You rarely see ‘edgy’ and ‘luxurious’ in the same sentence, but with Lauren Bedford Russell, the words nicely fuse together. Lauren is an edgy high-end jewelry designer (and Reality TV star) who creates unique engagement rings, as well as other avant-garde jewelry, different than the typical silver and diamond-encrusted duo. And best of all, she makes it a priority to use only conflict-free gemstones.

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CM: You make unique jewelry and cutting edge engagement rings. I’m sure people ask you this all the time, but how did you get into the world of jewelry?

LR: After college, I went to work at a jewelry store in Beverly Hills. One of my accomplishments there was designing engagement and wedding rings for couples. It took a few years and another profession for me to realize I wanted to keep doing that!

CM: Did you go to school for it or were you self-taught?

LR: I grew up learning about it all from my father. When I decided jewelry was what I really wanted to do, I started taking classes at the Gemological Institute of America.

CM: I heard you produce your jewelry in LA or NY. Where are you from?

LR: I am from Southern California (La Jolla, CA) but today I live in NYC. I have been here for about 6 years (with a year in Los Angeles last year).

CM: How did you decide to use conflict-free gemstones?

LR: I think its important to be responsible for the sourcing you use in your company or workplace. If everyone did this, the world would be a better place!

CM: Were they hard to find?

LR: It can be a little difficult with some of the colored or white stones, but black diamonds are pretty typically conflict-free.

CM: What is your greatest joy? Fear?

LR: Greatest joy are my two dogs, Olive and Luna. Greatest fear is losing a loved one.

CM: What are your favorite spots in Los Angeles?

LR: I love all the vegan restaurants in LA. There are so many great ones. For clothes, I love Kill City.

CM: What is your motto in life?

LR: Follow your gut.

CM: Which trait(s) do you most value in a person?

LR: Honesty and loyalty.

CM: What is your most treasured possession?

LR: This huge David Bowie book I have made by Mick Rock. Its about 800 pages with amazing photos and commentary by both men. Its amazing.

CM: Do you have a go-to news source? If not, what websites do you love?

LR: Usually I look at twitter for news (AP, CNN) its the quickest way to see what is going on in the world.

CM: If someone asked you for advice on how to become a successful jewelry designer, do you have any tips for them?

LR: I would say go to the GIA and study gemstones first! It’s really important to know about gems, why they are formed like they are, and what they are capable of.

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Visit her collections at LYON Fine Jewelry

BARCELONA, SPAIN  is the place to go if you’re craving to relax, let loose and take in a bit of culture all at the same time. With its breathtaking beaches, fascinating architecture and colorful nightlife, this city is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Antoni Gaudi should be synonymous with Barcelona. Gaudi was one of the forefathers in the Modernisme movement in Barcelona, pushing expression through architecture throughout the city. Walking around in Barcelona, visitors will see the standout colored mosaics and whimsical pointed peaks that Gaudi designed. All of the major sites are within walking distance, so you can spend an entire day wandering and admiring this architect’s unique designs, shapes and colors that you won’t be able to see anywhere else in Europe.

Take a walk through Parc Güell, a garden that travels up a hill decorated with Gaudi’s designs. This park offers breathtaking views of the city. Here you may also be able to enjoy entertainment from street performers as well as take a look at trinkets from traveling vendors.

The Sagrada Familia is not your regular cathedral. It is a world unto itself, which is still in progress. The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic Church that began its construction in 1882. Gaudi stepped in in 1883, overhauling the design and implementing his Modernisme flair with touches of Gothic and Art Nouveau styling. This masterpiece is expected to be completed on the centennial of Gaudi’s death in 2026.

The stunning outside features four peaks that jut up into the sky. Every inch of the cathedral is oozing with detail. Visitors hold their breath as they open the heavy doors engraved with words from the Bible to be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. This whimsical world hardly seems like a church, but a stunning and indescribable building that can only be found in dreams.

After seeing Gaudi’s best works, head to Plaça de Catalunya in the center of the city. Beautiful statues and fountains make it a great place for picture taking and relaxing. These all connect to infamous roads that each lead to its own adventure.

To satisfy your fashion bug, head to Rambla de Catalunya or Portla de l’Àngel. These streets boast the best high-end shopping. The Passeig de Gràcia has shopping, business building and more architecture to marvel at. This is considered the most expensive road in Barcelona. La Rambla is the place for people watching and to head to the harbor. Check out the kiosks, street performers and pavement mosaics. This street is always crowded and you can truly immerse yourself in the culture.

A trip to Spain wouldn’t be complete without some dinner, drinks and dancing. Make sure you take a siesta after a day of sightseeing, because dinner does not start till about 10pm. Fill up on paella, tapas and Sangria to get a taste of Spain. Then head to a club on the beach for all-night dancing! One of the hottest clubs is Opium Mar. Located in the Port Olympic complex; this club impresses anyone who enters, with young people from all over getting their groove on. These clubs are also a great place to grab lunch and lounge on the beach during the day!

But at night, leave your inhibitions at the door. The great thing about European clubs is that dancers don’t care how you look on the dance floor, as long as you feel the music and go all out! Dress well before heading to the club and be sure your pockets are empty and your purses have zippers. Pickpockets are still around! The Port Olympic complex provides various clubs all on one strip, so this is a great place to get a sampling of multiple clubs all in one night.

If large crowds and dancing aren’t your style, head to Espit Chupito, a shot bar that is sure to impress. It is located right on Las Ramblas. With over 500 shots at the price of just 2 Euros each, the options are endless. The best part is that each shot comes with its own mini-show. Many of the shots involve fire, colors, whipped cream and countless surprises that the bartender will show you. Not only that, but the staff is super friendly and sure to show you a great time.

This city is truly an experience unlike any other. If you’re simply lounging on the beach, taking in the nightlife till the dawn, or simply wandering the streets in search of surprises, Barcelona is bound to charm you and hypnotize you.

By Amanda Deltuvia —

Entering a world that you had no part in creating is sometimes quite frustrating. We are given steps to take with every age bracket, never questioning if these steps are what we would really choose if we were stripped of our societal contexts.

These ideals led me to run around New York City meeting some of the most powerful women in the writing world, clinging to their Prada skirts, me pleading, “Pick, me. Pick me.” I was poor, tired, overworked and exhausted. But I thought if I played my cards right in the career game I would win the ultimate prize: a great salary and a clean NYC apartment.

At work, I wasn’t even sure if I agreed with all the content on sex, abs and five question quizzes to figure out if you have a “frenemy” in your life. I just knew if I was with them, had a job with them, I would surely become happy.

The highest paying job I had in New York paid $50 a day. Commuting into the city from the suburbs filtered that down to less than $20 a day. I’d lose four hours a day commuting, feeling exhausted and covered in sweat. I still worked hard.

Countless internships, side jobs and no career prospects; I began to wonder what it was all worth. I thought if I had a full-time job I’d be happier. A year later, I landed a job and a beautiful apartment in a chic little suburban town.

Still, I wasn’t happy. My eyes were rotting as I stared at my computer screen trying to make sense of why I was suddenly encapsulated in a cubicle. I tried to find salvation in the fact that I had an apartment, and that I was finally accomplishing what most people my age couldn’t in this economy. But I began to wonder, what is it all worth?

My success turned out to be my misery. I was told that I was lucky; I wasn’t allowed to complain in this economy! Being broke and at a job I hated didn’t sound lucky. Sure, I was fortunate, but it seemed like I had been forgetting what really made me happy. I was a writer, but I wasn’t writing about what I loved. I wasn’t helping anyone or feeling like I had a purpose.

How do we know what we really want when we are not allowed to have all of the options. Finally, it all hit me. Life isn’t about how much money is in your back account. Although it is sadly necessary in this life, it is not everything. Getting extra money in my account wasn’t making me happy. Buying another pair of shoes wasn’t giving me the same high anymore. My apartment was beautiful, but empty. I was empty.

Many choices are based out of fear. Fear of not making a name for yourself, not making money, not finding your “soul mate” and basically not fitting into a society that we are conditioned to yearn to be an accepted part of. Breaking free seems terrifying from the outside, yet is the key to true elation.

If you can, leave your job. Take a class that you love. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Join a club. Sit down and begin to meditate on what you truly want and need. I knew I had to make a change. Finding out my three core values; writing, traveling and helping others, led me last year to fill out a Peace Corps application.

Sometimes I still splurge like Carrie Bradshaw and treat myself to a beautiful pair of shoes, but I make sure I journey back to my core values. I left my apartment, nestled back home and decided to spend time with my family. I don’t know where I am going next, but sometimes putting down your deck of cards and refusing to play the game is the only way to win.

Sink your teeth into the flesh of your ego. Regress back to being a child. Seep deep down into the guts of your being. This is your life; you only get one. Are you making the most of it?

Hailing from the East Coast, Grammy nominated singer Samantha Aurelio is petite but she can hit those notes with strength and prowess. With a Sarah Bareilles-infused piano style synced with a voice comparable to Adele’s amazing pipes, it’s clear that Aurelio is a tour de force.

Samantha Aurelio received a Grammy nomination for her work with the well-known jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco on his album “Never Can Say Goodbye” in 2011, and has been on the move ever since. The 5-foot-tall performer has been actively singing and performing for the last eight years. Recently, she released her first self-titled EP with producer Joe Buscema and is gaining fans from coast-to-coast. Here is Aurelio in her own words.

AD: You just released an EP. Which is your favorite track on it and why?

SA: My favorite track is “Fly Away,” because I didn’t trust that song when I first wrote it. So the creation of that song means a little more by seeing the transformation process. I’d like to call it “The Little Song that Could.”

AD: What’re your top three favorite songs of all time?

SA: I’d probably have to go with “Don’t Stop Me Now,” by Queen. That’s a really hard question, I like the craziest music. Let’s see, “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor. “Blackbird” by The Beatles. Those are definitely top three. Little eclectic, old school. Newer stuff would be “Let the Rain” by Sarah Bareilles.

AD: Are there any new artists that people may not know about that have tickled your fancy lately?

SA: I am on a huge Ellie Goulding kick lately. I’m going to see her when I go out to L.A. And Allen Stone.

AD: Speaking of L.A., when are you going?

SA: February 6th.

AD: Where will you be playing?

SA: I am playing Feb 11th, which is a Monday, at 8pm at Room 5 in West Hollywood. And I believe that there is a “Songwriter’s Night” after my set. It’s my set, then open mic after. If you go to my Facebook page, you can pull up the address.

AD: What are your favorite things about L.A. and Hollywood?

SA: Besides the weather? I love the life of it. The dream of it all. It’s like the “Goldenland.” It’s a little more packaged than New York is. New York is the promised struggle, and L.A. is all wrapped in gold, always sunny, a little bit happier.

AD: What are some of your favorite spots in the L.A. area?

SA: I’m pretty fond of the Starbucks in LAX. I go there every time I fly (laughs). I have to stop at the beach every time I go out to the West Coast, either Santa Monica Pier or Manhattan Beach. Frida Mexican Cuisine I believe is the restaurant I went out to before the Grammys. I also love Malibu Seafood and Health Nut.

AD: What is an interesting fact about you that not many people would know?

SA: Hmm… I really love Olympic lifting and gymnastics. I’ve been doing Crossfit for about four years and before that I was a runner and did karate. Basically, my mom wanted me to be really tough for my size!

AD: Do you have a favorite quote?

SA: “I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for.” I feel like John Mayer wrote that about me.

AD: Top three passions in life?

SA: Music, writing and cooking. I love cooking.

AD: You always have a slew of love songs and breakup songs, are these solely based off of your experiences or have you pulled interesting relationship stories from friends into your music?

SA: The stuff that I released is all personal. I have stuff that I have not released, that is in the making that is of other peoples’ relationships.

AD: Do you find it easier to write about your own relationship experiences or other peoples’?

SA: Me. 100%.

Samantha Aurelio with her band crew

Well, it depends on where I start. Because sometimes I start at the piano and sometimes I start with the words. Lately, I’d say I end up in a coffee shop for a couple of hours and write a whole lot. Sometimes you’ll catch me singing quietly into my phone recording melodies and then, coming back later to my piano and work from there. Usually it involves a lot of writing before I do any musical accompaniment. Lots of time in the coffee shop. (laughs) They know me there, it’s cool.

AD: When you get stumped on music or lyrics, what do you do to get inspired?

SA: Spotify everything.

AD: Spotify?

SA: Because there’s so much music there! Usually where I hear the melody in my head, is usually the genre of music I start to listen to. Because if I try to write an upbeat song, I’m not gonna listen to a ton of really slow stuff. (laughs). In a perfect world I’d like to go see a show whenever I’m stuck. That’s really inspiring. Every time I leave a show, I’m like “I wanna write an album!”

AD: What’s the next step? Are you going to record an album?

SA: We are writing the album. That’s what’s happening. My producer and I are going to co-write and produce a full-length masterpiece. It’s very exciting. We’re in the writing process now, so it’s just a little baby. We have to nurture it and let it grow. Just like a seed.

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For more information on Samantha and to listen to her music, check out her website, or purchase her EP on iTunes

IF YOU want change, now is the perfect time. Switching up the look and feel of your surroundings can do wonders for your attitude and work ethic. It also forces you to organize all the things that you’ve kept in a pile for—be honest—months and months. You don’t have to be an innovative genius to realize that the same bland surroundings day after day can hinder even the most creative genius’ mojo. No matter what industry you’re in or where you live, your work environment will affect your overall satisfaction and productivity. And you don’t need a big budget or use the latest and greatest gadgets, but just a little smart fine-tuning and rearranging.

Taking Cues from Good Ol’ Nature

Nature is the ultimate organic designer, and bringing the beauty of nature into your daily life and décor is a notably fantastic way to provoke an aura of hip calmness and tranquility. Take a stab at re-painting your walls with a coat of leaf-green shade or (our favorite), adding cactus plants to a modern vase, pot or encasing. Or perhaps finding a cool wall fountain to hear the sound of fresh water flowing down will keep your stress levels down.

A Blast from the Past

Go back in time and revisit the classics. Most great creators—artists, designers, entrepreneurs, even scientists were once inspired by their predecessors grand achievements and works. Michaelangelo was inspired by Classical Greek Sculpture, Muse was inspired by Radiohead, and the list goes on. If you are finding lackluster sources of inspiration in your daily life, look no further than behind you.

Take some time and delve into the lives and creations of those you admire most. Maybe plastering your walls with quotes by Mark Twain will rev your engine, or purchasing your favorite Monet print will help fill your creative tank. Whatever or whoever you’re into is a great place to start.

{photo via West Elm}

Mood & Mind

Studies show that being in a blue room can help foster creativity, and that a red room can increase productivity and short-term memory function. Little external changes can make a very big impact on our minds and moods.

A drab setting, day in, day out can pretty much kill our drive, so if you want change and don’t know where to start, first look at your surroundings. Take the time to intentionally redesign and edit your space. It’ll organize your mind, and in the end help you perform better than before—and that’s progress.

{Photo Courtesy of Glamour}

BUMP INTO Jenna Lyons and you can expect to see her 6-foot frame in a flawless set of mix-and-match ensembles and her signature dark-rimmed glasses, both of which she pulls off with class and creativity. As the current president and executive creative director of J.Crew, Lyons transformed the company from plain preppy to refined peppy without compromising on its classic looks that the brand is known for. And that is her genius. This past November, Jenna Lyons was named Glamour’s Women of the Year and the brand has been only going upward ever since she took the reins as creative director in 2007.

Lyons’s love of fashion began when her tall height made it difficult to shop for clothes and she started making her own in the seventh grade. Starting off at J.Crew as “an assistant to someone’s assistant in 1990,” Lyons climbed up the ranks to her current position 17 years later–a number that is pretty hard to reach today where a 1 or 2-year stint at a company is more “normal” for us twentysomethings and thirtysomethings.

Congratulations Jenna, keep doing what you’re doing.

 J.Crew Brand Evolution

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SHE’S GOT IT down pat—the hip hop groove, the beat, the rhythm, the sashays and ground sweeps that enthrall an audience. Meet Cobey Chang, a serious dancer born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dancing since the age of 4, Chang was trained at the Honolulu Dance Studio and 24-VII Danceforce in jazz, ballet and hip hop. Of Chinese and Japanese descent, Chang moved to LA years ago to pursue her dancing career and has worked with Nike, D12, De La Soul, Microsoft Media Plus and EVE, to name a few.

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CM: You’ve danced since you were 4 years old. Which dance genre is your forte (and favorite) and when did you decide to take it professional?

CC: I love them all! I would say my strength is jazz funk/hip hop, but I love anything with a good groove. The decision to move to LA was the turning point in my career. Up until then it was more of a hobby (a completely life-consuming hobby).

CM: What has been your most memorable dancing experience commercially or non-commercially?

CC: I used to be part of a dance group in Seattle called Breed. We put on one last show before I moved to LA. It pulled together a good portion of the Seattle hip hop community. It was the last time that I would share the stage with a lot of those people, who I consider my dance family. It is easily one of my favorite, most memorable dance experiences.

CM: What has been the most challenging aspect about your dancing career?

CC: Staying true to who I am as a dancer and staying positive. You are constantly competing with all of these people who have the same objective/goal as you. It’s so easy to start comparing yourself to others when you’re in a room full of a hundred other dancers all going for the same job. As long as I remember who I am and what only I have to offer, I’m golden.

CM: What does a typical day look like?

CC: A typical day? What’s that?! Don’t have a lot of those, but the usual week includes work, dance class, working out, rehearsal, audition, hanging out with friends, then chill time. I do end every day with a little bit of reading.

CM: Do you live by a quote/saying/proverb/verse?

CC: The Bible is a general good source!

CM: What do you consider to be the three most valuable traits in a person?

CC: I don’t really have a top three, but I appreciate good, genuine people. You can just tell….

CM: Who or what inspires you?

CC: I look to the past, the music videos from the 80s 90s, like Paula, Janet Jackson, Madonna, and of course, Michael Jackson. I love old musicals. My favorites are Singin in the Rain and West Side Story. My peers/fellow dancers are also a huge inspiration.

CM: What are your top 3 passions in life?

CC: Spending time with people I love, good food, new experiences.

CM: Where is your favorite restaurant or food spot in LA?

CC: Aroma, In-N-Out, Korean BBQ in K-town, Bossa Nova.

CM: Your go-to news source or website that you always visit?

CC: NPR, Google, Wiki and Yahoo.

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See Cobey Chang in action with “What’s My Name” by Rihanna

By Kri Sutah —

We live in an era where concepts and ideas that have been welcomed before are now shunned and opposed, and vice versa…Like when segregation and slavery was no biggie. Or when the idea of gay marriage was taboo, but now it’s more culturally accepted. Youngins used to have more respect for the older folks but now we allow the ranks to be easily broken, and we see things like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day having to be created. We used to love big bouffant hair but now we prefer it sleek and straight. Our society has become slightly manic, to say the least. We change minds impulsively and act with our stomachs, maybe our heart, then maybe, maybe our mind as a last resort.

When we act with our stomachs, arrogance and chesty attitudes seem to take over. Liberals attack conservatives as closed-minded and prudish even though the former might also be close-minded about anything conservative; conservatives attack liberals as too loose and compromising on morals when the conservatives show more cases of being outwardly polished but inwardly stained.

This society of ours has dramatically improved and progressed, like technology and communications, but then our moral convictions of right and wrong have become nebulous in the midst of the pure excitement of living carpe diem–getting a high from all things that give an adrenaline rush like the guttural thwack you might feel from a fast car ride during sudden take off. The go-go-go and the ooh-ahh-ohhs make us forget about the important questions in life that we nonchalantly dismiss or ignore when we’re on fast-forward mode.

Or maybe the issue is on the opposite spectrum–falling into long lapses of laziness with no care for a challenge or a lack of living intensely because the daily grind of work tires us out. Then we like to slump down on the couch and relax from a long day, swallowed up by the TV that does all the thinking for us. And the cycle starts all over again…until we decide to do something about it and live life with deep meaning and intention.

We all heard the saying that it’s not what you know, but who you know. Well, in the end you need both, but to advance further at a quicker pace, your valuable connections end up being the game changers. To increase your chances of meeting the right people for your professional journey, read on for some valuable networking tips from experts which will help you grow your contact list and professional reputation.

1.) Have a strong Internet presence

Before getting too involved in networking, make sure you have a strong Internet presence. When a potential client or customer checks out your personal or business branding, they will first look at what you are presenting publicly. Check to see if your website looks professional. Also important is a strong presence in social networking, according to Bob Parsons, who is the founder of GoDaddy, which will build a credible, strong interaction with current and potential clients and customers.

2.) Avoid free email

Another way to build credibility is to have your email address through your business’s domain name, if you have your own freelance company or a regular business. That way, when you are connecting with others, people will see your venture as a legitimate, successful business.

3.) Don’t stop talking

Now that you have your Internet presence and email address in order, it is time to start talking to people about your business. According to Forbes, you should talk to everyone everywhere you go. This includes people in line at the grocery store or people next to you on the plane. You never know when you will meet someone that has the connections you need to take your business to the next level.

4.) Don’t talk about problems

It is vital that you stay positive when talking to others. Everyone has problems, so constantly complaining about yours can be off-putting. If asked, you are always doing great. It also helps to smile as much as possible. People will feed off of your positive energy.

5.) Help as much as you can

The key to successful networking is to say yes to favors as much as possible. The more you are able to help others, the more they will be willing to help when you need it. The more people’s good side you can get on, the better.

6.) It’s about quality, not quantity

When you are at a party, it is more important that you get quality time with a few people than it is to talk to everyone in the room. Really focus on the people you are talking with and build a genuine connection. Entrepreneurial guru Evan Carmichael points out that it is also beneficial to ask, “How can I help you?” as you are saying your goodbyes.

7.) Keep your promises

It does no good to offer to help people unless you actually follow through. According to HowToDoThings.com, being a man of your word can get you a long way in the business world.

8.) Get out of your comfort zone

If you stay in your comfort zone and never push yourself, your business will never evolve and you will stray from the road to success. Getting out of your comfort zone will create opportunities to make important connections. You will be surprised by your potential and the amazing things you can accomplish by simply pushing yourself a little bit.

9.) Associate with people you consider superior

American business magnate Warren Buffet  lives by this motto. By associating with people who are better than you, you will naturally make yourself a better person. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have connections in high places.

10.) Keep good records

All of your networking efforts will serve no purpose if you do not have the contact information available when you need it. It is imperative that you keep track of every person you network with, including contact information and some small tidbits about their personal lives. That way, when you contact them in the future, you will have a strong basis to build your conversation on.

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*About the author: Abby is a marketing and communications specialist who specializes in event promotion, reputation management and branding

Baker found his true calling for pop music 4 years ago after he visited LA where he collaborated with DJ and producer Kelly Cole. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to work with Greg Ogan, who produced for Britney Spears, Rihanna and Leona Lewis. Read on to find out more about Baker in his own words.

CM: When did you start forming a passion for music? What reeled you into the pop genre out of all the others like rock, jazz, etc?

B: As long as I can remember I’ve been singing along to the radio and, when it became clear that this is what I’m meant to do with my life, the melodies I wrote and the beats I loved were all pop-oriented.

CM: Who are your all-time favorite artists?

B: I think David Bowie is probably the one that’s inspired me the most. Robyn as well as all pop and dance music from Sweden continue to be favorites as well

CM: You attended Harvard as a cellist major. Do you utilize your instrument in your music currently? If not, is it reserved for the future?

B: I haven’t played the cello in some time now but classical music and especially strings will have a place in my music to come.

CM: What was your family culture like growing up and are they supportive of your career? Was academics a huge deal?

B: From a young age, my parents realized that my love of music and the industry as a whole was not a hobby. But no matter what I wanted to do with my life, an education was still very important. I feel really grateful to have gone to college and to know about different areas of life that I don’t think I would have if I dropped out of school.

CM: We hear you’ve got style. Where would you say your sense of fashion came from and how would you describe it?

B: Most of my family works in fashion but my biggest influence is my grandfather. He looks like he stepped out of a magazine every time he leaves the house haha.

CM: What motivates and inspires you?

B: My motivation comes from this desire to perform and create things for people to enjoy. That search wakes me up every day and wears me out before I go to bed. I’m also inspired so much by films from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I think a lot of what I do stems from images from movies of those eras.

CM: After living in NY and moving out to LA, what differences do you notice? What do you like and not like?

B: I miss Dunkin Donuts! Lol. But really I think most people are in LA for the same reasons so conversations tend revolve around the same topics. I love driving and I love the weather but New York has more variety.

CM: Do you have a favorite hangout spot in LA?

B: Not yet I’ve been spending a lot of time rehearsing and recording but I’ll keep you posted!

CM: What is a motto, quote or saying you live by?

B: Don’t let the bastards get you down.

CM: If there was any advice to give our readers about advancing in the music industry, what would you advise?

B: To not listen to anyone except maybe 1 or 2 people you really trust. If you’re good at what you do and know who you are then every A&R guy or YouTube commenter will mess with your head. Keep focused.

Listen:

Echo (Official Music Video)

Not Gonna Wait (Official Music Video)

For more, go to www.bakermusic.com