MEET SONNY!
ADULT ENTERTAINER, FAILED ACTOR...AND OUR NEW FAVE POP STAR!



Sonny Bardot, born Søren Kjelland, has lived quite a life and has his fingers in a plethora of pies. The blue-haired 26-year-old has amassed a not-too-shabby following of 8.5k on Twitter and, while far from a household name, has persistently garnered interest in many fields over the last few years. If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again. And try, Sonny has. Norwegian-born Sonny moved to London with his parents at the age of 8, not being able to speak a word of English. The chaotic move set the tone for the rest of his life. Bardot would then go on to model as a child for clothing and homeware stores such as Matalan, land a few small-time acting gigs in his teens, get expelled from his performing arts academy and become an adult entertainer and webcam model, which he still does to this day. All of this is before adding his battles with chronic asthma, severe dyslexia, ADHD diagnosis, being near-blind in his left eye and a struggle with a heroin addiction. He's resilient and, speaking to the man, his life has certainly built character instead of dampening his spirits.

Claiming to be a "highly creative soul" who just wants to "make things" and "entertain people", Sonny has finally turned his attention to music. After years of sitting on the fence and being unable to find a way into the field, Bardot met his now best friend and roommate, Marcus Slate, an upcoming independent DJ and producer AKA EaziiBoi and the trajectory of his life changed once again. The pair met at a party in January 2019 and have been physically piecing together a music partnership ever since - pooling their incomes together to purchase everything they need. In fact, had it not been for a very zealous email from EaziiBoi, I wouldn't have known of Sonny let alone have the pleasure of interviewing him. I got the Smurf-haired oddball on the phone to chat about his bizarre life, debut single "Sonny Falls Into the Void" (yes, it's really called that) and his forthcoming independent EP, "New Game".

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Hello! Am I talking to Sonny Bardot, possible great-grandchild of Brigitte?
Ha! I wish. She was fucking hot. Wait, that sounds a little incestuous. Awkward. Let's start again! Hello. Yes, this is is Sonny. No, there is no relation but she IS the reason for my surname. Always thought it sounded great and my mother loved her 60's and 70's styling.

So I can assume that this fantastic, ready-made pop star sounding name wasn't assigned to you at birth?
Sadly not. I was born Søren Kjelland but was always called Sonny by friends and family. When I moved to the UK, it was easier to just go by Sonny as the British tongue is rather lazy and I knew people would just butcher my real name anyway. Legally changed it to "Sonny Bardot". Needed something a little more sparky and punchy because I was pursuing a career in the entertainment business and again, nobody would attempt to pronounce Kjelland. Also had a very strained relationship with my father and we've fallen out of contact completely in the last five years so I'm glad I ditched his surname. Fuck him.

Before getting you on the phone, I've been searching through your social media profiles. You appear to be a very open book, talking candidly about your life. From sex work to health conditions to personal relationships. Do you mind if we delve a little further into some topics before we touch on the music? I, and I know our readers, would love to get to know "Sonny" a little better.
Absolutely! I don't have anything to hide or shy away from. I tend to overshare quite a lot of the time so you may regret opening that can of worms. Just stop me if I'm getting a little too deep or making you want to blow your brains out.

Noted. OK, I won't beat around the bush, pardon the pun. I know a lot of people will be drawn to this article once they read that you are an adult entertainer. Do you want to elaborate on that and just clear up what it is you do in that field? No need for gory specifics, pal.
Haha! People can easily Google the gory specifics anyway. I encourage it. Basically, I love sex and have a real positive attitude surrounding it. I love people of all shapes, sizes, shades, genders, you name it. I've attended sex parties, befriended a lot of sex workers, dabbled in a LOT of stuff. Don't think there's anything better than someone loving their body and exploring it in all kinds of ways. It's why I strip off and pleasure myself on a webcam sex site. Yeah, it's a source of income but I also get to share my body and bond with people over sex. It's more than just whacking off for me. There are so many regulars that I chat too. We honestly just talk, laugh, interact and give ourselves a treat at the same time. Because of my cam shows, I've also been asked to do some porn scenes. A mixture of both gay and straight. Would say I've only filmed four or five though. It's fun to do every now and then.

I love your honesty and passion for it. I fully respect and embrace that. However, we know there will be people who won't be so accepting. Do you fear your pornographic past will hinder your future musical endeavours?
Well it's not my past. I still do it and will continue to do so until I see fit. I love it! But yeah, I've already had shit thrown my way whenever I tweet about music or talk about it in my streams. People are always going to judge though. Doesn't matter to me. All I've ever wanted to do is entertain people and unleash my inner performer. I'm not looking to be the next big superstar. I know I'm doing this on a small budget with a so-called "unorthodox" background and in a world of judgment, instant opinions and insults sent directly to my device. I'm not looking for validation or superstardom. I'm just making music for me and the fucking sexy people who enjoy it. That's not to say I never will make it big. There's always an exception to the rule. That could be me. Either way, I'm still happy and proud of my material regardless of what it may or may not do. I even have a song on my EP called "Cyber Sweat" which is all about webcam sex. I'm marrying my loves together.

Of course, music and adult entertainment aren't the only fields you've played around in. Am I correct in saying you initially started out as a model?
Yeah! That was a fucking hellish experience, let me tell you! I never really wanted to go into modelling. I just sort of fell into. My aunt, who also lived in England, had a friend who was a co-owner of some agency. My mum knew that I wanted to be a performer from a very young age and she viewed this as a foot in the door so I was shoved into it. Found it so boring and filled with ghastly people. All that drama for a badly airbrushed photo of 11-year-old me in a raincoat for Primark...or Matalan...whatever. I did a bunch. I just didn't have the attention span. The undiagnosed ADHD didn't help either. Was all very boring.

So naturally you jump right into acting from there?
You make it sound so fucking easy, haha! That was my next step. Always enjoyed drama at school and really wanted to pursue it further. Fucking adored getting into a character, losing myself, making people laugh, cry and just engage, really. I love the spark of performing. Hate the business side of it though. A lot of being insulted at a young age, losing out to someone with more money and status, being put down and stabbed in the back by fellow budding actors. Totally didn't leave me with a complex.

Before you gave up that frightfully hellish experience, did you land any good roles? Anything we'd know you from?
Is that sarcasm I detect, sir?! Ha! The only role with a name I got was in an episode on the last series of "The Bill". It was a British police drama for those that don't know. I was about 15 at the time. I was a troubled youth named Tommy. Was in two scenes and had about six or seven lines of dialogue in total. That was pretty much my peak. I did a whole other bunch of stuff in my early teens but it was mainly unnamed or non-speaking parts. Even a lot of extra work. I was a screaming school pupil in an episode of "The Sarah Jane Adventures". Was only on the screen for like 2 seconds but it's nice to know I'm canon in the "Doctor Who" universe.



You dub yourself as a "failed actor" in you Twitter bio. Is that just a joke or have you totally stopped pursuing that avenue? What was the final nail in the coffin for you?
I'm done with that. Would LOVE to go back in time and do school productions again but legitimate acting? No. I'm too burnt by it. In my late teens, when I was struggling to find roles, I was only finally diagnosed with my ADHD and by that time I had already burnt a lot of bridges. I was hormonal, growing frustrated, fell in with a bad crowd and was mad at the world for all the cards I had been dealt in terms of my health. I was self destructing. I was kicked out of the drama academy I fought so hard to get into because of my behaviour and poor attendance. I'd lose my temper with casting directors. I would self medicate. I was 18 years old and shooting up heroin behind an old library building and couldn't function without it or some booze in my system. I fell off the rails real bad. I'm no longer addicted and would like to say that I've been pretty much free of it all since 2017 but there have been some isolated incidents in between.

You touched on having several health issues and how they got you down. From what I've read on your socials, you seem to embrace them all now. What was the turning point for you?
Getting sober. My mum, aunt and uncle intervened and got me the help I needed. Even after years of treating them like shit and being a horrid person to be around, they still kept persisting. When I was finally weaned off of all that junk, I had a moment of clarity. I could either feel sorry for myself because of everything that was "against" me and what I missed out on, running the risk of falling into that dark mindset again...or I could buck up, own that shit and do something. I have ADHD, severe dyslexia, the most chronic asthma and I'm near-blind in my left eye after a fight I got into when I was 13. It adds character. I also realised and embraced the fact that, due to the way my mind words, I was more attuned to the creative and physical side of things in school. I was never academic. I was written off as a bad student. Looking back, it was never the case. I was just extra fucking special!

And with a sparkling new outlook on life, you're heading down yet another new path with music. What made you want to pursue a career in music after all this time and a successful job as a webcam model?
I've always wanted to do music too. I love it. The art, the process, the layers, the stories, the creative playing field. I've always made up short stories and poems, which at their core were essentially songs minus a crafted melody. I'm also a huge concert goer. Well, I was before this asshole virus stopped our fun. Music has always been a love of mine but I didn't know how to pursue it. My school wouldn't let me study music and drama at the same time, so I had to drop it. I severed ties on a very bitter note with contacts I made at the academy. I was an addict and then a recovering one pretty much during the entire time shows like StarFactory and The X Factor were running. I just couldn't get my foot in the door until now.

Until God sent you the greatest gift in the form of EaziiBoi!
Indeed! We met at a party in London at the beginning of last year and hit it off right away. We now share a flat together and he's my best friend. He was DJing and making his own beats all on a shoestring budget. Music is a real passion of his and I could see that. He was working all kinds of jobs and hours just to fund what he loved doing. We eventually clubbed together and have formed this wonderful little dynamic duo. We're great friends, have a passion for creating and he's also the child of immigrant parents with them coming from Jamaica. We haven't had point for point similar lives but enough common ground and alike experience to really relate.

And after years of trying to find your footing, you've only finally gone and made an EP! Go on and tell us a bit about that.
Yeah, it's so odd to say this but I have an EP coming out soon. It's titled "New Game". It's rooted in synth-pop, kinda electronica, slightly alternative leaning. Basically, being a webcam model and a twenty-six year old in 2020, my whole life is online. I'm fascinated by that concept. How technology has integrated into our lives and how dependant we are on it. I'm not a big conspiracy theorist. It's just something that really intrigues me. We really are all plugged in. Imagine all devices just went down? It'd be anarchy. Most of the songs on there have a recurring theme of technology, social media, cyber sex, machinery, online personas, what it means to be a real flesh and blood human navigating quite a cold digital world.

You also have your very first single dropping today. How do you feel about that?
Won't lie, I've been having the real bad farts all day. Jeez! Stomach is doing cartwheels, man! I know it's not going to drop and suddenly muster up 1 Billion streams and have the likes of Isabel or Vanity knock at my door. It IS going to be a big moment for me though. Even if it gets 10 streams in 24 hours, the fact that I will officially have a song out there in the world is enough. Never thought it'd be possible and now I'm actually gearing up for the link to go live!

The single is wonderfully titled "Sonny Falls Into the Void". I already loved it upon hearing the title. The exclusive listen was the icing on the cake. Can you tell our readers more about the song?
Haha thanks! Yeah, this was the first song that I ever fully completed. It was originally titled "Headfirst" but I changed it to that very odd, long winded title to make it sound like some sort of old computer game or meme reference to tie it into the EP's theme. Being the oldest song, it was created before my final concept but I couldn't part with such a special record so it kept its place on "New Game". Basically, the song is about falling head over heels in love with someone who says they don't want to be in a committed relationship. You continue having all the fun and developing feelings while pretending you're OK with not being exclusive. Been through it. That shit hurt. Cool song though.

You certainly do seem to have an honest and frank way about you and your work. Have many artists influenced that?
I take inspiration from a bunch of amazing artists. I love people who go against the grain and do their own thing, pushing boundaries and experimenting with sounds. I love Chicago Nobody's whole quirky, DIY approach. Vanity is just...well, Vanity! Atomic War Bride are deliciously bizarre. Stephanie Fierce had some really left field records in her discography. Nova was great too. I love things that are rooted in pop but with a special twist. Also, from a writer's standpoint, I admire really brutally honest lyricists like Joshua Grimmie, Brandon Caulfield, Ryan Ross Hernandez and I think Den is going to come out with a really telling record too.

What can we expect from Sonny going into 2021?
Not a fucking clue, my friend! We shall see what happens. I have my single coming out today and the EP really soon. Living in the moment. Whatever happens, happens. The dream would be to pursue it further with a bigger budget, full on album and live shows but that's a dream, like I said. Who knows? The world has been throwing us all major curveballs lately.

Well I look forward to whatever may be in store for you! And with that, I shall bid you farewell, Mr Bardot. Best of luck with the music!
Thank you for listening to all my shit.



Sonny's debut single "Sonny Falls Into the Void" premieres later today.

STEP YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE UP WITH MI•MI
2 WORKOUTS, 1 PLAYLIST! ALL YOU NEED IS 15 MINUTES A DAY!

K-Pop girl group Mi•Mi are never afraid to break a sweat! After releasing their motivating single Step It Up on all platforms,
it's only right that the girl group reveals to fans how they stay in shape. We got a chance to spend a day at the gym with all 4 girls
and each individual superstar gave us insight on exactly what completes their ideal workout routine.

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DAENA NEEDS...CONSISTENCY


DAENA: If you're going to take your workout seriously then the first thing you need is a workout schedule! The goal should be to exercise everyday and there are many ways to attack this. Personally, I go for a morning run everyday to wake my body up, do a focused workout routine for 15 minutes right ebfore lunch and then end the day with a little bit of yoga. Your schedule is totally up to you! Take the time out to decide what is the ideal schedule for your body and write it down to hold yourself accountable."

MAE NEEDS...MUSIC


Mae: Sometimes it can be hard to stay focused and motivated while you workout. You know the perfect way around that? Music! I never go into a workout without my playlist ready! When you are going on long runs, I suggest going to your favorite streaming app and finding a Mi•Mi radio to play! That way, you wont have to focus too much on what song or artist is coming up next, let the K-Pop/R&B algorithm guide you so that you may enjoy your run. Every song should be groovy enough to get you through your daily mile! For a shorter workout, having the right songs playing at the right time is absolutely necessary! 15 minutes may not seem like a long time but it can feel faster or slower depending on the songs you have playing in the background. I got 5 Mi•Mi songs that are just PERFECT for when you need to break a quick sweat!

1. Mi•Mi - Step It Up (4:09)
2. Mi•Mi - Until I Feel It In the Floor (3:12)
3. Mi•Mi - Goin' Out (1:25)
4. Mi•Mi - Chairs (3:25)
5. Mi•Mi - NO EXCUSES (2:10)

LISTEN NOW!


MISU NEEDS...TONING


Misu: Summer is right around the corner! You know what that means? It's time to get the perfect workout routine together for your swimsuit body! If you start working on it now, you wont have to worry about crunching in your fitness later. All you need is 10 mintues a day to tone up your muscles so that you can get them looing just right! 20 squats, 10 push ups, 10 reverse lunges, 15 crunches, 5 glute bridges and then plank for 30 seconds and viola!

MIKI LEE NEEDS...BOOTY TIME


Miki Lee: No workout is complete without special attention to the booty! You gotta keep it looking right and tight girls and the only way to do that is by spending 5 minutes every day scoping that booty into everything you want it to be! What is it gonna take? 10 MORE SQUATS, I'm sorry but squats are just so important, 5 more reverse lunges on each foot, 5 side lunges on each foot, 5 donkey kicks for each leg, and 5 more glute bridges but this time make sure you lift each leg up while your butt is in the air!

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Well there you have it! The perfect 15 minute workout and all the components necessary to get you in shape!
Try the #90DayStepItUpChallenge and tell us if the girl group's recipe for the perfect summer body works for you!

OOC: thank you so much! I thought it up a while ago and finally got the chance to flesh it out so I'm glad the execution came out decently

The Forgotten Frontwoman: PANIC!'s Ashley Perry
For the first time ever, Perry opens up about her fractured relationship with Ryan Ross Hernandez, the band's 10-year hiatus, and what the future holds for the original saviors of pop-punk.



Before there was Riot! in the Boulevard, there was a band stylized in all caps and an exclamation mark called PANIC! who crashed into the music scene in 2005 with their mouthful 4x-platinum debut album titled "We Are the Directors of This Dramatic Love Story" and its bravado-laced Top 3 single "I Liked You Better Before You Became a Fucking MySpace Whore" which became a viral sensation in the early days of YouTube and social media. Their follow-up album "Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner" two years later cemented the group as darlings for the digital era. Both bands had a lot of similar parallels in their inception and stylistically. Before there was Riot's Amy Meyer, there was a singer two inches taller but with just as much spunk named Ashley Perry who became a poster child for angsty and misunderstood teenagers everywhere. "I lived vicariously through Amy Meyer for years," Perry admits laughing, stating that she kept a close eye on her and Riot! as they rose to fame shortly after PANIC! fizzled out in 2010. "I never attended a Riot! concert because it would have been too painful for me," she insists that it has nothing to do with any underlying jealously on her part given the heights of popularity Meyer has achieved. "I felt disillusioned with music for a very long time. After the last PANIC! show in 2011, I didn't attend a concert for like six or seven years. I still loved music but I didn't think it was meant for me."

The early origin of PANIC! is not your typical story of a band coming together organically in high school and staying friends forever. There was Perry, who signed her first record deal at the age of 16 after attracting attention in her local music scene playing mostly original material at bars and coffee shops. Columbia Records shifted their focus to find members who would best compliment her and the sound they were aiming for, envisioning her to work best in a band form. Gabe Hunter, multi-instrumentalist out of SoCal, and Nick Asher, a bassist from Chicago, joined Perry a few months later after an extensive search for the right musicians. The trio clicked almost immediately but Shawn Anderson, the President of Columbia Records at that time, felt the group was missing a spark that would draw people in. Insert Ryan Ross Hernandez. The singer-songwriter had released his second studio album "Dark Secret Love" in 2004 under the same label and was already establishing a name for himself as a pretty successful solo artist. In a meeting with Anderson, the guitarist shared that he wanted to take a new challenge on, specifically being in a band. Insert PANIC!.

We caught up with Perry a few weeks after the trio performed live for the first time in nearly a decade at the 8th Fan Choice Awards this past April. "I don't get recognized much these days and that's okay. I like my quiet little life." A lot of the lack of recognition might be because she looks completely different from the skinny jean wearing, bleached hair teenager the world got to know as she bounced around the stage like an Energizer Bunny. Now at 33 years old, she lets her natural jet-black hair flow freely and has traded her black clothing for a flowery summer dress and ankle-high boots. "If you change too much, it's perceived as fake and trying too hard. If you stay the same for too long, it's boring. Being a woman is already hard. Being a woman in the entertainment industry? Pfft. Good fucking luck to you. It's manic." She spends a lot of time thinking about outdated gender roles and the pressures of being a woman. The #MeToo movement that gained steam in 2017 resonated with her as a "call to action" for women everywhere to stand up and be vocal about abusive and sexist behavior, although she confidently says that she made it through her years in the spotlight "thankfully unscathed".

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How have the years since PANIC! took an indefinite hiatus treated you?

The first few years were rough. When most people my age would be wrapping up college and figuring out the rest of their lives, I was unemployed. I had nothing to do. I had bouts of anger and depression. At some point though, you realize that somebody has it worse than you. It doesn't belittle your feelings but rather it helps you come to terms with things ending and the passing of time. I lived out my dream at a young age and not many people can say they ever played a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden or toured across Europe. I did that and those memories will always be near and dear to me. Once you are removed from a certain thing for a while, you gain an appreciation for that time.

When you, Nick Asher, and Gabe Hunter sat down and said you were taking a break from the band, was there a timeline on when you all would regroup and make music again?

No. The only thing we knew for sure was that we needed to step away. Everybody wants to talk about the good years and between 2005 and most of 2008, we were on top of the world. At least that's how we felt. Nobody knows how low we all were through the last few years that we were attempting to survive as a band.

What do you mean by that?

We had a drastic fall from grace. We still had excitement when we were recording Broken Down on Memory Lane in 2009 but as soon as that record came out, the world kicked us to the mud. We were miserable promoting and touring that album because we felt like we gave it everything we had and nobody seemed to care. Not our fans, not our label, nobody. It was the three of us against the world at that moment in time.

Broken Down on Memory Lane failed to replicate the success the first two albums had and Columbia Records dropped you once touring ended for that record. How was that for you at such a young age?

I was a recording and touring artist at 17 years old and by 22 I was considered a has-been. How do you tell yourself that you're worthy and talented? How do you believe that when these loud voices are telling you that without the good looking charismatic guy, you're basically dead in the water? It's morally draining. That's the lowest I've ever felt in my entire life.

And the guy you're speaking of is Ryan Ross Hernandez.

Yes.

I'll admit, I was expecting that you wouldn't want to talk about Ryan Ross Hernandez.

We're all adults here. We have had enough time and distance between everything to be able to talk about it. It's been 13 years since Ryan left the band and nearly 10 years since PANIC! has even existed, so you can no longer use any excuse to avoid it. You can't tell the story of PANIC! without Ryan Ross Hernandez. You can't tell my story without Ryan Ross Hernandez. It's all intertwined.

What was your initial reaction when you first met Hernandez?

When I first met him I think it was the typical reaction most have when they meet him. He's one of the greatest conversationalists in the world. When he speaks to you, he maintains eye contact the entire time. His charm is less tactical and more about having this natural trait to make you feel as the most important person when he's talking to you. That's why I was never surprised to see him go on to date all these gorgeous women over the years. He is as talented a musician as he is a charmer to the opposite sex.

How did you feel when Shawn Anderson approached you to tell you that Ryan was going to be a part of the band?

I was apprehensive about the idea of having him join the band. He was already an established figure and I was concerned that bringing him in was going to publicly hurt us in the long run because we were going to be viewed as some sort of side project to his solo career. Truthfully, that may have been the case for Ryan. For myself, Nick, and Hunter, this band was everything to us.

There's no denying that at the early stages having Hernandez involved was beneficial for the commercial success and popularity of the band, correct?

Absolutely. I don't necessarily think fans of his solo work in 2005 were rushing to hear us given that we were on the opposite end of what he was known for genre wise at that time. There was an air of curiosity from his fans who wanted to see what Ryan could do in both a band setting and in a style that was brand new to him. That earned us a nice springboard at the starting line. To his credit, he nailed it. There's a lot of narratives out there about this or that when it comes to the band and differences with Ryan, creatively it always worked.

How natural did that creative partnership with him come about? During his time with the band, you two wrote all of the lyrics together and he composed most of the music with Hunter.

The very first song we wrote was "MySpace Whore" and immediately we knew there was something there. When it came to writing with him, it was easy. He taught me a lot about opening up as a songwriter and what it meant to have that human factor in everything you write. If you've heard anyone say that Ryan is a chameleon in this industry, it's true. He has this uncanny, almost mad genius ability to play whatever he wants and do it well. He allowed each of us to bring our own talents and traits onto the table and he enhanced everything to be fuller in all aspects.

You and him wrote two highly successful albums together. Arguably, within a year of debuting, PANIC! was considered one of the biggest bands in the world. You were going on massive tours, playing festivals around the world, winning music awards in the US and internationally. For over 3 years you maintained that status pretty well. How surprised were you when you received the call in June 2008 from Ryan saying that he was leaving the band?

It was an email. There was no phone call. He sent a group email out to myself, Nick, Hunter, and Amber Lowell who was the band's manager. It was a paragraph long. I wasn't shocked that he left when he did. I was more hurt by how he handled it. It was cowardly. It was selfish. I thought we deserved to hear it from his own lips and not over a faceless email. We knew his time with the band was never going to be forever. His focus was always on his solo career and we understood that. He exited in the coldest way possible and it stung. Even worse than how he went about things, he cut all ties with us. It's as if we didn't even exist when he left.

Have you and Ryan had any conversations in person since then?

He was around a lot when we opened for GirlSpice in late 2011. At that time he was dating Nadia [Berry], so he stopped by several shows. We only interacted once for maybe five minutes. I won't go into details about the conversation we had then. I just needed that moment. I needed to see him face to face to get the closure I didn't get in 2008. We run in completely different circles now. The odds of running into him are slim these days.

Will PANIC! ever work or perform with Ryan in the future?

We will never work with Ryan again. There's no reason to sugarcoat that. We don't want fans to hold out hope that one day he'll join us on stage or we'll collaborate on a song. It's not happening. Sometimes too many bridges are burnt to be able to salvage a personal or professional relationship with someone. He chose his path and I respect that. Look at how well his career has gone. He doesn't need me. He doesn't need PANIC!.

If he were to reach out to you or PANIC! collectively, would you hear me out? Would you accept an apology if he were to do so today?

No. I can't speak for Nick and Hunter but I personally wouldn't. I believe people can change and judging from his actions in recent years, and this is just by someone who has as much knowledge of him these days as you or the fans do, he appears to have grown up. He had a lot of demons when I knew him and publicly he has had his troubles. I truly hope for his sake and happiness that he has found some peace in his life. I only say no because I don't need that apology anymore. Maybe if he would have done it shortly after everything and he had realized his mistake, I would have been more receptive to it. Now I'm a grown ass woman and I don't need that validation to find solace in the past.

It's never been confirmed but it was long rumored that when Ryan was still in the band you and him dated. Is there any truth to that?

Looking back at it now, I don't know if I would call it dating in the traditional sense. We began a physical relationship when I was 19 and it lasted for half a year or so. There was no grooming occurring when I was underage. He didn't gaslight me to not speak about the relationship we had. He didn't blackball from the industry. I want to emphasize that because I don't want this story to take a turn that isn't real. I was a consenting adult when we developed a sexual relationship. He played no part in the reason why I disappeared. All of those things were my choice. My issues with Ryan had nothing to do any of that.

How did it make you feel to see him help produce for Riot! in the Boulevard, develop a longstanding friendship with Amy Meyer, and constantly praise her work over the years? And in that same vein, recently Hernandez announced that he was doing an entire joint album with Ellie-Grace Summers and he called her "the most talented musician and singer-songwriter he has ever worked with." Does all of that feel like a slap in the face given the history you have with him professionally?

You know, everything with Amy, I'm sure I had some resentment seeing that when I was young because he left us high and dry. He said he didn't want to do pop-punk or rock music anymore then 2 years later he was working with Riot! on their debut album which was sort of in that same realm. It was shitty to see but you mature and you see things differently. Amy Meyer is a fantastic artist. Ellie-Grace Summer is a fantastic artist. Any grudge you may have buried deep down towards someone does not extend to the people they may associate or be friends with. That would just be childish. Ryan and I had a partnership that worked and when that ended, it doesn't discredit what we did together, it just means that it was time to move on from it. I have no interest in being bitter about something that happened 13 years ago. I'm happy for all the success he's had and that he's found his perfect collaborator in Ellie-Grace.

How was it performing at the Fan Choice Awards earlier this year? How did that opportunity come about?

It was incredible. We had so much fun on that stage performing for the first time in years. The organizers reached out to us inquiring if we would be interested in coming together and playing together. We all had a Zoom meeting to discuss it and for the first time in years it appeared that all of us were at a place where we were ready to dust everything off and play music again. That performance reminded us how much we love doing it.

During the hiatus, how often would the three of you be in touch?

It wasn't an every week or every month thing. We're friends and every time one of us went through a rough patch over the last decade, I think we knew we could reach out and count on each other. The three of us spent 5 years tied at the hip. Our lives changed during that time away, so it wasn't always easy to stay in contact. Nick has a wife and kids now, Hunter lives in LA and is a film composer. We all entered new phases in our lives.

What have you been up to in your own life?

At first nothing and that was okay. I was 22 when we went on hiatus. Between the ages of 16 and 21, my life was entirely write, record, and tour. I needed time to reset and figure out who I was. I didn't have a chance to do that earlier because my life was always on the move. I ended up traveling by myself for two years, completely alone and removed from everything. It was lovely. I returned to the states and moved back to Austin to be closer to my parents. Down there, with their help and a few old friends, I opened a record shop in 2015 that started out pretty small but has expanded over the years. Now we have a beer garden in the back and a music venue on the second floor. It's been a passion project of mine, so I'm happy to see it grow and become a hub for my community.

Did you try to write songs during your time away from the public eye?

Of course. It came naturally. I can't turn off that part of my brain. I always get ideas. I have thousands of little lyrics on my phone and voice memos of melodies that come to mind. It took me a long time to accept that creating music is something I will always do whether I'm actively in this industry or not.

Is PANIC! a band again?

Yes. PANIC! is once again a band.

Have you all started working on new music since reconnecting?

We have. It's coming along slowly. We're meeting in the studio every few weeks to work on ideas. We don't want to force anything or burn ourselves out. We have a few songs that are ready to go and right now we are working out what we want to do next.

Are there plans for a new full-length album and tour?

If we didn't think that was possible, we wouldn't be doing any of this. We wouldn't have performed at the FCAs if it was only going to be a nostalgic kick for us. We as a band never got the proper ending we wanted. I think we all feel that way.

Let's say PANIC! releases a final album, does one last tour, and you get that ending you speak of. Does Ashley Perry go solo and continue her story independently? We've seen Amy Meyer have a very successful solo career after Riot! in the Boulevard.

I don't know. Right now I'm focused on making music with Nick and Hunter. I'm having fun again playing music which is a huge deal for me because I thought I'd lost that forever when my entire world came crashing down. I don't know what the future holds for PANIC! or for myself but I will take whatever comes in stride. It's freeing to have reached a point where there are no expectations because everyone wrote you off long ago. It's like we're working on a debut album all over again. The slate is clean.

Will we see the band signed to a major record label again in the future given how sour your last experience with a label ended?

We haven't discussed those details yet. The goal for us right now is to make music. How we decide to release that music and commercialize it, that all will come later on.

Is there a chip on your shoulder to prove people wrong given how the band was counted out after Hernandez left and the chain of events that brought upon yourself?

We had that in 2009 when we released the first album without him and it failed. We can blame fair-weather fans, or the record label, or a hundred other things. At the end of the day, we could have made a better album. We could have done things differently to breakaway from the image we had when Ryan was a part of the band. We could have taken a break when we needed it instead of waiting until we were running on empty to do so. We failed and we had to grow to accept that. If there are fans who still support us through all of it, that's awesome. We can't wait to put out new music for you. If there are people who think we were shit without Ryan and we will never come out of from under his shadow, that's your opinion. I'm not going to lose sleep over that. This next chapter of PANIC! is not about the past or writing any redemption story. It's about finding out what PANIC! sounds like in 2021 and introducing that to a new music audience.

POP DON'T STOP: AN INTERVIEW WITH LINCOLN!



Lincoln may not be a name one thinks of when the topic of pop superstars arises. Heavyweights such as Weekend, Suzie, Coke, Isabel, Ryan Ross Hernandez, Joshua Grimmie, Stephanie Fierce, Payton and the likes all roll off the tongue with stupendous ease when we think about the upper echelon of our modern entertainers. Immense talent aside; a fair deal of controversy and sex appeal will catapult a recording artist into superstardom, the tabloids and the infamous Twitter trending page. Despite having nothing but a string of #1 singles not to mention one of the best-selling songs of all-time which was accompanied by one of the most expensive music videos in history, Lincoln is often left out of the conversation. That is where his strength lies. Never one to rock the boat, Lincoln has been able to produce some of the finest pop records of recent years without having to bow to obsessive fandom or alter his image and artistic vision in order to appease any criticism or meet certain expectations. Every so often he drops a banger, we love it and the cycle continues. He'll also release a photoshoot that further proves he doesn't know how clothes work and it's another reason he's one of our favourite pop stars. Consistency. A key to success.

With the release of his new single "The Party Never Dies" looming over us (side note: I've heard it already and it's his best yet!!), I had the pleasure of chatting to Lincoln via Zoom. The Liverpool-born star was vacationing in sunny California whilst I conducted the interview from a dimly-lit English apartment. As always during these unusual times, things didn't exactly go to plan. After MANY technical issues interfered with our chat for the best part of two hours, we finally managed to sit at our screens and talk shop without one of our faces freezes in an unfortunate expression or connection dropping completely.

Read our natter below!




Not to tempt fate but I think we finally have it! Technology is great when it works, eh? Hello, Lincoln! How are you?! Let's pretend I haven't asked that question multiple times already.
Hehe! Hellooooo!! Yeah, it's so annoying when that happens and awkward too! Talking to a frozen face for ages before realising you're not really there, haha! I'm doing super well. Excited about my new music and enjoying the sun. Can't stop smiling! What about you?

I'm not going to lie, my mood flattened more and more each time the connection dropped but hopefully chatting about my beloved pop music will raise my spirits once more. Listening to your stuff, it feels like pure escapism and joy. Is that what music does for you as well?
Definitely! Whenever I feel sad about something, I either listen to music or try to write about it. It helps to cheer me up or understand something a little better. It takes me out of living in the real world for a little bit and it's like I'm in some sort of bubble. Nothing else matters or can hurt me if I'm listening to a song. Sometimes I even create little music videos and stories in my head when I listen to music. I can easily get lost in those daydreams!

I can definitely tell you put a lot of emotion into your music. Yes, it's fun pop but there's real heart in the lyrics. I think you're on your way to becoming "King of Sad-Bangers". Is that whole "dancing with tears in your eyes" sound something you purposely lean into?
Ummmmm, yes and no, hehe! I just started out writing random songs in the beginning. When I was first signed, I had never actually written a song before! The label wanted me because they heard me do covers on YouTube. When I started to write, it was just about anything and everything. I would make up stories and stuff. I remember having a writing session with Christopher [Hudson] one day a few years ago and he said to me; "you've found your voice". I didn't know what he meant at the time. I've always had a voice! I can sing and talk, hehe! But he meant as an artist. He noticed that a lot of the best songs we made were ones that were a little emotional but still poppy, haha! I like the saying "sad bangers", though. I'm gonna use that!! When I found that I was really good at that style, that's when I started to make it my "thing". I don't want my album to sound like loads of random songs together. I think it's nice to have a style.

Very few artists these days are straight-up pop. It's almost like a dirty word and people will clutch at straws just to be seen as remotely "alternative" or "experimental". From your songs, to the dancing, to the outfits, you seem to live and breathe pop music. Would that be correct in saying
Absolutely! It is my favourite type of music. To me, it is all just a bunch of fun. It's like dressing up and pretending to be someone else for a while. You can dance and sing along to it and have a really good time but there is also another side to pop. Just because something is catchy doesn't mean it's not real art. I know sooooooo many amazing writers and singers and I don't think enough people take them seriously just because it's pop stuff they do. I don't like how a lot of people think you have to be a man with a guitar and tattoos just to be seen as a "real" artist. Music is all about enjoyment to me! I don't understand how some people can be really mean and sour faced about it. Just have a little dance, hehe!

So who would you say inspired you to get on out there and "have a little dance"?
My parents were one inspiration. They used to go to raves in the 90's so they used to always play really fast, upbeat, party music. Most pop singers from the 2000s and 2010s also really inspired me. I knew that I wanted to do music even from a teeny, tiny age. I also wasn't good at much else in school apart from music, drama and gymnastics. Performing was the only real strength I had. A lot of nasty kids at school called me "gay" for wanting to do that stuff. They were right. I am gay but it's not a bad thing like they were meaning! I remember seeing boys like Weekend, Kato and Austin Nimmo doing the music I love. They didn't care about bad comments and were killing it! I covered a lot of their songs online which is what got me my record deal in the first place! I think getting to meet Austin and having a song with him is the best moment of my career! He is one of my biggest idols. I still can't believe that happened!

Wait. Back up a second. Your parents were ravers?!
Yeah. I don't know much about it but I always get weird looks when I say that. It's just dancing, right? My dad's first job when he moved from Azerbaijan was as a security guard at a club. That's how he met my mum. It's one big party family, hehe!

That is something I was not expecting to hear. I'm assuming there won't be any Acid House music on your album though.
I don't know what Acid House is but it sounds scary, haha! Maybe if I hear some and understand what it is, it could be on album number two, who knows?!

I will say though, you DID surprise me with "The Party Never Dies".
Ooooh, really?! Yay! Oh, wait. What was it that surprised you? I don't know if you mean good surprised or bad surprised!

Well, for starters I didn't think I'd hear Lincoln sing about the state of the economy, dollar bills with traces of cocaine and the societal elite having unprotected sex and committing crimes.
Ahhhh, I get you! Yeah, I can see how that could be a little unexpected, hehe!

Unexpected, yes! So how the hell did such a song come about?!
Ha! Well, it first started off when I was in a writing session with Christopher. Any chance I get to work with him, I take it! He's such a good friend to me and we have the best conversations! We were in the studio and ordered a McDonald's. I got a vanilla milkshake, my fave, and I was so annoyed that the paper straw was going all soggy and stopping me from drinking. Me and Chris started to talk about them and how it's all about trying to save the environment but then he mentioned how all these companies and big business people do more damage to the planet with their factories and private planes. Stuff that paper straws won't fix! We then chatted for AGES about how rules don't apply to some people. Usually very rich and very bad people. We had another session that next day with a little team and I knew I wanted to write about that. About how unfairly lots of us are treated and how we should stand up to these bad people. They make us feel stupid and powerless but we aren't. We have so much power but a lot of people feel defeated. It's so sad! It's a real honest song but I kinda think it's also my biggest banger yet, ha!



I agree, I do think that it's your best single to date. It is unadulterated euphoria. An espresso shot of exhilaration. With such chaotic lyrics, I'm imagining a balls-to-the-wall music video. Do you have anything spectacular in mind for the visuals? Shall we expect a "Bang The Drum" 2.0?
You use such fancy words, hehe! Yeah, I'm planning the video right now, actually! There is still a lot to do and I have a meeting about it coming up but in my mind, I'm wanting it to be like a huge party at the end of the world! The song is really about finding strength and joy when the world is falling apart. Being a tough cookie and pushing through! So yeah, I'm thinking of something really chaotic like you said! I hope it's not like "Bang The Drum" though. I never want another one of those again!

An artist not wanting a repeat of a record-shattering song and video is a bold claim to make. What makes you say that?
I'm...not a fan of that song. I can't believe I said that! No, I mean, it's a good song. It's fun, it's catchy and I'm super proud of what it did. I don't regret it at all. It's just that...well, I'm kinda scared of it! It did such incredible things but for the longest time, it took over my life. It was fun at first but then it really frightened me! It was so huge. I became the "Bang The Drum" boy. Whenever I performed it, I knew just how many people were watching and wanted a great performance of a song they loved so much. That's why I took a long time to come out with something else. I wanted that song to kinda...uh...die! It had a life of its own and still sort of does. I've even decided to make it a deluxe only track on my album. I still worry it would take away from the other songs. It's...intimidating, I think that's the word?

Relegating one of the best-selling songs of all-time to a bonus track is kind of a boss move. You've got big balls, Keaton!
Oh, my! I guess I do!

So if "Bang The Drum" hasn't made the cut, I'm curious about what WILL make the album. What can you tell me about the record?
It's definitely one you can party to. There's no real ballads on there but there's still a whole mix of styles. Like you said earlier about the "sad-bangers" stuff, there's a lot of those on there. It's very inspired by the 1980's. I think that's when all the best pop music came out and it's also what my mum loved most. She's not around anymore but I really think this is the type of album she would love. A friend of mine said that the album sounds like something from a feel-good 80's movie soundtrack and I love that! The best compliment ever! That's the vibes I wanted. Even down to the artwork, everything is very, very throwback. It is like a love letter to that decade...even though I wasn't even born then, hehe!

More importantly, does it have a bloody release date?!
SOON! I promise! I'm sorry for all of the delays. I wish the album was already out and I always feel bad whenever it has to get pushed back but I just want to make the best record that I can! We're super, super close though! It'll be out in 2022, I swear! Pinky promise.

The album is titled "Sorry to Interrupt". An intriguing choice and a great one for a debut. Why that title?
Well, it is the name of the first song on the album and I think it really sums up a lot of what I'm saying on the songs. One of my producers said that this album is "for the underdogs" and I totally get what he means! I'm one of those shy people. I can feel real, real awkward. Sometimes I feel like I'm living this life accidentally. Like I've stolen someone else's job 'cause I'm just a boy from Liverpool! I'm trying to stop thinking like that because everyone deserves a chance to be happy and do what they love no matter where they come from. "Sorry to Interrupt" is kinda of like me having my say but also being kinda nervous about it too, hehe!!

Do you see yourself as an underdog in the entertainment business?
I do but it's not a bad thing. I don't wish to be...what's the opposite of an underdog? Overdog? I don't know, hehe! I'm not the biggest name in music but I know a lot of people who are super famous and they have a LOT of worries. Some people's lives just look so stressful. It's like they don't have a moment to breathe! I don't want that. Ever! I also think some people don't take me very seriously because I've read the nasty tweets. I get called names or they think my music isn't fancy enough. Again, that's OK! I feel like I'm so lucky to have my amazing fans. The people who like and support my music are with me and they are all that I need! I love them all and I am so, so grateful to have what I have. Wanting more and being greedy isn't a good thing. I've seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

You touched on your past successes just there. You've stacked up many hits and achievements. Just how important are those accolades to you? Do you care about how well this album will perform?
I am the luckiest guy in the world. Sometimes I look at my awards and the #1 trophies that ChartHeat give out and just can't believe this is all real! I love and appreciate all my fans and just anyone who has supported my work. It makes super happy! It isn't the reason that I do all of this, though. I just love to entertain! It makes my heart and soul all warm and fluttery when I see people enjoying themselves. I want to put out music that puts a smile on faces or helps someone through a tough time. It is a wonderful feeling to hear that your song has done well but it isn't something I worry about. Seeing messages about how one of my tracks has saved someone's life or that I've inspired them to do something makes me much happier than getting a number one.

Sooooo, I shouldn't convince our ThatMusicSite readers to go pick up "Sorry to Interrupt" when it drops?
Oh no, no, no, I won't stop you from doing that, hehe! I mean, it'd be a shame if NOBODY bought it after all the years I spent making it. People will enjoy it too! It'll make a great Christmas gift, I promise!

OK, I'll put a card in a window when the album's out. Lincoln, it has been short and sweet but it has been a pleasure talking to you. I also think that it's wise to stop while we're ahead in case the connection drops once more. "The Party Never Dies" is a pop music triumph and you can sleep easy tonight knowing that you've unleashed another 10/10 banger into the world.
Awwww, thank you! I had such a lovely time! I probably won't sleep well 'cause I get really nervous on release night but you've definitely put a big smile on my face! I'm going to play the song once when it comes out tonight and then TRY to get some sleep! I'll probably be online reading all the comments though! Have a good night, Mr. ThatMusicSite! Byeeeee!

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