Behind the Scenes: The Gaming Hallow

*@samanthabakerfilm shooting @soyfool @ufoslut @mastargracey in @tgh.apparel*

Wow, it has been a while since I’ve updated this thing.

We all know how the past (almost) 2 years has been, for everyone, and so I think that’s a pretty good reason why I haven’t taken the time to write or share here.

Life here in LA has slowly been picking back up; traffic is busier than ever, friends are starting to hang out in real life again, some stuff from BC (before covid) is shifting back to the way it was. Things are most certainly not perfect, but I am grateful to get back to what I love doing and working with people again.

Here’s some BTS photos from a recent shoot for UK based clothing line TGH aka The Gaming Hallow, with my sister and photographer @samanthabakerfilm, and models @ufoslut, @mastargracey, and @soyfool out in Hermosa Beach shooting for the latest release. You can check out their products here and support small business!

I hope you’ve all been doing well and I can’t wait to continue doing monthly and/or weekly updates on the blog again!

The Victorian Vampire: Featuring Destinee Nicholson

During the Halloween season, one of my makeup artist friends, Destinee, approached my sister, Samantha Baker, and myself about doing a victorian vampire shoot at our home studio - why would we say no to that?! She got herself into an old wedding gown she found from a thrift store, a wig, her makeup, and brought props as well to get into character. With our combined forces and shooting for a couple of hours, here’s the results.

Like what you see? Let me know what type of shoots you’d like to see in the comments!

Artist Feature: Kenny Holland

*disclaimer: if any photos from the following article are to be shared on any social media platforms, please take the time to tag me @maxbakerphoto and give proper credit. Thank you!

Who is Kenny Holland? If the name sounds familiar, you may have stumbled across his music during the time of Vine, or even on Youtube, where he’s posted covers with his sisters as well as original music; found his EPs on Spotify like Lifeline , and sometimes even playing in a city near you. From growing an audience at the age of 19 to touring all across the country, Kenny is a talented artist that has a fire for music that won’t burn out.

I first worked with Kenny a few years back during one of his headlining tours, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. During one of his recent trips to Los Angeles, we got together to catch up on life and capture some photos in the arts district of DTLA. Find out more about Kenny by reading below!

M: Tell me where you're originally from, and how others would describe you.

Kenny: I was born in Michigan but raised in Arizona. I don't know how others would describe me, but I'd hope they'd say I'm a passionate, purpose-driven person.

M: When did you realize music was your calling? What or who inspired you the most to pursue the entertainment industry?

K: I realized music was my calling when I was 14 years old. Justin Bieber and I are about the same age, and we have similar singing styles. His success helped me realize that I could be a musician too. John Mayer is my biggest inspiration, though.

M: Gotta love John Mayer. You picked up your following back on Vine, correct? How was that like? Do you think things would be completely different if your following didn't pick up on the app?

K: I did pick up my following from Vine, but I was working as a professional musician for years prior. It really just gave me the exposure to do what I love and for that reason, I'm grateful for it. It was a rollercoaster of a time. I think things would be monumentally different in many ways if it weren't for Vine. Sometimes the stars just align.

M: Since Vine, what have you been up to? You've released a couple of EPs, what has been the inspiration behind your music? What keeps you driven?

K: Before during and after Vine, I have been focusing on my career as a musician. But I have learned a lot about the many other priorities I have in life through my experiences. The inspiration behind my music is always life experience. I try to include as many concepts about life, love, and chasing dreams as possible. The fans keep me driven. The goal I've always set out to accomplish is to make a positive impact on the world by doing what I love and inspiring others.

M: You've been on tour a handful of times - what's the most memorable moment for you going on tour? What's your favorite part of touring? What's the hardest part?

K: This is a tough question to answer. I think the most memorable touring moment I have is opening for Secondhand Serenade - who I saw live at my first concert ever as a young kid. It was a surreal full-circle moment for me. The best part about touring is performing and being able to connect with the audience. It's what I live for. The hardest part is definitely the fact that it's a major grind. You're always on the go and always working. But I love to be in that space.

M: What would be some other creative outlets you would be interested in besides music? If you weren't making music, what would you be doing today?

K: My other passions besides music are basketball and snowboarding. They always help me re-balance and clear my head. I don't know what I'd be doing today if it weren't for music.

M: What’s some advice that you might have for creatives and artists alike to stay inspired and keep pursuing the dream?

K: We have the power to accomplish anything in this life. It's a grand experience and I believe that everyone is here for a reason. Find that personal legend, whatever it may be, and don't stop until you get there.

For more photos from our shoot, scroll down below for a gallery.

Thank you to Kenny for taking the time to talk about the things going on in his life and career, and I hope you enjoyed checking this out!

Who would you like to see me interview next? Comment below on some artists you’d like to get to know a little better. Until next time!

Artist Feature: Kirpa Sudick

Who is Kirpa Sudick? Most may recognize her from her time on The Bachelor franchise during Colton Underwood’s recent season. However, Kirpa is more than the girl that made it to the popular reality TV show - she has transformed her path in life from being a dental hygienist to traveling model extraordinaire. She’s been featured on several podcasts like Rose Buds and On The Brighter Side, as well as sites like Access and US Weekly. But after knowing Kirpa for almost two years, I wanted to talk to her about her life experiences and adventures in the recent months, and everything in between for people to know her for who she is. Read on below to see what she wanted to share with me!

“The thing that has helped me the most is staying positive, staying true to myself, and knowing without a doubt that if I want something I can make it happen one way or another. ”

Me: Tell us where you're originally from, and how others would describe you.

Kirpa: I was born and raised in Whittier, California! It was a great place to grow up, but I'm excited to move out and venture away from the small town feel. If you asked my friends to describe me they would say I am thoughtful, kind, nurturing, funny, and quirky.

M: Absolutely! So a lot of people know you're a dental hygienist, but when stumbling across your social media presence, you do quite a bit of modeling. What made you get into it and how do you compare yourself when you first started to now?

K: I am a dental hygienist and love being able to help people with their oral health. However, I do need a creative outlet and modeling allows me to do so. About two years ago I had a friend ask if they could photograph me and ever since then I've had an interest in modeling. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started, but have slowly been learning more and more about what angles work for my body and how to pose.

M: Love it. So I have to ask - how would you describe life before and after being on The Bachelor? How is it living in the public eye recently?

K: My life hasn't changed that drastically since being on the show. I’m still cleaning teeth and modeling and trying to navigate the dating world. The main difference is that I sometimes get recognized when I go out and people will ask for pictures. I am more aware of what I post on social media because I know there are young girls who are following me and I want to make sure I can be a good role model to them.

M: That’s amazing to hear! You know, fans would love to see you on Bachelor in Paradise - any chance of that happening in this current season? Maybe next year? (you don't have to answer this but is there anyone from the Bachelor franchise you might be interested in?)

K: You never know! I could pop up and surprise everyone at the end of this season or if I'm still single next year maybe they'll have me on! There are tons of great guys in the Bachelor franchise and I would definitely like to see if I have a connection with any of them.

M: Let’s get to what you’re into currently. You travel a lot, what is some travel advice you could give to those who are interested in getting into it? In regards to preparing for travel, packing, finding flights, etc. anything like that or something you wish you could have known before you got into it more. Have there been any crazy stories along the journey in some of the cities and countries you've been to?

K: Traveling is one of my favorite things to do and I recently started a travel blog/vlog that is linked on my website that has some travel tips for some of the places I have gone this summer! I will keep updating it as I continue to take trips around the US and the world. I always make sure I use Hopper to track flights so I know when to book and get the best deal. I also recommend doing a rough outline of your trip before you go so you aren't jumping in blind. Also, talk to locals! Make friends and find out where the locals love to eat and go out. One crazy story, that many already know, was when I was traveling for The Bachelor in Thailand. We had just arrived and were walking along the beach and I wanted to get a picture with the sunset. Unfortunately, I have a hard time walking on rocks and slipped and cut my chin open and had to get stitches in a very sketchy Thai "hospital".

M: What's been your favorite place you've been, and what's your dream location you have yet to go to?

K: Some of my favorite countries that I have visited are Croatia, Thailand, and Bali. I am still dying to go to Greece, Spain, and Africa! Hopefully I can check those off my list soon.

M: What would be some other creative outlets you would be interested in besides modeling? What is the main goal of your modeling journey would you say?

K: I recently started diving into vlogging and blogging so I can document my travels and share tips with others. I also want to incorporate charity work into my vacations so I can bring awareness to charities that people can give back to while they are visiting different countries.

M: That’s incredible. What’s some advice that you might have for creatives and artists alike to stay inspired and keep pursuing the dream?

K: I know it can be tough sometimes to keep chugging along and pursue your dreams. The thing that has helped me the most is staying positive, staying true to myself, and knowing without a doubt that if I want something I can make it happen one way or another. You might not know how it's going to come to fruition, but if you keep at it, I promise you can achieve your dreams!

Thank you Kirpa for taking the time to talk with me about life and what she’s been up to! Check out her website here and click the video below for her recent travel vlog (be sure to subscribe to stay up to date on all her travels!) You can also follow her instagram and twitter.

Who would you like to see me interview and shoot with next? Leave a comment below and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on all things photo and music related! Until next time!

TGS Collective Presents : The Funky Loft - A Photo Meetup

While CEO of The Gypsy Shack, also known as the TGS Collective, Alex Morehouse, was out of the country, she asked me to host one of their monthly meetups - and how could I say no? It was my first time hosting something as big as this, but I was very grateful to experience it and meet so many new faces! If you don’t know, meetups are a regular thing within the creative community online. It’s a way for people to build their portfolio, meet and network with creatives of all types, and create content for social media. I had been to several like this before, yet never had to host one. It was a learning experience for sure, and I would love to do something like this again! If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out TGS here for more info if this is something you would be interested in checking out in the future! Hopefully I’ll see you at the next one? See below for some of my fave shots from the weekend!

Make sure to click here for a behind the scenes look from the TGS Funky Loft! What would you like to see next? Comment below for blog ideas, who you’d like to see featured, and any other ideas!

Artist Feature: Violet Days for Grumpy Magazine

On a chilly morning in Hollywood Hills, Swedish Pop artist Violet Days and I had the chance to meet and shoot together for the amazing Paris publication Grumpy Magazine. Editor-in-chief Jasmine Perrier talked with them and learned a bit more about their debut EP ‘‘Made In My Head’’ and working on the next phase of their music project. You can find the full article here, but for now, enjoy the gallery below! Thank you to the amazing team, who you can follow below and support their work.

Who would you guys like to see me work with next? Leave a comment below and let me know what your new years plans are going to be!

STYLING: TARA BUENAVENTURA

GLAM: HALI MCGOWAN

LIGHTING: JOEY MIRELES

WORDS: JASMINE PERRIER

BTS: ASHLY NICOLE & JESSE GILBERT

Artist Feature: Spencer Sutherland

Back in 2013, there was a guy from Ohio that wanted to stand out and create something of himself, which led him to move out to sunny Los Angeles and pursue that passion for music. His name is Spencer Sutherland, an artist that I can positively say you do not want to miss out on. His talent has proved otherwise, opening for artists like MKTO, Ariana Grande, Big Time Rush, as well as being a contestant on The X Factor UK in 2017. His powerful vocals and style has huge potential and all I’m saying is I’m waiting patiently for the day for his music to blow up around the world because he’s that good. Stage presence: phenomenal. Personality: adorable. All around human being: priceless. Currently on tour opening for popular boy band In Real Life, I had the chance to take a moment backstage before his set at his stop in Anaheim, CA, and find out a little bit more about Sutherland’s career and how the tour life has been like on his first national tour.

“Don’t be embarrassed by what you’re going through and who you are, everybody embraces that.”

Me: Can you tell us where you’re from and how you would describe your sound to someone who may have not heard your music before?

Spencer: Ooh, good question. I’m from Columbus, Ohio originally, and if I had to describe my sound, I’d probably say something like left of center, pop, for all people.

M: Ah yes for all the people.

S: For all the people.

M: Very important.

S: Absolutely (Laughs)

M: How has the process been like over the years finding your sound? Do you think it’s an ever changing process, like experimenting with what you like vs what’s trending in the industry?

S: Yes, that’s an amazing question. It’s definitely an ever changing process. Every year of my life, I feel like I experience new things, and just learn more. The whole 10,000 hour thing is definitely a real thing; writing 10,000 hours of songs makes you so much more of a better writer. But it’s interesting too about the trends and stuff, because you do want to stay, you know, with what is happening kind of, but put your own spin on it. It’s definitely ever changing for sure.

M: You’ve released a few singles this year, when can fans expect a full length album or an EP?

S: At the top of the year (2019). Another single coming later this year. And at the top of the year, I’ll be putting out a whole body of work. I’m very excited, because it’s all stuff that I’ve written in the last seven or eight months too, so none of it is old stuff. It’s all kind of where I’m at right now as a songwriter. I’m very excited, just real life stuff.

M: Speaking of “In real life” -

S: Wow, I did not even mean to do that, that was awesome (laughs)

M: So you’re currently on tour with the band In Real Life -

S: What a segway, dude -

M: (laughs) I know, it was just so natural!

S: Yes, so we’re on tour -

M: Yes, so how has the tour been, and how has the crowd reaction been like in the different cities that you’ve been to so far?

S: The tour has been incredible, this is my first national tour ever, so it’s been really cool to, you know, you start playing the first few shows, and by the time it’s the ninth or tenth show, they’re starting to sing your lyrics. It’s super cool to see that, like as an artist that’s the number one thing you want to see. That’s been really cool, and then just playing show night after night, because you know, in the past I would play two shows, and then I would play two more, but here it’s playing show after show after show after show, and it’s super special.

M: And is every show different?

S: Yes! That’s the thing, sometimes a crowd is more energetic than the next one, it doesn’t make them any better, it’s just like the setting, or the sound, or how big the venue is or whatever, and you have to be able to adapt to that. Because if you keep the same state of mind the whole time you might be disappointed by some shows, but if you take them for what they are, it’s really awesome.

M: That’s amazing. Now, I have one more question and I ask everyone this that I get to interview because I like to get different perspectives. What’s some advice that you might have for creatives and musicians to stay inspired and keep pursuing the dream?

S: Wow, I would say that my advice is…number one, to be super true, real, and transparent because everybody can tell when you’re faking it. And everybody knows when it’s not a real thing. So that’s number one, just be true - don’t be embarrassed by what you’re going through and who you are, everybody embraces that. It’s 2018, you don’t really have to worry about anything anymore. Number two, just for me, it was putting in the time every single day, but also knowing when to chill, and have that time, because it really is important. Or else you’re just going to burn yourself out, seven days a week in the studio, doing stuff that doesn’t turn out great. Lots of work, and just being real, I would say.

A huge thank you to Spencer & his team for having myself and Samantha Baker out for his show, and make sure to follow Spencer here and here to stay up to date on the new music and everything that’s in store. In the meantime, make sure to check out his latest music video for his single Fine below:

Be sure to check out the photos from his set at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA below:

Written and photographed for Spencer Sutherland, in association with The Gypsy Shack Collective (www.tgscollective.com)

Copasetic: A Photo Gallery

Andrelina runs an online blog and podcast, entitled Simply Complicated. Be sure to check it out on her website here: https://www.andrelinaperazzo.com/ — *Andrelina runs an online blog and podcast, entitled* ***Simply Complicated****. Be sure to check it out on her website here: https://www.andrelinaperazzo.com/*

Sometimes you find yourself at a networking event, meet some cool people, and all of a sudden you're doing a spontaneous shoot with a model you just met at said event. I met the talented and super bubbly Andrelina Perazzo while at an event in the LA Art District for the collective and agency I'm with called TGS Collective; my sister had worked with her before but conversation was nothing but full of positive vibes and inspiration. We noticed a gorgeous VW van in the valet parking lot next door, and couldn't help but to create some magic with what we had. To our luck, one of the valets was the owner of the bus and said it was totally fine to shoot with it! We were inspired by the vibrant and matching colors of the bus with Andrelina's outfit, and pulled together an edgy and moody vibe. Sometimes the most random shoots end up turning into something special! Check out what we captured below and be sure to follow Andrelina on her socials!

Follow Andrelina

What would you like to see next? What's the most spontaneous thing you've ever done? Leave a comment below and let me know! Would love to hear some cool stories you might have! Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Instagram to stay up to date on all things photo!

Artist Feature: Fly By Midnight

When I first came across a band called Fly By Midnight one day on Spotify, I couldn't believe how good these guys were. There was something special about them; I knew the second I heard a few of their singles such as Vibe and XL. A few months later, the guys announced a show they were playing in Hollywood in just a few weeks time. After exchanging some emails and some ideas, I had the opportunity to meet and grab coffee with the NYC based duo while they were visiting Southern California; not only are they talented, they just so happen to be charming and genuine people, with a great sense of humor. You can watch the full interview below (10/10 would recommend) or read on to see more photos from the shoot we put together in West Hollywood, find out what Fly By Midnight is about.

Max Baker chats with the gents of funk pop duo Fly By Midnight, Justin + Slavo. How did these two start making music together? Are there plans for a tour? What's in the future for these two? Check this out and be sure to leave a comment below and give this a thumbs up! Filmed and edited by @samanthabakerfilm

“We constantly want to kind of turn the creative knob a bit left of center, and if it doesn’t work, you go back; but if it works, that’s what will set you aside from the rest. ”

Me: If you guys want to introduce yourselves, where you guys are from, and what you do exactly in the band.

Justin: My name is Justin Bryte, I play keyboard and sing in the duo, and I'm from Staten Island, New York, born and raised.

Slavo: My name is Slavo, I am from Florida, and I play guitar and I sing.

M: For those who might not be familiar with the band, how did Fly By Midnight get started and where did the name come from?

J: Yeah, two very different things, because the name was definitely not an organic process, but I guess coming together was more natural. Slavo moved to Florida from Staten Island, about, how many years ago, what was it?

S: Yeah, 5 years ago. I moved to New York from Florida. After being there for a couple years, I met Justin at a studio on Staten Island, and he was doing a solo project. I was producing, and we started working together, wrote the first song we released as Fly By Midnight called Brooklyn, and that was one of the first songs we ever wrote together; that was kind of the birth of Fly By Midnight. The name itself was- it was funny, we spent like a whole week trying to figure that out.

J: We drove around looking at signs and stuff...

S: Exactly, yeah, just looking for inspiration.

J: It was funny, we wrote the song first, and we knew we wanted to be a duo, and then we were like -

M: You're like "now what?"

J: Yeah! We wrote the song and were like "who are we?". But it all came together, and now here we are.

S: We like to say that because our sound is fly and retro, we came up with the idea of "Fly", and then "By Midnight" came from the idea that we're up past midnight pretty much every night.

M: I feel that. So you just released your latest single, All the Feels, what was the inspiration behind the song and how has the feedback been from the fans and the general public so far? I know it literally just came out.

S: Yeah, it's been what? A day?

M: A whole day!

J: Yeah a whole day! (laughs) I mean, for being a whole day, it's been really really positive. I think what we were really striving for the track was to just be universally relatable; it's such a feel good, positive song, and we just really wanted to inject those positive vibes into everyone. Because everyone has their feels; you know, whether it's a romance, or, like we said, a cup of coffee in the morning -

S: Ice cream, puppies...

J: Yeah, ice cream -

M: Pizza -

J: For me, it's coffee over romance any day of the week. But yeah, the story, the real story, is that we were sitting in the studio right, and we were searching on Spotify just listening to the music because we're music fans as well, and I came across a playlist on Spotify called "All the Feels", and I looked over at Slavo and I was like, "yeah this is a cool title for a song", and we looked it up and no one had wrote a song yet called All the Feels, and we were like "quick! write it! release it!". It's been really cool, I think the video came together - it was the first video also we filmed a little bit of awhile ago - we've kind of had it in our pocket for awhile, so it was cool to kind of hold onto it and be excited for it to come out.

M: And how has the feedback been as far as the song goes? Have the fans been reacting really well?

S: It's funny, everyone that's a fan of Fly By Midnight, they show us so much love, and we appreciate it, and we've been getting great feedback; people are going crazy about the song. The one thing I will say is we have a guy named Matt Reed, who's over at Mix 107.1 at Boston radio station, and he's been showing us love since, I think Malibu, or before that, he's a great radio host over there and he's been supporting us. One thing he said that I thought was really cool was that he premiered the song on the radio over there, and talked about how he was playing the song, you know, driving down the coast, and it was gonna be the next summer smash; just having that kind of energy and support behind the song is really important to us, and keeps us going.

J: And I think for us too, because he has heard all of our songs, he's premiered a lot of our songs, I think the fact that he - we speak on a friendly basis kind of now - and he's like "yo, this is like the one", and we were like "ah alright, this is the one".

M: It's like "Yeah, let's hope so"! (laughs)

J: We'll find out!

M: That's awesome!

J: Thanks!

M: With the new music you guys have released this year so far, is there any plans for a tour in the US, or maybe even globally? Maybe? Hopefully?

S: I mean yeah, we've been trying to go do a tour, like since we started we wanted to do a sorority tour, we thought that would be a lot of fun, it's more of our demographic and ya know, colleges are always a lot of fun. We played a lot of college shows in the beginning too, so yeah as far as touring the states, we've been trying to get on a booking with another artist that we kind of work well with. If we could do it on our own, we would do it in a heartbeat. It's more of just the whole funding process and just making sure everything's set up, so it's more timing for us, making sure it;s done the right way, and we want to take advantage of trying to meet everyone that we can while on the road. And you know, as far as international, we've been trying to go to a lot of these - we have a lot of fans in Europe, Australia, we even have a cool little fan base in Asia, Asia is a really cool fan base; it's all timing. We just want to make sure when we do it, it's done right.

M: Totally, makes sense. What has been the difference between New York and the East Coast, versus the West Coast? As far as the fan scene, the music scene -

S: The weather!

M: Just everything, the weather (laughs)

J: Yeah, it's exciting, and slightly nerve-wracking at the same time, because New York is kind of the birth town of Fly By Midnight, so whenever we do play a show there - we usually play a big one every year that's usually like a summer party, like one we just played - it's always packed out. We know it's gonna sell out and bring in people. I think LA is really exciting because we communicate with fans through social media here, but obviously we don't live here. So we don't know what to expect. I think it'll be really cool, and I think it'll go over really well so I guess we'll find out.

M: That's awesome. So, this is the last question, and I always ask this with everybody I interview with: what's some advice that you might have for creatives and other musicians to stay inspired and to keep pursuing the dream?

S: That's a really good question. It's easy to get caught up in doing and being creative, and get overwhelmed by the constant hustle, and for us, we've been very fortunate that we see the increase every time we release a new song, and we've seen it with the content, and we've seen our numbers go up, so it's definitely rewarding. That's something that's tangible, and we can feed off that, but you know, every now and then we get worked up and it's tiring, so it's just kind of understanding what you're capable of doing as far as content and what you're putting out there and making sure you're resting for these things. I don't know, it sounds stupid, but -

J: No, I think it's a good point. I mean, especially if you do hustle, and I know you hustle, and for the Fly By fans, you know that we hustle, and I think we've learned, even especially lately, that we were pushing ourselves 1000 miles per hour, but sometimes you gotta kick it back to 999. Kind of just take a day to heal your mind and stuff. But I would just say, experimenting because, especially for Fly By Midnight, and even also on the photography and video side, it's easy to get caught up in what everyone's doing. So we constantly want to kind of turn the creative knob a bit left of center, and if it doesn't work, you go back; but if it works, that's what will set you aside from the rest.

S: Spice things up.

J: Yeah, spice it up, and don't be afraid to fail.

S: Fuck with the flava - quote me.

(everyone laughs)

VIEW FULL GALLERY

Be sure to follow Fly By Midnight on their social media:

Follow FBM

And while you're at it, check out their latest single, All the Feels, below!

Thanks to Justin & Slavo for such a fun afternoon and taking the time to shoot and hang! Might have an excuse to go to New York in the future, but maybe that's just me. Who would you like to see me interview and shoot with next? Leave a comment below and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on all things photo and music related! Until next time!

Written, filmed, and photographed for Fly By Midnight, in association with The Gypsy Shack Collective (www.tgscollective.com)

Artist Feature: Jamie Campbell Bower of COUNTERFEIT.

Max Baker-Jamie Campbell Bower-Interview-Photoshoot

*disclaimer: if any photos from the following article are to be shared on any social media platforms, please take the time to tag me @maxbakerphoto and give proper credit. Thank you!

On a quiet and cool summer day in Anaheim, California, UK's very own COUNTERFEIT. arrived to play the last show of their first US tour at the Chain Reaction. With excitement and anticipation running through the room, it was almost bittersweet as the hours flew by leading up to the band's final performance. It was something you had to experience for yourself. The energy and chaos that the UK artists brought to the stage had fans to their feet, leaving them in awe and, of course, rioting their hearts out to songs like "Washed Out" and "Close To Your Chest". The interaction between the guys of COUNTERFEIT. and their adoring crowd was an amazing time to witness; with most of the band coming into the audience, singing, crowd surfing, and mosh pitting to new and old songs. It was clear that this is what they were made to do; it's their livelihood and their passion. We need to support more artists like these guys; the ones who not only do it because it's their job, but because you know they love what they're doing and wouldn't trade it for the world. But before they got out on stage to give it their all to their dedicated fans, I got to take a moment and talk with lead singer Jamie Campbell Bower about the tour life, the fans, and everything in between, as the rest of the band (Sam Bower, Tristan Marmont, Roland Johnson, Jimmy Craig) prepared for what was to come. You can watch the full interview below, or read on to see more photos and live concert shots from the evening.

Max Baker sits down with Counterfeit's lead singer & guitarist, Jamie Campbell Bower before their final headlining show in Anaheim, CA. Filmed & edited by Samantha Baker.

“Never lose that childlike wonder.”

Me: Alright, so introduce yourself, and what do you do in Counterfeit?

Jamie: Hi, my name is Miley Cyrus and I play guitar in Counterfeit.

M: (laughs) Perfect. So, for those who might not know who Counterfeit is, what's the meaning behind the band name and how did it start?

J: The meaning behind the band name is always a difficult question to answer, I wish I had a better story than what I'm about to tell you. But, we used to play, myself, Tristan, and Roland, who play in the band, we used to play in another band together, and we played our last show and put it to bed; we started writing new music and we wanted to start completely afresh. We didn't have a name, we just had the sound right, and so I'm a bit of an emo kid and I was sending emails out being like 17 or so names, and like that. I was walking in Soho in London, and the name popped up into my head and it seemed to perfectly describe, or feel in my mouth, how the music sounded in my head. And I also think there's a small sense of irony behind the name as well, and it wasn't like a conscious thought. It was born, it was just natural, and I think that's what the most important thing is about this band is that everything we do is natural, and what we're about is community, and growth through community.

M: That's awesome. So it's your first headlining tour here in the US, correct?

J: It is indeed!

M: We were curious about it, but how does it compare to shows in the UK and Europe, to here? Like is the crowd any different, is the vibe different?

J: The language barrier's not as bad obviously (laughs) I mean as far as just logistical stuff, obviously the fucking drives are crazy. Like, a six hour drive for you guys is like popping to the shops, for us it's like traveling the length and breadth of our bloody country!

M: I know, it's ridiculous!

J: It is! It's absurd! That's just sort of the main difference, I guess. What we always seem to find through (when we go and play shows), is the people that are coming to see the shows are so fucking lovely, and that's worldwide. The people are there just to cut loose and have a good time, and to make friends, and so many people that I've met, on this run in particularly, who have just gone to a show by themselves, and they've left with three other mates. So that's the same university wherever we go. But there hasn't been much of a difference. The shows are just as crazy, just as wild, just as fun.

M: That's really cool. And it's been a little over a year since Together We Are Stronger came out-

J: That's right.

M: So what can fans expect for the future of Counterfeit, as far as new music goes, if you can even talk about that type of stuff.

J: I can, I can talk about it all you like, I can talk a little bit about that.

M: Perfect!

J: So yeah, like you said, we released our first album back in March of last year, and it's now come to, for us to tell the world that we are making another record. We launched a pledge campaign a month ago, announcing the new album, and on the pledge campaign we're giving people the opportunity to be more involved with the process, whereby you can actually come visit the studio, you can be in a music video, all that kind of stuff. But then also, on the pledge, we're going to be giving people content that you wouldn't necessarily see anywhere else. Behind the scenes of making the album, the writing process and what that was like. I spoke with someone after a show the other day and I said, "What is it that you want to see?", and she said to me "What I really want to see is songwriting and how songs are born and what they mean", and all that kind of stuff, so we'll be doing stuff like that up in there. But yes, a new album! We're going into the studio after this tour finishes, making a new record...

M: That's so exciting!

J: Which is very exciting, I know! The first album was very, like, naive, and I feel that we've grown so much.

M: I was going to ask, are you guys going in a different direction for the sound or are you going to stay true to that hardcore feel?

J: Well it's all timpanis now, that's how it is, it's all basically orchestral from now here on then, we're not going to be making any hardcore music anymore, it's strictly piano based material, from here on end.

M: Ah yes of course!

J: But yeah we'll be remaining true to Counterfeit, I think one of the things that I always wanted to do and one of the things that I love as a songwriter is scale and grandeur, and that's something that I want to bring to the next album, and I think it's something that we've tried to bring into the writing and in the next record it's just taking what is essentially Counterfeit and hardcore and thrashy and go go go, and developing that to a slightly more mature place I think. But there's not going to be any curve balls, that's not what we're about just yet.

M: Yeah, there are some artists that change their sound every album, so you never know.

J: You know, we could end up being that band, there's nothing to say that we're not going to be that band. But, at this point in time, you know, we are so early in the stages of our musical exploration that to veer off in such a strange direction would seem, I don't know, counterproductive, almost, to what it is that we're trying to do.

M: Totally. So, what might be some advice that you have for creatives, musicians, and artists in general to stay inspired and keep pursuing their passion and their dream? As far as creative stuff goes?

J: Never lose that childlike wonder. Never, ever lose that. It will go, and it will decrease, and you will notice it happening as you get older, but you have to try to not lose that, it's the hardest thing in the world. And as far as inspiration goes, I said to someone the other day actually, in a Q+A, they said they were asking me about the songwriting process, and I think I said something along the lines of "nothing was ever right the first time, it takes a lot of wrongs to have a good right in being creative." You know, if it's wrong, good, and if it's right, even better. So that's my main advice; don't be disheartened, even when you know it's shit. Because if you know it's shit, it means that you can do better.

A big thank you to COUNTERFEIT.'s team for having myself and my sister, @samanthabakerfilm, come out to the show; it was truly an unforgettable evening. Thank you to Jamie for taking the time to talk about life and the amazing piece of advice you had for fellow creatives out there that might be reading this.

You can follow COUNTERFEIT. on their social media links by following the link here! Be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of the interview, and who would you like me to interview and shoot with next? Like what you see here? Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date on all things music, photoshoots, interviews, and more! Let me know and follow me on twitter and instagram, and thank you for taking the time to check my site out. 'Til next time!

Written, filmed, and photographed for Counterfeit., in association with The Gypsy Shack Collective (www.tgscollective.com)

TGS Colorful - Photo Gallery

TGS Photo Gallery-Max Baker-TGS Collective.jpg

TGS, aka The Gypsy Shack, is a creative collective of diverse artists, who hosts workshops every month to create, grow, and teach with people of different backgrounds to work together and network. Last month in a loft somewhere in Downtown LA, CEO & Creator of TGS Alex Morehouse lead an all day event where artists could purchase tickets and learn from other creatives at the themed workshop entitled "Colorful", because of the technicolor walls and decor that could be found within the studio.

Models and photographers from around the area gathered here, some meeting for the first time, creating magical content, sharing and showing off what each person can bring to the table with their knowledge and experience. It was a day for the books, and all of us got to connect and build relationships with people we never thought we'd meet, all thanks to social media and the amazing community Morehouse has been able to create through TGS. Below is a gallery of images captured while I got to attend, with the different talent that participated in the day. If you're interested in getting involved with something like this or wanting to build connections and work on your craft, TGS hosts these type of events every month. You can simply go to tgscollective.com and find everything you need to know there! I highly recommend it! Enjoy the full gallery below of what I was able to capture at the workshop:

Models in frame: @rosedinardo, @_atfashion_, @heathafeatha69, @meli_topete, and @toria.webber as found on Instagram

Be sure to follow all the talent from this shoot, and keep up with me on all social media: @maxbakerphoto

I'll be posting more content like this soon! Please leave a comment below on what type of stuff you'd like to see me feature on the blog, whether it be full photo galleries, BTS on shoots, music reviews, etc. Thank you for taking the time to check my site out and if you found me through here, feel free to shoot me a message on instagram! Would love to hear from you!