In this issue

Welcome to Inked's Music Issue! One of our two covers features Marilyn Manson. He talks with us about his prescient new album, his connection to his tattoos by friend Norm Love Letters, how he feels seeing his signature tattooed on fans and more. Our second cover features Zhavia Ward. She opens up about how she almost turned down being on the first season of "The Four" and getting her big break in music, sitting for the large chest and neck piece by Robert Pho, and how she let her mom practice tattooing on her. Inside you'll also find interviews with reggaeton superstar Anuel AA, the sexy pop star Lexy Panterra, Shinedown's Zach Myers and a whole lot more. Crank it up to 11, this is Inked's Music Issue.

PICTURES FROM THE PIT

Erica Lauren’s concert photography puts you right in the middle of the crowd, giving you the experience of being at the show without making your ears ring.

4 mins

UPSAHL

FOR CENTURIES PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED OVER THE ORIGIN OF MUSICAL TALENT. THEORIES ARE THROWN AROUND: MAYBE MUSIC IS AN ABILITY PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENETICS, OR MAYBE IT’S A SKILL THAT CAN BE LEARNED THROUGH HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION. IT’S AN INTRIGUING QUESTION BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER, BUT AFTER SPEAKING TO SINGER/SONGWRITER UPSAHL, A GOOD CASE COULD BE MADE FOR MUSICAL TALENT BEING LEARNED THROUGH OSMOSIS.

4 mins

GERM

GROWING UP IN ATLANTA, GERM DREAMED OF LANDING FRONTSIDE NOSEGRINDS AND JUMPING SICK STAIR SETS. WITH HIS MIND DEDICATED TO PROGRESSING AS A SKATER, HE NEVER EVEN ASPIRED TO A CAREER SPITTING RHYMES. “IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL I HAD THIS GIRL I WAS MESSING AROUND WITH. SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND WHO WAS A ‘RAPPER,’ AND AFTER THAT I WAS ANTI-RAPPER,” GERM SAYS. “YOU KNOW, ‘YOUR MAN’S A RAPPER, BUT HE’S LAME AND I’M WAY COOLER THAN HIM AS A SKATER.’ I DIDN’T GROW UP TRYING TO BE A RAPPER AND THINKING THIS WAS MY DREAM. IT KIND OF JUST HAPPENED THROUGH THE HOMIES RAPPING AND THEN I GOT INTO IT. IT CAME KIND OF EASY SO I JUST STUCK WITH IT.”

2 mins

Hot Girl

Lexy Panterra is not just a pretty face. She’s a hustler, a rapper, a daredevil and so much more.

2 mins

KEEPING HIS EYE ON THE MOVEMENT

AFTER BUILDING A CAREER CAPTURING THE ENERGY OF LIVE HIP-HOP SHOWS, PHOTOGRAPHER MEL D. COLE TURNED HIS LENS TO DOCUMENTING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

6 mins

INSPIRED TO INSPIRE

DANILEIGH DISHES ON FINDING HER VOICE, DIRECTING FOR PRINCE AND COLLABORATING WITH DABABY.

6 mins

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

HOW ALESSO TOOK SWEDEN’S HOUSE SCENE BY STORM AND CAPITALIZED ON AMERICA’S EDM BOOM.

6 mins

BEYOND BINARY

ASIA KATE DILLON CUSSES "ORANGE IS THE BLACK,' "BILLIONS" AND GENDER ROLES IN HOLLYWOOD

5 mins

A MAN OF PURPOSE

SHINEDOWN’S ZACH MYERS EXPLAINS HIS RATIONALE BEHIND HIS MYRIAD MUSICAL PROJECTS, THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND HIS COLORFUL SLEEVE, AND HOW HIS BAND FOUND A WAY TO HELP FRONTLINE WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC

6 mins

ADENT OF CHAOS

We spoke with Marilyn Manson about his prescient new album, the loss of his close friend Norm Love Letters, and collaborating with Shooter Jennings.

6 mins

REGGAETON'S COMEBACK KING

Anuel AA talks bouncing back from prison, his relationship with Karol G and his most personal tattoos.

7 mins

ZHAVIA

From the silver screen to the big screen to the airwaves, there's no territory Zhavia Ward can't conquer.

5 mins

GANGA TATTOOS

There are thousands of talented tattoo artists around the world, so to be picked by a celebrity you not only need to be at the top of your game, you also need to be chill. Celebrities want to feel at home in a tattooer’s chair and put their trust in an artist who can kick it like a homie. Ganga is one of those world-class artists who has impressed the likes of Hollywood with his top-tier skillset, notably chart-topping musicians Drake, Post Malone, Chris Brown and Nicky Jam. We sat down with Ganga to uncover his meteoric rise in the industry and understand why he’s decided to make Los Angeles home.

2 mins

MANH HUYNH

At the intersection of traditional Japanese tattooing and your favorite childhood cartoons, you’ll find artist Manh Hunyn. Born and raised in Vietnam, Hunyn developed a passion for continuing the legacy of Japanese tattooing but with his own unique flair. By incorporating beloved cartoon characters into traditional motifs, Hunyn has taken the centuries-old art into a new frontier. In Hunyn’s universe, Tom of “Tom and Jerry” has ditched the self-destructive cycle of humiliation at the hands of a mischievous mouse for an irezumi bodysuit and a life spent shooting hoops. Through the combination of his fertile imagination and impeccable skill, anything is possible in Hunyn’s world.

2 mins

NICOLE ZULIANELLO

Italian tattooer Nicole Zulianello discovered tattooing at any early age, 12 to be exact, and hasn’t looked back since. Today, she’s a heavy hitter in the style of New School and frequently brings to life the characters of Disney, Nickelodeon and anime onto skin. We spoke with Zulianello to learn why she became a skin cartoonist and what advice she’d give to aspiring artists who have a love for New School designs.

2 mins

CAM POHL

Cam Pohl was one of the breakout stars of the 12th season of “Ink Master,” proving that you don’t need to win it all in order to make it as a top tattooer. Since the season ended, he’s not only finessed his black-and-grey but also gained an understanding of his core strengths as an artist by specializing in beautiful female portraiture. We caught up with Cam to learn how he got into the tattoo world and what he learned from his time on television.

3 mins

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Inked Magazine Description:

Inked is the convergence of culture, style, and art. It’s the celebration of “rebellious lifestyle” and the voice of hip, edgy, and creative individualists. Packed with stunning photography, cutting-edge content, and the latest in fashion, music, art, and pop culture, Inked provides a unique platform for your brand to connect with this audience of innovators in an effective and unparalleled way.