Certain voices stop you in your tracks. If you enjoySampha’s baritone timbre andJames Blake’s melodic vulnerability, Giveon is likely your next greatest discovery. The singer-songwriter is gifted with a buttery velvet tone and a knack for reflective storytelling. He stands rightfully in his own R&B lane, drawing inspiration from his own relationships and those of others. He first captured the world’s attention with a standout feature onDrake’s “Chicago Freestyle“, which climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and reached Top 10 in the UK.
Giveon’s echoed vocals offer a pensive quality to the track. His acapella intro is the kind that will hold nostalgia for many in years to come, and that was just a preview. In March, he releasedTake Time, an emotive eight-track EP that received positive acclaim and solidified himself as one to watch. “All of this happened to me in eight songs,” he says. As his star continues to rise, Schön! chats to Giveon about his hopes for more inclusivity in the music industry, the intrigue of mystery, and how he’s thankful for his incredible career trajectory so far.
How did you first get into music?
I’ve always had a love for music. It dates way back to when I was a kid. I’ll say I didn’t find the confidence to try this out seriously until I was 18. I wouldn’t be the artist I am today withoutFrank Sinatra andFrank Ocean.
You often speak highly of Frank Sinatra and Frank Ocean. What about them is so magnetic to you?
When I first heard Frank Sinatra it changed my life. Prior to that discovery, I had a lack of confidence in my voice and I believed it sounded weird and was too low. The moment I discovered Frank Sinatra I uncovered the world of [the] baritone vocalist and that gave me the push I needed. Frank Ocean, on the other hand, unknowingly taught me how to be an artist, how to tell a story, and how to maintain the mystery.
What do you think you’re offering to R&B that no-one else is doing right now?
That’s an interesting question. Mainly because I’m not focused on everything else going around me in the R&B world. I just like to tell stories that are happening to me on a day to day basis. I use it as a form of therapy and the beautiful thing about that is so do other people. That’s all I care for.
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What typically inspires you to start writing a song?
Every song is a story I’ve been through or someone close to me. So that’s where the inspiration stems from: Story.
What was the concept behind your EP Take Time?
I like to leave it up for interpretation for the listener, but I will say this.. the concept of the EP is just a relationship that turned sour.
You took a leap of faith quitting your 9-5 to pursue your talent. What’s the greatest lesson you learned from that?
That was a scary moment and that leap wasn’t as clean as I would’ve wanted it to be. The biggest thing I took away from that is to make sure you have a plan. Don’t just quit without having the next steps prepared.
Are there any surreal moments you’ve had in your career so far?
Honestly, it’s all surreal and happening very fast and smooth. I’ve always dreamt of these moments and I wake up every day with an immense amount of gratitude because I know how blessed and lucky I am to be where I am today so early in my career.
How has your creativity been during quarantine?
It’s been amazing. Luckily for me just because the world slows down doesn’t mean love will slow down. So I still have plenty of stories to tell.
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With the current social shift and the Black Lives Matter movement, how do you see the music industry evolving?
Seeing the shift is a beautiful thing and I’m hoping there will be a lot more black executives and a lot more black female executives in the near future. Black art is what’s driving the culture forward so it’s only right that people who look like us are in those rooms speaking for us.
Your music has made great strides in 2020, with your debut EP release and entering the Billboard 100 on Drake’s track. What’s been your biggest take from the year so far?
What I learned is that quality music will always win. It’s not about volume. All this happened for me with eight songs so that’s something I take with me for the rest of my career.
Lastly, what can fans look forward to next from you?
First off, thank you guys for listening. It means the world to me to know that there are people who actually listen to my music, so again, thank you so much. You guys can look forward to me bringing you more stories in the near future.
Your twenties aren’t so much a straight path as they are a comedy of errors – equal parts existential crisis and chaotic group chat. For Jack Innanen, that winding journey has taken him from the fluorescent haze of university science labs to the punchlines of TikTok and the ensemble cast of ‘Adults’, a sharp, hilarious, and painfully relatable series about trying (and failing) to get it right in early adulthood.
Jack’s switch from physics and astronomy to comedy was a leap of faith, born out of a gut feeling that he was meant to tell stories. Whether he’s playing Paul Baker, the guy who’s charming enough to get away with not having it all together, or living out his own uncertainties, Jack speaks for a generation trying to be good people… despite not quite knowing what that means yet.
In conversation with Schön!, Jack Innanen opens up about late-night golf swings, frozen peas, comedic timing, creative self-belief, and why your twenties are best survived with a sense of humour — and maybe a spare pair of underwear.
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socks. Nike
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underwear. Calvin Klein
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So, physics and astronomy to comedy is slightly unheard of. Tell us about the switch.
Yeah, that was a big 180 for me. I always loved both, but honestly, I don’t think I really believed in myself in the creative field, or even the legitimacy of a career in it. I thought science was the ‘safe’ or ‘correct’ route and loved doing it, but it wasn’t until those excruciating winter days at Robarts Library at the University of Toronto doing problem sets for 12 hours a day that really made me reevaluate how I wanted to spend my future. They’re also more similar than I think people give them credit for – comedy and science are both just challenges of finding the best result from a set of information. Science is comical, and comedy is scientific. Bang. Print that.
Was there a specific sketch that made you think, “Okay, this is working – people are actually watching this”?
I remember the first sketch that I loved doing and also performed well was some stupid video about a real experience I had with my apartment building complex’s management. It actually set the tone for most of my videos going forward, where I would experience some mild frustration and then “spicy edit it”, as my mom would call it, which is basically to lie and exaggerate the story to make it much more entertaining or absurd.
The video was about how I went to park in my parking spot in the building, but someone else had parked there, and when I told management, they told me just to go ahead and park there anyway. I explained I couldn’t, because there was a car in my spot. They asked if the spot was mine. I said yes. They said, “then just park there”. This guy just couldn’t understand that I couldn’t park in my spot because a car was already parked there, and I remember that concept making me laugh so hard and made a video of that interaction, and in retrospect, I guess that kinda birthed my two-man concept!
I feel like you’re full of surprises. Is there anything else people would be surprised to learn about you?
I have 5 nipples total. I don’t, but how surprising would that have been?
Now playing Paul Baker in ‘Adults’, tell us a bit about your character and how you got involved in the series.
Paul Baker, a firsty-lasty, a chill, charming, sweet Canadian guy who has definitely been bouncing around Brooklyn from hookup to hookup but has found his place within the main gang through his girlfriend, Issa. I was first presented with the script in January 2024 and was blown away by how A) funny and B) how real the script and characters were. I remember laughing out loud at the sides and also walking down through the East Village after and being able to pick out these characters from the street, like, “Okay, that’s a Billie, that’s an Anton.” I was also immediately hell bent on getting the part because Paul was simply me at 22, with a few differences, sure, but I felt so seen by this character it was therapeutic, almost, by getting to play him.
“Trying to be good people, despite being neither good nor people yet” – that tagline is too real. How close is this series to your own experience navigating your 20’s?
Spot on. I think the beauty of your 20s and what the show displays so beautifully is that you aren’t always your best. Your 20s are filled to the brim with stumbles, it’s the period of ‘who am I, to me, and who am I to the world?’ The biggest thing is that we are all trying, whether we stick the landing or not. But most importantly, we are there to support our friends if, or more certainly when, they don’t nail that landing.
Do you have any memories from your own ‘roast chicken phase of life’ that you look back at differently now?
Unfortunately. I remember cooking a meal for a girl I was trying to impress back in university, and it was the driest, most overcooked, and unseasoned chicken breast with rice and frozen peas that were still completely frozen. She initially said she was starving, but after I served it, she remembered that she actually had just eaten before arriving.
Being a show about codependent housemates, have you had any chaotic shared-living experiences in your life?
My buddy I lived with in university was something else. Shoutout Bendy – at 2 am, he used to drag his mattress into the living room. Mind you, this is a horrifically small Toronto student apartment. He would place a tee in a cardboard box on the ground, set up a golf ball, and drive balls into his mattress at full speed. Just full-on swings of golf balls bouncing off the mattress at all hours of the night. Meanwhile, he would have 3 screens going at all times; football on the TV, hockey on his phone, basketball on his laptop, and then Travis Scott on the JBL. He also ate either cake made in muffin tins, called his “morning muffins”, or smoked salmon and caper bagels for breakfast. There was no in between. I love the guy to this day.
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And being a cast of 20-something year olds, what was the set like? Any scenes where it was hard to keep a straight face?
Too many to count. The cast is just hilarious. Kroll or the creators would sometimes come in and feed lines to us to get real reactions from the others for some takes, and those were the hardest because you never knew what was coming. The scene in Episode 5 when the teenage girls show up was the hardest for me not to break because they kept being fed the most heinous insults to throw at Malik – all of our reactions were real.
Did making the show make you feel more like an adult, or the opposite?
Weirdly both? Cop out? But true? It made me feel responsible for my part in this major production that I had never experienced before, which definitely made me stand up straighter most days and really focus on being my most competent self – but it also introduced me to my favourite people who at the core are just kids goofing off getting to be silly on camera all day. Amita always says that she just wants to get on set and “play,” and I love that term. I really felt like I just got to “play” for the first time since I was a kid.
If you could go back and give 18-year-old Jack one piece of advice, what would it be?
Bring extra underwear, man. Just do it, you never know. And also, go for it. Advocate for yourself, no one else is coming to do it for you. You got this.
What excites you the most right now – more TV? A return to sketches? Something unexpected?
Get those nipples removed. I’m joking. I’m dying to get back on set with everyone and run ‘Adults’ back for as many seasons as I can until they kill me off. Also, movies — I really wanna make some movies. Honestly, I just love getting to goof around on camera, so any way I can continue to do that, I’m in.
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skirt. A. Potts
shoes. Dsquared2
socks. Nike
opposite
full look. SHWETAMBARI
blazer. PRIVATE POLICY
skirt. A. Potts
shoes. Dsquared2
socks. Nike
opposite
full look. SHWETAMBARI
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bangles. Casha
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bangles. Casha
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There’s something unmistakably magnetic about Lilly Krug. A rising star in both European cinema and Hollywood, Krug using acting as a way to both discover and redefine herself with every role. From the grounded intensity of dramatic thrillers to indie gems, Krug is carving a path marked by fearless curiosity and emotional depth. “I grew up surrounded by theater and the arts, so storytelling was always part of my world,” she tells Schön!. But despite this early immersion, the decision to pursue acting professionally wasn’t immediate. “I wanted to explore everything. I worked in cafés, studied coding, hiked Kilimanjaro… It wasn’t until I acted in a short film that something truly clicked.”
Whether playing a defiant firebrand in ‘April X,’ a role requiring her to slip in and out of ten different personas, or preparing for a role by crafting detailed character “blueprints” in her notebook, Krug’s approach to acting is anything but casual. “Acting is a constant lesson in empathy,” she reflects. “It stretches my perspective and deepens my emotional vocabulary.” Even off-screen, her passions run deep. Currently studying psychology in Los Angeles, Krug finds that her academic pursuits bleed naturally into her craft. “When I prepare for a role, I essentially take the character apart — to understand their motivations, wounds, desires, fears… Psychology provides a powerful framework for exploring all of that more deeply.”
Schön! sits down with Lilly Krug to learn about her acting methods, studying psychology, and more.
What originally sparked your passion for acting, and who were your biggest influences growing up?
I grew up surrounded by theatre and the arts, so storytelling was always part of my world. It’s hard to pinpoint a single moment that sparked my passion because in many ways, it’s something I’ve been living and breathing my entire life. But for a long time, I didn’t know I wanted to make it my career.
Growing up, I had so many different interests — I wanted to explore everything. I worked in cafés, studied coding, hiked Kilimanjaro, and even considered a path in fitness. It wasn’t until I acted in a short film that something truly clicked. I remember wishing the shoot days would never end. There was this thrilling, all-encompassing feeling on set that I hadn’t experienced anywhere else.
I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to figure everything out early in life. But sometimes, you have to try a lot of things to land where you’re meant to be. For me, that journey led to acting — and it’s a path that makes me feel like a student every day. I never stop learning or expanding. And that, to me, is the most exciting part.
You’ve worked across different genres, from thrillers to dramas. Do you have a favourite genre to act in, or do you enjoy the challenge of variety?
I feel incredibly lucky to have explored such a range of genres so early in my career. It’s easy to get typecast at the beginning, so having the chance to jump between styles and tones has been both rare and rewarding. Each project comes with its own unique set of challenges — whether it’s mastering an accent, embodying vastly different characters back-to-back, or navigating the emotional complexity of filming in a new country, surrounded by people I’ve just met.
What excites me most is how each role becomes an opportunity to expand my understanding of the world and myself. Acting is a constant lesson in empathy — it stretches my perspective and deepens my emotional vocabulary. That, to me, is the greatest gift of this work.
Right now, I’m especially drawn to the idea of doing a historical or otherworldly piece — something that invites both escapism and transformation.
How do you typically prepare for a role? Do you have a specific process or technique you rely on?
I’ve found that there’s never just one way to approach a character — each role requires something a little different. But my process usually begins with reading the script all the way through to understand the world, tone, and structure of the project. On the second read, I dive deeper — I pull out my notebook and start mapping things out: character relationships, arcs, emotional motives, setting, and any key details that shape the environment or dynamics.
When I focus on my character, I look closely at what she does, what she says, and — just as importantly — what others say about her. That’s usually when intuitive details begin to emerge: her fears, desires, insecurities, longings — things that aren’t always written but live between the lines. I put all of this into a personal breakdown — my “blueprint” — which I often return to while on set.
From there, my preparation becomes more physical and specific to the role: her posture, voice, rhythm, and how she carries herself in the world. I’m also really lucky to have found a class and a group of fellow actors where I can safely experiment and explore. That environment helps me internalize the character on a subconscious level, so that when the camera rolls, she’s already living inside me.
You’ve portrayed a wide range of emotionally intense characters. Is there a particular role that challenged you the most so far, and why?
One of the most challenging roles I’ve taken on was for a project called ‘April X’, which hasn’t been released yet. I found out I’d gotten the role just a week and a half before flying to Romania for a three-month shoot, so everything happened very fast. April is a firecracker — unapologetically opinionated, emotionally unpredictable, and fiercely rebellious. She’s one of those rare characters who’s bursting with life, but also forced to confront some of life’s harshest truths.
What made it especially challenging was that I didn’t just play April— I had to embody around ten different personas within the same film. It required an enormous amount of emotional agility, stamina, and focus. And personally, it came at a time in my life when I was going through a lot myself. In many ways, the role held up a mirror, forcing me to ask questions I hadn’t fully confronted yet. It pushed me not only as an actor but as a person, and that’s why it remains one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever done.
You’ve already worked with some incredible actors. Is there a dream co-star or director you’d love to collaborate with in the future?
Where do I even begin? I actually have a folder on my laptop filled with people I’d love to work with — it’s my little source of inspiration. Some of the directors at the top of my list are Paul Thomas Anderson, Noah Baumbach, Denis Villeneuve, Luca Guadagnino, Nicolas Winding Refn, Alex Schaad, Edward Berger, Tim Fehlbaum, and Christian Schwochow… and that’s just scratching the surface.
Each of them brings such a distinct voice and vision to their work. I’m drawn to directors who create immersive worlds, who explore human complexity with nuance and boldness. Just imagining what I could learn from them gives me goosebumps.
When approaching a new character, do you draw from personal experiences, or do you prefer to fully immerse yourself in research and external inspiration?
I’ve come to realize that once you tap into a kind of universal consciousness, you can truly feel and embody experiences you haven’t personally lived through. It’s something I’m still learning, but it’s been completely mind-opening. When you let go of your self-protective mechanisms — when you allow yourself to fully imagine and feel what a situation would be like—it’s incredible how real it becomes.
At the same time, I’ve had to get to know myself deeply to recognize what I need to let go of when stepping into a role. Otherwise, I’d just be playing versions of myself over and over again. So, my process is about finding that space between— connecting emotionally to a hypothetical truth and allowing whatever arises in that unknown place to lead me. That’s where the magic starts to happen.
You’ve worked alongside legendary actors like Anthony Hopkins and Michael Shannon — what’s the most memorable piece of advice or experience you’ve gained from them?
What’s been most beautiful is that I’ve learned something from every artist I’ve had the chance to work with. Acting is such a personal and often disarming process, and each actor has their own path to truth. Watching them work has been a masterclass in presence and vulnerability.
The most memorable piece of advice I’ve received is about cultivating the courage to surrender. To trust the moment enough to let it surprise you. To stop trying to control or predict what the character should do — and instead, allow the character to move through you. That kind of surrender invites something deeper, something real.
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body. Essential Antwerp
heels. Jimmy Choo
earrings. Just Win
stockings. Falke
opposite
bra. Triumph
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As one of Germany’s rising stars in Hollywood, how do you balance working internationally while staying connected to your roots?
I feel incredibly connected to Germany, most of my family is still there, and that grounding presence means everything to me. I feel so lucky to be gathering these extraordinary new experiences on set, while also having such a strong foundation of love and connection in both Germany and the U.S.
Acting has really expanded my worldview. Even when I find myself immersed in unfamiliar cultures for weeks or months at a time, I’ve noticed something surprising: the more I step into the unknown, the more I rediscover who I am and what truly matters to me. In a way, each new place brings me closer to my roots, not further away. It deepens my connection to where I come from and to myself.
You’re studying psychology in Los Angeles. Do you see yourself incorporating that knowledge into your acting, or is it something you’d like to explore outside of film?
I think it’s impossible not to incorporate psychology into acting. When I prepare for a role, I essentially take the character apart to understand their motivations, wounds, desires, fears, and inner logic. Psychology provides a powerful framework for exploring all of that more deeply.
But it goes even further. Studying psychology has also helped me understand myself in new ways, which in turn allows me to see what aspects of Lilly I need to shed or amplify for a particular role. That kind of self-awareness becomes essential when you’re constantly stepping into different lives.
As for where it might take me beyond acting, I’m not entirely sure yet, but I’m endlessly fascinated by it. Honestly, I think everyone should study at least a little psychology at some point. It would probably make day-to-day life a lot more harmonious… and a bit more interesting too!
Looking ahead, is there a dream role, director, or genre you’re hoping to explore next in your career?
One thing I haven’t had the chance to do yet is a period or science fiction film. Stepping into a completely different time, inhabiting a world so unlike our own, would be an incredible challenge and a dream come true. I’d love to explore the nuances of character through the lens of a different era, with all the posture, language, and cultural shifts that come with it.
I’m also a very physically active person, so doing an action film is high on my list. The idea of combining movement and physical intensity with emotional storytelling really excites me. That said, I truly feel like I’m just at the beginning of my journey. There are so many stories, characters, and genres I’m still eager to dive into and I’m open to being surprised along the way.
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earrings. Chaingang
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“Club der Dinosaurier” will start on June 6 on ZDF Mediathek and on June 15 at ZDF neo.
When it comes to bucket list experiences, Medaina Festival in Jordan’s Petra and Wadi Rum ticks every box. Hosted by experiential connoisseurs Tithorea from 21 – 28 May, it was a uniquely immersive experience that went beyond just live music, incorporating cultural experiences and remarkable stays. For the music lover in search of something new, or the traveller eager for a taste of Jordanian history and hospitality, Medaina festival was truly one of a kind.
Organisers Tithorea have built a loyal fanbase with an eye for unique and holistic travel experiences. After a stay at Amman’s luxurious Fairmont Hotel, festival goers spent the next few days travelling across some of Jordan’s most fascinating spots. Guests dove deep into local Bedouin cuisine and soaked in the breathtaking landscape during the day, and enjoyed an electric lineup at iconic locations in the evening.
The festival’s opening night took place at the Triclinium in Little Petra (Siq al-Barid), a UNESCO world heritage site that set the stage for the week’s events. Jordanian Romero Group provided a spread of Levantine cuisine as guests watched performances by regional talent from Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Palestine, including a traditional dabke performed by the Majdal Popular Dance troupe.
The setting was spectacular and highlighted the efforts of the festival organisers and their collaborators, Royal Jordanian and Jordan’s tourism board, to incorporate local artisans into every element. After all, this was many of the international audience’s first introduction to Jordanian, and specifically Bedouin, culture. Encouraging cultural appreciation over appropriation while also respecting historic sites were important considerations. After taking some time to chat to Bedouin locals present at the event, they expressed that they were very welcoming of a new demographic learning about their rich culture.
After a day spent exploring one of the world’s Seven Wonders, night two saw a techno lineup including Âme and HVOB with the peaks of Petra as their backdrop. Petra alone is stunning but the festival’s magical lighting, tapestries and custom furniture design accentuated the otherworldly setting by paying homage to local practices. The festival’s creative director Melissa Valentina described the process of curating such a grand natural landscape. “The concept for that area was the heritage of the loom machine which is the weaving machine for the Bedouin, so everything was fabrics,” she said.
“We have creative consultants from here to make sure [we’re] not doing something that doesn’t make sense or is not aligned with the Jordan heritage.” Valentina passionately added that, “hopefully, from my perspective, the whole experience just adds on to what is here and does not interrupt it, does not disrupt it, does not break the flow…I want to build and create so that we can enjoy this ecosystem to its maximum.”
The immensity of partying until sunrise surrounded by the grandeur of Petra is as incredible as it sounds. And Medaina festival still had more to give as its final night was held on the starry sand dunes of Rahayeb Camp in Wadi Rum. Its more futuristic design set the mood for an infectious lineup of techno and house music by the likes of Jimi Jules and Bedouin. Installations like a cosmic pod with neon carpets and blue lighting, as well as candlelit dunes overlooking the stage, provided an interactive and conversational feel.
Wadi Rum is a protected area quite literally in the middle of nowhere, so to welcome in the sun towered by stunning rock formations was a special sight that you could not find anywhere else. We stayed at Wadi Rum Bubble Lux Hotel where the sunsets were spectacular and the night skies were so clear that you could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Other memorable highlights included the local hospitality, which was second to none, as well as camel riding and zooming through the desert on the back of a local’s truck surrounded by cinematic landscapes.
With unforgettable memories forged in Wadi Rum’s beating dessert, festival goers chilled out and cooled off at the final destination of Ayla, Aqaba by the Red Sea. After checking into the beautiful Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort, guests focused on wellness and relaxation with snorkelling and boat ride lunches on the water, as well as a decompression day centred around yoga. From every angle, Medaina festival is in a league of its own. To experience so much of Jordanian culture from the desert to the sea surrounded by some of the world’s most breathtaking nature made it one to keep on your travel radar.
