Hello Sami ! How is life treating you at this time ? I mean, hey, you're alive so that's cool right ?
Haha alive and kicking! Life is treating me pretty decent, minus the minor setback on my major kneecap injuring falling in front of a bank. Go figure!
The important thing is that you are well ! Tell me a little about what made Sami a rocker. When and how did your discovery and love for rock and metal music evolve ?
When I was growing up, I discovered Soundgarden at a very young age because I was fortunately born into the early 90's grunge era. I always LOVED rock music. I actually grew up on DooWop music and as years went on, my taste for music got deeper and definitely harder. I consider my music taste well rounded because I can know the lyrics to a popular pop song, but when I get home, I'll be blasting the rock music that pumps through these veins! (I can kick anyone's ass at music trivia!)
Metal Trivia it is one day then ! That would be way cool. If you could go backstage to meet any Band at all, past or present, which Band would you choose and why ?
That is definitely an easy one for me. Some people might think its corny, but I have been trying to meet Killswitch Engage for the past 3 years. I don't know what the hell it is, but they personally embody the lyrics and music that makes me feel alive. I have been through alot in my life and I have been at the bottom of the barrel. At a young age, My stepbrother Joey who was my idol, passed away suddenly and I literally had no escape. I have/had nothing but rage and nothing could describe the mix of emotions and the only savior I had, was Killswitch Engage. I don't know how, but they literally saved myself from either insanity or losing my will to breathe. Hopefully they will make my itty bitty dream come true!
Wow. It's amazing what great music can really do. What's the best thing about the Music Industry in your opinion ?
Right now, It's a double edge sword deal because I believe the internet is the best thing. The internet has managed to get a wide spectrum of people with the same love of music and easier for fans and people to access the different type of music we didn't have the ability to sample before the big new age explosion. Obviously in the past 10 years, who knew that you can have the unlimited options of bands to discover at the touch of your fingertips? That's pretty fucking amazing to me.
Definitely amazing. I agree wholeheartedly. And the worst thing about the Music Industry ?
Definitely the fact that music is started to become a clone of itself. Certain genre's are becoming a dime a dozen deal. It's rare now that you find a band that you think can bring something different to the table. People want something they didn't hear before because it catches your interest.
Yep. That's what I like about Vio7. 7 String Electric Rock Violin. Now let's do the same with Modeling. Best part of it is ?
The best part....well personally for me, I don't consider myself a model per say but it's amazing that alot of girls find helloPRETTIES almost like "girl power." Its really flattering having people come up to you at shows and appreciating just something you are part of! It was also pretty rad having the lead singer from Five Finger Death Punch know me from there too. =)
Whoa. That IS cool. I share a similar experience with Doro and that made the countless hours worth it ! . Worst aspect of Modeling ?
Yet another "A dime a dozen" deal! I think you are gonna have that pro and con factor with any aspect of media. Recently, alot of similar sites have come to play and alot of them do things as a competition. helloPRETTIES is focused on woman empowerment. I am in no way trying to compete with anyone. I am focused on having a common courtesy to anyone that believes in us. We stand by ALL our affiliates to the nth degree! Alot of people have lost that personal touch of just....being humane. We try to stay down to earth as possible because we want fans to come and give us hugs! We don't want to be divas. We just want to offer people something a little bit different.
Way cool attitude Sami. You ROCK. Now let's say you're in an internationally know Rock Band, and you've got to have an official rocker type nickname, what would your rock name be ?
Hmmmm my official rocker type nickname? I never thought of that! I wouldn't mind just being, Sami the rockstar! I'll settle for "Igneous rock Sami"...come on! How much more "rock" can you get?! =)
Now, you're involved in helloPRETTY as both a Model and as the owner. At this point let me say you are truly gorgeous and that I highly respect your Business sense and the concept of your current endeavor. What started the helloPRETTY craze ?
Well thank you first of all ! This probably the MOST common question I get asked. To sum up a complicated story, I was accepted by a pretty known name modeling site that's known in the "metal/rock" scene. Once I received the contract, I started to sit there and question my personal beliefs because posing nude, is something I never looked into. I didn't find it necessary to be seen as a sexual product and to be owned in a sense you know? I respect ANY female that can do it, trust me, but there wasn't another alternative for girls like me so it was pretty much do that or do nothing. So I figured, I should make a safe haven for girls that want to be unique in a sense, but not feel like I have to sell my soul, and to be in a culture of the musical taste I'm adapted to. Alot of girls LOVE the concept of what I had envisioned and will continue to try to make grow. Its about respect for one another and of course yourself! We want girls that are into indie, punk, metal, hardcore, thrash and what have you. We try not to focus on ONE genre of females.
I can dig that. I feel the same way about being flexible on genres. The focus of helloPRETTY is :
To have independent strong females that want to be part of a strong friendship that all the girls try to have and not feel you have to do something you would never do. We want to show that you don't have to be UTTERLY covered in tattoos, or be 115 pounds either. Hey, I am curvy italian-german girl! If you carry yourself well, that's all that matters. The idea is to represent the girl next door, if you were living next door to a pretty rocker girl of course.
No pretty rocker girls next door here. But I did hear an eighty year old neighbor crank up Jim Croce once. Either she was rockin' or hard of hearing. Or both. Being that you Model as well, how easy or difficult is it to balance the roles when making decisions on what goes into your Business ?
I do almost EVERYTHING on my own. Everything you see, people have helped me along the way, but the messages and comments are usually from me. It is hard updating, replying, adding, blablabla. It does get crazy after a while. It is so hard now because we are getting more recognized and I couldn't be happier! More work for me I suppose! My boyfriend Will gets to hear me yell about how much I need a vacation sometimes. Haha.
Yet again, I can relate to the hectic duties that are required of the independent. You're known to select the Models based on a unique criteria for acceptance. One thing I'm curious about in that regard is what type of girls do you turn down ?
I mean, I get alot of nude pictures on a daily basis and it is something I never ask or look for. We turn down girls who belong to 203200 official modeling sites because like I said, we are all friends here. I don't need to be a notch to your resume. We do turn down girls who go into the bathroom and take pictures one their camera phones wearing there pajamas obviously. We try to stay as legitimate as possible. We do look for girls that are unique and "pretty", but at the same time, We do tend to get picky because we try to get the best of the best of the "girl next door" theme. We also don't want to be categorized as just METAL though either. Not all the girls are into metal. I just want anything relating to Rock music. Give me your emo, screamo and indie!
YEAH ! We'll take 'em all too ! What about the Photographers ?
We have some of the amateur photographers in the NY/NJ area! I try to get college kids who need portfolio work because like I said, I try to make it so that everyone wins. In the end, I want everyone to get something out of it. One photographer, Damien Maurer, I am utterly grateful for because he's the photographer for Mistress Juliya, The metal twins and amazing bands. He loved our concept and helps me a great deal with new girls. His work is magnificent. We are always looking for more too. The more, the merrier!
I agree. TOTALLY. How into Fashion are you ? Do you feel being Fashion minded is essential for Models ?
I am not HEAVILY into fashion, but in some sense, you have to be fashionable when you are in an environment of the cliche word "models". You have to have some kind of fashion because honestly, who's gonna pay attention to girls if their outfits aren't appealing?
Yeah. It's that way the majority of the time. The better the wrapper the better the gift is commonplace thinking. Have you had more adoration or haters on MySpace ?
Oh of course. We have alot more adoration than haters though. You get creeps, you get jealousy but you have to expect that with ANYTHING. If people take time out of their day to bother a bunch of girls that focus on No drama, then it speaks high in your character to nit-pick and make hatred for no reason. That's usually when I tell people they need a hobby or to get a hug from their parents. Haha.
Interesting viewpoint. Respectable indeed. People can also pick up helloPRETTY Merch correct ?
Yes sir! We have a couple of things right now on a third party site. We are still trying to put more up and get something cheaper. I am in no way trying to gain profit from the fans so the stuff we have now, yes is kind of pricey, but it's only because we use that money for money much. You can locate the merch at www. cafepress. com/hellopretties. Trust me, We are working on more things!
Cool deal. At what point would you say you've done what you set out to do ?
When I don't have to work so hard on my own and get help from sponsors. The finishing touch would definitely be when a big name band WANTS to feature us because they respect the concept. Life would be glorious then!
And you WILL acheive your goals. No doubt. What advice would you give to someone getting into the Modeling biz ?
"Do not do something you don't want to do!" Look for more options if you have to second guess any decisions about your personal beliefs or even question your personal respect.
Way cool. Last question : What's your opinion of Metal Monthly ?
About FUCKING time! I fucking love this site. I read the interviews quite often and look at that, now I'm there! I love this site! Sexy bitches galore on here! hahaha
