An Interview with James Cole, founder of Hinfluencers

An Interview with James Cole, founder of Hinfluencers

Hinfluencers is a team of Instagram influencers made up of creatives that include photographers, videographers, and models who aim to create authentic content together for their audience. Below we learn more about Hinfluencers from the founder himself, James Cole, in a very thoughtful and inspiring interview: 

                                                        Photo by: Brandon Woelfel 

Hello James, to start off can you tell us a little about what Hinfluencer’s means to you and what you want it to mean for others?

For me, H is all about community. As we become more digital, faster, and, ironically, less connected as a larger society, we feel it’s all the more important to have a family to inspire you, to center you, and to create with. We hope to authentically generate content together, to learn and grow as a community, and, most importantly, to inspire others to do the same.

As the founder of Hinfluencers, when did you realize that this company that you comprised together was really taking off?

I still feel as though we are in a “taking off” phase. Every day is better than the one that preceded it – we have more members of our family, we are creating better content, and our mission is becoming clearer and more defined.
That said, there are little moments: our last Meet Up (at Sutro Baths) we announced only 4 days ahead of time and 120 people showed up. When I circled through the crowd meeting people, I was astounded by how far people had traveled (many of them 3+ hours) to feel a part of something and to create with other, like minded people. It struck me, in that moment, how necessary this community is!

Photo by: David Rice 

   Photo by:January Lunsford        

How do you want Hinfluencers to impact the way we view and portray content?

I want H to make people challenge the way we view branded content. “Ads” shouldn't be disruptions anymore. We should be passed that. Instead, “ads” should be authentic and provide value. By creating together, and being genuine in HOW we create, the hope is that WHAT we create will also be genuine and therefore more meaningful to our community more broadly.

Just a curious question, what does the H stand for in Hinfluencers?

The H is a visual metaphor – its shape represents connectivity and independence all at once. Creators have separate visions and separate goals, but the cross beam of the H connects them just as our community can facilitate collaboration and cross pollination. It’s a reminder that we all (influencers to influencers, brands to brands, and brands to influencers) have more similar goals than we realize and that by creating as a unit and aligning our goals, we can be stronger than we’d be separately.

How did you gather the members of your team?

The beauty of how H has grown is that its been largely organic. H has a powerful message: lets leave the inauthenticity, and the quest for fame and quick money to the side and create, genuinely, as a family. People with whom this message resonates seek us out; plain and simple. As we grow larger we will likely have to be more selective but for now, the only prerequisite for being a member of H is believing in the mission and putting yourself to the side in favor of the larger, authentic message.

Photo by: Nesrin Danan

The content produced by Hinfluencers is absolutely stunning, can you explain the process of how Hinfluencers takes an idea and turns it into reality or better yet a finished product?

H works as a team. The great thing about how we have structured the company is that we all are friends and genuinely like working together and brainstorming. Further, we have a good sense of each other’s style etc. so we often find ourselves finishing each others sentences or planning the same kinds of trips. You can see lots of behind the scenes footage etc on our website (hinfluencers.com).

    Photo by: Brandon Woelfel

 

    Photo by: Alivia Latimer 

Can you elaborate more on how you believe that the marketing landscape is becoming less and less authentic?

For many marketers, the digital landscape is just another, new channel to output their message. What they miss, is that social media has made it so that brands no longer have control of their brand. The users, consumers and followers control every brand message now. Everyone is a marketer. Anyone can post and share and inform others. By digging their claws in and trying to CONTROL the information, brands disrupt the conversation and flow of content and come off as inauthentic and out of touch. The future is a world where brands inform, and contribute to the discussion as opposed to trying to govern it.

Do you have any advice for those who are aspiring creatives: photographers, videographers and/or filmmakers?

It’s simple: create, create, create. If you want to learn more, or get better, or gain inspiration, you need to get out and shoot. Often, action precedes passion; that is to say, you have to get off your butt and CREATE before you are hooked, before you are good, and before it makes complete sense to you. Another tip would be to involve others. One of the things we believe very deeply at H is that feeding off of other’s energy and passion is the best way to spark your own!

         Photo by: Nesrin Danan       

   Photo by: Nesrin Danan

What can we expect from Hinfluencers in the near future? Any exciting projects?

H has some amazing trips planned in the coming months: to LA, to Joshua Tree, throughout Northern California and hopefully (fingers crossed) abroad.

And last but not least, where can people find out more about Hinfluencers?

Follow us on instagram at @hinfluencercollective, check out our website www.hinfluencers.com or send me an email at james@hinfluencers.com. I always love hearing from people and getting feedback! 

Meet Breya Monaye: Style Blogger, Model, Poetess, and Activist

Meet Breya Monaye: Style Blogger, Model, Poetess, and Activist

                                           Model: Breya Monaye 

                                             Photographer: Chalisa Singh    

Breya Monaye is a style blogger, model, poetess, and activist who uses her platform to tell her story and connect with women around the world. Her passion for fashion sparked in the 8th grade when she started becoming more experimental with her school uniform. In the upcoming years, she completely fell in love with fashion and realized that it was something more than just a hobby. For Breya, fashion was all she had when she struggled with issues of insecurity. She used fashion as a way to focus on the positives things about herself and her body. As she gained more and more self-confidence, she got bolder and bolder with fashion. Her biggest inspiration when it comes to fashion is Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Breya strives to bring storytelling through her fashion choices and focuses on empowering women.

In today’s look, Breya is rocking a multicolored dress from Zara with her simple black strap heels, alongside her emoji bag adding a playful element to her attire with a bold, solid color. Below are some photos that photographer, Chalisa Singh, recently shot with her!

I Wish I Was: An Interview with Zander Hawley

I Wish I Was: An Interview with Zander Hawley

an interview with Los Angeles raised singer/songwriter Zander Hawley

As an avid activist and Amandla Stenberg devotee, I discovered Zander Hawley through their duo act “Honeywater”. Since that day, Zander has evolved into a solo singer/songwriter whose powerful and moving vocals and lyrics have taken me to the brink of tears alone on a Saturday night. Not only does his voice and talent have the ability to take him far into the Nashville (and wherever else his career takes him) music scene, his vibrant, witty and amiable personality will take him far in life. Zander, it was an honor to interview you. Chatting with you was one of the best times I’ve had in awhile. 

Love, 

Zoe

MSM: Hi Zander! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? What you do, what your favorite things are, and your background?

ZH: Well, I’m Zander. I’m 18 and from Los Angeles, and I’m currently living in Nashville. The things I love to do? Well, obviously, music. And I love films and TV. Some of my favorite artists are Noah Gundersen, Phoebe Bridgers, The Lone Bellow.

MSM: In terms of genre, most people describe your music as folk. Is that what label you would give yourself? How do you classify your music and your art?

ZH: Folk isn’t wrong. In college, people in the music major are so desperate to know your genre. I would tell them that my genre was “alt folk”, which doesn’t exist. It was just a bullshit answer. If I gave myself a genre it would probably be singer/songwriter, you know, like James Bay. I’m a singer/songwriter.

MSM: In 2015, you released your EP, “I Wish I Was”. Tell me a little bit about the process of making it. What was the inspiration behind that?

ZH: It was my first structured recording experience. I actually did the whole thing in three or four days, all in a row (I interjected and said, “wow, that’s impressive). I had to keep going back in because I’m fucking particular about the little things. So much credit for “I Wish I Was” goes to Marshall Vore, my producer. He was great. I think why I love that EP so much is because it’s honest. I mean it when I write it. The people who loved it could tell that.

MSM: Before you released your EP, you were half of Honeywater with Amandla Stenberg. How was that and what was that like? How is making solo music different to making music with Amandla? Which do you prefer?

ZH: Honeywater was my introduction to music.  It took us a year and a half to come up with the name, Honeywater. We went through some pretty bad and boring ones. The first show I ever played, [Amandla] played with me.  That girl means the world to me, I love that girl.  Making that EP was really different from making mine. We made it in Sebastian Jones’ garage with our other friend Aron. They’re both really talented, you can tell in the sounds on that EP. We just sort of did everything ourselves, whereas my EP was more semi professional. For that, I played drums, and I don’t play drums. I was listening to the Honeywater EP maybe three months ago, just after I put out my solo one, and it is a completely different feel, which I didn’t think it would be. That’s why I think there’s value to keep them both going, which is definitely not impossible. I made an album, actually, last week, a solo album. And going through that and figuring out my own sound is really different from Honeywater. I just think [those differences] are so valuable to me, besides how much fun it is and how much I love that girl. It helps me stay diversified and get really specific with each project.  [Despite living in different cities], you might hear some more Honeywater sooner than you think.

MSM: Who do you look up to for inspiration? How did you get into music?

ZH: There were two moments, really. The first, in ninth grade, I heard a song called “Winter” by Noah Gundersen. I had been trying to write songs for awhile, and I did not like any of them, and I heard that song, and thought “what is he doing that makes that song so good”? I think it was the simplicity. It was very straight forward, “here’s what I’m feeling”. I heard it, and I was like “wow, here’s what I want to do”. I’ve listened to that song probably a thousand times. It still gives me new inspiration every now and then when I listen to it. That was the moment that made me want to write. The second moment was the moment that made me want to play, around a year later. I went to see a friend of mine named Jackson, who played with this girl named Phoebe [Bridgers]. I went to go see their show at a weird place in Hollywood. The seats are like little pews, and it reminds me of the Korean Church from 21 Jumpstreet. I went with my dad, and I was talking with him on the way over, trying to decide if I was good enough to play live. Well this Russian guy opened for Jackson, and his first song was about unicorn sex and the next was about mushrooms. And I was like, “maybe I can do this”. Then Phoebe went up and played her song, “Georgia” which is one of my favorite songs. It was raw and honest, and it was incredible because she fucking felt it. I’ve seen her play that song maybe 2 dozen times, and every time I think “fuck, how can I get that good.” After that performance, I was like “I don’t just want to play, I need to play”.

MSM: You split time from Nashville and LA, correct? Do you miss either of the two while you’re gone? What are your favorite things about both?

ZH: I miss both when I’m in the other one. It’s sort of similar to the solo vs Honeywater thing. It’s different but in a way where one isn’t better than the other. LA is my first home, where I grew up, where my family is, where all of my formative musical experiences are. But Nashville, I’ve only been here six months, but it’s already become a place of good relationships and music. Right now I’m in the process of deciding between living in Nashville or LA. On the one hand it’s where you came from, and on the other hand it’s like deciding where you need to go.

MSM: I love these little anecdotes. What is the coolest experience you’ve ever had because of your music?

ZH: I have a few. The first one is when Amandla and I played (pre figuring out Honeywater) at a benefit show for a charity. It was a really good organization for kids with cancer and they write a song for them that incorporates elements about their lives, like their favorite food and sports teams. We played at a benefit for that organization and the acts who opened for us was this band, Player, (the hair was exactly what’d you expect, the outfits were exactly what you’d expect.) Next was Frank Stallone, Sylvester Stallone’s brother. Not only did I not know that Sylvester had a brother, I didn't know he wrote all of the music for the movie Saturday Night Fever. And he was basically just Sylvester Stallone [the actor most notable for playing boxer Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series] singing. It was awesome. Then Amandla and I went up and played a few songs, including a Mumford and Sons cover. And then we walked off, and Frank Stallone said “you did good up there, son”. And to this day, I remember that I am a member of the Stallone family.

The second is just that it’s just cool when people start to know you. I was at some sort of round table type situation with a guy named Larry Kloess, who puts together secret shows in Nashville. He sets up Noah Gundersen shows. He came into this round table that I was at with some other songwriters, and he sat down, and then we all introduced ourselves to each other. I said my name and he goes, “oh! I was listening to your EP earlier”. And I was like, “oh, that’s really cool!” Very minor but very cool Nashville moment.

The third is that two weeks ago, Phoebe and our other friend Harrison Whitford and me played a show together where we each played a set. I had played with each of them separately but never with both of them together. We all went up in each other's sets. When we all went up during Phoebe’s set, we all used the one mic, corny as it is, and we sang “Say Yes” by Elliott Smith. It was surreal--those are two of my songwriting heroes--and now they're my friends.

MSM: What is it like performing live? Do you have any pre performance rituals?

ZH: Performing live is my favorite part of music as a whole. In the studio, you have to be very careful and particular, or at least I am. At a show, I can let go. At a show you can go ten times what you do in a studio. You can just fucking go. The song that I get the most climax from is (Zander laughed and said, “that’ll sound weird on paper) is “Drops of Jupiter” by the band Train. (Zander and I then spent a lot of time discussing how underrated Train is, and about Taylor Swift’s live cover of the same song).

MSM: Your most popular song is probably “Hid in the Little Things”. Throw aside popular, what song do you want people to listen to when hearing you first? What song has the most meaning to you?

ZH: I did [“Hid in the Little Things”] with my dad on Garageband, in my room. It was really cool. My dad played drums on it, which was cool.  The songs on this new album, that I’m in the process of finishing, each one really means alot to me. [From what’s been released] It’s gotta be “Daylight”. That was the first song I wrote where I was like, this isn't a Honeywater song, this is for me. It’s easy to tell from the song what inspired it. I had that sort of experience that inspired it. It’s one of those things where it wouldn’t feel right singing it or putting it out anywhere with anything other than my name on it.

Images courtesy of Zander Hawley

Keep up with Zander via his Instagram and Twitter

The Lungs of NYC: An Interview with Tor Miller

The Lungs of NYC: An Interview with Tor Miller

a Northeastern musician interviewed by a Southwestern girl for a West Coast publication

By Zoe Allen

In August of last year, I was driving my mom around listening to an indie, off the grid radio station. A song came on--one entitled “Midnight”, off of an EP called “Headlights” by an artist by the name of Tor Miller. I had never heard of him before, but was instantly impressed with his wooing, compelling, and soothing vocals and enchanting lyrics. I had to look him up--and get an interview with him--as soon as I could. Here it is, exclusively for Mad Sounds.

ZA: Tell me about how you grew up. Does this have any impact on your music today?

TM: When I was about 12 years old I moved from New York City to New Jersey and for a couple years felt very isolated. During this period I began to form a bond with music and writing. Many of my early songs were about the loneliness I felt and the longing to get back home.

ZA: How would you describe yourself? Is your music a reflection of who you are?

TM: I would say I am kind, thoughtful and all the other generic things. But if you listen to the lyrics of my music you have insight to some of my inner most thoughts, how I feel about myself and the life I have lived.

ZA: I know that when I write (not songs), sometimes I write out of experience and sometimes I do not. Do you write by experience? If so, do you write by experience always? If not, what do you write about?

TM: I write about my own experiences and the experiences of those around me.

ZA: What is your main source of inspiration?

TM: I draw inspiration from the relationships I’ve formed with friends, family and various girlfriends. I write about many an introverted moment I have experienced, either walking the streets of New York City or sitting out in a field of my parents horse farm trying to figure out the big questions of our own existence.

ZA: How does being surrounded by New York City inspire your lyrics?

TM: There are so many stimulants on the streets, so much subject-matter, issues and concerns which people of NYC face. If you walk around long enough and talk to those around you, you find even subconsciously it seeps into your music.

ZA: Speaking of your lyrics, are all lyrics by you? Do you have any help in writing them? What is your songwriting process?

TM: Yes, I write my lyrics on my own and in some cases with others, while doing co-writing sessions. I usually begin creating my music with the harmonic and melodic elements with a subject matter in mind and then I will finish with the lyrics, but it all sort of happens at once.

ZA: Who are your favorite artists? Favorite songs?

TM: [Musicians are] David Bowie, Ray Charles, Tom Waits, Elton John and others. Song wise, For All We Know by Donny Hathaway, Rock n Roll Suicide by Bowie, Hard times by Charles.

ZA: Favorite place in the whole world?

TM: Easy. NYC.

ZA: New York City is huge, metropolitan, and crawling with conviviality and people. Because of how huge it is, do you ever feel swallowed up? Is it easy to become lonely in such a big city, or do you always feel at peace?

TM: I certainly need a break from it from time to time. What I do is absorb all the influence and energy until I have a system overload and will travel out to the horse farm and start creating based off those experiences. I find the hectic nature very calming in many ways.

ZA: If there was one thing you could change in the world what would it be? Do you donate to any charities or help out with any causes?

TM: That’s a hard question, there needs to be many changes in this world. But something immediate I would wish for is the abolition of guns in our country. I could fill book with changes I want for this world.

ZA: My last question. Why do you make music?

It was something I found very early in life which made me happy whenever I was sad. It helped me stay out of trouble as a kid and has been a watchful eye over me since those first two years I felt alone in New Jersey.

Stay up to date with Tor via his Instagram and website

Featured Face: Bree Kish

Featured Face: Bree Kish

BREE KISH, POPULARLY KNOWN AS @BREEKISH ON INSTAGRAM, IS A MODEL AND YOUTUBER WITH A PASSION FOR THE SILLY AND SPECTACULAR. WE INTERVIEWED BREE ABOUT HER  PASSION FOR MODELING, VIDEO MAKING, AND HER FUTURE PLANS. CHECK OUT HER ANSWERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FACE BEHIND THE PHOTOS.

Bree's Favorite...

Song: Ooooh.. You know that's a tough one. I'm going to go with "No Scrubs" by TLC.

Band: Can Beyonce count as a band?

Artist: Beyonce again.

Book: The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

Movie: Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York!

TV Show: CRIMINAL MINDS.

Female Celeb: Angelina Jolie all the way.

Male Celeb: Matthew Gray Gubler.

Place: New York

Drink: Diet Coke

Superhero: Superwoman!

Quote: "Say whatever you want about me, just spell my name right."

Store: Disney Store.. hehe.

Instrument: Piano

Movie Soundtrack: Project X or Elf...

Animal: Piglet

Holiday: Christmas.

Last Movie Watched:

”No Good Deed."

Coffee or Tea: Coffee, but only if it's iced!

Comedies or dramas: Comedies

Big cities or small towns: Big cities!

Most worn item: My most worn item are shoes. When I get a new pair, I get stuck on them.

Biggest pet peeve:

My biggest pet peeves are people who chew loudly, store employees that ask you if you need any help repeatedly, and when someone doesn't close my door on their way out.

Favorite place: New York!

Hot or cold weather: Cold weather

East or west coast: West coast!

Worst fears: getting kidnapped, drowning, being buried alive, and driving. Yeah, driving.

If you could have one talent, what would it be?

Singing!

You have a free trip to anywhere in the world, where do you go? 

Spain

If you could have any job in the world, which would you choose? 

Model!

You have $1,000, what do you spend it on? 

Fancy coats and shoes

If you could relocate to one place, where would you live? 

New York!

MAD SOUNDS: YOU'RE AN EXTREMELY TALENTED MODEL, HOW DID YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE MODELING INDUSTRY?

BREE KISH: I made my way into the modeling industry at the young age of 14. A lot of people would tell me to give it a try because I was tall and had interesting features. I thought why not, so I emailed some agencies in LA and began receiving responses instantly. I ended up meeting with an agency and getting signed on the spot!

MS: DO YOU HOPE TO PURSUE MODELING AS A FUTURE CAREER?

BK: I definitely hope to pursue modeling as a future career. I'm happiest on set and wouldn't want to be doing anything else! I love being around such creative people and experiencing things not everyone gets to experience.

MS: OF THE MANY SHOOTS THAT YOU’VE MODELED FOR, WHICH HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE? 

BK: All my shoots are so incredibly different and I've been very grateful to work with such talented photographers. I think my favorite shoot was with Arina Borodina because it's my most memorable. It was freezing out, it started to rain, and I was in the water. We made it work!

MS: IF YOU COULD WORK WITH ANY PARTICULAR PHOTOGRAPHER, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

BK: If I could work with a particular photographer it would probably be Palma Wright. She has a style like no other and I feel like my look would perfectly mesh with her craziness. She's awesome!

MS: WHICH DO YOU PREFER TO MODEL FOR, CONCEPTUAL OR PORTRAIT/FASHION?

BK: I'm not sure! I like them both for different reasons. My favorite type of shoot is just one that conveys a strong mood.

MS: I ALSO UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START MAKING VIDEOS?

BK: Yes! I love YouTube. YouTube became a huge part of my life at an extremely young age. I watched YouTubers religiously and became interested in making videos myself! Eventually people started saying I should do it, so I did! Sometimes all you need is a little push.

MS: WHAT TYPES OF VIDEOS DO YOU ENJOY CREATING?

BK: I like creating all types of videos. Makeup and fashion videos allow me to express myself creatively. I also like making videos such as rants or Q&As because I feel more connected to the people watching them!

MS: IN A GENERAL SENSE, WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS?

BK: My biggest inspirations are Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, and my mom.

MS: THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF:

BK:Ambitious, passionate, and clever! ;)