Feature Artist: Upclose & Personal w/ Trey Songz

Tallatainment: First of all, How are you?

Trey: Im feeling great, how are you doing?

Tallatainment: Im great.

Trey: thats good

Tallatainment:Now I follow you on twitter.

Trey: Believe that!

Talltainment: You're like the king of twitter. You're hugely popular,
you update all the time and everytime you go live you have thousands
of people following you, Why do you think people are so interested in
what Trey Songz has to say?

Trey:I think its because people know my beginnings..and the people
that were there from the beginning...you know, its infectious you know
what I mean? There are people that are just learning about me are
interested in as to why everybody else is interested and once they get
there, people see that im authentic, that I work hard at what I do.
You know, I love what I do. I love the people that support me. I think
hard work pays off and when you consistantly do something at a good
pace and you remain humble and you thank God for your blessing its
only a matter of time before it all comes to a head and makes sense.

Tallatainment:
Now I know you just mentioned being humble and im sure
youre use to the fame and the fans by now, but do you ever have any
moments where you need to be kept in check? and if so, who keeps you
in check? Who keeps you level headed?

Trey: I keep around with me the same people who were here with me
since I began so its no 'yes' men, its a brotherhood surrounding me.
Its just the type of man I am. I am very confident in myself, In some
situations im more confident than me than anybody could be. But you
have to draw the line between confidence and arrogance. So I remain
humble and I remember my beginnings.

Tallatainment: Alright, so now as far as your beginnings go, I know
you're really close with your mom. I know you mention her alot. Now
how does your relationship with her affect your relationship with
women? Do you look for the same qualities that your mom has in women?

Trey: That's a good question. You know my mother's a good woman and of
course, she's set the bar really high for what I would like a woman to
be. But in the same token, I know how to seperate the two. My mother
and I kind of grew up together and I was basically raised by women,
strong women who didnt have men in their lives, so I definately look
for a woman with backbone, a woman thats independent but a woman that
at the same time knows how to be a woman when a man steps around.

Tallatainment: Ok. Now since we're on women. I copted the
'Anticipation' Mixtape...

Trey: You aint copt it! It was free!

Tallatainment: Ok, I got the mixtape. I downloaded the mixtape. I
downloaded the mixtape!

Trey: Yeah, the mixtape was free!

Tallatainment: ok, ok, so I downloaded the mixtape. There were alot of
slow songs, alot of of baby makers and I was just wondering is that a
prelude to ready? Is it all about sex? Is there more to Trey Songz?

Trey: I dont think that 'Anticipation' is all about sex. Most of those
songs, Im talking about making love, thats what you do with somebody
that you do love. Outside of that, if Anticipation was a prelude to
Ready then that means all the mixtape songs I did were a prelude for
'Anticipation'. 'Anticipation' is to show that musically I can do
whatever I want to do, that was just a portion of what ready's going
to be like

Tallatainment: So if you had to describe 'Ready' in 3 words, what would they be?

Trey: I wouldnt, I'd describe it in one: 'Ready'

Tallatainment: Alright, well I cant do anything but respect that. So
what was your favorite collaboration on the album?

Trey: Collab on the album? Artist wise or production wise?

Tallatainment: Either or...

Trey: Well, I always work with Troy Taylor, hes my favorite producer
to work with and we have a chemistry like no other. Artist-wise, I
think there was a special collaboration with Fabulous because he
actually came in on the day of mastering, the day that the album was
being completed and his album actually came out that same week. That
was love right there, he went high and above and beyond my
expectations to get it done on a song that probably wouldnt have been
on the album had he not done it. You know Drake is on the album on two
records and Soulja Boy, Gucci Mane is on the album so those are all
the features.

Tallatainment: Now I know you have your philanthropy and your
production company but are you working on any projects outside of
that?

Trey: Well Songz for Peace is definately on going, thats something
thats very special for me, something I hold close to my heart and
hopefully after this whole promo and the whole promoting the album
thing we can tie it along with the tour and things of that nature but
right now 'Ready' is the most important thing im working on.

Tallatainment: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Trey: In 10 years? Im worried about today! In 10 years, I'll think
about 10 years when it gets here... hopefully im successful and happy
and that's all!

Feature Photographer: Ashley Nguyen

Tallatainment:How did you come to find that you had a passion for photography? Is this what you always dreamed of doing?

Ashley: I found my passion for photography accidentally. My interest in photography first began in college while helping out a friend with an image for his Myspace Music page. I experimented with Photoshop a bit during high school and thought that I could create something eye-catching for his work. I took a photo of him on a regular point and shoot camera, photoshopped it a bit, and by the time I was done, people visiting his page thought he had professional photos taken. I was in still college at the time, so I decided that photography would be more than just a fun hobby, it instead would help me pay bills.

I never dreamed of doing photography... It just sort of happened and I fell in love with it. I get butterflies when I get an idea to put into photos/photo montages or am inspired by someone elses work. Although photography began as a friendly gesture, it quickly became a passion for me.

Tallatainment:What is your primary style? Any forms of photography you'd like to branch off into?

Ashley: The work that I am best known for is portraiture, primarily because it paid the bills while I was in college. Now that I have just graduated, I have more time on my hands and I have expanded into directorial photoshoots. I am also interested in doing mixed media with collaborating photography and encaustic or painting.

Tallatainment: Typically, where do you draw your inspiration for a shoot from?

Ashley: Originally, I was solely inspired by the styles photography I was primarily surrounded by, styles such as media and superficial glamour. I worked for fashion-photographer Nadia Pandolfo for two summers as a photo assistant to learn because although I felt that I had some raw talent, I felt to further enhance my skills and knowledge on photography, I needed to be formally trained. Working with Pandolfo was a valuable experience and her style definitely left an impression on me and is evident in some of my work.

Some classes I took the last few months have made me look back to the masters of photography and gain a new appreciation for their brilliant work. Photographers such Philip Lorca diCorcia, Annie Leibovitz and Robert Heinekin have inspired me to think outside conventional photography and try something new. Contemporary photographers I enjoy looking at for portraiture influence are Marc Baptiste, Randall Slavin, and James Sutton.


Tallatainment: Where is the most interested place your craft has taken you?

Ashley: The most interesting place photography has taken me is Los Angeles. I wanted to learn more about the finer aspects of photography so I emailed (enter her name here) because I admired her work and asked her if I could intern for the summer. Thankfully, she agreed so I went to L.A. and learned a million things about photography and life in general.

Tallatainment: What is your ultimate goal for your work and your career as a whole?

Ashley: My ultimate goal is to be able to expand to different areas of photography and make it more of an art rather than commercial. I want to be able to enlighten the world somehow with it. I'm just not sure if I have tapped into exactly how I will achieve this, due to the fact that I have so many ideas constantly running through my mind, but I do believe I can make it happen.

Tallatainment: What's next for you? What should we be anticipating in the next few months, years?

Ashley: I am planning on applying to Grad School for the arts to expand and take various art courses to diversify my work. I want there to be more meaning behind my photos than what the meets the eye. I want to capture people in their true essence.... things don't always have to be pretty. So far in my learning experiences, I have found that it can be hard to shake the Hollywood style of commercial photography, but I want to utilize my experience, and create something beautiful that is beyond the typical magazine standards. Eventually, I want people to be inspired by my work to create something great for themselves.

Feature Model: Deanna aka “Miss Dade County”

Tallatainment: How did you get into the modeling industry?

Deanna: I went with one of my friends to a casting, got introduced to Lashawna S. (ceo of Ethnicity Models) & was recruited onto the team.

Tallatainment: What or where is the most interesting place or thing you've done modeling?

I was in TI "Top Back Remix" music video, it was sooooo cold outside the day of the shoot, & I was wearing jumper shorts, so I was freezing! But chevy ended up using a shot of that video with my part in it for one of the 2007 Chevy Super Bowl commercials, (which looked hot! Ironic? lol) so that was a really interesting turnout :)

Tallatainment: What is one misconception you'd like to clear up about being a model?

Deanna: That we don't eat and that were all coke heads or whores. Very false statement.

Tallatainment: Are there any additional projects you're working on outside of modeling?

Yes, modeling for me is just a hobby. Its something I just fell into, & i guess from everything I've booked I can say I'm pretty good at it. Music is my passion. I go by Miss Dade County, I've always done music & ive worked with artist such as snoop dogg, & Bobby Valentino & pitbull. The list does go on, so make sure you check out my music at www.MissDadeCounty.com <--(leads to myspace ;0) i've also been in a music video as a featured artist with bobby v. & nore. You can check that out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a_iq6Zlyps&feature=channel_page

Tallatainment: What advice would you give for aspiring models out there?

Deanna: Be yourself. & Take care of yourself. It's important to be fit, & healthy! Exercise! Drink plenty of water & smile at castings! If you need more info join EthnicityTalent.com , really there is the golden key for an aspiring model, if she's dope :)

All my links are:

www.MissDadeTv.com <--internet show channel

www.Twitter.com/MissDadeCounty <-- follow me if you dare! lol

www.myspace.com/TheOfficialMissDadeCounty <-- way more info on me (Also in the pic album that says "where you have probably seen me" stills of most of the music videos i've done are there)

www.Youtube.com/MissDade <-- my vids

Feature Designer: Justin Elliot for Royaltees

Tallatainment:What motivated you to start Royaltees? Has this always been your passion?

Justin:First I would like to say thanks for showing us support with Royaltees. So the start of Royaltees, well I would say that Royaltees came as the next step for me in the clothing biz. When I was in high school I would airbrush and hand paint shirts with different cartoons and peoples names and thing like that. I did this for about 3 years and a little after I was done with school. So I have always been into clothing. It makes me happy to see other people wearing something that I created. So now after school I thought how could I continue with this and reach a wider market. So Royaltees was formed with that hope in mind. To bring my ideas to life and share them with the world.

Tallatainment: What was the biggest obstacle or challenge starting up the line? What challenges do you continue to face?

Justin:Well the biggest challenge in the beginning is money. I want to do so much with my line but I dont come from a rich family so I have to put in work for everything I do. Also the fashion industry is hard place to find a spot in. It takes time and lots of work to get people to notice you. There are alot of brands out there so its alot of competition. There are celebrities that have tried to start there own clothing lines and even with their own star power and money could not succeed.

Tallatainment:Who's your target audience for Royaltees? Any celebrity or socialite you'd love to see in the brand?

Justin:Royaltees is for the younger crowd. We have alot of ties to the West Indies so we have a huge Caribbean following and also the American crowd too so its a nice blend and we want to keep it that way. We ran a Ad saying 'Royaltees we the young black Ralph Lauren' and I like that direction also, so we will be on a few levels. Well we are working with a few now. Like Fly Khicks from ABDC, Infantry the biggest reggae dance crew in the South, Chris from College Hill and alot of local Celebs like some of the biggest DeeJays in the city.

In the future we would like to link up with people like Sean Paul, John Legend, maybe some of the Marleys, Lauryn Hill, people that have left their mark on our culture and some new ones like Big Sean, Meagan Good, and of course there are many more but we will see what the future holds.



Tallatainment:Where do you draw your inspiration for your designs from?

Justin:Well our most prominent design is our logo the lion. The Royaltees lion is the base of our line you can find it on polo's , shirts, jackets, cardigans, and alot of other stuff. We chose the lion as our logo because when you see a lion most people think of kingship or king of the jungle. And when you think of life its like a concrete jungle. So as Royaltee you are the king of your jungle, of your life. So that is the message we want to give your fans, that you are the King or Queen of your jungle. So when you put on one of our pieces thats the thought we want you to have. That you are Royaltee, you control your life and have confidence in yourself. Thats why alot of our designs some people might think of it as cocky but its having the confidence to say I Am Royaltee and have a meaning behind it.


Tallatainment:Describe your philosophy on the art of fashion?

Justin:Well I believe that fashion is really up to the person. As a designer I have come to realize that not everyone is going to like the things I make. But if you try to make something everyone will like you will go crazy! So I have my niche and i have people that like what I make so I focus on pleasing them and making them come back for more. And thats what fashion is about. Knowing what people want to wear and making it.

Tallatainment: Whats up next for the line? Any special projects or events we should be on the look out for?

Justin: Well 09/11/09 was the launch of our first official season Fall 2009 Season 1. And with that you can expect tons of events and things coming up that are still in the works. Then the beginning of October will be Miami Carnival and Royaltees will be in full effect for carnival we will have a both and you will see hundreds of our shirts jumping up around the parade lol. And then the big one for the Fall will be The Fashion Designer Expo which Royaltees will be in and that is going to be hectic be well worth it. Its a charity event for the Breast Cancer Foundation and is one of Miami's biggest fashion events.




Tallatainment: Any advice for aspiring designers out there? What's the one thing you think they should know?

Justin:The best advice is to do you research and have a plan. With out knowing what your getting your self into you might have the best designs in the world but never go any where. So have a plan before you even put your pencil to the sketch book.

Tallatainment: Where does Royaltees retail or where could you purchase it from?

Justin:Royaltees is in a number of stores for a full list or to shop online you can check out our web site http://www.royalteesonline.com/