Vista City Star: Spring Break Edition

[giglio_madonna]

To celebrate the coming spring break for so many of Vista's residents, Vista City Star has a bonus issue featuring interviews from three talented musicians!

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An interview with the newest duke to the Thorny Court, Sariel

[giglio_madonna]

One of the most recent groups to Pride’s lineup of talent has been the gothic delight Crown of Thorns. However, not too long after their well recevied debut, their lead Wolfram was let go, leaving them without a singer. It’s been a few months since Sariel has filled up the position, and reporter Magalyn Loyal has gotten some time with the singer to see how he’s been adjusting.

Q: It seems like a few months ago, your reception as Wolfram’s replacement wasn’t taken too well by the rest of the band on Twitter according to our sources. Have things changed since then?

As a matter of fact, they have improved: at first, the rest of the Court were a bit suspicious of my presence - as would anyone with a newcomer arriving on the heels of a departing and beloved companion - and there was a fair amount of teasing, but it served as a rite of passage, as it were. I’ve been an admirer of Tamara’s work for some time and if I might risk sounding like a teenaged fanboy, working with her is dream made real. And I’ve had some interesting moments with Mai over a friendly drink or two.


Q: That’s good to hear! I’m sure the fans wouldn’t want the Court to fracture at all just because of some fresh blood. I’m sure you’re well aware of the usual rumors, but is there any chance of sparks flying between you and Tamara?

We’ve had some moments of closeness backstage, as it were, but it’s more the closeness of dear friends than of sweethearts, more a side-by-side fondness than a face-to-face tenderness. Though dare I say, my heart is an open book that she has the freedom to write upon if she so wills it.


Q: We’ll keep you on our radar to see if anything gets written, then, ha. Speaking of Tamara, recently she’s made a statement on changing her name to Aramat Dawdes. Were you aware of this change beforehand, and what do you think of it?

I wasn’t aware that she was making that decision, though it didn’t come as a surprise. Maintaining a particular stage presence for any length of time can start to wear on you, as a person and as a performer; retiring a name or a persona after it starts to lose some of its freshness isn’t a bad thing, and can be liberating. We as humans are always changing and developing as persons, and the same applies to artists as well. It helps one to keep one’s material and the presentation thereof from turning threadbare or faded.


Q: Since you’ve just joined, I imagine it will be quite some time before you go through a name change yourself, hm?

[A gentle laugh, deep in his throat] Oh, I doubt there’s a name change in the immediate future for me. In a year or two, perhaps, but I still have plenty of mileage in this persona: I’ve been fascinated by the lore of the Watcher Angels - a group of heavenly beings, neither good nor bad, who left heaven to explore the earth and share their wisdom with the emerging human race - since I was quite young, and people are ‘digging’ my identity as the angel who taught humans to look to the stars and the moon.

Q: And for your fans who are looking to the stars, what advice do you have for them to get to where you are now?

Find where your bliss is. It may sound cliche, but you need to find what you’re good at, so don’t fear experimenting, whether it’s song or dance or painting or poetry or cooking… or even looking to the stars to find what’s out there. Find what makes you go “aha” and keep at it, keep creating, keep looking up.

Interview with one of Flashstep’s golden boys, Jamie Hemeros

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Ever since they debuted, Flashstep has won the hearts of teenager all throughout Americana and dazzled critics with their charming voices and impressive dance moves. There’s always one or two members that end up popular, however, and Jamie is one of two that have really been reaching into hearts lately! Our own Sierra Biden managed to get an interview with the charming young singer.

Q: It’s good to meet you, Jamie! Lately, it seems like no one can stop talking about you or the way your voice shines through in performances. How does it feel to be so popular?

A: Nice to meet you too, Sierra. It’s kind of hard to wrap my head around, really. I mean this is what everyone in the music biz dreams of happening, so it's great, I love it, but I still wonder sometimes, like, "Wow, how did this happen?" It's surreal, it's exciting, I get up every morning a little in awe of the life I'm leading right now.

Q: And how about the rest of your group? Are they supportive of you, do you think, or is there a little bit of jealousy?

A: Nah, we're all bros in Flashstep, I don't think there's any jealousy. I mean at the end of the day it doesn't matter which of us has the most fans or sells the most merch as long as there's people out there enjoying our music. That's what's really important to us, making music and reaching out to people with it.

Q: No wonder so many people find you to be a good role model, with a response like that. So I guess it’s not for that reason that Yosuke has left the group. Do you know why he dropped out of the boyband lifestyle?

A: Ahh, he was presented with an opportunity elsewhere that he really couldn't pass up. We all parted on good terms and we really miss him, the band's not the same without him.

Q: Well, best of luck to Yosuke wherever he ends up! Hopefully we’ll get to see more of him sometime in the future. Now, I’m sure many fans remember the tragic loss of your parents, Steve and Lindsey Hemeros. Yosuke hasn’t been killed, of course, but does losing a band member remind you of that kind of event?

A: Um, haha - it's kind of a dramatic comparison, but Yosk was - is family, kinda, so knowing that he's gone and there's, uh, a chance you might not get to really talk to him again does kind of sting. That's, uh - it takes some adjusting to, definitely.

Q: On the bright side, you have your band and more than a legion of fans there to support you! Speaking of, I know there’s quite a few teenage eyes on you, but is our new Mister Popular going steady with anyone?
A: I can't really say if I am or not, haha. Gotta have a few secrets, after all.

Q: Oh no, looks like some fans might be in trouble after all! One last question before you go- if you had to guess, what would you say has gotten you so far?

A: I wonder that myself sometimes, but I don't think it's any one thing, really. Hard work, a little luck, support from the rest of the band and all our fans.

A one on one with Pride’s recent lion, Xanxus

[avidita]

With a name like ‘Pride’ and a reputation for wild rockstars, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone when its latest band Junkyard Carnival turned out to be filled with musical and partying beasts. In the months that have passed since their debut, not a single musician who has stayed on has disappointed in this regard. In this interview, our very own Vixx Erra talks with bassist Xanxus about his latest exploits and maybe a softer side to the wild cat.

Q: I’ll skip the bull and cut right to the chase, Xanxus. There are rumors abound about MANTICORE’s Squalo trying to court you back to the metal side. Any truth to that?

A: *an evil toddler laugh*. You’re fucked in the head if you’re going to believe all the damn rumors you hear. I love metal. Everyone knows that. I miss the fuck out of metal. And that shit looked real good on his knees before me, but there’s no fucking way on goddamned Terra that I’m going to leave the Carnival. The Ring Mistress and the Acrobat need their Lion Tamer.

Q: I’m sure your fans would riot in the streets if they heard you were leaving the Carnival. But does that mean rumors about something more carnal going on between you two have a bit more truth? He does look pretty good in that drug addict kind of way.

A: Look. He’s pretty hot. Even I can admit that. Yeah, I’d bang him like a fucking drum. Who wouldn’t. But I haven’t. Because I actually have standards. Besides, he’s only good looking from behind. From the front he’s like a fish on meth. Anything else you want to ask me about who I’m fucking. Because the list starts with your mom.

Q: Ha! Don’t add “necrophiliac” to the list of rumors. But fine, we’ll move on from Squalo and onto something else. On Twitter, you mentioned being a father. Where has this come from?

A: *a frown and he gets all serious all of a sudden. He’s totally going to lie right to the interviewer’s face and it’s going to be flawless* That… Well… that was a surprise even to me. I didn’t know. I didn’t know until just a few days ago. The mother contacted me out of the blue. She told me that I had a daughter. It was a one night stand that happened when I was sixteen and stupid. She never told me until now. That’s what that is.

Q: Did she tell you why she hadn’t contacted you until now?

A: *a death glare* she did, but fuck you. I’m not going to bad mouth the mother of my child. Let’s just say we were both young and stupid and I was still on the path to the Opera. She probably didn’t want to ruin shit for me or something. Or my dad got to her. But that’s all I’m going to say. She had her reasons, whatever they were.

Q: Yikes, no need to shoot the messenger. One last question. I’m sure fans are dying to know, but do you think parenthood will change your career much?
A: I doubt they’d let me have custody of her. The Carnival isn’t any place for a kid. But you bet your fucking ass that I’m going to be there for her. I missed her first words. Her first steps. Her first day at school. I missed a fuckton of things and there’s no way in fucking hell I’m going to miss more. I’ll figure it out, a balance between my music and my baby girl. And I know I’ll have help. I’ll have Yuffie and Luci and even Poe to support me.