It’s like, the only way I can get through what I’m feeling is to write it down, or it will explode inside of me. I’m hoping that when people listen to my music, it can be a way for them to see that someone out there understands what they are going through, and they can use my music to express what they are feeling.

Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset?

When it comes to getting into a creative mindset, I don’t have a ritual that I follow step by step. I really just take what I’m feeling and multiply it by 100. Sometimes, I take what someone else is feeling and try to put myself in their shoes. Once I do that, the emotion just takes over from there.

What message, if any, do you try to put into your work?

My message will always be ‘I get it, I know what you’re going through.’ I also try to make sure everyone knows they are worth something and they deserve to be treated accordingly. If you are not being treated that way, then it’s time to move on. As well as keeping emotions raw and real when it comes to being hurt. I know oftentimes we feel too tough to say the truth and that’s okay because you can just turn on some music and they can sing your feelings for you.

What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?

Seeing as my career has only just begun, I would say the most memorable experience so far is just connecting and growing with my team. Working with my producers, Eddie & Jaytell, has been great. We all just click together perfectly. Being able to experience that and work to make my ideas come to life with guys that I look at like brothers is an experience to remember.

Do you ever find yourself unable to express your creativity to the fullest? What kinds of things inhibit you?

I do sometimes find myself unable to express my creativity to the fullest. It’s mostly when I am too busy with everyday boring life and have too many outside distractions. Sometimes I really have to be in a calm or hurtful state of mind to truly dig deep and create what it is I’m looking to create and you don’t always get those times periods so when they come, I try to take full advantage of them.

Who is your greatest influence?

Rihanna is my greatest influence because she’s a legit queen. Her work ethic and confidence and the way she carries herself and stays humble but savage at the same time. Not to mention her being the world’s wealthiest female musician and second richest woman in entertainment behind Oprah Winfrey. Me being a young black female artist and seeing her grow this way is insane and I just have mad respect for her and admire her to the fullest.

Do you feel that you chose your “passion,” or did it choose you?

Honestly, I feel like my passion chose me. It’s been a voice in the back of my head as far back as I can remember. I never seriously considered pursuing it, and then one day I was kinda like “Hey, maybe you should listen to this voice and see where it leads you”. That’s when I started working and growing on my craft locally, and recording with some of my uncles who have studios. They all told me to keep working and never give up. So about two years ago I decided to take a chance and jump into this music thing.

If you hadn’t chosen your field, what would your alternate field have been?

If I didn’t choose to be a singer, I would definitely just be a songwriter and pitch my songs to other artists. If I hadn’t chosen to do music at all, I would focus heavily on an acting career.

What are your future plans? Inside your career or out of it.

My future plans inside my career are to continue growing and connecting with my fans & making music that people can relate to. I also plan to get into acting and collaborating with other artists.

Encanto Movie Review: Is It Worth Your Money??

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With the success of “Moana” and growing need/interest in diversity in their princess line/history, Disney has been trying to pass the cultural test with all possible flying colors by adapting every kind of hero and heroine for their animated feature films. With “Moana,” and “Raya and the last dragon,” it’s clear Disney is trying to put their own iconic magical spin on every possible fairy tale they can weave with new rising stars and storytellers to pave the way for future profits and programming. “Encanto” is a Columbian fantasy tale, scored through the genius musical mind of Lynn-Manual Miranda, who had already delivered substantial musical success for Disney with his work in “Moana” and “Mary Poppins Returns.” One always hopes lightning strikes more than once so let’s see if Disney has conjured up the right kind of magic once again.

In a humble village in Columbia, the centerpiece of the town (and the story) is the Madrigals family: a family blessed with a magical house that is not only alive and vibrantly energetic but also grants each new family member as they come of age with their own, unique mystical power. From super strength, weather manipulation, and shape-shifting, there’s something extra special about every member of the Madrigals family…except for Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). She’s the only one who never received a mystical gift and it has left her feeling disconnected and ignored by her magical-powered relatives. However, when a mysterious danger threatens to eliminate the magic from the Madrigals forever, Mirabel must find out what is causing the magic to disappear and save her family’s gifts before they are lost for all eternity.

The subject of family is no stranger to Disney’s usual go-to story focuses. Certain cultures and families have a greater emphasis on the importance of family and that is no different here. However, the strange thing about “Encanto” is that for as fantastical and family-focused as it is, the film seems to mix its signals on presenting family; often coming off sadder and head scratching than anything whimsical. Almost every plot twist, line of dialog, and the musical number has to revolve around why family is so important and how dedicated this particular family is to one another. And yet, Mirabel not only receives no magical gift she gets shunned and ignored by her family members simply because she is different from them; even from the figurehead of the family.

The prejudice towards Mirabel not only feels hurtful but also unnecessarily aggressive, even if that is the point/source of conflict for the character. The whole plot circles the looming threat of everyone losing their powers and that level of jeopardy feels a bit lacking when everyone is being an obnoxious pill towards Mirabel just because she’s different; even to the point you WANT them to end up powerless so they can see what Mirabel has been going through. The movie kinda spins its wheels around this central plot and doesn’t really leave room for much else outside of enjoying Miradna’s signature soundtrack works of art. The songs range from catchy to forgettable. They are well presented and beautifully packaged, but again, they all dance around the same issue with little variation, and even the tune pitches don’t change enough for me to say I can remember more than one song off top of my head after seeing it.

The catchiest song actually deals with the character of Bruno (voiced by John Leguizamo) who is treated even worse than Mirabel, and the more you find out the worse you feel for this character. I felt bad for him more so than anyone else in the rest of the family. Among all the beautiful colors, stunning visuals, and bouncing tunes; the film seems to mishandle its own message and sends conflicting morals about family connections that were handled far more elegantly and meaningfully in Pixar’s “Coco” then they were here. Even with a Disney film having an expected happily ever after, the cast never becomes likable or memorable enough to feel like the lessons have been learned or expressed in the right way; to us or the cast.

Overall, “Encanto” has a lot to like but not as much to love if you ask me. There’s plenty of flash and colorful music but no staying power, not during the film and certainly not after it. The message about the power of families feels disjointed and poorly arranged in a way that it contradicts itself and ends up painting the Madrigals as glorified jerks rather than a whimsical family to emulate and idolize. Once you get behind it all, there’s not much going on and at the end, the answers all seem so obvious you’re wondering why it took so long to learn the clear-cut message. But hey, at least it’s got great music.

I give “Encanto” 2 stars out of 4 stars.