Author Archives: lucymazzucco

I Have a Favourite Photo of Myself and Here’s Why

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I think everyone has a favourite photo of themselves. And by photo, I don’t mean a selfie with perfect lighting that makes you go, “that’s the one,” before uploading it to every social media platform you’re on.

No. I’m talking about the days when bringing your memory card to Wal-Mart was a thing. In the mid-2000s when owning a digital camera was all the rage. Taking iPhone photos at a club? That was frowned upon. In fact, anyone trying even remotely to take a photo at a concert with their phone was instantly ostracized.

And while now, that may be the new norm, there’s something about holding a physical photo and having a memory that was made tangible. One that perfectly captured a moment and one that’s free of filters and photoshopped edits that you find every so often forgotten in a drawer.

For me, it’s one specifically that reminds me of better days. Ones that involved drinking cheap whiskey and pink champagne out of water bottles before walking triumphantly into a bar and getting adorned with a glorious “X” on each hand in permanent marker. The mark that was utilized as a prize to show off what was an epic night to my friends the next day in class.

And while I don’t still drink water bottles filled with cheap whiskey or pink champagne, that photo kind of makes me wish I could.

The photo itself, taken by my best friend, captured my beaming smile in a moment that caught me off guard in a bar as I waited for a band to hit the stage. I was wearing my signature all-black attire, Converse and was holding a digital camera that I always seemed to have in my hand.

That’s the thing about looking back, though. I mean, could I really see myself drinking pink champagne out of a water bottle in public at this stage in my life? Probably. But I guess that means the photo doesn’t remind me of better days at all, just really, really, good ones.

As a frosh in university, the possibilities of life seemed endless; and going to see live bands was one of the things that made that feeling possible for me.

So, even though I still have the same hair and my go-to look is still to dress in all-black attire and Converse, I no longer carry that digital camera in my hand.

That beaming smile, though? It still makes its appearance every so often when I find that photo in the back of my drawer.

L

Why Having No Expectations Makes You a Happier Person

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The more I think about it and the older I get, (I guess wisdom really does come with age. Or maybe it’s just the pandemic and the fact that we’ve all pretty much been alone with our thoughts for the past 730 days…but, who’s counting?) the more I start to realize that life’s disappointments are a mere reflection of the expectations we have built up to them.

Regardless of circumstances, having some form, any form of expectations for how certain situations will pan out, is simply part of our human nature.

But, when you think about it, the best moments in life catch you off guard and often turn out nothing like the way you expected them in the first place.

So, why is it so hard to just let go and let things be?

In simpler terms, have you ever looked forward to something for days, weeks, even months? And along the way, you inevitably imagined what that would look like? What it would feel like? What would go right? What would go wrong? You’ve pictured it a few different ways. Regardless of the complexity of how you pictured it, you did. At least once. And that’s precisely where a window of opportunity turns into a self-inflicted window of disappointment. Why? Because you created expectations. And if they don’t end up panning out the way you imagined, it’ll ultimately lead to a form of disappointment. And that’s no one’s fault but your own.

While it can definitely be challenging, to say the least, the solution to dodge disappointment in life is to be present. Sounds simple enough, right? Wrong.

It’s difficult. Especially if you’re someone who is notorious for overthinking and tends to mentally prepare yourself for various different scenarios as a result. Guilty.

But you can work towards it.

So, here’s your reminder for the day, or month, or whenever I come back, to try and let go and let things be.

It won’t always be easy, but it’ll help you be a happier person in the long run.

Over the past few years of keeping this blog alive with my on-again, off-again thoughts from the heart, I’ve somehow racked up roughly 15K visitors and 20K views. I will still never understand where and when and how my readers have resonated with my words, but somehow, they have.

Thanks for hanging in there.

L

Year in Review

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“This is going to be my year”— the seven simple words that everyone seems to convince themselves they need to say on New Year’s Eve to make up for everything they didn’t do the year before.

Whether the statement is coming from a girl at a club mid-vomit asking Becky to hold her champagne glass or just from an average Joe who simply didn’t achieve what they had hoped to by then, those words still hold the same meaning.

I was one of those people. (The average Joe, not the girl calling for Becky).

New Year’s Eve 2018 was a strange one in my books. I was surrounded by the most amazing people, but my state of mind was detrimental to my own health.

It was then and there, over a glass of cheap champagne and a fake smile concealing the sadness in my heart, that I told myself those exact seven words as a form of comfort.

When I woke up the next day, slightly hungover and still, severely heartbroken, I wasn’t sure if I fully believed that this was “going to be my year.”

The first week of 2019 passed and I soon realized, that if I really did want it to be “my year,” I had to grab the curveballs life had thrown my way and work hard in order to heal and move forward; knowing whole-heartedly that it wasn’t going to be easy and that it wasn’t going to happen overnight.

The thing with anxiety is that you’re your own worst critic and oftentimes, your own thoughts can make it seem like you’re living your worst nightmare. During this time, my anxiety was at an all-time high which caused a discouraging battle of push and shove in my mind until ultimately, I chose to just push and move forward.

Now, as the year comes to an end and I can evaluate 2019 as a whole, I can honestly say that I was able to experience a personal and positive evolution of character with only some minor plot twists along the way that resurfaced from my past.

Overcoming one full year of self-reflection, evaluation and love, I am able to confidently say that 2019 was not only “my year;” it was the best year yet.

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Through dedication, constant battles against my own demons, hard work and determination to rise above, I am finally able to see life the way I always hoped I could.

I am now able to use my own eyes and witness the beauty within myself and the world around me, as opposed to experiencing a clouded version of life through someone else’s polluted vision; something that was ultimately affecting my former distorted perception of happiness.

Not only am I now able to understand my worth as a person, but I am finally able to romanticize life again, in the way I used to before I found myself feeling stuck from fulfilling my dreams. To say I am a crossbreed between a dreamer and a realist really is an understatement.

The thing was, that for a long time, the voice, the feelings and the emotions within me were compromised. I was living an unfair representation of myself, all while doubting my capabilities.

I allowed myself to perceive the person I was through the eyes of another and began to doubt and question everything I ever stood for, which made me realize that I was living life with an empty void in my heart; which to me, was a lack of inspiration.

For the first time in my life, I found myself romanticizing life in a negative way; through an ill-advised fantasy that I had created in my mind to distract myself from accepting the fact that the one thing I had never lacked before was missing from my life. That thing was a muse.

As someone whose entire world has always been creative expression, I should’ve been able to identify the rut I was in that left me with the inability to express myself in the only way I’ve ever known— with words.

And now, as the words pour out of my heart and soul organically like they once did, I realize that I was set free. If only I knew then, what I know now; that the year ahead would be the most amazing one yet.

Not to mention that I learned in the most special way, what it means to be loved— truly loved, valued and uplifted.

Plus, I got to travel. A lot. Which was cool.

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The thing is, when you pour your blood, sweat and tears into your dreams, there’s no room for error.

Although every step in life may not work out the way you hoped it would, if you keep your eyes on the prize— whatever that may be, there’s no room for failure because you, yourself, choose not to allow it to be an option.

I vowed throughout the past decade to prove others wrong when they would force-feed me the misconception that there was “no future” for me in my industry, that my passion was “unrealistic” and that my degree was “useless.” All of which only made me work harder to accomplish my goals.

That being said, in 2019, I was able to explore a new career opportunity as a senior editor for an online publication that receives millions of viewers per month.

In between, I was able to experience travels to Veradero, Cuba, New York City and Las Vegas; all three trips of which I wish I could relive once over. I also began the lengthy and complex process of house-hunting which in turn, will make me an official homeowner.

This year, my website hit a milestone, too. I hit 15K views. For a little Canadian blog with simple thoughts from the heart, it means the world to me that somewhere, somehow, people have shown interest and have resonated with my words.

So, to conclude, in 2019, I learned the most valuable lesson of all— when life throws you a curveball and leaves you as “the victim,” live life to the fullest and come out on top as the f*cking warrior.

Cheers to you, 2020.

Wishing you all a safe and happy new year.

-L

A Tribute to Gord Downie

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Whenever I think of long summer nights that followed days where the sun beamed late into the evening, I picture a sky illuminated entirely by stars, the distinct smell of fresh cut grass and the endless smiles that came from the familiar sound of “Bobcaygeon.”

The Tragically Hip were one of those bands that could unite anyone; no matter what setting it was in. Their songs were the kind that you couldn’t help but smile at and sing along to with the fans that in my opinion, all agree defined our nation.

Gord’s passing is the first celebrity death that hit me. Listening to their discography in his honour, I couldn’t help but fight back tears.

In that moment, the thoughts and memories that correlated with their music flooded my mind. Smiling as I reminisced, but saddened at the thought that this was essentially, the end of an era for myself and many others.

I think back to all the concerts I attended that featured their music before the opening act that were strategically meant to get the crowd excited before a show that wasn’t even their own.

A moment in time that froze as their lyrics brought together all the strangers in the crowd to bond over their words and melodies and share the same feeling of Canadian pride.

And in moments just like those, his spirit will continue to live on. May he rest in peace.

Some thoughts on negativity

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There’s a reason why people say it’s easier to see the glass “half empty.” Although I’m definitely a firm believer in practicing positivity, (key word: practicing,) it doesn’t necessarily mean that it happens successfully on a daily basis even when I try.

My struggle with various forms of anxiety has enabled me to explore options such as meditation, many (many) self-help books and what many perceive as spiritual healing; but just like any sport or activity, positivity definitely takes practice, patience and perseverance.

It’s definitely easier to spiral into a state of negativity than it is to count your blessings. Sometimes it’s even more convenient. Admiring what others have accomplished or acquired and comparing it to your own life is human nature; being inspired to pursue your dreams and acquire great outcomes to your future is simply a part of life. Jealousy on the other hand, is what’s toxic. There’s definitely a difference between admiring for inspiration and envying others without trying for your own success.

I think pop-culture and social media is to blame for a lot of first world problems; it has led people to “admire” others in the form of jealousy as opposed to admiring them for positive inspiration.

I try and have good days. Every morning when I leave my house, I try and practice the “theories of positivity” that I’ve learned and read about in countless books. I do my breathing exercises, I say and write down my daily affirmations, I think about the things that matter most in life and remind myself that the little things don’t…but even so, sometimes, I just have a bad day.

Finally, I’ve come to the realization that you don’t always have to be positive. You can put it into practice all you want, but sometimes, you’re just going to have a bad day.

Sometimes, when life throws you lemons, they hit you right in the face and you just have to admit defeat and call it a day.

This realization has been incredibly liberating.

Although I don’t allow myself these kinds of days very often; I’ve realized that sometimes it’s okay to accept the outcome of the day and simply aim to try harder for a better one tomorrow.

As long as you’re always striving to move forward, the speed bumps won’t matter in the long run. Cut yourself some slack, you’re only human.

 

L

Inactive Activism

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By: Lucy Mazzucco

When I was a little girl, I overheard someone using the phrase, “There are two sides to every story.” I remember asking someone what that meant and wondered if every story book contained an alternate ending. After I would finish reading, I often wondered where the second ending was. When I was in the first grade, I heard that phrase again, this time from a teacher to two little boys who had gotten into an argument over a bottle of Elmer’s glue. It seems that from a young age, everyone around me knew what that meant and placed a big importance on it. Little did I know, that that simple phrase I kept overhearing, was a leeway into learning that opposing points of view exist in every situation and scenario that occurs in life. As the years went by, the idea of “two sides” taught me to listen, respect and reflect.

As a writer, I spend the majority of my time reading. I find literature to be a universal form of communication because it is composed of words, but derived from emotion and personal experiences. Besides classic literature, I have found a new inspiration in activists from this generation that formulate articles based on their opinions. I find myself gravitating toward them because of the interesting feedback that often follows an opinionated piece of writing. I find this type of writing to be motivational and eye-opening, but the feedback that these online articles receive are almost always comments with opposing points of view which ultimately lead to controversy.

Controversy is something that has always existed and I believe that no matter how much our world evolves, it will forever exist on our planet and will always go hand-in-hand with bullying. While controversy is rooted by topics that are considered “taboo,” bullying acts as the repercussion; which led me to think about Newton’s third law which states that, “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” This sparked my take on something I will inconclusively further refer to here as: inactive activism. 

The idea that human beings have the power to contribute to a movement they strongly believe in inspires me. No matter what they are fighting for and whether or not I agree with it, I am motivated by their passion to become fully immersed in making a change. I believe that the passion that is rooted by people’s willingness to support, educate and inspire is a movement of its own. Although one cannot agree with everything that occurs globally, I enjoy listening to the opinions of others on topics that I may not be familiar with. The concept of “two sides” enables me to involve myself indirectly through the passion of others and become moved by the sole passion of people’s willingness to have a voice.

I’ve always said these exact words as a rebuttal in any debate regarding change, “Not everyone can do everything, but if one person does one thing, it’s enough to make a difference.” This statement is something I strongly believe in. I stand by the fact that simply raising awareness, becoming self-educated on topics you care about or simply committing to one action that will help the movement leading to change is admirable. In fact, through endless discussions I’ve had with others about unresolved world issues, I’ve always vouched for the idea that one action is enough to have a positive reaction and contribute to the domino effect of change. The fact of the matter is, it’s not about what you do exactly, but how you go about it. I admire anyone with a deep rooted passion for activism and change which they pursue in the right way. However, witnessing commentary on certain articles lately, caused something to strike a a nerve within me and inspired me to write this.

Over the past few years, social media has become a wonderful portal for change. It opened up a world of thoughts, ideas and emotions. Unfortunately, it also opened up a world of judgment, bullying and distress. It became a dark and disturbing place where people’s attempts at change became an open discussion for mockery and abuse from other activists who felt “better suited” or “more educated” on the topic up for discussion.

Discussion boards have elaborately transformed into an outlet for people to angrily argue their sides of the spectrum, as opposed to understanding the underlying principle of why something was written or posted in the first place. This snowball-like effect results in a battle that ultimately becomes irrelevant to the initial reasoning behind the post. The sad truth is that the overwhelming traffic of responses to posts, are often full of angry individuals who claim to support the movement behind the post “more” than the person who posted it. The comments written by people disagreeing and coming to conclusions solely based on judgment, begin to stand out more than the passionate comments about activism that draw me to the discussions in the first place, leading back to my point about controversy going hand-in-hand with bullying. To me, this is a representation of activists fighting for change that is leading nowhere. These passionate individuals who could be out there contributing to change in a positive way; are instead, more concerned with posting angry comments on online disputes that will soon become lost in the portal of the internet. They are activists, yes, but they are using their passion for activism in a way where it results in inactivity.

People often forget that emotions are very powerful if they are used in a positive way. If you channel your passion and energy into a positive step toward change, it will contribute more to the cause you care about than the passion you’re putting into your inactivity. Make the adjustment from negative inactivity to positive activism. Words are loud, but actions are louder.

Beauty Break: Exclusive Interview with Tasha Leelyn

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Tasha 3By: Lucy Mazzucco

This week, I got to chat with social media personality and YouTuber, Tasha Leelyn; known online for her impeccable style and beautiful pastel pink hair. Tasha grew to fame online attracting viewers when she began posting videos of her experiences with specific hair dyes and “DIY” ways to safely dye hair pastel colors at home.

Before beginning her YouTube journey, Tasha was pursuing photography, a passion which she incorporates into new content she makes for her channel. “I was working at a commercial studio in Toronto for two years prior to starting my channel. Most of the techniques I learned in that studio are now applied to my videos,” said Tasha. “If I had never taken an interest in photography, I would have never started my journey on YouTube. I still attack my videos in the same way as I did with my photos; I start with a still concept and hope it’ll work when I make it into a video.”

Through her YouTube journey, Tasha has been able to help women and men who are interested in the beauty and hair community and has been able to make many friends along the way. “I’m a pretty quiet person outside the internet and making new friends was never my forte,” said Tasha. “My channel has enabled me to connect with some of the most amazing people who all have the same passion for hair as I do.”

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Tasha believes that she showcases her true personality on social media, which is why her viewers and new found friends watch her videos. “The person you see on my channel is the same person who will tell you she woke up at 3PM and ate McDonald’s for dinner,” said Tasha. “I also think people resonate with me because of my size. There are a lot of really fit and skinny girls on YouTube who I love to watch, but I don’t see myself as either of those. I’ve got big hips and thighs. I think that’s why girls like seeing clothes on me; I’m a size that can be considered relatable to a lot of people.”

tasha 4As far as staple hair and makeup, Tasha has made her mark with her love of pastel colors along with tweaking the “grunge” look with a majestic free-spirited twist. “I’d say my favorite hair product at the moment is the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Smoothing Serum. As far as make-up goes, it would have to be the MAC blush in Well Dressed. Fashion wise, my staple would definitely be an over sized Harley Davidson t-shirt.”

Along with beauty tips, Tasha’s channel showcases her advocacy for self-confidence and she believes that everyone should find a way to be happy in their own skin. “At the end of the day, it’s always best to stay true to yourself and kill ’em with kindness,” said Tasha. “The only person who has to be happy with your career path, looks, goals and personality is you. Everyone is different and everyone has a path. Follow yours.”

To watch her videos, visit Tasha’s YouTube channel.
For updates, follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

Happy & Healthy Living: Exclusive Interview with Phoebe Dykstra

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Photo by Eric Veloso: ericveloso@streetdreamsmag.co.

By: Lucy Mazzucco

Many of you may remember Phoebe Dykstra as the host of several MTV and Much Music programs including New.Music.Live., Today’s Top 10 and After Degrassi. This week, I got to chat with her about her lifestyle, her passion for animals and her experience working on television.

Apart from being the tattooed goddess from TV who attracted fans to her social networks for the way she looked, her fan base began to grow when she created a second Instagram account by the name of @phoebesmindbodyspirit; which focused on her healthy lifestyle, vegan diet and her love and passion for meditation, yoga and animals. “While doing TV, I realized that there were a lot of people listening to me on my social media, so I began to think of ways that I could be even more to them,” said Phoebe. “Some days, I honestly don’t feel like going to yoga, but I push myself to go in hopes of making it look easy to others, so that they’ll want to try.”

Although Phoebe is no longer at MTV, she is focused on her own projects such as starting a clothing line, transitioning to a quieter lifestyle and living a happy and balanced life. “My favorite part of the experience was the excitement I got for the audience and fans,” said Phoebe. “Being able to tell a fan that they were chosen to ask their favorite celebrity a question; and then having to mentally prepare them for it was such an awesome feeling.”

After leaving MTV, Phoebe decided that she wanted to escape the city in hopes of living a quieter and simpler life, so she relocated to an island on the west coast of Canada. “I am still transitioning from the move. Toronto has so many positives, but it just wasn’t fulfilling my soul. The fast-paced lifestyle was making me forget who I was and who I want to be,” said Phoebe. “I encourage others who would like to live a quieter and simpler life to just do it. You don’t necessarily need to run away to an island; start by spending time in nature. Leap and the net will appear!”

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MMVA 2015 Red Carpet. Photo by Arthur Mola: mola.arthur@gmail.com.

Apart from being vegan, Phoebe’s healthy lifestyle also consists of meditation and yoga. Her lifestyle choices have been greatly influenced by her enormous passion for animals. “I stopped eating meat about eight years ago, and became vegan after I decided I loved animals too much to play any part in their mistreatment,” said Phoebe. “If I had a spirit animal, I always thought it would be a cat or maybe a raccoon; but the truth is, it would be a squirrel. They’re all over the place and they’re so playful,” said Phoebe.

Phoebe has an entire arm dedicated to her passion for animals, which contains tattoos of animals including a cow, rabbit and duck. “People notice me for my tattoos and I was definitely ‘the tattooed girl’ when I was on TV,” said Phoebe. “I’m happy to share if anyone ever asks me about them, since they are positive reminders to myself; but I don’t see them anymore. They are there, just like my skin is there.”

So, what’s next for Phoebe Dykstra? Besides adjusting to the transition away from city life, she hopes to continue inspiring others. “I’d like to start a clothing line. Creativity is something I’m still trying to convince myself that I have,” said Phoebe. “I had no idea that this little farm girl would end up with a career in television or move to an island. Who knows what’s next…life is beautiful.”

For updates from Phoebe, follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @phoebedykstra.
For lifestyle updates, follow her second Instagram account: @phoebesmindbodyspirit.

Hot for Food: Exclusive Interview with Lauren Toyota

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IMG_8043_new_SmallerBy: Lucy Mazzucco

Many of you may remember Lauren Toyota from Much Music and MTV, where she hosted programs such as New.Music.Live, MTV News and After Degrassi. This week, I got to sit down and chat with the television personality, host and producer about hot for food; her food blog developed alongside boyfriend John Diemer, which consists of exciting and innovative vegan recipes.

On January 1st, 2010, Lauren made the decision to become vegan after having been a vegetarian for most of her life. “Before I became full vegan, I used the blog to document my experience on the transition. It was fun talking about the struggle with food and not feeling well sometimes along the way,” said Lauren. “Back then, I just enjoyed taking pictures and talking about my experience, while getting feedback from others who were going through the same thing.”

Although the blog generally targets the health and wellness community, it is beginning to attract viewers who use hot for food as a resource that inspires, educates and explores curiosity for those wanting to become vegan, but don’t know where to start. “John and I usually like to recreate the things we eat at restaurants. We think about how we’d be able to make the dishes ourselves, but ultimately, we think about what we could do to improve them,” said Lauren. “We like to think outside the box and challenge ourselves to transform regular food into vegan food.”

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As far as favorite foods go, Lauren was able to narrow her favorite hot for food recipes down to her mac and cheese along with her cauliflower buffalo wings. “I like a lot of the recipes we’ve made. John and I come up with new ideas all the time and constantly think of ways we can grow while having fun along the way,” said Lauren.

When asking Lauren if she had any advice for individuals aspiring to become vegan, she suggested to take it one step at a time and to listen to your body. “It’s something you can’t keep over-thinking. Take it one meal at a time. Find the animal products in that meal and think about what you can replace them with,” said Lauren. “There are tons of resources out there that are readily available. It’s important not to get overwhelmed because it’s an evolution and a step-by-step process. Start where your heart is.”

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So what’s next for hot for food?  “We want to continue developing recipes,” said Lauren. “We don’t exactly know what’s next for us, but it could be anything. We’re open-minded to any possibilities.”

For more info, visit hotforfoodblog.com or ‘like’ them on Facebook!
For updates from hot for food, follow them on Twitter and Instagram!
For updates from Lauren Toyota, follow her on Twitter and Instagram

Eleanor Shore: Exclusive Interview ft. Degrassi’s Eric Osborne

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eleanor shore 3By: Lucy Mazzucco

This week, I got to sit down and chat with Eleanor Shore, a band consisting of television show actors Eric Osborne and Ehren Kassam from Degrassi, along with Connor DuPont and Sean McAlister.
“We essentially all met in high school, except for Eric and Connor who grew up together,” said Ehren, who plays the role of Jonah Haak, Degrassi’s newest addition to the cast. “Through our shared interest in music we formed a band.”

The name of the band, Eleanor Shore, has left fans curious about whether or not she is a fictional character, or a real woman who inspired the name. Eric, who is best known for his character Miles Hollingsworth on Degrassi, answered this by explaining that the idea for the band name came to him in a dream. “We had a hard time choosing a name for our band, but it is loosely based on a dream I had which involved a woman named Eleanor. The rest remains a mystery,” said Eric.

The band describes themselves as “indie/folk,” and they are known for experimenting with a variety of sounds during live performances, along with frequently switching up the roles of who plays what instrument. Usually, the band’s formation includes Eric on guitar, Ehren on piano, Connor on trumpet and Sean on the bass or drums, but they like to rotate and give everyone the chance to play different instruments throughout the writing and performing process.

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“We cover every genre and we like the sound of brass instruments because it makes our acoustic songs unique,” said Connor. “The trumpet, which is my instrument, adds to the overall folk vibe of our band.” As far as experimentation goes, Sean believes they have found the sound which best suits them. However, they continue to incorporate different elements in hopes of standing out. “Our sound could be described as vintage,” said Sean.

In the new year, the boys hope to record and release an EP, along with playing more shows. “We hope to bring forth the indie/alternative genre and stand out to a younger generation,” said Ehren.

For more info on Eleanor Shore, follow them on Twitter, or visit their YouTube channel.