“If You Ever Want a Backbone, Start a Business” - Love Street Turns 3
Interview ★ C.L. Wages ★ @soundslikecl ★ 8 Minutes
It is Love Street’s 3rd birthday! I'm here with our editor in chief, Kenzie Gay, to ask her some questions about the magazine. Joining us for a few questions, we also have Kylie Fajman, Associate Editor and photojournalist, as well as Annsley Jennings (AJ), our Head of Photography!
left to right: Kenzie, AJ, and KylieMy first question for Kenzie is, what was your initial reasoning for getting into this business? How has it changed or not changed over the years?
If I’m being completely transparent, there wasn’t really any valid reasoning. I sort of just did it because I was a bored, music-obsessed teenager. I’ve technically been writing the types of stuff you see at Love Street since I was around 16 years old but I didn’t know it was anything of value to other people until I joined my first publication in 2023 just a month shy of my formal high school graduation. So, I guess my reasoning was simply because I was bored and needed something to fill the time until my life fully started.
As for founding my own magazine, the reasoning is essentially the same: I was homeless and bored after getting kicked out of my parents’ place at the start of that Summer. I needed an escape and for some reason, I agreed when an old friend suggested that we start our own magazine. Mind you, I’d only known what the word “publication” even meant for two months at that point.
What a dumb, nuisance of a kid. Children labeled as nuisances change the world, though. To quote my personal hero Jack White “Get your hands dirty and drop the screens and get out of your little room and get obsessed”. It might just save you.
My second question is, what is the easiest part of running the magazine? What is the hardest?
Oh, lord. I feel like it’s very difficult but very seamless all at once, it just depends on the day for me. I’d say in general, the easiest part is the community and social media aspects of the magazine. Being in entertainment, you can be quirky or try out new shit and it isn’t labeled as unprofessional or lame. That’s a big deal for former weird kids like me. I work in social media and that has always come as second nature to me even if I’m embarrassing myself throughout. Lots of people think I’m super extroverted and shameless because of that but it’s not true. I’m shy and overflowing with shame - I’m just too obnoxious to act as such.
The community I’ve found with this business is also something I wouldn’t exchange for anything. I’ve met my best friends and some of the most creative, talented, compassionate people on Earth here at Love Street. They are why I keep coming back even after the not-so-great aspects of the job really bum me out.
Speak of the devil, the hard parts. I think getting used to being a leader has been the most difficult. I’m a pushover and a people pleaser which has provided some decent sized roadblocks throughout when it comes to holding people accountable and dealing with lack luster work. I also never imagined people would look up to or respect me in any way. It still catches me off guard when certain individuals come to me for guidance or opinions.
Following up with that, are there specific parts of running the magazine that started as easy and then got harder? Why do you think that is?
That’s a tough one. I guess it was easier overall at the start organization-wise but that’s because we weren’t organized at all. We treated it like a club or some social thing more than a legitimate business. We fucked around and found out, which was a big motivator to me taking over and turning Love Street into what it is. The magazine has lit a fire under my ass to get me organized and on track. I was a messy, unmotivated kid whose locker and bedroom looked like the junkyard from Labyrinth but I can’t be that way anymore. I don’t want to be. If you told 16 year old me that she’d be making spreadsheets on the regular? She’d probably faint.
If there was one thing you could change about the initial creation of the mag, what would it be?
Hmm. I don’t know if I would totally change anything because I am a firm believer in the butterfly effect and I’m very superstitious. I do wish I wasn’t as cowardly, though. I let people walk all over me in the start, which was also an unfortunately consistent theme growing up. I’ve had to learn to be okay with being the bad guy or the villain in some people’s stories. I’m still learning.
If you ever want a backbone, start a business.
If you were given 3 magic beans and each bean generated one person dead or alive for you to interview, what three people would you choose?
Meg White, Robin Williams, and George Harrison.
I know I listed Jack White as a personal hero previously but Meg is just so inspiring to me for such different though complimentary reasons. I don’t think I’d interview her in a traditional way. I’d simply just like to have a long, unpublished conversation with her. About being a woman in music, growing up in Michigan, trailblazing 2000s garage rock, anything she wants to be honest. I, much like most White Stripes fans, miss her dearly and I respect her decision to stay out of the public but boy, a chat with her would be legendary.
Robin Williams is an answer I would’ve given as a small child, too. He’s been one of my biggest role models since I was a toddler and I still get emotional just talking about him. He wasn’t just a comedian, he was the comedian. I think his legacy of being a comedian who had boundaries and didn’t build off of hatred or bullying is something really special and rare, especially now. He was also just so incredibly wise, I’d really like to talk to him about life. Mrs. Doubtfire, What Dreams May Come, Ferngully, Jumanji, Hook, Good Will Hunting, and The Birdcage all changed me for the better at a young age.
George Harrison is an obvious pick to me and surely for those that know me. My first tattoo is the album title from his debut record ‘All Things Must Pass’ because that album single-handedly got me through the whole kicked out of my parents house mess when I was 18. Not to be parasocial, but I also think he and I would’ve gotten along great. He was the quiet Beatle, he was very philosophic, and he was also a rather sarcastic and dry person. I’m that way, too, just more outwardly absurd. He probably wouldn’t enjoy my company for too long but I think he’d understand me. Is that weird? Don’t answer that.
Okay, brief intermission for Kenz, I've got a couple of questions for Kylie!
Kylie, you've been with the magazine since the near beginning. What has been your favorite evolution of the mag? How have you benefited from this change?
I’ve been with Love Street since basically the start three years ago (late 2023). I wasn’t originally with the magazine prior but we did have some issues and we really needed to branch off and start over. I think its evolution has been wonderful. We’re definitely more on top of things, we have a good group of people that work with us, and we’ve had some really cool opportunities.
I would say my favorite evolution has been not just doing galleries or show reviews on music but delving into pop culture and involving film/tv as well. We really get to nerd out. I’ve benefited from this change so much because I get to show other sides of me: not just a gallery but my opinions and thoughts on new movies or even the stories we get to share on the podcast.
What has been the most memorable thing you've experienced through your work with the magazine?
I would say the most memorable/cool aspect is having artists recognize me after working with them a few times. I took pictures for Jack Van Cleaf a long time ago and when I went to see him again in Chicago, he remembered me and wanted to see my work again! Or even getting to work with people I admire such as Maya Hawke.
I’ve also loved the community we’ve built at Love Street, I’ve met some of my closest friends and I love helping others with their work. It really does feel like a little family which is something I don’t think we had before.
And finally, if you could describe your time with the magazine in one word, what would it be?
I would say empowering. Being able to show my work and express myself without having somebody knock it down or push my thoughts away is awesome. Being an editor alongside Kenzie, we always try to let anyone cover what they’d like to and it shows how much they love it. I also feel empowered by being a woman in a business where we often get overlooked and ignored. I’ve experienced it firsthand in this industry: several places picking men or listening to them over me. I truly hope if and when we become larger, we can change that narrative for women everywhere; to provide a safe space for anyone who feels they don’t fit within the socially constructed boxes of this industry. They belong in this magazine to showcase their abilities.”
Alright, AJ. It's your turn!
First, I'm going to ask you the same question I asked Kylie: what has been your favorite evolution of the mag? How have you benefited from this change?
I think it was when we rebranded into Love Street from our original name/brand. I benefited ALOT. It was like a fresh start since we got a bunch of new people and we started growing exponentially. It was a great change and we honestly just went up from there, it was very needed.
What is the weirdest place the magazine has taken you? How was that experience?
Anytime I go to The End in Houston to cover a show. That venue is an interesting place to say the least. It’s a staple for lots of the Houston scenes and I love it.
The first time I ever shot there was for a local thrash metal band in August of 2024. My mom goes with me to nearly every show. She’ll listen to metal to some extent, she’s pretty cool, and this show was just a wild one to have her at. At some point in the night, I looked over at her, my Southern/Baptist mama, and she was talking to a shirtless guy with nipple piercings. He looked like Rob Halford from Judas Priest and she was laughing and giggling, looked like she was having the time of her life.
There was also this wizard-esque band that night, I think they were called Seizure, and during the mosh pit they handed out wands - you just see grown men using them against each other. That was interesting. Labrinth did good, though. The End is just an experience - sometimes it’s good, sometimes not so much.
Lastly, if you could sit down and have dinner with one person/group you've shot for, who would it be and what questions would you ask them?
Oh, God. I think I would choose to sit down with Billy Idol. He’s the biggest, most iconic artist I’ve ever shot for. I’d probably ask him what life was like during his prime.
I’d really like to pick his band members’ brains, too, especially Steve Stevens and Billy Morrison. I’d ask them so many questions. I’d love to know how they individually got into music, how their journeys have been, and what it was like working with certain artists. I mean, Steve worked with Michael Jackson and Billy worked with Ozzy Osbourne - both legends in my book. It’s interesting to just get a better picture of how they got to where they are now.
Shooting for them was a surreal experience. I mean, it’s fucking Billy Idol.
Okay Kenz, two more questions to round us out.
How have you as a journalist, come into your own and cultivated your own style? And along with that, who's been your favorite person to interview/review so far?
These days, I don’t write nearly as much as I used to. That probably shocks people since I still pump out around 4 articles a month on average either through the magazine or my Substack but in the beginning, I was a damn machine. I think I’ve really learned the art of being compelling within my journalism. My biggest pet peeve in larger publications is when an article is boring or if it reads like an encyclopedia. We aren’t a news outlet, we’re allowed to bring opinions and personality to the table. That’s what makes it an engaging and worthwhile read. It’s storytelling but that doesn’t mean it has to be dull.
It might be actually impossible for me to choose one favorite act I’ve worked with. There’s been so many emails, phone calls, zoom calls, shows, releases, press conferences, etc. They tend to blur together after awhile. That being said, the most memorable ones have been my 2024 interview with The Velveteers. They’re one of my favorite bands ever and I did indeed shit bricks during the whole thing. I still get embarrassed just thinking about it. My interview with The Shroons from this past February is one I have to mention, too. Social anxiety fears those guys and it made for one of the most fun interviews I’ve ever done.
I’ve also got to shoutout Cage the Elephant and Creed. Both bands granted me my first media passes in 2024. The shows were legendary and put things into perspective for me BIG TIME.
And finally, what are your biggest hopes and dreams for the magazine. Don't include realism, or anything like that. Unlimited money, unlimited time, unlimited access. What would you do with the mag?
I always joke that my dream is for the magazine to become a modern day Buzzfeed of sorts - but with better pay and management, of course. Maybe not all the quizzes or out of touch headlines but having a broad array of topics in entertainment, culinary, and pop culture across multiple mediums like written articles, Youtube videos, social media posts, podcasts, collabs, etc. would really be sweet.
I grew up on that company, I still watch tons of their previous employees (The Try Guys, Watcher, etc.) so to have something like that but with a focus on what we do here (and to have a more ethical, non restrictive business model) sounds like a dream. One of my biggest personal career goals is to host and produce my own interview show, think Last Meals meets Royal Court meets Between Two Ferns. The magazine being a larger-scale company to the likes of Buzzfeed would help me accomplish that.
Ideally, our team would also all be based in the same general area so we could have an office (preferably in Nashville, New York City, Chicago, or even LA). Right now, we’re all over the place. But perhaps that’s a blessing in disguise.
Oh, and one more thing: I’d like to eventually sell printed magazines. I think it’s so important to bring back print and physical media in our current climate. This goal felt out of reach 3 years ago but now? Well, you might be seeing printed copies of Love Street Magazine sooner than you think…
Thank you so much for trusting me with this interview! I love working with you and Love Street and I'm so excited to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.
