From the parentals demanding 1,000 tasks from you to your friends wanting to be their counselor to your boyfriend missing you, it’s completely easy for you to get lost in everybody’s world! Relationships are apart of our daily routine. Yes, we all have those days where we want to crawl in bed to avoid everybody for weeks (private island, anyone?). But we have to face our lives making sure we’re managing healthy connections with people without being drained or lost in the mix of everybody’s lives! Ok, enough with the mini sermon + now to the quick tips that will change your life!
Space + Time for Yourself- I know your friends are like your sisters and your boyfriend is your future husband BUT sometimes you actually need a breather from everyone. A little space + quiet times allow you to unclutter others thoughts and really dig into how you feel and your outlook in life (without anybody’s opinions).
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Everybody Is Not For Everything- Ok, have you ever been frustrated telling a friend something that they simply didn’t understand or didn’t care about? Before you write them off completely just realize you have different friends for different spaces in your life. You may have a homegirl who’s lively + fun who’s great for parties and another friend is a great listener, you see where we’re going with this? Give your friends a little space to see what their strong points are!
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Pockets of Happiness- Pause! What makes you happy? No, like really happy when no one is watching or looking. Knowing what makes you happy will allow you to not feel drained when you deal with everybody in your life. Remember you can’t fill others glasses of happiness if yours is always empty!
Ask + You Shall Receive- It’s true. It can be scary to say ‘No’ to the people who you care about because it’s a fear they may get mad or leave your life. Ok, so quiet the drama queen in your mind for a sec. and just listen. People who really love you will understand and respect your options to have time for yourself or have some ‘me’ time when you ask for a little space.
Summertime brings warm weather, chill times + the cool, addictive sounds of Kyndall! Hailing from Houston, Texas the 19-year-old songstress is making a buzz on the R& B scene. Currently signed with Atlantic Records, Kyndall recently released her 6-track EP Still Down including her latest video for “Close To Me”.
Her hot EP presents a heap of gritty, bass heavy R&B. This ambitious beauty has worked with the talents of Boi 1da (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar), Chef Tone (Trey Songz, R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx), Maejor Ali (Justin Bieber, Drake, Kelly Rowland) & DJ Dahi (Drake, Lily Allen, Big Sean) in creating fresh music for her generation.
Her songs are a modern day throwback to the days of 90’s R&B where young female artists like Aaliyah, Brandy and Monica provided the soundtracks to a generation of teenage girls, but also deftly bridged the gap between youth and adulthood. With just six tracks Kyndall makes it clear: She’s an R&B package to watch!
Let’s get to know Kyndall a little better…
You’ve recently released your hot 6-track debut EP Still Down, what did you want listeners to feel + take away from your music?
Ultimately the goal was to introduce myself musically in an EP that held up over time. I wanted ’Still Down’ to feel fresh, vibe-y and still have classic storytelling at the same time.
Emotionally speaking, all 6 records follow my heart and head through my first serious relationship; If I have my way, people will connect to me bearing my soul & and feel less alone in this crazy game of love.
Your single “Close To Me” is an addictively smooth + chill track, what inspires your music?
The EP was created in Houston and we shot the music video in Galveston Island, just outside of Houston which is ‘addictively smooth & chill”. I think Houston really inspired the vibe found on ‘Still Down’ as much as my love life.
Style is a way to describe yourself with out speaking, how does your fashion + music style connect?
My style falls in line with the tone of my EP… I’m usually shaded up in dark, urban, monochromatic silhouettes and of course the Houston trademark, my grill. You can take me out of Htown, but you’ll never take Htown out of me. #bornandraised
You’ve already accomplished so much at the young age of 19! If you had to choose, what would be the biggest highlight in your blossoming career so far?
Thanks! I don’t quite feel that way. I’m just getting started & “Still Down” is my first, “Hello, my name is Kyndall” to the world. The biggest highlight so far has been the release of 2 of my music videos (“Playing Games + “Close To Me”). We worked so hard on shooting 3 music videos in 3 days, through freezing rain. It was incredible to shoot in my own hometown and having family and friends visit set. I’m really looking forward to producing my live show. I expect that to be a major highlight ahead.
Being young and having responsibilities can sometimes get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated?
Two things: I think, “WWYD”: What Would Yonce Do? I genuinely do. I mean, she doesn’t really strike me as one to wallows in despair.
And I also think: “No weapon (formed against me shall prosper) ”…It’s like a Biblical reminder that I’m good, no matter how things shake out.
Your future is shining extremely bright! What projects can we expect from you in the near future?
Other than developing my live show, I’m currently working on a new body of music to release as soon as it’s complete, no more long lead ups. It’s time to go!
We are all about female empowerment, What does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?
Empowerment to me is taking control. I feel empowered when I’m not a follower. In this business everyone has an opinion about you and what you should be doing. I was called stubborn & difficult when I shelved an earlier EP, but I didn’t connect with it and I couldn’t sing a lie. I took control and released a project that’s all me, and I’m extremely proud of that.
Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie? Celeb Crush?
Nah.
Artist?
I’m alternating between HTown’s own, Travis Scott + Tory Lanez from the 6. Throw some Jhene Aiko in there & now we have a party!
Food: Been trying to find a happy medium between being a health nut & binging on cajun food. I’m working on it. There’s GOT to be a happy medium!
Movie: I come from Musical Theatre, so I’m really into movie-musicals. My faves “Pink Floyd The Wall”, “Sweeney Todd” & “Across the Universe”.
On-site Undercover! Take a peek into C.O.R.E’s on-site program at Dr. Elma Flagg Elementary School during one of our empowering sessions with our awesome girls—>
Group Budget – Ok, so it’s no secret that being a student doesn’t automatically make you rich. So instead of trying to impress your friends with what you can buy just be honest that you want to be mindful on your spending habits. Creating a budget of what the group wants to spend takes the pressure off of everyone!
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Free Finds- Umm summer is right around the corner and you know exactly what that means, right? Free everything! Ok, maybe not everything but festivals, concerts, BBQ’s … you get our drift. So do your research and find fun places to that are kind to your pockets.
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Girls Night In- Sometimes it’s better to just stay in rather than being on the scene. Resetting , chatting + veggin’ out are all perfect ways to chill out and catch up with your besties. Who doesn’t love comfy girl talk?
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SWAP over SHOP!- Shopping! Yes, we all wish we had an unlimited amount to spend on new trends each season! Hmmm so instead of shopping you should have a swap out with your friends. You know your friend’s cute necklace that you’re always gagging over and your statement ring she raves about …just swap it out. Time to trade!
A fresh + innovative sound is exactly what Arnelle “Elly” Nonon is bringing to the music industry! A born and raised New Yorker with nothing more than a passion, a voice and a dream, Arnelle “Elly” Nonon has risen to music notoriety. She wowed Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, and Randy Jackson with her sultry serenade during American Idol Season 10, landing her a ticket to Hollywood. A year later she took on the fun, quickly spreading genre of K-Pop, performing at New York’s K-POP Festival held at NYU’s Performing Arts Center. Her awe-inspiring rendition of 1,2,3,4 by Lee Hi provided her next opportunity to be a contestant at the K-Pop World Festival held in Changwon, Korea, where she once again took the Grand Prize home with her. Now she continues the journey on a road less traveled, continuously being inspired Korean artists abroad and traveling back and forth from New York to Seoul!
Let’s get to know Arnelle “Elly” Nonon a little better…
You have a beautiful voice, what motivated you to jump into music?
Thank you so much for the compliment! Music has been a part of my life ever since I was a little girl. From church Christmas play musicals casted as “Young Mary” to singing to Luther Vandross’ “Love is On the Way” on Sunday clean-up day with my mom, music has always coated my everyday life, so it was a pretty natural path becoming a musician myself.
Style is a way to describe yourself with out speaking, how would you describe your fashion + music style?
My fashion sense is pretty eclectic, just as my music taste is! One of the things that are very apparent when comparing my fashion sense and music sense though, is the fact that I love to make statements. When putting together an outfit, the finished ensemble usually isn’t one that will easily go unnoticed in a crowd, and I think many would agree that the music I listen to most stands out in any playlist too, being that my music library is filled most with Korean pop music, a.k.a, K-Pop!
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
Honestly the list of people who inspire me goes on and on, but the two who I’ll mention today are Beyonce and CL of 2NE1. When I perform, I want to make statements. I want to feel powerful, and I want to have beautiful concepts and sets and costumes. These two women embody all those things to me. Impact! Power! Glamour! To watch them deliver those three things consistently makes me starry-eyed and motivates me to work harder so I can become a master at my skill.
Chasing + creating your dream can get a little tough at times, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated? The most important thing for me is the encouragement I get from my family, friends and fans. I tend to keep every fan sent message of encouragement to read on “rainy days”. I read through the loving comments sent to me on my youtube videos and emails and it helps me get back on my feet. Love is what keeps me going!
What advice would you give girls who want to follow their dreams and passions?
JUST DO IT!!! Ahahaha, I know I sound like a Nike ad, but for those of you who are scared or hesitant, you have to “Just Do It”! Be confident. Nobody will be confident in you if you aren’t confident in yourself. Be smart about the decisions you make, trust your gut and be the best you can be!
We are all about female empowerment, What does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?
Female empowerment is EVERYTHING to me! I revel in the fact that I’m a woman and being from a family of mostly females who I look up to and respect so much, I never felt that I was unable to do something just because I’m a girl. I hope that now and in the future I can encourage other girls to do whatever it is that they desire, knowing that their gender doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of success they are capable of obtaining. I am 100% a feminist, and I feel empowered every time I take a step in the direction of trying to create an equal playing field for women and men.
Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?
My celebrity crush (of the moment…lol!) is DANIEL HENNEY!!!! I love him to bits!!! Beautiful and tall. Can’t get enough. I think my favorite American artist right now is Nicki Minaj and my favorite Korean artists right now are Zion. T, Bang Yongguk, and Giriboy, each and every one of them are so gifted and inspire me to no end. My fave movies of ALL TIME are “Moulin Rouge”, a Japanese movie titled “Helter Skelter”, “Life Size” starring Tyra Banks, and “Cinderella” (the Rodgers and Hammerstein version), and my favorite food at the moment is 닭갈비 or “Dak Galbi”, a stir-fried chicken Korean dish that I literally cannot get enough of!!!
It’s time for a dose of new music. Get ready to grab a box of tissues after viewing this touching vid by songstress Jhene Aiko. It’s a reminder to live your life each day to the fullest with as much love + laughs as you can.
