Interviews (Celebrity Index)

David Bowie, Keanu Reeves, Britney Spears, PSY, Idris Elba, BTS, Matt Damon, Justin Timberlake, Venus Williams… Just a few of the notable folks I’ve interviewed. Click on the photo or the title to read my profiles. Enjoy!

Go Away With … VVS

Leading up to the release of their infectiously catchy single, “Tea,” VVS released a series of enigmatic videos under “The 5 C’s” umbrella. The cinematic shorts presented the members as kickass warriors armed with swords, guns and roundhouse kicks – all of which was choreographed by “John Wick” stunt director Koji Kawamoto.

Go Away With … Uwade

For musician Uwade, traveling around Norway with her two best friends was a bucket-list trip come true. “We got to see the Northern Lights, go snowmobiling and meet some very cute reindeer,” said the 25-year-old Palo Alto-based singer. “It was the middle of winter, so there was snow everywhere and basically no sunlight. It was wild and disorienting, but so beautiful.”

Go Away With … Peter Holsapple

“Last year, my family and I took the train from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Whitefish, Montana, to visit Glacier National Park,” said The dB’s Peter Holsapple. “It was long-winded, but fantastic. We engaged a guide to take us around on Christmas Eve [during the day] who knew the park intimately. So we got backstories on everything. I would highly recommend getting sleeping accommodations on the train, though, for those two-day trips.”

Go Away With … Five for Fighting

John Ondrasik – better known as Five for Fighting – has been touring for decades. But rather than being jaded by life on the road, he said he considers it a perk that has yet to grow old. “One of the beautiful things about being in a touring band is seeing all aspects of America,” said the California native. “My favorites are the small towns between the big cities.”

A Conversation with Gavin Rossdale About Korean Food

In the late 1990s and early aughts, I interviewed Gavin Rossdale of the British grunge rock band Bush many times. But it wasn’t until our chat this year that I learned something new. He loves Korean cuisine. Not as in, “Oh, I love Korean barbeque.” Rather, he enjoys Korean food so much that he cooks it at home for his family. And when he does hire a chef to help out for larger get-togethers, it’s always his preferred Korean chef.

Go Away With … Paul Rappaport

“When traveling with artists, I tended to fall into their lifestyle,” said “Gliders Over Hollywood” author Paul Rappaport. “If it was reggae legend Peter Tosh, that meant a healthy lifestyle of nuts, berries and mint tea with honey – plus a fair amount of ganja. When I went on tour with The New Barbarians, a band put together by Ronnie Wood to promote his solo album featuring Rolling Stones bandmates Keith Richards on guitar and Bobby Keys on sax, I barely ate or slept for an entire week!”

Go Away With … Madison Elise Rogers

“I love visiting Lisbon,” said “1923” actress Madison Elise Rogers. “The city has such a rich history and incredible food. I fell in love with pastéis de nata. I loved trying food from small local cafés. I visited Belém Tower, Praça do Comércio and wandered Alfama’s historic streets. I first visited Portugal when I was 17 years old and hope to return soon.”

Go Away With … ONE OR EIGHT

While hip-hop is a strong element of ONE OR EIGHT’s sound, the Japanese group also appreciates a good pop song. Their best collaborations are a fusion of both musical styles. Big Sean rapped on their song “Kawasaki,” while “Don’t Tell Nobody” – written and produced by Dave Stewart and One Republic’s Ryan Tedder – harkens back to the lush vocals of the ’90s boy bands.

All-Time Best K-dramas

Each of us has our own favorite K-dramas that are informed by our own personal experiences (and access). For instance, I was never able to get my hands on South Korea’s early dramas like “Death Row Prisoner,” which premiered in 1956. Therefore, my picks are influenced by what I’ve seen, which are primarily shows from 2000 onward.