It’s not every day an influencer successfully crosses into the music world. And yet, Katie Hamden, 24, seems to be doing just that. With a following of over one million as a model and content creator, Hamden has now released her debut house track “NOBODY ELSE.” I spoke with her last week about this new musical chapter – and trust me, her enthusiasm is contagious.

Your new single “NOBODY ELSE” just dropped. How would you describe it to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?

It’s a House track made for those late nights and early mornings in clubs. The kind of song where you grab the DJ when you want to take the energy up a notch. The female vocals over those synths… it makes you feel like anything’s possible. Empowering but also ethereal, if that makes sense? I wanted something that would really move people.

What inspired your sound for this track?

I’ve always been drawn to rhythms that transcend whatever’s happening in the moment. For ‘NOBODY ELSE,’ I wanted that fierce club aesthetic. You can hear it in the loops and drops—they took forever to get right, but when they hit, they really hit. I wanted something authentic but still polished, you know?

Can you share some insight into your creative process?

A lot of it came from traveling around Europe and seeing firsthand how electronic music connects with people. Music has always been my escape, but watching how House music specifically moves crowds… it just clicked. I wanted to be part of creating that feeling for someone else. I wanted to make something that would get under people’s skin in the best possible way.

This is your debut House track. What does it mean to you personally?

I’ve poured so much time into ‘NOBODY ELSE.’ It means everything to me right now. What I really want is for people to hear it and stop hesitating about whatever they’re holding back on. There’s this part where the title loops over and over—that’s the moment where I imagine people just letting go completely. Going a little crazy. That’s the whole point, right? Music should take you somewhere.

How does your experience as an influencer connect to your music?

They’re more connected than people might think. I built this following through modeling and content creation, but it was always about a certain energy and aesthetic. That’s exactly what I’m doing with my music now, just through a different medium. Still me, still that positive vibe people connected with initially. Music just gives me a whole new way to express it.

As our conversation winds down, I can’t help but ask what’s next. “More music,” she says simply. “Much more.”

Walking away from our interview, I found myself humming “NOBODY ELSE” – a testament to its catchiness even after just one listen.

The track is available now on all streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.

Hamden brings something fresh to the table with this debut – a smart mix of driving beats and those unmistakably sultry vocals that practically demand to be played after midnight. Whether it’s a rooftop party or a packed club, the track fits right in. What’s interesting about her jump from Instagram to the studio is how seamlessly she’s made the transition.

She’s clearly figured out what clicks with people online and somehow translated that into audio form. Let’s be honest – most influencer music projects feel like obvious cash grabs. This doesn’t. There’s an authenticity here that catches you off guard.

For those wanting to keep up, check her out on Instagram and Spotify.

“NOBODY ELSE” proves Hamden isn’t just posting feel-good content – she’s creating soundtracks for those moments when you actually feel good. In a world where new music drops constantly, that’s exactly the kind of focus that stands out.

Will her music eventually overshadow her influencer fame? Hard to say. But watching someone dive this wholeheartedly into something new makes you want to root for them. And that alone makes her debut worth streaming at least once.

I recently caught up with David Shao, who’s been making quite a name for himself in the magic world. He’s the kind of performer who sticks in your memory – not just for his sleight of hand, but for the way he makes you laugh while your jaw drops. Over the past decade or so, Shao has worked his way through some pretty impressive venues, from the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood to the thought-provoking stage of TEDxUCIrvine. What makes him stand out isn’t just technical skill – it’s the way he blends razor-sharp comedy with genuine wonder. Just last month at the Magic Castle, he had everyone from regular guests to Jaden Smith doubled over in laughter between gasps of amazement. There’s something refreshingly different about his approach that keeps audiences coming back for more.

Can you tell us about when and how you got started in magic?

I was very interested in magic when I was 9 years old. I saw Lu Chen (刘谦) performing on TV during the Chinese Spring Festival Gala and got hooked with magic. I didn’t start my magic journey until I was 15 when I joined a magic club in high school. I was very shy as a kid, and magic changed me completely. Even though I am still shy sometimes, magic has helped me to connect with people more easily.

What is the core value that drives you as both a magician and an artist?

To make people happy. I like to bring magic and share happiness with everyone. It doesn’t help with my career in terms of business, but it helps me to realize that I am lucky to do what I love, and sharing it with others allows me to see the impact of magic beyond entertainment. It keeps me grounded and reinforces why I fell in love with magic in the first place. At the end of the day, if I can make someone smile, even for a moment, then my magic has served a greater purpose.

How would you describe your style of magic, and how do you differentiate yourself from other magicians?

My style is very unique—I combine magic with dry humor. I have some early inspirations from Kyle Eschen, who was a magic castle junior magician member. I am more of a one liner—each line I say or each action I make would make the audience laugh. Some of the lines that I wrote don’t make sense and they are very silly. But they fit my character very well and people would laugh at them.

What role does storytelling play in your magic performances?

There is almost no storytelling in my magic performance because my show is more centered on the character. For example, one of my lines that I wrote was ‘when I was a child, I was a kid.’ So the show was more centered on how each line would make the audience laugh rather than telling a compelling story. And this is how I find myself different from other magicians. A lot of the magicians like to tell stories, like how magic inspired them and how it had changed them.

How do you balance your creative vision with the expectations of your audience?

I think the key is staying true to my style while remaining adaptable. My magic is built on dry humor, deadpan delivery, and unexpected surprises—those are non-negotiable parts of my creative identity. I always write new scripts surrounding this character. But at the same time, I recognize that different audiences have different expectations, and I adjust the way I present my magic to make sure it resonates with them.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a magician?

Sometimes I would mess up in a show, but I would always improvise to finish the magic, without letting the audience realize that I messed up. This happens all the time. There are a lot of times where the audience doesn’t follow my instructions so I have to control the room. I am always trying to overcome something—whether it’s the magic performance, or the business.

How has being involved in charitable events shaped your career?

I like to bring magic and share happiness with everyone. It doesn’t help with my career in terms of business, but it helps me to realize that I am lucky to do what I love, and sharing it with others allows me to see the impact of magic beyond entertainment. It keeps me grounded and reinforces why I fell in love with magic in the first place.

How do you see the future of magic evolving with technology, and where do you hope to take your craft next?

The world is changing, and magic is also changing. Magic has become more visual nowadays because of technology. AI has been a big topic in many industries, and a lot of AI tools have been developed for people to utilize. But for magic, I think it wouldn’t help much besides screenwriting. Magic is something that you feel in the moment, and AI will never be able to create that sensation. Even if a robot can perform magic, it is still a robot—it lacks the human presence, the spontaneity, and the emotional connection that make magic truly magical. For myself, I want to do a magic tour in the future.

Do you have any upcoming projects or performances that your fans should look out for?

One of the producers of America’s Got Talent contacted me. I submitted to AGT and if I can move on to the next step, I will be on the 20th season.

Watching David work is a bit like seeing two shows at once – there’s the technical wizardry that leaves you wondering “how on earth did he do that?” and then there’s the comedian who seems to be having just as much fun as everyone else in the room. It’s this balance that’s earned him his reputation. While many performers in his field take themselves rather seriously, Shao has carved out his own space where wonder and laughter coexist perfectly.

Whether he’s performing for celebrity guests or bringing joy to charitable events, you get the sense that he’s exactly where he belongs. His possible appearance on America’s Got Talent could be the next big chapter in an already fascinating career story – though something tells me he’d approach that massive stage with the same authentic charm that’s gotten him this far.

Today marks the launch of rehab(it)recordings, an exciting new platform bringing together artists from Canada, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Celebrating the launch are two debut singles: “Gravity Isn’t Real Today,” a collaboration between NOT THA ONE and Vanessa John that channels early 90s techno-warehouse-rap, and “msg no.5,” Vanessa John’s first single from her upcoming EP “msgs from the abyss.”

We spoke with NOT THA ONE (EVAN TYLER), co-founder and featured artist, about the label’s fresh approach to hypnagogic hip-hop, garage wave, and avant-garde video production. The label launches with an impressive roster including NOT THA ONE (Regina), Vanessa John (Toronto), Ira Lee (Montreal), NTS SleepS (Vancouver), Deacon LF (Brooklyn), Polly Say Phalle (Paris), 73Stan (Warwickshire), MS.GOD (Canada/USA), MR.CONSTRIKTUS (Minot), Sleepsearch (Yorkton), HazeShallow (Regina), OKAN’S OLD MUFFIN (Regina), and Lemon-Aids (Vancouver/Regina).

How did your musical journey begin?

Picture this – five-year-old me in 1990, sitting cross-legged in front of the TV with my fisher price karaoke box, recording Michael Jackson and Nirvana straight from the screen. That was the start. Then came the formal training – Royal Conservatory of Music for piano, picked up bass guitar and drums along the way, started this wild psychedelic rock band in high school. But everything changed when I heard Wu-Tang. That was it – I knew right then that THIS was my life. Been writing bars ever since. Couldn’t stop if I tried.

You’ve got quite an interesting academic background too. How does that play into your music?

I’ve got this graduate degree in visual arts from University of Toronto, which might seem fancy, but at my core, I’m still that ‘raw made it in a garage rap brain’ from Regina, Saskatchewan – what I like to call the forgotten province of Canada. One of my biggest inspirations is Ira Lee from Montreal, who’s now part of rehab(it)recordings. This guy… he completely rewrote the rulebook of what RAP could be. But you know what? I’m really just a product of everyone I’ve crossed paths with – Ira, countless others. That’s what art is, right? Taking the world and telling its story back to itself. It’s never just about one person.

For someone who’s never heard your music, how would you describe it?

You’re dumpster diving and find this sketchy VHS tape. Against your better judgment, you take it home and pop it in. What hits you is this beautifully chaotic, unorthodox sonic assault that somehow makes perfect sense once you create your own framework to process it. I’m a hip-hop scholar at heart, sure, but I’m equally in love with hypnagogic, garagewave, leftfield, glowfi, Nu Disco – and that’s before we even dive into all the different flavors of hip-hop itself.

Tell us about the vision behind rehab(it)recordings.

We’re this amazing collection of musicians and visual artists spread across Canada, USA, France, and the UK. But it’s more than just geography – it’s about understanding that life itself is a constant process of rehabilitation. Every artist here knows that path intimately. It’s raw, it’s delicate, but it’s also incredibly fertile ground for creativity. Everyone’s got their own way through it, you know?

What do you hope people take away from your music?

The courage to create something uniquely theirs. Doesn’t have to be rap – we’ve probably got enough rappers already,” he laughs. “But there’s something special about being 40 and still living for that next freestyle. It’s like this inside joke I carry with me: ‘EVAN – GOT GREAT AT RAP.’ Ridiculous journey? Maybe. But it’s mine, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s next for rehab(it)recordings?

We’re launching with two great singles today. This summer, we’re dropping videos for ‘Gravity Isn’t Real Today’ and a new track called ‘PAMELA CALENDAR’ featuring the incredible Vanessa John, with Deacon LF bringing his magic to the production. Later in 2025, we’re releasing this wild double album, ‘The Found CDs disc one + disc two’ – a collaboration between myself and Vanessa John, produced by Deacon LF and ET. I can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve been working on.

Today’s launch of rehab(it)recordings at rehabitrecordings.ca brings a fresh perspective to the independent music scene, offering an engaging mix of hip-hop, experimental electronic music, and visual arts. The launch singles showcase the label’s range – “Gravity Isn’t Real Today” draws from early 90s techno-warehouse-rap traditions while exploring themes of dissociation and alienation, while “msg no.5” delves into the often-overlooked importance of platonic love. To follow NOT THA ONE’s journey and upcoming releases, check out his linktree or connect on Instagram (@deadregina).