Photographed by Jennifer Rovero.
As we continue the passionate strive towards collective awakening and cleansing, all during a global pandemic, singer-songwriter and actress, [Herizen](https://instagram.com/herizen_fawn) helps find a safe haven for our worry and confusion. Her latest release “Hellboy”, off her long-awaited EP, takes a more vulnerable approach to her craft, portraying the flux of emotions when it comes to someone you love. Her tender melodies paired with her hypnotic voice creates a lush soundscape easy to seek refuge in.
You also might remember Herizen from her debut role as Mylene in Netflix’s Baz Luhrmann musical series, _The Get Down_ or _Dare Me_, a cheerleading series based on a novel of the same name. Currently, Herizen is in the midst of filming the third season of Starz’s critically acclaimed series _American Gods_, which will return in Fall 2020. Seeing herself as a vehicle, Herizen carefully curates and explores narratives each different from the last. Flaunt had the opportunity to check in on the rising artist and see how she is balancing music, acting, and life in quarantine.
**Where are you physically and mentally?**
I feel like I’m in a good place mentally and physically, even considering everything that’s going on. I feel like I’ve maintained a healthy balance.
**How are you reflecting, awakening, and taking action during this time?**
I’m clinging to family and friends that are going through it with me and being supportive and positive with everything that’s being thrown at us, and I feel like we’re all trying to make a change in our personal lives, by being better! More kind, less selfish, thoughtful, strong, complaining less, going outside and helping our planet anyway we can. Life’s a wild ride but it’s who you spend it with and what you leave behind that makes it all worth it.
**How did you discover your affinity and talent for both music and acting?**
I think I was just born with these beautiful gifts, I’m grateful everyday that I can connect and change people through them. It’s been truly amazing and I can’t share more!
**With your iconic role as Mylene in The Get Down, your literary-based role as Addy in Dare Me, and your current role as Oshun in American Gods in mind, what do you look for when you are curating your repertoire of compelling narratives?**
Well, I never want to play the same role more than once, it’s like being a different person and living their life for a time and moving on, like I’m a passenger, I always find that the roles I get are suited to me, so I never worry about the ones I don’t, because everyone has a path, and those roles are not mine. It’s honestly really something how it always works out best for everyone.
**How have you found the duality of being both an actress and a musician affect your crafts respectively?**
Well I feel like they feed each other and keep me open and fearless, however I find it a bit difficult to do both at the some time, probably because it takes all of my energy to fully commit myself to each craft. They separately exist inside my one body at one time.
**What was on your mind when you were recording your latest release, “Hellboy"?**
Honestly a lot of pain, anger, and disappointment. The song is about the love that you can feel towards someone you love.
**How has quarantine affected your creative process?**
At times I can feel very sloth like, and uninspired which is extremely frustrating as I'm sure everyone knows right about now haha, but at other times it can be very therapeutic and peaceful. I’m finding myself enjoying not having to be on a plane all the time, and surrendering to things I can’t change, which of course is affecting the way I write.
**What can we look forward to in your upcoming EP?**
What I tell people is that, I cannot tell you what you’re going to expect, of course hahaha. But what I can tell you is how it feels to me, and that the colors I taste in my new EP are, “red, blue, silver, and black. “
**What do you hope listeners will take home with them?**
I hope everyone feels like they’ve found a home for some of their rogue, unclaimed feelings and it helps them work it out, or they just love it so much they want to scream or be silent in it.
**What inspires, motivates, and calls you creatively and in your daily life?**
I have many things that make me want to create on a day to day basis because I’m triggered by my emotions, but I think the 2 most constant things right now are love, rage, and those weird unsure hesitant feelings I get in between.
Photographed by Jennifer Rovero at Early Morning Riot.
Stylist: Donna Lisa
Hair: Tiffany Daugherty
Makeup: Shannon Pezzetta
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