Shamir had Charlotte Sometimes' Sideways EP on repeat throughout high school and it's never come out of heavy rotation. The simple honesty of her lyrics and her strong melodies gave him hope that he could find success as a performer someday. He loved that it wasn't a groundbreaking project, but rather a solid example of the kind of songwriting and production that felt familiar to him.
Until The Ribbon Breaks' Spark Is Run The Jewels 2
Until The Ribbon Breaks' Pete Lawrie Winfield has a very close relationship with Run The Jewels' seminal second album Run The Jewels 2. The production, the rhymes, the features, and every element of it have impacted him personally and professionally. And he had a front-row seat to the creation of that masterpiece and it changed the course of his life and career.
Margaret Cho's Spark is Velvet Goldmine
Comedian, actor, activist and icon Margaret Cho has loved Todd Haynes' work since his first film Superstar, but his glam rock pseudo-biopic Velvet Goldmine has always been her favorite of his films. She loves the way it centers queerness through the lens of some of her favorite artists, namely David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed. She loves the music, the costumes, and art direction, but is particularly enamored of the fearless performances by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale, and Toni Collette.
Maeta's Spark is Forrest Gump
RnB singer Maeta has cried every time she's watched Forrest Gump. She's so touched by the lead character's open heart, kindness, and life philosophy that she can't help but get emotional. She's also fascinated by the process used in creating the film and the impact it's had on generations of fans since its release.
Oh Land's Spark is Edward Scissorhands
From the moment her older sister introduced her to Edward Scissorhands, singer/songwriter Oh Land felt a kinship with the lead character, as well as his love interest, Kim. As a pre-adolescent trying to make sense of the world, she felt connected both to the isolation and awkwardness channeled through Edward and the romance and whimsy that shone out of Kim. Danny Elfman's score also left an indelible imprint on her young mind and has been a constant source of inspiration in the development of her own work.
The Sound Of A New Century: Tone Stith's Spark Is Usher's 8701
The sounds of '90s and 2000s RnB have always spoken to singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Tone Stith and Usher's career-defining third album 8701 is at the top of his list for albums of that era. It produced mega-hits like "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad" and featured production from superstars like The Neptunes and Jermaine Dupri, ensuring its global success. In addition to Usher, Tone's influences extend to artists like Jazmine Sullivan, Michael Jackson, and Prince, all of whom have informed his songcraft and vocal style.
Taking Stock of a Spotlit Life: Winning Time's Max Borenstein's Spark is WB Yeats' "The Circus Animals' Desertion"
Showrunner, producer, and writer Max Borenstein (HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of te Lakers Dynasty) was always drawn to WB Yeats work, but one poem resonated with him above all the others. "The Circus Animals' Desertion," one of Yeates' final published works in his lifetime, is about looking back on a lifetime of achievements, grappling with writer's block, and the perils of trying to match past successes in the final years of your life. Max found parallels to celebrity culture, our obsession with social media, and many other aspects of the modern world. His relationship with the poem has grown and changed as he's grappled with his own success and with recent bereavements and it's been a touchstone and source of inspiration throughout his career in entertainment.
Where It All Began: Kylie Cantrall's Spark is CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story
With a music producer father and a dancer/choreographer mother, Kylie Cantrall grew up with a front-row seat in the entertainment industry. As a result, music biopics struck a particular chord with her. None moreso than VH1's megahit CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story. Cantrall loved the eerily accurate performances and music video recreations, but the incorporation of TLC's phenomenal back catalog was the clincher. She was so hooked on the movie that she watched it dozens of times and still considers it to be one of her all-time favorites.
Wise Beyond Her Years: The Aces' Cristal Ramirez's Spark Is Paramore's Riot!
The Aces' front woman Cristal Ramirez's was obsessed with Paramore's Riot! from the moment it was first played for her. The energy and lyrics both blew her pre-teen mind, but it was Hayley Williams who really caught her attention. A flame-haired teenager who lead a successful rock band in a male-dominated industry, Williams provided endless inspiration for Ramirez as her own musical aspirations took flight. As a dedicated Paramore fan, she's always seen the band as a beacon of light and a force for good in the world.
Teenage Dreams: Kenzie's Spark Is 10 Things I Hate About You
Singer and actor Kenzie was home-schooled, so she didn't have a typical high school experience. As a result, teen movies really struck a chord with her and 10 Things I Hate About You was at the top of the list. She loved the characters, the love story, and all of the stereotypical late 90's high school drama. The movie has brought her massive amounts of joy and she rewatches it whenever she gets a chance.
Dawn Of The Comedic Everyman: David Gborie's Spark Is Old School
The relentless silliness of Todd Phillip's smash hit comedy Old School is contrasted by the relatable everyman characters played by its breakout stars Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn. Comedian, actor, and podcaster David Gborie saw Old School as the moment when comedic leads became less polished and more like normal people who happened to be joke machines. It was one of the era-defining films that set him on a comedy career path and helped him to believe he could make it in the industry.
Sensual And Surreal: Morgan Kibby's Spark Is Tipsy Lovers
Singer/songwriter Morgan Kibby was already a huge fan of GaHee Park's work when she discovered Tipsy Lovers hanging in her aunt's home! She was immediately drawn to the painting and its playful, voyeuristic depiction of lovers embracing while peering through martini glasses. Kibby is enamored with Park's ability to infuse her work with a unique blend of eroticism and surrealism, a delicate balance that few artists are able to achieve.
Punk, Pop And The Dawn Of MTV: Bratmobile's Allison Wolfe's Spark Is Bow Wow Wow
As a teenager, Bratmobile frontwoman Allison Wolfe was drawn to bands led by powerful, magnetic women. When Bow Wow Wow released their second album When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Gets Going, she was mesmerized by the raw energy of its twelve short, sharp songs. The newly launched MTV left her in awe of singer Anabella Lwin's commanding stage presence and distinctive style, which proved a huge source of inspiration in Wolfe's own work as a musician.
Finding Joy In The Blues: Acantha Lang's Spark Is Koko Taylor's I Got What It Takes
Unlike many of her peers, soul singer Acantha Lang’s primary inspiration didn’t come from R’n’B. Her musical foundation is rooted in the blues and the first time she heard Koko Taylor’s legendary album I Got What It Takes. The distinct rawness in Taylor’s vocal performance spoke to Lang in a way that’s stuck with her for her entire career. Taylor's ability to transform the blues into joyful, life-affirming music is unparalleled and her music continues to influence artists across a wide spectrum of musical disciplines and genres.
Pride Month Bonus! A Spectacle To End All Spectacles: Hal Sparks' Spark Is KISS' Destroyer
Actor and Comedian Hal Sparks (Queer As Folk) has been a KISS mega-fan for as long as he can remember. He saw the poster for KISS' monster hit album Destroyer and his jaw dropped. He's been in awe of its artistry and musicianship ever since. Destroyer helped to cement KISS as globe-dominating rock superstars. It produced a string of hits and provided a perfect vessel for KISS' particular brand of rock theatricality. Hal's love for the band has only grown since the release of Destroyer, as has his encyclopedic knowledge of the band's history.
Tribeca Special!! Blurring The Lines Between Fact And Fiction: Lost Soulz' Sauve Sidle and Katherine Propper's Spark Is 8 Mile
Director Katherine Propper's Lost Soulz, a meditative film about music making, self-discovery, and friendship, had its world premiere at this year's Tribeca film festival. Its star, rising rapper Sauve Sidle, saw parallels between his personal journey, his character arc in the film, and the story of Eminem's much-lauded, Oscar-winning turn in Curtis Hanson's 8 Mile. Finding a community of like-minded artists can have a huge impact on a musician and that collaborative spirit runs through 8 Mile and Lost Soulz both behind and in front of the camera. Eminem and Sauve both used their real-world artistic processes to create their on-screen personas, as well as some unforgettable music. We'll also take a look at some of my favorites from this year's Tribeca Film Festival: including the mind-bending, Tierra Whack starring pseudo-documentary Cypher, winner of Best U.S. Narrative Feature.
The Heart Of The Human Condition: Brian J. Smith's Spark Is A Separation
Actor Brian J Smith was in awe of Asghar Farhadi's Oscar-winning film A Separation after he saw it for the first time. Subsequent viewings have only increased his admiration for the complex story of the acrimonious dissolution of a couple's relationship and the repercussions that follow. A Separation refuses to pass judgment on its characters. Every one of them is fully realized and makes both good and bad decisions throughout. It's a true reflection of the human condition and the lengths to which we all will go to protect the people we love.
A Tear-Jerking Space Quest: Jon Lovett's Spark Is Outer Wilds
Podcaster and comedian Jon Lovett is an avid gamer who discovered the acclaimed Outer Wilds in the thick of COVID lockdown. The game's sweet simplicity provided a perfect escape from the pandemic bleakness surrounding him and it quickly became his favorite game of all time. Eschewing the violence that is so prevalent in many of the gaming world's biggest titles, it is a meditative space adventure broken up into 22-minute cycles. The joy of low-stakes exploration struck such a chord with Lovett that he gets emotional when he speaks about his love for Outer Wilds.
Beauty, Horror And The Merits Of Repeated Viewings: AJJ's Sean Bonnette's Spark Is Annihilation
Alex Garland's film Annihilation combines meditative storytelling with visceral body horror and action, all of which drew in AJJ frontman Sean Bonnette from the first time he saw it. So much so that he watched it over and over again while it was in theaters. He loved the movie's juxtaposition of otherwordly natural beauty with startling bouts of extreme violence, all set to an ambitious and unsettling score from Ben Salisbury and Portishead's Geoff Barrow. Bonnette is a true film aficionado who's been inspired by all Alex Garland's other works including Men and Devs, as well as the singular cinematic vision of Everything Everywhere All At Once.
A Two For One Special: Cub Sport's Tim Nelson's Spark Is Jesus At The Gay Bar and TEKE::TEKE's Mishka Stein's Spark Is Blade Runner
It's a buy one, get one free episode! First up is Cub Sport frontman Tim Nelson, who was so drawn to Jay Hulme's poem Jesus At The Gay Bar that the band's new album shares its name. Nelson grew up in a devout Christian community and struggled to reconcile his religious upbringing with his queerness. His mother has fully embraced his identity and Nelson saw parallels to the strength of their bond in Hulme's depiction of Jesus' compassion. In the second half of the episode, TEKE::TEKE bassist Mishka Stein shares his love for Ridley Scott's magnum opus Blade Runner. Since childhood, Stein has been drawn to the beauty in every frame of Blade Runner, its poetic dialogue, and the atmospheric soundscape provided by Vangelis' legendary score.