Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
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.”
“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.”
“It’s not just about BTS’s music,” said Indian-British actor Taz Singh. “It’s deeper than that. They stand for values like self love, and they’re very real and vulnerable. I feel that is why so many people can relate and connect to them so well.”
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.”
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.
“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!”
I wrote about KiiiKiii for Rolling Stone magazine’s annual Future 25 edition, which focuses on new artists who are making a mark in music.
“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.”
“The Baxters” actor Josh Plasse is a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, co-screenwriter/actor/producer of the C. Thomas Howell film “Ride” and the author of his recently released fantasy novel “Dust” (Resolve Editions). Though the book is a work of fiction, Plasse said he utilized some of his travels as inspiration.
The BTS rapper J-Hope opens up about his new single “Sweet Dreams,” staying in touch with other members, and more in an exclusive Q&A. My exclusive interview for Rolling Stone magazine.
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!
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.
“My band and I each have our own dedicated tub of Ben & Jerry’s, which we enjoy with peanut butter at night after the shows,” said Canadian musician LØLØ. “It’s the perfect combination.”
How does the multinational K-pop group AMPERS&ONE communicate? “Konglish all the way!”
Gavin Rossdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the British grunge rock band Bush and an occasional actor (“The Trainer,” “Constantine”). He’s also the host of his own VIZIO WatchFree+ cooking show, “Dinner With Gavin Rossdale,” where he has conversations with guests like Serena Williams, Brooke Shields, Selma Blair, Common and Sir Tom Jones over meals that he prepares for them.
“My trip to Paris was extra special because it was my mom’s first time seeing me perform overseas, and it was right around my birthday, ” said “Alivio” musician Chung Ha. “I have so many good memories of wonderful trips. New York. Florida. The small towns in Italy were so beautiful, like a fairytale. And Jungfrau in Switzerland. The scenery there felt unreal.”
“Sometimes I’ll write a TV or feature project for a specific location, just to have an excuse to go stay there,” said “Nightbitch” actress Adrienne Rose White. “I co-wrote a feature script set in Salton Sea after I saw these gorgeous photos of this lake in a desolate desert. And now that you’ve asked, I think I’ll set my next feature in Fiji.”
An interview with the Korean German actor on why he joined the cast of “The Recruit”
Born and raised in Germany, educated in the United States and now based out of South Korea, BAFTA Awards-nominated actor Teo Yoo (“Past Lives,” “Decision to Leave”) doesn’t take any of his success for granted. He had already spent many years turning down parts that cast Asian characters in a disparaging light. In his latest role in the espionage series “The Recruit,” he plays Jang Kyu, a South Korean intelligence agent, who teams up with Noah Centineo.
The Korean-Australian singer-songwriter Hannah Bahng is winning fans with her confessional indie-rock songs. My latest exclusive for Rolling Stone.