Alexa Rae Gallagher

CUT TO:Songwriter’s Monthly Presents:

Ashley Madekwe

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JulianneHoughJillianAnn

Rose AnneSt. Romain

Contents

Editor’s Notes . . . Page 2Alexa Rae Gallagher, Alexa talks about her recent television role . . . Page 5

Sanya G: Unstoppable, the pop star talks about her modeling career . . . Page 9Rose Anne St. Romain: Master Storyteller . . . Page 13

Julianne Hough and Ashley Madekwe, Old Navy Oasis . . . Page 19Jillian Ann: Making Life A Ritual . . . Page 23

Editor’s Notes

This long-time-coming Editor’s Notes is a painful reminder that we can fool ourselves and make plans and try our best, but we really have no clue of what tomorrow will bring. That being said (written), prepare yourself for some (feeble) explanations and a few confessions!

Confession: I never thought I would be a writer. Wait, that’s a lie, I’ve frequently entertained the notion of being a novelist... and I have hundreds of half finished manuscripts to back that up. What I meant to write was, I never thought I would be a journalist. Journalism never entered my thoughts as a child, and as a grown-up, I kind of stumbled into it and I still have a hard time defining myself that way.

Confession: Being a journalist is an addiction. There is a rush that comes with having a direct access to celebrities, events, and products that other people simply do not have. You have to learn how to handle that “high” without burning out, without abusing it, and without getting jaded. I usually mess up in the first of those three aspects.

Confession: I’m optimistic and tend to say yes. What that means is I always take on too much work because every day I am confident I’ll be able to get it done.

About a year ago, I reached out to an incredible woman who put me in touch with an actress who literally changed my life. Up until last year, I’d mostly written about music and the music business. I wanted to go beyond what was safe and known (at least for me) and write about someone simply because I was impressed by them. I

had no clue of what to expect when I interviewed Emmanuelle Vaugier, but the experience turned out to be so overwhelmingly positive, that I gained a crazy amount of confidence. Also, after 20+ years of writing about the same topic, I felt a need to prove myself. I was convinced that being a good writer meant I would have to learn how to write about everything! Not just music.

So, I started gathering contacts and doing more interviews. I wrote about everything from fashion to food to sports to even writing, itself. I was stoked, after those aforementioned 20+ years, I felt like I was just starting out. Writing had become fresh and new to me again.

However, just about the time I was ready to launch a new magazine filled with interviews from people from all walks of life, an editor noticed my writing and started sending me assignments. The assignments turned into paying gigs. Those paying gigs turned into a job. A dream job. Insane pressure, but a good insane pressure. So, I had to make a choice, did I turn down the offer because I had my own project, or did I take the offer and potentially let down everyone I had been working with over the past nine months? I told myself that I could do both.

Confession: I couldn’t do both. Maybe somebody better than me could have found a way, but I’m only me and I had reached the limits of my abilities and time. A number of months ago Cut To: and Songwriter’s Monthly were unofficially put on hold.

But I refuse to completely give up! I made promises to a lot of amazing people, so I’m going to try my best to get their stories to you.

What you hold in your hands is the first offering. Here’s the rundown: We have Alexa Rae Gallagher. Since the time of her interview, this stunning young actress/musician/model has moved from television to film. Her career is taking off, but hopefully we’re not too late and this issue will still be her first, much-deserved cover! Sanya G is an international sensation. She is a model, a pop star, a fashion blogger, and much, much more. What we’ve covered in this issue is just a taste of her dazzle. After reading, I urge you to like, friend, and follow her! When I was covering the New Orleans Jazz Festival, so many artists I talked to told me I needed to track down Rose Anne St. Romain because she was the best. A storyteller’s storyteller. And she is! Julianne Hough and Ashley Madekwe? I was invited to a party on the other side of the country to meet these two celebrities. I couldn’t make it, but I did

receive plenty of photos after the event, so I could see exactly what I missed. When I say that Jillian Ann is the embodiment of the concept of creativity, itself, I mean that. She lives her life in the constant pursuit of honoring art. I am very honored she was able to spend some time with us to let us know all about RITUAL!

As I wrap up these Editor’s Notes, I do not know what tomorrow will bring. But I do know that there are many, many more wonderfully talented individuals whose story I would like to share with you in some way... so stay tuned!

In the meantime. If you’d like to see what I’ve been up to at my day gig — it’s a little more newsy there, no first person, etc. — after reading this issue of Cut To: click on over to AXS.com for news, reviews, interviews, and more exclusive photos like the one of Kevin Bacon above — yeah, to get the job, I had to tell them I was a photographer, too!

Stay in touch and feel free to write! I’m at a1foster@aol.com.

Alexa Rae GallagherAlexa Rae is a young musician with a broad range of talents and gifts. Not only is this fetching artist an accomplished vocalist [she was a member of the New Jersey Sussex County All-State Choir] and an aspiring songwriter with both piano and guitar skills in her arsenal, but she has been blessed with enviable aesthetics that make her the obsession of the camera’s eye. In other words, Alexa is also a model. Gallagher has worked for Abercrombie & Fitch and was chosen as a lead model in the Garden State Croatia Soccer Team photo shoot. And recently, this thriving talent has added yet another endeavor to her list of pursuits: acting.

Even with all that is happening, Alexa found time to answer a few questions about her career and her role on Investigation Discovery’s series titled Frenemies: Loyalty Turned Lethal.

Cut To: You are a model, an actress, and a songwriter/performer, which one came first? Which one would you choose to be, if you could only excel at one? Why?

Alexa Rae Gallagher: I am very passionate about them all. Modeling is such a blast. You get to get all dolled up, have someone take pictures of you, and get paid! What’s not to love?! But, I would have to say singing and songwriting would be at the top of my list. It just comes more naturally to me, whereas acting is more of a challenge.

CT: Do you find any similarities between modeling and acting? Between acting and singing? Between singing and modeling?

Alexa: If someone was a model and then went into acting, the fact that they’ve had some experience being in front of a camera and are comfortable could definitely help them to come across as more natural in an acting role. But, other than the fact that they all require being in front of the spotlight and/or camera, I would say, no. CT: When did you first start to realize that you wanted to be an actress?

Alexa: I’ve always been into entertaining. It started with singing and songwriting when I was about 6. Then, when I was about 14, I discovered acting and modeling and fell in love with them, as well. I’ve just always known the entertainment industry was something I wanted to be involved in and that it was the way I wished and hoped to earn a living. CT: Can you give me a brief description of your character in Frenemies’ “Friends with Benefits?” Who is Vanessa? What is she like? Can you relate to her?

Alexa: Vanessa was definitely the mean girl in high school. She was the one everyone looked up to and most certainly did not want to mess with! I can relate to her in the sense that I would not want my boyfriend spending time with another girl,

but I’d like to think I’m a little more compassionate than her and would handle the situation in a less cruel and hostile way. CT: How did you get the part of Vanessa?

Alexa: Funny thing, I was actually called into audition for the first episode of Frenemies. I thought I gave a great audition, but

about a month went by and I didn’t hear back. Then, a few weeks later, they called me and said they had a different part in the final episode that would be great for me. That’s how I landed the role of Vanessa. CT: What was the experience like?

Alexa: It was a blast. I had so much fun on set. I loved meeting everyone and sharing this amazing experience with them. CT: Did you bond with anyone (actors or otherwise) on set? Did you make any friendships that will last beyond the shoot?

Alexa: Yeah, everyone was really great! I do keep in touch with the other actors and I see some great friendships emerging out of this experience. CT: What was the most startling thing you learned about the television industry through this experience?

Alexa: I don’t think there was anything “startling” about it besides the story line. It’s crazy and horrific to think that this really took place. My heart goes out to Amber

Alexa Rae as Vanessa on Investigation Discovery’s Frenemies’ “Friends with Benefits.”

Hess and her friends and family. I am so sorry they had to experience this terrible tragedy. CT: What’s next for you?

Alexa: I’m definitely trying to move even further with my acting career. I’m also looking to do some more modeling, and I’m actually trying to kick-start my singing career. I will be heading into the studio this month to record my first demo EP, which will be all original songs that I’ve written. I can’t wait to share them with every one. It will be out within the next few months! CT: What’s the best way for fans to stay in touch with you?

Alexa: Social networks, for sure. I may not always be posting, but I check them constantly. And, I love meeting new people and getting to know my fans, so that’s definitely the best way for them to get in touch with me.

Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • IMDB • YouTube

Sanya G: Unstoppable

Sanya G is unstoppable! Not only is she an accomplished songwriter with a phenomenally powerful voice, but she is also a striking model with a devastatingly edgy sense of fashion. Sanya delivers an insanely high level of energy and radiates an irresistible passion for life in everything that she does. It’s easy to see why this exhilarating performer is rapidly becoming a bona fide sensation!

A little while back, Sanya and her manager, Tanya, met with Paolo Barbato, an Italian underground DJ/producer, and his friend/musician, Simone Ermacora, to write a hit. The result became Sanya’s current single, “Magic.” The infectious, invigorating dance track features some of the strongest vocals of Sanya’s career to date. “Magic” is the artist at her best, focused and turbocharged.

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Sanya G recently shared some of her time with Cut To: in order to answer a few questions about herself, her beauty secrets, and her fashion sense.

Cut To: What is your favorite aspect about working in fashion?

Sanya G: I like being creative, being different, and being edgy.

CT: In your photos, your poses and attitude are flawless! How did you learn such control and precision? Were you a dancer?

Sanya G: I did take dance when I was younger, so that helps, but I also have the advantage of having been a model for so long. I am such a perfectionist. When the camera is in front of me, I am the one in control.

CT: The photos of you are stunning! Who designs your looks?

Sanya G: Thank you! Usually, I do. I like to be creative and in control. I present an idea, then I talk about it with my photographer — usually we are on the same page. It is funny, though, the photographer who played a big role in my “Magic” music video as the co-director asked me to dye my hair ombré — blond with bangs — for the video, and I did. My goal is to be always different, edgy, and I don’t want to look like any other artist, I don’t want to be the next Pink, Gwen, or Rihanna . . . I want to be Sanya G!

CT: What are your favorite colors/patterns/fabrics? Why?

Sanya G: Hmm, it is difficult to just pick one as fashion evolves so much

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that we can combine almost anything and it could still look great. And, since people really love my outfits, I have made a fashion blog. I like the “bad girl” look, but I can’t be “bad” all the time, so I save that for the stage, haha.

CT: Do you ever see yourself getting into acting, as well?

Sanya G: I do! I love being in front of the camera, so I would try it. I’ve already had a small role in a Slovenian television comedy series as a guest star. It was fun, but music is my first love!

CT: Do you have any fitness routines? What is your favorite way to keep your body in shape?

Sanya G: Well, you won’t believe it, but it’s all just good genes. As much as I eat, I should be twice my size! But every year, I do find that I have to exercise more and more. If I have to work out, then I always pick running.

CT: What is your biggest temptation?

Sanya G: As far as food goes, my biggest temptation is french fries!

CT: What is your number one beauty secret, the one thing you do to make yourself feel and/or look your best?

Sanya G: Sleep! I have to sleep eight hours to keep me looking rested. Also, I always take care of my skin, I clean it in the morning and before I sleep.

CT: What helps you get through the tough periods?

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Sanya G: The support of my loved ones . . . and listening to music, that really helps.

CT: What do you do when you are not writing, singing, or modeling? What is your favorite hobby?

Sanya G: I used to draw a lot, but it has been a while. I do love to read a good book.

CT: Is there anything you’d like to talk about?

Sanya G: Maybe my future music plans? We are promoting “Magic” at this moment, but we are also preparing the next single release. That song is called “Buzz,” it is more urban, raw, and it is coming out later this year. Buzz will also be the name of my EP.

CT: Do you have a personal message you’d like to offer your fans?

Sanya G: I always say, “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough!” So, don’t forget to dream my dreamers!

Website • Fashion blog • Facebook • Twitter • “Magic” video

Note: For the songwriting/performing side of this captivating artist’s multi-faceted career, make sure you check out her article on AXS.com.

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Rose Anne St. Romain:Master

Storyteller

I’ve long believed that if you pay attention, life gives you clues for your next move. The hard part seems to be recognizing which little flashes of coincidence are indeed the important ones, the ones you’re supposed to pursue. I was wrapping up the information gathering phase of a rather extensive writing assignment on the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival by getting a few quotes from the wonderfully helpful and extremely

knowledgeable and talented, Johnette Downing. During the interview we were talking about the art of storytelling and Johnette casually remarked that if I wanted to speak to the best, I should contact her friend, Rose Anne St. Romain. But with Johnette’s input, I already had the information and quotes I required to finish the assignment, so there was no real need to talk to any more artists.

However, there was such an unquestionable respect in Downing’s voice when she mentioned her friend’s name that I decided something was urging me to follow up on the lead, anyway. And boy, am I glad I did! Not only is Rose Anne St. Romain an author and an award-winning storyteller — many call her a “master storyteller” — but she is just an all-around, delightful human being. Her perspective is fascinating; her insight, priceless. After communicating with her, I felt like I imagine I would have felt if I had been granted the opportunity to question Marcel Marceau about the “art of silence.”

“I’m a country girl at heart who loves the attractions in a city,” Rose Anne expressed while we were informally exchanging information about each other. “I am currently living in my very small hometown [Mansura, Louisiana], but I am looking to move on soon. I came here to take care of elderly parents who have both passed on. I am glad I could be here for them, but I am looking forward to what is next.”

In that pre-interview stage, I also discovered that Rose Anne had been a journalist, as well. “I had a weekly human interest column. I loved writing the column and I learned that I was pretty good at it! My two best articles were about a 102-year-old woman and a young man who traveled 2,187 miles along the Appalachian Trail in one long hike during a six-month period. I also wrote a nifty article about a gigantic turnip and another one about a huge watermelon. It seemed like there was never enough time to write as well as I knew I could while I was at the office, so I often worked on articles while at home.”

Since Songwriter’s Monthly now publishes an online magazine for actors as well as for songwriters, one important aspect I needed to decide was where to run Rose Anne’s feature: was storytelling closer to songwriting or was it closer to acting?

“I see storytelling as a pretty unique performance art,” she responded. “A case can be made for it in a songwriting magazine as well as in an acting magazine. In the first instance, storytelling is like songwriting in that the storyteller makes up the words used to communicate ideas and images. However, once a songwriter writes a song, it’s up to the musician to adapt it to the audience, not always the songwriter.”

“I could also make a case for storytelling having an affinity with acting since one performs stories and acts out all the parts, including the narrative,” she continued. “But where it differs from acting is that actors speak words somebody else wrote and they memorize lines. Conversely, storytellers make up the words they use to describe the story images that they see in their own mind’s eye. Storytellers also adapt the pace, audience participation, and even sometimes, the content of the story on the spot in order to appeal to the audience and situation at hand.” Ultimately, Rose Anne advised, “You can decide where you’d like to place this.”

As you can no doubt see, I’ve opted to place Rose Anne’s feature in the acting magazine. So, without further ado, here’s the interview:

When did you start telling stories?

My first storytelling experience occurred in 1982 when I was working on a Masters degree in Speech Communication at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. My area was Oral Interpretation, a little known academic field of study that focusses on crafting live performances from works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The narrator is actually a character in these productions. At the time, I was in a storytelling troupe that performed at local festivals and schools. The first time I performed for our troupe, I was terrified, I honestly thought I was going to pass out when it was my turn to tell my story. I had been in many theatre productions, so I was accustomed to learning lines, but in storytelling, you don’t memorize the lines, you memorize the series of images in the story and use language to describe what you see and hear in your mind’s eye.

How did you develop your craft?

While I was working on my master’s degree in Library and Information Science at LSU in Baton Rouge in the late 1980s, the State Library of Louisiana sponsored a grant to send professional performing artists to Louisiana public libraries to promote reading during the state’s summer reading program. I auditioned and was honored with being the state’s first touring storyteller . . . at least I think I was! Anyway, I selected five stories and hit the road, performing the same stories over and over and over, day after day after day. I was completing an independent study in storytelling

that summer as part of my graduate course work, so I’d study about the art of storytelling in the evenings, then try out what I’d learned the next day. That summer changed my life. I fell in love with the art of storytelling! For me, it was a bridge between just talking to people and being in a theatrical production. I thoroughly enjoyed playing all the characters as well as the narrator. My experiences with the field of Oral Interpretation greatly informed my performance choices. I learned, most importantly, that mastering a story comes only after many, many tellings of the same tale. Only then, do you find the most effective words and timing.

Are there any highlights of your career, so far, that you’d like to mention?

I toured with Jimmy Buffett in 1998. He saw me perform at the Jazz Festival and asked me to go on the road with his band and staff to perform stories on a satellite

stage prior to his concerts. It was a grand experience! I felt like Cinderella at the ball. Jimmy, his band, and his staff were incredibly friendly and hospitable. I collaborated with Jimmy and his staff to find ways to draw the crowd to the storytelling stage. I performed Jimmy’s two picture books as well as my own stories. One of the things that impressed me was that, even though everyone was dressed informally and the atmosphere was relaxed, Jimmy ran a tight ship. Storytelling works best in a more intimate setting than the grounds of a Jimmy Buffett concert, so after I worked with Jimmy in Boston, Atlanta, and Raleigh, we switched gears. Radio Margaritaville, Jimmy’s Internet radio station, was just starting up, so his staff recorded about 10 of

my stories and broadcast them for a couple of years as a program called “The Stories We Could Tell,” named after one of Jimmy’s songs, of course. Jimmy also arranged for me to do a live internet broadcast of me performing at Margaritaville, Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. When my first book was in the works [Moon’s Cloud Blanket], I asked Jimmy to read it and to write a quote about it and he did! Part of his quote is published right on the cover of my book.

What makes storytelling so special to you?

Storytelling is part of everyone’s heritage, whether or not they’ve ever even heard a professional storyteller. People tell stories all the time. They tell about what happened to them over the weekend, or about their children, or about how to cook something, etc. Stories are a natural part of our daily lives; they are how we connect with other people in a very human way. Our personal stories help us to understand each other, touching our hearts and minds through the imagination. When someone listens to another person’s story, they “see” the events unfolding in their mind’s eye, the imagination. The art of storytelling takes listeners out of their everyday lives and into another plane of being in which they experience, through their own imaginations, a character’s dilemma and success. The story becomes a new memory for them.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find story material all around me. I’ve found a lot of inspiration from folktales as well as from real life, especially times past. Two of my stories that were first crafted as performances were published by Pelican Publishing. The first one, “Moon’s Cloud Blanket,” is a Louisiana Native American folktale. I was delighted that it won three national awards and is also in a Louisiana social studies textbook used by many schools. The second book, “Monsieur Durand’s Grosse Affaire,” is based on a true story that happened in St. Martinville, Louisiana in 1870. My audio collection of folktales, Once Upon a Shoe, is available on iTunes and CDBaby.com.

What can someone expect when going to one of your shows?

If someone is attending one of my shows for the first time, they will see just me. I use no props or scenery, no masks, and no fancy costumes. I do wear something dramatic that looks different from everyday clothing to help audiences trust that I

have something unusual to offer them. They will see and hear me transform my face, body and voice to portray different characters. They will see me guiding them through the world of the story by changing my point of visual focus and my location on the stage. Best of all, they will see the story in living color in their own minds.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a true story about a bayou “monster” that haunted my father’s cousins’ mattress. It’s a story I’ve told a number of times and I’m developing a written account of it.

I’m also frequently inspired to write short little poems about things I see in my everyday world. I’ve posted many of them on my Facebook page. I’m also writing two stories in rhythm and rhyme: one is about how ducks got flat feet and the other is about frogs. They are both really fun!

Website • Facebook • CD

Julianne Hough And Ashley MadekweAttend Old Navy Oasis At This Year's Coachella

ABC's Julianne Hough (Dancing with the Stars) and Ashley Madekwe (Revenge) were recently spotted at the Old Navy Oasis event that took place in Indio, California the first Saturday of this year's Coachella. Both ladies were sporting Old Navy blues in their festival looks — Julianne in a chambray shirt and Ashley in denim shorts. [Get The Look: Old Navy, Ashley’s Shorts: $24.94, Julianne’s Shirt: $24.94.]

Old Navy Oasis was held at Shadow Hills RV Resort approximately 7 miles from the festival grounds. While at the event, both Julianne and Ashley snacked on Sno con Amor shaved ices and picked up some Old Navy Indio essentials, including lightweight scarves and bandannas. Later in the day, Hough enjoyed an exclusive acoustic performance by indie rock band Young The Giant.

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Relaxing eventgoers soak in the

gorgeous day.

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Michael Simon

Eventgoers find fun ways to

keep cool!

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Michael Simon

Jullianne Hough from ABC's "Dancing

with the Stars" sports a casual

dazzle in her Old Navy chambray

shirt!

Ashley Madekwe from ABC's "Revenge"

peruses the Old Navy Indio essentials.

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Michael Simon

Julianne Hough pauses to enjoy a

Sno con Amor shaved ice treat.

Indie rock band, Young The Giant, delivers an exclusive acoustic show.

Jillian Ann: Making Life A RitualA Q&A With Multi-Media Artist Jillian Ann

Jillian Ann is a groundbreaking visionary who is ever expanding the boundaries of what art is capable of. She is a sophisticated and sensual creative who lives her life adrift in the elegant flow of reflection and expression. Recently, Jillian Ann took some time to respond to some questions about art, her RITUAL line, creativity, and crowd sourcing.

Cut To: Everything you do is evidence that you live your life in a way that always honors art of any kind. As a result, you are more like a Greek goddess than an artist in that you are the embodiment of a concept. What is art to you?

Jillian Ann: Art is my spiritual path. It is something that challenges me extensively to evolve, grow, and work through any fears and insecurities. Heroes and goddesses are people who are remembered for being extraordinary, but anyone I have ever encountered who was extraordinary got there because they didn’t settle for allowing their own shadows or past to hold them in place. To me, art, be it music, film, or fashion, is a place where I cannot do anything but give all of myself. I work to inspire others to do the same as I believe that art carved with spirit and intention can change the world for the better and inspire others to invent, dream, and grow.

Cut To: What does “RITUAL” mean to you? Why did you choose that name to represent your latest works?

Jillian Ann: I was actually cleaning the floor one day and, as it often happens, when I stopped thinking and got into a meditative space, RITUAL just came to mind. I googled it and discovered I could use it so I wrapped RITUAL around both music and fashion. For me, life is a RITUAL. It’s everything we do from drinking our coffee to making love to putting on our clothing to creating and connecting. I feel sadly that RITUALS have been given a bad name, or have lost meaning. I feel the human soul needs RITUALS, be it small or large, to help us see, feel, experience, and grow. We hope to bring back that connection, be it through art, music, or fashion, to that moment of experiencing magic, an awareness of something beyond us. I never really thought of coming up with a name or having a band again, it just came to me and it was clear that it was the right thing to do. So, I have followed it since.

Cut To: Fashion’s main purpose seems to have become to shock and stand out. There is no honesty in it, it is simply designed to get attention. Your current line, on

the other hand, seems to have a soul. It is risqué, but sophisticated; it is eye-catching, but still truthful. How did the RITUAL line manage to capture all that?

Jillian Ann: My partner and I are both artists. He left fashion because he felt he couldn’t express that soul where he was. With RITUAL, we don’t follow trends, we don’t follow the rules — as all the rules are created by others for reasons I do not understand. We create clothing that will make us and others feel powerful, beautiful, and sensual. We create clothing not just to be clothing, but to be something magical, something that transforms not only the person wearing it, but those who see it. Clothing is an art form to us, and even with the simple pieces, the question is not

how do we make them fit in with what’s hot, normal, etc., but rather what would look beautiful, inspiring, and comfortable, but still magical. After over a decade of modeling and an obsession with clothing, I found myself constantly feeling as if clothing had become safe, boring, and oversized without soul. Some designers still had that magic, however. One was Alexander McQueen. He was someone who created something magical. I didn’t understand all of it, but I understood it wasn’t boring. Nothing makes me happier then seeing people feel beautiful, strong, and sexy, so we create things which don’t hide people, but rather bring out their curves, structures, and energies. We do have a few rules with creating: we have to have fun or we stop, we have to be inspired or we stop, and we have to feel it and love it or we don’t do it. We spend a lot of time doing yoga, meditating, going to Korean spas and dreaming, and being in nature and reflecting on why we are doing this. Our clothing and music is made at the same time, so it’s inspired by the sound of what we are creating. I feel we are able to capture it because we live it. We cocoon a good bit when we create, and in general in order to be able to actually capture dreams and visions because most of our clothing and music comes from dreams and visions. I’ve woken up after a dress was formed in a dream just to actualize it. Same with music. RITUAL is a reflection of our spirits, dreams, and visions, so it grows and goes where we do.

Cut To: Do you think crowdfunding, where an artist gets paid before the work is done, will help or hurt art in the long run?

Jillian Ann: Very good question. I personally would much rather find ways to create and then be paid. Although, sometimes that becomes very challenging when you want to create

very large things. Without crowdfunding, a lot of art would not be made these days because between streaming and other massive changes, music and, soon to be, film is just like water, we will not be able to control it or stop it from being streamed or stolen. That makes it very hard for labels, artist, filmmakers, and even studios to continue. People do not consider that making an album takes a lot of work, time, and energy in order to creatively channel it. Also, someone has to pay for the lights, the food, the water, and the shelter. If an artist has a connection with their followers, and the followers want to support the artist, then it’s amazing — as long as the followers don’t turn into record labels and then say they don’t like the art or artist because it’s not what they thought it would be. That is the danger, in my opinion, with crowdsourcing. As we change, our art changes, and our lives change. For me, I much prefer doing things like, “My laptop was stolen, do you want to donate toward getting a new one so I can keep making art?” I did that, and my followers helped me so I could continue making art. I am not sure what’s going to happen, its all shifting and changing, but I feel like crowd sourcing is great for some people and projects, but, just like anything else, it’s not for everything or everyone.

For more information on Jillian Ann and her visionary work, visit: www.MakeLifeARITUAL.com