Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.
Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see Hibiscus Beauty in mag.
Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see ROCK THIS WHEN MAKING ERRANDS DURING THE SUMMER in mag.
It may be the end of the summer, but festival season continues and here in NY, we're excited for Labor Day Weekend when Electric Zoo brings some of our favorite DJ/Producers to Randall's Island for 3 days of music from Sept 2nd - 4th! We caught up with one of the acts who will hitting the stage to get the scoop ahead of their performance.
Matt Russell, Trevor Dahl and KEVI make up Cheat Codes, a trio that has been collaborating with a number of people from Demi Lovato, Afrojack and Wiz Khalifa to name a few. They shared how they came together, how they got their name and their collaborative process. They also talk about dropping HELLRAISERS Part 1, 2 and 3, upcoming country music with Jimmie Allen and Dolly Parton and of course their upcoming performance for EZoo!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did each of you fall in love with music and what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be a DJ?
MATT RUSSELL: 3rd grade music class, they handed me a recorder, I made hot cross buns sound like Beethovens 5th, and it was over. We didn’t start the project by DJing we just wanted to make songs, and once we started gaining momentum we had to learn very quickly. Our first DJ gig was rough, let me tell you.
AM: Tell us how the 3 of you came together to become Cheat Codes?
MR: We all met in LA, but came from different musical backgrounds. Trevor was doing acoustic singer songwriter music, Kevi was a rapper, and Matt was in an indie/hip hop project. I was making beats for KEVI’s rap project, and Trevor needed a studio, so he turned my laundry room into a dope recording set up. We had the idea to just mess around and do a session together, and thats when we wrote Cheat Codes first song “Visions”.
AM: Where did the name Cheat Codes come from?
KEVI: My brothers were in this band called Clear Static, and they had a lot of early success. They were opening for Duran Duran at Madison Square Garden and I came out to support them, but was dumbfounded by everything they were accomplishing. So I asked my bro Tom, how you doing this, and he told me “I found the cheat code little bro” haha!
AM: As a trio, what do each of you bring to created your DJ group?
TREVOR DAHL: We all handle different roles, which allows us to do more and not get burned out. Matt handles a lot of the live set, live edits, etc. I finish a lot of the production on the songs, and Kevi handles a lot of the visual aesthetic, as far as merch idea, album artwork ideas etc. but we collaborate with each other on everything. We usually agree on most things.
AM: How do you find inspiration when you are creating new music?
MR: Well we do a lot of collaborations, so I think that makes it easy. Just trying to find something that works well for both artists, but is still representative of our sound.
AM: What’s your process when it comes to creating your music – do you have set roles?
K: It just depends on each song, but we all write and bounce ideas off each other. We all have vocals on different records as well. But dividing and conquering helps us do a lot more for sure.
AM: You have collaborated with Demi Lovato, Kaskade, Afrojack etc. When you’re collaborating with other artists, what are you looking for when you’re thinking about whether you can work together?
TD: Just an idea that sounds like Cheat Codes, but still works for the other artist. With Demi, we had the demo idea and we just thought her voice would sound awesome on it so it was kind of a no brainer. With Kaskade and Afrojack we really wanted to lean on their production sound and write some cool vocals that would compliment their ideas, so those were a little more production driven.
AM: How would you describe the Cheat Codes sound?
MR: At this point we’ve done every genre basically so we’re its hard to put in a few words. We kind of have different eras, where early on it was almost tropical house leaning, then kind of went more pop, dance, but we definitely hate being put in a box, we get bored easily.
AM: I’m a huge fan of Squid Games and I can’t wait for when the next season drops, you made Way Back Then an Official Squid Games Remix. How did that come about?
MR: Well we binge watched the show, stayed up all night actually. We were having an argument on the best way to watch it, with Korean voiceovers and subtitles or English dubs, then the idea hit.
AM: Tell us about HellRaiser Part 1, 2 and 3 as you released these albums over the last 18 months. What was the concept behind it and why is it a series of 3 albums?
MR: It was originally 1 album, and then Covid hit. We couldn’t tour for 8 months, so we just spent extra time in the studio, once we had all these ideas, it didn’t sound like 1 cohesive project, there were more 3 distinct sounds, so figured why not, we’ve never done an album before so lets go big.
AM: We know that you have been teasing a country album for awhile. Why was this a genre that you wanted to incorporate your sound into?
MR: We've always been song and vocal driven, and one of our early influences was Avicci, so it never seemed too out of bounds for us. When we were making Hellraisers, we had this record called "Never Love You Again." It was never intended to be tended to be a country record, the production is more dance, but we just needed a very soulful voice that matched, and little big town jumped on. Something about their harmonies and soul made the record what it is, so we kind of went down a rabbit hole.
AM: Is there a synergy between EDM and country music?
K: Yeah for sure, I mean EDM is so global, and its taken us so many places around the world, some of the best times to blast country music is on a road trip, or hitting up an isolated place, and I think that works really well especially in a festival environment. Just bringing good vibes and people together.
AM: Jimmie Allen is going to be on this record, what can you tell us about the music that you worked on with him and what was that like?
MR: What I like about this record is, it's not a typical country record. Jimmie's vocals aren’t overly twang, and the lyrics aren’t about trucks or anything. So it became this easily accessible thing whether you like dance music or country or pop.
AM: Are there other country artists that are also on this record?
TD: We have Matt Stell, MacKenzie Porter, Madddie and Tae, Lady A, and we’re working on one with Dolly as well.
AM: With it coming out Sep 30th, what are you doing to promote this album, will you participate in country festivals and will these songs also be incorporated into other sets that you’re doing outside of the country scene?
K: Yeah, we've already performed some of the records at different electronic festivals this summer, so it kind of just depends on the vibe and the edit. We’ll be doing Rodeo World in Vegas in December, so catch us at the official after party.
AM: You’ve been creating so much music, are there other projects that are coming out that we should keep an eye out for?
MR: Yeah we’re already working on the album after this, so stay tuned, we can’t really talk about it though.
AM: We’re looking forward to EZoo as you’ll be here in NY! What are you excited about for this festival?
MR: We play in NYC all the time, but I think this will be the biggest festival we’ve played here, definitely electronic based. I think I heard everyone's dressing up as animals, so I’m excited to fulfill my fantasy as a sexy elephant. Stay tuned.
AM: When you’re performing at EZoo, do you have routines that you do prior to your set to get prepared for the show and do you have things that you do after your show to relax?
MR: Yeah we usually play “Kill, Marry, F$#%” and then follow that up with 30 burpees and we’re ready to hit the stage. Afterwards we relax by putting on our noise cancelling headphones and listening to ASMR.
AM: How do you balance your schedules from when you’re performing a festival, being on tour, your residencies, creating music etc?
TD: Yeah we just have to prioritize what’s most important, so we’ll usually block off time to be in the studio where we won’t play shows no matter what. But organization is key for sure.
IG @cheatcodes
PHOTO CREDITS | Cheat Codes
Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see IT’S ABOUT THE MUSIC | Cheat Codes in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Ryan Hutton
CBD is becoming a popular supplement among fitness enthusiasts for its potential benefits in managing pain and inflammation. But what exactly is CBD? And how can it help you achieve your fitness goals? This blog post will answer those questions and more. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about CBD and fitness.
If you have just stumbled across the wonder drug CBD, you are probably full of questions, but the best place to start is with what CBD is. First and foremost, CBD isn’t a wonder drug, but it can be used as a supplement and has a few benefits that athletes can use.
Secondly, CBD is also known as cannabidiol, the second most active cannabinoid within the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD has no intoxicating effects, so it won’t get you high. However, it does offer many of the benefits that THC offers. What makes CBD different from THC? Well, it mainly interacts with the body, which is also how it can provide the benefits it does.
As an athlete or someone generally interested in fitness, you must be careful about what you put in your body to stay healthy. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy ways to consume CBD, and some of the healthiest methods are also the most effective.
Of course, you could use a vaporizer, a popular method of consuming CBD. However, if you want to be very healthy, some of the best procedures available on this page include edibles, tinctures, capsules, and transdermal patches. These methods don’t require you to vape or smoke anything, so you don’t have to worry about lung damage.
When you consume CBD, the cannabinoid loosely attaches itself to your CB1 receptors, primarily found within your central nervous system. Once it attaches itself, it acts as a kind of modulator; in other words, it either blocks or stimulates the receptors, leading to a decrease or amplification in the ability of the receptor to transmit signals.
The result of this is an increase in the natural levels of anandamide within the body, leading to the CB receptors becoming even more sensitive to the already present endocannabinoids within your body. Your mood increases when consuming CBD, and the reduction of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. More importantly, it allows CBD to reduce the experience of pain.
As mentioned above, the method you use to consume CBD will affect its effectiveness. It is because different consumption methods allow you to consume varying amounts of CBD, which means that if you are consuming CBD to treat something specific, you will need to know how much CBD to consume.
Unfortunately, the dosage required for effectiveness varies from person to person. The general guidelines are something like for a 5’9” male. You should consume 10 milligrams a day. Other experts recommend consuming around 30 milligrams a day if you are in pain, while some suggest starting as low as 5. In other words, it’s a matter of trial and error and figuring out what dosage works best for you for varying amounts of pain.
Finally, the last thing you should be aware of would be the benefits CBD offers for someone working out, such as yourself. Firstly, one of the most influential aspects of exercising is getting enough sleep; without enough sleep, your athletic performance will suffer. As such, the first benefit is that CBD improves the quality of sleep, allowing you to train hard and recover faster.
The primary benefit of CBD is that it can help you recover after an intense workout session. Why? Because CBD has pain-relieving properties and acts as an anti-inflammatory, your swollen muscles won’t be as sore, which allows you to recover faster and train harder.
Labor Day Weekend is the "last dance" of the summer and is celebrated when Electric Zoo 3.0 will takeover Randalls Island Park in NY from Sept 2nd - 4th. We're excited for DJ Diesel, Cheat Codes, Afrojack, Carl Cox, Martin Garrix and more who will have sets across multiple stages! This year's 3.0 theme encourages attendees to “plug into the Matrix” for their 13th edition by enjoying their tech driven, electronic dance music paradise. Guests will enjoy more VIP areas, increased free water stations, interactive installations and more.
This year, there are new stage designs! The new stages are integrated together by AI technology. The Landing replaced the Hilltop Arena and will be surrounded by lush greenery for EZoo's first fully-immersive experience. Because of where it's placed in the festival, sound bleeding is no longer a concern for festival attendees. The Grove is also being retired and Morphosis will be the stage where house music evolves. That means pyrotechnics, fireworks, LED walls and more surprises.
In addition to a number of large acts such as those mentioned above, there will also be an inclusion of emerging artists and local ones from NY for attendees to get to know.
We've always been a fan of EZoo's Golden Hour for sunset performances. Diplo will perform on Fri, DJ Snake on Sat and Sun will have Subtronics. Each night, there are a number of after parties across the city from Webster Hall, Marquee and Lavo to name a few.
There's nothing like a festival to bring the love of dance music, artistry, fun sponsors, immersive experiences and outfits that add a whole other color to the festival experience which are perfect for Instagrammable moments!
IG @electriczoo
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Alive Coverage
Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see ELECTRIC ZOO in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC Via Getty Images
In this month’s issue, our cover story is with World Cup Champion, Juventus F.C. and the France National Team Midfielder footballer, Paul Pogba. We caught up with him to talk about his passion for the game, his excitement to play for Juventus again, what it was like to win the World Cup with the French National team in 2018 and more. With STARZ’s POWER BOOK III: Raising Kanan Season 2 out now, we caught up with the show’s creator Sascha Penn and two of it’s stars Hailey Kilgore and Omar Dorsey to talk about what we can expect, what it’s like getting into that 90’s frame of mind and more. We also interview CFDA jewelry designer Sheryl Lowe of Sheryl Lowe Jewelry. We talk about how she went from a MUA in film/TV to creating this line, creating an additional line MR.LOWE. where her husband Rob Lowe and children have modeled for it and the importance of philanthropy within her collection. This Labor Day Weekend, Electric Zoo is back from Sept 2nd – 4th and we give you a heads up on what you can expect at this year’s festival on Randall’s Island here in NY. We also talk with Cheat Codes, a trio DJ/Producer trio who will also perform at this year’s event. We talk about them drawing 3 albums in under 2 years during the pandemic, how they create their music and their upcoming country project with Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen and more. We also caught up with The Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia to talk about Bounce, No Kids Hungry and working with Beyonce.
This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ/Producer Benny Benassi (cover of DEC ISSUE #60) and choreographer, dance fitness founder of the NW Method Nicole Winhoffer has one as well. Our 9DRIP comes from our STARZ’s POWER BOOK III: Raising Kanan’s, Omar Dorsey and the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from last month’s JUL ISSUE #79 cover and UFC World Champ and TUF Season 30 winner Julianna Peña. Our The 9LIST STORI3S comes from PGA golfer Justin Thomas and The 9LIST STORI3S comes from Leylah Fernandez, Felix Aliassime and Carlos Alcaraz who will be playing in this year’s US Open.
Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack shares a stunning spot that’s known for their mussels in the Meat Packing District, Mollusca. This month’s Athleisure List comes from Bear Donut and RANG NYC. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.
Read the AUG ISSUE #80.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelorette/Craig Sjodin
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelorette/Gizelle Hernandez
We pick up where we left off on ABC’s The Bachelorette for Aven and Rachel Recchia’s Hometown which took place in Salem! The two had a great time learning about love spells and finding out about the town’s history. Rachel met his family and even with their questions, she knew that they enjoyed meeting her and she felt much better than she did with some of her dates! Interestingly enough, we didn’t get to see who received roses but we heard that everyone minus Tyler (who was sent home).
We see Rachel, Gabby Windey, Jesse Palmer and the remainder of the men at the Men Tell All special. We heard about all the drama that we’ve been hearing all season long. Jacob apologized for his behavior with Gabby and Hayden wasn’t even there to talk about how inappropriate he was. It seems like the next few weeks are definitely going to take us into some twists and turns!
GABBY’S HOMETOWN DATES | Erich, Jason, Johnny
RACHEL’S REMAINING HOMETOWN DATES | Aven, Tino, Zach
Each night during this season, we tweet about The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
![AVEN [Rachel]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1657588601108-J205D6OAU8O43BE34YSL/AVEN_28_San+Diego+CA.jpg)
![ERICH [Gabby]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1657589521787-HE4QWFJRS909FS7317ZQ/ERICH_29_Bedminster+NJ.jpg)
![JASON [Gabby]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1659401469296-SZ3XBQ6EYJ9UB61A0B2P/162684_3598_V1.jpg)
![JOHNNY [Gabby]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1661224620739-3L9K4IM01CQQSIS12YV4/JOHHNY_25_Palm+Beach+Gardens+FL.jpg)
![TINO [Rachel]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1657588780832-OYABQ16HOWK8MYX9VA0N/TINO_27_Playa+Del+Rey+CA.jpg)
![ZACH [Rachel]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55982406e4b014bac5e42764/1658796978812-WMW0AEYS62JGDUT9IWDE/ZACH_25_Anaheim+Hills+CA.jpg)
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Burberry released their newest campaign for FW22 showcasing menswear that has contemporary traditions used in its collection that includes hooded duffle coats, leather straps, high-waisted pants and more. In addition to a number of the pieces, they partnered with the Black-owned LA-based non-profit, The Compton Cowboys.
PHOTO CREDIT | Burberry
PHOTO CREDIT | Paskho
You’ve gone through your closet and have decided it’s time to purchase some new athleisure. Maybe you’ve become more active, your weight has been fluctuating, or your old pieces have worn out. Whatever the reason is, it’s time for you to start looking for new athleisure wear. Today, we’re here to help you out and tell you six things you should look for when purchasing new athleisure. In addition, we’ll also tell you about some high-quality men’s travel pants that are so good you won’t be able to say no to them. To learn everything you need to know about what to look for in athleisure, keep on reading.
Cheap athleisure is really tempting; we’re well aware of this. How can you turn away from a workout shirt that costs less than $20? When you buy cheap clothes like this, you definitely get what you pay for. The difference in the quality of the fabric between cheap and high-quality athleisure is evident. Cheap athleisure is uncomfortable, scratchy, and tears easily. Higher-end athleisure, on the other hand, is comfortable, breathable, stretchy, and lasts long without tearing or pilling. Make sure you’re fully aware of the fabric of your athleisure before you buy it.
Athleisure is meant to be worn for a variety of things, so whether you’re lounging around at home or running a marathon, athleisure should fit the bill for what to wear. Unfortunately, some cheaper athleisure brands are hoping that you’ll lean more towards the “leisure” in athleisure because clothes from cheap brands are not made to be worn during vigorous activity. You need to make sure your athleisure was designed to actually withstand motion. For example, let’s take a look at Paskho men’s travel pants. These athleisure pants were uniquely designed to have ergonomic seams and articulated knees in order to withstand essentially any motion. If you’re looking for some movement-friendly athleisure men’s travel pants, look no further than Paskho.
The best athleisure is the kind that can be worn in a variety of contexts. How amazing would it be to be able to wear the same pants when going on a run that you wear to a business meeting? This is the type of thing you should look for when purchasing new attire. High-quality athleisure can be worn in multiple different situations.
The Paskho Contemplation slim-fit tapered khaki pants are a great example of this; they fit into the athleisure category while also looking like they could be incorporated into a business casual outfit. Buying athleisure that serves multiple purposes also helps protect the environment, which leads us to our next thing to look out for.
Sustainability is one of the biggest things you should look out for when shopping for new athleisure. Buying cheap clothes over and over again really takes a toll on the environment. Each piece of clothing that tears and is then thrown out takes up more space in landfills that are already overflowing, or it could end up in the ocean somewhere, presenting itself as a hazard to innocent wildlife. Purchasing high-quality athleisure wear from brands that value sustainability is a great way to show your support for our planet.
Not many minor feelings are worse than ordering clothes online, trying them on, and realizing they don’t fit. It’s important to always check a brand’s sizing chart if you’re shopping online because each brand sizes its clothes differently. A medium in one brand could be large in another brand, and vice versa. Always take the extra step of referring to a brand’s sizing chart. It could save you the hassle of making an online return, or worse, throwing out the pieces that don’t fit, which is harmful to both your wallet and the environment.
To really get the most out of your athleisure, you need to invest in pieces that have a lot of pockets. Without pockets, how are you supposed to carry your things around with you? If your response is to bring a bag, pockets can help save you from the hassle of that, too. Many athleisure pants, tops, and even some sports bras come with pockets now, making them a new athleisure necessity. Most men’s travel pants come with pockets as well, which can help you have a stress-free and comfortable travel experience.
In summary, here are the six things to look for when purchasing new athleisure:
● High-quality fabric
● Designed for motion
● Multipurpose
● Sustainability
● Sizing
● Storage
Purchasing new athleisure can be overwhelming, but if you stick to looking out for these six things, it’ll be a breeze. If you’re in the market for some men’s travel pants that check all the boxes, head over to the Paskho online shop to buy high-quality items you can wear in multiple contexts. You’ll be glad you did.
During MFW SS23 presentations, Plein Sport unveiled their collection of men’s and women’s pieces that take you from studio to street. In addition, they dropped a digital presentation as well.
PHOTO CREDIT | Unsplash/Sean Oulashin
Are you trying out CBD gummies for the first time and don’t know what to expect? Do you want to know what you should and shouldn’t do when trying CBD gummies for fitness purposes?
CBD gummies are a popular way to consume CBD. Some people use them for fitness, believing that CBD can help with muscle recovery and other benefits. But is this the case? And if so, what are the dos and don'ts of taking CBD gummies like these for fitness? In this blog post, we'll explore these questions and provide some advice on how to best benefit from CBD gummies regarding fitness.
When it comes to fitness or exercise, many people tend to stay away from cannabis products, including CBD, because it can cause problems with performance-enhancing drugs and the legality of their use.
However, CBD is a completely legal product to use in almost all sports, whether you do it professionally or recreationally. This is because CBD is not cannabis as a whole and does not give you any kind of high, and is unlikely to give you any kind of advantage.
CBD is a cannabinoid within the cannabis plant and many others, including THC and more. It is a cannabinoid with no psychoactive properties that will not get you high. There are many reasons why people use CBD, and it is largely because of the health benefits that it has to offer.
CBD also has a large variety of benefits when used for fitness purposes, depending on whether you use it before, after, or in between your workout sessions. CBD has incredible anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used in a variety of ways to help when it comes to fitness. They can also help with many other issues you may experience and can even help with your endurance.
When it comes to the do's and don'ts of taking CBD gummies for fitness, the first thing that you absolutely should do if you are planning on consuming CBD for fitness purposes is to consume it before your workout.
Research has shown that CBD consumption can improve your endurance, enabling you to have a longer and better workout. CBD also has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, allowing you to work out for a longer period without experiencing any pain or injury.
On the other hand, something that you absolutely shouldn't do when using CBD gummies for fitness is to consume them right off the bat. CBD can have different effects from person to person, and there is a chance that you may react negatively to it, especially if you have not consumed it before.
With that said, if you are planning on taking CBD gummies for fitness purposes, you should always make sure to start with a lower dose and build it up from there, so that you can have a better understanding of what you can handle.
Something you should always do when consuming CBD gummies is to drink plenty of water frequently. CBD is a product of cannabis that is known to be incredibly dehydrating and can leave you with a dry mouth or just an overall feeling of dehydration.
Working out on its own can be dehydrating, and you need to refuel or replenish your hydration frequently. However, you must hydrate more often or frequently when consuming CBD products.
Last but not least, the final thing you shouldn't be doing when using CBD gummies for fitness is overdosing on them. Although CBD gummies will not have any effect on getting you high, they still have negative effects that can leave you uncomfortable. Consuming too much CBD can make you dehydrated, dizzy, nauseous, drowsy, and more. It is best to start with a lower dose and build it up over time.
Here in NY, the qualifying rounds for the US Open are currently underway! Starting Aug 29th - Sep 11th, the tennis tournament is bound to give us a number of major moments that we will be talking about! Ralph Lauren has been the official outfitter for this tournament since 2005. The Ralph Lauren U.S. Open Collection includes the ball crew and courtside official uniforms as well as a limited edition tennis-inspired collection. This campaign was shot at the USTA Billie King Jean National Tennis Center and featured 5 of the U.S. Open Ball Crew members as well as Ralph Lauren models.
As is the case when Ralph Lauren creates uniforms for a sporting event, you can also purchase these items as well to be part of the festivities while watching on-site, at home or when you’re out and about going about your day!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelorette/Craig Sjodin
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelorette/Gizelle Hernandez
We’re back watching tonight’s ABC’s The Bachelorette and it’s Hometowns! Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey are separating and packing as they will go to their men’s hometowns! Jesse Palmer checks up on both of them to figure out how they are doing as they prepare to leave the ship.
Gabby heads to New Orleans for the first time to meet up with Jason! She will only visit 3 men! He takes her around New Orleans to wear and throw beads and she gets to meet his family and connects with them.
Now Rachel is with Zach in his hometown where they get to watch planes taking off.
Back to Gabby, we go to Johnny and his hometown. As soon as he meets her, he lets them now that they will hang with his family first so she can meet them. Gabby was very nervous - but we can’t fault her since she didn’t really get any alone time with her. Although she wins his family over, Johnny tells his mom that he doesn’t know if he is ready yet for that.
Rachel is at the Jersey Shore with Tyler. She’s excited to be with him, but feels that they are the most behind in terms of their relationships. They hang out on the board walk and she realizes even more that she isn’t in the same place with him as she met a number of his friends. She doesn’t want to continue the date. He heads home where he has to tell his family that she broke up with him. This was definitely a rough date.
Gabby’s final hometown is with Erich in New Jersey. He lets her know that they will go to his parents first before their date. She meets his family and they receive her well, but they tell her how important it is to have and keep your commitments. Later on, during their date they both share how they are falling in love with one another.
Now Rachel is with Tino in Santa Clarita, CA. His parents have a lot of questions and it doesn’t feel like they are on board with this process. His father is very doubtful about whether their relationship is sustainable. While Rachel talks to his mom, she sees that even if Tino wishes to go forward, his family will not be behind this and has heavy skepticism. When you look book at when Tino talked to her before meeting the parents, when she voiced concern over whether his parents would like her or not, he shut it down quickly saying they would. After meeting his parents, he shared that he wished that he had been more upfront with her.
Although Gabby has completed all of her dates, Rachel still has one more Hometown date with Aven. It will be interesting to see how that one goes and to see who the ladies will continue to move forward with next week!
GABBY’S HOMETOWN DATES | Erich, Jason, Johnny
RACHEL’S REMAINING HOMETOWN DATES | Aven, Tino, Zach
RACHEL SENT HOME | Tyler
Each night during this season, we tweet about The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Pexels/Ylanite Koppens
Some poets say that unrequited love is the worst possible thing in this world. Maybe you love someone, and you pine for them, but for some reason, you cannot have them. Perhaps you meet someone when you’re young, you connect with them, but then for whatever reason, you two go your separate ways.
Before the internet, if you lost touch with someone, whether a friend, relative, or romantic love interest, you might struggle to locate them again. Maybe they’re somewhere out there in the world, but you’d have to physically travel to try and find them.
You don’t have to do that much in 2022. If you want to connect with a past love to try and rekindle the spark, you can usually do that much easier. We’ll talk about how you can undertake such a mission right now.
Locating someone from your past might interest you for many reasons. Maybe you have romance in mind, but perhaps you’re trying to find an old friend or colleague. Maybe this person owes you money, and you’ve waited for years to collect.
Whatever your reason for wanting to find someone, though, they can’t hide from you as well as they could twenty years ago, or even ten years ago, for that matter. The technology you can use to locate a person has only gotten better, and it’s hard for anyone to hide in the 21st century.
Free person lookup websites are one way to go if you hope to find someone’s location, whether for romance or something else entirely. These sites let you plug in a person’s name, and you can also put in their address, social security number, phone number, social media accounts, or anything else, if you know it.
Once you do that, it’s highly likely you’ll find that person’s location. If you can’t get an actual, physical home address, you’ll often find out their current city, state, or country, if they’re no longer living in the US. At that point, you’re one step closer to locating them and reestablishing the relationship.
Let’s say you started your search process by using a free person lookup site and putting in their name. Maybe you also put in any other information you currently know about them. You might have an old phone number and address. The more info you give one of these sites, the more you’ll get back from them.
The site might let you know this person uses certain social media platforms. Maybe they’re on Meta, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, or one of the many others that exist.
They might have their account set to private, but that does not mean you can’t create an account with that platform and reach out to this individual. Maybe they’ll see your name and allow you to become their friend on that platform. If they do, you can see whether you two still have any potential romantic interest.
It’s not impossible that you might try to find someone through the means we mentioned, but you don’t have any luck. The free person lookup search might not find out very much about them. Maybe they don’t have any active social media accounts.
Some people avoid social media use, and they try to stay off the grid as much as they can. The internet may not reveal much about their current location or life, but you’re determined to find them so you can see whether they still have feelings for you.
As a last resort, you might hire a private investigator. An investigator who finds people professionally will doubtless have resources they can use that are beyond what you have at your disposal. They might contact various police departments or FBI sources and find someone that way.
The private investigator can give you a full report regarding that person once they find them. If they can’t find anything at all, you’ll know you’re dealing with a truly unusual circumstance.
Even if you’re looking for someone who’s deceased, a private investigator should uncover that information. If anyone can find your long-lost love, a professional should do it.
Once you find this person, you can decide whether to reach out to them. Maybe once you find them, you see they have a spouse, or perhaps they’re in jail. If you learn something like that, you’ll need to carefully consider whether making contact makes sense.
We're very excited about this month's cover, Bantamweight Champion Julianna Peña who will be fighting Amanda Nunes in the title fight in Dallas on Jul 30th for UFC277. This anticipated rematch is one we'll be glued to and just ahead of it, we took some time to catch up with the 'Venezuelan Vixen' herself! We wanted to know about her journey in the MMA, being the first woman to win The Ultimate Fighter - Season 18, joining the UFC, being a coach on Season 30 of The Ultimate Fighter, and how she trains to be Octagon ready!
ATHLEISURE MAG: What led you to MMA and when did you fall in love with the sport?
JULIANNA PEÑA: When I was 19 years old, my sister asked me to join a women’s cardio kickboxing class with her and I needed to lose some weight, so I joined the class. It came naturally to me and I wanted to explore it more. I immediately fell in love with it. And when I eventually started winning fights, the joy combined with the rush of winning solidified my obsession for MMA.
AM: You’re known as the Venezuelan Vixen. How did you get that name?
JP: I have to credit that to my coach that gave me that name early on in my career.
AM: What did you learn about competing on The Ultimate Fighter and becoming the first woman to win in Season 18?
JP: I learned that I still had so much more to learn, and that I still do. Not only is every fighter different, every FIGHT is different. Because as I’m learning and growing, so are my competitors. It taught me to never feel as though I know everything. There is always more to learn, more room to grow, more fights to win, and more fighters to challenge ahead. Always a student of the game.
AM: Last season, you and Amanda Nunes were coaches for The Ultimate Fighter. How did it feel to be there as a coach versus competing and what does it mean to you to work with those who are coming up and to give them the tools that they need to operate at their best?
JP: It was really interesting to be a 135lb woman giving advice to male MMA fighters twice my size! It was a little strange at first because I wasn’t sure how they would take my advice when we’re in very different divisions with different disciplines. But it soon became second nature. It was exciting to see them grow but it was also difficult getting to know them, their strengths/weaknesses, and then having to see them get eliminated. It was also very interesting to coach against Amanda because I was able to get a better understanding of her approach and methods, whereas before, I had only known what it was like to be fighting against her in the cage.
AM: We always like talking about workouts that athletes do that optimize their work in the sport, what are 3 workouts that you do?
JP: I love to run. All my workouts are what I do for and in camp. But running and strength/conditioning/lifting weights are others that I do. I love to swim and do yoga if I get the time.
AM: What is a typical training session/day like for you and how is it different when you are preparing for a fight?
JP: I train 2-3 times a day except on Sundays when I’m not in camp. I train MMA a few times a week but not nearly at the pace I do while I’m at camp.
AM: When it comes to training, how important is the mental aspect of it to you and how do you strengthen that area?
JP: The mental aspect of MMA training is just as important as the physical aspect of the sport. Especially as a mother, it’s very important for me to prioritize that work/life balance. I'm constantly reminding myself to remain focused and avoid unnecessary distractions while I’m training, so that I can, not only be the best fighter, but also be the best mother I can be to my daughter.
AM: In looking at your IG, we loved seeing your daughter Isa standing with you when you were doing promos for your fight last year or even when you’re training in the gym. It reminded me of being able to watch my mom work when she owned her own couture boutique. I think it’s powerful for kids to be able to see what their parents do. How is it to balance your duties as a mom, training, being a champion fighter and also building other areas of your brand/portfolio?
JP: Thank you! That’s so incredible that you have such fond memories of your mother and that you had a role model that also struck a great balance between work and parenthood. At the end of the day, my daughter comes first. She is the greatest joy in my life. And my duty to her to be a good mother is my ultimate responsibility. She will always come first. And the rest seems to fall into place as long as I continue to stay focused and motivated. Isa will forever be my biggest win in life.
AM: If we want to eat like an MMA fighter, what are the foods you eat that assist you in being an amazing champion and what are items you enjoy splurging on?
JP: My splurge is PINKBERRY or frozen yogurt of any kind. I train so much I can virtually eat what I want but I use Eat Clean Chicago to help prep me for the week and it ranges from spaghetti to baked chicken or salmon depending on the day.
AM: You have an amazing record 12-4-0. You are fighting Amanda Nunes in Dallas for a title rematch main event for UFC 277 on July 30th. When you fought her last year, you won the Bantamweight Title. Heading into Saturday’s fight, what are the days leading up to game time like when you touch down in Dallas?
JP: I’m actually already in Dallas! I got in earlier this week. Fight week is always a bit crazy – there are media interviews, press conferences, weigh-ins, and more.
And all of that is still in addition to an even more intense training schedule. Put it this way, I can’t wait to enjoy a bit of free time and sleep next week!
AM: After a fight, what do you do as you come down from all the energy and focus that you needed in the Octagon?
JP: Other than enjoying my victory?? I enjoy time with my daughter!!! That’s the easiest way to come down from that adrenaline rush that comes with months of training. Just fun and relaxation with Isa and my family.
AM: In addition to fighting, you are also a commentator for MMA fights as well. Why is this something that you wanted to add into your portfolio and what do you like about doing this?
JP: I love to talk and I love MMA. I always want MMA to be a part of my life!
AM: Earlier this summer, you threw the 1st pitch at the White Sox/Dodgers game in Chicago! How exciting was that experience for you?
JP: That was beyond exciting! The Chicago White Sox were so welcoming and truly made it an experience I will never forget. And it’s always fun to meet the players and coaches because it makes watching the game so much more fun. If they ever want me back, I’m a phone call away!
AM: When you’re not training or prepping for a fight, how do you take time for yourself?
JP: I spend my free time with my daughter. I’m so busy all the time between training and my other endeavors so any free time I have, I spend it with her. I haven’t sat on my couch in three months. I’m looking forward to putting my feet up.
AM: With all the successes that you have had, being a champion in the UFC and being able to do what you love – what do you want your legacy to be in the sport?
JP: I would love to be remembered for my ability to bring home victories even when the odds are stacked against me; being able to have opened the doors and break barriers for other working mothers. If you believe in yourself and are determined enough, there’s no reason that you can’t have it all. I dream of being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame one day.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Pillar Marketing Corporation
Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see REMAINING FOCUSED | Julianna Peña “Venezuelan Vixen” in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Yves V in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see 9DRIP | Julianna “Venezuelan Vixen“ Peña in mag.
Music has immense value, from enjoying the song, melody and instruments used, to the artists, performances and remixes there is a much larger scope in terms of what it means to the social fiber and how in many ways it serves as a mirror of who we are, where we want to be and how we are held accountable. It creates a series of feelings and memories that are enlightened and intertwined.
We had the pleasure of talking with the President and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Greg Harris. In addition to their noted Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony which honors a class of musicians across rock & roll, they are known for the museum which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
We wanted to know more about the museum, how they connect with music enthusiasts around the world and how artists can become eligible for the honor. Greg also shares how he came to this role and how he continues to drive the importance of impact in music.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into your work and role at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I’d love to know about your background because I know you were the owner, partner and operator of the Philadelphia Record Exchange. When did you fall in love with music and what was your focus behind opening this retail store?
GREG HARRIS: You know, I grew up, per your readers loving both sports and music! I was fortunate to be raised to play various sports depending on the season with two brothers. On the music side, it just always spoke to me. We always had music in the house and in Philadelphia, the area where I grew up, new music and old music mixed together. So oldies and FM radio were all the same. I got involved a little bit with one of the local public radio stations when I was in high school. Then we had a club near us called City Gardens and it had every live band and we went there as soon as we were old enough to get in! We were there all the time! Then, I went to college in Philadelphia, I went to Temple University and one of my off-campus jobs to help pay for school was the record department of a used bookstore. That’s where the idea came from that the other clerk and I were friends and we realized that the store owner was making a lot more money than we were as the hourly employees!
So we quit and rented out a storefront about a half a block away and we opened our own store. That business has been a great success! I was involved for a couple of years and sold my half to some other people, but my original partner still has it. The Philadelphia Record Exchange has been around for 30 years and it’s an iconic place in the city. Every musician knows it, everybody that is into music when they are in Philly, they find their way to the store and that includes current artists like Kurt Vile and other folks back in the day, like Ahmir Khalib Thompson – Questlove.
I think an important thing to note in terms of looking at my career is that I found out pretty early on that I couldn’t play very well. I could play some guitar, but I was never that great. But I was always better at helping other people market and grow. So the store became that place. We would put concerts on, we’d shut the streets down and do block parties and promotions with artists and other musicians. We just loved helping them succeed and helping our customers find excitement and joy.
AM: It’s so funny, I grew up my dad was a huge record collector and he would slap my hands every time I would try to go to the stereo to play with the records and at my campus at Indiana University, we had 3 record shops near my campus, Tracks was my favorite one. There is something about a record, I love them and when you hear the sound that comes out and the needle hitting the vinyl – it’s an experience. When I read that about you, I thought that’s really cool!
GH: Those stores back then, that was kind of the social network. It's where you met like-minded people that loved the same music or liked similar music. It’s where you learned! You couldn’t Google everything so sometimes the customers taught you and you taught them!
AM: Especially if you were able to come up with crazy imports. I think there’s something about that social fiber when you don’t have that independent local record store. The guy that I would get my music from knew so many things about various artists and had stories to tell and I appreciated it. I don’t remember if they had block parties but it would have been amazing!
GH: I really want to celebrate my original partner, who still has it Jacy Webster and he has given such a gift to Philadelphia music lovers for the last 30+ years, it’s an amazing place!
AM: Another part of your background that’s interesting is I love your focus on curation. To know that you were at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown where you focused on curation was really interesting. Can you tell us about what your role was there, what you did, and why curation was so important?
GH: My first significant museum position was at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I was originally hired to be there Broadcast Media Archivist. My job was to curate the broadcast collection and that was recordings of All-Star games, World Series games, home movies, radio pieces – all the things where that exciting history of baseball is. In museums, they have to take their collections and tell stories with them. You want to tell the stories where you have impact to your visitors and to make those connections and that’s what we did in Cooperstown. You know, it’s an amazing museum. I started in that area, I was fortunate to be able to curate some exhibits and much like the record store, I got involved in business development and fundraising and things like sponsorship and inductee relations. It really helped to grow the business and as I advanced from the collections side of the house, I got more involved in business development and the growth of the enterprise. I spent 14 terrific years there and it was really hard to leave. It’s a wonderful museum. Anyone that has ever played catch in the backyard or Little League, should go to Cooperstown to experience it.
AM: What do you think is the connective tissue between baseball and music and how were you able to move onto the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame where you’re the President and CEO currently?
GH: They’re 2 great places and they’re both so much part of our culture. People have a deep love for both subjects. They make these pilgrimages to Cooperstown or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These music and sports evolve and they are the history of our culture – all the good and all the bad comes through and you can tell these stories. On some fronts, you can talk about exclusion and people not being included and you can tell about opportunity opening up. Sometimes it opens up in sport before it opens up to the wider society. These are really important pieces for all of us to learn from to think about and to grow from. Then on the other part from the business side, these museums operate in a very similar way. They each get hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.
We have inductees that are the best of the best individuals, we have broadcast properties, we have important digital engagement with our visitors, we have retail operations and we are places that kind of mean a lot to a lot of people. So they’re very similar from a business sense and it’s just the subject that’s a little bit different. But they are magical places where people learn about their history, themselves and it helps them to better understand the present.
AM: Well can you tell us about the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in terms of who founded it and what it’s mission is? I know a lot of people think about it in terms of the amazing induction ceremony, but there are a lot of things that it does.
GH: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame started close to 40 years ago by a group of music industry professionals – the head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun and the head of Rolling Stone Magazine, Jann Wenner and others. They conceived it as a special evening celebration for their industries’ best of the best. After doing that for a short period of time, the idea came up to want to build a museum. A bunch of cities looked at it New York, San Francisco, my hometown of Philadelphia – all made a play for it, but Cleveland really stepped up. Cleveland had a great story about rock & roll being important to the city and being an important place for artists who broke in – including David Bowie’s whose first shows in the US were in Cleveland, Jimi Hendrix when he came back from England – his first shows were there, Rush’s first shows were there. Also a DJ named Alan Freed was playing music in the early 50’s and inspiring young people – so they had this great story! But, they showed up and had a business plan. They said this is how we’re going to build it and how we’re going to fund it and this is what it is going to mean to the region. Long and short, 27 years ago we opened up in this I.M. Pei building on the shores of Lake Eerie in Ohio. Since opening our doors, over 13 million people have visited the museum and we’re at the height of our summer season now. We'll get thousands of people through everyday all summer long. Every one of those people who comes through the front door has a lifetime of memory connected to the subjects inside our museum. When they see it, they hear it or hear it through a band that plays on our stage, it inspires them and makes them think of the people they were with and the places that they were at, the greatest week of college, the time their heart was broken, the greatest road trip that they took and they might even hear a song that reminds them of their mom, dad or siblings.
AM: So when you say rock & roll, what genres comprise this very broad title?
GH: It’s a big title and quite frankly, our definition is a very big tent. Rock & roll is more about attitude and spirit then it is about a specific sound. We embrace in the 50’s Doo-Wop, Street Corner Harmony and RockabIlly; in the 60’s there’s Psychedelic, Soul music, Folk music; in the 70’s there’s Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop, Dance Music, Disco, Punk Rock – it’s all under the umbrella of rock & roll. Synth Pop and Industrial – we embrace it all! So for us, it’s all about attitude and spirit! There’s an attitude about Johnny Cash that he had to the music industry and when Ice Cube was inducted, a couple of years ago, In his induction speech, he said, “rock & roll is a spirit, rock & roll is an attitude.” You can find his full quote online. (Editor’s Note: When Ice Cube was inducted, he talked about whether a rap group was considered to be rock & roll. He said, “Now the question is, are we rock & roll? And I say you goddam right we rock & roll. Rock & roll is not an instrument, rock & roll is not even a style of music. Rock & roll is a spirit. It’s a spirit. It’s been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul R&B, rock & roll, heavy metal, punk rock and yes, hip-hop. And what connects us all is that spirit. That’s what connects us all, that spirit. Rock & roll is not conforming to the people who came before you, but creating your own path in music and in life. That is rock & roll, and that is us. So rock & roll is not conforming. Rock & roll is outside the box. And rock & roll is N.W.A. I want to thank everybody who helped induct us into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and I just want to tell the world – Damn, that shit was dope.”) That is what we embrace. It’s the voice of change, it’s always been the sound of young America and it continues to evolve and as a museum, we continue to evolve with it.
AM: So as music continues to evolve, you will always look for new forms and elements to add to what rock & roll is.
GH: We will and that’s kind of the wave right now. That’s why we have been inducting great Hip-Hop artists right alongside great Heavy Metal artists. In the last induction, it was LL Cool J, and it was Carole King, it was the Foo Fighters, Jay-Z and Tina Turner that were all inducted! To us, it’s a broad tent and everybody’s welcome!
AM: What are your 3 favorite rock genres that you love listening to?
GH: I look for stuff that’s a little harsher, a little stronger. I love old Blues, I love 60’s Soul like Memphis and I love Punk Rock! I like for it to have a little punch and a little attitude.
AM: I can see that!
GH: Yeah, that’s what I prefer.
AM: What is your day-to-day like in your role and what are the key projects that you’re focused on?
GH: My day-to-day role is 1 – to make sure that we have the greatest museum in the world, that every single visitor that comes through our doors leaves being transformed and impacted and that we have a great team that makes that happen. It’s about keeping our staff inspired and changing. We don’t believe in maintenance mode, we always want to be growing and reaching. To that end, we're working on an amazing expansion project at the museum. We’ll be breaking ground later on this year. We will be increasing the museum by about 50,000 sqft. It’s a great project and we’re very excited to be doing it. For that project, one of my biggest responsibilities is to work with a team and to raise the funds to be able to do that. We talked about how there have been 13 million visitors that have been through the museum for the past 27 years. We need to build something for the next 13 million visitors!
AM: What can guests expect when they do come to visit and then for those that aren't available to come in person, is there an online version where people can connect that way?
GH: Yeah, so I’ll back up a little bit to your question of what do we do. So, we have this great museum and then in addition to this great museum, we have this great digital outreach. So anybody in the world can connect with us and they can experience the Hall of Fame, but also if there are teachers out there, we have ready teaching materials that they can use for free. Pre COVID, we averaged 50 teachers a day using it, during COVID it was about 500 to 1,000 a day and we have reached over 1 million students last year with our online education programs. We would love it if teachers would use it and help spread the word! We’re not teaching kids how to play instruments or to write songs, we’re teaching them math, science, social justice all through the lens of rock & roll.
AM: That’s really cool! It’s a large job!
GH: Oh yeah. We have a really great team and we’re cranking through!
When someone walks onsite at the museum, the experience starts when you’re in the building. You’re going to hear music blasting from speakers, it might be a live band on stage outdoors or it might just be coming out of our PA speakers. In the museum, you can see the whole history of rock & roll – from Blues, gospel and country through the Beatles, Stones, Supremes, James Brown, Motown and all of that. On our 2nd floor, you can play on instruments and jam with your friends. If bands visit us and they want to jam with visitors – they can do that. On our 3rd floor, you can walk through our Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and see the greats of music where they are immortalized forever in our Hall of Fame and experience our immersive theater that has an amazing show that was edited with the great Jonathan Demme and it’s really the greatest moments from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions. So really, that’s some of the things you do and throughout it all, you’re reminded of times in your life that you listened to certain music, the greatest road trip, your Freshman year in college, who you hung out with and we bring all of those memories back and that’s the real power of our place.
AM: Going back to the expansion, what will that involve?
GH: We are keeping the whole I.M. Pei pyramid as is and that’s 128,000 sqft and we’re going to add another 50,000 sqft. You know the Pei Pyramid, the only other pyramid that he has done was at the Louvre which is truly the center of Europe’s great art as it’s the home of Mona Lisa. His only other pyramid is here in America at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and we’re the home of America’s great art rock and roll.
AM: That expansion is going to be huge as that’s 175,000 sqft!
GH: Pretty close give or take!
AM: That’s a lot of space.
GH: Well it’s a big subject!
AM: What are 3 of your favorite exhibits that are at the museum?
GH: I love the Garage Exhibit where visitors can come in and jam with each other it’s amazing.
We finished an exhibit that I liked a lot that I think is particularly interesting to your readers. That was an exhibit that we did about the greatest Halftime Show Performances in Super Bowl history. We had it at the museum when we hosted the NFL Draft in Cleveland. Then we worked with the NFL and we took it out to the Super Bowl in LA this year and we’re working with them again to take out to Phoenix for the next Super Bowl.
It shows performances and great moments by Prince when he did Purple Rain in the rain, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé – it’s just these iconic moments in American cultural history that happened at the Super Bowl Halftime performance it’s just a really great exhibit.
We have an exhibit which really is the legends of rock and each band has a focus area. That focus area could be David Bowie, Elton John, Michael Jackson – they all have an area that highlights their career. And that’s an exciting area to walk through and to be reminded of these individuals and their wider impact on our culture.
AM: What’s the process for acquiring items for the museum?
GH: We work directly with the inductees and pretty much everything we have at the museum has been donated by an inductee, a family member or the artist directly. We make sure to partner with them. They donate to us and occasionally it’s a loaned item if they still need it! We’ve had artifacts that are on exhibit that an artist needs back because they're touring so a guitar goes out to them and a label says, “currently on tour.”
AM: For those that are in town, how many live shows do you have a year?
GH: We have live music probably about 100 shows a year at the museum. This summer, every Thurs and Fri, we’ll have live music and some of the bands that are still coming this summer – Guided By Voices, Adrian Belew is playing and people can go to RockHall.com to check out what we have going on. There’s all different genres and one of the things that’s important to us is that we just don’t put up a party band that plays cover songs. We want original artists playing original music and we want to mix it up between the different genres whether it’s bands that are heavy metal, classic rock sounding or if they’re Hip-Hop. We love having all of them at the museum and they will be playing outdoors on our plaza.
AM: Like many, I am a fan of music. My great uncle was Joe Henderson a tenor saxophonist, I love various genres of music and here at Athleisure Mag as well as outside projects I have styled a number of known artists or have interviewed them. I know that our readers would love to know more about what goes into the induction of artists for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. What are the eligibility requirements?
GH: Artists have had to have made a record 25 years ago to make them eligible for consideration. And then, it’s really impact and influence. You look at did they take the art form in a new direction, did they push the envelope and that’s what they’re recognized for more than chart placement and sales. The process is, there is a ballot made for all those that were nominated. It then goes out to our voters and the largest voting body is all the other inductees. This year, Jay-Z is going to get a ballot, Bono gets a ballot, Smokey Robinson gets a ballot, Madonna gets a ballot, Bruce Springsteen and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers – they all get ballots. So they vote and the top 5 vote getters are elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
AM: I like that the public is also allowed to join in the fun – why was this an element that has been added to the process?
GH: So the fan vote is interesting. During the year, we let fans in the museum voice who should be nominated. It’s always fun to hear that and to understand that. Then when the voting is underway with all of the inductees, we also do a public fan vote and part of it is engagement so that they can engage with us online and let us know who their favorites are. Then we take all the fan votes online and we aggregate them and they count as a composite ballot into the bigger vote. So what it is important for is to see who people are interested in and to understand what they are thinking about. Because the induction into the Hall of Fame is not a popularity contest, those that are in the industry and have made their living off of rock & roll, their votes are really what counts the most because they can judge the merits of their peers. If that wasn’t the case, whoever has the most social media followers would be elected and that doesn’t necessarily mean they they are the most impactful, it just means that they have great music and great followers. We need that impact.
AM: When the nominees are announced, I am sure there are a number of logistics to figure out from who will accept an award for the artist/group if they have passed away and who will perform if there are other artists that will do a tribute versus those that opt to play themselves. Can you tell us more about that?
GH: The show producers are amazing! It’s our Foundation President, Joel Peresman and our Foundation Chairman, John Sykes and they do an amazing job working to create a show that is dynamic and exciting and also appropriate for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They have done a super job working with the show, the production design team and sometimes at its greatest when it’s an artist from yesterday that is being honored by an artists of today and when they perform together – when you have Stevie Wonder inducting Bill Withers and then they sing together and then John Legend comes out and performs with them – it’s amazing! When LL Cool J was inducted, LL was joined by Eminem and by JLo. Just an incredible combination. It’s a desire to allow some artists to pay tribute to those that have influenced them and it’s a chance for other artists to combine that they have meant a lot to. So it’s kind of a neat looking back and looking forward and making something that is even better for that moment in time at that event.
AM: As we’re based in NY, it’s always fun when the ceremony is in our backyard, but for the upcoming 2022 induction ceremony, it will be in LA this fall. Why is it being held there and what is behind the decision of the city that you opt to do it in?
GH: Well there are rock & roll fans everywhere and let’s face it, NY is a big center for music and LA is the home of much of the industry. So those 2 cities make a ton of sense and we also do it in Cleveland which is the home of the museum and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We’re working on a sequence where it goes on between those cities and we’re really excited and honored that Cleveland is in that cadence and we’re looking at how that pans out in future years. We’re really excited and thrilled to be going to LA as it hasn’t been there since 2013!
AM: Looking at this year’s inductees, I was excited about all the names but especially pleased to see that Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Eminem, Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton are in this year’s group – what are you looking forward to this year?
GH: You know, they’re all terrific and they’re all deserving! I’m looking forward to just being surprised. Every year there are super highlights and it’s amazing as this honor isn't about haing 1 hit record or having a great soundtrack song or something like that. This is a lifetime award that is emblematic of excellence and forever they will be celebrated and enshrined at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This is a really powerful moment for those artists and I can’t wait to hear their speeches and then to see them light up the room with their performances.
AM: I know we talked about the educational elements that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is involved in throughout the year. Are there other community programs that takes place throughout the year?
GH: We have a program called Toddler Rock where kids from First Start Programs come to the museum twice a week and we teach them for 15 weeks on rhyming, alliteration, and social skills with trained music therapists. It’s amazing. We have another program where anyone who lives in the city of Cleveland can come in for free admission all year long, everyday – whenever – just come on in! It’s a great community outreach for us and we love partnering with our conventions and business bureaus and other entities around town. When the city is bidding on and trying to attract the NBA All Star Game or the MLB All Star Game, we are in the mix. We are part of the hosting committee and we pledge to be a great partner and frequently they theme the event rock & roll because it is Cleveland. We love doing that and we think that if our reach can do well, then everyone can do well and we want to make that happen.
AM: In terms of the remainder of this year and looking forward to next year, what are you looking to do in terms of outreach and education on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
GH: One, we need to execute on an amazing summer season which is what we are doing. We want to keep going with all of our educational initiatives. We have a traveling exhibitions program where certain exhibits once they are in Cleveland will go out to cities around the country. We're actively working on this building expansion project which is a significant endeavor for the museum and we’re very excited. We have been ramping up our digital presence and we have been adding a lot of Spanish language to what we are doing in our digital outreach. There is a massive group of people that love rock & roll that don’t speak English and we’re very excited to reach out to those audiences as well who do speak English.
IG @rockhall
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see OUR MUSIC OUR CULTURE | Greg Harris + Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in mag.
