Category: Art

1980's, A Conversation With, Art, Beyond What We Know, Books, comedy, Entertainment, Fashion, Horror, Interview, Life, Morning Call, Movies and TV, Music, News, The Seventh Echo, Theater, Top Headlines, Women Who Rock

One Hundred Conversations Later: Celebrating My 100th Morning Call Interview

When I sat down to interview Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls recently, I knew I was talking with one of the defining voices of the MTV generation. What I didn’t realize until afterward was that our conversation marked a personal writing milestone: my 100th interview for The Morning Call.

It’s a number I’m incredibly proud of—not because of the total itself, but because of everything those one hundred conversations represent.

As someone who grew up obsessed with music, I never imagined I’d someday have the opportunity to speak directly with the artists whose songs helped shape different chapters of my life. What began as an occasional assignment gradually became one of the most rewarding parts of my career as a journalist.

Over the years, those interviews have taken me across nearly every musical landscape imaginable. I’ve spoken with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Grammy Award winners, legendary singer-songwriters, virtuoso musicians, comedians, rising stars, and artists performing in intimate clubs as well as sold-out arenas. Every conversation has offered a different perspective—not just on music, but on creativity, perseverance, and the lives lived behind the spotlight.

One of the greatest surprises has been discovering how remarkably generous musicians are with their time and stories. Behind every platinum record or iconic hit song is a person who still remembers the uncertainty of getting started, the excitement of writing that breakthrough song, or the challenges of staying creative decades into a career.

Those are the stories I’ve always tried to tell.

Rather than simply asking about tour dates or new albums, I’ve enjoyed exploring the experiences that shaped the artists themselves. Sometimes that means discussing songwriting. Other times it leads to conversations about family, loss, inspiration, mental health, aging, or the changing music industry. Those unscripted moments often become the most memorable parts of an interview.

Reaching interview #100 with Mike Score feels especially fitting. A Flock of Seagulls helped define an era of music that still resonates with fans today, and speaking with Score reminded me why these conversations continue to matter. Music connects generations. Long after the charts have changed, the songs remain part of people’s lives.

Looking back, I’m grateful to The Morning Call for trusting me with these stories and allowing me the opportunity to meet so many fascinating people along the way. I’m equally thankful to the publicists, managers, record labels, venues, and artists who made each interview possible.

Most importantly, I’m grateful to the readers.

Whether you’ve read one interview or all one hundred, your enthusiasm for live music and the artists behind it has made this journey worthwhile. Every time someone tells me they discovered a new performer because of one of my stories, or attended a concert after reading an interview, I’m reminded why I continue doing this.

One hundred interviews may sound like a finish line, but it doesn’t feel that way.

It feels like another milestone in an ongoing conversation.
There are still countless artists with stories waiting to be told, albums waiting to be discussed, and concerts waiting to be experienced. If these first one hundred interviews have taught me anything, it’s that every musician has a unique journey worth sharing.

Here’s to interview #101 —and whatever comes after that.


Thanks for reading, and thanks for coming along for the ride.

Art, Books, Dreams, Entertainment, Life, The Seventh Echo

The Seventh Echo – Release Date & Pre-Order

BREAKING NEWS!!: My new 360-page novel, “The Seventh Echo” officially arrives on August 18th, 2026. Pre-orders of the paperback are available NOW!

Click here to pre-order

“Some secrets are buried for a reason”

Dan Mercer has spent thirty years rebuilding broken places. As Director of Acquisitions and Development for a major logistics firm, he’s transformed abandoned factories, empty lots, and forgotten industrial sites into thriving developments. With retirement finally within reach, the redevelopment of the long-abandoned Iron Forge property should be one last routine project before he walks away for good.

Instead, it becomes a nightmare.

When Dan returns to the town he left behind decades ago, he finds himself drawn into a mystery surrounding the abandoned industrial site that once defined the community. Strange events begin to follow him. Official explanations stop making sense. And a seven-year-old boy starts appearing wherever the project takes him.

Watching. Waiting. Issuing warnings no one else can hear. The child bears an impossible resemblance to Dan himself.

At first, Dan dismisses the boy as a stress-induced hallucination brought on by work pressures, pending retirement, and the lingering scars of a painful divorce. But when the child begins revealing details no stranger could possibly know, Dan is forced to confront questions about the past he has spent a lifetime avoiding.

As construction plans move forward and long-buried truths begin to surface, Dan finds himself caught between powerful interests determined to keep the past hidden and a growing sense that something beneath Iron Forge refuses to stay buried. With time running out, he must uncover the truth before it disappears forever.

Part environmental thriller, part supernatural mystery, and part exploration of memory, guilt, and redemption, The Seventh Echo is a haunting suspense novel about the secrets we bury-and the echoes they leave behind.

Check out the official book trailer:

Book Signing Event!

Philadelphia area: I’ll be at the Doylestown Bookshop in Doylestown, PA on Saturday August 29th from 1-3 p.m. as part of a Local Author Expo. I’ll have copies of both “The Seventh Echo” and “Beyond What We Know” available. Each book comes with a custom bookmark and stickers. Plus, you’ll also have an opportunity to sign a huge poster of “The Seventh Echo.”

More information on events coming soon as well as the release of the E-book version of “The Seventh Echo.”

A Conversation With, Art, Entertainment, Interview, Women Who Rock

Rewriting the Script: Sarah Vandella on Life, Legacy and Her Next Chapter

Sarah Vandella isn’t disappearing — she’s rewriting the script.

After years as one of adult entertainment’s most recognizable performers, she’s stepping back from the persona that defined her and into something far more personal. While slowly transitioning the “Vandella” moniker in favor of “Moon,” the stunning beauty is turning her focus toward online platforms, wellness, and a more intentional way of living.

The shift comes after a career that thrived both on-camera and within the world of legal sex work. But this isn’t a story about walking away. It’s about taking control.

On her own terms, Sarah is carving out a life that prioritizes autonomy, sustainability, and growth, while still finding ways to channel the same creative energy that once fueled her work in front of the camera in the adult industry. But she’s not saying goodbye, she’s simply moving in a new direction.

I spoke with Sarah about stepping back from on-camera work and in-person sex work, what she’s building now, and why this next chapter might be her most defining yet.

You’re scaled back a lot in your career- what was the catalyst?

I always said from the beginning that I’d keep doing it until it stopped being fun. It’s not that it suddenly wasn’t fun anymore — it was more that the world just stopped feeling as safe. There wasn’t one specific moment or event that triggered it. It was something that built up over time, just watching things shift and change. I’d spent so much time building my brand, but the legal side of sex work, and the back-and-forth to Reno, started to wear on me.

Was there a particular moment that stood out in coming to the decision?

I think I really knew something was off when I noticed my routine changing. On my way to the ranch, I used to stop overnight just to ground myself before going into that environment. Eventually, I started feeling depressed and my body was telling me not to go anymore. I sat with that feeling for a few months and that’s when I knew it was time. The decision was met with a lot of support and love, and I’m incredibly grateful for my time there. It’s a part of my story, and I’ll always be thankful for the Mustang Ranch. I still have friends there and I care about them deeply.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourself — and about the industry — over the course of your career?

A few things, honestly. First, no matter what’s legal or how much security is in place, you’re never completely safe. Despite the trajectory of adult work, there’s always some level of risk when it comes to safety. That was a hard truth to accept, especially given how the industry has evolved. I also came to understand just how deeply the structure of porn is rooted in patriarchy. It was never really built for female performers to truly thrive or have longevity. There’s this unspoken “expiration date” for female performers — people say it’s around thirty-six — which is frighteningly sad. In some ways, I found myself circling back to that idea more than I expected.

At the same time, I did learn that I was able to carve out moments that were genuinely mine — times where I was having fun on my own terms. Those are the things I hold onto. Little pieces of that were real, and mine.

What were some of your biggest highlights in the adult industry?

The contract years, the traveling and the signings was a really fun chapter. I got to experience a lot, especially before Covid. I had a strong run where I was working consistently, doing photo shoots, shooting movies, and just staying busy in a way that felt exciting. There were a lot of genuinely good moments in that stretch. I also loved doing the conventions and signing with Reality Kings, which really set the tone for where my career could go. Those experiences stick with me. There were a lot of grateful moments.

What would you say was the most challenging?

For me, it was a lot more about my internal struggles than anything else. The hardest stretch was the period right before I got sober. There was a time when I was basically unshootable — my agent couldn’t book me, and I wasn’t showing up in the way I needed to. That forced me to really look at myself and do the work. I had to dig deep and completely reinvent who I was, both personally and professionally. Changing how I lived off camera ended up changing everything. It brought me back to a more grounded, authentic version of myself, and that shift allowed me to come back stronger.

Is there a bit of advice you can give for those wanting to start a career in adult entertainment?

The industry is such a broad term now — it doesn’t even necessarily mean you have to work with studios anymore to create content. But if you do want to shoot with studios then do your research on agents, find someone you genuinely connect with, and make sure you feel comfortable with them. Don’t sign anything right away. Sit with it, ask questions, and have someone you trust go through the legal jargon with you. Protecting yourself is everything.

Most importantly, don’t say yes to anything you’re not fully comfortable with doing. You might grow into certain things over time, but that should happen on your own terms. If you agree to something and it ends up going in a direction that feels wrong or even traumatic, that can set you back in a real way. It’s not worth putting yourself through that.

What new projects are you currently working on?

I’m always working and doing my online work managing my OnlyFans and other platforms. I’m also certified in sound healing and taking coaching classes. For now, I’m formatting my foundation for where I want to go next in the healing arts and wellness industry. I want these next few years to be different in terms of energy. I’ve always been working on myself, even while I was doing sex work and porn. I believe in the kindness and hope of humans. We can hold space for the joy and the resistance. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Whatever we do, we have to just keep living the best that we can.

Follow Sarah on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sarahlivesfreely/

1980's, Art, Dungeons and Dragons, Entertainment, Life, Music

Teacher Teacher

I heard the news about the recent passing of a high school friend at the age of 54 and it made me want to write about school. Or maybe it was because me, being the same age as my friend was when he died, made me consider the fragility of life and just how little time there is. Carpe diem and all.

I don’t know about you, but when I was young all I wanted was the school years to fly by as quickly as possible. And it wasn’t because I already had a plan in mind for the future. I just wanted them gone. As far as I was concerned, every day of school was just another day closer to the weekend and doing whatever I wanted to do, whatever that happened to be – going to the mall, playing Atari or Dungeons & Dragons, throwing a NeRF football around, trying to film a home movie with a Super 8 camera or shopping for comic books.

I think I speak for all of my classmates when I say that most of us never really gave much thought about, or even understood, the real impact school and teachers would have on our lives. So bear with me while I become a child again.

“Sherman, bring out the way back machine and set it to the years 1984-1987.”

I’m in high school again. You know, those crazy, teenage-fueled years of schooling we all went through. Days of trying to find out where we fit in, wondering about college and if that cute girl (or boy, if you’re so inclined) would notice, all while feeling completely inept and socially awkward. There I am, walking down the halls of Easton High School in a nifty pair of Jordache jeans while carrying my English and Science books covered in brown paper grocery bags with the names of hair metal bands scribbled all over them. Listening to Spandau Ballet blaring over the loud speakers of the school’s intercom system. Ok, it’s “True,” I made up the part about Spandau Ballet.

In all of my years at the high school, I don’t remember much about what was learned or about most of my teachers – although my friend Michele has an uncanny ability to recall exactly where I was sitting in history class in proportion to her location. Her memory is sharp, and if that’s the case we’ll have to have a long talk at the next reunion. I have a lot of questions that need answering.

Anyway, although I can’t recall much about most of them, I do remember a trio of teachers during my high school tenure that really impacted my life: Mr. Siddons, Mr. Fox and Mr. Milisits. I won’t even bother to give you their first names because to me, respectively, that’s who they’ll forever be known as. And just like my friend, all three have passed away.

Mr. Siddons was my tenth grade history teacher. His father was one of the last of the old-school door to door salesmen who had sold insurance to my grandparents. He was also my brother’s history teacher two years earlier and my sister’s two years after me. So there’s sort of a familial relationship there too.

Mr. Siddons was probably the most benign person you’d ever meet. He had a soft tone and rarely yelled. But the one trait he had that I’ll never forget was the ability to tell the lamest jokes. You know the ones I mean, something like: “Does anyone know what the father bull said to his son when he went off to college?….. Bison.” And he’d always follow up the joke with a Mr. Siddons chuckle. You could tell he must have been up all night thinking about that joke. About how he’d deliver it and how all the kids would go crazy…. alas that did not happen.

At first his shtick didn’t go over too well with me either. But by the end of that first month of class in 1984, I actually started looking forward to the little gems he’d throw out. Even though most all were met with crickets (and he must have felt like the size of an ant in a room full of elephants) he never let it get to him. He’d always chuckle, wipe his mouth and seque with, “Ok, let’s take a look at the Gulf of Tonkin”….

Strangely enough, every day after having learned about Tonkin, the Volstead Act or some war to end all wars, I remember giggling to myself reciting a joke over and over in my head as I walked out of the room. Surely, a joke I would never utter to anyone else for fear of ridicule.

During my junior and senior years I rarely got down to the part of the school where Mr. Siddons resided. But on the occasion that I did see him in the hall or in the cafeteria he would always say “Hi” and call me by name. He always remembered me, and I’d never forget him.

Let’s transfer over to Mr. Fox in the Art department. A short, grey bearded man with a limp. Mr. Fox had suffered from polio as a child and as a result, walked a bit strangely. Sadly, I’m sure he was the butt of many jokes from cruel students but I think by this point in his life he was immune to it all.

Art class was a means of escape for me. I had always loved to draw and became an aficionado for Bob Ross. I could watch that dude for hours paint a happy little tree. And while we never painted those trees in Mr. Fox’s class it was still a way for me to forget about all the problems happening in my life, at least for one period.

We all knew Mr. Fox must have been an artist himself, and one day I found out one of the things he loved to do. I walked into class to see these miniature models and dioramas of a circus he had constructed himself. Everything from the big top and center ring to the food stands he painstakingly created with his own two hands right down to the finest detail. You could see the pride in his eyes and I thought to myself, “Holy shit, this guy is GOOD!”

But the one day that really stands out for me was when we were all sitting around drawing human figures. We’d have students go up and just stand and model while the rest of us attempted to draw what we saw. I could always draw the body – even the cool detail on their Converse sneakers with rainbow shoe laces, but I could never draw the face. I had spent a long time trying and it just wasn’t happening. Mr. Fox must have seen the frustration on my own face because at one point he came over and sat across from me.

He looked at my piece and, unlike me, seemed quite impressed with it. Then he asked me why I was so frustrated about it. I told him it was because as hard as I tried I could never get the face to be anywhere close to being right. I told him I didn’t want it to be perfect, I just wanted it to look like…. well, a face. So he took a scrap of paper lying nearby and started doodling on it…all the while glancing up at me and saying things like “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Jim. You know, if you really want something and are willing to put in the effort and try at it hard enough, you can make it happen.”

For those thirty seconds or so I was more doubtful than ever. Then Mr. Fox slipped the paper he was working on over to me, stood up, patted me on the back and said, “Keep up the good work, Jim.”

As he walked away I picked up the paper he had been scribbling on and looked at it. The old guy with the limp had just drawn a picture perfect image of my face. One where even the subject (in this case, yours truly) would say, “That looks just like me!”

Finally, we move on to the music department, my personal favorite. I could write a novel on my exploits here, including the day I officially became a rock star twenty years ago. Suffice to say, I credit most of my music “success” to the things I learned during the days of high school music theory and choir.

Mr. Milisits (or “M” as he was known) would conduct our high school choir. One that won many awards over the years. I’m sure for many, choir was just like art class – a way to get out of taking another boring subject. But the one thing that anyone who was in his class would tell you, even all of these years later, is that in spite of how much you may not have wanted to be there, M would have a way of making you want to sing.

I remember he would always tell us inspirational things to keep pushing us. Quotes like “You can do this,” “A new mistake shows progress,” and “Talk to me” resonated with everyone. Some of the quotes he even had plastered on the walls so everyone could read them. M just had “something” that made you want to work hard.

During my senior year, it was his teachings that made me want to play guitar in jazz band and the school play. For him to get a scrawny metal head who wanted nothing to do with ANY after school activity and would rather spend most of his free time jamming to Bon Jovi and Def Leppard to want to perform “Leader of the Pack” in the school play and “Jesus Christ, Superstar” in the Spring Concert is really saying something. That M’s got some strong kung-fu.

When it came time to perform, be it at school or when we embarked on a school trip to Canada during my senior year, it was really like “rock star” night for the choir. And well, I even got to play that black heavy metal guitar during our spring concert. One that hangs on the wall in my office right to this very day.

I could bore you for hours on how M’s classes changed me but let me just end by saying those classes are some of the best memories I have from high school.

It’s hard to believe but in just a few weeks it will be the 40th anniversary of when I started high school and first walked those hallowed halls. Days when I thought I’d never get out of there, and here I am now, four decades in the future, looking back and thinking about my classmates.

Time may not slow down but I’m grateful for the good memories and friendships that remain.

A Conversation With, Art, Fashion, Interview, Morning Call

Groovy, baby: 1960s ‘Fashion Experiment’ takes spotlight in new Allentown Art Museum exhibit

The Allentown Art Museum is the place to be when its groovy new exhibition, “Fashion as Experiment: The ’60s,” opens on Saturday, May 6.

The exhibit, which runs through Sunday, Sept. 24, explores clothing as a tool for change and focuses on the mid-1960s styles that offered young people of the era a laboratory for imagination and play as well as a growing sense of activism.

The new exhibition will be structured in two parts and will feature more than 100 garments and accessories from the museum’s vast collection, some of which by iconic designers such as Geoffrey Beene, Emilio Pucci, Bonnie Cashin, and André Courrèges.

A special preview night event will take place on Friday, May 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., that will include light refreshments as well as a disc jockey spinning the music of the 1960s. If you can’t make it on Friday, there will be a special member-only preview hour on Saturday, May 6, from 10 until 11 a.m. The day’s attendees will be able to take a tour of the exhibition with museum curator Claire McRee or can stop by the museum’s new kid-friendly Fashion Maker Station.

Visitors are encouraged to wear their own vintage-look clothing or bring along old garments and transform them into iconic ’60s tie-dyed fashion statements.

I recently spoke with Museum curator Claire McRee about the upcoming exhibition and more in this exclusive new interview.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the new exhibition, “Fashion as Experiment: The ‘60s”?

Claire McRee: We have a strong 1960s area in our fashion collection with a lot of depth and interesting garments. That was really the inspiration. Then as we thought about the issues and conversations that were happening during the 60s we realized a lot of the ideas about things like gender, race and the environment still resonate today. It felt like a great moment to take a closer look at this important era in history.

Read the rest of my Morning Call Interview with Claire McRee by Clicking Here!

1980's, Art, Dreams, Entertainment, Life, Music

Top Five Things of 2022

It’s sometimes hard to believe that we’re at the end of another year, let alone that we’re in the third decade of the 21st century. I still remember when I got my very first laminated school identification card back in September of 1981. On the back of it was a sticker that listed the year of what would be my high school graduation – 1987.

I remember staring at that card for a long time thinking about 1987 and, even though it was only six years, how far away it seemed to be. For some perspective – this past year, 2022, I attended my 35th high school reunion.

A lot has happened over the course of these last twelve months. I’d like to spend these next few minutes giving you a list of my top five events of 2022.

#5 – The Loss of Favorite Teachers. Hey, I never said this list was going to only contain good things. Not only did 2022 mark the 25th anniversary of the death of my father, it was also the year I said goodbye to two of my favorite teachers. First was my favorite teacher in all of my schooling; my high school music theory and choir teacher, Edward Milisits, who died on January 8th. I could easily write an entire book on how Mr. M and his classes affected my life. His influence was so popular that after his retirement from 30+ years of teaching, generations of former students (now adults) signed up to sing in his choir.

Then there’s my third grade teacher, Mrs. Tanzella, who passed away in November. Although I don’t have much recollection of her after I left the halls of Porter Elementary, I’ll never forget the day my brother and I rode on a float the Cub Scouts had made during our town’s annual Halloween parade. I had told Mrs. Tanzella how nervous and scared I was about riding and waving to people. As the route began and we made our way through town, I heard a woman’s voice calling my name. I looked and saw that it was Mrs. Tanzella, briskly walking behind the float; waving to me with a huge smile on her face. Seeing her put me at ease.

These days I can’t remember what I had for dinner last night, but 45 years later, I can still remember her doing that for me.

#4 – This one actually dates back to one year ago today, December 31st, 2021. The day I adopted Merlot, or Merle as he is known in my home. He had been part of a hoarding situation and I gave him a second chance at life. It took him nearly five days into 2022 to come out from under the bed. Today, he is my buddy.

#3 – Painting Holiday Watercolor Cards. As most of you know, I regularly watercolor. Most of them are 9×12 in size. For Christmas this year I was asked to paint a few 5×7 postcards to use as Christmas cards. I started out thinking I would only do a half dozen or so. Instead, I wound up doing 60 of them. I’m happy to say that, like Merle, all of the cards now have happy homes. Take a peek at them below:

https://videopress.com/v/3k0PgtWm?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
#2 – Interviewing Barry Manilow. This one is surreal and sad because when I was growing up, my mother would play Barry Manilow records non-stop. There was hardly a day when I would come home from school and not hear “Mandy,” “Weekend in New England,” or “Copacabana” playing on the stereo. My mom loved Barry Manilow. And even though we’d always tell her that we believed he was gay (turns out, he was) she claimed he wasn’t and would have left my dad to be with him. In September of this year, I actually got to interview him. I placed a photograph of my mom next to me and looked at it as I spoke to Barry. I even told him the story about how much his music meant to my mom. I was sad that she wasn’t there to experience that moment with me. She would have lost her mind.

#1 Graduating from College – It was a journey that actually began after graduating high school. It was August of 1987 when I entered college thinking I’d become a music teacher. The road would lead me to Penn State, Northampton Community College and West Chester University. All fizzled out and in 1990, I reluctantly entered the work force. When Covid struck in 2020 and we couldn’t go anywhere, I decided to gather all of my transcripts and see what, if anything, I could get. I was told that if I passed five courses I would receive an Associates Degree in General Studies. The quest began, and over the next year and a half I took Environmental Science, English II, Geology, Developmental Psychology and Nature of Mathematics, In May of 2022 I passed my last final and became an honors college graduate almost 35 years to the day after graduating high school. Framing the degree and putting it on my wall was the biggest accomplishment of all for me.

So, another year is about to pass. Along the way there have been a few ups & downs. Some days to remember, and some days to forget. But there’s a New Year ahead and new dreams to collect. So, I wish you one that’s full of health, contentment and most of all….love. Here’s to 2023.

Happy New Year.

A Conversation With, Art, Interview, Watercolor

Interview: Artist Maria Zinca Discusses Her Watercolor Journey

Since beginning her artistic journey in watercolor, self-taught artist Maria Zinca has created an abstract world that’s both visually dreamy and soothingly surreal. The artist’s strength comes from her innate ability to draw the viewer’s attention to a pre-determined focal point location through the use of color, lines, objects and reflection. 

Zinca’s dynamic use of angles and ubiquitous vision of rainy day and night scenes of her bustling Bucharest city tastefully captures the feel, essence, and energy of the streets.

Zinca continues to challenge herself with every painting she does and believes the type of materials you use is crucial in allowing you to ignore the timing and struggles with the watercolor medium itself, and focus more on putting the vision into the finished painting. 

See more of Maria Zinca’s art on her Instagram.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Zinca about her art and career in this exclusive new interview.

How did your artistic journey begin?

Maria Zinca: I don’t know exactly when but I’ve liked to draw ever since I was a little child. I’m a self-taught artist who was born with a need to paint. At some point, when I was between twenty and thirty years old, I started decorating my house and was looking for pictures or paintings to fill up my walls. I wasn’t painting much during that time and started looking for ideas on places like Pinterest. I saw a few watercolors and thought, I can do this myself.

I started painting but was using cheap paper and everything was a mess. That’s when I started seeing what other people were doing with watercolor and knew I had to learn more. I started getting better quality paper, brushes, and pigments with the ambition of painting more and more.

How did you overcome challenges and struggles in those early paintings?

Zinca: I still struggle at times with not being able to do exactly what I want. When I started out, I would struggle with pigments, because I used cheap paints. When the painting dried, the colors were not very saturated, so I’d put another layer and then another layer. The paper was bad and didn’t help me. That’s when you get a feeling that you’re not good and think, I won’t do this again, but then tomorrow you’ll be back to paint another one. It’s a carousel of being on and off. 

How would you describe your style?

Zinca: I like abstract paintings and am always trying to get away from reality as much as I can. To build a painting that doesn’t look like a photo. You can always take a photo, print it and then put it on your wall. With painting, you can go into a different reality you can’t mimic in other mediums. I want the viewer to be able to see the car, the building, or the man walking the street, but I don’t want to paint the entire car window or the detail on the man’s face. I want the feel and energy of the street. That’s what I try to put in my paintings.

What’s your creative process like? Where do you draw your inspiration?

Zinca: I like to take walks and when I’m in the street, I feel all this light, people and life around me. I try to express that in my paintings. I’m always looking for the mood, feeling and story from the street. I like to take a lot of pictures of my city and sometimes I’ll watch YouTube videos of someone walking down a city street with a camera for two hours on a rainy day. I’ll watch and then screen shot an image of everything I like. Most of the work is made even before I even start painting. I spend a lot of time preparing by thinking about composition, focus points, colors, and mood. I use a tablet with the Procreate app and draw what I visualize. When I have the sketch on my tablet as close as I visualize, I start painting. But I don’t copy an exact sketch of the image. Sometimes a painting asks for itself what needs to be done.

What do you think is the most challenging part about painting in watercolor?

Zinca: With watercolor, you have to express everything in that hour and second from when you pick up the brush. Sometimes I’ll be tired when I come into the shop and that can be seen in the painting. Watercolor sees your state of mind and energy when you’re painting. I love that challenge.

What are the keys to creating a great watercolor painting?

Zinca: There are a lot: The focus point, the message and concept of the painting. You have to tell a story and not just paint a pretty painting. Make the painting interesting using different methods like dry brushing and wet on wet. Having one part of the painting where it’s evenly blended and another part that’s very harsh. Build interest with color, composition, and different techniques to make the viewer go to the focus point. When I’m sketching, I think about all of that. Guiding the viewer to the focal point with color, composition, and technique.

What’s the best bit of advice you can give to an aspiring watercolorist?

Zinca: The most important thing is to paint every day and not give up. Just like exercise, if you paint every day, you’ll get better. Get used to the medium and brushes. Know your pigments and paper and get rid of the unknown element. It’s like when you’re in a car and you just focus on the drive. Know your materials so well that you don’t have to struggle and can focus only on painting. You also have to study. Even if you didn’t go to art school, look at books on composition and learn from others.

Are there any projects you’re currently working on?

Zinca: I do have other activities I do. I have a tattoo workshop and a gallery. I’m working on exhibitions and trying to help other artists here in Romania. I’ve also started focusing on making large portraits in watercolor. It’s very challenging. This is the next thing I’m going to do. 

Art, Books, Entertainment, Life, Movies and TV, Music, Neapolitan Sky

1000

My customary ritual every January 1st is to start each year by sharing the very first blog article I ever wrote. Regular followers of this blog know the one I’m talking about. That wonderful day when I almost burned the house down making pierogies.

This year I decided to change that because of something I noticed the other day after posting my most recent interview. So, instead of posting something on the first of the year, I’m going to post something on the last day of the worst year ever.

Here’s the big announcement:

The post you are reading right now is my 1,000th article on WordPress! That’s right – one thousand. What makes this monumental achievement even more special is that tomorrow, January 1st, 2021, also marks the 10th anniversary of the following resolution I made to myself:

Who would’ve guessed that over the course of these last ten years I would have achieved such a mind-boggling statistic, and that number doesn’t even include the interviews I’ve done for sites like Yahoo! Examiner and Technorati.

In addition to the articles and interviews I’ve posted over the past decade, I’ve also co-authored three children’s books with a dear friend, traveled as far away as Los Angeles for interviews, wrote my very first novel and contributed four interviews to Guitar World magazine and several features for a major newspaper.

Among these one thousand articles are some pinch yourself moments, like the time I interviewed REO Speedwagon in the dressing room at The Greek Theatre in L.A. and was given a side-stage personal tour of Dave Amato’s guitar rig while Don Felder [formerly of The Eagles] stood thirty feet away performing “Hotel California” to a screaming, sold-out audience. Or the time filmmakers invited me to the Hollywood premiere of their horror film, and I actually got the chance to walk the red carpet with a legend of the genre.

I’ve interviewed Colonel Oliver North in his hotel room while he was nursing a bum foot. I chatted with Ozzy Osbourne on the phone and actually understood every word he said. I even talked to Ace Frehley of KISS and thanked him for being the one who inspired me to pick up the guitar. The truth of the matter is I will interview anyone – from artists about their new projects to porn stars about their unfortunate #MeToo experience – because everyone has a story that needs to be told.

But perhaps the greatest thing that’s happened to me during these last ten years of writing has been getting to meet so many amazingly talented people: independent artists, actors, musicians, filmmakers, photographers. All who’ve inspired me with their own creative works. People who’ve gone from being just another interview to lifelong friends.

Like many of you, 2020 was the absolute worst year of my life, but I’m optimistic about the future. Some of the things I’ve done recently include taking up watercolor painting as a form of mental therapy. I even sold one of them to a friend who generously donated the money to the local animal shelter [just like I did with my children’s books]. I’ve also begun the process of going back to college to finally finish my degree. Next year will be the release of my brand-new novel. One that’s been in the works for a very long time. There is something very cool, and music related with it that I hope I’ll be able to pull off. Will require some approval by the artist but fingers crossed.

I hope that by reading this blog, or any of the other 999 that have come before it, has inspired you to make a similar resolution to the one I made on January 1st, 2011, and that is to make a promise to yourself for 2021. A resolution to do something you’ve always dreamed about doing. Just take the first sentence of my resolution and change the word “writing” to something you’re passionate about. Then go out and make it happen.

Here’s wishing you peace, love, music, art, writing….and all the best for the New Year.

Art, Books, Entertainment, Life, Music, Neapolitan Sky

Go Jimmy Go: 2018 Year in Review

As a musician and writer, 2018 has been the best of year of my life. Not only did I complete more than 124 interviews for this blog, GuitarWorld.com and AXS.com over the course of these last twelve months, but 2018 also marked a trifecta of amazing milestones for me.

I began this whole writing journey with a single, simple Facebook resolution I made to myself on New Year’s Day in 2011. If you’ve been a regular follower of this blog over the last seven years, you’ll know that its the same one I post every January 1st to remind me of how it all began and just how far I’ve come:

Keeping that promise to myself over these last seven years has been an amazing ride, but 2018 saw three of the biggest, pinch yourself moments ever. Things I only ever dreamed about doing. So, as this year comes to close, I’d like to revisit them one more time.

2018 started out with a trip to Los Angeles in February for a once in a lifetime experience at Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp. Not only did I get to jam with two guys from my all-time favorite band, REO Speedwagon, but I also had the rare opportunity to perform on stage with Night Ranger at The Whisky A Go Go! Joining me that night were Craig Goldy (Dio) and three guys, Bobby, Rik and Tom, who I’d never met before but who quickly became friends and bandmates I’ll never forget.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: all the while I was in L.A preparing for Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, I was also busily putting the finishing touches on something I think every writer dreams about doing, and in May of this year that dream finally came to fruition with the release of my first novella, “Neapolitan Sky.”

The story about Nica Mitchell’s journey actually began in the Summer of 2017 and took nearly six months to complete. It was a labor of love, pain and constant rewrites and second guesses. When I finally put the pen (or in this case, the lid of the laptop) down, I had the good fortune of having more than a dozen of my friends help me by being test/proof readers and editors. Their input and experience was invaluable in getting the story ready for publication. Following the release of “Neapolitan Sky,” I also had two amazingly successful book signings in Bethlehem and New Hope, PA.

Equally as surreal as the physical book was the release of an Audible version, which was read by one of my favorite artists and actresses, Ashley Watkins. Where I had brought the words of Nica Mitchell and her friends to the page, Ashley literally brought them to life!

But perhaps the biggest, and most exciting, event of the year came just a few weeks ago with the release of my first two interviews in the pages of Guitar World magazine. As a guitarist, I’ve been absorbing this magazine like religion every month since 1985. It’s a bible for any aspiring guitarist. Having already been blessed (religion – bible – blessed, get it?) to write for the website for nearly six years, getting the opportunity to contribute content to the physical magazine was another dream come true. When you open the magazine and see your name printed on the page right next to some of your guitar heroes its not only poweful, it’s humbling. Moreover, it’s proof that hard work, networking and kindness pays off.

Next year will mark another major milestone as I’ll be turning fifty years old. But as I look to that day with both fear and wonder I’m reminded that each and every day is part of the journey. Collectively, I look back on these last seven years and can’t believe some of the things I’ve accomplished. I’ve met so many amazingly talented people along the way. Not just actors, musicians, artists and filmmakers. In many cases, these are people who’ve become dear friends to me. Friends I’m proud to have in my life and ones who inspire me to do better.

Here it is in a nutshell: Since 2011, I’ve done nearly 2,000 interviews and articles, released three children’s books with one of my dearest friends, wrote my first novel, and have rounded out 2018 with two interviews published in the pages of Guitar World magazine. Even with all of that it still feels like I’m just getting started. There’s so much more to do, and I can’t wait to get started. As a preview, I already have an interview on deck with Def Leppard, who will be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. I’m also halfway through my new book, a prequel to “Neapolitan Sky” that’s set in the year 1986!

Please don’t read that last paragraph and think I’m tooting my own horn. I’m nobody special. What I’m trying to say by writing it down is that if I can do it — so can you. Dreams don’t just fall into your lap. You have to go out and make them happen. And sometimes, all that can start with just a simple resolution:

“I’ve resolved to do some writing. So here goes:”

I hope reading this blog will inspire you to do the same thing I did on January 1st, 2011, and that is to make a promise to yourself for 2019. A resolution to do something you’ve always dreamed about. Take the first sentence of my resolution and change the word “writing” to something you’re passionate about. Then go out and make it happen.

Here’s wishing you peace, love, music, art, writing….and all the best for the New Year.

Art, Entertainment, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

From Metal to Modern Art: Jason Newsted Talks Upcoming Exhibit, Metallica and More

After suffering a shoulder injury in 2006 and being unable to play, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted decided to put down his instrument and pick up a brush. It was during this time that he began to express himself through painting. Since then, he’s become an accomplished modern artist.

Newsted’s trademark style includes mixing soil—from wherever he happens to be painting—into his acrylics, creating a highly dramatic effect.

Although he’s kept a fairly low profile following Metallica’s 2009 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and his successful Newsted project, nearly a dozen of Newsted’s uniquely inspired works will be on exhibit as part of this year’s Art New York.

Art Miami, the leading producer of international contemporary and modern art fairs, will present the third edition of Art New York and the second edition of CONTEXT New York at Pier 94 May 3 through May 7. The two highly anticipated fairs will showcase more than 120 international contemporary and modern galleries from 50 countries.

I recently spoke with Newsted about his upcoming exhibit, Metallica and more.

How did you become involved in this year’s Art New York?

I had the chance to meet with the owner of Art Miami. He loves metal, and after we hung out he saw some of the pictures I had and invited me. So I’ve been traveling around to different parts of the country these last few weeks getting canvases together from the past seven to eight years. It’s my first time in an international exhibit, and I’m very excited about it.

Was art something you were always interested in as a child?

I grew up in a rural area and took some classes when I was younger. That was where I was first introduced to acrylics and mixing colors together. Then about three years later, I got hit by music and everything else went on the back burner for 30 solid years.

When did you get back into painting?

Once I got in Metallica and started working on other projects, I was always keeping myself super-busy doing a lot of things and moving around a lot of gear. I wound up injuring my shoulders and needing surgery. During my recovery, I was disabled from playing my instrument in any way I had been used to, and I had to learn to use both of my hands out of necessity. For me, music was a full-time thing, and when I wasn’t able to release that way, I started using my hands to get out all of the creative energy I had usually put into the music.

I was in Montana at our ranch with only one arm going and felt the need to go out in the barn and paint. I found these old drum heads and whatever paint was lying around—Rust-Oleum and John Deere green and yellow. I turned the drum head over and oozed the paint in. Then I soaked a snow brush in the color and splattered the paint onto whatever I was painting on.

I got to the point to where I wouldn’t even have to touch the canvas to make circles, faces and figures. That was the introduction. Then as my arms got better, I started touching the canvas more. That’s how the transference of the energy went from the fucking metal monster to putting it on canvas. The consensus from people who have the works is that the paintings look like the music sounds.

You can read the rest of my
Interview with Jason Newsted by Clicking Here!