Lostboycrow is lost no more. Emerging from the chaos of the extended release and tour for his Traveler series, Lostboycrow feels comfortable to finally settle — at least in some sense of the word. Santa Fe, his latest endeavour, commands a renewed spirit – it’s a metered, warmer, unified artistic expression from a soul free to say what it wants. “[It was] much more intentional from the start – setting out to make a specific album in a specific place with the same people and instruments and sounds,” the artist himself proclaims.
Lostboycrow’s real name is Chris Blair, though this is only a recent revelation. Up until the release of Santa Fe, a palpable mystery surrounded his figure, creating a distance between music and personality that Blair says is no longer necessary. “I think a lot of the Santa Fe album was about reconnecting with a lot of who and where I’ve come from. The deeper I dove into [it] the less precious I’ve become about the mysticism of ‘lostboycrow’ and much more interested in that sincerity of who I am and where I’ve come from,” says Blair, now comfortable using his own name again. “I’m Chris, and I’m just grateful to be playing and making music with the wonderful humans in my life and on that stage with me.”
Though it might look like it, Santa Fe, New Mexico, is not Blair’s home turf. Blair was born in Portland, Oregon, though since his youth he was beckoned by the siren song of Los Angeles. The big city eventually succeeded in its call, drawing Blair to make it his home in 2014. But even with the endless possibilities that L.A. provides, Blair knew that this album would require a change of environment. “I wanted to write from a fresh vantage point while operating in the company of my friends and the familiar landscape of Enchantment, New Mexico. Albuquerque had become a second home for me while on the road in years prior – a place with wonderful people who supported my art before really anyone else, outside of family and old friends, had,” Blair explains. “Santa Fe just seemed like a long overdue trip that, in early January, would provide the perfect storm of seclusion, snowfall and sunlight.”
Music “was always in my bones,” Blair notes. “I remember my friend Andrew teaching me ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ on the piano probably sometime in the fourth grade, my friend Justin showing me Journey — and making me want to be a singer—, jamming with Kyle Hill —now drummer of Flor— and really recording for the first time together.”
These experiences were formative, and to this day the range of influences Blair was exposed to in his earlier years can be heard in his work. Santa Fe was produced primarily by Cody Tarpley, known for his work with artists like Krewella, SoMo, Zhavia and others. Meeting Tarpley was a blessing when it came to the formation of Santa Fe, remembers Blair. “Cody and I connected through our mutual manager when we both first moved to L.A. He has always been extremely gifted in listening and seeing and truly feeling the vision — I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s totally open and his creativity extends far beyond just trying to make music, but furthering awareness of self and constantly learning.” Blair is truly appreciative, “that’s the best type of human and that’s going to result in the sincerest art.”
The album, which is available for streaming now, holds an undeniable sincerity, dealing with issues ranging in scale from his personal life to relationships to the state of the world at large. Unlike Traveler, which told a planned narrative over the course of three EPs, Santa Fe’s story as much as it exists came naturally. Referring to the themes of the album, he casually states that they “just sort of surfaced themselves during the process.”
Santa Fe’s image-crafting and casual theatrics shouldn’t come as a surprise given Blair’s interest in film and theatre — one of the most memorable moments of his personal musical history was a potentially-prophetic high school performance of the song “Santa Fe” from the show Newsies.
Since then, an interest in theatre and film has followed Blair, informing the character of Lostboycrow. He effortlessly rattles off some recent favourites: “I finally saw Wicked at the Pantages and it was everything I’d hoped and more. I also thought Vanessa Hudgens was brilliant in Rent Live.” TV series are also of interest – he names Barry, Killing Eve, and Detectorists as recent shows of note – but time on the road often does not allow for that. “The road is honestly just a lot of sitting in a car listening to music, which I’ve always been a sucker for, and Lord knows I get plenty of practice living in L.A.” Because of this, staying active, healthy and grounded is an absolute tour necessity, emphasises Blair.
Even with its personal depth, Santa Fe is undeniably accessible, packed front-to-back with everything from danceable grooves to moody ballads. From Blair’s perspective, the takeaway for listeners is simple: “gratitude for where you are and how you came to be there.”
Lostboycrow’s ‘Santa Fe’ is available now. Listen to it here.
dress + hat. Pipenco
headpiece + necklace. Talent’s own
rings. Jovana Djuric
In the 25 years since Erykah Badu’s sophomore album ‘Mama’s Gun’, the multi-hyphenate artist has achieved a rare but sweet taste of timelessness. The album brought an innovative zest to neo-soul that continues to bridge generations. Badu says she never doubted its potential. “You don’t have to be some special, brilliant person. You just have to be willing to do it and explore,” she says over a Zoom call for her Schön! 49digital cover story. “The role of an artist is to immerse themselves in the process because the thing itself is actually not the art. The art is the doing: it’s the taking part and the figuring it out.”
Fresh off a landmark year that’s seen them sell out tours across the UK and Europe and a debut appearance at Glastonbury, Belfast post-punk/electronic innovators Chalk step into their next chapter. The duo — Ross Cullen and Benedict Goddard — just wrapped their first headline tour across North America, hitting cities like Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York. It’s a far cry from rural Ireland and industrial East Belfast, where they recorded Chalk’s recent work. They’ve quickly become known for vivid, atmospheric soundscapes — a style that’s earned them nods from Fontaines D.C., IDLES, and Sprints, who invited the band to share stages across the past year.
The pair pause to look inward for Schön!’s curated series, mapping out the tracks that have shaped their creative instincts, emotional world, and sonic identity.
Hey, what are you up to right now?
We’re currently touring America for the first time and have a few days off in LA.
If someone asked you what your origin story was, how would you describe it?
Went to film school, didn’t work out, started playing music.
Describe your style in 3 words.
Always wear black.
What is the most precious thing in your wardrobe?
New Balance.
Which living person do you most admire?
Ethan Hawke.
What was the last book you read?
The Wager by David Grann.
If you could play any venue, which one would it be?
Whisky A Go Go.
Where are you happiest?
On the couch with my fiancé watching an old movie.
Ideal 3-course meal?
Caesar salad, pizza, cheesecake.
Who would play you in the story of your life?
We haven’t found him yet.
What’s one song that you’d like to listen to for the first time again?
“Heroin” – Velvet Underground.
An underrated song/artist you love?
“Under the Concrete” – Joshua Burnside.
The track that describes your coming-of-age story?
“Shaking Hand” – Women.
An album that you’d put in a time capsule?
“Holding Hands with Jamie” – Gilla Band.
A lyric that you love and the song it’s from?
“Don’t confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them” – from “These Days” – Nico.
dress + gloves. Nana Jacqueline
scarf. Tia Adeola
earrings. Nickho Rey
One day, you’re a student in a prestigious acting studio. The other, you’re scolding Billy Bob Thornton on the set of a popular-to-be TV show. Paulina Chávez has been a part of this industry for years, but getting a role in ‘Landman’ was a milestone for her. As she admits, without any hesitation, she was “absolutely ready” for such a turn of events.
“My character, Ariana, is so different from me, yet there are many similarities. To be so young and be able to play someone as Ariana is a dream for an actress.” Even during her early days, while Chávez was just learning how to act, one of the characters she played was a woman interrogating a man. “She ends up castrating him, so when I read the script for ‘Landman’ for the first time, I immediately knew this was something for me!” the show’s star laughs.
In the modern film industry, there are two types of actors: those who are late and those who are not. Born in El Paso, Texas, the 23-year-old actress falls into the second category, as she joins our Zoom meeting right on time, despite a packed schedule. The second season of Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Landman’ has just premiered, and Chávez is right in the middle of her press tour. Everyone keeps talking about the show. And, it’s barely a surprise – it got bolder, funnier and more intense, even if it remains one huge chaotic ride, full of its ironic humour, old-fashioned jokes and a lot of grotesque elements that carry through the episodes.
In ‘Landman’, Ariana’s husband dies when an oil pump blows up during one of his gigs. Suddenly, her life undergoes drastic changes within a span of a second. I tell Chávez that the same can be said about her, even if we are speaking of two different circumstances. Yet, the show still gave her traction, and it is one of the reasons we meet today. The actress admits that she thought about such parallels while filming the show, especially during the second season. “We’re going to see even more changes affecting Ariana’s life.”
fur jacket. Meruert Tolegen
skirt. Contessa Mills
earrings. 8 Other Reasons
opposite
top + skirt. Tia Adeola
heels. Roger Vivier
earrings. Retro Chic
necklace + belt. Streets Ahead
bracelet. Tarina Tarantino
Grieving leads us to strange places – after losing her husband in season one, Ariana regains her strength by finding some emotional support in Cooper (Jacob Lofland). I’m curious if Chávez remembers where grieving has led her in her life – after our interview, I’ll realise it was a question asked rather too soon. But, it gives us a new sort of dynamic as she opens up about the death of an important relative.
“I remember when I booked my first show for Netflix, and I was so excited about this opportunity. However, a week before I started working on this show, I had learned that my grandma had passed away.” She admits it was a huge blow for her. “The happiness and joy are mixed with the feeling of being depressed – I realised that my grandma would never be able to watch the final product. Life is so unpredictable and nobody knows how to navigate grief.”
Inevitably, by waking up every day, Chávez had to learn how to do it. “I’m a person who feels everything,” she confesses. “I can’t watch devastating movies, as I always put myself in all those situations.” While playing Ariana, she was terrified that someone close to her might suddenly die. “All of it was really draining, especially when you filter your characters’ experiences through your own story. So, I often relied on my breathing exercises, which allowed me to leave Ariana behind.”
She emphasises how vital it is for actors to practice self-care after intense scenes. “Whenever I finish a demanding shooting day, I go back home, take a bath and listen to a good album.” For Ariana, Chávez had a dedicated playlist. While working on the first season, she listened to Raye’s ‘My 21st Century Blues’ (“I still come back to it quite religiously!”). Meanwhile, the second season guided her into different musical territories. As Ariana, she put Bad Bunny’s latest album, ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’, on her headphones.
dress shirt. Contessa Mills
boots. Dolce & Gabbana
belt (used as necklace). B-low
socks. Dolce & Gabbana
Grieving has enabled Chávez to form a personal connection with her character. “I’m not a widow,” she says, “but I could understand her more. I also remember when I was five, and my aunt lost her husband. Even as a child, I witnessed the entire process and could see her own process for grieving. It’s difficult to recover from this.” I notice how the actress is – quite evidently – clasping her hands. She’s generally relaxed, but also slightly hesitant, as the old wounds are being opened. But, maybe this is what you need from a stranger interviewing you on Zoom – a brief moment to be able to tell the truth and only the truth.
Oscar Isaac once said that “being a thespian requires you to be fully confident about what you’re doing.” But – as he argued – actors are “full of uncertainties.” Seemingly, after hearing this quote, Chávez agrees with the ‘Frankenstein’ actor. So, how does she work on her own self-assurance both as an actress and a woman in the film industry? The actress once again clasps her hands, as she needs a moment to think about it. “I’m often scared of forgetting lines on set,” she admits. “I always try to be as open as possible, to know everything about my character. And, I try to have a good relationship with the creatives, so we’re on the same page.”
One of the scenes she mentions is a dinner sequence from the first season, when things get intense between Ariana and Tommy, Billy Bob Thornton’s character. “You always need to trust other people on set. Obviously, they want the project to succeed and will do everything to make it work. They will try to guide you, so it’s all about trust,” she explains. Chávez reveals that Sheridan wanted to be delicate in telling Ariana’s storyline because it’s “so easy to judge her.” “She falls in love while grieving! Yet, it’s life – you never know when a certain tenderness is going to hit you.”
dress + gloves. Nana Jacqueline
heels. Rene Caovilla
scarf. Tia Adeola
earrings. Nickho Rey
opposite
jacket. Baum und Pfergarten
dress. Contessa Mills
heels. Roger Vivier
earrings. Miansai
necklace. Brosway
gloves. Branden Ruiz
belt. Streets Ahead
When it comes to navigating her personal life in modern Hollywood, it’s more about “trusting yourself” and always being ready for the most unexpected. Chávez calls herself a person who “overthinks everything” and “overprepares.” But, as she states, it gives her a dose of confidence to go on a set and be ready for every kind of scenario. This way, as she assures me, she’s got “Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C.” Chávez probably has even more plans for every role – she stops counting for the sake of brevity, but I’m certain she could just go on.
Ariana is also a powerful Latina force of nature, and her roots play a part in the way she handles her grief. “But, it’s not only that,” the actress says. “It’s a portrayal of people I know. Whenever I had scenes where I needed Ariana to express herself, even through shouting, I still reflected on all those experiences from my past.” Chávez also believes that Mexicans grieve differently from Americans. “It’s all about community and it gets Ariana through everything. Their love language is food. Feeding someone means actually loving someone.”
Season two depicts another stage of Ariana’s internal suffering. “She will have to accept her new reality and learn how to live in it again. She’s acknowledging the fact that her first love is gone, and now it’s time to move on, while treasuring all the memories.” Chávez feels that everyone has their own way of coping with the loss, and it’s rarely discussed in public. “I’m not viewed as fully American or Mexican, so I guess there’s some mixture of those two worlds in both me and my acting. I think we are all expected to get over our inner sadness. I suppose I was expected to let my grief go away after the death of my grandma. Though it always stays with us. I also remember my parents crying for the first time. If they find it difficult, then how am I supposed to go through all of it?”
When Ariana’s grief passes, at least for a while, there is still motherhood that needs to be handled. During our conversation, I mention Uta Hagen, a highly influential acting teacher, who once wrote that one needs to create their character by drawing on some personal experiences. Hagen’s approach is being echoed, as Chávez remembers how “crazy” it was for her to become an on-screen mother at the age of 22. Five months before she auditioned, her sister gave birth to her first child. The actress went to Colorado with her mother to help the family with a newborn. “It’s so much work! I have no idea how two people do it, let alone a single parent like Ariana.”
top + skirt. Tia Adeola
heels. Roger Vivier
earrings. Retro Chic
necklace + belt. Streets Ahead
bracelet. Tarina Tarantino
In Colorado, she was on nightshifts with her nephew, which enabled her to understand every little challenge related to motherhood. “It was everything, from changing the diapers to helping with feeding the baby,” Chávez recalls. In a way, becoming Ariana allowed her to reflect on her sister’s recent experience, although she still wasn’t prepared for every little obstacle. “I also learned that depicting breastfeeding on screen isn’t a piece of cake. I worked with a pillow, and even if I was holding it correctly, it all comes down to a camera angle. My intimacy coordinator gave a lot of cues on how to imitate breastfeeding as Ariana properly.”
There’s some hidden beauty in this on-screen process despite the entire tragedy her character is going through. At some point, Ariana says to Cooper, “I feel happy and I shouldn’t,” and it’s a moment to reflect on – for both characters and the spectator. I ask Chávez if she also remembers the last time she felt happy when she shouldn’t have – and it all goes back to her late grandma, who, at this point, feels like someone more than just an important family figure. “When I was doing the press tour in the US, I wanted to share it all with her or the person I just broke up with,” ‘Landman’’s star admits.
Chávez doesn’t have to be on a film set to think about Ariana. “I see her as a family member. I’ve lived with her character for so many months, so she’s always there, right beside me.” ‘Landman’ has just been renewed for its third season, but will it be difficult to let Ariana go once it eventually ends its run? “I remember when Friends finished. I already know it’s gonna be heartbreaking. But, Ariana’s living within me.” She smiles. “And I think she is never gonna go anywhere.”
