Readlist Archives - FuSiOn

Heather making waves on VO

Jerry Coria — Sat, 03 May 2025 23:38:03 +0000

FOR ALL THE VIEWERS READING, PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

Hi! I’m Heather Nichols, a full-time voice actor in Los Angeles. I specialize in the areas of corporate narration, e-learning, audiobooks, commercials, dubbing, and animation. I am also a voiceover coach and teacher for private lessons and group classes.

PLEASE TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN THE VOICE-OVER INDUSTRY.

I started in entertainment as an on-camera actor, which I was for many years. One of my former on-camera agents approached me asking if I would like to also be submitted for voiceover opportunities, so I said yes and got my first commercial VO demo made. I wasn’t looking to focus on VO at the time but was very fortunate to book some commercial work very quickly and ended up as the brand voice for a doll company for 7 years. That really planted the seed for my love of VO. I ended up getting burnt out on the on-camera scene, and when I became a mom, I completely stepped away from acting to focus on my twin boys. However, I very quickly missed performing and realized voiceover was a way to have that creative outlet while being at home with my kids. I decided to start pursuing that area again and got some traction right away in the corporate narration space. I leaned into that and, within a year, was able to leave my full-time marketing job and go full-time with VO. That was 5 years ago, and I am happier than ever to still be doing this every day.

WHAT MADE YOU GET STARTED IN THE VOICE-OVER INDUSTRY?

After my twins were born, and I had stepped away from acting for a bit, I ended up as the head of marketing for a major comic con producer with shows all over the country. I have a degree in marketing and have owned a digital marketing company for over 15 years, so I really enjoyed diving into that business. I even had to write radio commercials and hire voice actors, which gave me a unique and valuable perspective when I came back to the performing side myself. When the pandemic hit, the events business obviously ground to a halt, and I had to decide if I waited it out with that company, which was taking a new business direction, or took the leap back into voiceover. I had been working in VO on the side for the last 2+ years of my marketing job, and it was really picking up steam. I knew my heart was no longer with that company, so with the support of my husband, I decided to leave that job and go full-time with voiceover.

To read the exclusive, check out the April/May issue now.

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Sabrina Carpenter amazing centerfold!

Fusion Staff — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:39:56 +0000

You would have been surprised to learn that Sabrina Carpenter is only starting out in her profession if you thought 2024 was her year. This past week, the 25-year-old Espresso singer won two Grammys and revealed that she will be featured on the cover of the March issue of Vogue. She does away with her trademark bouncy bangs for the feature and sports glitzy platinum hairstyles reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.

Photos by Steven Meisel courtesy of Vogue

After learning that Sabrina Carpenter had been the subject of Sabrina Carpenter’s photographs for the March 2025 Vogue cover, Madonna couldn’t contain her adulation.

For her debut Vogue cover, Sabrina Carpenter tapped into the legendary style of Marilyn Monroe and Madonna.

The 25-year-old Carpenter relived the past in a plethora of throwback ensembles for the March 2025 edition, which debuted on February 11.

Cover model Carrie Underwood was photographed by the renowned Steven Meisel while dressed in a blue Dolce & Gabbana corset, evoking memories of her lingerie-inspired outfit from the Short n’ Sweet Tour. A little miniskirt, lace-up sides, and a smooth bra top were all part of the design. It was also reminiscent of Madonna’s iconic satin cone-bra bodysuit from her Blonde Ambition Tour in 1990.

Sabrina Carpenter vogue cover is out now

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Joe Keery’s amazing perfromance

Fusion Staff — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:26:08 +0000

After finishing the Australian leg of his tour, Djo—a.k.a. Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame—stopped by Triple J to perform a cover of HAIM’s “Gasoline” for the radio station’s Like a Version series. Keery’s version is a groovy, yacht-rock interpretation of the track.

In addition to the cover, Keery also performed his latest single, “Basic Being Basic,” from his upcoming record The Crux.

In a behind-the-scenes video for Triple J, Keery shared, “I think [HAIM] are such outstanding artists. I love that they’re sisters and making music together.” He added, “I’ve got a big family, and the other song that we played, ‘Basic,’ my sisters are singing on that, so I kind of thought it’d be sort of cool to pay homage to them for that reason.”

Watch the cover and performance of “Basic Being Basic” below.

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PANDORA is back!

Fusion Staff — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:59:52 +0000

Tetsuya Komuro and Daisuke Asakura, courtesy of Billboard Japan

Tetsuya Komuro and Daisuke Asakura’s musical duo PANDORA has announced their comeback following a seven-year separation. On February 28, 2025, the pair will be performing live at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo.

PANDORA made their debut in 2017 and in February of 2018 they released their mini-album Blueprint. Their plans, however, came to a sudden end when news of Komuro’s retirement spread. A lot of people who like Japanese pop and techno music have been waiting for Komuro to come back in 2021, and the group has finally chosen to start working again.

Guests in the forthcoming PANDORA LIVE 2025—OPEN THE BOX concert include Takanori Nishikawa (formerly of T.M.Revolution, a group that launched with Asakura as a producer) and Beverly (vocalist for PANDORA’s first hit, “Be The One”).

Until January 21, the official fan club of Komuro is taking lottery applications for ticket reservations. General ticket sales are scheduled to commence on February 9 at 10:00 AM, with pre-sales commencing on January 24 at 6:00 PM through ticketing sites.

As two major personalities in the business reconcile after a long separation, accompanied by special guests, this event is a watershed moment for PANDORA and Japanese pop music fans.

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KAT-KUN to disband

Fusion Staff — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:34:44 +0000

KAT-TUN, one of Japan’s longest-running idol groups, will officially split on March 31, 2025, according to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Members Kazuya Kamenashi and Yuichi Nakamaru will both depart from the agency as the group disbands, however Tatsuya Ueda and Yuichi Nakamaru will each pursue solo careers.

From its humble beginnings as a six-member group in 2001, KAT-TUN rose to prominence as a major player in Japan’s music scene. Their reputation for edgy flair and energetic performances, together with their multiple top-charting hits, cemented the group’s place in J-pop history. Even though they lost members over the years, KAT-TUN kept active and even made their debut in 2021 on NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen.

A year of deliberation with the members preceded the decision, according to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT’s statement. The wisest option for the members’ futures, according to the company, was to breakup KAT-TUN and go their separate ways. The agency would also want to thank all of the people who have helped keep KAT-TUN going for the last quarter of a century: fans and professionals in the field.

Ueda and Nakamaru will keep working in the entertainment sector when the band disbands, and fans are eager to see what Kamenashi does next. An important part of J-pop history will forever be KAT-TUN’s legacy, which is characterized by originality and persistence.

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Japanese Music Fans Moving from CDs to Streaming

Jerry Coria — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:11:37 +0000

As the readers of this site know, streaming is a thing in Japan. The rest of the world is still fascinated with the idea of Japan being all about CDs, when the readers of this site also know that the reason CD sales are so high in Japan still is because of bonuses attached to the CDs. Reuters’ Ritsuko Ando recently looked at how this is changing though.

In the article, the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on CD sales is documented. Music fans are currently staying home and music acts are canceling in-store events, leading to a switch to streaming.

Tower Records has suffered due to the pandemic, with spokesman Tatsuro Yagawa saying, “It will take a long time for things to return to normal.” He is optimistic though, saying, “Music fans here like buying CDs to show support for their favorite artists. I don’t think people will stop buying CDs.”

Avex has also suffered due to the pandemic. The company held a-nation online a few months ago, attracting 1.6 million views, split between free and paying viewers. However Avex CEO Katsumi Kuroiwa described the financial results of the company’s foray into large-scale online events as mixed.

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The Anti-Fashion

Jerry Coria — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:01:50 +0000

HYSTERIC GLAMOUR instantly calls to mind one vivid musical memory:

‘My boyfriend bought me a Hysteric Glamour shirt; they’re hard to find in the states, got me feeling couture…’

Quoting early-2000s Gwen Stefani lyrics (from memory) isn’t something I’d expected to do in my work for OTAQUEST, but this may be the only time it’s appropriate. SUPER LOVERS and A Bathing Ape also made appearances in her 2004 track ‘Harajuku Girls,’ piquing the curiosity of young western fashionistas. But Hysteric Glamour (or, at least, its creator) already had deep roots in the west, drawing on a mix of rock-and-roll sensibility and pop culture simplicity to create an unforgettable brand still selling after 36 years.

Now, decades after some rando in a New York club was spotted wearing the brand by none other than Andy Warhol, heads are still turning. The fashion-scape has changed, with more and more street brands pivoting into louder and louder designs, but Hysteric Glamour is the grandfather of anti-fashion, and consumers continue to pay homage accordingly.

Counter Cultures Before Counter Culture

Being anti-fashion is almost expected when it comes to the image of Japanese streetwear, but HYSTERIC GLAMOUR was one of the pioneers of such an outlandish concept. The brand was created by Nobuhiko Kitamura as the perfect antithesis to the strict rulings of school and work. When still young, he became enamored with the danger and mystique of western punk and new wave. Blending these passions into his designs, Kitamura came out of fashion school with one goal; to give people what they wanted in the early 80s: rebellion and revolution.

The brand is known worldwide for its loud graphics, offensive slogans, and its odes to comic books and hippie culture. They put patched leather jackets and neon-blended pop T-shirts into the hands of whoever is ready to make a statement. And over the years, that made quite the splash: Kitamura ended up hanging out with everyone from Iggy Pop to Sofia Coppola. Sure, HYSTERIC GLAMOUR may still hold a kind of obsessive mystery (after all, it’s tough to find in the states, as Gwen crooned) but it’s had more of an impact than many recognize.

The reason the brand is still prominent in the Tokyo fashion-scape? Collaborations. HYSTERIC GLAMOUR does them right and does them often.

HYSTERIC GLAMOUR & Supreme?

A visually loud and aggressive label like HG deserves an equally loud and notable partner. In 2013, Playboy came into the picture, and the two went on to create a retro line for men and women alike. Featuring vintage images of the quintessential Playboy Bunnies and classic iconography, the line celebrated 60 years of the magazine. It was launched in Japan before becoming available online for those living in the United States.

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Streetwear with a touch of art; how a street fashion designer is thriving amid pandemic

Jerry Coria — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:15:18 +0000

As the number of abandoned storefronts and closed retail outlets continues to mount, the once unremarkable activity of shopping at brick-and-mortar stores can feel like reality askew — like a stroll through the Twilight Zone. As this glum new normal becomes, well, the norm, signs of life can be almost as jarring.

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The Second Vans x MoMA Collection Includes Art By Munch, Pollock, Popova And Ringgold

Jerry Coria — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:10:08 +0000

In September, Vans and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) brought Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet and Vasily Kandinsky’s art to footwear and apparel form. On November 11th, both institutions will launch the second installment of their fall collaboration, which includes works by Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, Lybov Popova and Faith Ringgold.

The forthcoming capsule features the Authentic and Slip-On of the first installment, alongside new takes on the Era and Sk8-Hi. Among the four silhouettes, the Era, which debuted in 1976 and was formerly known as Vans #95, boasts three of the six works of art translated from their respective mediums to canvas shoes: Munch’s “The Scream” (1895) and Ringgold’s “Woman Free Yourself” and “Freedom Woman Now,” both from 1971. At age 90, Rinngold, who was born in Harlem, is still actively working to dismantle racism and social injustice from her home base in Englewood, New Jersey. Her “Seven Passages to a Flight” (1995) also serves as the inspiration for the lone laceless option in November’s capsule; “My mother said I’d have to work twice as hard to go half as far” is printed on the pair’s midsole, while the art piece itself is replicated on the inner lining.

Pollock’s “One: Number 31, 1950” (1950) and Popova’s “Untitled.” (1917) take over their respective Authentic and Sk8-Hi canvases. Unlike Munch’s piece, which is isolated within the confines of the Era’s upper, Pollock’s divisive painting sees no boundaries, covering every inch of the shoe (save for the lining and laces). Popova’s untitled piece falls inline with the inclusion of the culturally-welcomed “The Scream,” but delivers an alternating pattern at any given angle.

The second collection by Vans and MoMA arrives on November 11th at Vans.com, store.moma.org, Nordstrom.com, and other select retailers. In the meantime, enjoy a closer look at the footwear and apparel ahead.

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No Doubt Commemorates 25th Anniversary

Jerry Coria — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:42 +0000

“Sometimes great things fall apart, which is a shame,” guitarist Tom Dumont wrote. “Yet here we are, 25 years later.”

No Doubt‘s Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young all posted tributes to Tragic Kingdom on the album’s 25th anniversary on Saturday (Oct. 10).

Tragic Kingdom, which was released on Oct. 10, 1995 and featured breakout singles including “Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak,” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in Dec. 1996, more than a year after its release.

“I can’t believe it’s been 25 years, in some ways it feels like yesterday, in some ways it feels like a distant dream,” Dumont wrote on Instagram, where he shared a long note and a group photo taken in Honolulu, Hawaii, in October 1995.

"We had no idea what was going to happen when we were writing these songs,"

He recalled joining the band in 1988, releasing their first album in 1992 and starting to work on Tragic Kingdom in 1993 while they were in college.

“What I remember most is that despite the challenges, it was a very creative and magical time,” he said. “Gwen, Adrian, Tony and I had real chemistry as bandmates and collaborators, and we discovered our voices as we wrote & recorded those songs together. I appreciate the friendships and camaraderie we shared in those years. We were passionate about our music, and the fact that Tragic Kingdom has touched so many people around the world is beyond what I could have ever imagined.”

“Sometimes great things fall apart, which is a shame,” said Dumont. “Yet here we are, 25 years later. It is what it is, & I keep trying to make peace with that. I’m especially grateful to all those who helped us along the way, and most of all to those of you who enjoyed Tragic Kingdom and came out to the shows over the years. I’d love to do one more No Doubt tour, but it feels like that ain’t gonna happen. It’s bittersweet. In any case, what great memories, thanks all.”

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